Oxidative stress responses and cellular energy allocation changes in microalgae following exposure to widely used human antibiotics

The individual effect of four human antibiotics on the microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata was investigated following a 120-h exposure. The effects were assessed by analyzing growth, and biochemical parameters related with: 1) antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels; and 2) cellular energy allocation (CEA) by quantifying the content in energy reserves, which represents the energy available (Ea), and the electron transport system activity that represents a measure of oxygen and cellular energy consumption (Ec). Growth yield inhibitory concentrations of sulfamethoxazole (18-30%), clarithromycin (28.7%), ciprofloxacin (28%) and erythromycin (17-39%) were found to elicit a considerable increase in Ec, thereby causing a significant decrease in the CEA. The elevated Ec can be a result of the need to respond to oxidative stress occurring under those conditions given the significant increase in SOD activity at these levels. For sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin, the antioxidant responses do not seem to be enough to cope with the reactive oxygen species and prevent oxidative damage, given the elevated LPO levels observed. A stimulatory effect on growth yield was observed (up to 16%) at ciprofloxacin lowest concentration, which highly correlated with the increase in CEA. Based on the no observed effect concentration (NOECs) and/or effective concentration (EC10) results, Ec, SOD and CEA were more sensitive than the classical endpoint of growth rate for all the tested antibiotics. By revealing the antibiotic stress effects in R. subcapitata at the cellular level, this study suggests CEA as a more reliable indicator of the organisms' physiological status.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

1976 Universal Primary Education and Schooling Attainment in Nigeria

This study examines causal impact of 1976 Universal Primary Education (UPE) on individual schooling attainment in the Nigeria. This study exploits the quasi-natural experiment offered by the large-scale government investment in Universal Primary Education between 1976 and 1981 to confront the identification problems associated with this kind of study. Results from the Differences-in-Differences technique established that the UPE programme had positive and statistically significant impact on schooling attainment of beneficiaries. After controlling for all a large number of variables in the DID framework, exposure to UPE programme increases schooling attainment by 0.15 year. A formal test does not suggest that omitted variables might be influencing schooling outcomes

Analysis of the Impact of Religious Activities on Traffic Flow along Mowe-Ibafo Axis of Lagos – Ibadan Expressway

The increase in the number of religious centres as well as that of worshippers in Nigeria is alarming and unprecedented and it has also come with attendant problems; part of which is the degradation of the environment and more importantly traffic congestion. This paper examines the impact of religious activities on traffic flow and the implication for environmental sustainability along Mowe-Ibafo axis of Lagos – Ibadan Expressway. Using perceptual view of respondents generated through primary data of structured questionnaires as well as traffic count along the route, findings emanating from the study show that religious activities along this route have had adverse effects on the area with severe negative effect on traffic flow pattern as well as sustainable development. Empirical result generated also shows that the volume of traffic is a major factor along the axis but type of vehicle is not a major determinant of traffic flow in the study area. The study observed non-existing abatement strategies for curbing and  coping with the problems and thus suggest solutions towards ameliorating traffic flow which include strict enforcement of traffic rules and regulations in the area which would involve law enforcement agents as well as collaboration with the religious organization along the axis in maintaining traffic flow and preventing congestion. Keywords: Religious Activities, Environment, Traffic Flow, Sustainable Development.

Determinants of resumption of vaginal intercourse in puerperium period in Ogbomoso: consideration for early use of contraceptives

Background: Early postpartum period for mothers is characterized with high demand for neonatal care, adjusting to sudden withdrawal of hormones of pregnancy and dealing with sexual desires of the husband. The study aimed at determines the timing, factors influencing postpartum resumption of vaginal intercourse and the contraceptive usage.Methods: Women in puerperium were interviewed with structured questionnaire on their socio-demographic status, obstetric history, sexual activities, contraception usage and reason for sexual abstinence.Results: About 40% (143) of participants had resumed vaginal intercourse within puerperium with mean resumption period of 3.2 ± 1.8 weeks. Only 12% (48) of them used modern contraceptive. Educational status (P <0.001); occupation (P <0.001); educational status of the husband (P <0.001); occupation of the husband (P <0.001); parity (P <0.05); husband’s income (P <0.05) and use of modern contraception (P <0.001) showed significant statistical difference between the women who had resumed vaginal sexual intercourse and those who have not. Logistic regression showed that educational status of the participants (OR = 0.48, CI = 0.246-0.938; P = 0.032) and parity (OR = 0.34, CI = 0.196-0.591; P = 0.001) were the most significant factors associated with early resumption of vaginal intercourse. One hundred and eighty-five (72%) of women who were yet to resume coitus, did so because of fear of pregnancy.Conclusions: Significant number of women resumed vaginal intercourse during the puerperium despite low contraception usage. There is need to initiate a contraception method before discharge home following delivery.  

