Prevalence, pattern and determinants of myths and misconceptions among patients with diabetes mellitus in South West Nigeria

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a disease of public health significance in the world and especially the African region. Aim: To assess the myths and misconceptions about DM among patients with DM who are attending a teaching hospital. Methods: This study involved adults diagnosed of type-2 diabetes who were consecutively recruited from the LAUTECH teaching hospital Diabetic Clinic, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data about sociodemographic data, and questions about aetiology of diabetes, diets, treatment/management and Insulin therapy. All data were entered and analyzed using SPPS. P­value less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: 101 subjects with a mean age of 60.61 ± 12.53 years were enrolled for the study. 61% were females, 76% were retirees and 58% were in the 61­80 years age group. The commonest misconception was that "diabetic patients needed a 'special diabetic diet'" ­ 89.1%, followed by "adding sugar to food is prohibited" ­ 73.3%. 51.5% have adequate knowledge of the diabetes mellitus. Patients receiving oral hypoglycemic agents have good knowledge of the disease. Conclusion: A large of Nigerians has various myths and misconceptions about diabetes. Comprehensive health educational programs for Nigerian patients with diabetes must include sessions to identify and address the presence of these prevailing myths and misconceptions

Identification of QTLs for pod and kernel traits in cultivated peanut by bulked segregant analysis

Bulked segregant analysis was used to identify simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers associated with pod and kernel traits in cultivated peanut, to permit rapid selection of superior quality genotypes in the breeding program. SSR markers linked to pod and kernel traits were identified in two DNA pools (high and low), which were established using selected F2:6 recombinant individuals resulting from a cultivated cross between a runner (Tamrun OL01) and a Spanish (BSS 56) peanut. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for pod and kernel-related traits, parents were screened initially with 112 SSR primer pairs. The survey revealed 8.9 percent polymorphism between parents. Of ten SSR primer pairs distinguishing the parents, five (PM375, PM36, PM45, pPGPseq8D9, and Ah-041) were associated with differences between bulks for seed length, pod length, number of pods per plant, 100-seed weight, maturity, or oil content. Association was confirmed by analysis of segregation among 88 F2:6 individuals in the RIL population. Phenotypic means associated with markers for three traits differed by more than 40 percent, indicating the presence of QTLs with major effects for number of pods per plant, plant weight, and pod maturity. The SSR markers can be used for marker assisted selection for quality and yield improvement in peanut. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the identification of SSR markers linked to pod - and kernel- related traits in cultivated peanut.

Evaluation of an educational intervention for farming families to protect their children from pesticide exposure

A culturally appropriate educational intervention was developed and directed towards farming families in Menoufia governorate, Egypt, to improve their knowledge and practices in protecting their children from exposure to pesticides. Parents were randomly assigned to either a lecture or videotape training group. Ability to recall information or improve practices among parents was evaluated in 3 sessions: pretraining and 2 weeks and 1 month after training. Knowledge and practice scores after training of younger and more educated participants were significantly higher than older, less educated participants. Knowledge and practice performance of the videotape group was better than the lecture group and in both groups the improvement of knowledge scores after training was significantly higher than that of practice scores

Antiphospholipid syndrome as a cause of recurrent pregnancy loss

[1] To Study the effect of antiphospholipid syndrome [APS] on recurrent pregnancy loss [RPL] in relation to the trimester of gestation and pregnancy outcome. [2] To identify auto antibodies related to the APS, namely anticardiolipin [ACA], antiphoshatidyl serine [APA], lupus anticoagulant [LAC] and false positive- Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory test [FP-VDRL] response. This study included 72 patients with RPL and 30 apparently healthy multiparous women as a control. It was found that 21 [29 percent] patients had APS who were all AC A positive. Of these patients only one was also positive for LAC antibodies and three for APA. The FP-VDRL test was found to be significantly associated with APS, especially with the IgG group. The ACA concentrations [both of IgG and IgM] were significantly higher [P> 0.05] in patients than in the control. The ACA concentrations and prevalence were significantly higher in the primary losers than in the control, while total APA prevalence was higher [P>0.046] in the primary losers than the secondary one. Both ACA and LAC did not show significant differences in any of the three trimesters of pregnancy loss. It was found that APA was significantly effective on RPL during the first trimester [P>0.046]. Also, the FP-VDRL was significantly different when comparing first trimester losers with the third trimester pregnancy losers. The APS with ACA and/or LAC may carry risk of RPL. The presence of APA alone has no risk of RPL, but when associated with ACA may indicate a more complicated condition

