Nutrient Intake in Children 4–13 Years Old in Ibadan,Nigeria

The paucity of adequate data on dietary and nutrient intakes of school-age children is a barrier to addressing malnutrition and associated risks in Nigeria. This study included 955 children aged 4–13 years from Ibadan, Nigeria, using a stratified random sampling design. Information on family socio-demographic characteristics was reported, and child anthropometrics were measured. Dietary intake data were collected using a multi-pass 24 h dietary recall method; 20% of subjects completed a second 24 h recall to estimate usual nutrient intakes. Means and distributions of usual intakes of energy and nutrients as well as prevalence of inadequacy were estimated. Usual energy intake (kcal/day) was 1345 and 1590 for younger (4–8 years) and older (9–13 years) age groups, respectively. The macronutrient intakes of most children did not conform to Adequate Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDRs), which were characterized by a higher proportion of energy from carbohydrates and lower proportion from total fats. Protein intake was largely within the AMDR. Compared to recommendations, over 60% of 4–8-year-old children had inadequate intakes of calcium, copper, iron, folate, and vitamins A, D, and E. There were more micronutrient inadequacies in the older children. This study identifies nutrition gaps and suggests future research and education to improve child nutrition in Nigeria.     

The fungal flora of post-harvest grains of Sorghum guineense Stapf and their importance in pathogenicity

The mycoflora of air-dried grains of Sorghum guineense and their importance in pathogenicity were studied. Nine species of both phytopathogens and saprophytic storage fungi were consistently obtained. The pathogenic fungi included Cladosporium vignae Gardner, Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid and Helminthosporium turcicum Pass., While the saprophytes were mostly species of Aspergillus particularly A. flavus Link, A. fumigatus Fres. and A. niger van Thieghen. Pathogenicity tests showed C. vignae, M. phaseolina and H. turcicum to be seed-borne pathogens of Sorghum guineense and gave symptoms ranging from leafblight to brown spot diseases of the leaves. The ability of the pathogens to produce cell wall-degrading enzymes in vitro was studied while the fungi were shown to grow well at a wide temperature range of 20°–30 °C.     

Saprophytic fungi and the deterioration of malting grains of Sorghum guineense Stapf

The ability of Humicola insolens Cooney & Emerson and Aspergillus fumigatus Fres. to cause biochemical changes in the components of milled Sorghum guineense grains and the factors necessary for these activities were studied. Significant losses (at p = <0.01) in the cellulose, hemicellulose, diastase and ethanol soluble fractions of the malted grains were recorded on inoculation with asexual spores of A. fumigatus and H. insolens and 21 days of incubation at 35 °C and 45 °C, respectively. This was accompanied by a corresponding rise in the total nitrogen components of the medium with period of incubation. None of the microbes was able to degrade the lignin components of the malted grains. While A. fumigatus was most active on the grains at 35 °C and pH 6.2, H. insolens grew best at 45 °C and pH 5.4. When both fungi were grown on varying sources of carbon and nitrogen good results were obtained on most of them with optimal growth recorded on starch and dextrin and the organic nitrogen sources l-asparagine, l-glutamic acid and l-alanine. Both fungi also produced extracelluearly amylase, cellulases, pectate lyase, xylanase, protease, lipase, DNase and RNase. The potential health risks which the presence of these fungi on malted Sorghum grains pose to the consumers of the end products are discussed.     

Storage temperature and viability of sporangiospores of potentially human pathogenic species of Rhizomucor from Nigerian tobacco

The effects of temperature on storage and viability of asexual spores of Rhizomucor pusillus (Lindt) Schipper and Rhizomucor miehei (Cooney and Emerson) Schipper were studied. An optimal germination temperature of 35 degrees C was recorded for both species with good results obtained around 40 degrees C. On prolonged storage of the spores at various temperatures (-19 degrees C, 4 degrees C, 30 degrees C, 37 degrees C), the best results were obtained at 4 degrees C and 30 degrees C. Very rapid losses in viability of the spores of both fungi occurred at -19 degrees C reaching a maximum of 68% and 51%, respectively, for R. pusillus and R. miehei after 6 months of storage. Continuous exposure of the spores to 68 degrees C led to rapid losses of viability of up to 100% for those of R. pusillus after 40 min exposure. Sporangiospores of R. miehei showed more gradual losses on exposure to 68 degrees C. The potential health hazards which the presence of these fungi on tobacco products pose to man are discussed.     

Cultural and nutritional studies of zoopathogenic fungi associated with livestock feeds in Nigeria

Mycelial growth and nutritional physiology of zoopathogenic Aspergillus fumigatus Fres., Thermoascus aurantiacus Miehe, and Thermomyces lanuginosus Tsik., obtained from livestock feeds and poultry droppings in Nigeria were studied. An optimal pH-temperature range of 5.5–6.5 and 37°–45°C was recorded for the growth of these fungi. Various sources of carbon supplied in the growth medium, except sorbose and rhamnose, were utilized for growth. Only Aspergillus fumigatus caused considerable weight losses of the filter papers supplied and hydrolyzed the carboxy-methyl cellulose (CMC) in the medium. The culture filtrates of this fungus contained CM-cellulases which also hydrolyzed CMC to reducing sugar at 45°C. D-glucose and L-asparagine concentrations in the range of 15–20 g/liter and 2.5–5 g/liter, respectively, were best for growth of the test fungi. Various forms of organic and inorganic nitrogen provided were also utilized. The inorganic sources of nitrogen could readily substitute the organic forms at the optimal growth conditions.     

