What Does Serum Adiponectin Portend in Obese Nigerian Type 2 Diabetes Subjects

Background: Adiponectin is a protein hormone whose levels have been found to correlate with glycaemic control and lipid profile in patients with Type 2 DM. This study evaluates the relationship of adiponectin in Obese and non - obese Nigerian T2DM patients. Method: This cross-sectional hospital-based study included two groups of 60 Obese T2DM and 60 non-obese T2DM subjects. All study participants had clinical assessment, and blood samples collected and assessed  for serum Adiponectin, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein. Results: Obese T2DM subjects had lower levels of adiponectin than Non-obese T2DM subjects (p > 0.05). In both groups, 65% and 77% of the Obese non-Obese diabetic group had good glycemic status, which poorly correlated with serum adiponectin levels, with higher adiponectin values seen in the groups with poorly controlled glycemic status. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels correlated positively with serum Adiponectin levels in both Obese and non-Obese diabetic groups, however this was significant only in the Obese diabetic group (r = 0.30, p = 0.02). Adiponectin correlated negatively with Triglycerides only in the non-Obese diabetic group (r = -0.12, p = 0.37), and also correlated negatively with atherogenic index (r = -0.092, p = 0.316), though not statistically significant. Conclusion: Adiponectin  is a poor marker for glycaemic control, and does not correlate with lipids such as TG, through its anti-atherogenic properties it may be associated with reduced risk of atherosclerosis as evidenced by its weakly positive and direct correlation with HDL among Nigerian Type 2 DM subjects

Location and Land use effects on Soil Carbon Accretion and Productivity in the Coastal Savanna Agro-ecological Zone of Ghana

Land use type, climate and soil properties are major determinants of soil carbon storage and productivity, especially in low-input agriculture. In this study, we investigated the interactions among these factors at four (4) locations, namely Accra Metropolis, Ga West, Ga East and Shai Osudoku, within the Coastal-Savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana. The land use types were maize-based cropping, cassava-based cropping, woodlot/plantations and natural forests. The impact of these on soil productivity at a given location was assessed in terms of soil carbon stocks and a Soil Productivity Index (SPI). The SPI is a composite value derived from routine soil properties such as: soil texture, available water capacity, pH, cation exchange capacity, soil organic carbon, available P, exchangeable K, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, and basic cations, among others. Principal component analysis was used to select soil properties that were used to estimate SPI. The results showed that the locations differed with respect to rainfall regimes and soil types. Locations with slightly heavier soil texture and relatively higher rainfall regimes (Ga East and Shai Osudoku) had significantly higher soil carbon storage and SPI values than the lighter soil textured locations (Accra Metropolis and Ga West). With regards to land use, forest had significantly higher soil carbon storage and SPI than all the other land use types, irrespective of location. The order of soil carbon storage and SPI were: forest > woodlot/plantation > cassava > maize. It was observed that though the Accra Metropolis location hosted the oldest forest, soil carbon was still low, apparently due to the lighter soil texture. We concluded that the soil productivity restorative ability is an interactive effect of carbon management (land use), soil texture and other properties. This interaction hitherto has not been adequately investigated, especially in low-input agriculture

The practice of hepatocellular cancer surveillance in Nigeria

Background: Hepatocellular cancer is a disease of global and public health importance due to the widespread distribution of risk factors and associated high case fatality. Hepatocellular Cancer (HCC) in Sub-Saharan Africa is commonly seen among the younger age groups (<45 years) who present mostly in the terminal stage, when the disease is not amenable to any curative therapy. Hepatocellular Carcinoma surveillance employs the use of simple, cheap and readily available investigations, to detect early curable cancer in individuals with risk factors for HCC.Objectives:The aim of this study is to assess the practice of hepatocellular cancer screening among physicians.Methodolgy:This is a nationwide online survey carried out among physicians who care for patients with HCC. A questionnaire was sent out via a web link to all consenting doctors in Nigeria. The responses were collated in a cloud-based application and data was analysed using Epi-info version 20.Results:Atotal of 218 respondents, 142 were males (65.1 %) with a mean age of 37.6 ± 5.7 years. The modal age group was 31-40 years 153 (69.5%). The main factors considered as a hindrance to surveillance were; the cost of the tests (57.7%), failure of return of patients (50.5%) and not being aware of a surveillance program (45.2 %). The majority of the respondents were Gastroenterologists and Family Physicians. 54% of the gastroenterologists and 64% of the family physicians have never offered HCC surveillance to their patients.Conclusion:This survey highlights a knowledge gap in HCC surveillance among physicians. There is a need to make HCCsurveillance a daily routine among patients at risk by all physicians. Keywords: Surveillance, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, HBV, HCV, Cancer screening

