Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a novel gastro retentive oral floating in situ gelling system for controlled release of Meloxicam. Meloxicam is an NSAID that inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) synthesis and has analgesic and antipyretic effects. Methods: Four polymer based floating in situ gelling systems of Meloxicam were prepared by dissolving varying concentrations of different ingredients including sodium alginate, HPMC K100M, calcium carbonate, sodium citrate. The prepared gels were characterized for solution viscosity, pH, gelling capacity, floating lag time, floating duration and in-vitro release study. Results: The formulations possessed satisfactory pH value ranging from 7.25±0.09 to 8.12±0.49. All the formulations showed instant gelation maintaining integrity for at least 12 h. Maximum drug release was shown by formulations of batch G1 (94.38%). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that a stomach specific in-situ gel of Meloxicam could be prepared using the floating mechanism to increase the residence time of the drug in the stomach and improve bioavailability and thus improve patient compliance.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of urinary tract infections among pregnant women receving antenatal care in two primary health care centres in Karu Nasarawa State. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in two primary health care centres in Karu Nasarawa State between March-August, 2015. Methodology: A total of 150 pregnant women were enrolled for this study. Mid stream urine sample was collected from each pregnant woman, analysed and cultured on cystein lactose electrolyte deficient (CLED) medium. Results: The results revealed that the incidence of UTI in this study population was 62.67% and 94 bacterial isolates were identified based on colonial morphology, microscopic characteristics, and biochemical tests. The most predominant bacterium was Escherichia coli (22.97%). This was

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Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis affects millions of women every year and in most developing countries such as Nigeria, vulvovaginal candidiasis is still received with little attention since it is considered to be a trivial disease.  Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of Candida species from cases of vulvovaginitis in women using contraceptives in four selected states of North Central Nigeria. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in four selected states of North Central Nigeria and the Department of Microbiology, Federal University Lafia between the months of January to November 2018. Study Design: A cross-sectional study design was utilized. Material and Methods: One thousand six hundred samples of high vaginal swabs were collected in four States of North Central Nigeria. Four hundred samples were collected from women using contraceptive device in each state. Two high vaginal swabs were collected. Germ tube test, direct examination and lactophenol cotton blue examination was carried out. The high vaginal swabs was streaked on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA), and subsequently isolates from SDA were streaked on CHROM agar and incubated aerobically at 37ºC. Results: Five species of Candida were isolated from 710 women with vulvovaginal candidiasis.  Candida albicans was the most frequent isolate which accounted for 43.23% of the species isolated. The prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis across the four selected states in the North Central zone is 44.37%.  The prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis in relation to age in the study area shows that the lowest prevalence (32.67%) of candidiasis infection was recorded among women below 20 years. The distribution of contraceptive usage reveals that the use of injectables was the most predominant contraceptive method used in the study area. The cross tabulated results at 95% confidence interval showed a statistically strong significance at 0.001 level for demographic characteristics which include age, marital status, and educational status in the study area. A significant difference at 0.294, 0.351 was recorded for diabetes and HIV status respectively. Conclusion: The high prevalence rate of vulvovaginal candidiasis in this study poses a great threat to women’s reproductive health, hence the need for continuous epidemiological surveys among women in Nigeria.

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