Common nutrition problems among children in Oyo East Local

The study examined the common nutritional problems among children in Oyo East Local Government Area of Oyo State. A descriptive research design was used; while the study population consisted of nurses and nursing mothers. These people represented the group of respondents used in the study. In all; one hundred and fifty respondents in the area of study were randomly selected. The variables tested in the area of study include common nutritional problems like kwarshiorkor; marasmus; anaemia and ricket among many others. Data was collected through the use of a self-designed questionnaire; duly validated and tested for reliability. The two results of test retest methods were later compared and correlation co-efficient of 0.65r was obtained; the level of correlation is onsidered acceptable for the study. The data was processed using simple percentage; mean score and chi-square at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The result revealed that children in Oyo East Local Government do not significantly suffer from the most common nutritional deficiencies diseases such as kwashiorkor; marasmus; anaemia and ricket. Based on the findings; It was recommended among others that adequate balanced diet should be given to children; through advocacy and antenatal education. Also; the health workers should encourage and educate nursing mothers on the importance of proper de-worming of children from time to time to prevent worm infestation which may lead to nutritional anaemia and to avoid cultural taboos that prevent children and nursing mothers from eating proteineous food like meat and snail among many others

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of aqueous extract of Arachis hypogaea in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of aqueous extract of Arachis hypogaea was investigated in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The extract caused a significant (P < 0.05) decrease of fasting blood glucose of both normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats from 102.60 +/- 1.65 mg/dl to 88.79 +/- 0.94 mg/dl for normal and 189.0 +/- 30.79 mg/dl to 107.55 +/- 1.54 mg/dl for alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The extract also caused a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in both normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Inhibition of camel lens zeta-crystallin/NADPH: quinone oxidoreductase activity by chlorophenols.

Chlorophenols comprise a major class of environmental contaminants. They are extensively used as insecticides, fungicides, mold inhibitors, antiseptics and disinfectants. We found some of these compounds to be strong inhibitors of zeta-crystallin. This oxidoreductase enzyme was isolated from camel lens and its enzymatic activity was inhibited by the chlorophenols tested in a time-independent but concentration-dependent manner. 2,4,5-Trichlorophenol was the most potent inhibitor (IC50 = 3 microM; Ki = 3.2 microM) whereas 4-chlorophenol was the least potent (IC50 = 4.1 mM). There appeared to be a relationship between the degree of chlorination of the phenols and inhibition of zeta-crystallin activity. The position of the chlorine substituent on the phenol may also influence the potency of these compounds.

Purification and some properties of a hydrophilic prokallikrein and a hydrophobic prokallikrein from sheep kidney cortex.

1. A hydrophilic and a hydrophobic prokallikrein were purified from sheep kidney cortex and some of their biochemical properties were compared. 2. The effects of several inhibitors on the activity of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic kallikreins were investigated. 3. The thermal stability and response of the hydrophobic kallikrein towards various detergents were also studied.