Microbiological hazards associated with agricultural utilization of urban polluted river water

Vegetable and fruits crops grown under irrigation with polluted urban river water were investigated for their bacteriological qualities and health risks. The bacterial isolates were predominated with members of the Enterobacteriaceae including pathogens. Other genera included Bacillus , Staphylococcus , Streptococcus and Pseudomonas . The faecal coliforms counts recorded from the samples including the river water exceeded the standards of 1000/100 ml. Washing and disinfection significantly reduced their microbial loads. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed the isolates to be multiply resistant, exhibiting resistance patterns in combinations of three to four antibiotics. The public health risks and suggestions towards ameliorating the same in agricultural use of polluted water was highlighted.     

Sedative and anticonvulsant activities of the aqueous root extract of Sanseviera liberica Gerome & Labroy (Agavaceae)

The central nervous system (CNS) depressant and anticonvulsant activities of the aqueous root extract of Sanseviera liberica (ASL) were investigated on various animal models including pentobarbitone sleeping time and hole-board exploratory behaviour for sedation tests, and strychnine, picrotoxin, bicuculline and pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions in mice. ASL (100-400mg/kg, p.o.), like chlorpromazine HCl (1mg/kg, i.m.), produced a dose-dependent prolongation of pentobarbitone sleeping time and suppression of exploratory behaviour. ASL (100 and 200mg/kg) produced dose-dependent and significant (P<0.05) increases in onset to clonic and tonic convulsions, and at 400mg/kg, showed complete protection against seizures induced by strychnine, picrotoxin and bicuculline, but not with pentylenetetrazole. ASL up to 10 g/kg, p.o. did not produce death, but i.p. treatment produced mortalities with LD(50) of 668.3+/-47.6 mg/kg. Preliminary phytochemical investigations of ASL revealed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, saponins, reducing sugars and oils. The results indicate that ASL has sedative and anticonvulsant activities, therefore, justifying its use in traditional African medicine.     

What can we learn about skin of color in dermatopathology?

As the US population becomes increasingly diverse, more patients of color seek dermatologic care and often have concerns that are unique to their skin color. Therefore, it is critically important that the knowledge gap in skin of color dermatology be urgently addressed. In addition to addressing the clinical gap in recognizing dermatologic disease in patients of color, the role of dermatopathology in bridging this gap remains unaddressed. Given the impact that skin color can have on the presentation and subsequent management of dermatologic diseases, understanding the current knowledge of the unique structural and histologic characteristics in skin of color may help give us insight on the role skin color should play in histopathologic diagnosis. In this paper, we bring insights into the role dermatopathology plays in addressing our knowledge of cutaneous disease in patients with skin of color. After we highlight issues to consider, we can begin to identify gaps in knowledge that still exist within dermatopathology that need to be addressed to ensure patients of all backgrounds receive equitable dermatologic care.     

Bacteriological water assessment of an urban river in Nigeria

The Asa River in Ilorin, Nigeria, which is subject to varied human abuse at its urban fringe areas, was investigated for its pollution status over a period of 2 years. Physical observations including sources of pollution were noted. The degree of faecal pollution was estimated using microbial indicators. Total heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from 4.5 to 8.5 × 10⁶ ml^‐1 with higher counts occurring during rainy seasons. The total and faecal coliforms ranged from 1.6 X 10⁴ to 1.9 × 10⁷MPN index 100 ml^‐1 were obtained with higher counts being recovered during dry seasons. Between 62 and 92% of the total coliforms were of faecal origin at various locations. It is concluded that for some kilometres the river, especially during the dry season, is simply an offensive and unhealthy drain. The Asa River and its catchment were therefore identified as a high risk environment for humans.     

Pre-induction cervical ripening: transcervical foley catheter versus intravaginal misoprostol.

The object of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the intravaginal Misoprostol and transcervical Foley catheters as pre-induction cervical ripening agents, to estimate the proportion of patients achieving vaginal delivery and to compare the complications of labour and foetal outcome between the two groups. The study was a prospective, randomised study of pregnant women, with singleton pregnancies who presented for antenatal care and delivery at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. Ninety-nine patients were invited to participate and ninety-six (96) agreed. No patient withdrew from the study. The patients were assigned by means of computer-generated random numbers to receive transcervical Foley catheters (Size 16F, with 30 ml balloon capacity) or 50 microg intravaginal Misoprostol (Cytotec tablet, Searle & Co., Chicago). Fifty (50) patients received intravaginal Misoprostol and Forty-six (46) received Transcervical Foley catheters. The proportions of nulliparous, primiparous and multiparous patients were 52, 20 and 28% in the misoprostol group and 43.5, 26.1 and 30.4%, respectively, in the Foley catheter group. The time to achieve a favourable cervical status was significantly shorter in the Misoprostol group, with 98.0% of the subjects attaining Bishop score > or = 6 within 6-12 hours of insertion of the study agent, in contrast to 69.0% of the subjects in the Foley catheters group (P<0.001). Thirteen (26.6%) and three (6.5%) patients in the Misoprostol and Foley catheters groups, respectively, went into labour while undergoing cervical ripening and all had uneventful vaginal deliveries (P<0.05). The induction-delivery interval did not differ significantly between the groups. The incidence of caesarean delivery was 6.0% in the Misoprostol group compared with 2.2% in the Foley catheter group (P=0.62). Instrumental vaginal delivery rates were similar in both groups. Overall, the mode of delivery did not differ significantly between the groups. The number of neonates with 1-minute Apgar score <7 did not differ significantly in both groups and no neonate had 5-minute Apgar score <7. Meconium stained liquor was noticed in 5 (Misoprostol) vs 2 (Foley catheters) patients in labour. None of the neonates had any features suggestive of meconium aspiration. Labour complications were mainly precipitate labour {2 (Misoprostol) vs 1 (Foley catheters) } and 1 patient with transient tachysystole (> or =6 contractions in 10 minutes for two consecutive 10-minute periods) in the Misoprostol group. Hyperstimulation was not noticed in any of the patients in either arm of the study groups. Intravaginal Misoprostol is as effective a pre-induction cervical ripening agent as transcervical Foley catheters, with added advantages of shorter duration of cervical ripening, reduced oxytocin requirement for induction of labour and greater acceptability to patients. The incidence of caesarean sections, other labour complications and the foetal outcome were similar with both methods.     

