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Evaluation of the Impact of Tinnitus on Health-Related Quality of Life amid Sawmill Workforces
Full text linkBackground: Tinnitus is the phantom aural perception of sound lacking an
exterior stimulus, a sub-type of auditory hallucination and it is a common
sensation among noise-exposed employees. It is a symptom, not an illness.
Tinnitus can be extremely perplexing for its subjects and it may perhaps disturb
their health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) if exposed to extreme noises in
many ways. Objective: This study is intended to discover the effects and pattern
of tinnitus on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) amid noise-exposed saw
mill workforces. Method: This study was a prospective and public-centered
cross-sectional study, including 510 sawmill personnel. 510 directorial staff
was used as the control. Health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) of all subjects
was assessed with the WHO Quality of Life brief questionnaire. Self-reported
tinnitus morbidity was assessed by means of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. A correlation was established amid health-related quality of life scores
and tinnitus severity scores. Result: There were 510 sawmill employees enlisted
into the study, out of which 490 were men and 20 were women with control
of the same age and sex. The mean age was 36.85 ± 7.68 years for the sawmill
workers and 35.75 ± 8.65 years for the control group (t = 1.02, P = 0.275).
The mean tinnitus score for the sawmill workers was 20.80 ± 2.56. Out of the
510 sawmill workers, 52 (10.2%) had tinnitus and one of the controls had tinnitus. The mean health-related quality of life scores were 62.20 ± 8.62 and
72.56 ± 5.98 for the sawmill workers and control group respectively. There
was a substantial and remarkable difference between the health-related quality of life of the sawmill workers and the control group (P < 0.05). Also, it was observed that there was a noteworthy drop in the overall physical and psychological domains of the health-related quality of life scores with an increase
in work environment noise level among sawmill employees and no major alteration was observed in the social and environmental aspects of the quality
of life scores with change in occupational noise gains. Conclusion: The prevalence of tinnitus from this study was found to be 10.20% and an upsurge in
tinnitus rigorousness was seen to be related with a substantial drop in physical, psychological and social domains of the health related quality of life. We
highly endorse hearing conservation programmes and use of personal protective equipments for sawmills workers which will aid to decrease the effects of
exposure to loud noise. Those sawmill labors already having tinnitus must attempt to go for treatment
Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Tetracarpidium conophorum seed lectin
Full text linkThe anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of the lectin purified from Tetracarpidium conophorum seeds were investigated.
The lectin was purified from the phosphate buffered saline crude extract of the seeds
using gel filtration and affinity chromatography techniques. Hemagglutination assay and
hapten-sugar inhibition test were carried out to ascertain the blood group and sugar
specificities of the lectin respectively. Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of
the lectin were evaluated (in-vivo) with standard models including formalin licking test,
carrageenan-induced paw edema test and peritonitis model.
A yield, purification fold and subunit molecular weight of 27%, 17 and 34 kDa respectively were obtained for the purified lectin from T. conophorum seed (TcSL). The lactose/galactose specific TcSL showed significant inhibition (p < 0.05) of nociception as measured by paw licking time upon pain induction by formalin and inflammation as measured
by paw swollenness induced by sub-plantar injection of carrageenan. The lectin also significantly reduced carrageenan-induced leucocyte migration to the peritoneum in a dosedependent manner.
