Year Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ­ A Survey of Rural Communities in Southern Nigeria

BACKGROUND: The exponential rise in the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) necessitates the introduction of strategies for early diagnosis to reduce the burden of the disease. This study assessed the prevalence of prediabetes and also determined the 10-year risk of developing T2DM in Southern Nigerian rural communities by adopting the validated Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) tool. METHODS: 273 participants from 3 Southern rural communities aged 18 years and older were recruited in this cross-sectional study.Data in the FINDRISC stratification tool and Random Blood Glucose (RBG) variables were obtained for the participants. IBM SPSS version 21 was used to analyze the data with a level of significance put at p< 0.05. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 54.20±16.61 years. The prevalence of prediabetes among the study participants based on RBG was 4.8% (3.8% of males and 6.6% of females, respectively).Most of the study participants (41%) had a low risk of developing T2DM which meant that 1 in 100 participants would become diabetic in a 10-year period, based on the FINDRISC scale. Amongst the male participants, the Total Diabetes Risk Score (TDRS) showed significant positive correlation with the RBG (r=0.315, p=0.001); similarly, a weak positive correlation between TDRS and RBG was noted among female participants. CONCLUSION: The propensity of developing T2DM in 10 years was indisputably low amongst rural dwellers in the Southern Nigerian rural communities studied. Further studies to compare the risk of developing T2DM between rural and urban communities would be required

Management protocol of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo,Ogun State, Nigeria

Coronavirus infection became a global pandemic in March 2020. The number of hospitalized cases in Nigeria and Ogun State has been on a steady increase with a concomitant rise in Mortality. This necessitates a coordinated and a more systemic approach in the management of this deadly disease.As a result of the potential effects of the disease on the socio-economic development of Ogun State, the state government granted Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo the permission to diagnose, admit and manage cases in line with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)/World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. This led to the establishment of a molecular laboratory and a COVID-19 task force to oversee the treatment of confirmed cases of COVID-19 disease.This protocol is developed to serve as a template for the diagnosis, admission, treatment of cases of COVID-19 diseases presenting for care in the hospital and to prevent the spread of the disease among healthcare workers within the hospital environment

COVID radiology preparedness in Nigeria: How ready are we?

The novel human coronavirus (COVID-19) began in Wuhan China as an interstitial pneumonia of unidentifiable origin in December 2019 and thereafter spread its tentacles all over the world.There is a need for radiology departments in both government and private facilities to be prepared to meet this crisis. Their efforts should be geared not only toward diagnosis, but also to preventing patient-to-patient, staff-to-patient, and staff-to-staff transmission of infection by utilizing social distancing measures and personal protective equipment (PPE).Aim: To evaluate the preparedness of radiologic departments of government hospitals and private centers, by assessing the outlay of the facility and likelihood to attend to COVID patients, type of equipment in the centers, and plans in place for protection of staff and the public.Materials and Methods: The radiology departments of government and private facilities in each geopolitical zone of the country were randomly selected to discuss radiology preparedness in Nigeria using preset guidelines which were sent to radiologists at the facilities. Written informed consent was obtained from the radiologists at the participating centers. Ethical approval was also obtained from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Health Research Ethics Committee.Results: A total of twelve centers were included in the study, comprising eight government and four private centers. All had plans in place to attend to COVID patients; majority were in the process of developing standard operating procedures (SOPs). Majority of the government facilities lacked mobile equipment and adequate PPEs, with only one computed tomography machine and no holding area in some of the facilities for symptomatic patients unlike the private facilities. They, however, had infection control teams in place.Conclusion: Private radiological centers appear better prepared and more equipped to cope with the crisis than government hospitals. Adequate PPEs, mobile equipment, and isolation rooms need to be provided for the government facilities. Radiology information systems should be installed for remote viewing. Training and retraining on COVID management and decontamination should be conducted periodically. SOPs should be drafted universally and modified for each facility

