Introduction Over six million cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) were reported globally by the second quarter of 2020. The various forms of interventions and measures adopted to control the disease affected people's social and behavioural practices. Aim This study aims to investigate COVID-19 related knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) as well as misconceptions in Katsina state, one of the largest epicentres of the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria. Methods The study is cross-sectional survey of 722 respondents using electronic questionnaire through the WhatsApp media platform. Results One thousand five hundred (1500) questionnaires were sent to the general public with a response rate of 48% (i.e. 722 questionnaires completed and returned). Among the respondents, 60% were men, 45% were 25-39 years of age, 56% held bachelor's degree/equivalent and above and 54% were employed. The study participants correct rate in the knowledge questionnaire was 80% suggesting high knowledge on the disease. A significant correlation (P < 0.05) exists between the average knowledge score of the participants and their level of education (Kendall's tau = 0.16). Overall, most of the participants agreed that the COVID-19 will be successfully controlled (84%) and the Nigerian government will win the fight against the pandemic (71%). Men were more likely than female (P < 0.05) to have recently attended a crowded place. Being more educated (bachelor's degree or equivalent and above vs diploma or equivalent and below) is associated with good COVID-19 related practices. Among the participants, 83% held at least one COVID-19 related misconception with the most frequent being that the virus was created in a laboratory (36%). Participants with lower level of education received and trust COVID-19 related information from local radio and television stations and participants at all levels of education selected that they would trust health unit and health care workers for COVID-19 related information. Conclusion Although there is high COVID-19 related knowledge among the sample, misconceptions are widespread among the participants. These misconceptions have consequences on the short- and long-term control efforts against the disease and hence should be incorporated in targeted campaigns. Health care related personnel should be in the fore front of the campaign.

Vegetable fields in Katsina State are increasingly being loaded with heavy metals through various pollution sources such as agricultural activities mining and traffic. Onion bulb samples from the three senatorial zones that constitute to make up Katsina state in the North West of Nigeria were collected and the concentrations of seven heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe, Zn, Mn and Ni) in all the samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The health risk assessment methods developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) were employed to explore the potential health hazards of heavy metals in the samples on the children and adult population. The highest mean concentration (mg/kg) was observed for Fe, followed by Pb, Zn and Mn. While Cd has the lowest concentration with the heavy metals Cr and Ni being below detection level (BDL). Overall hazard index (Hi) for the heavy metals were within the safety limit. The overall cancer risk to the adults based on pseudo-total metal concentrations exceeded the target value, mainly contributed by Pb.  Mn and Zn were the primary heavy metals posing non-cancer risks while Pb caused the greatest cancer risk. It was concluded that consumption of the onion samples from Katsina State may contribute to the population cancer burden.

Aim: To investigate the effect of Carica papaya seed extract on KBrO3 - induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Renal toxicity was induced by a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of KBrO3. Study Design: Thirty (30) male albino rats were divided into six groups, five rats per group; normal control, KBrO3 control, papaya control and KBrO3 group administered with methanol seed extract of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg body weight for 48 hours. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria, from April 2018 to August 2018. Methodology: Serum urea, creatinine, uric acid and electrolytes were determined using kits from randox laboratories. Furthermore, activities of renal brush border membrane marker enzymes namely γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), maltase (Mal) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and some parameters of oxidative stress including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined in homogenates prepared from renal cortex and medulla of the kidney of rats using colorimetric methods. Results: Administration of KBrO3 significantly (P<0.05) increases the serum levels of urea, creatinine, uric acid and all electrolytes studied in a dose-dependent fashion from 200mg/kg to 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg in that order. Furthermore, the activities of GGT, ALP, Mal and LAP decrease in renal homogenates with KBrO3 administration. Also the activities of CAT, SOD, GPx and level of GSH decreases while the level of MDA significantly (P<0.05) increases however concurrent administration of Carica papaya seed extract prevented all the KBrO3- induced changes in the biochemical parameters studied . Conclusion: It was suggested that methanol seed extract of Carica papaya possess nephroprotective effect against KBrO3 –induced renal toxicity and oxidative stress, and the most effective dose was 600 mg/kg body weight.

