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.

The mineralization of nitrogen and phosphorus in organic materials of varying C:N and C:P ratios

Abstract: The nitrogen and phosphorus contents of organic materials as a factor in determining the trend of mineralization of these elements when plant materials are added to the soil, were studied in an incubation experiment over a period of 12 weeks. Nitrogen mineralization increased with decreasing C:N ratio. No nitrogen mineralization was recorded above C:N ratio of 16.1 and the critical ratio lay between this and 23.0, with the plant materials used. Initial phosphorus immobilization occurred when plant materials ranging in C:P ratio from 501 to 112 were decomposed in the soil. The release of the immobilized phosphorus as incubation progressed suggests that green manuring should be considered of long-term benefit as far as phosphorus is concerned.

Colloidal stability in some tropical soils of southeastern Nigeria as affected by iron and aluminium oxides

Abstract: The stability of microaggregates in soils as opposed to its dispersion is a very important soil phenomenon that checks degradation arising from unguided tillage and soil erosion. Ten soils from southeastern Nigeria were sampled from their typical A and B horizons for the study. The aim was to identify the extent of colloidal stability of the soils and the forms of Fe and Al oxides in the soils contributing to their stability. The soils are mostly Ultisols and Inceptisols formed on sandstones and shale parent materials. The soils are low in soil basic cations including the soil organic carbon (SOC). The major clay mineral is kaolinite while the soil is acid in reaction. The various forms of soil Fe and Al oxides are high with the total forms of Fe and Al being most dominant and > dithionite extracted Fe and Al > oxalate extracted Fe and Al > pyrophosphate extracted Fe and Al. The water-dispersible clay and silt (WDC) and (WDSi) which are index of dispersion in most soils are low to medium thus reflecting in the low to medium dispersion ratio (DR). The clay flocculation index (CFI) and aggregated silt + clay (ASC) were moderate to high implying the high potential stability of the soils. Soil organic carbon did not seem to be contributing much to the stability of the microaggregates while oxalate and pyrophosphate extractable Fe (Feox, Fep) and to some extent total Al (Alt) were among the different forms of oxides that act as aggregating agents. We propose here that rather than SOC acting as a disaggregating agent in the soils, it might have acted in association with these oxides in a linkage or bridge such as C–P–OM–C to ensure stability of the soils.

Primary open-angle glaucoma patients have reduced levels of blood docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids.

Abstract: The aetiology of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), which is the commonest cause of non-remediable blindness and visual impairment, is not well understood. Nevertheless, increased intraocular pressure, and vascular factors such as ocular blood flow deficits are thought to be risk factors. There is evidence of decreased optic nerve blood velocity and increased red blood cell aggregability in POAG. These factors are influenced by fatty acids. We have investigated if glaucoma patients have abnormal blood fatty acid composition. Patients with POAG (n=10) and their healthy siblings (n=8) were enrolled. Compared with their healthy siblings, the glaucoma patients had reduced eicosapentaenoic (EPA, P<0.01), and docosahexaenoic (DHA, P<0.05) fatty acids and total omega3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) (P<0.05) in red cell choline phosphoglycerides (CPG); decreased EPA (P<0.05) in ethanolamine phosphoglycerides (EPG); lower EPA (P<0.05) and total omega3 LCPUFA (P<0.05) in serine phosphoglycerides (SPG). Similarly, they had reduced EPA, DHA and total omega3 LCPUFA in plasma CPG (P<0.005) and triglycerides (P<0.05). These findings may be significant, since EPA and DHA could modulate impaired systemic microcirculation and ocular blood flow and optic neuropathy, which are the main physiological changes associated with glaucoma.

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the middle-aged and elderly population of a nigerian rural community.

Abstract: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) causes of worldwide preventable morbidity and mortality CVDs are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in developing countries, and rates are expected to rise over the next few decades The prevalence of CVD risk factors is dramatically increasing in low-and middle-income African countries, particularly in urban areas We carried out a cross-sectional population-based survey in Imezi-Owa, a rural community in South East Nigeria to estimate the prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors in both men and women aged 40-70 years A total of 858 individuals made up of 247 (288%) males and 611 (712%) females were recruited The mean age of the subjects was 598 ± 99 years The prevalence of the different cardiovascular risk factors among the 858 subjects was as follows: hypertension 398 (464%) subjects, generalized obesity as determined by BMI 257 (30%) subjects, abdominal obesity 266 (31%) subjects, dysglycaemia 38 (44%) subjects and hypercholesterolaemia 32 (37%) subjects Prevalence of hypertension and dysglycaemia was higher in men while the others were higher in women Only hypertension (P = 117) and hypercholesterolaemia (P = 183) did not reveal any significant association with gender Prevalence of CVD risk factors was highest in subjects aged 65 to 70 years

Antimicrobial Activities of the Constituents of Garcinia Kola Seeds

Abstract: Antimicrobial activity of seed extracts derived from Garcinia kola was studied in vitro. The seeds were successively extracted with petroleum ether, 70% ethanol and water. The ethyl acetate fractio...