Clinical and haematological features of newborns of mothers with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Newborns of mothers with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy have an increased risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, perinatal asphyxia and haematological derangements such as polycythaemia, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. These morbidities are associated with uteroplacental insufficiency. The haematological derangements however have not been studied in detail in African neonates. Objective: To determine the clinical and haematological features of newborns of hypertensive mothers Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 250 newborns; 125 newborns each of hypertensive mothers (cases), and normotensive mothers (controls). The babies were examined following delivery, their clinical data were recorded, and umbilical cord blood samples were analysed for haematological indices. Results: Preterm deliveries were significantly higher amongst infants of hypertensive mothers (31.2%) compared with controls (12.0%); p = 0.000. Similarly, the birth weight, length and head circumference of the cases were significantly lower than the controls; p = 0.008, 0.003 and 0.004 respectively. Low fifth minute APGAR scores occurred more frequently in cases (8.0%) than controls (0.8%), p=0.010; whilst the mean haematocrit was also significantly higher in cases than the controls, p = 0.013. The median absolute neutrophil count and platelet count were significantly lower in cases than controls; p=0.023 and 0.047 respectively. Thrombocytopenia was identified in 40.0% of the cases compared to 27.2% of the controls, p = 0.041 Conclusion: The present study has shown that newborns of hypertensive mothers have an increased risk of neonatal morbidities such as preterm birth, LBW and thrombocytopenia compared to the newborns of mothers with normal blood pressure in pregnancy, hence close attention needs to be paid to them with emphasis on their haematological system

IMPACT OF THE EFFLUENT DISCHARGE FROM A BREWERY PLANT ON THREE COMMUNITIES IN IBADAN MUNICIPALITY, SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA

A preliminary assessment of the extent of pollution of water, soil and plant due to an effluent discharge from a brewery industry to the territory of three rural communities in Ibadan municipality was carried out. Chemical analysis of the brewery effluent, receiving stream, ground (well) water, soil and plant samples taken randomly from cultivated land at the stream bank were carried out. The results showed higher concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu and Ni in most of the water samples with values higher than the WHO, EU and USA standards tolerant levels. The pH for the stream and well water ranged between 5.35 and 6.65, some of which are below the WHO recommended levels of between 6.0 and 9.0 meant for human consumption. Furthermore, the pH of sampled soils ranged from 4.75 to 5.35 indicating acid medium, while concentrations of Pb, Cr, Cu and Ni were observed to be higher in some of the soil samples compared to the reference samples both at 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm. However, plant analysis results showed that some of the samples contained high levels of Cu, Fe and Mn, while Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr were not detected. There was therefore contamination of surface and ground water, which could probably be hazardous to human health when used primarily for domestic purposes. KEY WORDS: Effluent; Heavy metals; Water pollution; Soil pollution. Global Jnl Pure & Applied Science Vol.10(1) 2004: 211-21

Effects of split application of organo-minerals fertilizers on Okra growth nutrient uptake and fruit yield

In two seasons and at two locations, the effects of maize stover compost in combination with mineral fertilizer and their methods of application on growth, nutrient uptake and yield of okra was studied. The treatments used are recommended dose of NPL mineral fertilizer, (60kg N + 30kg P2O5 + 20kgK2O) recommended dose of N through compost. (4t/ha). Half recommended dose of N each through compost (2t/ha) and mineral fertilizer (30ka/ha) and non-fertilized control. Sub-treatments included three timing (single, 2- and 3- split) of application of the fertilizer combination. The tallest plants of 46.7cm and widest leaf of 3011.0cm2/plant were obtained with the use of 4t/ha maize stove compost. This rate equally produced the highest percent fruit set (85%) and mean fruit weight of 148.4g. The result indicated that crop performance under 4t/ha compost application rate was as effective as the combine use of 2t/ha compost + 30kg N/ha mineral fertilizer. With regard to timing of fertilizer application, 2 split application increased the efficiency of the fertilizer use. The results of the investigation further indicated that highest crop growth, nutrients uptake and fruit yield could be realized by combine application of 2t/ha compost and 30kg N/ha fertilizer. The efficiency of the fertilizer could be increased through 2-split application of the fertilizer combination.Keywords: Manure, fertilizer, okra and method of fertilizer application, tomato yieldsNigerian Journal of Horticultural Science Vol. 9 2005: 102-10