Pattern of serum electrolytes and cortisol levels in Nigerians with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder, the commonest endocrine disease with increasing prevalence worldwide. Studies on electrolytes derangement in complicated diabetes abound but there are few in uncomplicated diabetes. To determine, compare and correlate serum electrolytes and Cortisol levels in a cohort of uncomplicated type 2 diabetics. A cross sectional study of sixty (60) type 2 diabetes patients of 5-10 years duration without complications and 50 healthy non-diabetic controls that were recruited from the diabetes and general out-patient clinics of a tertiary care facility over 3 months. Using a study questionnaire, information on age, anthropometry, fasting blood Glucose, serum electrolytes and Cortisol were obtained and analyzed following standard procedures. The mean 2 age (years) of diabetics was 49.58 ( ± 11.2) and controls 47.00 ( ± 12.1) and their BMI (Kg/m )[26.47 ( ± 3.97) vs 25.77 ( ± 4.85) respectively were not significantly different (p=0.524; p=0.407). The Waist-hipratio (WHR) was significantly higher in diabetics [0.933 ± 0.004 vs 0.905 ± 0.83) p=0.024]. The mean values of studied parameters among the diabetics and controls respectively are as follows: fasting blood glucose (FBG) [138.4 ± 78.7 vs 82.5 ± 73.7 mg/dl]; serum electrolytes: Sodium 139.0 ± 8.4 vs 142 ± 4.2mg/dl], Potassium [5.2 ± 1.4 vs 4.1 ± 0.53mg/dl] and Chloride [99.3 ± 6.8 vs 104.5 ± 5.0 mg/dl] with significant differences in each (p=0.000, 0.011, 0.000, 0.000 respectively). The mean serum Cortisol was not statistically different [125.5 ± 43.2 vs 121.5 ± 61.3 ng/mL (p=0.693)]. There was no correlation between the various serum electrolytes and Cortisol levels. Electrolytes imbalance in uncomplicated diabetes are present, with higher potassium and lower sodium than in controls with no accompanying change in Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal activity as measured by serum Cortisol level. This derangement in electrolyte level may be attributed to hyperglycaemia, osmotic diuresis and dietary habit

Inhibitory Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Horseradish (Moringa oleifera) (Lam) on Oxidative Stress Parameters in Some Organs of Dexamethazone Induced Hypertensive Wistar Rats.

The use of herbal remedies in various local communities throughout the world to assuage the scourge of indigenous diseases has gained tremendous popularity. One of the many plants species of herbal remedies is Moringa oleifera (horseradish) which has been widely used in West Africa and Nigeria in particular for treating numerous human ailments such as malnutrition, cardiovascular, hepatotocicity and many others. Regardless of its wide use by communities around the world, there is inadequate scientific information available on the actual pharmacological effects of ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves on the heart and kidney dysfunction. Hence this work aimed at determining the inhibitory activity of ethanolic extract of horseradish on oxidative stress in the heart and kidney of dexamethazone induced hypertensive wistar albino rats. The air-dried leaves of horseradish were pulverized and crude ethanolic extract was prepared. The animals were grouped into four groups of five animals each. Group A animals served as control and fed with water and feed while Groups B and C animals were administered with 0.5 mL of 40% w/v ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaf and 0.5 ml of 1.67 mg/kg body weight dexamethasone respectively. Group D animals were treated with 0.5 ml of 1.67 mg/kg body weight dexamethasone and 0.5 mL of 40% ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaf intermittently for 21 days. The results obtained from the study showed that the ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaf possessed the ability to inhibit and reverse the dexamethasone mediated tissues oxidative damage of both organs as seen in cholesterol, reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde concentrations. The same protective trend was also observed in activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and catalase enzymesin both organs of the hypertensive rats. Hence, ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaf reduced the extent of antioxidant loss and restoration of organ dysfunction caused by dexamethasone in the rats.

Potassium Bromate Induced Renal Toxicity in Wistar Albino Rats: Effects of Aqueous Extract of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt).