The study concluded that TcSL showed anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities
and thus poised to be a good bio-active peptide for the design of novel anti-inflammatory
therap
INCIDENCE OFMYCOTOXIGENICFUNGIDURING PROCESSING AND STORAGE OF BAMBARA GROUNDNUT (Vigna subterranea)COMPOSITE FLOUR
Full text linkFungal contamination of food commodities is a global food security challenge that impacts negatively on thehealth of consumers. Mycotoxinsare produced as secondary metabolitesby some pathogenic fungi andmay contaminate agricultural products while on the field or during harvesting and storage. Processing operations andstorage conditions of temperature and relative humidity have marked effect on the ability of fungal pathogens to grow and produce mycotoxins in agricultural food commodities. The consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated foods, even at low doses over a prolongedperiod of time,may have deleterious effects on health of consumers.Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) is an African legume gaining wide acceptance in various food applications due to its favourable nutritional composition, especially the highprotein content. In several parts of Africa, it is used as a supplement in cereal-based foods, especially inweaning food for infants and young children. Bambara groundnut grows near or under the soil,whichservesas inoculum of pathogenic fungi. Very little information is presently available on fungal and mycotoxin contamination of Bambara groundnut from Southern Africa.Hence, its safety for consumption from a mycological standpoint requires further studies.To establishthe profilingof fungal contaminantsin food commodities consumed in Durban, South Africa, 110 samples of regularly consumed food samples which included rice(23), spices(38), maize and maize-derived products(32), and Bambara groundnut(17)were randomly collected over a period of five months from retail stores and open markets. The food samples were screened for fungal contamination using conventional and molecular methods. Fungal isolates were characterized following DNA extraction, polymerase chain reactionand sequencing. Using a modified QuEChERS method, thedetection and quantificationof mycotoxinsin Bambara groundnutwas performedvia LiquidChromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS),and isolation and detection of the causative pathogenwas carried out. The effect of processing operations of milling, a combination of roasting and milling, andspontaneous fermentation on thesurvival of the natural fungal population of Bambara groundnut,and aflatoxin production under simulated tropical conditions of storagewas further studied. Processed Bambara groundnut flour samples were stored at temperature of 30±1°Cand 85±2% relative humidityfor 30 days,
viiand sampleswithdrawn at 5-day intervals for analyses, i.e., fungal counts, aflatoxin accumulationand changes in water activity during storage.Following the detection of aflatoxins in Bambara groundnut flour and the isolation of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavusin the seed, the effect of milling, roasting and milling, or lactic acid bacteria fermentationon the survival, growth and aflatoxin production of A. flavusin Bambara groundnutflour was studied.Irradiated seeds of Bambara groundnutwere artificially inoculated with a 3-strain cocktail of A. flavus(2 x 106spores/mL) and processed by milling, roasting at 140°C for 20 minand milling. Slurries of irradiated Bambara groundnut flour were also inoculated with A. flavusspores and 1 x 108CFU/mL inoculum of Lactobacillus fermentumor Lactobacillus plantarum. All inoculated samples were incubated at 25°C for 96 h,samples withdrawn every 24 h wereanalyzed for viable A.flavuscounts, changesin water activityduring incubation,and aflatoxin productionusing Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Bambara groundnut flour samples fermented with lactic acid bacteria were further analyzed for pH, total titratable acidity, and viable lactic acid bacteria countsover the incubation period. The degradation of aflatoxin (AF) B1by both lactic acid bacteriawas also studied. Slurries of irradiated Bambara groundnut flour were spiked with 5 μg/kgof aflatoxin B1(AFB1) and the percentage reduction over the incubation period was determinedusing HPLC.The survival, growth and aflatoxin production ofA.flavusin Bambara groundnut and maize-composite flours as affected by milling, roasting and milling or lactic acid bacteria fermentation during storage was also studied. Processed and irradiated Bambara groundnut flour, maize flour and maize-bambara composite flour (70:30) were inoculated with 2 x 107spores/ml of A.flavusand stored for up to 10 weeks at a temperature of 25±2°C and relative humidity of 75±2%. Samples were withdrawn weekly and analyzed for viable populations of A.flavus, concentrations of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1and G2, changes in pH andwater activityover the storage period.Thecolonization of Bambara groundnut by A. flavusand the effects of fungal infection on the seed coat, storage cells and tissue structureswere also studied. Irradiated Bambara groundnut seeds were artificially inoculated with spore suspension of aflatoxigenic A.flavus(2 x 106spores/mL) and stored at a temperature of 25±2°C and relative humidity of 75±2% for 14 days. Samples were withdrawn at 24 h intervals for 4 days, then at 7 and 14 days and examined using scanningelectron microscopy (SEM)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).
