Frequencies of feet feathering and comb type genes in the nigerian local chicken

Incidence of feet feathering condition, different comb types and the relative frequencies of the genes affecting these conditions were studied in 2030 local chickens. 14.78% of the local chicken surveyed had feathered feet, while 85.22% had non feathered feet. The single comb type was the commonest of the comb type observed in the chickens surveyed. 94.73% of the chickens had single comb, while 3.20% and 2.07% had rose and pea combs respectively. The estimated gene frequency for fish allele affecting feet feathering in the breed was 0.08, while its recessive allele, fih an estimated frequency of O. 92. The P allele for pea comb and the R allele for rose comb had a frequency of O. 02 and 0.01 respectively, while the recessive forms, rand p alleles for single comb had frequencies of 0.99 and 0.98 respectively. These estimated frequencies were found to be significantly different from the expected ratio based on simple Mendelian mode of inheritance of these traits

PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS AMONG HAUSA COMMUNITIES IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

SUMMARY Schistosomiasis remains one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases especially in Nigeria which has the greatest number of infected people worldwide. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 551 participants from Kano State, North Central Nigeria. Fecal samples were examined for the presence of Schistosoma mansoni eggs using the formalin-ether sedimentation method while the urine samples were examined using the filtration technique for the presence of S. haematobium eggs. Demographic, socioeconomic and environmental information was collected using a pre-validated questionnaire. The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis was 17.8%, with 8.9% and 8.3% infected with S. mansoni and S. haematobium, respectively and 0.5% presenting co-infection with both species. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age < 18 years (OR = 2.13; 95% CI; 1.34- 3.41), presence of infected family members (OR = 3.98; 95% CI; 2.13-7.46), and history of infection (OR = 2.87; 95% CI; 1.87- 4.56) were the significant risk factors associated with schistosomiasis in these communities. In conclusion, this study revealed that schistosomiasis is still prevalent among Hausa communities in Nigeria. Mass drug administration, health education and community mobilization are imperative strategies to significantly reduce the prevalence and morbidity of schistosomiasis in these communities

Acute renal failure in children with pre-chemotherapy advanced stage Burkitt's lymphoma

Background: Outcome of treatment of Burkitt's lymphoma - associated acute renal failure (BLARF) without dialysis is rather poor. This was a retrospective comparative study aimed at determining the outcome of two different treatment protocols tried on children with BLARF in two separate eras. Methods: One group of patients was assigned to treatment protocol A (TPA) and the other to treatment protocol B (TPB). TPA consisted of oral allopurinol, intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, frusemide, 8.4% sodium bicarbonate and intrathecal (IT) methotrexate. TPB consisted of oral allopurinol, alternate days IV infusion of low dose cyclosphosphamide (125mg/m2 x4 doses), IT metho­trexate, oral calcium lactate, IV calcium gluconate, salbutamol, insulin and IV infusion of frusemide, sodium bicarbonate and glucose. Results: There were 16 BLARF patients (12 boys) aged 6-14 years. Nine of 16 underwent TPA while 7 underwent TPB. Three of 9 TPA patients had stage C Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) while 6 had stage D BL. Five and 2 patients in TPB had stages C and D BL, respectively (P=0.1371). All the 16 patients had post­chemotherapy tumour lysis syndrome (TLS). Six of 9 patients in TPA died from TLS while the other 3 died from other causes. The 2 deaths in TPB were due to causes other than TLS. Risk of mortality from TLS was 30 times higher with TPA than TPB (P=0.0048). Hypertension, seizures, congestive heart failure, bleeding diathesis, severe anaemia, uraemia, proteinuria and microhaematuria were common co-morbidities in the patients. Conclusion: Present data suggest that slow IV infusion of low dose cyclophosphamide given on alternate days in addition to pre-emptive anti-TLS measures were associated with better survival rate (71.4%) in BLARF patients assigned to TPB

Microstructural Observations on Nissl Substances in the Cerebellar Cortex of Adult Wistar Rats following Quinine Administration

Purpose: This study assessed some microstructural effects of quinine, commonly used in malaria chemotherapy, especially in chloroquine-resistant and cerebral malaria, on the Nissl substance in the cerebellar cortex of adult Wistar rats using microanatomical studies. Methods: Twenty seven adult male Wistar rats, weighing between 150g and 190g, were randomly separated into groups A, B and C (n=9). The rats in group A served as the control and received intramuscular injection of physiological saline. Group B rats were injected intramuscularly with liquid quinine, 16mg/kg body weight as a start dose, followed by 8mg/kg body weight 8 hourly for seven days. Group C rats received the same treatment as group B but were subjected to a withdrawal period of one week. Groups A and B rats were sacrificed at the end of the treatment while group C rats were sacrificed at the end of one week. The cerebellum of each rat was removed and fixed in 10% formol saline for histological analysis. Results: The findings showed that the Nissl substances in the cerebellar cortex in control rats stained more intensely and distinctly compared with the less intense stain and degenerated Nissl substances in the treated rats. Conclusion: The observed degenerative changes in the Nissl substances in the cerebellar cortex of the treated rats may affect the synthesis of proteins in correlation with neuronal functions

Hesperetin-7-O-rhamnoglucoside ameliorates dichlorvos-facilitated cardiotoxicity in rats by counteracting ionoregulatory, ion pumps, redox, and lipid homeostasis disruptions

The contamination of edible agricultural goods with pesticides, including dichlorvos (DVDP), poses a substantial public health risk, promoting severe morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. It has been shown that hesperidin (hesperetin-7-O-rhamnoglucoside or Hes-7-RGlc) preserves cytomembrane, redox, and lipid homeostasis; unfortunately, its function on dichlorvos-incited heart damage has not been investigated. This work explored the ameliorative influence of Hes-7-RGlc on DVDP-activated cardiotoxicity. For this end, forty-two rats were randomly appropriated into seven groups (6 rats/group): Control, DVDP alone (8 mg.kg⁻¹day⁻¹), DVDP supplied with either Hes-7-RGlc (50 and 100 mg.kg⁻¹day⁻¹) or the reference medication atropine (0.2 mg.kg⁻¹day⁻¹), and Hes-7-RGlc alone (50 and 10 mg.kg⁻¹day⁻¹) were the seven groups investigated. DVDP was administered orally for seven days, followed by fourteen days of Hes-7-RGlc therapy. Then the rats were euthanized, and their blood and hearts were removed. Hes-7-RGlc chemotherapy substantially (p<0.05) restored DVDP-elicited dynamics in plasma and cardiac/myocardium creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), major lipids (cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and phospholipids), electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻), and total protein. Hes-7-RGlc remedy decidedly (p<0.05) abolished DDVP-stimulated amplification in the cardiac concentration of H₂O₂, NO and malondialdehyde; annulled DVDP-educed decreases in heart GSH levels, activities of GST, SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, ion transporters (Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-ATPase), ALT, AST, ALP, and LDH-1. Collectively, Hes-7-RGlc can be advocated as a natural supplementary candidate and blocker of DVDP-provoked heart deficits via its capacity to reverse disruptions of electrolytes, ion pumps, redox status, and lipid homeostasis