Production and Physicochemical Analysis of Glycerol Produced from the Transesterification Reaction of Locally Processed Fatty Acids

The study uses the transesterification reaction method to extract glycerol from three locally processed fatty acids namely; palm oil, palm kernel and shea butter. The glycerols extracted from the three fatty acids were subjected to physicochemical tests to determine if their properties are in conformity with the reported standard values. Results of the physical properties of the substances tested show that the values were in close agreement with the results of the standard values and the results reported impervious literatures. As such, the investigation concluded that the three fatty acids contain appreciable quantities of crude glycerol and can thus serve as a source for natural glycerol whose properties can be compared with standard glycerin products.

The suspending properties of Cissus rubiginosa fruit mucilage in paracetamol suspension formulation

Background: Materials with suspending properties like mucilage have been obtained from natural sources and used to stabilize liquid formulations containing poorly dispersible solids.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the suspending properties of Cissus rubiginosa fruit mucilage (CRM) in paracetamol oral suspension.Materials and Methods: Paracetamol suspensions containing 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 %w/v CRM were prepared and compared with suspensions formulated with same concentrations of compound tragacanth (CT). The sedimentation volume, ease of re-dispersibility, effect of shear rate on viscosity, flow rate and drug release pattern were studied as assessment parameters.Results: Characterization studies of the suspensions revealed that there was a corresponding increase in the viscosity of the suspension with increase in the concentration of the gum. Paracetamol suspension having CRM had significantly higher viscosity (p<0.05) compared to those containing CT. The viscosities of all suspensions decreased with increase in shear rate. There was decrease in flow rate as the viscosity of the suspension increased.Paracetamol suspensions containing CRM were easily re-dispersible with minimum agitation at concentration less than 1.0 %. Drug release from the suspension containing 0.5 % CRM was rapid while release from suspension containing higher concentrations of CRM occurred at a later time, eliciting a delay in drug release.Conclusion: This study has been able to elucidate the ability of Cissus rubiginosa fruit mucilage to act as a suspending agent in pharmaceutical suspensions

Impact of care and social support on wellbeing among people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

Availability of antiretroviral therapies has transformed AIDS into a manageable chronic condition and improved well-being among people living with HIV/AIDS [PHA] in developed countries. In developing countries however, such transformations are yet to occur due to socio-economic, systemic and environmental constraint. This study examined the impact of social, economic, psychological and environmental factors on health and wellbeing among PHA living in southwest Nigeria. Using qualitative participatory methodology, 50 HIV positive people, 8 health personnel and 32 care providers were interviewed to explore how care and social support affect wellbeing among PHA in view of constraints to accessing antiretroviral drugs. Analysis of data used the grounded theory [GT] approach to identify themes, which are considered crucial to the wellbeing of PHA. The findings highlight several factors, apart from antiretroviral drugs, that impact the wellbeing of PHA in southwest Nigeria. These include concerns about deteriorating physical health, family and children's welfare, pervasive stigma, financial pressures and systemic failures relating to care among others. We describe how psychosocial and social support structures can considerably contribute to improving health outcomes among them because of how they affect the functioning of immune system, self-care activities and other illness behaviours. We recommend that interventions should address the psychosocial, socio-economic and other systemic issues that negatively influence the wellbeing of PHA and governments need to strengthen the policy environment that empowers PHA support groups

Prevalence of malaria at booking among antenatal clients in a secondary health care facility in Ibadan, Nigeria

The prevalence of malaria parasitemia at booking was studied in 1,848 pregnant women in a secondary hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria. Main outcome variables were patent parasitemia and fever. 8.4% had patent malaria parasitaemia. Most clients (89%) with parasitemia were asymptomatic. Febrile subjects booked at an earlier gestational age [22.7 versus 24.2 weeks] than afebrile patients (p = 0.0052). Anemia was more prevalent among patients with patent parasitemia than those without (58.1% versus 22.6%, p<0.0001). Malaria parasitaemia was higher among nulliparous women than other parity groups (p<0.0001). Symptomatic malaria was associated with early booking for antenatal care and malaria parasitemia was a significant determinant of anemia. The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia in this study is much lower than in previous reports. (Afr J Reprod Health 2008; 12[2]:141-152)

Profile of chloroquine - induced pruritus in Nigerian children resident in Ibadan, Nigeria

Chloroquine is still the first-line drug in the treatment of malaria in Nigeria and West- Africa sub-region. A major drawback to the use of chloroquine is pruritus. We studied a total of 175 children aged 1­15 years with a view to assessing some factors that may influence chloroquine induced pruritus and the possible impact on therapy with this drug. The mean age was 5.2+4.0 and there were 87 females and 88 males. Chloroquine-induced pruritus was found in 43/175 (24.6%). All the subjects experienced the itching within 24 hours of ingestion of the drug and median duration of the itching was 2 days. Majority of those who itched still used chloroquine to treat malaria for various reasons. There was positive family history in 34/43 (79%) of those who itched and 57/132 (43%) of those who did not itch to chloroquine. Those who had chloroquine-induced pruritus were relatively older (mean age 6.90+3.68 years versus 4.64+4.00; p< 0.05) and mean age onset of chloroquine-induced pruritus was positively associated with mean age of the children r = 0.91; 95% confidence limits: 0.71< r < 0.91. We concluded that chloroquine-induced pruritus in this group of children evolved with increasing age and was associated with positive family history