Perception and utilization of oral histopathology services by general practice dentist in Southwest Nigeria

Background: Oral histopathology services are oral diagnostic procedures. General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) are routinely exposed to oral lesions that require biopsies. Hence, the study’s objective of assessing the perception and the utilization of oral histopathology services by GDPs.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at dental clinics distributed across Southwest Nigeria. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of sections addressing the socio-demographic/professional aspects; the beliefs of GDPs and their utilization of oral histopathology services was used to collect data. A modified 5-point Likert rating scale was used to indicate the extent of agreement or disagreement with statement constructs. Analysis was done using SPSS for windows version 20.0. Significance was assessed at 5%.Results: There were 56.1% males and 43.9% females. The peak age range was 30-39 years (35.4%), while 58.5% had < 10 years of practice and 79.3% work in government dental centres. Many of the respondents (61.0%) thought suspicious lesions should be biopsied, 47.6% thought that specialists’ skills were not required for biopsy. Furthermore, 53.7% had poor perception scores while 81.1% of those who had seen oral lesions that required biopsies, had poor utilization scores.Conclusion: The GDPs had a poor perception and utilization of oral histopathology services. Continuous medical education is needed to increase awareness amongst dentists.Keywords: Oral; Histopathology; General dental practice; Southwest Nigeri

Evaluation of Dar Zarrouk Parameters of Parts of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria

This work evaluated the Dar Zarrouk parameters of parts of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria. The aim of the study is to use Dar Zarrouk parameters to determine the groundwater quality and potentials of the study area. Four (4) Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) were conducted with maximum electrode spacing of 200 m. The data was acquired using ABEM SAS 4000 Terrameter and processed using IPI2win and Interpex softwares. The Dar Zarrouk parameters evaluated in this work include Longitudinal Conductance (S), Transverse Resistance (T), Coefficient of Electrical Anisotropy (λ), Resistivity for the Formation (ρm), Reflection Coefficient (RC) and Resistivity Contrast (FC). Results obtained in this work showered that the study area revealed five (5) geologic layers. Resistivity of the aquifer layer ranged from 364.55 (layer 4, VES 3) to 567.66 (layer 4, VES 4). Depths to aquifer level for the study area are 15.06 m (VES 1), 14.31 m (VES 2), 12.15 m (VES 3) and 13.79 m (VES 4). All the four VESs showed a poorly protected aquifer of the study area. The Dar Zarrouk parameters evaluated showed that the study area has good groundwater potentials with values of Reflection Coefficient ranging from 0.87 to 0.97, Resistivity Contrast values ranged from 13.78 t0 71.59 while that of Coefficient of Anisotropy ranged from 1.39 to 2.01.Keywords: Aquifer, Aquifer Protective Capacity, Dar Zarrouk Parameters, Resistivit

Effect of paint fumes on histoarchitecture of the testes of adult male Wistar rats

Aim: To investigate the effect of paint fumes on the histoarchitecture of the testes.Methodology: In this study, we reported sixteen (16) Wistar rats mainly male of an average weight of 180g. Four groups of four rats each were divided into groups A-D. The treated rats were exposed to paint fumes for 8 hours daily, group A for three weeks, B for four weeks and C for five weeks. Group D animals (control group) were exposed to air for 8 hours for five weeks. On the last day of exposure, animals were euthanized, sacrificed and thoraco-abdominal incision was performed after which one testis was received from each rats, preserved in 10% formal saline and further processed for histological study using Hematoxylin and eosin technique.Results: The testes of the paint fumes exposed group shows necrotic cell death of the germ cells (spermatogonia) and reduced sperm cells in the central lumen. This is an indication of altered spermatogenesis.Conclusion: Paint fumes that contain volatile organic compound cause the necrotic death of testicular germ cells in exposure dependent manner and there were reduced sperm cells in the lumen. This can lead to infertility. Keywords: histoarchitecture, testes, spermatogonia, infertilit

Antibacterial activities of leaf extracts of Brassica oleracae var. capitata. (Brassicaceae) against multi-drug resistant clinical isolates in Maiduguri

Brassica oleracae var. C. green cabbage, a herbaceous biennial plant with leaves that form a compact head, is an edible vegetable used historically as a medicinal herb for a variety of purported health benefits. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antibacterial activities of ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts of Brassica oleracae var. C. against clinical isolates of pathogenic bacteria (S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumonia and P. aeruginosa) by agar well diffusion method. The extraction was carried out by cold marceration and qualitative phytochemical analysis was conducted. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids and reducing sugars. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts demonstrated a concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against S.aureus, E.coli, and P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, the ethanolic and methanolic extracts of B. oleracae demonstrated antibacterial activities and these findings could contribute to effective use of the plant.Keywords: Antibacterial, Brassica oleracae, Clinical isolates, Multi-drug resistant, Phytochemical constituent

On the Performance of RESET and Durbin Watson Tests in Detecting Specification Error

When a model is created which correctly leaves out one or more important variables, one rarely know which test has the highest power for detecting the associated specification error. This research adopts the use of bootstrapping experiment. The models investigated consist of three omitted variables which have a coefficient that varies from 0.1 through 1 and 2. A bootstrap simulation approach was used to generate data for each of the models at different sample sizes (n) 20, 30, 50, and 80 respectively, each with 100 replications(r). For the models considered, the experiment reveals that the Ramsey Regression Equation Specification Error Test (RESET test) is more efficient than that of Durbin-Watson test in detecting the error of omitted variable in specification error

