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Studies were conducted to test the effect of different growth regulators, sucrose and nitrogen on Phoenix dactylifera L. explants cultured on Eeuwen’s basal medium. Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) was very effective for callus induction. Addition of cytokinins (BAP and Kinetin) to NAA containing media did not enhance actual callus growth. Sucrose influenced callus production. Depending on the auxin concentration of media, callus production could be supported by sucrose within the range 15 - 105 g/l but the optimum sucrose concentration in the medium in all cases, as determined by size of callus was 30 g/l. NAA and sucrose tended to interact at relatively high levels of sucrose (45 – 90 g/l) to produce roots in culture. KNO3 was essential as a source of nitrogen for callogenesis and optimum callus formation was observed at 50 mM (combined nitrogen). Key words: Phoenix dactylifera, in vitro culture, phytohormone, sucrose.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is increasing worldwide and a disproportionate burden of this increase is borne by developing economies. It is yet to be established whether dietary strategies and interventions which have been successful in the control of T2DM in Western nations will achieve the same effect in the African setting. We studied the effect of a formulated high caloric fibre diet on the glycemic and lipid profile of tablet treated type 2 Nigerian diabetics. We assigned 52 type 2 diabetics (26 men, 26 women) to either an intervention (35) or control group (17). Each subject in the intervention group consumed a diet providing at least 40g of fibre per day while subjects in the control group were fed a regular diet. The effect of both diets on glucose and lipid profile was then tested at 4 and 8 weeks. One way repeated measures analysis of variance for the follow up period showed a significant lowering of waist circumference p = 0.002, Fasting Blood Glucose, 2hr post prandial glucose, Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride, and LDL-C (p = 0.000 in all cases) by the third visit in the intervention group. At the end of the third visit, the mean FBG decreased by 4.9 ± 2.7mmol/l 95% CI -5.8 to -3.9 in the intervention group and by 3 ± 2.8mmol/l 95% CI -4.5 to -1.5 in the control group p = 0.02. 23 (65.7%) intervention group subjects had attained FBG levels = 7.0 mmol/l by the third visit. None of the control subjects had their FBG lowered below 7.0 mmol/l by the third visit. Plasma glucose concentration 2hr after meal, plasma TC, TG and LDL-C decreased significantly more in th e intervention group than among those in the control group. By the second visit, all the patients in the control group had their Glibenclamide increased to10mg or their Chlorpropamide to between 375 and 500mg per day while 29 (82.9%) persons in the intervention group had their drugs increased in a similar fashion. By the third visit, 8(47.1%) control subjects had a further increase in the dose of their sulphonylurea while all but 2 (5.7%) patients in the subject group had achieved normoglycemia. Consumption of a high fibre diet provided mainly through soup thickeners and vegetables by newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetic patients being treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents resulted in early attainment of normoglycaemi a and improved glycemic and lipid profile compared with a conventional diet. These findings underscore the need for our dietary guidelines to include specific recommendations on increased utilization of dietary fibre.

The rising problem of resistance to most commonly used antimalarials remains a major challenge in the control of malaria suggesting the need for new antimalarial agents. This work explores the antiplasmodial potential of ethanol extract of Russelia equisetiformis in chloroquine Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Swiss albino mice were intraperitoneally infected with chloroquine-resistant P. berghei (ANKA). Experimental mice were treated for four days consecutively with graded doses of plant extracts and standard antimalarial drugs (artesunate and chloroquine) at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight used as control. The extract showed a dose-dependent activity in the chemosuppression of P. berghei parasites by 31.6, 44.7, 48.4 and 86.5% at doses of 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg, while chloroquine (10 mg/kg) and artesunate produced 59.4 and 68.4%, respectively. The extract showed a significant decrease in parasitaemia (P

It is argued that large shareholders have enormous influence over their companies as their ability to monitor the executives can mitigate the agency problems. This paper examines how large shareholders are related to company performance after distinguishing domestic large shareholders from the foreign large shareholders. Using a panel of 58 companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange with 222 company-year observations from 2009 to 2012, firm-level fixed effects regression was used for analysis. We find evidence that domestic large shareholders are associated with better company performance while foreign large shareholders show a concave relationship with company performance with inflection point at 31.88%. The empirical result also shows that the joint presence of the both domestic large shareholders and foreign large shareholders in companies seems to make them pursue overall wealth maximization objective of the company. The result is consistent with the contention that concentrated ownership remains an effective corporate governance mechanism in an environment with weak investor protection rights. The study contributes to the corporate governance literature of the substitution effect of large shareholders for effective corporate governance practice. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6p236

