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Functional outcome of diaphyseal fractures of femur managed by closed intramedullary interlocking nailing in adults
No full textObjective: To study the effectiveness, advantages, disadvantages and
failure rates of closed intramedullary interlocking nailing of
daiphyseal fractures of the femur in adults. Materials and Methods: A
total of 30 cases of diaphyseal femur fractures in adults, who have
been treated with closed intramedullary interlocking nailing were
studied from 2008 - 2010. Data was analyzed both with regards to the
clinical and radiological outcome to evaluate the effectiveness,
functional outcome and morbidity associated with the procedure.
Results: Average age of the patient was 27.4 years with male
preponderance. Road traffic accidnents were the most common mode of
injury; middle third shaft fractures were most commonly seen (56.66%);
comminuted and transverse fractures (63.33%) were the commonest
fracture pattern. The union rate was 96.6%. Five patients had superfi
cial infection, four had shortening of limb, and in two cases union was
delayed. Excellent to good results were seen in 86.6% cases as per
modifi ed Klaus and Klemm criteria. Consclusion: Closed intramedullary
interlocking nailing has now become the treatment of choice for closed
diaphyseal fractures of femur in adults, especially those with high
comminution, long spiral, and segmental fractures. Interlocking nail
offers the added advantages of early joint mobilization, early weight
bearing, early muscle rehabilitation, shortened hospital stay, and most
importantly early return to work and prefracture state
An observational study of road safety around selected primary schools in Ibadan municipality, Oyo State, Southwestern Nigeria
No full textBackground/ Objective: Child pedestrians have been identified as
vulnerable road users. Although walking as a means of transport has
health and other benefits, it exposes children to the risk of road
traffic injuries. This study was conducted to assess the availability
of road safety features around government-owned primary schools in
Ibadan municipality. Materials and Methods: A multistage sampling
technique was used to select 46 of the 74 schools in the study area.
Some (11) of the selected schools were sited within the same premises
and shared a common entrance; thus a total of 35 school premises were
eventually observed. Trained research assistants observed the school
environment around the selected schools for road safety features such
as location of schools, presence of "school", "child crossing" and
"speed limit" road signs, and presence of traffic calming devices (road
bumps or zebra crossing). Results: Five (14%) of the schools were
located on major roads and eight (23%) had road signs indicating that a
school was nearby. Seven (20%) had road bumps close to the school, 15
(43%) had a warden who assisted children to cross, and none had a zebra
crossing. Five (14%) schools had pedestrian sidewalks. Conclusions: The
study revealed that the environment around a number of the observed
schools in the municipality compromised the pupils\u2032 road safety.
The local government, school authorities, parents, and road safety
professionals need to institute definite measures to enhance the road
safety environment around schools in the municipality
Social network as a determinant of pathway to mental health service utilization among psychotic patients in a Nigerian hospital
No full textObjective: The main objectives of the study were to determine the
relationship between social network and pathway to service utilization
among psychotic patients. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study
was carried out in a psychiatric unit in a general hospital in South
West Nigeria. Using structured questionnaires, primary data were
collected from 652 psychotic patients on their social network, health
behaviors and pathway to current service use. Logistic regression
analysis was used to assess the effect of social network on
patients\u2032 use of services, controlling for sociodemographics,
health and functional status. Results: Mean age of the respondents was
29.0 \ub1 7.5 years, range 14-58 years, males constituted 52.6%.
Regarding pathway to services, alternative sources of care such as
priests, spiritualists, natural therapists, herbalists, was the first
port of call for 78.9% of respondents. Family dominated the social
network in 51.1% of patients. The presence of some social network and
social support structures were significantly associated with the use of
general medical and specialty psychiatric services for patients with
schizophrenia (P = 0.03), schizoaffective disorder (P = 0.02), bipolar
I disorder (P = 0.01), but not with major depression and symptoms of
psychological distress. Conclusions: Findings indicate that social
support and social network enhanced utilization of mental health
services for psychiatric patients except for those with psychotic
depression or those with symptoms of psychological distress. In
addition, alternative sources of care are still relevant in mental
health service delivery in South West Nigeria
Evaluation of Extracts of Leaves of Crinum jagus for Antimicrobial Properties
Full text linkPlants have been used in ethno-medicine for ages in the treatment of
various diseases. In the current study, the leaves of C. jagus are
investigated for antimicrobial activities. The leaves were dried and
extracted successively with hexane, ethylacetate and methanol. The
concentrated extracts were screened for activity against Staphylococcus
aureus , Escherichia coli , Bacillus subtilis , Pseudomonas
aeruginosa , Salmonella typhi , Klebisidlae pneumonae, Candida
albicans , Aspergillus niger , Penicillium notatum and Rhizopus
stolonifer at concentrations between 6.25 and 200 mg/ml using the
agar diffusion method. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was
also determined. The percentage yields obtained were 0.92 %, 1.20 % and
25.2 % for the hexane, ethylacetate and methanol extracts respectively.
