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usman yusuf

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Papers by usman yusuf

Assessment of Crop Farmers Indigenous Knowledge on the Use of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Sep 21, 2023

Rural dwellers play a critical role in farming for ensuring food security. However, this indigeno... more Rural dwellers play a critical role in farming for ensuring food security. However, this indigenous people and local communities' dwell and live in harsh natural environment and have had to cope with extreme weather and adapt to environmental change for centuries in order to survive (Yieching et al., 2011). They have done this using long standing traditions practices or traditional knowledge (TK) relating to adaptive ecosystem management and sustainable use of natural resources (Krystyna et al., 2011). It is essential to note that farmers' knowledge on the use of indigenous climate change adaptation strategies is of paramount importance to the nature and type of crops produce in a locality (Nwaiwu, 2014). Indigenous peoples' knowledge focuses on elements of significance for local livelihoods, security and well-being, and as a result, it is

Spectroscopic Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Synthesized Schiff Bases

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Dec 1, 2020

Community Factors and Recidivism in Nigeria: A Study of Kuje Correctional Center Abuja

International Journal of Scientific Research in Humanities, Legal Studies, and International Relations

The study examined Community factors and recidivism in Nigeria: A study of kuje correctional cent... more The study examined Community factors and recidivism in Nigeria: A study of kuje correctional center Abuja. The study hard achieved specific objectives which looked at the impact of community based factor such factors could be explain as poverty, unemployment, ghetto area, poor educational background and lack of proper policies and programmes established by the government or any agency have triggered recidivism, the study to assessed the functionality and rehabilitative facilities in the effective programmes in Kuje correctional center. The study highlighted the causes of recidivism among inmates in Kuje Correctional Centre. to examine the inmates’ perception of the basic infrastructural facilities in Kuje Correctional Centre. The study additionally, introduced social survey research design was adopted and questionnaire instrument of data collection was used, 200 questionnaire were administered to inmates in Kuje correctional center, the questions were obtained and answers were provi...

Challenges and Prospects of Environmental Compliance and Monitoring in Borno State, Nigeria

Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues (IJSEI)

The continuous misguided use of the environment and its resources has caused several challenges w... more The continuous misguided use of the environment and its resources has caused several challenges which continue to grow in size and complexity day by day, threatening man’s survival on earth. To tackle environmental issues caused by anthropogenic activities, the government enacted laws at national and international levels aimed at preserving, conserving, and protecting the environment. This paper seeks to assess the challenges and prospects of compliance with environmental laws, policies, and regulations in Borno State, Nigeria. A questionnaire was designed and administered to government environmental law enforcement establishments (NESREA and BOSEPA), cooperate bodies, and civil societies. 152 questionnaires were retrieved and used for the study. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented in tables and charts. The study reveals a low level of compliance with environmental regulations in the study area. Individuals and cooperative bodies com...

The Imperatives for Community Policing in Nigeria

Community policing-a relatively recent addition to law enforcement- has become everyone's rhe... more Community policing-a relatively recent addition to law enforcement- has become everyone's rhetorical solution for policing problems in an international arena. As an agenda for policing reform, it has received a lot of global attention in a series of studies that stretch from organizational reforms to theories of modeling and implementation strategies. Therefore, this examines the some of the benefits that can be derived while subscribing to the community policing philosophy in the quest to enforce law and order and protect the lives and properties of people in a society. The study utilizes secondary sources of data throughout and it is recommended that both the police and the public should jettison or discard the pre-conceived notion of enmity and rivalry that exist between them, they should cultivate every spirit of togetherness and see themselves as partners in the course of protection of lives and properties in the society.

Causes and Effects of Corruption in Nigeria

In recent times the spate of uncontrolled incidences of corrupt practices in the Nigeria nationst... more In recent times the spate of uncontrolled incidences of corrupt practices in the Nigeria nationstate has assumed threatening dimension that if the malaise is left unchecked, it may be the beginning of the end of a nation-state that its founders toiled assiduously to build. This paper examines the phenomenon of corruption in Nigeria, its various causes as well as some of the negative effects it has on the various spheres (especially economic) of the Nigerian society. The study utilizes secondary sources of data throughout and it is recommended, among other things, that the leaders in Nigeria should do everything possible shun every corrupt tendencies, as this will provide a template for others to follow. For the leaders are vital instruments that set the motion either positive or negative tendencies in the society, therefore, should always provide their followers with the opportunity modeled a positive behavior.

Crime Victims and Criminal Justice Criminal Administration in Nigeria

Victims of crime pertinently form an integral part of the subject matter of criminology. Neverthe... more Victims of crime pertinently form an integral part of the subject matter of criminology. Nevertheless, they have really never been accorded that due recognition. This paper therefore, examines the treatment of crime victims in the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria. The paper utilizes secondary data and it was discovered that victims of crime do not only suffer from the direct impact of crime but also suffer mistreatment and neglect within the criminal justice system in the hands of the police and courts; in the process of arrest, investigation and prosecution of offenders. The paper recommends, among other things, that crime victims participate actively, not passively, in the adjudication of their cases. For this will give them sense of belonging and reduce their level of frustration.