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are major public health challenge especially in developing countries. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Human T-cell lymphotropic Virus type I (HTLV-I) among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic, in Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, and South-Western Nigeria. One hundred and eighty two randomly selected pregnant women were screened for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and HTLV-1 IgM antibodies using commercially available ELISA kit. Of the 182 blood samples of pregnant women screened whose age ranged from 15-49 years, 13 (7.1%), 5 (2.7%), 9 (4.9%), and 44 (24.2%) were positive for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV, and HTLV-1 IgM antibodies, respectively. The co-infection rate of 0.5% was obtained for HBV/HCV, HBV/HIV, HIV/HTLV-1, and HCV/HTLV-1 while 1.1% and 0% was recorded for HBV/HTLV-1 and HCV/HIV co-infections, respectively. Expected risk factors such as history of surgery, circumcision, tattooing and incision showed no significant association with any of the viral STIs (P > 0.05). This study shows that there is the need for a comprehensive screening of all pregnant women for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and HTLV-1 to prevent mother to child transmission of these viral infections and its attending consequences.

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus that circulates among avians, but can also affect other species, particularly humans and horses. The virus is transmissible via blood transfusion. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of the West Nile virus among blood donors in Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Serum samples from 185 blood donors who donated blood at blood bank units of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching hospitals and Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria were screened for WNV IgM antibody.Results: Out of the 185 donors recruited for the study, 175 (94.6%) were males. The age of the participant ranges from 18 – 65 years with the mean age (SD± 20.3). One hundred and sixty five (89.1%) donors are urban dwellers while twenty (10.8%) donors are rural dwellers. Twenty seven donors (15.4%), out of the urban group regularly use insecticides treated or mosquito repellant nets whereas none of the rural dwellers use insecticides or mosquito net. All the 185 donors screened were negative for West Nile virus- specific IgM antibody.Conclusion: This study reveals that there is no serological evidence of WNV infection in Osun state Nigeria. Although this is only a preliminary report, there would be the need for a more elaborate study cutting across different seasons of the year on the prevalence of WNV in Nigeria.Keywords: West Nile virus, blood donors, serological evidence, IgM antibody, Nigeria

The revolutionary advances in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are ushering in change in every aspect of life. Everything from business to governance is undergoing change. This report focuses on the deployment of Information Technology infrastructure in Ondo State, Nigeria as the nexus of the state e-Government programme with focus on (1) Central Base Station set up (2) Structured Local Area Network of Key Governmnet Offices (3) Fibre Optic Interconnectivity between central base station and governor’s office complex plus allied locations (4) Installation and configuration of servers in the main Data Center (5) Installation and configuration of servers in the Disaster Recovery Centre (6) Installation and Configuration of Secured Wireless Network for remote Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) (7) Installation and Configuration of State Surveillance System (8) Training of users, technicians and other personnel (9) Provision of second layer support services for users and first layer support-technicians, and; (10) Provision of hardware and infrastructure support services to content providers like Oracle Financials, the state Electronic Personnel Administration and Salary System (ePASS) and the state Automated Revenue-generation, Collection-administration and Accounting System (ARCAS).

The Cycas circinalis was first officially introduced into Nigeria by the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Benin City. It belongs to the Division: Cycadophyta, Class: Cycadopsida, Order Cycadales, family Cycadaceae and genera Cycas. It was first recognized as a separate species in 1995. It is also known as Sago palm, Fern palm, Cycad or Starch palm. The floral biology of the plant is cone like as other cones in the Order Cycadales, the cone has the whorl of premature pinnate fronds embedded within the cone. This cone opens up and spreads out as the inflorescence reaches anthesis revealing the whorl of young leaves that will form the new generation crown. The mean number of fully formed fruits per stalk is 9.0 average fruit length is 5.24cm, fruit circumference ranged from 8.6-9.6cm while the average circumference is 9.03. Fruit weight range between 19.2 – 22.10g (mean = 21.6g), the length of dehusked fruit vary from 4.1 – 5.0cm, while the circumference of the dehusked fruit range between 7.1 – 8.0cm. The average circumference of dehusked fruit was 7.53cm. The weight of the dehusked fruit range between 9.7 – 18.6g, with a mean weight of 13.9g.

