Dietary intake and status of selenium in breast milk and serum of lactating mothers in Awka, South East Nigeria.

Selenium is an essential micronutrient for human growth and development. Breast milk is usually the primary source of this nutrient for infants which is fundamental for their healthy brain development; its deficiency can lead to severe neurocognitive outcomes. The concentration of selenium in breast milk is dependent on the maternal diet.

Evaluation of drinking water quality using heavy metal pollution indexing models in an agrarian, non-industrialised area of South-East Nigeria.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the physicochemical properties of drinking water sources at Ihiala, Nigeria, and to assess the water quality using the heavy metal pollution index, heavy metal evaluation index and contamination index models. Physicochemical parameters like pH, total hardness, total dissolved solids, nitrate, cyanide, residual chlorine and six metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Ni) were analyzed in the water samples, and heavy metal pollution indices computed. The spring and borehole waters had better organoleptic properties compared to stream, river and sachet waters.

Towards prenatal biomonitoring in eastern Nigeria: assessing lead levels and anthropometric parameters of newborns.

The purpose of this study is to measure maternal blood lead level (BLL) and cord BLL in Nigeria and to compare Nigerian data with other data. We investigated the association among maternal and cord BLLs, and some anthropometric parameters of their babies. BLL was measured in the umbilical and maternal blood samples (using inductively coupled plasma / mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)) of 119 women who delivered at three different hospitals in Nnewi, South Eastern Nigeria.

Elevated prenatal methylmercury exposure in Nigeria: evidence from maternal and cord blood.

Methylmercury is a neurodevelopmental toxicant that is globally distributed though little is known about prenatal exposures in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of the current study was to measure total mercury levels in cord blood and maternal blood from 95 mother-newborn pairs recruited from hospitals in Nnewi, Nigeria. The secondary aims of the study were to explore if demographic and dietary factors were associated with blood mercury levels, and to explore if mercury levels were associated with any self-reported health outcome and childbirth outcome.

Toxicity of Chevron Escravos crude oil and chemical dispersant on guinea pig testicular function.

Background: Chemical contaminants have been found to affect reproductive functions in mammals. This study investigated the effect of Chevron Escravos crude oil and Emulsol L.W.

Liver and kidney function tests amongst paint factory workers in Nkpor, Nigeria.

Lead, cadmium, nickel and other industrial metals used as part of paint varnishes have been reported to have adverse health implications. An evaluation study on some toxicological effects of occupational exposure to paint, among 25 occupationally exposed artisans and 25 students (control) of Ichi Technical College, Ichi Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria was carried out. Heavy metals were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and standard assay procedures were employed for biochemical parameters.

Heavy metal hazards of sachet water in Nigeria.

The authors assessed sachet water samples sold in Eastern Nigeria. Using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, they analyzed levels of lead, cadmium, copper, and nickel. They also analyzed other parameters, such as nitrates, sulfates, chlorides, salinity, total hardness, biological oxygen demand, total dissolved solids, and pH level.

Toxicological study of the Anam River in Otuocha, Anambra State, Nigeria.

The authors studied the quality of water and soil samples from the Anam River in Nigeria. Using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, they analyzed levels of lead, cadmium, copper, and nickel. They also analyzed sulfates, nitrates, biological oxygen demand, total hardness, total dissolved solids, pH values, electrical conductivity, chloride, and salinity.

Investigation into the nephrotoxicity of Nigerian bonny light crude oil in albino rats.

The effect of bonny-light crude oil was assessed in adult albino rats. The rats were administered with 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of the crude oil orally for 7 days. Fluid intake was measured daily, initial and final animal body was recorded.

Impact of effluents from a car battery manufacturing plant in Nigeria on water, soil, and food qualities.

The authors investigated the impact of effluents from a car battery manufacturing plant in Nnewi, Nigeria, on water, soil, and food qualities. The authors analyzed heavy metals mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium and nickel in tap and cassava waters, soil, dried cassava tuber, and edible fruit samples from the company, using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Other parameters the authors analyzed include pH, electrical conductivity (EC), salinity (SAL), total hardness (TH), biological oxygen demand (BOD), volatile and non-volatile solids, and bacterial and fungal loads of the soil samples.

Urinary excretion of rifampicin in the presence of ciprofloxacin.

To investigate the effect of the ciprofloxacin on the urinary excretion of the rifampicin in humans, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin were coadministered. Five healthy volunteers between the ages of 20 and 35 years received, on 2 separate occasions (phases 1 and 2) and at weekly intervals, 600 mg rifampicin and 600 mg plus 500 mg ciprofloxacin, respectively, with 350 mL of water. Urinary levels of rifampicin were measured from 1-72 hours later.

