Comparative effects of theobromine and Cocoa Bean Shell (CBS) extract on the performance, serum constituent profile and physiological parameters in rabbits

The effects of theobromine and an extract of cocoa bean shell (CBS) on performance, serum constituent and physiological parameters were compared in rabbits. Synthetic theobromine (300mg/kg) and theobromine from CBS extract (3000mg/kg) were administered through oral gavage for 10 days. Synthetic theobromine and theobromine from CBS caused significant (p 0.05) effect on Na+, K+ and total protein. Synthetic theobromine induced significant (p < 0.05) increase in the values of ALP(Alkaline phosphatase), AST(Aspatate amino transferase), urea, creatinine and glucose while CBS extract containing an equivalent amount of theobromine also caused significant (p < 0.05) increase in these parameter compared with the control but lower than the effect from the synthetic theobromine. However, 50% mortality was recorded among rabbits administered with synthetic theobromine. The results suggest that poor performance and physiological disorder ascribeable to cocoa based diet is caused by theobromine. Keywords: Synthetic theobromine, CBS extract, rabbitsGlobal Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 14 (3) 2008: pp. 253-25

The Effects of Storage on Sachet Water Quality in Ogun State, Nigeria

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of storage on the physicochemical status and bacteriological quality of sachet water produced and sold in  Abeokuta metropolis, Nigeria. Ten brands of sachet water were collected within 24 hours of production and stored at ambient temperature. Sub-samples were drawn from the stock samples immediately for physico-chemical and microbiological analyses and after two months. Physical parameters were determined by instrumental methods. Cationic and anionic constituents were determined by standard titrimetric and spectrophotometric methods, trace and heavy water were determined by Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer. The study revealed that all the brands of water analyzed were physically and chemically wholesome and met the WHO standards. Five brands (50%) of the water had total viable and coliform count above the recommended count of 100cfu/m and zero cfu/ml, respectively. pH values increased in all brands to acceptable WHO limits within 2 months of storage except for sample 3 and 4 which decreases below the acceptable limit.  Majorly dissolved oxygen and nitrate values decreased through the investigation period. Total and faecal coliform appeared in 50% of sachet water samples  analyzed immediately after production and were no longer detected after storing for two months except for sample 4. Results of the experiment indicate that 60% of the brands analyzed met the WHO guideline limit for drinking especially for the physico-chemical parameters while the majority failed in the microbiological essay when stored at ambient temperature for the two-month investigation period.KEYWORDS: Coliforms, Conductivity, Microbiological Assay, Physical and Chemical Parameters,Turbidity, Sachet Wate

Stigmatising attitude of medical students towards a psychiatry label

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Nanotechnology and global energy demand: challenges and prospects for a paradigm shift in the oil and gas industry.

The exploitation of new hydrocarbon discoveries in meeting the present global energy demand is a function of the availability and application of new technologies. The relevance of new technologies is borne out of the complex subsurface architecture and conditions of offshore petroleum plays. Conventional techniques, from drilling to production, for exploiting these discoveries may require adaption for such subsurface conditions as they fail under conditions of high pressure and high temperature. The oil and gas industry over the past decades has witnessed increased research into the use of nanotechnology with great promise for drilling operations, enhanced oil recovery, reservoir characterization, production, etc. The prospect for a paradigm shift towards the application of nanotechnology in the oil and gas industry is constrained by evolving challenges with its progression. This paper gave a review of developments from nano-research in the oil and gas industry, challenges and recommendations

The influence of workplace stress on family functioning of resident doctors at university college hospital Ibadan

Background: Work and family are very important aspects of life, and for medical doctors, workplace stress may be inevitable during residency training. Resident doctors should have a balanced work-family life because it contributes to their overall family functioning.Objectives: The specific objectives were to determine the prevalence of workplace stress, evaluate the family functioning, and assess the influence of workplace stress on the family functioning of the resident doctors working in the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria.Setting:&nbsp;The study was conducted at the University College Hospital, Ibadan located at the south-western part of Nigeria.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study, conducted among resident doctors across all the specialties at UCH, Ibadan over a period of 3 months. Two hundred and thirty-two eligible and consenting resident doctors were selected by stratified random sampling and data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.Results: The prevalence of workplace stress among the resident doctors was 62.1%, and 27.6% had problematic family functioning. There was a significant association between workplace stress and the family functioning of the resident doctors. Workplace stress could independently predict problematic family functioning of the resident doctors.Conclusion: Workplace stress should not be underestimated, as it has significant influence on the family functioning of the residentdoctors working at the UCH, Ibadan, Nigeria. Keywords: workplace; stress; family; functioning; influence; work-family

Changes in blood and physio-clinical indices of West African Dwarf goat during road transport

The study was carried out to determine the effect of road transportation on some blood and physioclinical indices in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Nineteen (19) WAD goats aged between 6 and 8 months weighing between 4.16Kg and 5.90Kg were transported in a wagon for 3 hours 18 minutes. Collection of data on rectal temperature (RT) and heart rate (HR), and blood sampling were carried out just before loading the animals into the wagon and repeated immediately on arrival at the destination. The blood samples were analyzed for packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (HB), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (NEU), lymphocyte (LYM), eosinophil (EOS), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) concentrations were also determined. Except the reduced (P&lt;0.05) haemoglobin (Hb) after transportation, the results showed that haematological parameters and pulse rate were comparable before departure and on arrival(P&gt;0.05).Rectal temperature was however slightly higher(P&lt;0.05) on arrival compared to departure in mixed sex and male goats. Serum AST, ALT and ALP were higher (P&lt;0.05) before transportation compared to the values obtained on arrival. The findings showed no remarkable influence of transport by road on the haematological parameters and pulse rate of WAD goats except reduced HB,serum AST, ALT and ALP and increasedrectal temperature observed after transportation.Keywords: goats, physiological parameters, stress, transpor

Chloroquine-induced Pruritus

Chloroquine-induced pruritus remains one of the most common side-effects in the use of chloroquine in the prophylaxis and treatment of uncomplicated malaria before the advent of artemisinin-based combination therapies. It has been reported to vary from a tolerable to intolerable intensity among susceptible individuals resulting in disruption of treatment and development of resistance to the drug thus leading to therapeutic failures as reported. This scourge is quite challenging due to the complex physiologic mechanism that has not been fully elucidated. Factors observed to be responsible in the induction of pruritus such as age, race, heredity, density of parasitaemia; impurities in formulations, plasmodial specie, dosage form and metabolites have been discussed in this review. Efforts to ameliorate this burden have necessitated the use of drugs of diverse pharmacological classes such as antihistamines, corticosteroids and multivitamins either alone or as a combination. This review is to look into the use of chloroquine retrospectively, and consider its re-introduction due to its safety. Efficacy can be attained if the pruritic effect is resolved