Atrazine is a pre-emergent herbicide used for the control of broad-leaf weeds that has residual activity in the environment. Extensive use of atrazine (strength of 800 g/kg Atrazine 50% WP) in Irish potato production in Plateau State, Nigeria has prompted this study to evaluate the atrazine residue levels in Irish potato varieties in three selected (Mangu, Jos South and Bokkos) areas of Plateau State. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to determine the types and extent of herbicides used by farmers cultivating Irish potatoes. Samples of four Irish potato varieties: Diamant, Marabel, Christian Lady and Yellow and soils at 0-15cm depth were collected from each of the three Local Government Areas (LGAs). All the samples were subjected to chemical extractions using standard procedures and the extracts were analyzed for atrazine residues using spectrophotometer. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p=0.05. Results showed 63.6% of farmers using synthetic herbicides on their farms, while 76.27% used atrazine as their preferred herbicide over paraquat 23.73%. Soil samples from Mangu had significantly highest value of 9.98 mg/kg of atrazine residues and from the Diamant variety with no detection of atrazine in soil samples from other selected LGAs and their respective varieties. The Yellow variety from both Jos South and Bokkos had the highest values of 3.32 mg/kg and 3.13 mg/kg atrazine herbicide residues, while the least value of 1.51 mg/kg was from Diamant variety in Bokkos. However, trazine residue was not detected in Yellow, Marabel and Christian lady varieties from Mangu, Jos South and Bokkos, respectively. This study showed high atrazine residues with concentrations above 0.05 mg/kg and 0.1 mg/kg (US EPA acceptable maximum residue level) in the soil and Irish potato samples, respectively. This atrazine pesticide over time could lead to bioaccumulation in living organisms, food chain and ecosystem.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a major cause of gynaecological morbidity globally. Complications from PID include infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain. Low socioeconomic status (SES) is a risk factor for the occurrence of PID.The aim of this study was to determine the association between SES of parents and the occurrence of PID among undergraduates attending Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua.The study was a hospital-based, descriptive cross-sectional study. Three hundred and sixty female undergraduates attending the hospital were consecutively recruited and clinically assessed for the presence of PID using the WHO and CDC MMWR 2010 criteria for the clinical assessment of PID. Their SES was determined by Oyedeji social class categorisation. Data were analysed using Epi Info 3.5.4. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data, and Chi-square was used to test for association.There was a significant association between SES of parents and multiple sex partners (P0.02), previous sexually transmitted infection (STI) (P = 0.05), unprotected sex (P0.001), history of induced abortion (P0.001) and surgical termination of pregnancy (P0.01). There was also association between occurrence of PID among respondents and multiple sexual partners (P0.001), previous history of STI (P = 0.02), non-persistent use of condom (P0.001), history of induced abortion (P0.01) and surgical termination of pregnancy (P0.01). There was however no significant association between SES of parents and occurrence of PID (P = 0.14) though PID was highest among respondents from low SES.Occurrence of PID among undergraduates was not associated with their SES. However, identified risk factors for PID among study population such as multiple sex partners, previous STI, unprotected sex and history of induced abortion were associated with the SES.

Background: Adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been proven to be the only effective treatment for HIV/AIDS worldwide. Good adherence to HAART might require good family support. Objective: To determine the family dynamics and social support of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and its roles on HAART adherence at an ARV treatment clinic in Osogbo, Nigeria Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Consenting PLWHA on HAART were interviewed using pre-tested semistructured questionnaire incorporating Perceived Social Support- Family Scale and Family APGAR. HAART adherence was measured using patient self report. Results: A total of 379 PLWHA were interviewed. Their mean age was 40.8 (SD=9.9) years. Most (60.7%) were females. More than half (55.7%) were currently married and the majority (72.1%) had secondary education and were Yoruba (86.3%). Most respondents (95.5%) were adherent to HAART. Over 90% were satisfied with support received from their family while 82.3% were treated like other family members. Most attributed their HAART adherence to the care and support received from their family. Conclusion: Most PLWHA had good social support and were adherent to HAART. Keywords: Family dynamics; HAART adherence; Nigeria African Health Sciences 2013; 13(4): 920 - 926

Citizens of 9 different English-speaking countries (N = 619) evaluated the average, or typical, citizen of 5 English-speaking countries (Great Britain, Canada, Nigeria, United States, Australia) on 9 pairs of bipolar adjectives. Participants were drawn from Australia, Botswana, Canada, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. There were statistically significant similarities in the rankings of the 5 stimulus countries on 8 of the 9 adjective dimensions and a strong convergence of autostereotypes and heterostereotypes on many traits. The results relate to previous stereotyping research and traditional methods of assessing the accuracy of national stereotypes.

