Abilities of Trichoderma Species to Persist within Maize (Zea mays) Stem Long after Inoculation.

Different Trichoderma species were examined for their abilities to persist within the maize (Zea mays) stem at different points above and below inoculation points. Different Trichoderma species were isolated from different parts of the maize (Z. mays) plant and its rhizosphere. They were later sent to International Mycological Institute, England for identification. Maize seeds (DMR-LSRW) were planted in pots in the screenhouse. Four weeks after planting, each of the Trichoderma species was inoculated into the stems of the potted plants at the 2nd internodes using the toothpick method. Toothpicks dressed with sterile distilled water served as control. Cut sections of the inoculated stems were examined for presence or absence of the inoculated Trichoderma species at different points far from the inoculated point in the upper and lower internodes after 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks of inoculation. Ten Trichoderma species were identified; these include five strains of T. pseudokoningii, three strains of T. harzianum, T. hamatum and T. longibrachiatum. All the Trichoderma species were able to move within the stem tissues into the upper and lower internodes. All of them were re-isolated at distant points from inoculation point in the upper and lower internodes even after 6 weeks of inoculation. T. pseudokoningii strain 2 and T. harzianum strains 1 to 3 had the best endophytic movement into the upper and lower internodes. T. hamatum and T. longibrachiatum had the weakest movement into the upper and lower internodes. All the Trichoderma species could thus be said to possess the abilities to persist (endophytic capability) within the maize (Z. mays) stem. T. pseudokoningii and T. harzianum could also be said to be among the best species in the genus Trichoderma with good prospect of biocontrol potential.

Pharmacists and Nurses Perception of Medication Errors in a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital

Purpose: To investigate the type and frequency of all medication dispensing and administration errors as perceived by pharmacists and nurses respectively; and the factors associated with such errors in a Nigerian university teaching hospital. Methods: The study was conducted at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals; Ile-Ife and Ilesa; Nigeria. Data was collected by the use of pre-tested questionnaire administered to 35 pharmacists and a stratified sample of 130 nurses over a period of 2 weeks. The questionnaires were sorted and analysed. Results: The pharmacists that responded (80) cited incorrect drug; incorrect strength of drug (70) and wrong dose of drug (60) as the most common dispensing errors. Fifty percent of pharmacists put the estimated frequency of occurrence of these dispensing errors at 1 per 100 prescriptions dispensed. Most of the nurses (65) identified administration of wrong drug; administration of wrong dose (63) and wrong time of drug administration (57) as the most frequently occurring medication administration errors in the teaching hospital. All the pharmacists and 78of nurses identified excess workload as the most important factor contributing to errors in medication dispensing and administration respectively. Conclusion: The fundamental factor perceived to be contributing to errors in medication dispensing and administration was excess workload resulting from insufficient members of staff

Pharmacists and Nurses Perception of Medication Errors in a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital

Purpose: To investigate the type and frequency of all medication dispensing and administration errors as perceived by pharmacists and nurses respectively; and the factors associated with such errors in a Nigerian university teaching hospital. Methods: The study was conducted at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals; Ile-Ife and Ilesa; Nigeria. Data was collected by the use of pre-tested questionnaire administered to 35 pharmacists and a stratified sample of 130 nurses over a period of 2 weeks. The questionnaires were sorted and analysed. Results: The pharmacists that responded (80) cited incorrect drug; incorrect strength of drug (70) and wrong dose of drug (60) as the most common dispensing errors. Fifty percent of pharmacists put the estimated frequency of occurrence of these dispensing errors at 1 per 100 prescriptions dispensed. Most of the nurses (65) identified administration of wrong drug; administration of wrong dose (63) and wrong time of drug administration (57) as the most frequently occurring medication administration errors in the teaching hospital. All the pharmacists and 78of nurses identified excess workload as the most important factor contributing to errors in medication dispensing and administration respectively. Conclusion: The fundamental factor perceived to be contributing to errors in medication dispensing and administration was excess workload resulting from insufficient members of staff.) cited incorrect drug; incorrect strength of drug (70) and wrong dose of drug (60) as the most common dispensing errors. Fifty percent of pharmacists put the estimated frequency of occurrence of these dispensing errors at 1 per 100 prescriptions dispensed. Most of the nurses (65) identified administration of wrong drug; administration of wrong dose (63) and wrong time of drug administration (57) as the most frequently occurring medication administration errors in the teaching hospital. All the pharmacists and 78of nurses identified excess workload as the most important factor contributing to errors in medication dispensing and administration respectively. Conclusion: The fundamen- tal factor perceived to be contributing to errors in medication dispensing and administration was excess workload resulting from insufficient members of staff

Lead levels in some biological samples of auto-mechanics in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Lead levels were determined in the blood, scalp hair and fingernails of 38, all male auto-mechanics (aged 18-45 years) from Abeokuta, South-western Nigeria. The subjects were classified into four sub-groups based on the period of exposure namely: 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, and >16 years. Thirty-two occupationally unexposed subjects (mainly office workers) served as the control. The weight, height and body mass indexes of all subjects were noted, in addition to other information obtained through structured questionnaire. The mean values of blood lead (BPb), hair lead (HPb) and fingernail lead (NPb) of the occupationally exposed subjects (n=38) were 48.50 +/- 9.08 microg/dL, 17.75 +/- 5.16 microg/g, and 5.92 +/- 3.30 microg/g respectively, while the corresponding mean values for these parameters in the control subjects (n = 32) were 33.(,5 +/- 10.09 microg/dL, 14.30 +/- 5.90 microg/g and 5.31 +/- 2.77 microg/g respectively. The differences in BPb and HPb levels of the two groups were statistically significant (P <0.05 and P <0.01 respectively), while that of NPb was not significant. The levels of lead in the biological samples appeared to have no relationship with the number of years on the job. From these results, it was obvious that the higher levels of lead in the biological samples of test subjects, compared with those of the controls were from environmental sources.