Seasonal variations in physicochemical properties of water in some selected locations of the Lagos lagoon

The seasonal and spatial distributions of physicochemical parameters that determine water quality was studied in the Lagos Lagoon. Nine locations were selected according to the activities that take place in the areas. Parameters that determine water quality were measured during the months of February and July that represent dry and rainy season. Physical water quality parameters such as salinity, EC and TDS showed strong seasonal variation amongst stations and evaporation seem to be a major controlling force for these parameters in the lagoon. Generally, the data obtained suggests thatanthropogenic disturbances and the establishment of several types ofactivities with increased point and non-point storm water runoff shunted directly into Lagos Lagoon has negatively affected the water quality and made relationships between most of the parameters and the different locations complex

Activation of clay sample from Zaria L.G.A. of kaduna State and testing its bleaching performance on groundnut oil, palm oil and cottenseed oil

Clay samples from Zaria L.G.A. of Kaduna state was acid activated using hydrochloric acid in the concentration range of 5%, 10%, to 30% (v/v), at 90oC ± 2oC for 3 hours, and heat activated at 145oC for 30 minutes. The raw, acid and heat activated clay were tested on groundnut, palm and cottonseed oils. The per cent colour reduction was monitored spectrophotometrically. There was improvement in the decolourizing performance of the clay sample when acid or heat activated towards the three oil samples, but acid activation is more suitable for groundnut oil, while for palm and cottonseed oils the results obtained were similar for both methods. Keywords: Clay, Kaolinite, Bleaching, Zaria, Oi

Acute toxicity of glyphosate and paraquat to the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Teugels 1986) using some biochemical indicators

The impact of acute exposure of Clarias gariepinus juveniles to commonly used herbicides, glyphosate and paraquat was evaluated through changes in fish mortality and biochemical indeces. Juveniles of the African catfish were exposed to varying acute concentration of glyphosate and paraquat. After 96 h of exposure, the 96 h LC50 for paraquat was found to be 0.07 mg/l while that of glyphosate was found to be 0.530 mg/l. After the exposure period, some enzymes were assayed for in fish liver using a combination of conventional methods and commercially available kits. Comparing with the control, ANOVA analysis revealed that there were significant (p < 0.05) increases in the activities of all enzymes assayed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). There were also significant (p < 0.05) increases in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes: catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and in lipid peroxidation, which was measured by thiobarbituric acid substances (TBARS). The result revealed that glyphosate and paraquat have the ability to modulate certain fish biochemical parameters and can therefore serve as reliable indicators of toxicity in environmental impact assessment programmes

Responses of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus to long-term exposure to glyphosate- and paraquat-based herbicides

Direct and indirect contamination of the aquatic environment by pesticides results in a decrease in fish productivity and may elevate concentrations of undesirable chemicals in edible fish tissues. The effects of long-term exposure of Clarias gariepinus juveniles to sublethal concentrations of glyphosate and paraquat, two commonly used herbicides, for eight weeks were investigated using three concentrations of the 96 h LC50 of each herbicide: 3.5, 7 and 14 μg l−1 for paraquat, and 26.5, 53 and 106 μg l−1 for glyphosate. Enzyme assay and histological analysis were conducted every fortnight. Significant increases in the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and hepatocyte vacuolation in the livers of the exposed fish confirms the toxicity of the herbicides, and thus could be useful tools in environmental monitoring