Water Quality Assessment of Some Selected Hand Dug Wells and a Borehole in North Eastern Parts of Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria

Journal of environment and earth science, 2016

Water samples were taken from six hand dug wells and a borehole for physico-chemical and microbia... more Water samples were taken from six hand dug wells and a borehole for physico-chemical and microbial analysis to ascertain its quality, type and suitability for domestic, livestock and irrigation purposes. The ranges of results of the physico-chemical parameters are: temperature (28-31.5)oC, Conductivity (170-650)µs/cm, turbidity (1.0-90.8)NTU, and pH(7.0-8.5). Other chemical parameters include: cations - Ca2+(25.6 – 72.0)mg/l , Na+(23.1 – 75.87)mg/l, K+(0.14 – 78.3)mg/l, Mg2+(1.46 – 20.75)mg/l, Fe2+(0.0 – 1.1)mg/l, Cu2+(0.0 – 0.49)mg/l, Zn2+(0.00 – 1.74)mg/l, Pb2+(0.00 – 0.001)mg/l, Cr6+(0.00 – 0.02)mg/l and anions – HCO3-(54.0 – 140.0)mg/l, Cl-(32.5 – 114.96)mg/l, F-(0.23 – 0.77)mg/l, CO32-(32.4 – 84.0)mg/l, SO42-(10.31 – 121.0)mg/l, NO3-(1.08 – 75.7)mg/l, NO2-(0.013 – 0.69)mg/l. Data values analyzed from the results obtained indicate the water to be Ca-HCO3, K-HCO3, Mg-HCO3 and Na-Cl water type containing high concentrations of some major, minor and trace cations and anions whi...

Preliminary Experience with Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation for Children with Sickle Cell Disease and Stroke

Blood, 2005

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been shown to be curative for approximately 83% of sy... more Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been shown to be curative for approximately 83% of symptomatic children with sickle cell disease who have undergone the procedure. Despite these encouraging results, only 15% of children with symptoms that might merit consideration for transplantation have an available, unaffected HLA-matched sibling donor, severely limiting this therapeutic option. To address this problem, we developed a protocol for children with SCD and stroke using reduced-intensity conditioning and CD34-selected peripheral blood stem cells from haploidentical parental donors. We now report our preliminary experience using this approach in three children with SCD and stroke. After a chemotherapy-only conditioning regimen of fludarabine 150–200 mg/m2, thiotepa 10 mg/kg, i.v. busulfan targeted to a steady state concentration of 900 ng/ml, and OKT3, patients received an average of 27.2 x 106 CD34+cells/kg and 1.1 x 104 CD3+ cells/kg. Two patients required additional immun...

CD133+ Hematopoietic Cells Successfully Reconstitute Hematopoiesis Following Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation

Blood, 2004

CD133 is a unique antigen found on hematopoietic precursor cells, with a limited expression on no... more CD133 is a unique antigen found on hematopoietic precursor cells, with a limited expression on non-hematopoietic cells. These features make it an attractive marker for obtaining tumor-free hematopoietic grafts. We conducted a prospective clinical trial for patients with solid tumors and lymphomas who required autologous HSCT. 11 children (6 male, 5 female) had CD133+ peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) collected for subsequent autologous HSCT. The median age was 12.4 yrs (range, 2.2–26). Diagnosis included Hodgkin lymphoma (1 stable disease, 2 PR), neuroblastoma (2 PR), NHL (2PR), Ewing sarcoma (1 stable disease), CNS PNET (1 PR), and desmoplastic small round cell tumor (1 PR). All had received priming chemotherapy with growth factor support. PBSC were collected in 1 or 2 procedures when the absolute CD34+ count was ≥ 40/ul. A stem cell product was cryopreserved as a backup. The PBSC product was processed on the CliniMACS device with positive selection methodology using the CD133 ant...

Cidofovir Is Safe and Effective in the Treatment of Adenoviral Infection in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Blood, 2004

Adenovirus (ADV) infections are increasingly recognized as significant cause of morbidity and mor... more Adenovirus (ADV) infections are increasingly recognized as significant cause of morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of effective treatment are important in preventing often fatal disseminated ADV disease. We report our experience with using cidofovir (CDV) for the treatment of adenovirus infection in 57 HSCT patients, median age 8 years (range 0.5–26). Fifty-four patients received allogeneic HSCT, 35 of whom were T-cell depleted with 3 patients receiving autologous marrow. Blood was tested weekly for ADV by quantitative real-time PCR, with viral culture performed on urine, stool and throat swabs. Antiviral therapy was initiated immediately upon detection of ADV by PCR, culture or tissue histopathology. Cidofovir was given at 5mg/kg once weekly for 2 weeks, then every 2 weeks untill 3 negative PCR or cultures were documented. ADV was first detected at a median of 53 days (range 6–319 days) after HSCT. The...

Reduced-Intensity Conditioning (RIC) in Haploidentical Transplantation

Blood, 2004

With the introduction of the concept of alloreactive Natural Killer (NK) cells, haploidentical tr... more With the introduction of the concept of alloreactive Natural Killer (NK) cells, haploidentical transplantations are gaining increasing interest in the treatment of malignant diseases. While it has been shown in patients that alloreactive NK cells can exert an effective Graft-versus-Leukemia (GvL) effect, data in murine haploidentical transplantation models suggest that alloreactive NK cells also facilitate engraftment and reduce the risk of Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD). From these findings, we hypothesized that haploidentcial transplantation using Reduced Intensity Conditioning (RIC) regimens should be feasible in a clinical setting if the graft contains not only stem cells, but also large numbers of NK cells. Therefore, we have established a clinical method which allows the large scale depletion of CD3+ T-lymphocytes from mobilized peripheral haploidentical stem cells (PBSC’s). We have initiated a clinical protocol using this approach in a patient population known to be at high...