This study was conducted in the year 2016 to determine the heavy metal concentrations in whole fish (Clarias gariepinus) samples and water obtained from some selected Dams (Ajiwa, Zobe and Dannakola) in Katsina state Nigeria. The objectives were mainly to detect the presence of heavy metals in whole fish and water from some selected Dams in the study area, compare the concentration of heavy metals in samples from the selected Dams concerning the permissible limits specified by WHO/FAO and USEPA Standards. Eight (8) water samples were collected at 8 random points within approximately 1000 meters on each extremity and median parts of the selected dams. Fish (Clarias gariepinus) was sampled using standard methods (AOAC, 1990). The fish and water samples were collected from Ajiwa, Zobe and Dannakola Dams of Katsina state Nigeria. Nine adult fish samples, three each from Ajiwa Dam, and Dannakola were procured from fishermen. Analysis of the concentration of these heavy metals; Cr, Cd, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn was conducted by the use of AAS (by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry) method. The results showed wide mean concentrations of the heavy metals in the selected dams water; iron recorded the highest level (range 0.4596 μg / g - 2.9510 μg / g) and lead (range 0.0031 μg / g -0.0323 μg / g) recorded the lowest level, for the fish samples the mean concentrations of the same heavy metals showed iron recording the highest level (range 1.8847 μg / g -10.0474 μg / g) and cadmium (0.0130 μg / g -0.0138 μg / g) recording the lowest level. Results from this study indicate that with the exception of the heavy metals Cd, Fe and Pb (from Zobe dam sample) values of  Mn, Pb (Ajiwa and Dannakola dams samples) and Zn in the water samples were generally lower than the USEPA, WHO/FAO maximum permissive limits while Ni was below the detection level (BDL) in all the samples. the results of this study showed that apart from Mn (PI range = 0.02-0.09), Zn (PI range = 0.01-0.03) and Pb for sampled water from Dannakola dam (PI= 0.77) which have no effect on the water quality, all the other heavy metals have pollution indices which suggest slightly, to moderate and strong effect on the selected dams water quality consideration for human and aquatic health. The metal indices also showed that all the heavy metals are at the threshold level (MI > 1) except for the heavy metals Mn and Zn in sampled waters from all the selected dams, Pb for water samples from Ajiwa and Dannakola dams and Cr for Zobe dam water sample. With the exception of the heavy metals Pb, Ni and Cr that were BDL in the fish samples the levels of the heavy metals all fall below the USEPA, WHO/FAO permissible limit for fish. The results from the present study suggests that the selected dams water quality is threatened by heavy metals pollution and may have adverse implication for drinking and aquatic health, in the fish samples the concentration levels of the heavy metals all fall below the USEPA, WHO/FAO permissible limit for fish.  However, the fish’s bio-accumulation factors of the metals suggest that they have high potentials to bio-accumulate some of the heavy metals to high levels and this may have adverse implication for human consumption.

Bioaccumulation of seven heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn) in  Amaranthus leaf cultivated in Katsina state Nigeria were measured using atomic absorption spectrometer. The health risks to the local inhabitants from the consumption of the Amaranthus leaf were evaluated based on the Target Hazard Quotient. The possibility of cancer risks in the Amaranthus (L.) leaf through the intake of carcinogenic heavy metals was estimated using the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk. The target hazard quotient was (THQ)>1, indicating that the Amaranthus leaf cultivated may pose a non-carcinogenic risk for all the studied metals. Hazard index (HI) was low. The incremental cancer risk (ILCR) for Cd  violated the threshold risk limit (>10−4) and ILCR for Pb reached the moderate risk limit (>10−3) in all the studied samples in adults, While in children ILCR for both Pb in samples from Dabai, Daura, Funtua, Matazu and Zango and Cd for all samples have reached the moderate risk limit (>10−3), while the ILCR for Pb in samples from Birchi, Dutsinma, Kafur, Katsina and Malunfashi are beyond the moderate risk level (>10−2). The study suggests that consumption of Amaranthus leaf cultivated in Katsina may contribute to the population cancer burden.