The zones of inhibition of the organisms by the extracts generally
increased with the concentrations. The methanol extract showed the best
activity of the three extracts tested. The methanol extract had values
ranging between 20 mm and 26 mm against the bacteria at 200 mg/ml. This
extract also showed values between 18 mm and 20 mm against the fungi at
200 mg/ml. The lowest MICs values (of 2.5 mg/ml) were obtained against
S. aureus, E. coli, B. subtilis and S. typhi. The polar constituents in
the leaves of the plant are likely responsible for the antimicrobial
properties observed. None of the extracts showed activity comparable to
those of the standard drugs, however the methanol extract showed some
potential as a source of antimicrobial compounds
Heavy Metals Concentrations in Five Brands of Lip Gloss and Mascara Cosmetics Sold and Used in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Full text linkThis study is evaluated the concentration of some toxic heavy metals
present in selected cosmetics sold and used in Calabar, Cross River
State, Nigeriausing aFlame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS),
VGP 210 (BUCK Scientific) Model. The result revealed that the average
concentration of the metals in mg/L ranged thus: Cadmium (0.012-
0.046), Chromium (0.002- 0.022), Lead (0.004- 0.024) and Nickel (0.140-
0.416). The concentration of Arsenic and Mercury was not detected, and
were considered string variables in this study. From the results, the
concentration of the metals detected were within the permissible limit
of the World Health Organization (WHO) except Cadmium that was slightly
above the WHO limit in one of the samples with a value of 0.046 mg/L.
These results indicate that the selected cosmetics used in Calabar
contains low amounts of the heavy metals analyzed in this study and may
not pose any health risk for now, except that the accumulation of such
little amounts over time due to prolonged use of these cosmetics may
cause harm
Quantitative Assessment of Land Cover Sensitivity to Desertification in Maigatari Local Government Area, Jigawa State, Nigeria
Full text linkDesertification alludes to land degradation in arid, semi-arid and
sub-humid regions resulting from various variables, counting climatic
variations and human activities. When land degradation transpire within
the world\u2019s drylands. It regularly makes desert-like conditions.
Land degradation occurs all over, but is characterized as
desertification when it occurs within the drylands. The study employed
adjusted MEDALUS methodology using eleven indicators rainfall,
evapotranspiration, aridity, soil texture, soil depth, slope gradient,
drainage density, plant cover, erosion protection, sensitivity
desertification index and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
(NDVI). Remote Sensing and GIS were the main techniques used in the
indices computations and mapping. Thus, Shuttle Rader Topographic Map
(SRTM) and Landsat 8 satellite imagery for the year 2019 with 30 meter
resolution, captured in the month of August (rainy season), covering
the study area were acquired from Global Land cover Facility (GLCF)
University of Maryland. The study finds that the duration and intensity
of rainfall is declining especially at the edge of the desert, extreme
north and western part of the area. Rain quickly drained through
infiltration and surface runoff which carried the little nutrients
attached to the soil. Rainfall and climate is of arid type recording
about 300-400mm of rainfall and the soil is low in organic matter
content making it weak and less fertile and support only the
cultivation of cereals and legumes. The study recommends that there is
need to strengthen the laws and policies in controlling desertification
and land degradation, establishment of shelterbelts to control
desertification and act also as wind breakers and encourage the use of
modern techniques such as drip irrigation to check the rate of
infiltration and runoff
Global Warming and Technologies for Carbon Capture and Storage
Full text linkGlobal concern about climate change caused by anthropogenic activities,
such as the large scale use of fossil fuels as major energy sources for
domestic and industrial application, which on combustion give off
carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Deforestation is also
reducing one of the natural sinks for CO2. These anthropogenic
activities have led to an increase in the concentration of CO2 in the
atmosphere and have thus resulted in the warming of the earth\u2019s
surface (Global Warming), droughts, melting of ice caps, and loss of
coral reefs. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and other variety of
emerging technologies and methods have been developed. These
technologies and methods are reviewed in this article
Proximate and Mineral Elements Composition of Three Forest Fruits Sold in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Full text linkThis study aimed to assess the nutritional and trace elements
composition of selected forest fruits sold for human consumption in
Port Harcourt. Fruit contamination by heavy metals is an issue of
global concern. Nondegradable elements bioaccumulations in tissues and
organs have deleterious effects in man. Three (3) Agroforestry fruits
species; ( Spondias cytherea L. (Anacardiaceae), Syzygium malaccense
(L.) Merr. & L. M. Perry Myrtaceae and Cola pachycarpa K. Schum.