Serum ferritin levels in adults with sickle cell disease in Lagos, Nigeria

Akinsegun A Akinbami,1 Adedoyin O Dosunmu,1 Adewumi A Adediran,3 Olajumoke O Oshinaike,2 Vincent O Osunkalu,1 Sarah O Ajibola,3 Olanrewaju M Arogundade11Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, 2Department of Medicine, Lagos State University, College of Medicine, Ikeja, Nigeria; 3Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Idiaraba, NigeriaBackground: Serum ferritin is considered to be one of the most important tools in the measurement of iron balance in steady-state sickle cell disease. Increased gastrointestinal absorption of iron has been reported in sickle cell disease because of the associated chronic hemolysis, and it is also thought that repeated red cell transfusion consequent to chronic hemolysis and anemia causes excessive iron levels. The aim of this study was to determine overall and gender-specific mean ferritin levels in patients with steady-state sickle cell disease in order to establish the prevalence of iron deficiency and overload.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in homozygous patients with sickle cell disease attending the sickle cell clinic at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. A 5 mL blood sample was collected in plain bottles from consenting participants during steady-state periods. The serum was separated and analyzed for ferritin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Another 5 mL sample was collected for a full blood count, done on the same day of collection, to determine red blood cell indices, ie, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. The Pearson Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. The differences were considered to be statistically significant when P was 300 ng/mL. Ninety-three subjects (90.29%) had serum ferritin within the normal reference range of 15&ndash;300 ng/mL.Conclusion: In this study, 90% of subjects with sickle cell disease had normal iron stores; serum ferritin was higher in men than in women, and iron deficiency was more common than overload in the disease.Keywords: serum ferritin levels, sickle cell diseas

Hematological profile of normal pregnant women in Lagos, Nigeria

Akinsegun A Akinbami,1 Sarah O Ajibola,2 Kabiru A Rabiu,3 Adeniyi A Adewunmi,3 Adedoyin O Dosunmu,1 Adewumi Adediran,4 Vincent O Osunkalu,4 Bodunrin I Osikomaiya,5 Kamal A Ismail,51Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Lagos State University, College of Medicine, 2Department of Haematology and Blood, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University, College of Medicine, 4Department of Haematology and Blood, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, 5Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, NigeriaBackground: Hematological profile is considered one of the factors affecting pregnancy and its outcome. Anemia is the most common hematological problem in pregnancy, followed by thrombocytopenia. Leukocytosis is almost always associated with pregnancy. The study reported here was designed to evaluate the overall mean values of seven major hematological parameters and their mean values at different trimesters of pregnancy.Subjects and methods: This examination was a cross-sectional study of 274 pregnant women who registered to attend the Lagos University Teaching Hospital or Lagos State University Teaching Hospital antenatal clinics between their first and third trimester. Blood (4.5 mL) was collected from each participant into a tube containing the anticoagulant ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). A full blood count was performed on each sample and the results were analyzed.Results: Overall, the values obtained were (mean &plusmn; standard deviation [SD]): hematocrit level, 30.16% &plusmn; 5.55%; hemoglobin concentration, 10.94 &plusmn; 1.86 g/dL; white blood cells, 7.81 &plusmn; 2.34 &times; 109; platelets, 228.29 &plusmn; 65.6 &times; 109; cell volume 78.30 &plusmn; 5.70 fL, corpuscular hemoglobin, 28.57 &plusmn; 2.48 pg; and corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, 36.45 &plusmn; 1.10 g/dL. When grouped by trimester, the mean &plusmn; SD value of packed cell volume at first trimester was 32.07% &plusmn; 6.80%; of second trimester, 29.76% &plusmn; 5.21%; and of third, 33.04% &plusmn; 3.88%. The mean &plusmn; SD hemoglobin concentration values were 11.59 &plusmn; 2.35 g/dL, 10.81 &plusmn; 1.72 g/dL, and 10.38 &plusmn; 1.27 g/dL for women in their first, second, and third trimester, respectively. Mean &plusmn; SD white blood cell concentration for first, second, and third trimesters were 7.31 &plusmn; 2.38 &times; 109, 7.88 &plusmn; 2.33 &times; 109, and 8.37 &plusmn; 2.15 &times; 109, respectively, while the mean &plusmn; SD platelet values for first, second, and third trimesters were 231.50 &plusmn; 79.10 &times; 109, 227.57 &plusmn; 63 &times; 109, and 200.82 &plusmn; 94.42 &times; 109, respectively. A statistically significant relationship was found to exist between packed cell volume and white blood cell count with increase in gestational age (P = 0.010 and 0.001, respectively). However, there was no statistically significant association between platelet count and increase in gestational age (P = 0.296).Conclusion: These findings reinforce the need for supplementation and provide additional information on hematological reference values in pregnancy in Nigeria.Keywords: anemia, thrombocytopenia, hematology, normal pregnancy, trimeste

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population