$Research paper thumbnail of Mismatched Family Member Donor Transplantation for Patients with Refractory Hematologic Malignancies: Long-Term Followup of a Prospective Clinical Trial$

Mismatched Family Member Donor Transplantation for Patients with Refractory Hematologic Malignancies: Long-Term Followup of a Prospective Clinical Trial

Blood, 2006

Patients with refractory hematologic malignancies and those who relapse after allogeneic hematopo... more Patients with refractory hematologic malignancies and those who relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have a dismal prognosis. Both disease recurrence and regimen-related toxicities contribute to the high mortality in this population. We designed a reduced intensity conditioning regimen using haploidentical donors in an effort to improve overall survival rates, by both decreasing disease recurrence and transplant-related mortality. From 2003 to 2005, we enrolled 25 patients with refractory hematologic malignancies. The median age was 11.9 years (range 2.8 to 26.5); 15 were male. Diagnoses included ALL (n= 9), AML (n= 10), MDS (n=1), NHL (n=3), CML (n=1), and JMML (n= 1). The majority (n=24) had persistent or refractory disease at the time of HSCT; only one was in remission (n= 1). Nine patients had no prior HSCT, 15 had 1 prior HSCT, and 1 had 3 prior HSCT. Donors were fathers (n=16), mothers (n=6), or siblings (n=3). Donor-recipient pairs matched a...

High Dose Defibrotide as Therapy for Pediatric Patients with Veno-Occlusive Disease of the Liver

Blood, 2006

Veno-occlusive disease (VOD), is a life-threatening complication following autologous and allogen... more Veno-occlusive disease (VOD), is a life-threatening complication following autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and certain chemotherapy regimens. Presently, there is no effective treatment for this disorder, with potential therapies resulting in hemorrhage. In adults with VOD, defibrotide, an investigational agent consisting of a single strand polydexoyribonucleotide, has been shown to improve survival rates at doses up to 60 mg/kg/day. Even with this improvement, a significant proportion of patients with VOD still die of multi-system organ failure. However, there is limited published data in pediatric patients and no data on administering doses of defibrotide > 60 mg/kg/day to patients who do not respond at standard dosages. In 2003, we initiated a compassionate use prospective clinical trial studying defibrotide therapy for patients with VOD. All transplant patients had received heparin 100 units/kg/day as a continuous infusion for VOD proph...

A review of the phytochemistry and medicinal activities of the popular African food additive: Parkia biglobosa seed

Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine, 2018

Food additives have been used for many decades, mainly to enhance food aesthetics and taste. Howe... more Food additives have been used for many decades, mainly to enhance food aesthetics and taste. However, considerable research attention has been placed on identifying food additives with additional medicinal benefits. Despite on-going efforts to document food additives with medicinal benefits, including the Food and Drug Administration database, many of such products have not yet been covered. Expanding the coverage of food additives with medicinal benefits could help accelerate drug discovery efforts. Here, we provide an update of the medicinal properties of the fermented seeds of the African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa), an example of less-known food additives. This condiment is commonly used in West and Central Africa. In this review, the chemical composition of P. biglobosa seeds has been highlighted as a cheap, reliable source of vital minerals and vitamins. The medicinal activities of P. biglobosa seeds include antihypertensive, anti-diabetes, wound healing and antioxidant activities. For a natural product to be accepted as a potential drug or supplement for food, its safety is important, hence, the safety concerns about this seed have been highlighted. The seeds can be considered safe as there are no reported side effects of the food additive. The review also discussed the future direction of research on the medicinal and nutritional values of the seeds. Finally, the medicinal activities identified from the seeds could be further explored for drug discovery.

Social Security as a Veritable Tool for Achieving Millennium Development Goals

Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 2015

Social security is rooted in the need for solidarity and risk pooling by the society given that n... more Social security is rooted in the need for solidarity and risk pooling by the society given that no individual can guarantee his or her own security. Every human being is vulnerable to risks and uncertainties with respect to income as a means of life sustenance. To contain these risks, everyone needs some form of social security guaranteed by the family, community and the society as a whole. Such socioeconomic risks and uncertainties in human life form the basis for the need of social security. This paper therefore examines the role of social security in achieving millennium development goals as well the challenges facing social security system in Nigeria. In the course of this work, secondary data were used throughout, and it was recommended, among other things, government should encourage and integrate the informal social security system with the formal system.

Progressive autologous graft-versus-host disease induced by cyclosporin A

Bone marrow transplantation, 1996

The development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow... more The development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for leukemias and lymphomas has been associated with a lower incidence of relapse. This phenomenon is thought to be secondary to the anti-tumor effect of adoptively transferred cells. Cyclosporin A (CsA) therapy is known to cause autologous and syngeneic GVHD in experimental models and humans, and has been used in patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation. It has been the consensus to date that CsA-induced autologous GVHD is generally mild, confined to the skin, self-limiting and non-life-threatening. We report by case of severe and progressive GVHD induced by CsA in a child following autologous bone marrow transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second remission.