Collinearity (or multicollinearity) is the undesirable situation where the correlations among the independent variables are strong. Multicollinearity misleadingly inflates the standard errors and results in incorrect conclusions about relationships between dependent and predictor variables. Thus, it makes some variables statistically insignificant while they should be otherwise significant. It is like two or more people singing loudly at the same time. One cannot discern which is which. They offset each other. Most explanatory variables in the biological sciences tend to correlate and this leads to incorrect identification of the most important predictors. Just like other crops, in date palm the seed characters most times are used as predictors of the quality and quantity of the fruits such as the fruit weight and size which are important pricing index of date palm fruits and so, it becomes important to develop a model to explain the relationships between these two data sets without collinearity. The changing environments accompany by floods and high temperature coupled with the increase in population in Nigeria and Africa as a whole is a concern to agriculturist. Famine is fast approaching and crop modelling is one of the solutions. The main purpose of this study is to show how we can use multivariate analysis based on principal component scores to establish a model that can explain the relationship between the fruit and seed traits of date palm and compare its ability to reduce multicollinearity with the method of the ordinary least square while also studying the variability that exist among the germplasm collections for genetic improvement. The result of the descriptive statistics which indicated the values of the coefficient of variation for the different characters of the fruit and seeds of date palm reveals the possibility of genetic improvements of these characters. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to predictor variables to address the problem of multicollinearity. The result of the principal component analysis indicated that the contribution of the first two factors with Eigen value greater than unity accounted for 86.5 % of the total variation which was well above average and thus, explains the use of PCA in data reduction. The results showed that the principal component regression (PCR) was sufficient in eliminating multicollinearity with a variance inflation factor (VIF) and tolerance value (TOL) of unity and P < 0.05 and it was possible to explain a high percentage of the total variance with a reduced number of principal components as two principal components (PRIN 1 and PRIN 2) accounted for most of the variability in seed characters observed among the date palm germplasm collections from different locations. There was a high level of variation in some of the seed traits studied which could serve as the basis for genetic improvement of date palm fruit. There was a direct positive relationship between the groove width and the fruit traits in the multiple regression analysis and the principle component analysis, thus, indicating the importance of groove width in the genetic improvement of date palm fruits.

Coconut varieties typically exhibit different crown canopy shapes and sizes. Three canopy shapes were identified in the coconut hybrid seed garden of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Benin City, Nigeria. The crown canopy size and shape could influence the photosynthetic efficiency of a crop, hence its productivity and yield. Given the differential productivity and nut yield of the varieties, we attempted to establish the relationship between crown canopy size and shape to the productivity of the different coconut varieties. Coconut seed nut yield records from the coconut hybrid seed garden was related to the crown canopy shape and sizes of the varieties. About 59% of each class of tall and 83.70% to 89.19% of the dwarf palms produced matured fruits during the period of observation. The least mean nut yield was found among coconut with vertical canopy shape of every coconut varieties considered, while the highest mean nut yield was found in the semi spherical canopy shape of all the coconut varieties evaluated, except in the yellow dwarf. The result indicates that although there is no statistical difference in the yield of the various canopy shapes, the semi spherical canopy seem to produce more nuts than coconut with other canopy shapes. In all cases the Tall coconut were more susceptible to lethal yellowing infection.

Rumour behaviour is an “instinctual behaviour” elicited in the workplace usually involving unverified information of uncertain origin that is transmitted by word of mouth. Examines the ways in which rumours spread and how organizations can stop them. To do so requires that practical sense be made be made of a potentially chaotic and complex set of factors which interact together to produce and elaborate rumours. With a better understanding of the nature of rumours and techniques of rumour rebuttal, organizations can prevent rumour build‐up among the staff.