Much attention has been drawn to the toxic effect of bromate on the organs like liver, spleen etc. However, it is not clear whether or not the toxicity of bromate is related to other vital organs like the kidney. Hence, the present work is geared towards not only unraveling the toxic effect of bromate on the kidney but more importantly investigate the protective effect of African nutmeg Myristica fragrans against bromate induced toxicity in this organ. Twenty wistar albino rats (180 to 200 g) were divided into 4 groups. Group I was given normal rat feed with water as control; group II was administered with 1.0mL Potassium bromate (KBrO3) solution (30 mg/kg body weight); groups III and IV were simultaneously administered with 1.0mL of KBrO3 each and 1.0mL of 20% and 40% aqueous extract of African nutmeg respectively. All the treatments were given daily for two weeks. Enzyme biomarkers such as Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alkaline Transaminase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), Cholesterol (CHOL), High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-CHOL), Triglycerides (TRIG), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in the kidney homogenate. Results obtained showed that although bromate exerted significant (P < 0.05) toxic effects on the kidney homogenate, administration of the aqueous seed extract of African nutmeg caused a marked reversal in the toxicity of bromate in a dose dependent fashion. Since, the introduction of bromate caused an alteration in enzyme biomarkers in the kidney homogenate, this indicates that the seed is a potential antioxidant against bromate toxicity of the kidney tissues.

Population dynamics of indoor sampled mosquitoes and their implication in disease transmission in Abeokuta, south-western Nigeria.

Background & objectives: A longitudinal study was carried out to investigate the species composition, seasonal abundance, parity and feeding preference of indoor sampled mosquitoes in Abeokuta, south-western Nigeria. Methods: The mosquitoes were sampled weekly from five stratified locations using Center for Disease Control (CDC) light-traps between August 2005 and July 2006. The mosquitoes were examined for abdominal condition and dissected for age composition. Microscopic and precipitin techniques were also employed for the determination of host blood source. Results: A total of 2969 mosquitoes which belong to 10 species of mosquitoes were collected during the study period. Mansonia africana (35.65%) constituted the most abundant species followed by Culex quinquefasciatus (32.23%) and Anopheles gambiae complex (13.52%). Other species in decreasing order of abundance were Coquilletidia maculipennis (8.2%), Aedes albopictus (5.9%), Ae. aegypti (1.93%), M. uniformis (1.81%), Cx. duttoni (0.25%), Cx. tigripes (0.25%) and An. funestus (0.25%). Seasonal abundance revealed a significant difference (p <0.05) in the population of mosquito vectors collected during the wet season as compared to the dry season and their abundance was positively correlated with rainfall. The results showed that the majority of the vector species collected were unfed and nulliparous. Moreover, the blood meal test was positive for human blood. Conclusion: The preponderance of mosquitoes observed in the study is of public health concern since they serve as vectors of most tropical diseases including malaria.

Mosquito larval habitats and public health implications in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract: The larval habitats of mosquitoes were investigated in Abeokuta, Nigeria in order to determine the breeding sites of the existing mosquito fauna and its possible public health implications on the residents of the City. The habitats were sampled between August 2005 and July 2006 using plastic dippers and a pipette. The habitats were grouped as ground pools/ponds, gutters/open drains, tyres, domestic containers and treeholes/ leaf axils. Ten species of mosquitoes were encountered in the fi ve habitats namely Mansonia africana, M. uniformis, Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. vittatus, Cx tigripes, Anopheles gambiae s.l., An. funestus and Eretmapodite clnysogaster. Ae. aegypti bred in all the habitats sampled while Cx quinquefasciatus bred in four habitats except tree holes/leaf axils. An. gambiae s.l and Ae. albopictus occurred in three habitats while other species bred only in one or two habitats. Ground pools and domestic containers recorded the highest number of species followed by gutters/open drains. Tree holes/leaf axils was the least preferred habitat with the lowest number of species occurrence. However, statistical analysis revealed non-signifi-cant difference in species occurrence in the fi ve habitats. The availability of the habitats to support the breeding of Aedes, Culex and Anopheles, which are known vectors of urban yellow fever, lymphatic fi lariasis and malaria suggest that the residents of Abeokuta City are at risk of mosquito-borne diseases. It is important that residents of the City are enlighten on the environmental factors that contribute to mosquito breeding and that the Government should institute proper sanitation measures to reduce mosquito breeding sites

Distribution of bacteria and fungi in the earthworm Libyodrillus violaceous (Annelida: Oligochaeta), a native earthworm from Nigeria