CD4+ T-Lymphopenia in HIV negative tuberculous patients at king khalid university hospital in riyadh, saudi arabia

European Journal of Medical Research, 2011

Tuberculosis (Tb) is a chronic infectious disease in which the cellular immunity (specifically CD... more Tuberculosis (Tb) is a chronic infectious disease in which the cellular immunity (specifically CD4+ and CD8 lymphocytes) provides the most important defense in controlling infection. CD4 lymphopenia is a well-defined risk factor for the development of active tuberculosis in patients infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In HIV -negative patients, CD4 and CD8 cell count suppression has been associated with Tb infection. our study was designed to determine the baseline and post-treatment values of CD4 and CD8 in HIV negative patients diagnosed with active Tb in saudi arabian patients. We recruited twentyeight, non-HIV patients with tuberculosis for the study group comprising 16 males and 12 females with either disseminated or localized active Tb infection. Two control groups were selected -one of twentyone matched healthy controls and the second of fortytwo subjects from pool of controls of an ongoing study in same population for normal CD4 and CD8 counts. The baseline pre-treatment CD4 and CD8 counts in the study group were significantly lower than either control group. specifically the mean ± sD of CD4 counts were 556.79 ± 298.81 in the study group vs 1,132.38 ± 259.90 in control group 1 and 1,424.38 ± 870.98 in control group 2 (p 0.000). Likewise the CD8 counts in the study group were 1,136.00 ± 512.06 vs. 1,461.90 ± 367.02 in control group 1 and 1,495.90 ± 565.32 in control group 2 (p 0.000) respectively. after treatment of tuberculosis, the study patients experienced a significant increase in their mean ± sD CD4 and CD8 cell counts, from 556.79 ± 297.81 to 954.29 ±210.90 for CD4 cells (p 0.005) and 1136.00 ± 512.06 to 1,316.54 ± 286.17 for CD8 cells (p 0.002). analysis of study patients with disseminated disease found significantly lower CD4 cells (but not lower CD8 cells) compared to study patients with localized disease, both at baseline and after treatment. The mean ± sD baseline CD4 cells were 247.60±187.80 with disseminated vs 728.56 ± 186.32 for localized disease (p = 0.000) which rose to 842.30 ± 93.55 vs 1016.50 ± 233.51 (p = 0.033) respectively. We conclude that tuberculosis may be associated with CD4 and CD8 lymphopenia even in patients without human immunodeficiency virus infection, there was the tendency of recovery towards normality especially of the CD4 and CD8 counts after treatment, and that disseminated disease is associated specifically with profound CD4 lymphopenia.

Cidofovir for the Treatment of Adenoviral Infection in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients

Transplantation, 2006

Adenovirus (ADV) infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality after hematop... more Adenovirus (ADV) infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The virus is endemic in the general pediatric population and frequently causes severe disease in immunocompromised patients, especially children. We report our experience with cidofovir (CDV) for treatment of ADV infection in 57 HSCT patients, median age 8 years (range 0.5-26). Peripheral blood was prospectively screened weekly on all patients for ADV by quantitative real-time PCR for the first 100 days post-HSCT or longer if clinically indicated. Cultures for viral pathogens were performed from other involved sites. Upon detection of ADV by PCR, culture or tissue histopathology, CDV was given intravenously at 5 mg/kg weekly for 2 consecutive weeks, then every 2 weeks until 3 consecutive ADV-negative samples were documented from all previously invoved sites. The clinical manifestations of ADV infection were: diarrhea (53%), fever (21%), hemorrhagic cystitis (12%), and pneumonitis (11%). Eight patients (14%) presented with disseminated disease. CDV treatment resulted in complete resolution of clinical symptoms in 56 (98%) patients in whom the virus became undetectable by all methods. One patient died due to ADV pneumonitis. No cases of dose-limiting nephrotoxicity were observed. CONCLUSIONS. Cidofovir appeared safe and effective for the treatment of ADV infection in this predominantly pediatric HSCT population. Vigilant surveillance and early treatment with CDV can prevent the poor outcomes associated with ADV disease. A larger prospective study is needed to further determine the role of CDV in the treatment of ADV after HSCT.

Survival with combined modality therapy after intracerebral recurrence of pleuropulmonary blastoma

Medical and Pediatric Oncology, 1998

We present and discuss the successful treatment of pleuropulmonary blastoma metastatic to the bra... more We present and discuss the successful treatment of pleuropulmonary blastoma metastatic to the brain using a multimodality regimen with surgery, high-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A 3-year-old boy referred to our institution with bilateral pulmonary cysts was diagnosed with pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB). Initial treatment included surgery and multiagent chemotherapy with vincristine, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and doxorubicin. One year after the completion of therapy, his PPB recurred as an intracerebral metastasis, and required further treatment with a multimodality salvage regimen. The child was successfully treated with a subtotal surgical resection, followed by high-dose cyclophosphamide, and radiation therapy. He is now disease-free 24 months later. Intracerebral metastases of PPB have been a uniformly fatal complication of this tumor. Postsurgical chemotherapy and radiation therapy appear to have contributed to the prolonged survival and potential for cure in our patient. The use of this multimodality regimen may be warranted in other patients with recurrent PPB metastatic to the brain.

