Ebonyi State University

About: Ebonyi State University is a education organization based out in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Pregnancy. The organization has 1351 authors who have published 1474 publications receiving 20111 citations.

Necessity to evaluate PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in proarrhythmia

Abstract: The incidence of QT prolongation and torsades de pointes is on the rise due to the use of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular drugs. Robust efforts have been made and are still ongoing to understand the underlying mechanisms that can enhance or prevent the development of drug-induced proarrhythmia. A caveat in the use of antiarrhythmic drugs is the ability to obtain safe action potential prolongation therapeutic effects, through IKr blockade. This remains as yet completely unachievable, as blockers of the potassium channel have not provided complete safe measures. Because of this, efforts at understanding the mechanisms of proarrhythmia have continued. PI3K/Akt signalling pathway appears to possess some potential advantage in this regard because cardiomyocytes intracellular dialysis with phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3) normalises ion channel alterations and eliminates proarrhythmic features. However, there is a conundrum. Increased activities of PIP3 signalling can enhance cell proliferation and survival, and reduced activities of PIP3 signalling can lead to proarrhythmia. PI3K inhibitors used in cancer treatment have been found to cause proarrhythmia, and represent a potential avenue for the research and evaluation of potential effectiveness of a battery of antiarrhythmic and cancer drugs that are either currently in use or in development. Despite this knowledge, limited information is available on PI3K/Akt signalling and arrhythmogenesis. This highlights the need to search for new ways to improve testing of antiarrhythmic drugs and increase our understanding in PI3K/Akt signalling and arrhythmogenesis.

Economic Importance of Weeds: A Review

Abstract: Weeds are plants that are unwanted in a given situation and may be harmful, dangerous or economically detrimental. They are responsible for substantial losses of farm production and extensive damage to the environment. Weeds, through competition with other plants, would almost always have deleterious effects on them and can have a lethal effect on livestock through consumption of weeds containing poisonous chemicals in the pasture. Weed invasion has become the most dreaded and deleterious impact of weeds in nature; it adversely affects agriculture, alters the balance of ecological communities, disrupts the natural diversity and interferes in the aesthetic value of the environment. Weeds can interfere in water management, thereby reducing the economic value of water. Weeds, however, besides their deleterious impacts in nature, have many beneficial properties, which include, but not limited to benefits of weeds to companion plants, ethnomedical and ethnopharmaceutical uses of weeds, ethnobotanical uses of wild edible weeds, and the use of weeds as feed for livestock. In the light of myriads of deleterious effects and benefits accompanying weeds, it is suggested that more studies should be carried out on weed control and weed management. Also, further explorations on the potential uses of weeds to man, his environments and livestock should be undertaken. Review Article Ekwealor et al.; APRJ, 3(2): 1-11, 2019; Article no.APRJ.52647 2

Qualitative assessment of groundwater from Egbe–Mopa basement complex area, northcentral Nigeria

Abstract: The quality of groundwater from the Egbe–Mopa area of the Basement Complex of Nigeria has been assessed. Hydro-geochemical analyses and evaluation studies were conducted on twenty water samples, three from boreholes and seventeen from hand-dug wells. The evaluation involved correlation matrix, multivariate analysis (principal component analysis), and comparing the hydro-geochemical data with various standards. The descriptive statistical tests revealed that the principal controlling processes of the groundwater chemistry are hydrolysis of silicate and sulphide minerals and anthropogenic processes. The anthropogenic sources include domestic wastes, and agricultural activities. Based on the hydro-geochemical data, three hydro-geochemical facies were identified, namely: Ca2+–Mg2+–HCO3−, Na+–K+–HCO3− and Na+–K+–Cl−–SO32−. The Na+–K+–HCO−3 has the highest percentage of occurrence (70%) followed by Na+–K+–Cl−–SO−3 (20%) and the least, Ca2+–Mg2+–HCO−3 with 10%. The facies analyses indicate that the groundwater in the area is predominantly recharged by infiltration from precipitation and high occurrence of water–rock interactions. The geochemical data also reveal that the groundwater from the area did not satisfy the standard for drinking purposes; it, however, satisfied the standard for agricultural purposes (especially for irrigation and livestock farming).

The Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistant Diarrhogenic Bacterial Species in Surface Waters, South Eastern Nigeria.

Abstract: BACKGROUND : This study assessed the bacteriological qualities of surface waters in Afikpo, between April and September 2016. METHODS : Surface water samples were collected from three streams for bacteriological analysis. Bacteria species were isolated using standard microbiological and biochemical techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility study was carried out using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. RESULTS : The result of the mean heterotrophic bacteria count from the streams showed that Okpu stream had 209.5CFU/100 mL, Ohino Ngodo 162.5 CFU/100mL, and Ngwogo stream 162.0 CFU/100mL respectively. Out of the twenty-six (26) isolates obtained, E. coli and Staphylococcus species had the highest percentage occurrence (23.1%) respectively. Klebsiella, Shigella and Enterobacter sp had (11.5%) each, Pseudomonas spp (7.7%), while Salmonella and Streptococcus sp had the least percentage occurrence of (3.8%). The antibiotic susceptibility studies showed that large proportions of isolates were resistant to sulphamethaxoid (SUL), cephalothin (CEP), tetracycline (TET), penicillin G (PEN), oxytetracycline (OXY), cefotaxime (CEF), nalidixic acid (NAL) and cefuroxime sodium (CXM). The most effective antibiotic was azithromycin followed by imipenem. CONCLUSION : The presence of these multi-drug resistant strains in water samples could facilitate transmission of antibiotic resistance. This emphasizes the need for proper treatment of water in the study area. KEYWORDS : Antibiotic resistance, Bacteria, Afikpo, Surface waters