Some Quality Attributes of Composite Flour and Bread Produced from Wheat and African Walnut

This study explored the potential of African walnut in the formulation of composite flour which can be used for bread production and in various food applications. African walnut flour was produced and used to substitute wheat flour at different levels (5 - 25%) in the production of wheat-African walnut composite flour. Functional and pasting properties of the composite flour were evaluated using standard procedures. Proximate composition, antioxidant activity, some loaf quality attributes and sensory acceptability of bread produced from the composite flour were evaluated using standard procedures. Wheat bread served as control. The composite flour showed varying functional properties which ranged from 2.43 to 3.46 (swelling capacity), 1.15 to 1.85 mL/g (water absorption capacity), 2.15 to 2.75 mL/g (oil absorption capacity), 10.80 to16.60% (foam capacity), 63.0 to 75.0% (dispersibility), 38.92 to 69.92 seconds (wetability), 0.75 to 0.79 g/mL (packed bulk density) and 0.43 to 0.47 g/mL (loose bulk density). Inclusion of African walnut reduced peak viscosity (53.92 – 148.83 RVU), trough viscosity (52.25 – 88.58 RVU), breakdown viscosity (1.67 – 60.25 RVU), final viscosity (74.08 – 191.25 RVU) and setback viscosity (21.83 – 102.67 RVU) of the composite flour. Composite bread had better protein (9.75 – 16.93%), fat (3.42 – 9.94%), ash (1.46 – 2.75%), crude fibre (0.86 – 3.64%) but reduced specific loaf volume (2.36 – 4.18 cm3/g) and loaf height (3.00 – 5.40cm) than the control, and exhibited appreciable antioxidant activity (DPPH: 31.60 – 73.09% and FRAP: 0.51 - 4.25 mg/g). In term of sensory acceptability composite bread samples produced with 5 and 10 % levels of African walnut compared favourably with bread produced from wheat flour. Thus composite flour produced from wheat and African walnut flours showed an array of physicochemical properties which could make it useful in different food applications. Acceptable bread could be produced from wheat flour substituted with African walnut flour at 10% level.

Knowledge and utilization of referral system among health care workers in selected primary health care centres in Oyo State, Nigeria

Background: Referral system is one of the strategies in place across all levels of health care settings for adequate use of health care resources and services. This study assessed the knowledge and utilization of referral system among health care workers in selected Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Methods: This study was a descriptive study that utilized structured questionnaire to collect data. Simple random sampling was used to select eighty-eight health workers from thirteen selected Primary Health Care Centers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: Sixty-six (75.0%) of the respondents indicated that there are three levels of health care system. Sixty­two (93.2%) health care workers knew that referral system can be from lower to higher level of care and 61 (69.3%) knew that referral system can be from higher to lower level of care. Only 21 (23.9%) of the respondents refer patients frequently and 66 (75.1%) of them mostly refer to secondary health care facility. Factors identified by respondents as influencing utilization of referral system included distance of one facility to another 74 (84.1%) social support 71 (80.7%) and availability of referral forms 70 (79. 6%).Conclusion: Good knowledge of referral system was demonstrated by the participants; however, the implementation of the process was poor. It is vital that future studies should explore identified factors since a functional referral system is vital for effective health care system

Knowledge and utilization of referral system among health care workers in selected primary health care centres in Oyo State, Nigeria

Background: Referral system is one of the strategies in place across all levels of health care settings for adequate use of health care resources and services. This study assessed the knowledge and utilization of referral system among health care workers in selected Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Methods: This study was a descriptive study that utilized structured questionnaire to collect data. Simple random sampling was used to select eighty-eight health workers from thirteen selected Primary Health Care Centers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Sixty-six (75.0%) of the respondents indicated that there are three levels of health care system. Sixty­two (93.2%) health care workers knew that referral system can be from lower to higher level of care and 61 (69.3%) knew that referral system can be from higher to lower level of care. Only 21 (23.9%) of the respondents refer patients frequently and 66 (75.1%) of them mostly refer to secondary health care facility. Factors identified by respondents as influencing utilization of referral system included distance of one facility to another 74 (84.1%) social support 71 (80.7%) and availability of referral forms 70 (79.6%). Conclusion: Good knowledge of referral system was demonstrated by the participants; however, the implementation of the process was poor. It is vital that future studies should explore identified factors since a functional referral system is vital for effective health care system