Assessment of Crop Farmers Indigenous Knowledge on the Use of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Sep 21, 2023

Rural dwellers play a critical role in farming for ensuring food security. However, this indigeno... more Rural dwellers play a critical role in farming for ensuring food security. However, this indigenous people and local communities' dwell and live in harsh natural environment and have had to cope with extreme weather and adapt to environmental change for centuries in order to survive (Yieching et al., 2011). They have done this using long standing traditions practices or traditional knowledge (TK) relating to adaptive ecosystem management and sustainable use of natural resources (Krystyna et al., 2011). It is essential to note that farmers' knowledge on the use of indigenous climate change adaptation strategies is of paramount importance to the nature and type of crops produce in a locality (Nwaiwu, 2014). Indigenous peoples' knowledge focuses on elements of significance for local livelihoods, security and well-being, and as a result, it is

Spectroscopic Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Synthesized Schiff Bases

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Dec 1, 2020

Community Factors and Recidivism in Nigeria: A Study of Kuje Correctional Center Abuja

International Journal of Scientific Research in Humanities, Legal Studies, and International Relations

The study examined Community factors and recidivism in Nigeria: A study of kuje correctional cent... more The study examined Community factors and recidivism in Nigeria: A study of kuje correctional center Abuja. The study hard achieved specific objectives which looked at the impact of community based factor such factors could be explain as poverty, unemployment, ghetto area, poor educational background and lack of proper policies and programmes established by the government or any agency have triggered recidivism, the study to assessed the functionality and rehabilitative facilities in the effective programmes in Kuje correctional center. The study highlighted the causes of recidivism among inmates in Kuje Correctional Centre. to examine the inmates’ perception of the basic infrastructural facilities in Kuje Correctional Centre. The study additionally, introduced social survey research design was adopted and questionnaire instrument of data collection was used, 200 questionnaire were administered to inmates in Kuje correctional center, the questions were obtained and answers were provi...

Challenges and Prospects of Environmental Compliance and Monitoring in Borno State, Nigeria

Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues (IJSEI)

The continuous misguided use of the environment and its resources has caused several challenges w... more The continuous misguided use of the environment and its resources has caused several challenges which continue to grow in size and complexity day by day, threatening man’s survival on earth. To tackle environmental issues caused by anthropogenic activities, the government enacted laws at national and international levels aimed at preserving, conserving, and protecting the environment. This paper seeks to assess the challenges and prospects of compliance with environmental laws, policies, and regulations in Borno State, Nigeria. A questionnaire was designed and administered to government environmental law enforcement establishments (NESREA and BOSEPA), cooperate bodies, and civil societies. 152 questionnaires were retrieved and used for the study. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented in tables and charts. The study reveals a low level of compliance with environmental regulations in the study area. Individuals and cooperative bodies com...

The Imperatives for Community Policing in Nigeria

Community policing-a relatively recent addition to law enforcement- has become everyone's rhe... more Community policing-a relatively recent addition to law enforcement- has become everyone's rhetorical solution for policing problems in an international arena. As an agenda for policing reform, it has received a lot of global attention in a series of studies that stretch from organizational reforms to theories of modeling and implementation strategies. Therefore, this examines the some of the benefits that can be derived while subscribing to the community policing philosophy in the quest to enforce law and order and protect the lives and properties of people in a society. The study utilizes secondary sources of data throughout and it is recommended that both the police and the public should jettison or discard the pre-conceived notion of enmity and rivalry that exist between them, they should cultivate every spirit of togetherness and see themselves as partners in the course of protection of lives and properties in the society.

Causes and Effects of Corruption in Nigeria

In recent times the spate of uncontrolled incidences of corrupt practices in the Nigeria nationst... more In recent times the spate of uncontrolled incidences of corrupt practices in the Nigeria nationstate has assumed threatening dimension that if the malaise is left unchecked, it may be the beginning of the end of a nation-state that its founders toiled assiduously to build. This paper examines the phenomenon of corruption in Nigeria, its various causes as well as some of the negative effects it has on the various spheres (especially economic) of the Nigerian society. The study utilizes secondary sources of data throughout and it is recommended, among other things, that the leaders in Nigeria should do everything possible shun every corrupt tendencies, as this will provide a template for others to follow. For the leaders are vital instruments that set the motion either positive or negative tendencies in the society, therefore, should always provide their followers with the opportunity modeled a positive behavior.

Crime Victims and Criminal Justice Criminal Administration in Nigeria

Victims of crime pertinently form an integral part of the subject matter of criminology. Neverthe... more Victims of crime pertinently form an integral part of the subject matter of criminology. Nevertheless, they have really never been accorded that due recognition. This paper therefore, examines the treatment of crime victims in the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria. The paper utilizes secondary data and it was discovered that victims of crime do not only suffer from the direct impact of crime but also suffer mistreatment and neglect within the criminal justice system in the hands of the police and courts; in the process of arrest, investigation and prosecution of offenders. The paper recommends, among other things, that crime victims participate actively, not passively, in the adjudication of their cases. For this will give them sense of belonging and reduce their level of frustration.

