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The main aim of this work is to investigate the antiseptic properties of Azadirachta indica (Neem) tree parts (leaves, barks and seeds). The extracts were used in the production of soap samples of various concentrations (20 mg/cm3, 15 mg/cm3, 10 mg/cm3 and 5 mg/cm3). Inhibitory Activity sensitivity test using Agar-well Diffusion Method was employed to test the antibacterial activities of the soap samples on two bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and Propionibacterium acnes. The results show that soap samples from the Neem parts exhibited antiseptic properties against the bacteria tested. According to the results, the Neem bark soap produces the highest level of effectiveness across the entire concentration spectrum, followed by the Neem seed soap. The Neem leaves soap produced the lowest level of effectiveness against the two bacteria. The order of effectiveness of the soap samples is: NBRK (Neem barks) > NSED (Neem seeds) > NLVS (Neem leaves). The commercial soap (NRMS) used as a control sample did not exhibit antibacterial activity against the two microbes.
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Aim: Adaptive capacity is the ability of the farmer to adjust his farm plans and programmes in the face of emerging risks, constraints and currently available information. In this study, the various constraints faced by International Fund for Agricultural Development-Value Chain Development Programme’s farmers (IFAD-VCDP) in North Central Nigeria in adapting to climate change challenges were investigated. Study Design: A multi-stage sampling technique was employed in the selection of respondents. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Benue and Niger States of Nigeria in 2018. Methodology: Data were collected from a total of 483 respondents using interview schedule and questionnaire. The data were analysed using exploratory (principal component analysis) and confirmatory (structural equation modelling) factor analysis. Results: The results of the analysis revealed the significant constraints the farmers faced in order to improve their adaptive capacity to climate change which were institutional and technical (49.45%) and climate information (26.62%) constraints, although the factors differ slightly within the two states under study. In Benue State, institutional (31.26%), personal (14.63%), land and farm inputs (12.54%) and population (11.73%) while in Niger State, public and institutional (22.34%), land and farm inputs (14.78%), and personal (10.75) were the constraints to adaptive capacity. Conclusion: These constraints make it harder to plan and implement adaptation actions by restricting the variety and effectiveness of options available to the farmers to improve their productivity and cope with the vagaries of climate change. It was therefore recommended that government and NGOs should intensify efforts on public, institutional, educational and climate policies, assist in increasing the adaptive capacity of the farmers in order to employ more adaptation measures, land governance systems should be strengthened in Nigeria to provide tenure security for all, financial institutions should help facilitate access to credit by farmers and assist in making reliable climate information accessible to all farmers.
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The study investigated the effect of different drying techniques (air dying, oven drying and sun drying) on the proximate composition of three fish feedstuffs; Horse radish (Moringa oleifera) leaves, water lily (Pistia stratiotes) leaves and soy bean (Glysine max) seed. The soy bean was boiled for 30 minutes at 100C in water bath to reduce the effect of anti-nutritional factor (trypsin). Samples of each feedstuff were prepared and subjected to the three dying methods in triplicate treatments. Determination of proximate composition was carried out on the dried and fresh samples of each feedstuff. The results showed that moisture content of fresh M. oleiferaleaves (65%) and P. stratiotes leaves (85.67%) were significantly higher (P< 0.05) than fresh G. max(2.67%). Higher crude protein content of 23.97% and 22.50% were recorded for oven-driedM. oleifera and P. stratiotesleaves and 39.21% for freshG. maxwith no significant difference (P> 0.05) between the treatments. Crude lipid was significantly higher for sun dried samples of all the feedstuffs. Oven-dried samples of the three feedstuffs had the least ash, crude fiber and nitrogen free extract. The study concluded that oven drying at moderate temperatureof 700C proved to be more effective in moisture removal and retention of crude protein. Furthermore, the study recommends a feeding trial to assess the potential of these feedstuffs subjected to various drying methods on growth and nutrients utilization of cultivable fish species.
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Background: Sickle cell disease is a condition in which an individual has inherited two abnormal hemoglobin genes at least one of which is hemoglobin S (HbS) and the resulting symptomatology or pathology is attributed to the sickling phenomenon. About 5% of the world’s population carries genes responsible for hemoglobinopathies and each year about 300 000 infants are born with major hemoglobin disorders including more than 200 000 cases of sickle-cell anemia in Africa. Sickle cell anemia is a very common disorder in Nigeria with birth rate of about 1 in 50 and about 150,000 children are born annually with sickle cell anemia in Nigeria alone. The study aimed to explore the knowledge and attitude of nursing students about premarital screening for sickle cell disease. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered semi-structured questionnaire among 176 students. Results: Majority of respondents knew sickle cell disease and also knew their genotype 97.6% and 71% respectively, although up to 9.1% selected blood group as their genotype. More than half of respondent (51.7%) said sickle cell disease can be transmitted through blood, 55.1% of respondent said they think government should prohibit marriage between incompatible couples with regard to sickle cell disease, Only about one third (34.1%) of respondent have good knowledge of SCD, and 34.3% of respondent have good knowledge of premarital screening for SCD, More than half (55.4%) of respondent have good attitude regarding premarital screening for SCD. Conclusion: The study shows that the respondent have poor knowledge of sickle cell disease and premarital screening though more than half of the respondent have good attitude towards premarital screening. The results of this study reflect the importance of health education as a keystone in improving knowledge and attitude towards premarital screening for sickle cell disease.
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The study is aimed at determining the prevalence of HER2/neu overexpression in Qatari women with breast cancer and to assess the survival in patients with HER2/neu positive tumors. This is a retrospective study of clinical data of 70 Qatari female patients diagnosed with breast cancer during the period 1991 through to 2001, at Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. We also performed a retrospective review of breast tissue sample for those patients using paraffin sections and applying immunohistochemistry staining-[Hercep test [DAKO Inc]] to determine the HER2/neu status. Eighteen patients [26%] were HER2/neu positive [2+ and 3+] with a mean age at diagnosis of 49.3years, and 52 [74%] were negative [0 and 1+] with mean age at diagnosis of 46.6 years. Of the patients with positive HER2/neu, 5 [28%] had a relapse of the disease and 4 [22%] died of the disease during follow up. Of the patients with HER2/neu, negative test 9 [17%] had a relapse of the disease and 10 [19%] died of the disease. The median survival function at mean of covariates for HER2/neu positive patients was 26 months, and for HER2/NEU negative patients was 28 months. The prevalence of HER2/neu over expression in Qatari female with breast cancer in this study is 26%, but due to a small sample size it may not reflect really the prevalence. Patient with HER2/neu positive were older at diagnosis than patients with HER2/neu negative, also they had higher relapse rate and mortality. Median survival function was better for HER2/neu negative patients