Physico-chemical and thermal characteristics of sandy loam soils contaminated by single and mixed pollutants (mineral and vegetable oils).

Samples of contaminated top soil (0-30 cm) and uncontaminated soil (control) from two locations in Precambrian basement complex area were analyzed to assess the effects of single and mixed oil contaminants on the physico-chemical and thermal properties of soils. Pearson's correlation and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to study the interrelationships of the studied parameters as well as variation of studied soil characteristics under the different oil contaminants, respectively. Results showed insignificant impact of pollutant(s) on the textural class of contaminated soils. The highest and lowest mean soil resistivity (SR) values were found in petrol-contaminated and mixed surfactants (shampoo + conditioner) -contaminated soils, respectively. The least values of mean specific heat capacity (SHC), heat capacity (HC), and soil water diffusivity (SWD) were found in soils contaminated by mixed surfactants-contaminants. However, mixed mineral oils (petrol + diesel + engine oil) and mixed vegetable oils (palm oil + groundnut oil) had mean SHC values lower than those of control soils at the two sampling locations. The mixed surfactants-polluted soil is characterized by lowest mean bulk density (BD) and highest mean gravimetric water content (GWC) while lowest mean GWC and highest mean SWD characterized engine oil-contaminated soils. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) result revealed significant variation in % sand at 5% level (p < 0.05) for petroleum-derived contaminants but no significant differences in mean values of all analyzed soil properties under vegetable oil contaminants.

Soil physicochemical and hydraulic properties of petroleum-derived and vegetable oil-contaminated Haplic Lixisol and Rhodic Nitisol in southwest Nigeria.

Various daily human activities can result in the release of pollutants of different chemical constituents and specific gravities into natural soils. Pollution of natural soils is a recurring occurrence in the environment and it contributes greatly to the alteration of soils properties. The results of an assessment of the effects of selected petroleum-derived and vegetable oils on soil physicochemical and hydraulic properties are presented in this work. Topsoil samples at a depth of 0-20 cm of the same textural class were collected from the order Lixisols and Nitisol within Ogun State, southwest Nigeria. Surface soil samples were collected and treated with petrol, diesel and palm oil at two different volumes (50 and 100 ml). Investigated soil properties include particle size distribution, soil pH, bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), available water capacity (AWC), total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), organic matter (OM) content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), potassium, sodium, and soil resistivity. Analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation were used to study the variations of the relationship of analyzed soil properties under different soil types and treatments. The regression analysis shows that all the generated models for predicting Ksat values under different soil treatments had R2 values ranging from 0.999 to 1.000. Results showed that treatment with either petroleum-derived or lipids has no effects on soil pH and textural class. Results further revealed that palm oil contamination at 50 ml recorded least values of Ksat in the two soil types. In all cases, BD and Ksat of the contaminated soils of the two sampling locations were reduced compared with their control values. Correlation coefficient showed expected strong negative correlation between TP and BD as well as between any two of organic parameters (TC, TN, and OM) and soil resistivity, TC, and TN at 1% level in both soil types. Two-way ANOVA showed that there were significant differences at 5% level between the two locations with respects to BD, TP, and CEC while significant differences in Ksat, pH, TC, TN, and OM occur between soils from the two locations under various treatments at 5% level.

Geostatistical analysis of uranium concentrations in North-Western part of Ogun State, Nigeria.

Several statistical techniques have been adopted in the analysis and interpretation of radiometric survey data set with little attention to the geostatistical approach. In this study, the geostatistical technique was used to analyse an airborne uranium data set in the North-western part of Ogun state to deduce the autocorrelation level of uranium with the corresponding geological composition through the geostatistical model fitting. Twelve uranium lithological (UL) units were identified and analysed using variogram and kriging. Three variogram models namely; spherical, exponential and gaussian, were utilised. The variogram results showed that the three models fit in the interpretation of uranium data in the order of Spherical < Gaussian < Exponential models for all the UL units except at UL6 which had range (R) values of 4227.3 m, 5318.2 m and 5636.4 m for Gaussian, Spherical and Exponential models, respectively. The Nugget-Sill ratios (NSR) were in the range of 3.57-18.97% for the three models across the 12 UL units. These results indicate strong spatial autocorrelation/dependency of uranium concentration on geological composition. The ordinary kriging estimator revealed that the weathered basement formation has the highest uranium concentration compared to basement and sedimentary formations across the study area. The coefficient of variation results also revealed homogeneity in the uranium source across the UL units. The geostatistics technique is a useful mathematical tool in the analysis and interpretation of uranium concentration in the North-western part of Ogun State.

Assessment of patient-reported outcome and quality of life improvement following surgery for epiphora.

