Rivers State University of Science and Technology

About: Rivers State University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Threatened species. The organization has 1826 authors who have published 1833 publications receiving 15183 citations.

Levels of Biofilm Expression in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates Exposed to Herbal Drugs

Abstract: Background: There is a continuous rise in antimicrobial resistance globally. Factors responsible for this occurrence especially in developing countries are yet to be properly elucidated. Due to the financial implications of antimicrobials individuals in developing countries such as Nigeria resort to the consumption of herbal drugs to treat infections. Aims: To investigate the levels of biofilm expressed in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates pre-treated with herbal drugs. Methodology: Biofilm assay was performed using 24-well polystyrene microtitre plates which mimic the surface for bacterial attachment. Control and clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae were preexposed to different concentrations of herbal solutions (Beta cleanser [Bet], Goko alcoholic bitters [Gab], Goko bitters [Gob], Danko solution [Dan], and Ruzu bitters [Ruz]) (100, 50, 25, 12.5, and Original Research Article Monsi et al.; JAMB, 12(1): 1-7, 2018; Article no.JAMB.42685 2 6.25%) in 24-well plate and incubated overnight at 37C. Cell-to-cell surface attachment of K. pneumoniae was recorded by obtaining a photograph of the inoculum in the 24-well plate. Crystal violet method was used to quantify the levels of biofilm attached to the surface of the 24-well plate. Results were anaylsed using Graph pad prism 5. Results: Cell-to-cell biofilm formation was seen in different drugs used but higher in Bet and Gob. Bet (25%) and Ruz (50%) showed a significant level of attached biofilm formed compared to untreated control. This results show that Bet, Gob and Ruz has the ability to induce biofilm in K. pneumoniae isolates Conclusion: Bet, Gob and Ruz could predispose K. pneumoniae to enhance its production of biofilm.

Gender disparity towards students enrollment in technical education in rivers state: causes, effects and strategies

Abstract: This study examined the gender disparity towards students’ enrollment in technical education in Rivers State. A sample of 403 students (362 Male and 41 Female) was selected through simple random sampling technique from Rivers State University (RIVSU) and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUOE), Port Harcourt from the Department of Technical Education. Three research questions were posed to guide the study and two Null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significant. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data. A reliability coefficient of 0.83 was established through Cronbach Alpha using test-retest method. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for research questions and hypotheses were tested using the independent sample t-test. The study revealed amongst others that poverty, preference of male child, cultural and religious beliefs were causes of female folks low enrollment into technical education programmes in Rivers State. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended amongst others that; allowances, scholarships, employment opportunities should be given to female students in order to enhance their enrolments into technical education programmmes in Rivers State.

Fungal Pollution of Indoor Air of Some Health Facilities in Rivers State

Abstract: Aims: Investigating the fungal pollution within the indoor air of two government health facilities. Study Design: The study sites (wards) were the four most used wards. One hundred and ninetytwo air samples were collected in two sampling periods (morning and evening). Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected from four study sites (wards) each of two different primary Health centres; the Orowurukwo Primary Health centre and the Rumuigbo Primary Health centre. The GPS of these areas are 4.806°N, 6.992°E and 4.850°N, 6.991°E respectively. The study sites were the postnatal, children, injection and outpatient wards. This was a three months study (January-March). Methodology: The plate exposure technique was used in the collection of air samples. Freshly prepared Sabouraud Dextrose agar plates in duplicates were left open above one meter in the various study sites for 15 minutes. Collected samples were transferred to the Microbiological Laboratory and incubated at 20-25°C for 3-7 days. After incubation, fungal populations were enumerated and distinct isolates were purified by subculturing onto fresh SDA plates. The purified isolates were used for characterization. Original Research Article Douglas and Robinson; IJTDH, 32(2): 1-7, 2018; Article no.IJTDH.44134 2 Results: Five fungal genera which include Aspergillus, Candida, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Mucor species were isolated and identified. The fungal loads in log10sfu/m 3 ranged from 2.42 to 2.51 and 2.23 to 2.55 for morning and evening sampling hour in the Oroworukwo Health centre respectively. While those of the Rumuigbo ranged from 2.23-2.39 and 2.37-2.50 in the morning and evening sampling hours respectively. The statistical insignificant difference was reported in the sfu/m 3 of the two sampling hours at P=0.05. Conclusion: The fungal load in this study was very high when compared with other studies. Also, the species of fungi in this study are pathogenic and could cause delay recovery especially in immuno-compromised patients.

The effects of ductal size on the severity of pulmonary hypertension in children with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA): a multi-center study

Abstract: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common acyanotic heart disease that presents with variable symptoms. This study is therefore aimed at determining the relationship between gender, age, and size of PDA and pulmonary hypertension. This study also seeks to determine the prevalence of elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure in children with PDA. A descriptive study of children with patent ductus arteriosus was carried out from 2016 to 2020 in three institutions. The data were analysed with the IBM SPSS statistics for windows, version 20 (IBM Corp, Chicago) The mean ductal size was 3.78 (2.39) mm, with a minimum of 1.0 mm and a maximum size of 10.0 mm. The mean ductal size for males, 4.02 (2.53) mm was comparable with that of the females, 3.61 (2.28) mm (Student T-test = 0.8, 0.4). The mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) of the patients was 43.36 (24.46) mmHg. Also the mean PASP was comparable among the males and the females, 48.37 (26.69) mmHg versus 39.63 (22.16) mmHg (Student T-test = 1.81, p = 0.07). There was no correlation between age and PASP (correlation coefficient = 0.009, p = 0.92). Sixty point two percent (60.2%) (62/103) of children with PDA had pulmonary hypertension. The proportion of males with pulmonary hypertension, 48.39% (30/62) was comparable with that of the females, 51.61% (32/62) (Chi2 = 2.05, p = 0.15) and females are 1.8 times more likely to have pulmonary hypertension as males (odds ratio 1.81, 95% CI 0.8–4.1). There was a positive correlation between ductal size and PASP (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.26, p value = 0.007). Those with moderate and large sized duct tend to have moderate and severe pulmonary hypertension respectively and this is statistically significant. Chi2 = 17.85, p = 0.007 The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in children with PDA is 60.2%. Moderate and large size duct presents with moderate and severe pulmonary hypertension respectively. Females are 1.8 times more likely to have pulmonary hypertension than the males.