Malvaceae) were purposefully selected and sourced from three
strategically located markets namely; Oil mill, Choba and D/line fruit
markets. The fruit species were procured and washed with distilled
water and the edible parts extracted, chopped and sun dried properly.
The nutritional composition was analyzed using 18th edition of the
Association of Official Analytical Chemist while trace metals were
analysed using PIXE Accelerator. Spondias cytherea yielded high
percentage of crude Protein (8.373\ub10.1) and Fibre content
(11.73\ub10.03), while Syzygium malaccense was rich in Fat
(7.17\ub10.02) and Ash (4.17\ub10.04). Moisture content was highest
in Cola parchycarpa (12.63\ub10.05). PIXE Accelerator analysis
revealed that the fruits contain high concentration of trace metals; S.
malaccense contained Mg (1170\ub1237.0ppm), Si (60.02\ub168.95ppm),
Al (14.89\ub17.71ppm), Fe (10. 60\ub14.11ppm), Rb
(3.20\ub10.00ppm) and Ti (1.82\ub10.00ppm). C. parchycarpa had Zn
(6.22\ub111.80ppm), Cr (1.60\ub10.75 ppm), Mn (0. 71\ub10.87ppm)
and Cu (0.38\ub10.33ppm). Ni (0.16 ppm) was found only in S. cytherea
fruit. The forest fruits are rich in nutrients vital for healthy growth
but the level of heavy metals (Mg, Al. Cr, Fe and Zn) in each of the
fruits were above WHO/FAO permissible limit, therefore excessive
consumption on a daily/weekly routine should be avoided
In-Vivo and In-Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Aqueous Extract of Di-Herbal Formulation ( Euphorbia hirta and lactuca virosa )
Full text linkEuphorbia hirta and Lactuca virosa are medicinal plants that have been
used in the cure and treatment of various diseases and for health care.
This study aims at evaluating the anti-inflammatory activities of the
aqueous extracts of Euphorbia hirta and Lactuca virosa plants. Albumin
and histamine induced inflammation in mice and xylene induced ear edema
were used for the in-vivo anti-inflammatory studies. Erythrocyte
membrane stabilization and inhibition of protein denaturation assays
were used for the in-vitro anti inflammatory studies. Combined doses of
100 mg/kg Euphorbia hirta and 50 mg/kg Lactuca virosa, 100 mg/kg
Euphorbia hirta and 100 mg/kg Lactuca virosa, 100 mg/kg Lactuca virosa
only and 10 mg/kg diclofenac significantly reduced inflamed paw in mice
(P<0.05) compared to control in albumin and histamine induced
inflammatory test. Combined doses of 50 mg/kg Euphorbia hirta and 100
mg/kg Lactuca virosa,100 mg/kg Euphorbia hirta, 100mg/kg Lactuca virosa
significantly reduced xylene induced inflammation (P<0.001) compared
to control. The extracts at 1 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml and 3 mg/ml significantly
inhibited protein denaturation (P<0.001) and heat induced hemolysis
of erythrocytes (P<0.0001). The plant extract of Euphorbia hirta and
lactuca virosa possesses in-vivo and in-vivo anti-inflammatory effects
Biosynthesis of Copper and Iron Nanoparticles using Neem ( Azadirachta indica ) Leaf Extract and their Anti-bacterial Activity
Full text linkNeem leaves extract was use to synthesize metal (iron and copper)
nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized using Scanning
Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and UV-Vis
spectrometer. The formation and stability of the reduced metal
nanoparticles in the colloidal solution were monitored by UV\u2013Vis
spectrophotometer analysis. Their peaks of CuNPs and FeNPs were
determined with a particles size in the range of 250nm-550nm and
250nm-350nm and have shapes of spherical and dendrimer respectively.
The zone of inhibition by CuNP on gram negative bacteria (
Staphylococcus Aureus ) is 20mm \ub1 1 while on gram positive
bacteria ( Escherichia Coli ) is 12.5mm \ub1 1. Thus, the
synthesized metal nanoparticles prove to have very high anti-bacterial
activity on both Staphylococci aureus and Escherichia coli. Copper
nanoparticles exhibits high antibacterial activity compared to iron
nanoparticles