PurposeTo assess and compare the subjective improvement in symptoms and quality of life in adult patients who underwent commonly performed oculoplastic surgical interventions to treat epiphora.Materials and methodsA prospective study was undertaken involving all adult patients undergoing dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), lid tightening (lateral tarsal strip or lateral wedge resection), and punctoplasty surgery at our institution. We assessed severity of epiphora preoperatively using the Munk score. At 3 months postoperatively, all patients were sent postal questionnaires comprising of Munk score, 'social impact score' from validated Lac-Q questionnaire ranging from 0 (no impact) to 5 (maximal negative impact) and Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) score, ranging from -100 (maximal detriment) to +100 (maximal benefit).ResultsA total of 134 questionnaires were sent with an overall response rate of 74.6%. For the purpose of data analysis, patients were divided into four groups: DCR, lid tightening, punctoplasty, and combined group (lid tightening plus punctoplasty). There was statistically significant improvement in subjective epiphora postoperatively, as assessed by Munk score (P<0.001) in all groups. The total GBI scores were +42.67 (95% CI: 33.42-51.91) for DCR, +19.65 (95% CI: 10.33-28.97) for lid tightening, +16.06 (95% CI: 2.65-29.48) for punctoplasty, and +26.53 (95% CI: 13.15-39.90) for the combined group, demonstrating a positive change in health status for all groups. There was negative correlation between total GBI and post-operative Munk scores (r=-0.58, P<0.001), and positive correlation between Lac-Q and Munk scores (r=0.65, P<0.001).ConclusionPatients derived significant improvement in symptoms and health-related quality of life benefit following all surgical interventions for epiphora.

Filarial worm (Loa loa) in the anterior chamber. Report of two cases.

Two Nigerian patients with intraocular parasitism by adult Loa loa worms are reported. Whereas Loa loa infestation of the subcutaneous tissues around the eye usually has no permanent effect on visual acuity, in the two cases reported the affected eye became blind.

Childhood head injury in Ibadan: causes, neurologic complications and outcome.

Ninety-nine children who suffered head injuries between January, 1988 and June, 1989 were analysed. These form approximately 60% of the total number of children with head injury seen at our institution over this period. The mean age (+/- SD) was 77.5 (+/- 53.1) months. There were more males than females (1.8:1). The two most frequent causes of head injury were pedestrian-vehicular accidents, PVA, (38%) and falls at home, FH, (40%). Fifty-two per cent of the patients sustained a loss of consciousness at presentation, 43% exhibited additional neurological deficits. Skull fractures were present in 45%. There were 2 deaths in this group. Only 8% of the patients underwent surgery which was limited to elevation of compound depressed skull fractures. By the time of discharge, neural deficits were present in 17%. 56 patients were followed-up over a mean period of 4 months. 82% of them were neurologically normal, Head injury from vehicular accidents affected older children, was more severe, but recovered as well as that from falls, except with respect to mental status function.

Anterior chamber depths of Nigerians.

Anterior chamber depths of 1,646 eyes of 823 Nigerians were measured to determine the distribution of chamber depths in Nigerians, and to compare the findings with previous observations in Caucasians. The persons examined included normal subjects and other groups with ocular pathology, such as glaucoma. The mean chamber depth in normal persons was 3.23 mm. Anterior chambers were deeper in males than females and significant shallowing occurred with age. Mean chamber depths were less in glaucomatous eyes than normotensive eyes. When compared with previous studies in Caucasians no significant differences could be found in the two ethnic groups. It was concluded that the alleged differences in the incidence of angle closure glaucoma in Caucasians and Negroes is not due to differences in the anterior chamber depths in the two groups.

Lens thickness in western Nigeria. A comparative ultrasonic study in Negros and Danes.

A comparative ultrasonic, oculometric study was performed in negroes, West Nigeria (151 persons) and in caucasians, Denmark (88 persons). The negros have thinner lenses than caucasians, and overall ethnic difference of 0.12 mm was found. Male negroes have longer vitreous and axial lengths than male caucasians (VB 0.56 mm, AxL 0.30 mm).

Pancreatic calcification: a report of 45 cases.

Forty-five cases of pancreatic calcification are reported, and it is shown that in Western Nigeria this malady afflicts younger people than in Europe and the United States of America. Males and females seem about equally affected in Western Nigeria, whereas it predominantly affects males in France, Britain, and North America. Diabetes mellitus was the commonest complication in this series, and brought many patients to the doctor. In this series chronic relapsing pancreatitis was a rare cause; there was no history of alcoholism; and protein malnutrition was thought to be responsible for pancreatic calcification in over 90% of the patients.

Orbital histoplasmosis due to Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii: successful treatment with Septrin.

Four children with orbital histoplasmosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii (one of whom had been unsuccessfully treated with amphotericin-B) were treated with a combination of trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole (Septrin) and surgical drainage. All patients improved markedly during therapy with resolution of the lesions, and with no recurrence of infection in three patients, 1 year later. The fourth patient was lost to follow-up. Treatment was devoid of side effects. These findings clearly indicate that Septrin could be a safe alternative to amphotericin-B for the treatment of African histoplasmosis, especially in patients presenting with solitary or localized lesions.