ABO Blood Group System: Its Association with Anthropometric Indices among Young Adults of Yoruba Ethnicity

Introduction: The ABO blood group system is unique in immunology and haematology because it is the only system in which antibodies are consistently and predictably present in the serum of normal individuals whose red cells lack the antigens. Several epidemiological studies have reported that the distribution of different ABO blood groups vary markedly among the populations of different geographical areas reflecting racial differences. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the association between ABO blood group and anthropometric indices among apparently healthy young adults of Yoruba ethnicity. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at Department of Physiological Sciences and University Health Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife between May 2016 to June 2017. Methodology: Eighty apparently healthy young adults who were purposely selected participated in the study after screening for the ABO blood groups following the standard protocol. They were divided into four equal groups; 20 in each of blood groups A, B, AB and O who were age- and sex - matched. The weight (kg) and height (cm) of the participants were measured following standard protocol. Body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA) were estimated from weight and height using Quetelex and Mosteller formulae respectively. Chi-square was used to compare grouped data while the comparison of means of parameters among the four blood groups was done using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). A p-value of < 0.05 was taken statistically significant. Results: Out of the total 80 participants, 15% were males. The mean ± SD of height(m) of participants with blood groups A, B, O and AB were 1.65 ± 0.06, 1.63 ± 0.08, 1.62 ± 0.08 and 1.63 ± 0.08 (F= 0.349, p= 0.790) respectively. The mean ± SD of weight(kg) of the participants with blood group A,B, O and AB were 56.15 ± 8.71, 56.00 ± 11.21, 57.10 ± 12.73 and 58.05 ± 10.35 (F= 0.154, p= 0.927) respectively. The mean ± SD of BMI in kg/m2 for blood groups A, B, O and AB were 20.74 ± 3.22, 20.86 ± 2.91, 21.79 ± 5.10 and 21.91 ± 4.21 (F= 0.472, p= 0.703) respectively while the mean ± SD of BSA (m2) for blood group A, B, O and AB were 1.60 ± 0.12, 1.59 ± 0.19, 1.60 ± 0.18 and 1.62 ± 0.15 (F= 0.098, p= 0.961) respectively. Conclusion: AB Blood group may be predisposed to metabolic syndrome due to the higher mean of weight, BSA and BMI found in this group.

A five-year review of tuberculosis mortality amongst hospitalised patients in Ile-Ife.

BACKGROUND: Death from tuberculosis (TB) is the longest recorded indicator of the TB epidemic in industrialised countries. This study aims at investigating into various factors associated with death in hospitalised patients with tuberculosis in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. METHODS: A retrospective study of all admissions into the medical wards, total number of deaths and number of cases of deaths due to TB during the period 1998-2000 was done. RESULTS: Tuberculosis represented 8% (268) of all admissions (n=3464). The overall hospital mortality during the period under review was 1030 (30%). Tuberculosis was responsible for 5% of all deaths while TB specific mortality was 18.3 percent. The highest mortality was observed among patients between the 3rd and 4th decade of life with a male to female ratio 1.3: 1. About 70% of the patients died within a week of admission. Pulmonary TB was responsible for 69% of deaths followed by tuberculous meningitis (14%), retroviral illness (24%), anaemia (60%). Delayed presentation and diagnosis were identified as factors commonly associated with death rate. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed presentation and diagnosis were commonly associated with death. There is a need for more awareness among patients and health care providers about tuberculosis.