Effect of aqueous solution of caffeine on serum level of superoxide dismutase in male Wister rats

Caffeine is an active ingredient of coffee (Nescafe) as one of the major sources of dietary antioxidant compounds which counteract the action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are the main contributors to oxidative stress. This research is carried out to investigate the role of caffeine in modulating superoxide dismutase and caffeine’s contribution to aging. Forty five sexually matured albino rats with weights ranging from 120-200g were purchased from the animal house of the Department of Anatomy, University of Port Harcourt. These animals were divided into five groups according to their weights and were housed in fifteen well ventilated cages containing sawdust which serves as beddings for the comfort of the animals and for easy removal of their feaces. They were fed daily with animal feed, water ad libitum and allowed to acclimatize for a period of one week, after which their weights were taken and caffeine administration commenced.The results obtained showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in the body weight of the animals on days 14 and 21 following the administration of 20mg/kg of the extract when compared with day 0 and a significant (p<0.05) increase in serum superoxide dismutase activity for 100mg/kg on day 14 when compared to the control. The findings of this study suggests that caffeine (NESCAFE) may have little or no significant effect on the activity of superoxide dismutase.

AVAILABILITY OF ESSENTIAL MEDICINES IN PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES OF JIMMA ZONE, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Background: Availability is the relationship between the type and quantity of product or services needed and the type and quantity of product or services provided. Availability of essential medicines at facility level is an important factor to address patients' satisfaction and increase their health seeking behavior. The objective of this study is to determine the availability and associated factors of essential medicines in public health facilities of Jimma zone, South West Ethiopia. Methods: Facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed. Based on WHO recommendation, thirty health facilities were selected from five districts and six health facilities were chosen from each district of the zone. Availability of 29 key essential medicines that were selected from 2014 Ethiopian national essential medicine list were checked in stores and dispensaries as well as the store keepers, head of health facilities and dispensaries were selected for interview. The data were checked for completeness, edited, and coded then entered and analyzed using excels 2016 and SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics were computed and tables, graphs and numerical summary presented results. Result: Average availability of selected core essential medicines (n=29) was 78.6% in surveyed health facilities. With regard to stock level, 8% of the surveyed medicines were in critical level, 55.2% were in safe level and 36.8% were in over stock level. Six hundred six patients were participated in the study with a response rate of 97%. Among total respondents, 77.7% left the facility with all of their prescribed medicines while 22.3% received only part of their prescribed medicines. Conclusion: The availability of essential medicines was fairly high in surveyed health facilities during the study period. In this study, many patients seeking treatment in public health facilities failed to obtain significant proportion of prescribed medicines. Peer Review History: Received: 4 November 2021; Revised: 10 December; Accepted: 22 December, Available online: 15 January 2022 Academic Editor: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, [email protected] Dr. George Zhu, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, [email protected] Similar Articles: ACCESS TO MEDICINES STRATEGIES OF THE NATIONAL CANCER CONTROL PROGRAMME IN CAMEROON THE EFFICIENCY OF INEFFICIENCY: MEDICINE DISTRIBUTION IN SUDAN

Geospatial Technologies in Waste Management: A Case Study of Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA)

Waste Management can be quite challenging, especially in the developing world. The challenge becomes even more complex with the growing population. City planners and decision makers are turning to technology to improve the efficiency of the waste management process. Geospatial technologies have offered a range of solutions, which have been deployed with success in waste management. This paper highlights the challenges of waste management in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and how the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) deployed the use of GIS in solving most of the challenges of identification, planning, evacuation, and transportation of wastes within the Port Harcourt metropolis. This paper looked at how this solution was deployed to solve key challenges as well as stimulate citizen participation in the waste management process. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations for expanding the potentials of its application.

Optimization of Energy Efficiency for Electric Power Distribution System Losses

This study evaluated the existing electric power network of Mile 2 Diobu zone, Port Harcourt distribution network which consists of four (4) 11kV distribution feeders namely; Ojoto, Nsukka, Udi and Silverbird. This work considered Ojoto and Nsukka Street distribution network for improved power quality. The three (3) 33/11kv injection substations are fed from 165 MVA transmission station (PH Town) at Amadi junction by Nzimiro. Collection and analysis of data collected from the injection substations that supply electricity to mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt was the first consideration. The distribution network was modeled in Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) using Newton-Raphson Load Flow equations. The simulation result of the existing condition network shows that the network has low voltage profile problem on Nsukka network and overloading of distribution transformers on Ojoto networks. The following optimization techniques are applied: up-gradation of distribution transformers, and transformer load tap changer to improve the distribution network for Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt electrical power network. The simulation result of the improved distribution network for Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt power network shows that the voltage profile Nsukka network has improved within the statutory limit which is between 95.0 -105.0% and the loading of the distribution transformers on Ojoto and Nsukka networks are all below 70% required capacity. Keywords: Optimization, Energy Efficiency Distribution

Psychiatric Co-Morbidity and Substance Use Correlated with Medication Adherence Among People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) Attending the Virology Clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH)

