Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

About: Ladoke Akintola University of Technology is a education organization based out in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 2786 authors who have published 3066 publications receiving 36850 citations. The organization is also known as: Oyo State University of Technology & LAUTECH.

Constraints to Utilization of Poultry Production Technology among Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract: The study examined the constraints to utilization of poultry production technology in Oyo State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using a set of structured and validated interview schedule from 120 poultry farmers who were selected using multistage sampling techniques from four Local Government Areas of Oyo State, Nigeria. Data analysis was carried out using frequency counts, percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The result of the analysis showed that the major constraint to utilization of poultry production technology was access to capital and inadequate extension contact. Empirically, Age, awareness and education shows negative and relationship with constraints to utilization while source of information had positive and significant relationship with constraints to utilization of poultry production technology. The major recommendatio n that emanated from the study are: provision of credit facilities to the farmers by the government through the banks and making inputs such as vaccines available to the farmers at a subsidized rate.

Antihypertensive drug utilization and conformity to guidelines in a sub-Saharan African hypertensive population.

Abstract: Background: Despite avail- ability and usage of wide array of antihyper- tensive drugs, blood pressure has remained poorly controlled in most health care settings particularly in Africa. The cost of these drugs among other factors strongly determines the prescription and usage pattern which ulti- mately affects control of blood pressure par- ticularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to describe the current utiliza- tion pattern of antihypertensive drugs in a ter- tiary hospital in Nigeria in line with the re- gional and international guidelines for hyper- tension management and to compare with similar studies in other parts of the country to generate the national outlook. Methods: This is a cross sectional study of 805 adult hyper- tensive patients who were on treatment at the Medical Out-Patient Department of Univer- sity of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in Nigeria, a country with the most populous black hyper- tensive patients. Data were collated from the patients' records and evaluated according to drug classifications. Results: 787 patients out of the 805 evaluated were eventually in- cluded in the analysis. Mean age was 57.88 ± 12.59 years with 490 (62.3%) females. Fre- quency of use of classes of antihypertensive was: diuretics (D, 84%), calcium channel blockers (CCB, 66%), angiotensin convert- ing enzyme inhibitors (ACEI, 65%), -methyldopa (ALD, 26%), beta-blockers (BB, 11.9%) and angiotensin receptor blockers (3.8%). Proportions of number of drugs usage per patient were: 0 (2.2%), 1 (9.1%), 2 (37.1%), 3 (35.8%), 4 (15.6%), and 5 (0.1%). The most commonly used combina- tions of drugs were ACEI + CCB + D (21.6%), followed by CCB + D (14.5%), ACE + D (11.4%) and ACEI + D + ALD (9.8%). Other recent studies in Nigeria re- vealed diuretics and multiple agents as the prevalent prescription pattern. Conclusion: Antihypertensive utilization in Ilorin, Nigeria like some parts of the country conforms to the guidelines for the management of hyperten- sion in blacks with majority of patients on di- uretics particularly in combination with other agents. Angiotensin converting enzyme in- hibitors are increasingly being used whereas beta-blockers and angiotensin receptor antag- onists are still less utilized.

Influence of calcium nanoparticles (CaNPs) on nutritional qualities, radical scavenging attributes of Moringa oleifera and risk assessments on human health

Abstract: This study investigated stimulatory potentials of zero-charged calcium nanoparticles (CaNPs) on nutritional contents and free radical scavenging abilities of Moringa oleifera. M. oleifera seeds were planted on soil wetted with water (control: group A), 100 mgL−1 Ca(NO3)2, 100, 75 and 50 mgL−1 CaNPs as groups B, C, D and E respectively. Elemental compositions were determined with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). CaNPs beneficially improved crude fibre, ash, K and Ca by 124.82, 152.5, 10.66 and 28.91% respectively in M. oleifera. There were significant declines in concentrations of Na, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cr in M. oleifera planted on CaNPs amended soil. CaNPs significantly improved free radical scavenging ability from 43.85 to 74.06%, phenolic contents from 248.82 to 555.88 mg quercetin/g and flavonoid contents from 120.75 to 148.08 mg quercetin/g. Reduction in oxidative stress biomarker (MDA) from 1.83 to 1.54 mmolg−1 in M. oleifera planted on CaNPs amended soil was also recorded. Strong correlations among essential mineral pairs indicate M. oleifera is a source of multiple mineral nutrients and a poor source of toxic heavy metals. Results of estimated daily intake of mineral nutrients and toxic hazard quotients of heavy metals suggest M. oleifera planted on CaNPs as the safest for consumption with respect to heavy metal toxicity. Lifetime risk assessment reveals a 50% reduction in cancer risk from consumption of M. oleifera planted on CaNPs soil. Thus, it is evidently clear from results of this study that CaNPs enhanced nutritional quality of M. oleifera.

Antioxidant properties of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized from methanolic leaf extract of Blighia sapida

Abstract: Synthesis of nanoparticles by biological methods using microorganisms, enzymes or plant extracts has been suggested as possible ecofriendly alternative to chemical and physical methods which involve the use of harmful reducing agents. In the current study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by green approach from methanolic leaf extract of Blighia sapida. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging assay, determination of total reductive potential, total phenolics content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC) of the synthesized AgNPs. SEM analysis revealed that the size of the synthesized silver nanoparticles ranged from 50-70 nm with maximum UV-vis absorbance at 413 nm. DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of the synthesized AgNPs increased in a dose dependent manner as compared to ascorbic acid the standard reference used. This result confirmed that Blighia sapida is a potential biomaterial for synthesizing AgNPs which can be exploited for its antioxidant activity.