viiiVarious fungal genera were isolated from the food samples under studywith Aspergillus (52.5%) and Penicillium(31.8%) as the dominant genera.All the 110 food samples were contaminated with more than one fungal species. A. flavusand other Aspergilli, Penicilliumcitrinumand Fusarium oxysporumwere isolated from Bambara groundnut seeds. AflatoxigenicA.flavuswas isolated from Bambara groundnut seed, with a co-occurrence of Aflatoxin (AF) B1 (0.13–6.90μg/kg),AFB2 (0.14–2.90μg/kg), AFG1(1.38–4.60μg/kg), and AFG2 (0.15–1.00μg/kg) in the flour. The fungal counts of the samples during storage significantly (p≤0.05) increased, irrespective of the processing method from 6.3 Log10CFU/g in Bambara groundnut flour to 6.55 Log10CFU/g in fermented Bambara groundnut flour.Aflatoxin concentrationwas affected markedly by the processing methodsinBambara groundnut flour(0.13 μg/kg) and fermented Bambara groundnut flour(0.43μg/kg), aflatoxin was not detected in roasted Bambara groundnut flour. The survival and growth of A.flavuswas also markedly affected by lactic acid bacteria fermentation and roasting during incubation. Within 24 hof fermentation with L.fermentum, significant (p≤0.05) changes were recorded inviable population of A. flavus (6.30‒5.59 Log10 CFU/mL),lactic acid bacteria count(8.54‒13.03 Log10CFU/mL), pH (6.19‒4.12), total titratable acidity (0.77‒1.87%) and a reduction by 89.2% in aflatoxin B1concentration.Similar significantchanges were recorded in Bambara groundnut flour fermented with L.plantarum.Aspergillusflavusin the artificially contaminated seeds were completely eliminated by roasting.Aflatoxin production was not detected in Bambara groundnut flour samplesover the incubation period.During storagefor 10 weeks, the population of A.flavussignificantly (p≤0.05) decreasedin roasted Bambara groundnut flour from 7.18to 2.00 Log10 CFU/g. Similar significant(p≤0.05)decreasein A. flavusviable countswas recorded in fermented Bambara groundnut flour from 6.72to 2.67 Log10CFU/g, howeverafter 7 weeks of storage and beyond,A. flavus was not detected. Significant (p≤0.05) decreasein aflatoxin B1(0.36‒0.26 μg/kg) and aflatoxin G1(0.15‒0.07 μg/kg) accumulationwasalso recorded in roasted Bambara groundnut flour. While A. flavusviable population significantly(p≤0.05)decreased in maize-Bambara composite flourfrom 6.90to 6.72 Log10CFU/g, aflatoxin B1accumulationsignificantly (p≤0.05) increasedfrom 1.17to 2.05 μg/kg.Microscopy studies showed that the seed coat of Bambara groundnut was rapidly colonized by A.flavuswithin 24 h of inoculation. The infection of internal tissues of the cotyledon was through the ruptured seed
ixcoat, resulting in a disruption of the cellular architecture. Cell wall collapse,developmentof cavities in parenchymatous cells and ruptured storage cells resulted from A.flavus infection of the seed.This studyreportsa high prevalence of fungal contaminationin some food commoditiesconsumed in Durban, South Africa. The isolation of live mycotoxin-producing fungi from the food commoditiesnecessitates the need for regular routine checks to ensure the mycological safety of agricultural products offered for sale to consumers. The detection of aflatoxigenic A.flavusand aflatoxins in Bambara groundnut flour at levels above the maximum tolerablelimitsraises health concerns on its utilization in food applications, and in supplementary feeding for infants and young children.Although roasting was effective in degradation of aflatoxins in Bambara groundnut seeds, elimination of fungal contaminants was not achievable which resulted in continued production of aflatoxin during storage. Fermentation using L. fermentumorL.plantarumiseffective in eliminating A. flavusand degrading AFB1in Bambara groundnut flour.Compositing Bambara groundnut with maize increased aflatoxin production in the flour.It is therefore necessary to implement legislationforaflatoxinsin Bambara groundnut,and develop effective management practicesduring planting, harvesting and storagethat willmitigate A.flavus infection in Bambara groundnu
PHARYNGO-OESOPHAGEAL FOREIGN BODIES: OUR EXPERIENCE AT TWO FEDERAL HEALTH INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA
Full text linkBackground/Aim: Foreign bodies (FBs) of the upper aero digestive tract often present as medical
emergencies and it is common in children especially under the age of five years. The aim of this
study was to present our experience with the management of Pharyngo-oesophageal FBs in two
federal health institutions in Nigeria over a 10-years period.
Methods: It was a retrospective study. Records of all the patients with pharygo-oesophageal foreign
bodies who were seen and treated in the Accident and Emergency unit and ENT clinic was retrieved
from the hospital medical record department. The information that was extracted include their
demographic data, time of ingestion to presentation, presenting symptoms, type of FB ingested,
treatment, length of hospital stay and outcome. X-ray soft tissue of the neck (anteroposterior and
lateral views) of the patients was also reviewed.