Effect of seed size and phosphorus fertilization on growth of selected legumes

A screenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the effects of seed size and phosphorus (P) fertilization on growth of 12 herbaceous and shrub legumes [Arachis hypogaea, Cajanus cajan, Centrosema pascuorum, Centrosema brasilianum, Crotolaria ochroleuca, Glycine max, Lablab purpureus, Mucuna cochinchinensis, Mucuna pruriens var. utilis (black seed), Mucunapruriens (white seed), Pueraria phaseoloidesand Vigna unguiculata] grown on a P‐deficient Plinthustalf. Species with large seed size showed higher biomass accumulation, nodulation and higher plant nutrient element content. However, response to P fertilization was higher in small size seeded species. Plant top dry weight was highly correlated with seed weight and seed nutrient element contents. Although P application significantly increased nitrogen (N), P, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) contents of plant tops, high rate of P fertilization appeared not to be beneficial to the early growth of the species tested on this P‐deficient soil. The use of large seed size with high seed nutrient element contents is highly recommended for fast establish ment of fallow legume species intended for use in production systems on P‐deficient soils

Differential response of cowpea lines to aluminum and phosphorus application

Two pot experiments were conducted, one to evaluate the levels of tolerance of fifteen cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] lines to aluminum (Al) application, and the second to determine the effect of phosphorus (P) addition on the performance of Al‐tolerant lines (IT 91K‐93–10, IT 93K‐2046–1, and IT 90K‐2 77–2) and Al‐sensitive lines (IT 86D‐719, IT 90K‐284–2, and IT 89KD‐349) in an Alfisol with Al amendment. Fourteen of the fifteen lines tested showed decreased root biomass (between 19 to 81% reduction) with Al addition, but this effect was significant for eight of them. Fewer lines showed decreased shoot biomass and grain yield with Al application. Despite little change in nodule number following Al application, there was a significant decrease in nodule weight (between 24 and 53% reduction) for nearly all lines. Phosphorus fertilization increased shoot and root biomass, grain yield, nodule number, and weight, and nitrogen (N) and P content of nearly all lines. Al‐tolerant lines showed higher response in shoot and root biomass and nodulation to P fertilization than Al‐sensitive lines, with the highest response from IT 90K‐277–2. Increase in shoot dry weight as a result of P fertilization was from 64 to 107% for Al‐tolerant lines and from 44 to 48% for the Al‐sensitive lines, and increase in root dry weight was from 46 to 86% for the Al‐tolerant lines and from 7 to 42% for the Al‐sensitive lines. Results of these trials indicated that lines IT 91K‐93–10, IT 93K‐2046–1, and IT 90K‐277–2 have potential for good performance in soil with Al toxicity problems, and that cowpea lines with inherent genetic tolerance to Al will give higher response to P fertilization when grown in soil with Al toxicity problems

Differential response of cowpea lines to application of P fertilizer

Phosphorus is important for cowpea production in many tropical African soils with inherent low P fertility. Most farmers in Africa, however, do not have access to P fertilizer. Selection of cowpea lines that produce good yield under low soil P or those with high P-use efficiency can be a low input approach to solving this problem. Pot and field trials were conducted at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria, to assess the differ ential P responses of cowpea lines obtained from the germplasm collection at IITA. Thirty-five lines were assessed for P response in a pot trial using surface (0-15 cm) soil of a P-deficient Alfisol (Oxic Palcustalf). Seventeen lines (com prising of 1 2 lines selected from the pot trial and five not included in the pot trial) were further assessed in the field. In the pot trial, P fertilizer significantly enhanced shoot, root, and grain dry weights. More than 60% of the cowpea lines also had greater nodule weight with P. Response of some of the cowpea lines was more pronounced for shoots than roots. In the field trial, more than 50% of the cowpea lines showed significant response to P. Compared with the pot trial, there were considerable variations in the pattern of responses of the cowpea lines to P. The cowpea lines were classified on the basis of their dry grain weights in the pot trial into four groups. Based on our results, we recommend that lines IT 90K- 284-2, IT 96D-724, and IT 93K-637-1 can be selected for further testing without P fertilizer. Lines IT 87D-94 1 - 1 , IT 86D-7 1 9, and Dan Ila may perform very well without P fertilizer and give a high return when P is applied. When P fertilizer is available, line IT 87D-941 -1 is recommended. These varieties should be tested at multiple sites to truly extend the results to breeding cowpea lines that could be targeted towards various soil P conditions

Phosphorus fractions in fallow systems of West Africa: effect of residue management

The effects of burning, incorporation and surface mulching after one year of natural regrowth (NF) and Pueraria cover crop fallows on soil P fractions and maize and cassava yields were assessed. Data were collected between 1998 and 2000 as part of an on-going long-term fallow management trial established in 1989 at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, in the derived savanna zone of southwestern Nigeria. After NF in 1998, burning temporarily increased resin- (63%) and NaOH- (19%) extractable inorganic P fractions when compared with mulching and incorporation. Organic P and total extractable P decreased as the season progressed. Fallow systems and residue management options had no consistent and significant effect on P fractions. For both years after NF, and in 1998, after Pueraria fallow, residue management options had no significant effect on cassava yield. However, in 1999 (wetter year), compared with burning and surface mulching, incorporation of Pueraria fallow residues improved maize and cassava yields. Similarly, maize yield was improved in 1999 with incorporation of NF residues. Maize yield increases due to incorporation of NF residues were 23% compared with burning and 49% compared with mulching. Maize yield increases due to incorporation of Pueraria residues were 37% compared with burning and 47% compared with mulching. Cassava yield was increased by 31% compared with burning and by 26% compared with mulching. Longer period of time may be required to assess whether differences in soil P fractions and crop yields will occur between fallow systems