Earthworms are soil invertebrates that play a key role in recycling organic matter in soils.In Nigeria, earthworms include Libyodrillus violaceous. Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial counts, as well as fungal counts of viable microorganisms in soils and gut sections, were made on twenty L. violaceous collected from different sites on the campus of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. The samples were collected between April and November, 2002. Numbers of microorganisms were higher in castings and gut sections than in uningested soil samples. The guts and their contents also had higher moisture and total nitrogen contents than the uningested soils. Bacteria and fungi isolated from the samples were identified by standard microbiological procedures on the bases of their morphological and biochemical characteristics. Isolated bacteria were identified as Staphylococcus, Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mutans, Clostridium, Spirocheata spp., Azotobacter spp., Micrococcus lylae, Acinetobacter spp., Halobacterium for bacteria. Yeast isolates were identified as Candida spp., Zygosaccharomyces spp., Pichia spp., and Saccharomyces spp while molds were identified as, Aspergillus spp., Pytium spp., Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp and Rhizopus spp. Of the five locations examined, the refuse dump area had the highest numbers of both aerobic and anaerobic organisms, followed by the arboretum while the cultivated land area recorded the lowest counts. The higher numbers of microorganisms observed in the gut sections and casts of the earthworms examined in this work reinforce the general concept that the gut and casts of earthworms show higher microbial diversity and activity than the surrounding soil.

Sampling mosquitoes with CDC light trap in rice field and plantation communities in Ogun State, Nigeria

Mosquito species were sampled to determine the mosquito composition and abundance in rice field and plantation communities in Ogun State Nigeria. Mosquitoes were caught once weekly from four selected houses in each of the two communities by means of CDC light traps. A total of 47,501 mosquitoes representing fifteen species were caught in the two communities of which the rice field community accounted for 63.8% of the total catch. Mansonia africana constituted the most important biting mosquito in the two communities representing 62.1% and 39.1% in rice field and plantation communities, respectively. Other species in decreasing order of abundance were M. uniformis, Anopheles gambiae, Coquilletidia fuscopennata, An. moucheti, An. funestus, An. nili, Culex quinquefasciatus, Eretmapodites chrysogaster, Coq.metallica, Cx annulioris, An. rhodesiensis, Aedes aegypti, An. squamosus and An. maculipennis. Seven mosquito species were caught throughout the year but mostly in the months of May to October. Abundance varied significantly between the study sites and between the months (F,1.11 =241.9 P<0.05) Most of the mosquitoes collected were unfed and nulliparous (87.1%). In spite of the high proportion of M. africana, its parous rate was low 0.53 and 0.59 in rice fileld and plantation, respectively. The highest parity was seen in Ae. aegypti (0.81-0.86) and An. gambiae, (0.69-0.68)

Comparative toxicity effect of bush tea leaves (Hyptis suaveolens) and orange peel (Citrus sinensis) oil extract on larvae of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti

The ethanolic extracts of the orange peel (Citrus sinensis) and bush tea leaves (Hyptis suaveolens) were compared for their toxicity effect on the larvae of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti collected from disused tyres beside College of Natural Sciences building University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Eight graded concentrations, 0.9ppm, 0.8ppm, 0.7ppm, 0.6ppm, 0.5ppm, 0.4ppm, 0.3ppm and 0.2ppm of both plant extracts were tested on the larvae. The mean lethal dose LD10, was 0.15 ppm for C. sinensis, 0.01 for H. suaveolens, while LD50 for C. sinensis was 0.4ppm, H.suaveolens 0.60ppm and LD90 for C. sinensis was 0.9ppm and H.suaveolens was 1.45ppm. LD10 for the control 0.65ppm, LD50 0.9ppm and LD90 2.0 ppm. The extract of C. sinensis peel caused higher mortality rate at concentrations 0.8ppm (95%) and 0.3ppm (90%) of the larvae while the extract of H. suaveolens caused high mortality rate on the larvae at concentrations of 0.9ppm (80%) and 0.3ppm (80%). Significant differences were observed between untreated and treated larvae (exposed to either of the extract) at the various concentrations (P< 0.05)