Results: A total of 57 patients have complete data for this study. There were 43 males and 14
females given a male to female ratio of 3:1. Their age range was 9 months to 86 years with a mean
of 32.8 ± 23.4SD. Majority (38.6%) of the patients are in the age range of 0-20 years. At
presentation, their major complaints were dysphagia (89.5%) and odynophagia (84.2%). More than
half of the patients (57.9%) presented within 24 hours of ingestion of foreign body. The most
common ingested foreign body was dentures, which were noted in 18(31.6%) patients. All patients
except one had rigid endoscopy. More than half (61.4%) of the FB impaction was seen at the upper
third of the oesophagus. Complications recorded are failed procedures in 3 (5.3%) patients, foreign
bodies were not seen in 2(3.5%) patients and one (1.8%) had subcutaneous emphysema.
Conclusion: Accidental foreign body ingestion of the oesophagus was still a major problem among
children. Commonest foreign object recorded in this study was denture. Large percentages of FBs
ingested were at home. Rigid oesophagoscopic removal is still the safest method of treatment.
Health education as to its prevention and early presentation to health facility will prevent morbidity
and mortalit
Insights into Cyber Policies, Information Technology Governance (ITG) and, Multi-stakeholder Security Governance Scaling (MSGS) for Decision Makers within UK SME Aviation
Full text linkA cyber policy can always be at an efficacy with the robust implementation of Information Technology Governance
(ITG). Analysing the linkages that may exist between ITG and Information Technology Governance (ITG), together with
the benefits of theorising scaling and scalability in such derivation is desirable in other to support decision making and
identify framework impediments to implementing cyber policy in the SME Aviation. In this paper, we define the term
cyber policy, discusses ITG and MSGS (a framework for cyber policy). We clarify the framework for cyber policy
(including major reviews, strategic elements, and benefits of the cyber policymaking to different stakeholders). We also
explore impediments to cyber policy implementation, evaluates frameworks and models on cyber policy implementation
approaches with SME Aviation and justifies the need for secondary data in researching with the rising issues. We
posited that when ITG and business policy aligned to entail lack of awareness of global and local threats to
cybersecurity, inadequate security infrastructures and the need for more experts involved in decision making, there is
the need for a new approach to cyber policy implementation for robust competitivenes
Audit of Otorhinolaryngological, head and neck emergency in a tertiary health care centre in a sub Saharan Africa
Full text linkBackground: Ear, nose and throat, head and neck emergency are very common with low levels of awareness. Early diagnosis and treatment lead to good outcome with low morbidity and mortality. This study aimed at determining prevalence, socio-demographic features, types, Comorbid illnesses and management of otorhinolaryngological emergency in our centre.
Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of the total number of ENT patients referred to Ear, Nose and throat department of Ekiti state university teaching hospital Ado Ekiti between July 2016 and June 2018. The clinical records of all the patients that have complete data were reviewed. All the data obtained were collated and analysed using SPSS version 18.0.
Results: Prevalence of emergency Otorhinolaryngological cases in this study was 18.4%.There were 62.2% males with male to female ratio of 1.5:1. There were urban dwellers in 61.2%. The main type of otorhinolaryngology emergency was 55.8% foreign body (Ear, Nose and Throat), 19.0% infection/inflammation and 13.4% trauma/road traffic accident. The most common otorhinolaryngology foreign body distributions were ear, nose and throat in 28.8%, 23.4% and 3.6% respectively. Infection/inflammation occurred in the 6.4% ear, 5.9% nose and 7.5% throat.
The anatomical distributions of otorhinolaryngology emergency were 49.9% in the ear, 31.9% in the nose and 15.9% in the throat.
The most frequent clinical features of the otorhinolaryngology emergency in this study were pain in 60.7% followed by foreign body (ENT) in 54.5%.
Major sources of referral were from self-reporting in 33.9% and casualty officers in 22.9%.
Modes of otorhinolaryngological emergency patient’s presentation were ENT outpatient clinic in 77.6%, accident and emergency in 17.5% and hospital ward in 4.9%.
Pre-hospital treatment occurred in 44.2% of the studied patients. 50.9% of the patients had conservative/medical treatment. Foreign body removal was done in 52.2% patients. Nasal packing were done in 6.9% while incision and drainage were performed in 5.4%.
