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.

Self-ear-cleaning among educated young adults in Nigeria.

Abstract: Context: Self-ear-cleaning has been reported to be common from several hospital-based studies and it has been associated with some diseases of the ear. Aims: To determine community-based prevalence of self-ear-cleaning and its sociodemographic correlates among educated young adults in Nigeria. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional survey conducted in a National Youth Service Corps camp in Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: Semistructured questionnaires were administered on a randomly selected sample of 1280 respondents. The outcome variable was self-ear-cleaning. Independent variables were sociodemographic variables, materials used and ear-cleaning habits. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15 was utilized for univariate, bivariate, and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: There were 1012 respondents (M: F = 1.05:1). Mean age was 25.3 (standard deviation, 2.34). Prevalence of self-ear-cleaning was 93.4%. Mean age at first cleaning was 7.6 years. Cotton buds were the most frequently used objects (in 85.1%). Prevalence was high irrespective of sociodemographic class, significantly higher among females (c 2 = 4.549, P = 0.033), those who believed the habit was beneficial (c 2 = 114.185, P < 0.001) and those whose parents and siblings practiced the habit. Significant predictive factors were self-ear-cleaning in respondent's father [odds ratio (OR) P = 0.011) and owning cotton buds (OR = 0.192, P = 0.007). Conclusions: Self-ear-cleaning is almost universal. Most of the population is, therefore, at risk of possible harmful effects. Also, medical advice against self-ear-cleaning is not widely known. Rather, the erroneous perception that self-ear-cleaning is beneficial is common. Collaborative health education efforts targeted at families and schools and campaigns and advocacy for legislation regulating the sale of cotton buds are recommended.

Nutritive value of hot water- or cocoa-pod ash solution-treated cocoa bean cake for broiler chicks

Abstract: 1. The effectiveness of boiling (90 C for 75 min) in water and alkali (cocoa-pod ash CPA solution) treatments for reducing the antinutritional factor (theobromine) in cocoa bean cake (CBC) and the influence of these treatments on the chemical composition, gross energy and metabolisable energy (ME) of CBC to the broiler chicken were examined. 2. Boiling did not affect crude protein content but resulted in lower ash, crude fibre, ether extract and gross energy values, and a 56% reduction in theobromine, while the use of increasing concentrations of cocoa-pod ash solution decreased crude protein, ether extract, theobromine and gross energy. 3. Mineral elements were significantly affected both by boiling and by cocoa-pod ash solution treatments. 4. There were no significant effects of hot water-treated or 5 g CPA/kg treated CBC on ME or MEn. However, efficiency of energy utilisation was improved. 5. Nutritional evaluation showed that there was a general decrease in performance at high dietary concentrations o...

Chemopreventive and Anti-leukemic Effects of Ethanol Extracts of Moringa oleifera Leaves on Wistar Rats Bearing Benzene Induced Leukemia

Abstract: Pharmacological exploitation of natural compounds has continued to lead to development of non-synthetic and non-toxic anticancer agents that are promising at ameliorating the menace of neoplastic diseases such as leukemia. This study is an attempt to determine the chemopreventive and antileukemic activities of ethanol extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves on benzene induced leukemia bearing rats. Leukemia was induced by intravenous injection of 0.2 mL benzene solution 48 hourly for 4 weeks in appropriate rat groups. Ethanol extract of Moringa oleifera (EMO) leaves was administered at 0.2 mL of 100 mg/mL to respective treatment rat groups. A standard antileukemic drug (cyclophosphamide) was also used to treat appropriate rat groups. Clinical examination of liver and spleen with hematological parameters were employed to assess the leukemia burden following analysis of the rat blood samples on Sysmex KX-21N automated instrument. Leukemia induction reflected in severe anemia and a marked leukocytosis over the control/baseline group. Liver and spleen enlargements were also observed in group exposed to benzene carcinogen. The in vivo antioxidative potential of EMO was evaluated using Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. The liver MDA and GSH levels obtained in benzene induced leukemic rats treated with EMO compared favorably with those obtained in similar treatments with the standard drug (p 0.05) by ameliorating the induced leukemic condition in the affected rat groups owing to its bioactive constituents. This study reveals that the extract might be an active, natural and non-toxic anticancer drug lead.

Determinants of outcome in newborns with respiratory distress in Osogbo, Nigeria

Abstract: Background: Respiratory distress is one of the commonest presentations necessitating hospital admission in newborn unit. Regardless of the cause, if not recognized and managed quickly, respiratory distress can escalate to apnoea, respiratory failure, cardiopulmonary arrest and death. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study of newborns with respiratory distress admitted into the SCBU of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria. Respiratory distress was diagnosed by grunting, inspiratory stridor, nasal flaring and tachypnea (more than 60 breaths per minute), retractions in the intercostal, subcostal, or supracostal spaces and cyanosis. At admission, every neonate had a complete physical examination. Results: Of 625 babies admitted, 384 (61.4%) were males while 241 (38.6%) were females and 164 (26.2%) had respiratory distress. Respiratory distress was commoner among the preterms than term newborns. c 2 = 44.7, p = 0.001. Leading causes of respiratory distress among the preterms were hyaline membrane disease, septicaemia, while among the term babies were perinatal asphyxia, transient tachypnoea of newborn and meconium aspiration. Sixty (36.6%) of the 164 babies with respiratory distress died. While 40.2% of the preterms died mainly from causes like hyaline membrane disease and septicaemia, 31.3% of term babies died from causes like perinatal asphyxia and meconium aspiration. Mortality from hyaline membrane disease was 46.9%, while perinatal asphyxia and meconium aspiration accounted for 38.9% and 40.0% respectively. Conclusions: Respiratory distress is therefore, a very common neonatal problem and it causes death of more than third of those affected. Emphasis should be geared towards reduction of preterm delivery, control of asphyxia and neonatal sepsis in order to reduce neonatal mortality in our environment.