Respiratory and skin disorders among workers in water-based paints industry

In the last few decades, painting industry started to develop new types of paints "water-based paints" to replace "solvent-based ones" which contain large amounts of solvents. Water-based paints involve an. emulsion of acrylic resin, stabilizers [e.g. ammonia] and preservatives [e.g. formaldehyde] dissolved in water; that are more safe than solvent paints. To determine the respiratory and skin disorders which may affect workers in such industry, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 20 male workers in water-based paints factory in Sadat City, Menoufiya Governorate in comparison with an equal number of non exposed subjects as control group. Both groups were matched for age, sex, socioeconomic standards, education, marital status and smoking habit. All individuals were subjected to structured question naire including personal, occupational and medical histories, clinical examination, and spirometric measurements arid skin patch test. The prevalence of respiratory and skin manifestations and positive patch test results was significantly higher in exposed than control group. Also there was a trend of declining in spirometric measure ments [FVC%, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC% arid MEF] reaching a significant level or MEF% among exposed workers than in control ones. Smoking had a synergistic effect with exposure to water-based paints leading to a significant increase in the prevalence of respiratory manifestations and a significant reduction of mean of MEF%among exposed smoking workers than exposed non-smokers [108. 73 +/- 3.5and1 15.0 +/- 4,2% respectively]. There was a significant relationship between the increase in duration of exposure and increase in the prevalence of respiratory and skin manifestation and declining in MEF% among exposed workers in water-based paints industry. Usage of protective equipments was significantly valuable in minimizing the prevalence of skin manifestations [itching from 66,7% to 12..5% and dermatitis from 66.7% to 0%] among exposed personnel. Work in the water-based paints-industry was associated with increased prevalence of respiratory and skin manifestations and reduction of spirometric measurements. It is recommend that: smoking habit must be prohibited in this industry with stress on proper usage of personal protective equipments together with health education for workers in water-based paints about risk of exposure and steps to minimize the resulting disorders

Trials for preparation of inactivated sheep pox vaccine using binary ethyleneimine

Binary ethyleneimine [BEI] was used to inactivate the local Egyptian strain of sheep pox virus. The inactivation process was applied using final concentrations of BEI at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3% for different incubation periods at 37 dgree C. The virus was completely inactivated after 7 hours incubation with by 2% BEI final concentration; the inactivated virus was adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide gel when incubated for 6 hours in a concentration 1:1. The antibody levels were estimated by virus neutralization test and ELISA. Specific antibodies appeared from the 1[st] week post vaccination and remained until the 4[th] week post challenge. The prepared vaccine was evaluated for safety, sterility and potency. The vaccine proved to be safe, sterile and inducing protection for the vaccinated lambs when challenged by the virulent sheep pox virus up to 6 months post vaccination

Local Delivery of Nitric Oxide from an Eluting Stent to Inhibit Neointimal Thickening in a Porcine Coronary Injury Model

To assess the effect of a NO-eluting stent on reducing neointimal thickening in a porcine coronary artery stent injury model, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, was incorporated into polyurethane (PU) polymer and coated onto metallic coil stents, and two types of stents with thin and thick barrier coatings were characterized. In vivo biological activity of the NO-eluting stents was assessed by measurement of coronary arterial cGMP levels in 32 pigs/64 arteries at days 1, 2, 7 and 14. Morphometric analyses were performed in 16 pigs to determine the effect of NO-eluting stents on neointimal hyperplasia 28 days following arterial injury. The SNP-coated stents released NO in a controlled manner for up to 4 weeks in the in vitro experiments and an increase in local tissue cGMP levels was demonstrated for up to 14 days. The neointimal area at 28 days was not diminished, however, by NO eluded from either stents of thin or thick barriers (control bare stent - 0.66 mm2, control PU stent - 0.68 mm2, SNP-PU thin coating stent - 0.78 mm2, SNP-PU thick coating stent - 0.85 mm2; all p=NS). In conclusion, the SNP-coated polymer stent exerted a local biological effect on the arterial wall, with sustained elevation of cGMP level. Although local delivery of NO from this device did not reduce neointimal hyperplasia in this porcine model, this polymer-coated stent might be a promising tool for administration of other agents that may modify the reparative tissue responses leading to restenosis.

