Implications of Indoor Air Pollution in Business Buildings in Nigeria

 Globally, the majority of individuals spend 90 percent of their daily routine time indoors. Outside air pollution adds to the toxins created in interior spaces owing to heating and cooling, which has a substantial impact on person healthiness (illness that results in mortality and morbidity) and productiveness. This study investigates the implications of air pollution on interior air quality in commercial buildings such as event centres in Kogi State, Nigeria. Descriptive research approach was used with a questionnaire administered to 120 participants chosen through a random sampling procedure in business buildings. Findings indicated that inadequate window and tiny door size, including absence of mechanical cooling devices linked favourably with higher temperature in the interior but negatively with its moistness. The results show that indoor air quality has negatively impacted on the workforce performance and productivity of the customers, and also on the efficiency of their activities in the event centres. Implication for practice is that designs of apertures should be large enough to allow for cross ventilation while mechanical cooling systems should be included in the design for optimal interior air quality. The study recommends synergistic interventions from academics, policymakers, and occupational practitioners to improve national standard and its implementation for the management and regulation of indoor air quality in inside settings in Nigeri

Assessment of health communication practice on hepatitis B in Southwest Nigeria

In line with the Sustainable Development Goal 3:3 of ending the epidemic of hepatitis by year 2030, there is a global call for strategic information to understand viral hepatitis. Existing studies on hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Nigeria have primarily focused on health practitioners and their patients, to the neglect of detailed empirical data on health communication practice, especially as it relates to semi-urban and urban demographic information. The study set to find out the communication strategies employed by government and non-government organisations working on HBV, as well as the preferred health communication channels for hepatitis B by semi-urban and urban residents. The study adopted a mixed method. The qualitative method assessed the communication strategies employed by government and non-government health-related agencies in informing people on HBV in Nigeria while, the survey examined the preferred health communication channels for HBV management among 582 semi-urban and urban residents in Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun States, Southwest Nigeria. Bivariate analyses were performed on demographic variables and preferred health communication channels for HBV by states. This study found that government agencies and non-government organisations working on hepatitis B predominantly make use of interpersonal communication in getting the people informed of HBV. Also, residents of Southwest Nigeria (elderly, 71.4% (Lagos), married couples, 53.7% (Ogun)) preferred the internet as a health communication source for hepatitis B information as against traditional means of television, radio and print platforms

Genic SNP markers and legume synteny reveal candidate genes underlying QTL for Macrophomina phaseolina resistance and maturity in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.]

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Macrophomina phaseolina </it>is an emerging and devastating fungal pathogen that causes significant losses in crop production under high temperatures and drought stress. An increasing number of disease incidence reports highlight the wide prevalence of the pathogen around the world and its contribution toward crop yield suppression. In cowpea [<it>Vigna unguiculata </it>(L) Walp.], limited sources of low-level host resistance have been identified, the genetic basis of which is unknown. In this study we report on the identification of strong sources of host resistance to <it>M. phaseolina </it>and the genetic mapping of putative resistance loci on a cowpea genetic map comprised of gene-derived single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Nine quantitative trait loci (QTLs), accounting for between 6.1 and 40.0% of the phenotypic variance (R²), were identified using plant mortality data taken over three years in field experiments and disease severity scores taken from two greenhouse experiments. Based on annotated genic SNPs as well as synteny with soybean (<it>Glycine max</it>) and <it>Medicago truncatula</it>, candidate resistance genes were found within mapped QTL intervals. QTL <it>Mac-2 </it>explained the largest percent R²and was identified in three field and one greenhouse experiments where the QTL peak co-located with a SNP marker derived from a pectin esterase inhibitor encoding gene. Maturity effects on the expression of resistance were indicated by the co-location of <it>Mac-6 </it>and <it>Mac-7 </it>QTLs with maturity-related senescence QTLs <it>Mat-2 </it>and <it>Mat-1</it>, respectively. Homologs of the <it>ELF4 </it>and <it>FLK </it>flowering genes were found in corresponding syntenic soybean regions. Only three <it>Macrophomina </it>resistance QTLs co-located with delayed drought-induced premature senescence QTLs previously mapped in the same population, suggesting that largely different genetic mechanisms mediate cowpea response to drought stress and <it>Macrophomina </it>infection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Effective sources of host resistance were identified in this study. QTL mapping and synteny analysis identified genomic loci harboring resistance factors and revealed candidate genes with potential for further functional genomics analysis.</p

Hepatitis C virus infection in Nigerians

Background: Hepatitis C virus is a chronic lifelong infection in the majority of patients who are infected with the virus. Not much is known and written/published about this virus in Nigeria. Objective: To assess the status of hepatitis C virus infection in Nigeria. Materials and method:Sources of information were mainly from published works in and outside Nigeria. The information was extracted over a period of 12 months from January to December 2009. Results: So far the prevalence of hepatitis C. virus infection is increasing in Nigeria, ranging from 4.7-5% in Ilorin, to 5.3-6.6% in Enugu, to 11% in Ibadan and 20% in Benin. Children and adults are all at risk of being infected especially sickle cell disease patients. Others include those who are exposed to the common risk factors like Blood transfusion, haemodialyisis, recycling of syringes and needles, sexual promiscuity. Conclusion: Reduction in the Hepatitis C virus infection could be achieved by Health education campaign of the general public and by support from government and non-governmental organizations for the to provision of antiviral and immunostimulatory drugs free of charge for those already infected

Hepatitis B virus infection in Nigeria - A review

Background:Hepatitis B virus infection is a pandemic and chronic infection may lead to chronic liver diseases which are often lethal. This review was done to assess the status of hepatitis B virus infection in Nigeria. Materials and Method:Source of information was mainly from published works in Nigeria and elsewhere. The information was extracted over period of 5 months from May to December 2007. Result: Since over 30years when pioneer works were done in Nigeria to the recent tunes the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection has remained very high. In Nigeria, the transmission of hepatitis B virus occurs mainly during childhood and all the risk factors (like blood transfusion, sexual promiscuity, lower socioecomic status etc) implicated elsewhere in the spread of the virus in the general population also play role in Nigeria. Conclusion: Reduction in the of hepatitis B virus infection could be achieved by public enlightenment campaign, mass immunization of the children and adults at risk while antiviral drugs and immunostimulatory therapy should be provided for those already infected