Epidemiologic trends of HIV/AIDS in Jamaica

De todos los países del Caribe, Jamaica es el que ha tenido el mayor incremento de las tasas de infección por VIH y sida en años recientes. El hecho de que 1,5 a 2 por ciento de su población adulta esté infectada lo convierte en el país con la tercera población más grande de personas infectadas por VIH o sida en el Caribe. Entre el momento en que se diagnosticó el primer caso en 1982 y fines de 2001, 6 038 casos de infección por VIH o sida se notificaron a las autoridades sanitarias, la mitad de ellos entre 1997 y 2000. No obstante, hay una subnotificación de la infección por VIH y el sida en el país. De los casos que se notificaron en el período de 1982 a 2001, 60 por ciento eran de sexo masculino y 40 por ciento de sexo femenino, pero la proporción de casos en mujeres ha venido aumentando. Las principales vías de transmisión han sido la heterosexual (62 por ciento de todos los casos notificados), la vertical de madre a hijo (8 por ciento) y la homosexual o bisexual (6 por ciento). Los adultos de 30 a 34 años de edad representaron 17,8 por ciento de todos los casos notificados de infección por VIH o sida, y las personas de 35 a 39 años comprendieron 16,4 por ciento del total. Los niños de 0 a 4 años constituyeron 6,6 por ciento de los casos de infección por VIH o sida notificados. En 1999, la infección por VIH y el sida juntas constituían la segunda causa de muerte en niños de 1 a 4 años. El riesgo de infección por VIH y sida en mujeres de 10 a 19 años fue dos a tres veces más alto que en varones de la misma edad. En hombres mayores de 50 años el riesgo de tener VIH o sida fue 2,5 veces más alto que en mujeres de la misma edad. Entre los factores que han facilitado la propagación de la epidemia de infección por VIH y sida en Jamaica figuran el inicio precoz de la actividad sexual, la presencia de varios compañeros sexuales, la falta de protección durante las relaciones sexuales y el turismo. La infección se ha visto contenida por un sistema de salud nacional bastante eficiente y un programa muy completo de alcance nacional para el control de la infección por VIH y el sida. Las medidas de control deben centrarse en la comunicación orientada a lograr cambios de conducta, la prevención y el control de otras infecciones de transmisión sexual y la prevención de la transmisión de VIH de madre a hijo.

Effect of food plants on the volume of repellent secretion obtained in adult Zonocerus variegatus (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae)

The volume of secretion obtained from adult Zonocerus variegatus (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) was influenced by the type of food plants. Insects fed on leaves of cassava Manihot esculenta, bitter leaves Vernonia amygdalina, and a mixture of M. esculenta and Acalypha wilkesiana gave a good volume of secretion while Chromolaena odorata, Elaeis guinensis, Aspilia africana and Citrus sinensis did not favour secretion production. No significant difference was recorded in the volume of secretion obtained from Z. variegatus from the two seasons irrespective of the food plant. Similarly, food plants gave no significant difference on the volume of secretion between the two seasons.

The attraction of Zonocerus variegatus (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) to different types of lure

Zonocerus variegatus is a common grasshopper in parts of west and equtorial Africa. The distribution in Nigeria extends from the lowland rainforest zone to the savannah in the north. The influence of lure on the behaviour of grasshopper inside cages (120 insect per cage) was investigated. Nymphs and adults of Zonocerus variegatus responded positively to intact leaves, crushed leaves and inflorescence of the common compositae weed Chromolaena odorata inside muslin bags, and intact plants. There were significant differences in the attraction recorded for starved nymphs, fed nymphs and starved adults. Attraction was more to intact leaves and is by olfaction. The increase in the attraction of starved nymphs is time dependent. Attraction to plant parts ceased after the plants were dried for 24 and 48 hours at room temperature and when plants were placed in transparent polythene bags. Gut motility and gut activity were higher during the day than at night. Nymphs, adults and egg pods placed separately inside muslin bags were not attractive to adults or nymphs.

Pharmacological properties of the repellent secretion of Zonocerus variegatus (Orthoptera: Prygomorphidae)

The odours of the whole body and the secretion of Zonocerus variegatus were easily recognised and perceived by human volunteers. However, the secretion odour is not related to the odour of the food plant consumed by the grasshopper. The repellency of Z. variegatus becomes more pronounced in the 6th. and adult instars whose gland lumens contain an appreciable volume of secretion. The secretion odour is so strong that even dilution does not affect its repulsiveness to humans. The secretion had pharmacological properties: it induced contraction in rat (Rattus rattus) stomach smooth muscle preparations and guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) ileum, and induced oedema formation in the rat hind paw. The secretion was not lethal to the animals used in this study, effects were temporary and recovery occurs after a short time.