On The Statistical Analysis of Ante-Natal Care Use in Nigeria: Multilevel Logistic Regression Approach

Ante-Natal Care usage among women has a great impact on the survival rate of both mother and the new born child. Inadequate usage influences the mortality rate of both woman and infant thus affecting both economic and health status of any population, Nigeria in particular. Attaining and even surpassing the minimum number of Ante Natal Care (ANC) visits as specified by World Health Organization, WHO helps to ensure healthy outcomes for women and newborns. Multilevel logistic regression models were applied to data involving women who make ANC visits who participated in the 2013 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) in Nigeria. Results show that location, women education, religion and wealth index of participant were significant factors that influence the probability of women meeting and/or surpassing the required number of ANC visits required by WHO. We also found that husband’s level of educational attainment and the frequency of information gathering by such women also influenced their chances of making more ANC visits. Keywords: Ante-Natal Care, Multilevel, Logistic Regression, Intra-class correlatio

A report on oral health delivery to rural underserved communities oyo state using the mobile dental clinic

Objective: In Nigeria, the distribution of health care facilities particularly oral health facilities is urban based. Consequently, the rural people have no access or minimal access to oral health care. Various studies have called attention to the increasing trend of oral diseases in Nigeria, especially in the rural areas. Mobile dental clinic transcends all barriers to oral health care including physical and cultural barriers through community outreach, to rural underserved areas. Therefore, this project set out to determine the oral health needs of poor underserved rural communities in Ibadan and to deliver oral health care at their doorsteps.Methods: Using the services of a mobile dental clinic, inhabitants in selected rural communities namely; Akufo, Olosun, Aremo and Ilaju were given oral health talk and treatment after their needs were determined using dental mirror, natural light, CPITN probe, caries probe.Result: One hundred and thirty one people were examined and treated. Majority were from Yoruba tribe. More females (58.0%) participated in the study. Mean age of the participants was 42.4years (+10.4). Many (61.8%) of the participants had periodontal disease, tooth wear 24.4%, dental caries 16.0%. Majority of the participants had scaling and polishing (61.8%) as treatment, while 3.1% had atraumatic restorative treatment. Extraction was done for 6.8% of participants, while 27.5% were referred.Conclusion: Oral diseases, especially periodontal disease, tooth wear and caries are quite prevalent in underserved rural communities.Keywords: oral health, rural, mobile, barriers, underserve

Subjective Evaluation of Life Satisfaction by community-dwelling Spinal Cord Injury Patients Managed at the University College Hospital, Ibadan

Background: Life satisfaction in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) population is influenced by the ability to perform social roles and engage in activities. Investigations on the psychosocial aspects of SCI in Nigeria have concentrated on the objective dimensions, while much has not been documented, qualitatively, on life satisfaction among the SCI survivors in our setting. The research focused on the subjective evaluation of well-being related to social role performance among community-dwelling adults with SCI managed at the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria.Methods: The study design is descriptive and qualitative data collection was utilized. Seventeen SCI patients who had been discharged home were purposively selected and interviewed via telephone. The domains of life evaluated included sexual life, marital life, and general life satisfaction. These were assessed with an interview guide intended for this purpose. Data were thematically content analysed.Results: Some participants could return to employment and perform occupational roles. The participants described their life as dissatisfactory. Dissatisfaction was reported with sexual and marital life and social interaction after SCI. Family role performance was likewise dissatisfactory. The participants’ dissatisfaction with life post-SCI was largely influenced by their internalization and interpretation of the inability to function in areas of life they perceived important.Conclusion: The subjective evaluation of life reported by persons living with permanent SCI suggests that they require more support from their families, healthcare providers and the community at large. Additionally, their psychosocial needs deserve constant monitoring by the significant others and healthcare providers in order to provide timely countermeasures. Keywords: Life Satisfaction; Social Role; Spinal Cord Injury; Subjective Evaluation; Nigeri

Performance characteristics, nutrient digestibility and blood profile of rabbits fed diets containing graded levels of Moringa oleifera seed powder

A ten-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the performance, nutrient digestibility and blood profile of rabbits fed diets containing graded levels of Moringa oleifera seed powder (MSP). Twenty-four male growing rabbits of mixed breeds were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments. Each treatment group was further sub-divided into three (3) replicates of two (2) rabbits each in a completely randomized design (CRD). Four diets were formulated to include MSP at varying inclusion levels of 0, 0.5, 1 and 2% for treatments T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively, which were pelletized. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum. Data were collected on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of rabbits fed the experimental diet while at the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected to determine the effect of different inclusion levels of MSP on haematological and serum biochemical indices of rabbits. Result revealed that the average daily feed intake (68.76-78.93g) decreased significantly (p<0.05) across the dietary treatments as the MSP inclusion levels increased but a rise was noticed at the highest inclusion level of MSP (T4). The weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not significantly influenced (p >0.05) by the dietary treatments. No significant differences (P>0.05) among treatments were observed on all the blood profile except the lymphocyte, monocytes, total protein and globulin. Rabbits on T4 recorded the highest values in total protein (6.91 g/dl) and globulin (3.03 g/dl). Digestibility studies however showed that all the parameters were significantly affected (p<0.05) by dietary treatments in which rabbits on T2 had the highest dry matter (82.03%), crude protein (62.23%) and ash (89.48%) digestibility values. It can be concluded that Moringa oleifera seed powder (MSP) can be supplemented in growing rabbit’s diet without any deleterious effects on performance, blood profile and nutrient digestibility.Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Performance, Blood profile, Nutrient digestibility, Rabbit