2023

Isoniazid is a widely used drug in tuberculosis treatment regimens. Its application in “direct observed therapy short course ”(DOTS) along with other medications has been well documented to be efficacious and effective. However, since its introduction over 70 years ago, it has been found to possess adverse effects such as the induction of neuropathies. There are estimates that as many as 10 % of patients receiving isoniazid will develop some form of neuropathy. Introduction of new medications to stop these neuropathies still pose a challenge. Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is currently recommended with isoniazid therapy to avert induction of neuropathy. Although ,the potential of vitamin C as an antioxidant to prevent induced neuropathies has been suggested based on previous studies, the findings from this study were intended to contribute valuable i sights into the potential therapeutic role of vitamin C as an adjuvant to mitigate neuropathic complications in isoniazid- based therapies. Using well-established animal models, we assessed the effects of vitamin C supplementation on the development and progression of some neuropathic symptoms induced by isoniazid administration. Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: control, isoniazid-treated (800 mg/kg), and combination-treated; Isoniazid with vitamin C in low (7.5 mg/kg), medium (15mg/kg), high (30 mg/kg) daily doses and isoniazid with pyridoxine (50 mg/kg). Behavioural assessments, including sensory and motor function tests, were conducted at the end of a seven day period to monitor the onset and severity of neuropathy. In conclusion, our findings revealed that isoniazid administration led to a significant decline in sensory and motor functions indicative of peripheral nerve damage. Vitamin C supplementation did not demonstrate a remarkable attenuation of these neuropathic manifestations. Rats co- administered with isoniazid and vitamin C did not exhibit any improvement in sensory and motor functions when compared with the control and standard therapy of pyridoxine. These results negate the potential neuroprotective effects of vitamin C against isoniazid-induced
peripheral neuropathy

The global consumption of energy drinks and caffeine-containing beverages has increased due to their stimulating effects, yet concerns regarding their impact on oxidative stress remain largely unaddressed. This study investigates the effects of energy drinks and caffeine on oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA), in heart and kidney tissues. Fifty (50) young Sprague-rats weighing between 164g-250g were used for this study. The rats were divided into five groups; Group 1 as control (n=10) received water, Group 2 (n=10) received 5ml of energy drink, Group 3 (n=10) received 10ml energy drink, Group 4 (n=10) received 5ml of caffeine 0.89mg/kg b.w., Group 5 (n=10) received 10ml of caffeine 2.0mg/kg b.w. The various doses of energy drinks and caffeine were administered orally daily for six weeks .Weight of rats were taken weekly, at the end of the experimental period, the rats were sacrificed and organs collected into plain tubes filled with normal saline solution. Oxidative stress parameters were measured using spectrophometric method. Results were presented as standard error of mean (SEM). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means of tests and control value while the post-hoc test was done using Dunnett’s multiple comparison tests and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results showed that energy drinks increased antioxidant enzyme activities in the heart but also elevated MDA levels, indicating oxidative stress. Caffeine reduced antioxidant activity in the heart and increased MDA levels in the kidney, signifying oxidative damage. These effects were tissue-specific and dose-dependent, highlighting potential health risks. In conclusion, excessive consumption of energy drinks and caffeine may pose health risks due to oxidative stress. Therefore, public awareness and regulatory measures are essential to mitigate these effects.

The proliferation of Urban Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is occurring due to the surging population, which has led to a demand for alternative crop cultivation methods. Consequently, there is a necessity to cultivate yams in containers as a means to enhance food security. Hence, a study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different combinations of garden soil and poultry manure potting media on the growth and yield of four cultivars of yam (Dioscorea spp.). The study was carried out in containers (cement bags) in a field plot in Benin City, Nigeria. The treatments included: (i) garden soil alone (1:0), (ii) one part garden soil and one part poultry manure (1:1), (iii) two parts garden soil and one part poultry manure (2:1), while four cultivars of yam including white yam (Ada Onitsha and Fakasa), water yam
and yellow yam were used. The experiment was a 3 × 4 factorial laid out as a Completely Randomized Design with three replicates. At nine weeks after planting, data was collected and recorded. At four months after planting harvest was done for only one cultivar (ada onitsha). The data collected was subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to test the significance of the treatment means using Genstat Statistical Package. The results indicated that there were no significant differences observed in the growth characteristics of the different potting media. However, significant cultivar differences were observed in number of vines, leaf area, number of leaves, stem girth, and petiole length. The potting media treatments showed significant differences in tuber length, tuber girth, and tuber yield per bag with 2:1 garden soil and poultry manure producing the highest tuber yield per bag(1.47kg) while (1:1) and (1:0) produced (0.50kg) and (0.47kg) respectively. Therefore, the combination of garden soil and poultry manure with a ratio of 2:1 would be suitable for cultivating yam in containers.

