2020

One of the bacterial pathogens implicated worldwide in intestinal illnesses is diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC). This study was conducted to determine the antagonistic effects of Lactobacillus species isolated from soursop (Annona muricata) and pineapple (Ananas comosus) fruits against DEC isolates using agar well diffusion protocol. Lactobacillus species were isolated from a collection of pineapple and soursop fruits obtained from open markets in Benin City, Nigeria using culture-based methods. The antimicrobial-metabolites producing ability of Lactobacillus spp.

Ethanolic root extract of Anacardium occidentale L. was evaluated for antimicrobial activities against selected clinical isolates. Bacteria and fungi pathogens obtained from the laboratory unit of a functional health facility for this study included Escherichia coli, Kblesiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus sp., Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The identities of the bacteria spp. were re-established following standard physical and biochemical routines.

The edaphic enzyme profiles associated with compounded top herbicide; Glyphosate impacted and control soils sourced from a commercial farm setting and a fallow land were determined using routine methodologies. The commercial farm establishment and the fallow farm were sited in Amukpe and Adavware communities both located in Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria. The amylase and invertase content of the soils ranged from 11.43 µg glucose/g soil ± 0.24 to 52.15 µg glucose/g soil ± 0.68 and 55.46 µg sucrose/g soil ± 1.25 to 548.13 µg sucrose/g soil ± 15.56 respectively.

Pleurotus tuber-regium also known as the King tuber mushroom is an edible gilled fungus native to the tropics, belonging to the Pleurotaceae. Recent studies have shown its ability to reduce intraocular pressure when compared with antiglaucoma medications in animal models. Manometry has been the time proven and accurate method of determining intraocular pressure especially for research purposes. This study investigated the intraocular pressure reducing ability of P. tuber-regium when compared with Latanoprost (0.005%) in normotensive feline eyes.

Dry eye disease is a public health issue especially in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to compare the visual and ocular symptoms scores in postmenopausal women with and without dry eye using the 5-item Dry eye questionnaire (DEQ-5) and Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and to correlate the results between the DEQ-5 and OSDI in postmenopausal women with and without dry eye. Fifty-five participants (33 dry eye subjects and 22non-dry eye subjects) completed the two questionnaires (DEQ-5 and OSDI).

Participatory rural appraisal surveys aimed at determining farmers’ perception of plantain production constraints in Port Harcourt metropolis (specifically at Rivers State University [RSU], Nkoplu and the Agricultural Development Programme [ADP] farms, Rumuodomaya) have revealed: poor soil fertility, wind, “drought” and “disease” (in that order of importance) as the major militating factors to plantain (or Musa) production in this region.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of synthetic halogenated organic compounds used in a number of polymer-based commercial and home-use products. They are incoporated in the manufacture of electronics devices, furniture and textiles to increase resistance to flames and to meet set out fire safety standards. Generally, PBDEs are characterized by long range atmospheric transport, high bioaccumulation and toxicities. There is a dearth of information on the concentrations of PBDEs and the pattern of distribution at the various e-waste dump and dismantling sites in Nigeria.

The Falcorp mangrove swamp has and is still been exposed to various forms of anthropogenic polluting activities which include; Vandalization of oil pipelines which transverse sections of the swamp. The PAHs and PCBs profile of swamp sediments was investigated. The sediments were subjected to routine PAH and PCB analyses which included; extraction, use of sonicator, GC-ECD and GC-FID analysis. The data were subjected to statistical and multivariate analysis using Microsoft Excel, SPSS version 16.0 and PAST respectively.

Refuse dumpsites often contain materials capable of polluting surrounding soils. In this study, the spatial distribution of metals in soils of refuse dumpsites in three urban towns (Ughelli, Sapele, Orhuwhorun) in Delta State, Nigeria were examined. Soil samples were collected from three dumpsites in the aforementioned towns at depths 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-45 cm, respectively.

This study investigated and compared the glycaemic rises following administration of various honey samples in rats. Five Nigerian honeys [Abakaliki honey (ABH), Calabar honey (CAH), Ezzamgbo honey (EZH), Lokoja honey (LOH), Okitipupa honey (OKH)] and one Malaysian honey (MAH) were administered to non-diabetic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentrations were measured at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min. Glucose parameters including peak blood glucose, area under curve, percentage variation in blood glucose (BG) and percentage change in BG were estimated.