Nitrogen fertilizer replacement indexes of legume cover crops in the derived savanna of West Africa

Legume cover crops are a potential means for overcoming N depletion in the derived savanna of West Africa. A 3-year trial was, therefore, conducted near Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria to measure the N contribution of 13 legume cover crops as compared to urea –N, using a N fertilizer replacement index for a maize test crop. Two series of trials involved the following legume cover crop species: Aeschynomene histrix, Centrosema brasilianum, Centrosema pascuorum, Chamaecrista rotundifolia, Cajanus cajan, Crotalaria verrucosa, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Lablab purpureus, Mucuna pruriens, Psophocarpus palustris, Pseudovigna argentea, Pueraria phaseoloides and Stylosanthes hamata. Trials were undertaken using a complete block design. Cover crops were planted in 1994 (Series 1) and 1995 (Series 2) in separate sites and each series was subsequently slashed and planted for one season with maize (Zea mays) in 1995 and 1996. At the 50% flowering stage, N concentration of above-ground vegetation of cover crops ranged from 21 to 38 g N kg−1. Nitrogen accumulated by 4.5-month old cover crops ranged from 14 to 240 kg N ha−1, depending on species and year. Cover crops increased grain yield of the subsequent maize crop by 25–136% over the control without N application. Nitrogen uptake by the maize crop was higher following cover crops than after maize or natural grass. The N fertilizer replacement index of cover crops for maize ranged from 11 (A. histrix) to 96 kg N ha−1 (C. cajan) in Series 2. Perennial (C. brasilianum, S. hamata, C. cajan, P. phaseoloides and C. verrucosa) and annual (C. rotundifolia, M. pruriens, C. ochroleuca and L. purpureus) species could potentially save 50 to 100 kg N ha−1 for maize crops. The cover crops accumulated more N in the wetter than in the drier year. However, the N fertilizer replacement index was higher for subsequent maize grown in the drier year. The cover crop-N recovery in maize was also higher than the urea-N uptake in the drier year. The N fertilizer replacement indexes can be predicted using the above-ground biomass amount of cover crops at 20 weeks after planting (drier year) or the N concentration at that stage (wetter year)

Longterm alley cropping with four hedgerow species on an Alfisol in southwestern Nigeria effect on crop performance, soil chemical properties and nematode population

A longterm alley cropping trial was undertaken on an eroded Oxic paleustalf in the forest-savanna transition zone of southwestern Nigeria from 1981–1993. Two nitrogen fixing hedgerow species (Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala) and two non legume hedgerow species (Alchornea cordifolia and Dactyladenia barteri) were used in the trial compared to a control (with no hedgerow) treatment. Plots were sequentially cropped with maize (main season) followed by cowpea (minor season). With 4 m interhedgerow spacing and pruning at 0.75 m height, the mean annual pruning biomass yields were observed in the following order: Leucaena (7.1 t ha−1 ) > Gliricidia (4.9 t ha−1 ) > Alchornea (3.7 t ha−1) > Dactyladenia (3.0 t ha−1 ). Alley cropping with the four woody species greatly enhanced the total plot (woody species + crop) biomass yield/ha as follows; Leucaena (21.8 t ha−1) > Gliricidia (17.7 t ha−1) > Alchornea (11.7 t ha−1) > Dactyladenia (9.5 t ha−1). Total biomass yield of crops in control plot was 5.3 t ha−1. Higher biomass yields with alley cropping also increased nutrient yield and cycling. Gliricidia and Leucaena showed higher nutrient yields than Alchornea and Dactyladenia. Alley cropping with Gliricidia and Leucaena could sustain maize yield at moderate level (>2 t ha−1), which would require a N-rate of 45 kg N ha−1 with sole cropping. Application of N in Gliricidia and Leucaena alley cropping still improved maize yield. Higher nitrogen rates are required for alley cropping with Alchornea and Dactyladenia hedgerows. A low rate of phosphorus application is needed for sustaining crop yields with all treatments. Occasional tillage is recommended to increase maize yield. Alley cropping and tillage showed little effect on cowpea seed yield. Surface soil properties declined with time with continuous cultivation. Alley cropping with woody species maintained higher soil organic carbon, phosphorus and potassium levels. Plots alley cropped with Gliricidia and Leucaena showed lower pH and extractable calcium level. Leucaena alley cropped plot also showed lower magnesium level. The decline in soil pH and extractable cations may be due to increased cation leaching with application of high rates of Gliricidia and Leucaena prunings. Alley cropping with the four woody species showed no effect on population of parasitic nematodes