Prospective Comparative Trial of Ceftriaxone versus Ceftazidime as Prophylactic Perioperative Antimicrobials in Neurosurgery

Background: Previous reports have suggested that both ceftriaxone and ceftazidime are effective as prophylactic perioperative antibiotics in neurosurgery. This study was designed to compare the infection rates following the use of these antibiotics as prophylactic agents during neurological surgery in our centre. In a tertiary hospitalMethods: This was a prospective study in which patients were allocated into two groups. One group received ceftriaxone (Roche-rocephine) and the other group received ceftazidime (GlaxoSmithKline – fortum). Patients were followed up for evidence of surgical site infections for up to 6 weeks after discharge. Clinical and or laboratory evidence of wound infection were used as outcome measure.Results: There were 118 patients, 58 patients received ceftriaxone and 60 patients received ceftazidime. Infection occurred in 4 (6.9%) in the ceftriaxone group and in 9 (15%) in the ceftazidime group. The difference was not statistically significant. The infection rate following ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting procedure was similar (11.8%) in both groups.Conclusion: Our study confirmed the efficacy of ceftriaxone and ceftazidime in preventing surgical site infection that may follow neurosurgical procedures, but the difference in infection rates following the use of their use was not statistically significant

Ophthalmic manifestations in patients with intracranial tumours

Introduction L’étude a pour but d’apprécier les manifestations ophtalmologiques des patients présentant des tumeurs cérébrales au Nigéria dans un hôpital tertiaire. Méthode Il s’agit d’une étude rétrospective avec une revue des tumeurs cérébrales dans le Neurosurgical Unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile- Ife de janvier 2003 à décembre 2007. L’analyse des données, diagnostique, acuité visuelle, et prise en charge, ont été analysées selon la fréquence en utilisant avec la version 1 11 SPCS . L’acuité visuelle a été classifiée selon celle de l’OMS. Résultat Sur un total de 94 patients, 88 patients ont été revus. Il s’agissait de 53 patients de sexe masculin et 35 de sexe féminin. La moyenne d’âge était de 36.2 plus ou moins 20 ans. 14 patients ont été pris en charge par les ophtalmologistes. La répartition des tumeurs était la suivante: méningiomes, 36,4 %, craniopharyngiomes, 13,6 % et gliomes, 9,1 %. 67,9 % des patients se plaignaient de troubles visuels à l’admission dont 46,6 % avec une baisse importante et 12,5 % une vision double. Il a été objectivé une artrophie optique dans 23,9 % . 46 malades (52 %) étaient aveugles et 14 (16 %) avaient un trouble visuelimportant. Conclusion Les troubles visuels sont des manifestations cliniques fréquentes de présentation des tumeurs cérébrales. Une information médicale précoce est requise

Chloroquine prophylaxis associated with high prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum Pfcrt K76T mutation in people with sickle-cell disease in Benin City, Nigeria

Background & objectives: High mortality and morbidity in sickle-cell disease has been associated with malaria infection especially in countries where chloroquine is used. Chloroquine resistance has been associated with the emergence of Pfcrt mutant genes. This study aimed at comparing the prevalence rate of Pfcrt T76 mutation in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from infected individuals with sickle-cell disease and sickle-cell trait. This study was carried out in Benin City between the months of April and June 2006. This period is marked with high transmission rate of malaria. Methods: The genotype of the subjects was screened using haemoglobin electrophoresis system and the P. falciparum. Pfcrt genotyping was carried out using PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).Results: Four hundred and twenty-four subjects comprising of 207 haemoglobin AA, 136 haemoglobin AS and 81 haemoglobin SS typed individuals were enrolled for this study. No significant difference existed in the prevalence rate of malaria in the three groups (p >0.05). However, the prevalence rate of Pfcrt K76T mutant gene was higher in the haemoglobin SS genotyped individuals than the haemoglobin AA and AS subjects (p<0.05).Interpretation & conclusion: An uncontrolled use of chloroquine has been incriminated as the major cause of chloroquine resistance in Nigeria. Therefore, rapid intervention measures are needed as a matter of urgency to curb the up rise in the prevalence of the chloroquine resistant genes in our environment

Optimization studies of stir casting parameters and mechanical properties of TiO2 reinforced Al 7075 composite using response surface methodology

