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Gut permeability is associated with hypertension and measures of obesity but not with Endothelial Dysfunction in South African youth
No full textBackground: Though gut permeability has shown to be associated with
measures of obesity and hypertension, its relationship with endothelial
dysfunction, an early predictor for cardiovascular diseases remains
unknown. Objective: This study assessed the relationship between
hypertension, measures of obesity, gut permeability and endothelial
dysfunction. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study which
enrolled 151 South African youths was conducted. Anthropometric and
blood pressure measurements were performed. Zonulin, a marker for gut
permeability; adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory molecule, as well as
asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and Nitric oxide (NO) which are
markers for endothelialfunction were assayed. Results: Approximately
eighteen percent (17.88%) of the participants were hypertensive while
40.4% were pre-hypertensive. Adiponectin significantly increased in
hypertensive subjects and negatively correlated (p<0.05) with
measures of obesity but was not associated with gut permeability and
endothelial dysfunction. Increased body mass index (BMI) and visceral
fat (VF) predicted reduced adiponectin (inflammation). Zonulin was
significantly higher (p<0.05) in hypertensive subjects and
positively associated (p<0.05) with systolic blood pressure (SBP) in
females. A positive relationship (p<0.05) was observed between
zonulin and measurements of obesity. Moreover, zonulin negatively
associated (p<0.05) with ADMA but positively associated (p<0.05)
with NO in males. Increased VF and waist circumference predicted gut
permeability. Conclusion: Gut permeability was associated with
hypertension and measures of obesity but not with markers of
endothelial dysfunction in a South African youth population
Reported self-management of hypertension among adult hypertensive patients in a developing country: a cross-sectional study in a Nigerian tertiary hospital
No full textBackground: Sustained control of blood pressure, is dependent on degree
of self-management, which includes self-integration, self-regulation,
self-monitoring and adherence to regimen. We assessed the pattern of
self-management of hypertension among adult hypertensive patients in a
developing country. Methods: Cross-sectional study design and
convenience sampling, was used to recruit adult hypertensive patients,
attending Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data on
self-management components. SPSS version 21.0 was used to analyze data,
with p-value set at 0.05. Result: One hundred and seven (107)
respondents, had mean age of 49.0 \ub1 12.0 years. Mean value for
self-management was 3.15 \ub1 0.55, comprising self-integration (3.06
\ub1 0.36), self-regulation (3.32 \ub1 0.63), self-monitoring (3.29
\ub1 0.84) and adherence to regimen (3.15 \ub1 0.55). Most
components of self-management, had high levels of mean score.
Respondents that were less than 40 years, compared with those that were
more than 40 years, had greater mean values for self-integration (3.37
vs 3.05), but significantly lesser values for all other components (p
< 0.05). Conclusion: Young hypertensives had poor levels of most
components of self-management. There is urgent need for health
educational programs on self-management of hypertension among young
people in sub-Saharan Africa
Prevalence of sickle cell trait and its association to renal dysfunction among blood donors at University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo, Nigeria
No full textIntroduction: Prospective blood donors are routinely screened for blood
borne infections but medical illnesses and haemoglobin genotype are
overlooked despite a high prevalence of haemoglobin AS among Nigerian
donors. Objective: To determine the prevalence of haemoglobin AS and
its association to renal function, if any. Method: Apparently healthy
donors were studied between February and December 2018. Their
haemoglobin genotype and, estimated glomerular filtration rates were
determined. Results: There were 96 males (94.1%) and 6 (5.9%) females
with mean age of 26.7\ub14.5 years (range 19-44 years) and mean eGFR
of 103.97\ub119.00ml/min/1.73m2. Eighty one (79.4%) and 21 (20.6%)
subjects had haemoglobin AA and AS genotypes respectively. The mean
eGFR for subjects with haemoglobin AA and AS were
105.2\ub118.6ml/min/1.73m2 and 99.9 \ub1 21.2ml/min/1.73m2
respectively (p value = 0.270). Eighty one (79.4%), 20 (19.6%) and 1
(1.0%) subjects had renal function at >90ml/min/1.73m2,
60-89ml/min/1.73m2 and 30-59ml/min/m2 respectively. There was no
significant difference in the mean eGFR between subjects with
haemoglobin AA and AS (mean difference 5.3, p = 0.265, 95%CI = -4.07 to
14.60). Conclusion: The prevalence of sickle cell trait among Nigerian
blood donors is high. There is no significant difference in the renal
function status of blood donors with SCT and normal haemoglobin
genotype
Towards a better understanding of attitudes and beliefs held by traditional healers and recipients of traditional medicine concerning mental health conditions in post-conflict Liberia: a qualitative investigation
No full textBackground: A better understanding of attitudes and beliefs held by
traditional healers and utilizers of traditional medicine concerning
mental health conditions in Liberia is important as Liberia seeks to
improve its delivery of mental healthcare in the context of scarce
resources and recovery from civil war. Methods: A qualitative research
design was used to collect data from 24 Liberian traditional healers,
and 11 utilizers of Liberian traditional medicine. Participants were
queried about mental health problems in Liberia, treatments, and
attitudes towards modern healthcare. Qualitative data were probed and
aggregated using content analysis. Results: Mental health problems
described by study participants included: Open Mole, African Science,
Epilepsy, Depression and Mental Illness (trauma/substance use). Mental
health problems were often associated with socioeconomic distress, and
participants described their attitudes and beliefs concerning mental
healthcare, traditional medicine, and modern healthcare. Conclusion:
Traditional medicine is an important part of mental healthcare in
Africa. Mental illness, social factors, and healthcare access were
important problems in Liberia. Mental health problems blended local
cultural beliefs with Westernized nosology and social factors.