Conclusion: Otorhinolaryngological emergency is common in various forms in our practice. This is associated with complications at presentation. Early referral is advised
Design Of Engineered Sanitary Landfill For Efficient Solid Waste Management In Ado –Ekiti, South-Western Nigeria
Full text linkOne of the largest environmental and public health issues that Nigeria is facing today is inadequate facilities for management of solid wastes. Design of sanitary land fill was done with major emphases on determination of the lifespan/target year and location of a suitable site. In this study a sanitary landfill system of depth 3.6 m, width 30.3m and length 72.8 m was designed and a model of it fabricated. The design of sanitary land fill entails the determination of the lifespan, location of a suitable site and carrying out financial analysis and determining the construction schedule of the landfill. Analysis of results obtained indicated that decomposable wastes (55.516%) are more generated than non-decomposable waste (44.484%) especially in Ado Ekiti. It is therefore recommended that government should take the management of waste serious because it can serve as a source of income
Prevalence, Awareness and Factors Associated with Glaucoma in a Rural Community of Ekiti State, South West Nigeria
Full text linkBackground: Glaucoma, a group of diseases that have optic neuropathy as a
common end point, is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide,
accounting for 4.5 million blindness, which is about 12% of global blindness.
This study aimed to assess the prevalence, awareness and risk factors associated
with glaucoma in a rural community of Ekiti State. Methodology: This
was a cross-sectional study conducted during a health outreach. All adults
present during the outreach were enrolled into the study and screened for
glaucoma and a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was used for
data collection. The validity of the questionnaire was tested at Ijero-Ekiti
community before being used for this research. Data obtained was analysed
using SPSS version 20 and p-value was predetermined at ≤ 0.05. Results:
Majority of respondents were aged 60 years and above with a mean age of 55
± 11.7. Majority (73%) were females and 41% had secondary education. Prevalence
of glaucoma was 10.7%; 36% of respondents had heard about glaucoma;
and 43.2% of those that had heard were not aware that it can lead to
blindness. Increasing age, level of education, procurement of glasses from
friends/relatives/roadside, using eyes drop not prescribed, history of previous
eyes injury and family history of glaucoma were factors identified as having
significant relationship with glaucoma. Conclusion: Glaucoma is prevalent in
the community (10.7%). However, level of awareness about the disease (36%)
was low. Factors, such as age, level of education, procurement of glasses from
quacks, use of eye drops not prescribed, previous injury to the eyes and family history of glaucoma, were shown to have significant relationship with glaucoma.
There is need to increase community awareness on glaucoma as a major
cause of blindness and the risk factors associated with it. Community
screening for people above 40 years for glaucoma is also recommended
STRENGTHENING LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS OVER DELEGATED LEGISLATION IN NIGERIA
Full text linkThe aim of this paper was to identify ways by which the role of the legislative arm of government in
Nigeria
can be further strengthened by entrenching the concept of accountability in delegated legislations in Nigeria.
In doing so, this paper examined the concept of delegated legislation for the purpose of clarifying its import
and dependence for validit
y on the legislature. It further examined the control mechanism for delegated
legislation and harps on the power of the legislature to check delegated legislation as it is done in the United
Kingdom and India, especially through legislative committees on s
ubordinate or delegated legislation. This
paper later found that the legislative control over delegated legislation in Nigeria is porous, inadequate and
restrictive, thereby making the executive arm of government too powerful. The doctrinal method of resea
rch
was adopted in carrying out this research and the paper ended by arguing for an urgent amendment of
sections 88, 89, 128 and 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)
(CFRN
Reproductive health outcomes: Insights from experts and verbal autopsies
Full text linkBackground: Reproductive health outcomes are a measure of maternal and neonatal health.
South Africa’s state of maternal health is of particular concern because of the two
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets for monitoring maternal health, namely
MDG 5a, to reduce the maternal mortality rate by three-quarters, and MDG 5b, to achieve
universal access to reproductive health by 2015. Maternal mortality ratio and universal
access to reproductive health receive unequal responsiveness from government. Monitoring
the maternal mortality ratio has received favourable attention compared to ensuring
universal access to reproductive health, hence the limited published research findings on
the latter.
Objectives: The purpose of this article is to report on the insights from reproductive health
experts and verbal autopsies on the determinants of poor reproductive health outcomes.
Method: Individual interviews with a purposively selected sample of six reproductive
health experts were conducted, augmented by verbal autopsies of 12 next of kin of women
and newborn babies who died within the previous 2 years period of the study. Burnard’s
(1995) approach of content analysis was used to analyse the data.
Results: The findings revealed lack of empowerment, inaccessible reproductive health services
and separation of patients living with human immune deficiency virus and those patients
diagnosed with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Conclusion: To meet the reproductive health needs, especially of the rural population, urgent
attention is needed to reduce their vulnerability to the risks of poor reproductive outcomes