Leishmaniasis presenting as severe anaemia in an adult female Nigerian

Visceral leishmaniasis is a rare cause of anaemia. We report a case of visceral leishmaniasis presenting as severe anaemia and pyrexia of unknown origin in an adult female Nigerian. The objective was to highlight the importance of exhaustive investigations in the diagnosis of anaemia and pyrexia of unknown origin in our environment. Keywords: visceral leishmaniasis, chronic anaemia, pyrexia of unknown origin, NigeriaAfrican Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 6 (3) 2005: 253-25

A Study of Blood Glucose Response Following Ingestion of Ripe Banana in Healthy and Diabetic Nigerian Adults

Banana is composed of about 80% carbohydrate mainly as resistant starch. Carbohydrate digestion and released is influenced by many factors, thus different carbohydrates do not have the same effects on blood glucose levels. Glycaemic index ranks equal carbohydrate portions of different foods according to the extent to which they increase glucose levels. We examine the blood glucose response to four different ripe bananas in diabetic and non diabetic Nigerians. 59 subjects were recruited comprising 27 diabetics and 32 non-diabetics. Four species of banana were eaten after weighing to contain the equivalent of 50 g carbohydrate. Blood for glucose were taken at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. The anthropometric data and blood pressure were measured. Diabetics subjects were significantly older 59.7 ± 11.6 vs 45.09 ± 10.36, P&lt;0.01. IAUGC were significantly higher among the diabetes; however, there was no significant differences between the diabetics and non-diabetics glycaemic indices (84.5, 82.9, 83.1, 83.3 vs 80.2, 80.6, 88.2, 76.5). Ripe banana has a high content of simple sugar with a high glycaemic index (&gt;70), thus not very appropriate for diabetic patients achieving good metabolic control.</jats:p

Improved mechanical and wear characteristics of hypereutectic aluminium-Silicon alloy matrix composites and empirical modelling of the wear response

For the first time, Silicon Carbide-Zinc Oxide-Graphite reinforced hypereutectic Aluminium–Silicon composites were fabricated by two-step stir casting. The mechanical properties and abrasive wear performance of the composites were experimentally tested. A multilevel factorial design of experiment was conducted to develop a numerical model for predicting the wear rate of composites and optimization of their wear performance as a function of reinforcement characteristics. The results indicated that high content of silicon carbide in the composites superlatively enhanced hardness, tensile strength and fracture toughness by 69.04%, 163.22% and 77.42%, respectively. Correspondingly, high content of graphite indicated superlative wear resistance of 95.87% reduction in wear index while high zinc oxide content revealed enhanced fracture toughness highly comparable with that observed for high silicon carbide content. Nevertheless, in comparison with the monolithic alloy, the trade-offs in the strains-to-fracture of the composites were more pronounced with high silicon carbide content. The developed 2-factor-interaction effects model strongly agrees with the experimental results after passing various model validity tests available in Design Expert Software. It revealed that the composition of reinforcing constituents influenced the model more than the volume fraction, and the interaction between the composition of reinforcement constituents and volume fraction

On-farm improvement of milk yield in Bunaji cattle through legume supplementation

Legume supplementation of Bunaji (White Fulani) cattle owned by farmers in the Ungwan Fulani Inland Valley area of Zaria was studied with the objective of improving milk yield. The trial involved twenty-eight lactating cows in five herds whose average parity, age (as determined by dentition), liveweight, lactation length and daily milk yield were 2.3, 6.1 years, 216.9kg, 5 months and 0.4 litres, respectively. After 3-6 weeks of supplementation, an increase in daily milk yield ranging from 0.3-2.1 litres was recorded, the difference between herds being highly significant (P0.01). It was concluded that a seven-fold increase in milk yield could be achieved through legume supplementation for six weeks in Bunaji cows. Higher increases could possibly be recorded if the supplementation period is extended