Traditional healer\u2019s attitudes towards Western medicine reflected
ambivalence. There is a desire for collaboration with
\u2018modern\u2019 health care providers, but this will require
reciprocal trust-building
Growth and Yield of Two Maize Varieties under the Influence of Plant Density and NPK fertilization
No full textThis study assessed growth and yield performances of maize under the
influence of inorganic fertilizer, population density and variety using
the following treatments: maize varieties DMR-ESR-Y and Suwan-1-SR; 70
7 30cm and 100
7 40cm plant spacing; 0, 60 and 120 kg NPK/ha
. Data were collected on number of leaves per plant, plant height, ear
height, leaf area, leaf area index, days to 50% flowering, days to
tassel and silk appearances, stem dry mass, root dry mass, cob mass,
number of kernel rows, number of kernels per cob, harvest index,
treatment yield per hectare. The result showed that combination of
120kgN/ha, DMR-ESR-Y and 47, 619 plants/ha improved root, shoot, leaf
sheath and plant dry masses, cob length, cob diameter, shelling
percentage, moisture content at harvest, harvest index, number of cobs
per plant as well as number of kernels per row. It is, therefore,
recommended that combination of 120kgNPK/ha, DMR-ESR-Y and 47,619
plants/ha should be used for better maize production to cater for the
ever increasing population of consumers in Southern Guinea savannah
agro-ecological zone of Nigeria and other area with the same climatic
and edaphic conditions
Analysis of Class 1 Integrons and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains from Benin City, Nigeria
No full textThe presence of integrons and antibiotic resistance genes in the genome
of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pose a serious problem in the treatment and
control of infections caused by this pathogen in hospitals. This study
was carried to analyse the presence of class 1 integrons and some
antibiotic resistance genes on selected clinical and environmental
strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A total of 120 strains were employed
for this study. The strains were confirmed using molecular method and
species-specific primers targeting the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid
(rRNA). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the presence
of class 1 integrons and resistance genes using appropriate primers and
conditions. The strains were analysed for the presence of the following
antibiotic resistance genes - aadA, blaPSE, blaAMPC, blaIMP and tetC
encoding aminoglycosides, betalactamases, metallo-beta-lactamases (MBL)
and tetracylines resistance respectively. On screening the isolates for
the presence of class 1 integrons, 50/60 (83.3 %) clinical isolates and
46/60 (76.7 %) environmental isolates showed positive results (P >
0.05). In both clinical and environmental isolates, the highest
occurring resistance genes were blaAMPC and tetC (encoding
beta-lactamases and tetracylines respectively), while the least was
observed in blaIMP (encoding metallo-beta-lactamases). In comparison,
there was high significance difference (at P<0.01 significance
level) in the resistance gene blaPSE between the clinical and
environmental strains. The high prevalence of these resistance genes is
a great threat in the treatment of Pseudomonas infections
Major Ion Chemistry and Groundwater Quality Evaluation for Irrigation
No full textHydrogeochemical characteristics of Groundwater analyzed in the study
area of Coimbatore district by collecting 60 samples from agricultural
belt. Groundwater quality for irrigation is determined by several key
factors like pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Total suspended solids
(TDS). The cations such as Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Calcium
(Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+ ) and anions are Hydrocarbon (HCO3), Carbonate
(CO3 -), Chlorides (Cl-)and Sulphates (SO4 2-) are tested. The
irrigation water quality parameters such as Residual Sodium Carbonate
(RSC), Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), Chloro Alkali Indices (CA I &
CAII), Kelley\u2019s Ratio (KR), Magnesium Hazard (MH), Percent sodium
(%Na) and Permeability Index (PI), Soluble sodium Percent (SSP) are
computed from the key factors, anions and cations. From the USSL
Diagram the samples fall in C2S1, C3S1, C4S1 range. Salinity hazard is
too elevated in the study area, all the samples are categorized under
high to very high with the values greater than 750 \u3bcS/cm. Total
dissolved solid in the study area indicated that only 2 locations are
unfit for irrigation. SAR and % Na shows that there is no hazard
related to irrigation watering. Magnesium hazard in the groundwater is
high and indicates 51 sample out of 60 is unsuitable for irrigation.
