The method of magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been validated and applied to the determination of renal metabolic rate in vivo. Using an indwelling detector coil, 31P NMR spectra from one kidney of anesthetized rats were quantified. The concentration of ATP was the same as that determined enzymatically, but both ADP and Pi were substantially lower. Only 25% of renal Pi and virtually none of the ADP were detected by NMR. The remainder is assumed to be bound to proteins. These concentrations of metabolites contributed to a significantly increased phosphorylation potential, which in turn should increase the free energy of hydrolysis of ATP. Saturation transfer, a non-destructive magnetic technique for the measurement of chemical exchange, was readily able to detect synthesis of ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. The rate of ATP synthesis determined was comparable to that determined in parallel studies of renal oxygen consumption. An ATP:O ratio of approximately 2 was found, indicating that fatty acid is the preferred fuel of respiration of the rat kidney in vivo.

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The increase in human populations together with their daily activities continues to have great influence on the quality of borehole water in Nigeria. In the current study, the major source of drinking water within Arkilla which is the one of the most growing community in Wamakko local government area of Sokoto state, were analyzed bacteriologically to ascertain their portability. A total of three water samples were collected from available boreholes within the major sites of Arkilla area namely; Arkilla layout, Arkilla federal low cost and Arkilla state low cost. They were analyzed for the total bacterial, coliform and faecal coliform counts using the standard plate count and most probable number (MPN) assays. Obtained results were compared with (WHO) standards for drinking water sources. The mean total bacterial count ranged from 5.4 ×10 4 to 3.7 ×10 6 cells/ ml, whereas, the total coliform counts of the water samples ranged from 12-16 MPN/100 ml. The faecal coliform count ranged from 0-1 MPN/100 ml. General bacterial genera encountered were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. and Enterobacter spp. The bacterial load recovered from the studied borehole water samples were above the WHO standard for bacterial loads, and coliform content. Therefore, current results suggest that some of the borehole waters in Wamakko local government area, Nigeria; were not safe for drinking.

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