Pasting Characteristics,Baking and Sensory Qualities of Cakes from Blends of Cassava and Wheat Flours

Wheat flour was replaced with cassava flour (30 to 100%) to produce cake. Composition and pasting properties of the flours and their composite flour blends were determined. Baking and sensory qualities of the resulting cake samples were evaluated. Protein starch and fiber contents of the cassava and wheat flours were 1.5; 71.50; 1.94% and 10.9; 69.89; 2.81% respectively, which significantly influenced their pasting and baking characteristics and also reflected in their composite blends. Peak, holding, breakdown and final viscosities of the blends ranges from 90.1 to 121.1; 51.6 to 82.7; 38.21 to 42.62; and 93.4 to 125.8 Rapid Visco Unit (RVU) respectively. Specific volume decreased from 1.49 to 1.18 ml/g. Cake of comparable qualities with that obtained from wheat were obtained within 40% substitution level.     

Perception of Nigerian Consumers on the Culinary,Social, and Health Attributes of Pepper Soup

This study evaluated the perception of consumers on the culinary, social, and health attributes of pepper soup. A structured questionnaire was used to identified reasons for taking pepper soup, the preferred type of pepper soup, social environment for the consumption of pepper soup, beverage accompaniment preferred with pepper soup, and types of food preferred as accompaniment with pepper soup. It also evaluated the perception about the claimed health benefits of the constituents of pepper soup. The survey indicated that pepper soup was mostly a weekly and occasional diet taken by respondents for enjoyment (68.3%) and relaxation (55.8%). About 90.2, 85.9, 90.2, and 92% of the respondents preferred catfish, goat meat, chicken, and cow tail, respectively, as the flesh components in their pepper soup. The preferred color, texture, and flavor was either light or dark brown, viscous or light, and peppery and spicy. Hot and warm pepper soup was preferred by 97% and 65.8% of the respondents, respectively. The respondents (66.3 and 79%) preferred to take their pepper soup with beer and wine, while 75.9 and 90.7% of respondents that have preference for non-alcoholic beverage as accompaniment preferred carbonated beverages and juices or mineral water, respectively. The majority of respondents (60.5 ± 8.52%) disagreed significantly (p > 0.05) that pepper soup possessed most of the health benefits associated with herbs, spices, and other constituents of pepper soup, implying that pepper soup may not be consumed for its perceived medicinal value.     

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Capacity in Referral Hospitals in Nigeria: Understanding the Global Health Disparity in Resuscitation Medicine

Introduction

Little is known about the state of resuscitation services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Nigeria, Africa's most populous country. We sought to assess the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) care in referral hospitals across Nigeria to better inform capacity-building initiatives.

Development and validation of the mental health professionals’ attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS scale (MHP-PLHIV-AS)

ABSTRACT

This study focused on the creation and validation of an instrument to measure mental health professionals’ attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS. Rasch analyses (Rash, 1960, 1980) provided evidence to support a twodimensional (societal and personal dimensions) measurement of this attitude construct.     

Antimalarial, hematological, and antioxidant effects of methanolic extract of Terminalia avicennioides in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice

Terminalia avicennioides Guill. & Perr. (Combretaceae) is used traditionally to treat malaria in Nigeria. To establish its efficacy, methanolic extract of T. avicennioides bark was investigated for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei (NK-65) in mice. Twenty-five mice in five groups were used for this study. Group 1 was uninfected normal control. Twenty mice infected with P. berghei were grouped as untreated negative control (group 2), 5 mg/kg b.w. p.o. artesunate-treated positive control (group 3), and 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w. p.o. T. avicennioides-treated infected mice (groups 4 and 5, respectively). Four-day suppressive effects on P. berghei and hematological and oxidative statuses of the mice were assessed. Suppression of parasitemia by artesunate and methanolic extract of T. avicennioides (at 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w.) after 1 day of treatment was 10, 18, and 11 % respectively; at day 5, the level of suppression was 77, 82, and 84 % respectively. P. berghei infection decreased hemoglobin, red blood cell, and lymphocyte counts and increased neutrophil count; artesunate and medicinal plant treatment restored these parameters to normal control levels. Also, artesunate and medicinal plant treatment of infected mice significantly (p?<?0.05) increased serum and liver superoxide dismutase activities and significantly (p?<?0.05) reduced serum malondialdehyde concentration compared to untreated infected mice. The antimalarial effect of T. avicennioides is comparable to that of artesunate. The restoration of oxidative and hematological statuses, to normal values by T. avicennioides, may provide better protection against the malaria severity and complications.     

Rapid Discharge to Home After Total Knee Arthroplasty Is Safe in Eligible Medicare Patients

Background

This study was aimed at assessing the risk of readmission for Medicare patients discharged home within a day of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) compared to those discharged on day 2 or beyond in a community medical center.