Many theorists and helping professionals have emphasized the importance of self‐concept in personal adjustment. Increasingly, theorists and caregivers are perceiving self‐concept as playing a pivotal role in the specific realm of learning, teaching and everyday living. As clinicians and scientists we see daily the close tie between parental competence, teacher's influence and emotional functioning and how children succeed with many of life's worries. Insufficient attention has been paid to the theoretical underpinnings of predicting children's emotional reactions to stress and conflict with self from a systems viewpoint. Longitudinal preventive and developmental studies of adults’ influence on children's ability to cope with life's stresses and classroom's conflict, through polydimensionl procedures incorporated into a therapeutic counselling or consulting atmosphere that includes caring, respect, empathic understanding and acceptance, are mandatory. Theoretical frameworks are already developed which must...

Data from a study of 59 adolescent University students were correlated using Spearman rank-difference coefficient (rho) to assess the extent to which the future could be predicted from these measures. The 58 adolescents' score on the Satisfaction Questionnaire and Purpose-in-Life Test showed data significantly supporting the hypothesis and its relationship to goal directedness. Male southerners' and graduate study oriented groups supported the hypothesis while the opposite held for girls, northerners', and non-graduate-study orientation samples. The findings partially agree with the findings of previous studies especially those of Jenks, Kahana, Bobinski, and Piermarini.

Issues: Quality-management systems (QMS) are uncommon in clinical laboratories in Nigeria, and until recently, none of the nation’s 5 349 clinical laboratories have been able to attain the certifications necessary to begin the process of attaining international accreditation. Nigeria’s Human Virology Laboratory (HVL), however, began implementation of a QMS in 2006, and in 2008 it was determined that the laboratory conformed to the requirements of ISO 9001:2000 (now 2008), making it the first diagnostic laboratory to be certified in Nigeria. The HVL has now applied for the World Health Organization (WHO) accreditation preparedness scheme. The experience of the QMS implementation process and the lessons learned therein are shared here.Description: In 2005, two personnel from the HVL spent time studying quality systems in a certified clinical laboratory in Dakar, Senegal. Following this peer-to-peer technical assistance, several training sessions were undertaken by HVL staff, a baseline assessment was conducted, and processes were established. The HVL has monitored its quality indicators and conducted internal and external audits; these analyses (from 2007 to 2009) are presented herein.Lessons learned: Although there was improvement in the pre-analytical and analytical indicators analysed and although data-entry errors decreased in the post-analytical process, the delay in returning laboratory test results increased significantly. There were several factors identified as causes for this delay and all of these have now been addressed except for an identified need for automation of some high-volume assays (currently being negotiated). Internal and external audits showed a trend of increasing non-conformities which could be the result of personnel simply becoming lax over time. Application for laboratory accreditation, however, could provide the renewed vigour needed to correct these non-conformities.Recommendation: This experience shows that sustainability of the QMS at present is a cause for concern. However, the tiered system of accreditation being developed by WHO–Afro may act as a driving force to preserve the spirit of continual improvement.

This paper will consider the legal requirements to validate a customary law marriage as applicable in Nigeria and compare with the legal requirements to validate an Islamic marriage.

The major objective of this study was to identify certain needs which limit the effectiveness of early childhood teachers in the classroom. This was done by the use of an assessment tool. Results indicated a high priority and dire need for help in five factor need areas: children guidance and achievement of the basic skills; functional and qualitative learning and a mastery of the basic skills; motivating children to learn; identifying and sustaining readiness factors that affect learning and establishing and maintaining discipline. Consequently, a test for relation ship between the identified factor needs of early childhood teachers and selected teachers variables yielded no statistical significance (p>0.05).

Four coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) varieties, West African Tall (WAT), Malayan Green Dwarf (MGD), Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD) and Malayan Red Dwarf (MRD), planted in the Main Station of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) near Benin City, in an isolated seed garden to produce different types of hybrids through open pollination were used Selected dwarf mother palms were emasculated, while the tall mother palms were not, allowing the tall palms to cross pollinate the emasculated dwarf palms. Controlled natural pollination of these selected dwarf mother palms was carried out for four years, 1996 – 2000. Data collected include number of bunches (NOB), number of buttons (NOBT) and number of nuts (NON). The various cross combinations (populations) studied were MGD x WAT (population 1), MYD x WAT (population 2) and MRD x WAT (population 3). Mean squares from the analysis of variance were significant (P Keywords : Controlled natural pollination, Fruit setting percentage Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 190-195