From the study it indicates the groundwater is contaminated with salt
content and in most of the area it can be used for irrigation
Response of Clarias gariepinus to Allium sativum -based diet on growth performance and Staphylococcus aureus challenge infection
No full textThe response of Clarias gariepinus to Allium sativum on growth
performance and as anti-bacterial agent in Staphylococcus aureus
challenge infection was evaluated. A. sativum was included at 0%
(control), 1.5%, 3.0%, and 4.5% in fish diet. Twenty fish samples each
were randomly distributed into four tanks (T1, T2, T3 and T4). Fish
were fed twice daily at 5% body weight for twelve weeks. All fish were
challenged with 0.5ml of pure culture of S. aureus. A significant
(P<0.05) increase in body weight, total length and standard length
was observed. A. sativum at 3.0% inclusion promoted highest growth
with feed conversion ratio (1.25-1.41), protein efficiency ratio
(1.72-0.56), specific growth rate (1.92-2.09), condition factor
(0.83-1.99) and survival rate (60-95). Fish-fed A. sativum diet showed
that 4.5% inclusion had the least S. aureus activity. Bacteria load
significantly (P<0.05) decrease at week 12. Culture water had
dissolved oxygen of 4.0 - 4.2 mg/L, pH 6.0 - 7.0 and temperature of
26.0-28.00C. This study has shown that A. sativum supplemented diets
enhanced growth of C. gariepinus and functioned as antibacterial agent
against S. aureus. A. sativum at 3.0% inclusion in diet is recommended
for better fish growth and 4.5% A. sativum for antibacterial action
Biodegradation of Hydrocarbons by Bacillus cereus Isolated from Indoor and Outdoor Air of Selected Hospitals in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
No full textIndoor and outdoor air of five (5) hospitals in Ilorin, Kwara state
were sampled using settling plate method to isolate fifteen (15)
bacteria. Bacillus cereus was the identified spore former.
Biodegradation performance of Bacillus cereus on hexadecane and heptane
using Mineral Salts Medium (MSM) was studied for 20 days at four days
interval using the Jenway 6320D Spectrophotometer to assess the optical
density. The degradation and utilization of the hydrocarbons occurred
before the fourth day with readings for optical density obtained as
1.051nm and 0.820nm for hexadecane and heptane respectively. After day
4, there was a sharp decline in the utilization of hydrocarbons. A
second experiment was setup for optical density with heptane and decane
utilization being checked daily for a period of 5days. Bacillus cereus
utilized the hydrocarbons till the fourth day as the optical density
dropped on the fifth day. The readings for decane obtained on day 4 and
day 5 were 0.431nm and 0.338nm respectively. Also, there was a decline
in the readings of heptane from 0.451nm obtained on day 4 to 0.343nm
obtained on day 5. This study shows that Bacillus cereus is promising
in the biodegradation of alkanes and can also be utilized to clean up
pollution from petroleum spill which is becoming a prevalent ecological
hazard
Concentration of Heavy Metals in Vegetables Cultivated around Dumpsites in Jimeta and Ngurore Areas, Adamawa State, Nigeria
No full textThe study analyses the health risk assessment of the concentration of
Iron, Lead, Copper, Chromium, and Cadmium heavy metals in vegetables
grown near dumpsites of Jimeta and Ngurore areas of Adamawa State,
Nigeria. Vegetables mainly Spinach ( Spinacia oleracea ) and lettuce (
Lactuca sativa ) were collected in triplicates and analyzed using
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer Buck 210VGP (AAS). The result
revealed that heavy metals detected in spinach at Jimeta dumpsite
decreased in the following order: Fe (3.7 mg/kg) > Pb (0.18 mg/kg)
> Cu (0.12 mg/kg) > Cr (0.07 mg/kg) > Cd (below limit of
detection), compared to the metal concentration in spinach at Ngorure
dumpsite with lower concentration of heavy metal which decreased in the
order of: Fe (2.5 mg/kg) > Pb (0.16 mg/kg) > Cu (0.14 mg/kg) >
Cr (0.02 mg/kg) > Cd (below limit of detection). Other result for
Spinach in Jimeta decreased in the order Fe (3.31mg/kg) > Pb
(0.2mg/kg) > Cu (0.11mg/kg) > Cr (0.05mg/kg) > Cd (ND) beyond
the limit of detection while Lettuce decreased in the order Fe
(22.54mg/kg) > Cu (0.31mg/kg) > Pb (0.12mg/kg) > Cr
(0.07mg/kg) > Cd (ND) beyond the limit of detection. Fe is the most
abundant element in the vegetables with a mean value of 21 mg/kg
followed by Pb (0.177 mg/kg). The analyses of paired T-test for
vegetables in Ngurore and Jimeta at 0.05 level of significant confirmed
that Cu and Cr showed no statistically significant difference in their
concentration level while Fe and Pb confirmed that there was
statistically significant difference in their concentration level.
However, the detection of heavy metals in these vegetables calls for
close environmental monitoring and adequate public awareness. This is
necessary to discourage further pollution which could lead to high
metal concentration and metal poisoning in vegetables and invariably
humans that consume them