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.

Sleep and Reproductive Health.

Abstract: The reproductive function of humans is regulated by several sex hormones which are secreted in synergy with the circadian timing of the body. Sleep patterns produce generic signatures that physiologically drive the synthesis, secretion, and metabolism of hormones necessary for reproduction. Sleep deprivation among men and women is increasingly reported as one of the causes of infertility. In animal models, sleep disturbances impair the secretion of sexual hormones thereby leading to a decrease in testosterone level, reduced sperm motility and apoptosis of the Leydig cells in male rats. Sleep deprivation generates stressful stimuli intrinsically, due to circadian desynchrony and thereby increases the activation of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis, which, consequently, increases the production of corticosterone. The elevated level of corticosteroids results in a reduction in testosterone production. Sleep deprivation produces a commensurate effect on women by reducing the chances of fertility. Sleeplessness among female shift workers suppresses melatonin production as well as excessive HPA activation which results in early pregnancy loss, failed embryo implantation, anovulation and amenorrhea. Sleep deprivation in women has also be found to be associated with altered gonadotropin and sex steroid secretion which all together lead to female infertility. Poor quality of sleep is observed in middle-aged and older men and this also contributes to reduced testosterone concentrations. The influence of sleep disturbances post-menopausal is associated with irregular synthesis and secretion of female sex steroid hormones.

Quality of life of Nigerians living with human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Few reports from Nigeria have examined the quality of life (QOL) of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) despite the fact that Nigeria has the second largest number of PLWHA in the world. This study evaluated the QOL of Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire for HIV-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument and assessed the impact of demographic laboratory and disease-related variables on QOL. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 491 consecutive PLWHA aged >/= 18 years attending the dedicated clinic to PLWHA in South-west Nigeria. RESULTS: The lowest mean QOL scores were recorded in the environment and social domains. Participants aged >/= 40 years had better QOL in the environment (p = 0.039) and spirituality (p = 0.033) domains and those in relationships had better QOL in the social relationship domain (p = 0.002). Subjects with no or primary education and those who rated their health status as good gave significantly higher ratings in all QOL domains. Participants with AIDS had significant lower QOL in the level of independence domain (p = 0.018) and those with CD4 count >/= 350 cells /mm3 had better QOL scores in the physical psychological and level of independence domains. Subjects without tuberculosis co-infection and those on antiretroviral therapy (ART) reported significantly better QOL in the physical psychological level of independence and spirituality domains. CONCLUSION: Marital relationship absence of tuberculosis CD4 count >/= 350 cells /mm3 and use of ART positively impacted QOL of our patients.

Adsorption Kinetic Studies for the Removal of Synthetic Dye Using Durian Seed Activated Carbon

Abstract: In this study, durian seeds were chemically modified using KOH as an impregnating agent to prepare durian seed activated carbon (DSAC). DSAC was characterized using FTIR, BET, SEM, and proximate analysis techniques and used for the adsorption of Remazol brilliant blue reactive (RBBR) dye. The effects of pH, contact time, initial dye concentrations, and solution temperature on the adsorption process were investigated experimentally in batch process. Maximum dye removal was obtained at pH 2 to be 95.17%. Experimental data were analyzed using eight model equations: Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich, Radke–Prausnite, Sips, Viet–Sladek, and Brouers–Sotolongo isotherms and it was found that the Freundlich isotherm model fitted the adsorption data most. Adsorption rate constants were determined using pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order rate equation, Elovich, and Avrami kinetic models. The adsorption of RBBR dye onto DSAC followed pseudo second-order model and the mechanism of adsorption was...

Biosynthesis of silver, gold and silver–gold alloy nanoparticles using Persea americana fruit peel aqueous extract for their biomedical properties

Abstract: While several green biomolecules have been used to synthesize functional and biologically compatible nanoparticles, little attention has been paid to Persea americana (PA) (avocado) fruit extract as a potential reducing agent. This study used avocado fruit peel aqueous extracts to synthesize silver nanoparticles (PAAgNPs), gold nanoparticles (PAAuNPs) and bimetallic alloy nanoparticles (PAAg–AuNPs). The particles were characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction among others. The particles were assessed for their antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties. The UV–vis spectroscopy showed PAgNPs, PAAuNPs and PAAg–AuNPs with surface plasmon resonance at 455.5, 538 and 540.5 nm, respectively. The significant FTIR peaks: PAAgNPs (3358 cm−1), PAAuNPs (3503 cm−1) and PAAg–AuNPs (3651 cm−1) pointed to protein as both capping and stabilizing agents for the synthesized nanoparticles. Generally, the particles were spherical, with size range of 18–80 nm for PAAgNPs, 16–71 nm for PAAuNPs and 44–55 nm for PAAg–AuNPs. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectra showed silver, gold and silver/gold as conspicuous metals in PAAgNPs, PAAuNPs and PAAg–AuNPs colloids, respectively. SAED showed ring-shaped patterns for the particles. The nanoparticles effectively inhibited growth of tested bacteria (11–94%) for PAAgNPs, (10–77%) for PAAuNPs and (20–85%) for PAAg–AuNPs. The effectiveness of the biosynthesized nanoparticles can be placed as PAAg–AuNPs > PAAgNPs > PAAuNPs. The fungal inhibition performances are 33–76%, 50–82% and 27–88% for PAAgNPs, PAAuNPs and PAAg–AuNPs, respectively, while DPPH-scavenging activities were 57.82–63.25%, 15.28–54.50% and 53.05–54.26%, which were dose dependent at the tested concentrations of 20–100 µg/ml with good antioxidant activities compared to standard BHA (41.46–84.57%) and ascorbic acid (43.56–91.10%). The bleaching inhibition assay of ABTS showed activities of 56.15–85.43% (PAAgNPs), 34.67–50.93% (PAAuNPs) and 45.31–94.01% (PAAg–AuNPs). The lower concentrations of EC50 were obtained in nanoparticles (24.45–58.33 µg/ml) compared with the standards (38.42–69.04 µg/ml), indicating that the nanoparticles could suffice as good agents in drug consignment. This study has demonstrated the potential of P. americana fruit peel aqueous extracts to synthesize AgNPs, AuNPs and Ag–AuNPs for antimicrobial and antioxidant applications. The current work, to the best of our knowledge, is the first to use avocado peel extract to synthesis nanoparticles.