Stir casting is a common metallurgical route in the casting of aluminum composites. Series of work done in this aspect considered the development of the composites with fixed stir casting parameters without applying an optimization approach. These parameters affect the microstructure and performance of the composites. The study is focused on the optimization of the stir casting parameters in the production of Al 7075 reinforced with TiO2 microparticles for performance improvement. Three stir casting parameters of stirring temperature, speed, and time were varied and optimized using the central composite design technique of the response surface method. Properties evaluated were ultimate tensile strength, hardness, impact strength, elastic modulus, and compressive strength. ANOVA results showed that the three stir casting parameters had a significant impact on the property responses. Five quadratic models were established for the properties linking them to the factors. The models were confirmed to be statistically significant at a confidence level of 95% and variations were observed to be < 5%. The interaction profile of the parameters as per response surface was analyzed. Contour plots associated with each interaction gave different ranges of stirring parameters in which each property can be maximized. Simultaneous optimization of the properties using Minitab 19 software showcased 779.3 °C, 574.2 rpm, and 22.5 min as the optimal stir casting parameters for temperature, speed and time respectively

Efficient and safe correction of hemophilia A by lentiviral vector-transduced BOECs in an implantable device

: Hemophilia A (HA) is a rare bleeding disorder caused by deficiency/dysfunction of the FVIII protein. As current therapies based on frequent FVIII infusions are not a definitive cure, long-term expression of FVIII in endothelial cells through lentiviral vector (LV)-mediated gene transfer holds the promise of a one-time treatment. Thus, here we sought to determine whether LV-corrected blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) implanted through a prevascularized medical device (Cell Pouch) would rescue the bleeding phenotype of HA mice. To this end, BOECs from HA patients and healthy donors were isolated, expanded, and transduced with an LV carrying FVIII driven by an endothelial-specific promoter employing GMP-like procedures. FVIII-corrected HA BOECs were either directly transplanted into the peritoneal cavity or injected into a Cell Pouch implanted subcutaneously in NSG-HA mice. In both cases, FVIII secretion was sufficient to improve the mouse bleeding phenotype. Indeed, FVIII-corrected HA BOECs reached a relatively short-term clinically relevant engraftment being detected up to 16 weeks after transplantation, and their genomic integration profile did not show enrichment for oncogenes, confirming the process safety. Overall, this is the first preclinical study showing the safety and feasibility of transplantation of GMP-like produced LV-corrected BOECs within an implantable device for the long-term treatment of HA

Re-telling the story of aminoglycoside ototoxicity: tales from sub-Saharan Africa

BackgroundAminoglycosides, such as Streptomycin, are cheap, potent antibiotics widely used Sub-Saharan Africa. However, aminoglycosides are the commonest cause of ototoxicity. The limited prospective epidemiological studies on aminoglycoside ototoxicity from Sub-Saharan Africa motivated this study to provide epidemiological information on Streptomycin-induced ototoxicity, identify risk factors and predictors of ototoxicity.MethodA longitudinal study of 153 adults receiving Streptomycin-based anti-tuberculous drugs was done. All participants underwent extended frequency audiometry and had normal hearing thresholds at baseline. Hearing thresholds were assessed weekly for 2 months, then monthly for the subsequent 6 months. Ototoxicity was determined using the ASHA criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze socio-demographic variables. Ototoxicity incidence rate was calculated, and Kaplan–Meier estimate used to determine cumulative probability of ototoxicity. Chi-square test was done to determine parameters associated with ototoxicity and Cox regression models were used to choose the predictors of ototoxicity.ResultsAge of participants was 41.43 ± 12.66 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.6. Ototoxicity was found in 34.6% of the participants, giving an incidence of 17.26 per 1,000-person-week. The mean onset time to ototoxicity was 28.0 ± 0.47 weeks. By 28th week, risk of developing ototoxicity for respondents below 40 years of age was 0.29, and for those above 40 years was 0.77. At the end of the follow-up period, the overall probability of developing ototoxicity in the study population was 0.74. A significant difference in onset of ototoxicity was found between the age groups: the longest onset was seen in &lt;40 years, followed by 40–49 years, and shortest onset in ≥50 years. Hazard of ototoxicity was significantly higher in participants aged ≥50 years compared to participants aged ≤40 years (HR = 3.76, 95% CI = 1.84–7.65). The probability of ototoxicity at 40 g, 60 g and 80 g cumulative dose of Streptomycin was 0.08, 0.43 and 2.34, respectively. Age and cumulative dose were significant predictors of ototoxicity.ConclusionThe mean onset time to Streptomycin-induced ototoxicity was 28 weeks after commencement of therapy. Age and cumulative dose can reliably predict the onset of Streptomycin-induced ototoxicity. Medium to long term monitoring of hearing is advised for patients on aminoglycoside therapy