University of Nigeria, Nsukka

About: University of Nigeria, Nsukka is a education organization based out in Nsukka, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 10211 authors who have published 13685 publications receiving 138922 citations.

An integrated indexical investigation of selected heavy metals in drinking water resources from a coastal plain aquifer in Nigeria

Abstract: With respect to the rapid changes in climatic conditions, commerce, industrialization, and urbanization, the water quality of many shallow coastal aquifers in different parts of the world is under serious heavy metals pollution threats. In the current study, three water quality indexical models and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were integrated to investigate the heavy metals contamination and drinking quality of groundwater from the coastal plain aquifer in Oshodi-Isolo area (Nigeria). Several groundwater samples were analyzed for pH and selected heavy metals such as Fe, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn, and Cd. The pH values ranged from 5.1 to 6.9, with about 71.43% of the total groundwater samples indicating slightly acidic nature. Among the analyzed heavy metals, Cu contamination was predominant in over 80% of the samples. However, the water quality evaluation models revealed that the majority of the water samples are suitable for drinking. Based on pollution index of groundwater, 80.95% of the samples have insignificant pollution. Nonetheless, both synthetic pollution index and overall index of pollution classified 85.7% of the samples as excellent water suitable for drinking. The HCA was used to resolve the disparity between the results of the models. Two major water quality classes (excellent water and polluted water) were identified in this study based on the HCA. It is, therefore, recommended that the polluted water be treated before human consumption.

Reference values for the serum lipid profile of albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) of varied ages and sexes

Abstract: Albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) are the most commonly used laboratory animals for studies on the effects of drugs, supplements, herbal extracts and diets on the serum lipid profile (SLP), yet there is no comprehensive set of reference values for the SLP of albino rats of varied ages and sexes in available literature. This study was designed to assay the SLP of albino rats of varied ages and sexes. A total of 480 Sprague Dawley albino rats were used for the study, composed of 240 females and 240 males. The age sets studied were rats of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 30, 40, and 50 weeks of age. For each age set, the SLP of 24 females and 24 males was assayed. Standard biochemical procedures were followed in the SLP assay after a 12-h overnight fast of the rats. Results showed that serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) significantly rose (p 0.05) than that of the males. It was concluded that there were significant variations in the SLP of albino rats across the ages studied and also significant differences between the sexes at certain ages.

Pica practices of pregnant women in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract: OBJECTIVES To establish the prevalence of pica behaviour during pregnancy; to identify the substances commonly ingested and their prevalence; and to determine the characteristics of women who reported practising pica. DESIGN Descriptive, cross sectional study involving use of questionnaire administered in interview format. SETTING Pumwani Maternity Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. SUBJECTS One hundred and seventy one antenatal women with a mean age of 28.1 (+/-7.3) years. Subjects were selected based on availability; accessibility and willingness to participate in the study. RESULTS Seven hundred and ninety three (74.0%) participants reported practising pica regularly on daily basis. Pica prevalence categorised by substances ingested was as follows: soft stones (odowa); 89.8%; soil, 61.2%; and others, 9.6% and no pica, 26.0%. Majority of women who reported practising pica (62.5%) ingested more than one substance. Most women who practised pica reported having experienced strong cravings prior to ingestion of pica items, childhood pica, pica before pregnancy, pica in previous pregnancy and a history of pica in family members and significant others in the community. CONCLUSIONS Pica prevalence was significantly high among the subjects indicating that pica in pregnancy might be more common and independent in Kenya than health care providers assume or observe. There is need to routinely screen pregnant women for pica during antenatal visits as this will provide a more systematic and a less expensive way of establishing its epidemiological status. A nation-wide investigation of pica prevalence is also recommended in order to establish pica prevalence at national level and among different socio-economic groups. Further studies are also needed to establish possible health consequences of pica on mother and child.