Water Quality Assessment of Some Selected Hand Dug Wells and a Borehole in North Eastern Parts of Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria

Journal of environment and earth science, 2016

Water samples were taken from six hand dug wells and a borehole for physico-chemical and microbia... more Water samples were taken from six hand dug wells and a borehole for physico-chemical and microbial analysis to ascertain its quality, type and suitability for domestic, livestock and irrigation purposes. The ranges of results of the physico-chemical parameters are: temperature (28-31.5)oC, Conductivity (170-650)µs/cm, turbidity (1.0-90.8)NTU, and pH(7.0-8.5). Other chemical parameters include: cations - Ca2+(25.6 – 72.0)mg/l , Na+(23.1 – 75.87)mg/l, K+(0.14 – 78.3)mg/l, Mg2+(1.46 – 20.75)mg/l, Fe2+(0.0 – 1.1)mg/l, Cu2+(0.0 – 0.49)mg/l, Zn2+(0.00 – 1.74)mg/l, Pb2+(0.00 – 0.001)mg/l, Cr6+(0.00 – 0.02)mg/l and anions – HCO3-(54.0 – 140.0)mg/l, Cl-(32.5 – 114.96)mg/l, F-(0.23 – 0.77)mg/l, CO32-(32.4 – 84.0)mg/l, SO42-(10.31 – 121.0)mg/l, NO3-(1.08 – 75.7)mg/l, NO2-(0.013 – 0.69)mg/l. Data values analyzed from the results obtained indicate the water to be Ca-HCO3, K-HCO3, Mg-HCO3 and Na-Cl water type containing high concentrations of some major, minor and trace cations and anions whi...

Preliminary Experience with Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation for Children with Sickle Cell Disease and Stroke

Blood, 2005

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been shown to be curative for approximately 83% of sy... more Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been shown to be curative for approximately 83% of symptomatic children with sickle cell disease who have undergone the procedure. Despite these encouraging results, only 15% of children with symptoms that might merit consideration for transplantation have an available, unaffected HLA-matched sibling donor, severely limiting this therapeutic option. To address this problem, we developed a protocol for children with SCD and stroke using reduced-intensity conditioning and CD34-selected peripheral blood stem cells from haploidentical parental donors. We now report our preliminary experience using this approach in three children with SCD and stroke. After a chemotherapy-only conditioning regimen of fludarabine 150–200 mg/m2, thiotepa 10 mg/kg, i.v. busulfan targeted to a steady state concentration of 900 ng/ml, and OKT3, patients received an average of 27.2 x 106 CD34+cells/kg and 1.1 x 104 CD3+ cells/kg. Two patients required additional immun...

CD133+ Hematopoietic Cells Successfully Reconstitute Hematopoiesis Following Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation

Blood, 2004

CD133 is a unique antigen found on hematopoietic precursor cells, with a limited expression on no... more CD133 is a unique antigen found on hematopoietic precursor cells, with a limited expression on non-hematopoietic cells. These features make it an attractive marker for obtaining tumor-free hematopoietic grafts. We conducted a prospective clinical trial for patients with solid tumors and lymphomas who required autologous HSCT. 11 children (6 male, 5 female) had CD133+ peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) collected for subsequent autologous HSCT. The median age was 12.4 yrs (range, 2.2–26). Diagnosis included Hodgkin lymphoma (1 stable disease, 2 PR), neuroblastoma (2 PR), NHL (2PR), Ewing sarcoma (1 stable disease), CNS PNET (1 PR), and desmoplastic small round cell tumor (1 PR). All had received priming chemotherapy with growth factor support. PBSC were collected in 1 or 2 procedures when the absolute CD34+ count was ≥ 40/ul. A stem cell product was cryopreserved as a backup. The PBSC product was processed on the CliniMACS device with positive selection methodology using the CD133 ant...

Cidofovir Is Safe and Effective in the Treatment of Adenoviral Infection in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Blood, 2004

Adenovirus (ADV) infections are increasingly recognized as significant cause of morbidity and mor... more Adenovirus (ADV) infections are increasingly recognized as significant cause of morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of effective treatment are important in preventing often fatal disseminated ADV disease. We report our experience with using cidofovir (CDV) for the treatment of adenovirus infection in 57 HSCT patients, median age 8 years (range 0.5–26). Fifty-four patients received allogeneic HSCT, 35 of whom were T-cell depleted with 3 patients receiving autologous marrow. Blood was tested weekly for ADV by quantitative real-time PCR, with viral culture performed on urine, stool and throat swabs. Antiviral therapy was initiated immediately upon detection of ADV by PCR, culture or tissue histopathology. Cidofovir was given at 5mg/kg once weekly for 2 weeks, then every 2 weeks untill 3 negative PCR or cultures were documented. ADV was first detected at a median of 53 days (range 6–319 days) after HSCT. The...

Reduced-Intensity Conditioning (RIC) in Haploidentical Transplantation

Blood, 2004

With the introduction of the concept of alloreactive Natural Killer (NK) cells, haploidentical tr... more With the introduction of the concept of alloreactive Natural Killer (NK) cells, haploidentical transplantations are gaining increasing interest in the treatment of malignant diseases. While it has been shown in patients that alloreactive NK cells can exert an effective Graft-versus-Leukemia (GvL) effect, data in murine haploidentical transplantation models suggest that alloreactive NK cells also facilitate engraftment and reduce the risk of Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD). From these findings, we hypothesized that haploidentcial transplantation using Reduced Intensity Conditioning (RIC) regimens should be feasible in a clinical setting if the graft contains not only stem cells, but also large numbers of NK cells. Therefore, we have established a clinical method which allows the large scale depletion of CD3+ T-lymphocytes from mobilized peripheral haploidentical stem cells (PBSC’s). We have initiated a clinical protocol using this approach in a patient population known to be at high...

