Simple preparation of broadband UV filters based on TiO coated with aqueous extracts of native trees from the Chaco region of Argentina.

The native forest of northwestern Argentina, as part of the Chaco region, is a rich and unexploited source of phytochemical compounds for medicinal/cosmetic applications. In the present study, fruit, leaf, branch, and bark organs of the native trees Sarcomphalus mistol (Mistol, M) and Schinopsis lorentzii (Quebracho Colorado santiagueño, QC) were harvested, and aqueous plant extracts (PE) were prepared. The spectroscopic (UV-Vis absorbance, diffuse reflectance, ATR-FTIR) and antioxidant (TEAC, Folin-Ciocalteu) properties of PE were characterized and used as TiO coating material to obtain a series of TiO@PE nanocomposites.

Attitude of rural Nigerian pregnant women to antenatal HIV screening.

Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude of rural Nigerian women to the incorporation of HIV screening as part of the routine antenatal screening test at booking.

Methods: 1 820 women were interviewed using a close ended questionnaire at the antenatal clinic of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo, Nigeria over a period of 12 months.

Results: Though the majority of the women were of low socio-economic status (85.

Poor obstetric performance of teenagers: is it age- or quality of care-related?

We studied prospectively the effect of antenatal care on the obstetric performance of teenagers seen at a university teaching hospital over a 14-month period. When the obstetric complications among the teenagers were compared to their older counterpart, there were significantly higher complication rates, especially anaemia, preterm delivery, low birth weight and neonatal admission. After controlling for utilisation of antenatal care, significant differences were observed only in the incidence of low birth weight babies.

Relative prevalence of caries in first and second premolars in urban Nigerians.

The objective of this study was to determine the relative prevalence of caries in first and second premolars as well as maxillo-mandibulo-quadrant distribution of caries among the premolars. It was also aimed at comparing the patterns of caries distribution in first and second premolars with those of the first and second permanent molars based on previous studies. The treatment records of patients who attended the conservation clinic at the Department of Restorative Dentistry, Lagos University Teaching Hospital/College of Medicine of the University of Lagos from 1991-1995 were scrutinised; and all first and second premolars that were diagnosed and treated for caries were charted.