HIV infection is an endemic communicable chronic disease, of enormous public health concern worldwide particularly, Sub-Saharan African. Substance use and associated psychiatric co-morbidity among the sufferers may affect medication adherence. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the effect of psychiatric comorbidity and substance use on medication adherence among people living with HIV at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 230 Subjects Living with HIV. Sociodemographic questionnaire was used. A structured questionnaire was used to assess use of psychoactive substances. Psychiatric co-morbidity was assessed using the GHQ-12 in conjunction with the DSM 5. The Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) was used to assess medication adherence. Data was analysed using the SPSS version 20. The prevalence of psychological co-morbidity among PLWHIV was 30.6%. Alcohol use disorders was the highest with 73 (31.7%), followed by cigarette smoking 38 (16.5%) while nicotine snuffing was the least with 1 (0.4%). Of the 43 (18.7%) with poor medication adherence, 31 (15.2%) had psychiatric co-morbidity, 26 (11.3%) had substance use, 25 (10.8%) had both psychiatric and substance use co-morbidity while 19 (8.2%) had none (p=0.004). Psychological co-morbidity and substance use are prevalent among PLWHIV, and may affect medication adherence.

Aspergillus flavus: A degrader of commercial brake fluids

The role of; Aspergillus flavus during the deterioration of brake fluids; was identified. The impact of; A. flavus on used and unused brake fluids; were studied. This research was carried out at the University of Port Harcourt from September 2019 to November 2020. Abro and Jenox DOT3 brake fluids were the samples used for this research. The sample included their unused and used counterpart. Tests to identify microorganisms and physico-chemical parameters; were done. Total viable count, pH and optical density; were tested to check for the level of biodeterioration. Biodeterioration rate was more in Jenox brake fluid than Abro brake fluid. Aspergillus flavus is a major biodegrader in the brake fluid samples. Total viable count and optical density increased as the days progressed during biodeterioration while pH decreased. Brake fluid is an essential fluid needed by most vehicles to function. It is necessary to top-up brake fluid or substitutes; at the appropriate time. No two brands of brake fluid are the same. Therefore, it is advisable not to mix.

Age, seasons and influence of body mass index on menarche among secondary school girls in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Menarche is a significant marker of maturity and puberty in girls, and it is a transition influenced by different biophysical factors. This study was carried out to determine the age, seasons and the influence of body mass index (BMI) on menarche. A total of 450 girls’ between the ages of 10 and 19 years participated in the study. Age at menarche was obtained via the recall quo cross sectional method. Parameters measured were; standing height (SH), weight (Wt) and BMI. A total of 373 (82.9%) girls had their menarche in their early adolescence while 77 girls (17.1%) had their menarche in mid adolescence. Mean age at menarche was 13.17± 1.48 years. The average value for BMI was 20.35 ± 3.77 kg/m2, SH was 161.09 ± 6.16 cm, Wt was 52.53 ± 9.21kg. Overweight girls were observed to attain menarche earlier, followed by those whose mean weight was in the normal range .Subjects in the underweight category had higher age at menarche. Menarche was high in the months of August, July and January. Menarche occurs early among secondary school girls in Port Harcourt and among other factors, those associated with BMI and stress are important in the onset of the biological event.

Assessment of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils and Plant (Vernonia amygdalina Delile) in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria

This study assessed the concentration of heavy metal, such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), and Silver (Ag), in Vernonia amygdalina Delile and agricultural soils of three university farms located in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The soils and plants were taken randomly to form composite samples and analyzed for heavy metals by the use of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The study stations were agricultural soils and Vernonia amygdalina Delile from the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (I), River State University (R) and University of Port Harcourt (U). The soil samples recorded mean concentration ranges for Fe as 19.71 ± 1.77 (I)–27.24 ± 3.56 mg/kg (R) in soils and 12.95 ± 1.68 (R)–18.18 ± 2.02 mg/kg (U) for the bitter leaf samples. The mean range for Pb concentration in the soil and bitter leaf were 4.35 ± 0.87–6.80 ± 0.86 mg/kg and 0.24 ± 0.64–2.19 ± 0.74 mg/kg, while Cd concentration in the soil and bitter leaf were 0.46 ± 0.28–1.42 ± 0.40 mg/kg and 0.17 ± 0.22–0.42 ± 0.08 mg/kg, respectively. The respective mean ranges for Cr concentration in the soil and bitter leaf were 5.91 ± 1.14–8.77 ± 0.88 mg/kg and 4.04 ± 0.64–5.92 ± 0.69 mg/kg, while Ni in soil and bitter leaf were 0.54 ± 3.38–10.26 ± 3.50 mg/kg and 0.042 ± 1.42–3.30 ± 0.88 mg/kg, while Ag was negligible. Heavy metal levels in soils and Vernonia amygdalina followed the order Fe > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd and Fe > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd, respectively, and were lower than WHO/FAO and EPA, except Cd, which was higher in soil and in Vernonia amygdalina. The ecological risk factor (ErF) was comparatively lower in soils than in the plant, while pollution load index (PLI) showed high heavy metal retention capacities in Vernonia amygdalina due to more anthropogenic influences. The metal transfer factor (TF) was highest in Fe, followed by Cr > Cd > Ni > Pb, while Pb had the highest chances of cancer risks from the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), especially in both soil and plant (mean ILCR, 2.07 × 10−2 and 2.45 × 10−3), while Cd had the least (mean ILCR, 9.64 × 10−5 and 3.36 × 10−5). Anthropogenic activities must be regulated and monitored by government relevant agencies to reduce heavy metal inputs into soils and avoid excessive accruals in food chain.