$Research paper thumbnail of Mismatched Family Member Donor Transplantation for Patients with Refractory Hematologic Malignancies: Long-Term Followup of a Prospective Clinical Trial$

Mismatched Family Member Donor Transplantation for Patients with Refractory Hematologic Malignancies: Long-Term Followup of a Prospective Clinical Trial

Blood, 2006

Patients with refractory hematologic malignancies and those who relapse after allogeneic hematopo... more Patients with refractory hematologic malignancies and those who relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have a dismal prognosis. Both disease recurrence and regimen-related toxicities contribute to the high mortality in this population. We designed a reduced intensity conditioning regimen using haploidentical donors in an effort to improve overall survival rates, by both decreasing disease recurrence and transplant-related mortality. From 2003 to 2005, we enrolled 25 patients with refractory hematologic malignancies. The median age was 11.9 years (range 2.8 to 26.5); 15 were male. Diagnoses included ALL (n= 9), AML (n= 10), MDS (n=1), NHL (n=3), CML (n=1), and JMML (n= 1). The majority (n=24) had persistent or refractory disease at the time of HSCT; only one was in remission (n= 1). Nine patients had no prior HSCT, 15 had 1 prior HSCT, and 1 had 3 prior HSCT. Donors were fathers (n=16), mothers (n=6), or siblings (n=3). Donor-recipient pairs matched a...

High Dose Defibrotide as Therapy for Pediatric Patients with Veno-Occlusive Disease of the Liver

Blood, 2006

Veno-occlusive disease (VOD), is a life-threatening complication following autologous and allogen... more Veno-occlusive disease (VOD), is a life-threatening complication following autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and certain chemotherapy regimens. Presently, there is no effective treatment for this disorder, with potential therapies resulting in hemorrhage. In adults with VOD, defibrotide, an investigational agent consisting of a single strand polydexoyribonucleotide, has been shown to improve survival rates at doses up to 60 mg/kg/day. Even with this improvement, a significant proportion of patients with VOD still die of multi-system organ failure. However, there is limited published data in pediatric patients and no data on administering doses of defibrotide > 60 mg/kg/day to patients who do not respond at standard dosages. In 2003, we initiated a compassionate use prospective clinical trial studying defibrotide therapy for patients with VOD. All transplant patients had received heparin 100 units/kg/day as a continuous infusion for VOD proph...

A review of the phytochemistry and medicinal activities of the popular African food additive: Parkia biglobosa seed

Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine, 2018

Food additives have been used for many decades, mainly to enhance food aesthetics and taste. Howe... more Food additives have been used for many decades, mainly to enhance food aesthetics and taste. However, considerable research attention has been placed on identifying food additives with additional medicinal benefits. Despite on-going efforts to document food additives with medicinal benefits, including the Food and Drug Administration database, many of such products have not yet been covered. Expanding the coverage of food additives with medicinal benefits could help accelerate drug discovery efforts. Here, we provide an update of the medicinal properties of the fermented seeds of the African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa), an example of less-known food additives. This condiment is commonly used in West and Central Africa. In this review, the chemical composition of P. biglobosa seeds has been highlighted as a cheap, reliable source of vital minerals and vitamins. The medicinal activities of P. biglobosa seeds include antihypertensive, anti-diabetes, wound healing and antioxidant activities. For a natural product to be accepted as a potential drug or supplement for food, its safety is important, hence, the safety concerns about this seed have been highlighted. The seeds can be considered safe as there are no reported side effects of the food additive. The review also discussed the future direction of research on the medicinal and nutritional values of the seeds. Finally, the medicinal activities identified from the seeds could be further explored for drug discovery.

Social Security as a Veritable Tool for Achieving Millennium Development Goals

Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 2015

Social security is rooted in the need for solidarity and risk pooling by the society given that n... more Social security is rooted in the need for solidarity and risk pooling by the society given that no individual can guarantee his or her own security. Every human being is vulnerable to risks and uncertainties with respect to income as a means of life sustenance. To contain these risks, everyone needs some form of social security guaranteed by the family, community and the society as a whole. Such socioeconomic risks and uncertainties in human life form the basis for the need of social security. This paper therefore examines the role of social security in achieving millennium development goals as well the challenges facing social security system in Nigeria. In the course of this work, secondary data were used throughout, and it was recommended, among other things, government should encourage and integrate the informal social security system with the formal system.

Progressive autologous graft-versus-host disease induced by cyclosporin A

Bone marrow transplantation, 1996

The development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow... more The development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for leukemias and lymphomas has been associated with a lower incidence of relapse. This phenomenon is thought to be secondary to the anti-tumor effect of adoptively transferred cells. Cyclosporin A (CsA) therapy is known to cause autologous and syngeneic GVHD in experimental models and humans, and has been used in patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation. It has been the consensus to date that CsA-induced autologous GVHD is generally mild, confined to the skin, self-limiting and non-life-threatening. We report by case of severe and progressive GVHD induced by CsA in a child following autologous bone marrow transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second remission.