Clinical and demographic risk factors associated with chronic suppurative otitis media

BACKGROUND: The incidence of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is high worldwide but increasing occurrence of complications appear peculiar to West Africa. However, knowledge of associated risk factors is sparse, we report the sociodemographic risk factors of CSOM with the aim of control of the disease and complications; and possible preventive strategies. METHOD: This is a survey of children with CSOM in five sites spread in two suburban cities in two states in Nigeria. Questionnaire was administered on the informants followed by examination of the children. RESULT: Of the 189 children, 114 (60%) had developed ear suppuration before 6 months of age, the number of attacks within the previous 18 months ranged between 2-12 with average of 7. Sociodemographic risk factors included low socioeconomic class in 153 (81%), 136 (72%) live in congested houses with more than 10 people and 79 (42%) belonged to families with more than 5 children. Indoor-cooking and infant daycare attendance were 117 (62%) while supine bottlefeeding was 115 (61%) and 34 (18%) of subjects had smoking father. The clinical risk factors were upper respiratory tract infection (URI) 85 (45%), allergy 53 (28%), adenoid 54 (28%) and malnutrition 65 (34%). The univariate analysis revealed that low social class (OR=7.33, CI=4.18-12.83, P=0.0001), malnutrition (OR=3.57, CI=1.88-6.76, P=0.00001), bottlefeeding (OR=2.93, CI=1.63-5.28, P=0.0001), indoor-cooking (OR=1.35, CI=0.88-2.10, P=0.161) and high number of people in a household (OR=0.59, CI=0.34-0.98, P=0.04) are significant in development of OM; while multivariate logistic regression analysis showed malnutrition (OR=3.48, CI=1.633-7.425, P=0.001), low social status (OR=7.74, CI=4.15-14.43, P=0.0001) and indoor-cooking (OR=2.34, CI=1.18-4.66, P=0.014), second table. Parental smoking, daycare attendance, allergy, adenoiditis/adenoidal hypertrophy and upper respiratory tract infection were not found significant. CONCLUSION: Low socioeconomic class, malnutrition, congestion from high number of children in the household and bottlefeeding constitute significant risk factor. The early onset of disease (<6 months) may suggest a prenatal predisposition. We need further research for the understanding of the biologic effect of these factors while this remains a database for prevention and control of disease.     

Acute Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Aspilia Africana C.D. Adams on Some Haematological Parameters in Rats

Several medicinal plants have been documented for their haematological effects either at low or high concentration but very little is known about Aspilia africana. The aim of the study was to investigate the acute effects of aqueous leaf extract of Aspilia africana at different concentrations on some haematological parameters in rats. Following 14 days of oral administration of aqueous extract of A. africana, Haematocrit (HCT), Haemoglobin concentration (HB), Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Red Blood Cell Count (RBC Count), Total White Blood Cell Count (Total WBC Count), Absolute Neutrophils count (NEUT#), Absolute Lymphocytes count (LYM#), Absolute Eosinophils Count (EOSIN#) and Absolute Monocytes (MONO#) were evaluated in twenty (20) male Wistar albino rats. The rats weighed 174±20g, and were randomly assigned into 4 groups viz: Group 1, Control; Group 2, 250mg/Kg/d aqueous extract; Group 3, 500mg/Kg/d aqueous extract; and Group 4, 750mg/Kg/d aqueous extract. HCT, HB, MCHC, RBC Count, Total WBC Count, NEUT#, LYM#, EOSIN# and MONO# were significantly increased (P<0.001) in 500mg/Kg/d of A. africana extract (61.13±1.65%, 13.5±1.29g/dl, 23.33±0.0.02g/dl, 3.68±0.02 X 10¹²Cells/l, 2.33±0.02 X 10⁹Cells/l, 1.32±0.04 X 10⁹Cells/l, 1.43±0.05 X 10⁹Cells/l, 0.47±0.02 X 10⁹Cells/l and 0.47±0.04 X 10⁹Cells/l, respectively) when compared to the Control (51.13±0.85%, 9.56±0.43g/dl, 19.22±0.19g/dl, 2.69±0.01 X 10¹²Cells/l, 1.79±0.01 X 10⁹Cells/l, 0.80±0.00 X 10⁹Cells/l, 0.83±0.00 X 10⁹Cells/l, 0.18±0.00 X 10⁹Cells/l and 0.24±0.00 X 10⁹Cells/l, respectively) which received no extract at all. The 500mg/Kg of A. africana extract proved to be the most effective, while the 750mg/Kg proved to be the least effective in comparison with the control. The results of this study further strengthened the earlier works on the medicinal benefits of Aspilia africana and its virtue as a good pharmacological source of haematopoiesis.