Testicular toxicity of Nigerian bonny light crude oil in male albino rats.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the testicular effects of Nigerian bonny light crude oil on male albino rats. Male albino rats were administered 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of bonny light crude oil dissolved in Tween 80 in their drinking water for 7 days, while the control group received Tween 80 in their drinking water only. After 7 days, the rats were sacrificed and testis excised, weighed, and processed for histological examination.

Testicular effects of sub-chronic administration of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx aqueous extract in rats.

The sub-chronic effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) calyx aqueous extract on the rat testes was investigated with a view to evaluate the pharmacological basis for the use of HS calyx extract as an aphrodisiac. Three test groups received different doses of 1.15, 2.

Effect of pefloxacin on the urinary excretion of rifampicin.

The effect of pefloxacin on the urinary excretion of rifampicin was investigated in 5 healthy volunteers between the ages of 20 and 35 years. The investigation was carried out in 2 different phases, with a 1-week drug washout separating the phases. Each subject received 600 mg rifampicin with 350 mL of water.

Influence of prokinetics on the gastrointestinal transit and residence times of activated charcoal.

Objective: To find the effects of prokinetics, saline cathartics and different charcoal doses on the gastrointestinal transit and residence times of activated charcoal (AC).

Setting: Five undergraduate volunteers of College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria, were studied.

Methods: After an overnight fast, the volunteers were given 10 g and 20 g AC with and without saline cathartics, in a simple cross-over design in which the subjects served as their own control.

Saline cathartics and adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal for doxycycline.

The effects of sodium chloride and sodium citrate on the in vitro adsorption of doxycycline to activated charcoal have been studied. Solutions of doxycycline alone and doxycycline with 7.5 mg/ml cathartic solutions were vortex-mixed for 30 s with different quantities of activated charcoal, incubated for 30 min at 37 degrees C and analyzed for free doxycycline spectrophotometrically at 348 nm.

Nephrotoxic actions of low-dose mercury in mice: protection by zinc.

The authors conducted this study to determine if very-low-dose (i.e., 4 ppm) mercury is nephrotoxic and, if so, whether the nephrotoxic actions of mercury in mice could be prevented by zinc intake.

Effects of rinbacin extract on rat kidney.

The aqueous leaf extract of rinbacin was tested for toxic effects on prepubertal rat kidneys following chronic administration. Two doses of rinbacin extract (26.25 g/l and 52.

Testicular toxicity of rinbacin in rats.

Rinbacin is a local Nigerian herbal remedy. The effects of rinbacin on testicular histology were studied in prepubertal rats. Sexually immature male rats, divided into seven per group, were given rinbacin in drinking waters at 0, 26.

Some plasma pharmacokinetic parameters of isoniazid in the presence of a fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent.

The effects of ciprofloxacin (CP), a fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent, on the extent of absorption of isoniazid (INH) and on some of its pharmacokinetic parameters were investigated in six healthy female volunteers between the ages of 23 and 32 years. The presence of CP led to increase in the amount of INH and to a slight reduction in its peak plasma concentration (Cmax). There was a 1-hour increase in the time to attain Cmax (tmax) of INH, indicating absorption interaction between the two drugs.

Adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal for rifampicin with and without sodium chloride and sodium citrate.

The effects of two saline cathartics (sodium chloride and sodium citrate) on the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal (AC) for rifampicin were studied. Solutions of rifampicin alone and rifampicin with 7.5 mg/ml cathartic solution were vortex-mixed for 30 s with different quantities of AC.

Rifampicin pharmacokinetics with and without ciprofloxacin.

We investigated the effect of ciprofloxacin on rifampicin pharmacokinetics in five healthy subjects. Each subject received 600 mg rifampicin with 350 mL of water, and in the second phase, each subject received 600 mg rifampicin plus 500 mg ciprofloxacin with 350 mL of water. In each of the two phases, plasma rifampicin levels were measured from 1 to 24 hours.

Effect of activated charcoal on diethylcarbamazine absorption in humans.

We investigated the effect of the oral binder-activated charcoal on the excretion of diethylcarbamazine. Six healthy volunteers were given 150 mg diethylcarbamazine with 350 mL water each. One and 2 weeks later, they received 150 mg diethylcarbamazine plus 7.

Low-dose mercury induces testicular damage protected by zinc in mice.

Objectives: This investigation was set out to determine whether mercury at a very low dose (4ppm) induces testicular damage on murine testis, and if so whether the toxic effects of mercury could be prevented by zinc.

Study Design: One of the following solutions was administered in the drinking water of CD-1 male mice: (1) 4ppm HgCl(2); (2) 800ppm ZnCl(2); (3) 4ppm HgCl(2)+800ppm ZnCl(2); or (4) deionised water; for 12 weeks. At the expiration of the treatment period, animals were sacrificed, testes excised and weighed, and epididymal sperm number taken.