CD4+ T-Lymphopenia in HIV negative tuberculous patients at king khalid university hospital in riyadh, saudi arabia

European Journal of Medical Research, 2011

Tuberculosis (Tb) is a chronic infectious disease in which the cellular immunity (specifically CD... more Tuberculosis (Tb) is a chronic infectious disease in which the cellular immunity (specifically CD4+ and CD8 lymphocytes) provides the most important defense in controlling infection. CD4 lymphopenia is a well-defined risk factor for the development of active tuberculosis in patients infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In HIV -negative patients, CD4 and CD8 cell count suppression has been associated with Tb infection. our study was designed to determine the baseline and post-treatment values of CD4 and CD8 in HIV negative patients diagnosed with active Tb in saudi arabian patients. We recruited twentyeight, non-HIV patients with tuberculosis for the study group comprising 16 males and 12 females with either disseminated or localized active Tb infection. Two control groups were selected -one of twentyone matched healthy controls and the second of fortytwo subjects from pool of controls of an ongoing study in same population for normal CD4 and CD8 counts. The baseline pre-treatment CD4 and CD8 counts in the study group were significantly lower than either control group. specifically the mean ± sD of CD4 counts were 556.79 ± 298.81 in the study group vs 1,132.38 ± 259.90 in control group 1 and 1,424.38 ± 870.98 in control group 2 (p 0.000). Likewise the CD8 counts in the study group were 1,136.00 ± 512.06 vs. 1,461.90 ± 367.02 in control group 1 and 1,495.90 ± 565.32 in control group 2 (p 0.000) respectively. after treatment of tuberculosis, the study patients experienced a significant increase in their mean ± sD CD4 and CD8 cell counts, from 556.79 ± 297.81 to 954.29 ±210.90 for CD4 cells (p 0.005) and 1136.00 ± 512.06 to 1,316.54 ± 286.17 for CD8 cells (p 0.002). analysis of study patients with disseminated disease found significantly lower CD4 cells (but not lower CD8 cells) compared to study patients with localized disease, both at baseline and after treatment. The mean ± sD baseline CD4 cells were 247.60±187.80 with disseminated vs 728.56 ± 186.32 for localized disease (p = 0.000) which rose to 842.30 ± 93.55 vs 1016.50 ± 233.51 (p = 0.033) respectively. We conclude that tuberculosis may be associated with CD4 and CD8 lymphopenia even in patients without human immunodeficiency virus infection, there was the tendency of recovery towards normality especially of the CD4 and CD8 counts after treatment, and that disseminated disease is associated specifically with profound CD4 lymphopenia.

Cidofovir for the Treatment of Adenoviral Infection in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients

Transplantation, 2006

Adenovirus (ADV) infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality after hematop... more Adenovirus (ADV) infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The virus is endemic in the general pediatric population and frequently causes severe disease in immunocompromised patients, especially children. We report our experience with cidofovir (CDV) for treatment of ADV infection in 57 HSCT patients, median age 8 years (range 0.5-26). Peripheral blood was prospectively screened weekly on all patients for ADV by quantitative real-time PCR for the first 100 days post-HSCT or longer if clinically indicated. Cultures for viral pathogens were performed from other involved sites. Upon detection of ADV by PCR, culture or tissue histopathology, CDV was given intravenously at 5 mg/kg weekly for 2 consecutive weeks, then every 2 weeks until 3 consecutive ADV-negative samples were documented from all previously invoved sites. The clinical manifestations of ADV infection were: diarrhea (53%), fever (21%), hemorrhagic cystitis (12%), and pneumonitis (11%). Eight patients (14%) presented with disseminated disease. CDV treatment resulted in complete resolution of clinical symptoms in 56 (98%) patients in whom the virus became undetectable by all methods. One patient died due to ADV pneumonitis. No cases of dose-limiting nephrotoxicity were observed. CONCLUSIONS. Cidofovir appeared safe and effective for the treatment of ADV infection in this predominantly pediatric HSCT population. Vigilant surveillance and early treatment with CDV can prevent the poor outcomes associated with ADV disease. A larger prospective study is needed to further determine the role of CDV in the treatment of ADV after HSCT.

Survival with combined modality therapy after intracerebral recurrence of pleuropulmonary blastoma

Medical and Pediatric Oncology, 1998

We present and discuss the successful treatment of pleuropulmonary blastoma metastatic to the bra... more We present and discuss the successful treatment of pleuropulmonary blastoma metastatic to the brain using a multimodality regimen with surgery, high-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A 3-year-old boy referred to our institution with bilateral pulmonary cysts was diagnosed with pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB). Initial treatment included surgery and multiagent chemotherapy with vincristine, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and doxorubicin. One year after the completion of therapy, his PPB recurred as an intracerebral metastasis, and required further treatment with a multimodality salvage regimen. The child was successfully treated with a subtotal surgical resection, followed by high-dose cyclophosphamide, and radiation therapy. He is now disease-free 24 months later. Intracerebral metastases of PPB have been a uniformly fatal complication of this tumor. Postsurgical chemotherapy and radiation therapy appear to have contributed to the prolonged survival and potential for cure in our patient. The use of this multimodality regimen may be warranted in other patients with recurrent PPB metastatic to the brain.