Four coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) varieties, West African Tall (WAT), Malayan Green Dwarf (MGD), Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD) and Malayan Red Dwarf (MRD), planted in the Main Station of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) near Benin City, in an isolated seed garden to produce different types of hybrids through open pollination were used Selected dwarf mother palms were emasculated, while the tall mother palms were not, allowing the tall palms to cross pollinate the emasculated dwarf palms. Controlled natural pollination of these selected dwarf mother palms was carried out for four years, 1996 – 2000. Data collected include number of bunches (NOB), number of buttons (NOBT) and number of nuts (NON). The various cross combinations (populations) studied were MGD x WAT (population 1), MYD x WAT (population 2) and MRD x WAT (population 3). Mean squares from the analysis of variance were significant (P< 0.01) for both palms and years for NOB, NOBT, NON and fruit setting percentage. The significant palms effect indicates that genetic variability existed among the palms, while the significant years mean squares suggested that climatic factors and other factors common to all environments, encounted for a proportion of the variation in the environment. The fruit setting percentage for the four years of investigation was 51.4% with a range between 48.2 – 54.3%. There was no significant difference in fruit setting percentage between the three populations. Maximum setting percentage was 54.3% in population 3, 51.7% in population 1 and 48.2% in population 2. Keywords: Controlled natural pollination, Fruit setting percentageJournal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 190-195

Silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1), the prototype member of the sirtuin family, has been implicated in longevity and stress resistance. Sirt3, another member of the sirtuin family, is localized primarily in mitochondria and involved in metabolism in both white and brown adipose tissues. However, the cardiac role of Sirt3 is not well understood. Here, we examined the cellular function of Sirt3 in cardiac myocytes. Western blot analysis revealed that Sirt3 is highly expressed in cardiac myocytes, at the level comparable to Sirt3 in white and brown adipose tissues. Although Sirt1 in the heart was upregulated in response to glucose deprivation, high-fat diet, or pressure overload, expression of Sirt3 was unchanged in these conditions. Expression of Sirt3 was increased two-fold, however, after H 2 O 2 (100 μ M) treatment in primary cardiac myocytes and two-fold by aging (18 vs 3 months) in the heart. Sirt3 is localized primarily in the mitochondria in myocytes under normal conditions, but it translocates into the nucleus when cells are treated with H 2 O 2 . Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of Sirt3 significantly reduced myocyte cell death in serum free media or in the presence of H 2 O 2 as determined by cytoplasmic accumulation of mono- and oligonucleosomes (pα nor stimulated PGC-1 α -mediated transcription. Thus, although both Sirt1 and Sirt3 exert their function by regulating metabolic genes, their mechanism of action is different. In summary, cardiac myocytes abundantly express Sirt3 in mitochondria. Sirt3 is upregulated by oxidative stress and translocates into the nucleus, where Sirt3 regulates expression of mitochondrial genes, such as Glut4 and COX IV, through upregulation of NRF1 and plays a protective role against oxidative stress in cardiac myocytes.

Heterotopic pregnancy (HP) is the co-existence of intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies; it is said to be rare. We report the case of a 22 year old woman with HP after unsuccessful attempts at abortion. This report illustrates the treatment difficulties encountered in a delayed presentation, and the nature HP is assuming in rural practice. It also highlights the role of family physicians in reducing maternal mortality in resource-limited settings.

Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The study was carried out in order to provide local reference values of basal metabolic rate (BMR) by determining the BMR of healthy young adult males in Lagos and that of their female counterparts. A total of 80 students from the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos were studied. There were forty (40) males and forty (40) females. All the subjects fasted for at least 12 hours before determining the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) from the rate of oxygen consumption by the subjects. Results obtained from the study showed that males had significantly higher BMR mean value of 52.36 ± 4.13 Kcal/hr as compared to the mean value of the females which was 36.28 ± 2.96Kcal/hr (P < 0.002). We conclude by presenting reference values of BMR young adults in Lagos: The young adult male has a BMR of 52.36 ± 4.13 Kcal/hr while that of this female counterpart is 36.28 ± 2.96Kcal/hr. Key words: Basal metabolic rate, Oxygen consumption, Nigeria, Energy expenditure. [Nig. Jnl Health & Biomedical Sciences Vol.1(2) 2002: 121-123]