Biological and hematological changes in experimental cryptosporidiosis

In experimentally infected laboratory-bred white rats, Cryptosporidium infection rate was higher among immunosuppressed [75%] than immunocompetent ones [37.5%] with statistically insignificant difference. Cryptosporidiosis was found to be a fatal disease especially in immunosuppressed rats [50%]. There was also marked flourishing of the infection as revealed by high intensity of infection in immunosuppressed than the immunocompetent rats [363 and 82.7 oocysts / pellet respectively]. In spite of the severe disease, cyclophosphamide appeared to have no effect on the prepatent period. In both immunosuppressed and immunocompetent infected rats, there was a decrease in the total leucocytic count with marked lymphocytopaenia. This indicates decreased resistance to infection, thus higher oocyst counts in the pellets

Synthesis and reactions of a new series of 1,2,4-triazine derivatives

In continuation of our studies on the synthesis and reactions of unsymmetrical hydrazine, the present investigation emphasized the synthesis of some new triazine incorporating a thiophene moiety at position 5 for possible application as antimicrobial agents

Synthesis of copper [II] chloride complexes of certain amino-cyanopyridines for biological evaluation

In a previous communication the synthesis and characterization of copper [II] complexes of some highly substituted 2-pyridones, were reported. This work describes the synthesis of copper [II] chloride complexes of certain 2-amino-3-cyano-4,6-disubstituted pyridines [la-c], for biological evaluation

specificity of leishmaniasis IHAT in albino rats experimentally infected with toxoplasma gondii and hymenolepis nana

The specificity and sensitivity of the indirect haemagglutination test [I.H.A.T.] in the diagnosis of human leishmaniasis have been previously reported. As far as rodent reservoirs are concerned, no data are available about its specificity. In the present paper, it was aimed to study the specificity of this test against two of the common parasites of man and rodents in Egypt, T. gondii and H. nana. It was concluded that the leishmaniasis I.H.A. reactions at dilution up to 1:32 are not specific when dealing with rodents' sera

Critical assessment of eosinophilia versus some immunologic tests in human hydatidosis in Egypt

A marked disconcordance was observed between eosinophilia on one side and Casoni test, C.F.T., T.H.A.T. and A/G ratio on the other side in 350 cases. This was attributed to the fact that eosinophilia occurs in a wide range of parasitic diseases and allergic conditions prevailing in Egypt. The results showed that A/G ratio was not sensitive, the marked discrepancy between the I.H.A.T. and C.F.T. and that Casoni test is not highly specific. The value of eosinophilia as an indirect evidence of infection should not be overlooked

Therapeutic effect of oxfendazole on the intestinal phase of trichinella spiralis larvae

Oxfendazole proved to be a highly effective Antihelmintic against Trichinella spiralis larvae when given at the dose rate of 10 mg/kg body weight, two and four days post experimental infection. The drug showed no prophylactic value. The results were discussed

Serological demonstration of toxoplasmosis among sheep in Sudan

Numerous reports from all over the world attest the widespread prevalence of toxoplasmosis in man and animals. Despite this fact, the disease has not been so far studied in Sudan. This paper is intended to report on the presence of antibodies against T. gondii among sheep as indicated by the Sabin and Feldman dye test and complement fixation test. The results were discussed on the light of work done in other countries

specificity of leishmaniasis indirect hemagglutination in dogs experimentally infected with toxoplasma gondii and eschinoccus granulosus

Indirect haemagglutination test proved to be sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of human leishmaniasis. As far as dogs are concerned, no data are available about its specificity. In the present study, the specificity was tested against two common parasites of dogs, T. gondii and E. granulosus. The results showed that leishmaniasis I.H A. reaction at dilution 1: 16 is not specific. It may be a cross reaction with echinococcosis or toxoplasmosis

Specificity and sensitivity of indirect hemagglutination in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis

The specificity and sensitivity of leishmaniasis I.H.A. test in 27 patients with active cutaneous leishmaniasis and ten patients with active schistosomiasis mansoni were studied. It was found that the test has little value for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis and no real cross reaction occurs with schistosomiasis

Experimental transmission of some blood parasites rhipicephalus species in Egypt II the role of R turanicus in transmitting babesia ovis in sheep

Studies on experimental transmission of Babesia ovis were undertaken using laboratory bred Rhipicephalus turanicus, together with splenectomized and non-splenectomized sheep. Vermiform merozoites were detected in haemolymph of engorged female ticks as well as in some eggs of the 4th batch. On the other hand, stage-to-stage transmission of B. ovis by R. turanicus failed