Cross River University of Technology

About: Cross River University of Technology is a education organization based out in Calabar, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Exergy. The organization has 465 authors who have published 507 publications receiving 2705 citations.

Effect of Aqueous Extract of Vernonia amygdalina on Biochemical Indices of Prostate Functions in Hormonal Induced Enlarged Prostate in Rats

Abstract: Background: Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a common urological disorder in elderly men. We investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) on BPH. Methods: BPH was induced in male rats weighing 250-350 g. Testosterone propionate (T) and estradiol valerate (E2) were used for the induction at a dose of 400 μG T and 80 μG E2 respectively. This was administered to the rats for three weeks subcutaneously in the inguinal region. A total of 30 rats were divided into five groups. One group was used as a control and the other groups received subcutaneous injections of the hormones for 3 weeks to induce BPH. Original Research Article Ugwu et al.; JOCAMR, 6(1): 1-12, 2018; Article no.JOCAMR.42506 2 Groups 1 and 2 were treated with different doses of VA extracts and group 3 received finasteride, all by gavages for forty-five days, while group 4 was left untreated, group 5 served as normal control. After forty-five days of treatment with VA extract, the rats were anaesthetised by short contact with trichloromethane vapour. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture and the sera cautiously centrifuged and used for the determination of different biochemical indices. The prostate was harvested and weighed. The harvested prostate were processed for paraffin embedding and stained with H and E. Results: Treatment with the extract and finasteride resulted to significant (P < 0.05) decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA), estradiol and prolactin, testosterone and protein content of the prostate when compared to BPH control. Prostate weight was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in treated groups compared to BPH control. This was supported by the histological examination. Conclusion: Therefore, Vernonia amygdalina was effective in reducing PSA, prolactin, testosterone, estradiol and prostate weight induced BPH in a rat model, and may be useful for the clinical treatment of patients with BPH.

Effects of coconut product–caffeine interactions on liver cells in Wistar albino rats

Abstract: The effects of interactions between coconut products and caffeine on the induction of drug-metabolizing enzyme in Wistar albino rats were studied. Twenty rats were randomly divided into four groups: (Group 1) control received via oral route a placebo (4 mL distilled water). Groups 2–4 were treated for a 14-day period, respectively, with 50 mg caffeine/kg body weight (BW), 50 mg caffeine/kg plus 50 mg coconut water/kg, or 50 mg caffeine/kg plus 50 mg coconut milk/kg in a 4 mL volume via gastric intubation. One day after the after the final exposure, the animals were euthanized by inhalation of an overdose of chloroform. The blood of each rat was collected by cardiac puncture, and the liver of each was harvested and processed to examine several biochemical parameters, including total protein and RNA levels, protein/RNA ratios, and the activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST, respectively). Results showed that while ingestion of coconut milk and coconut water increased the values o...

Cultural ramifications of the found object incontemporary african art

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Distribution and Dynamics of a Tropical Waterfalls Ecosystem

Abstract: Waterfalls gives the impression of a lifeless zone because researchers have historically focused on the hydrology, ecotourism and geological features. Effective management will require an understanding of changes in species composition and distribution of macro-biota. Monthly samples were taken in wet and dry seasons, over two year period in three regions along the 6817.7m length of the Agbokum waterfalls. Macro-biota exhibited distinct pattern in respect of seasonal and spatial changes. Trachelomonas volzii, the most abundant phytoplankton species reduced from 686 in the dry season to 143 in the wet, and from 455 downstream to 91, midstream (waterfalls region). Zooplankton species Calanus finmarchicus decreased from 511 during dry season to 36 in the wet and from 334 downstream to7, midstream. 71.7 percent of the total macro-invertebrates were recorded from downstream reaches while only 6.3 percent were contributed by midstream. Among the three dominant fish species Tilapia zillii, Clarias gariepinus and Labeo coubie, constituting 45.5% of total catch, two benthic fishes (L. coubie and C. gariepinus) showed inverse distributional patterns. Clariid fish (C. gariepinus) was most abundant downstream and least represented upstream. Cyprinid (L.coubie), on the other hand, dominated the upstream reaches and scarce downstream. Percentage cover of marginal vegetation by Bambusasp, Symphonia and Elaeis guineesis displayed progressive increase from upstream reaching a maximum of 38.5 mean percent cover in the relatively undisturbed downstream. In contrast, Raphia vinifera, Havea brasiliensis, Grewia sp and Cocos nucifera shrank in size from 34% to 8% at the midstream stretches of the river while only nymphia- rich vegetation becomes more frequent in the middle reaches. Nymphia has become a biological invader and has exhibited a full range of impact and abundance in this disturbed midstream reaches. The disturbance regimes of the midstream reaches of Agbokum waterfalls combined with its very low faunal and floral diversity has made the environment unstable therefore susceptible to the invasion of disturbance tolerant biota.

Factors Affecting Implementation and Compliance with Housing Standards for Sustainable Housing Delivery in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract: In the quest to find solutions to the ever increasing housing shortages in Nigerian cities, developers, especially the low-income groups, embark on housing construction which in the eye of the government housing agency circumvent compliance to housing standards and are therefore illegal. This research evaluates factors affecting the implementation and compliance with housing standards for sustainable housing delivery in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The methodology employed was a qualitative research approach involving indepth interviews, physical observations and detailed, systematic and thorough review of literatures on the subject matter from published works of renowned authors. In addition, 20 housing units were selected using purposive sampling technique for detailed study; while respondents of 20 selected housing units used were also interviewed including housing professionals and personnel of housing agencies in the state using both random and expert sampling techniques. From these responses, other factors peculiar to Bayelsa State were outlined. Data collected were analyzed using content analysis. Findings listed factors such as administrative practices, uncertainty of standards, socioeconomic, demographic and socio-cultural factors. Recommendation is that these factors should be considered in developing housing standards for a given area and making the standards flexible in order to make compliance practicable and enforceable.