Globally, human trafficking is a serious violation of human rights and the psychological and social functioning impacts millions of people in all society including Nigerians. Nigeria is a source and transit nation for human trafficking, with many victims originating from vulnerable neighborhoods like Okogbo in Benin City, Edo State (Adepoju, 2019). Human trafficking is defined as the recruitment, transit, housing, or reception of persons for the purpose of exploitation using force, deception, or coercion (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2018). These people are taken advantage of in industries like commercial sex, manufacturing, domestic work, fishing, agriculture, and domestic work. 42% of victims are victims within their own nations, despite the fact that the majority of victims are trafficked across international borders (UNODC, 2016). 71% of the victims that have been found are female, and 28% are minors (UNODC, 2016).

This study has used the recently established combination between EAM and
the TB-SMA scheme to determine the n, p, q parameters values needed for the
calculation of total energy of the three FCC metals which include Ag, Pd and Pt. The EAM and TB-SMA was established to replace the old approach of determining parameters for calculating total energy because of its improved computational efficiency and accurate results. The Microsoft excel programming language has been employed in this study to reproduce results with good accuracy as compared with previous studies using other programming software.

Bilateral orchidectomy is a surgical procedure usually carried out for males with prostate cancer and other diseases affecting both testes. This study was carried out to observe the effect of bilateral orchidectomy on the gonadotropin hormones, (LH, FSH), PRL and the steroid hormones, (Progesterone, Testosterone and Oestrogen). Ten (10) male Wistar rats were used for the experiment. The rats were divided into two experimental groups: 1- control (Co) (n=5), 2 - Treatment group (Tr) (n=5). The rats in the treatment group were bilaterally orchidectomized under chloroform anaesthesia. The rats were sacrificed after 4 weeks. Blood samples were collected from the IVC and assayed for LH, FSH, Prolactin, Progesterone, Testosterone and Oestrogen hormones. The study showed that bilateral orchidectomy increased serum levels of LH and FSH concentrations (3.247±0.152 and
1.177±0.039) which were statistically significant (p<0.05). There was no change in the serum level of Prolactin (p>0.05). However there was statistically significant decrease (p<0.05) in the serum concentrations of Progesterone, Testosterone and Oestrogen. This study showed that bilateral orchidectomy increased serum level of LH and FSH, the two hormones principally required for stimulating Testosterone production and spermatogenesis respectively. The sex steroids, Progesterone, Testosterone and Oestrogen were decreased. Testosterone is needed for spermatogenesis and in conjunction, FSH results in spermiation. The decrease in testosterone therefore may lead to infertility in the castrated rats.

Fomites are generally considered as any inanimate object that can serve as a means of transferring pathogens to a new host. Table surfaces which are fomites can be a major source of spread of infectious diseases. The main aim of the study is to enumerate, isolate and identify bacteria from Environmental Management and Toxicology (EMT) students lecture tables at University of Benin as well as to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility test of the bacterial isolates. Samples were collected twice on a weekly basis using a sterile swab. Methods involved in the isolation and identification of the bacteria were serial dilution, Gram staining, biochemical test which include oxidase, catalase, indole, urease, sugar fermentation and potassium hydroxide test, as well as antimicrobial sensitivity test. The probable isolates identified were Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacter aerogenes, with the second week having a higher number of bacterial population and isolates. Unhygienic practices by the students accounts for these isolates.