Food Sources of Key Nutrients,Meal and Dietary Patterns among Children Aged 4–13 Years in Ibadan,Nigeria: Findings from the 2019 Kids Nutrition and Health Study

This study examined the contribution of food to nutrient intake, meal and dietary patterns among children aged 4–8 and 9–13 years in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria. Multi-pass 24-hour dietary recalls were used to assess intakes. Prudent and traditional Southwestern Nigerian dietary patterns were identified among children. The top foods and beverages were defined by frequency and amount consumed. Meal patterns were described by the eating occasions, while cluster analysis probed dietary patterns. About 88% of children had at least three meals including breakfast (95%), lunch (85%), dinner (92%) and midmorning meals (48%), while about 60% ate snacks at least once daily. Sources of energy and key nutrients were limited (yam, cassava, rice, maize, bread and beans/peas/legumes). The amount consumed per consumer of cassava products (192.2, 256.0 g), yam (169.7, 256.0 g), legumes (115.3, 150.7 g), corn/maize (160.4, 195.2), and rice (138.4, 182.3 g) were high, while beef (15.2, 17.9 g), eggs (50.6, 49.2 g), fish (27.5, 30.6 g), milk (24.2, 27.0 g) and nuts and seeds (18.2, 19.7 g) were low for children ages 4–8 and 9–13 years, respectively. In conclusion, while the frequency of meals suggests a healthy pattern, the top foods could not provide adequate nutrient (especially micronutrient) intake, which is key to the development of the target population.     

Temperature and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus strains from Nigerian groundnuts

The ability of four strains of Aspergillus parasiticus (IMI 301,001) and two strains of Aspergillus flavus (IMI 300,998) to produce aflatoxins on Nigerian groundnuts under varying conditions of temperature was studied. While all the A. parasiticus strains produced the four major aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2), only aflatoxin B1, and B2 were produced by the A. flavus strains used. The optimum temperature for aflatoxin production by both the fungal species was 30 degrees C with no toxin production at 10 degrees C.     

Aflibercept more effectively weans patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration off therapy compared with bevacizumab

BACKGROUNDStudies assessing the efficacy of therapies for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) have demonstrated that aflibercept may have a longer treatment interval than its less-expensive alternative, bevacizumab. However, whether this benefit justifies the additional cost of aflibercept remains under debate. We have recently reported that a treat-and-extend-pause/monitor approach can be used to successfully wean 31% of patients with nvAMD off anti-VEGF therapy. Here, we examined whether the choice of therapy influences the outcomes of this approach.METHODSIn this retrospective analysis, 122 eyes of 106 patients with nvAMD underwent 3 consecutive monthly injections with either aflibercept (n = 70) or bevacizumab (n = 52), followed by a treat-and-extend protocol, in which the decision to extend the interval between treatments was based on visual acuity, clinical exam, and the presence or absence of fluid on optical coherence tomography. Eyes that remained stable 12 weeks from their prior treatment were given a 6-week trial of holding further treatment, followed by quarterly monitoring. Treatment was resumed for worsening vision, clinical exam, or optical coherence tomography findings.RESULTSAt the end of 1 year, eyes receiving bevacizumab had similar vision but required more injections (8.7 ± 0.3 treatments vs. 7.2 ± 0.3 treatments) compared with eyes receiving aflibercept. However, eyes treated with aflibercept were almost 3 times more likely to be weaned off treatment (43% vs. 15%) compared with eyes treated with bevacizumab at the end of 1 year.CONCLUSIONThese observations expose an advantage of aflibercept over bevacizumab and have important clinical implications for the selection of therapy for patients with nvAMD.FUNDINGThis work was supported by the National Eye Institute, NIH grants R01EY029750 and R01EY025705, Research to Prevent Blindness, the Alcon Young Investigator Award from the Alcon Research Institute, and the Branna and Irving Sisenwein Professorship in Ophthalmology.     

The purification and activities of an alkaline protease of Aspergillus clavatus from Nigerian poultry feeds

Optimal growth and extracellular protease production by Aspergillus clavatus Des. was recorded at 30 degrees C and between days 5 and 7 of the 8-day incubation period. Purification of this enzyme was achieved by a combination of ultrafiltration, alcoholic precipitation and fractionation on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex-G.200. A single peak of an alkaline protease was subsequently obtained with a 9-fold increase in specific activity and a final recovery value of 26.2%. The enzyme had optimal activity at 37 degrees C and a pH of 7.8. The enzyme did not degrade leucine amide, hippurylphenylalanine and hippurylarginine indicating lack of exo-protease activity. However, endo-protease activity led to a rapid hydrolysis of gelatin with optimal activity at 40 degrees C and pH 7.8. The high incidence of A. clavatus on Nigerian poultry feeds vis-a-vis the potential health risks posed to farm animals is discussed.