The study is focused on examining the state of press freedom in Nigeria during President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.. It aimed at finding out the attitude of media practitioners toward policies that affect press freedom during President Muhammadu Buhari tenure, finding out the limitations to press freedom during the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, investigating the impact of government control on press freedom during the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari. For its theoretical framework, the study adopted the libertarian theory of the press theory to further buttress the point of the study. While the survey research method was used to gather the data used for the study. Findings of the study revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari administration implemented policies that negatively affected the operations of media organization and that positive steps have not been taken to protect press freedom and journalists. The findings also revealed that the manner in which events in the society are reported is determined by existing policies and bills put in place by the PMB administration. The researcher therefore concluded that it is necessary to have special freedom for the press guaranteed by the constitution. The researcher recommended that any existing legislations which tends to unduly strangulate the freedom of the press should be reviewed The researcher also recommended that freedom of the press should be clearly enshrined in the constitution. This includes the right to receive and disseminate information and protect the source of information.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of Cymbopogon citratus on blood glucose, body weight and liver, kidney and pancreas reduced glutathione levels on normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in the animals (diabetic control and diabetic treated), by intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin (45mg/body weight), while the control groups received equal volume of the citrate buffer (pH 4.5) solution intraperitoneally. Streptozotocin treatment significantly increased (p < 0.05) blood glucose concentration in the diabetic rats compared to the normal rats. The normal treated and diabetic treated rats were given Cymbopogon citratus extract for 21 days (400mg/body weight). The pancreas, livers, and kidneys of the rats were excised and biochemical assay of reduced glutathione was determined. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the fasting blood glucose levels of the normal treated rats when compared with the normal control rats at the end of the 21 days treatment period. Levels of blood glucose in the diabetic rats were significantly increased (p<0.05) compared to the normal control rats. However, levels of blood glucose in the diabetic treated rats were not significantly different (p>0.05) when compared to the diabetic control rats. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in body weight in the diabetic rats when compared to the normal control rats. There was no significant % weight (p>0.05) gain in the diabetic treated rats when compared to the diabetic control rats and also there was a non- significant (p>0.05) decrease in weight in the normal treated rats when compared to the normal control rats. In the liver and the pancreas, the results for reduced glutathione concentration showed that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the normal treated rats when compared to the normal control rats, in the diabetic control rats when compared to the normal control rats and in the diabetic treated rats when compared to the diabetic control rats. In thekidney, there was no significant difference observed (p>0.05) when the normal treated rats were compared with the normal control rats and when the diabetic treated rats were compared with thenormal control rats. However, when the diabetic treated rats were compared with the diabeticcontrol rats, there was a significant difference (p<0.05). Cymbopogon citratus does have somehypoglycemic and antioxidant properties but further research is needed to ascertain these claims.

The Nigerian banking sector has undergone significant growth and transformation in recent years, playing a pivotal role in the country's economic development. Effective management decision making is crucial for the sustainability and success of deposit money banks in Nigeria. Accounting information, including financial statements and key financial indicators such as Return on Equity (ROE), Net Interest Margin (NIM), and Non-Performing Loan Ratio (NPLR), serves as a vital source of information for managerial decision making. This study aims to investigate the impact of these accounting information variables on the management decision making process in Nigerian deposit money banks. The research design adopted a correlational approach, focusing on a five-year period from 2018 to 2022 and selecting five representative deposit money banks. The study found that there is a significant relationship between ROE and management decision making, emphasizing the importance of financial performance indicators in shaping strategic planning, resource allocation, and profitability decisions. However, NIM was found to have no significant impact on the decision-making process, suggesting that not all banking operations are equally influenced by accounting information. Notably, NPLR exerted a strong influence on management decision making, highlighting the importance of effective non
performing loan management for sound decision-making processes. This research contributes to understanding the role of accounting information in Nigerian deposit money banks' management decision-making. Recommendations include enhanced utilization of accounting information, deeper investigation of NIM's impact, robust NPL management strategies, and continuous research into factors affecting decision-making. Future studies could explore the influence of macroeconomic factors and risk management practices on decision-making in Nigerian banks. This research provides valuable insights for bank managers, regulators, policymakers, and stakeholders, facilitating evidence-based decision making and enhancing the overall performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria