Necrotizing enterocolitis. Controlled study of 3 years' experience in a neonatal intensive care unit

During the 3 years 1972-74, 17 infants were treated for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in the Neonatal Unit at University College Hospital. The incidence of the illness was 0.2% of live births in the hospital and 2.7% of those referred from elsewhere. The mean birthweight of the affected infants was 1832 g (range 878-3850 g) and mean gestational age 33 weeks (range 28-40 weeks). The illness was diagnosed at a mean age of 16 days (range 3-33 days). 14 infants (82%) survived. One infant developed NEC because of a volvulus, and another because of an apparently abnormal arterial supply to a segment of bowel. Each of the remaining 15 infants was matched with 3 control infants in order to see whether any factors predisposing to the development of NEC could be identified. Birth asphysia, the use of umbilical catheters, the length of time that these catheters were in place, and complications of catheterization were all significantly more frequent in the infants who developed NEC than in the controls. These findings support the view that hypoxia and ischaemia of the gut wall are important in the pathogenesis of NEC.     

Resveratrol derivatives from Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Endl. display cytotoxicity and selectivity against several human cancer cell lines

Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Endl. (Burseraceae) is a medicinal plant widely used in Nigerian ethnomedicine. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the stem bark extract of C. africana and isolated cytotoxic compounds was investigated. Three resveratrol derivatives: (E)‐resveratrol 3‐O‐rutinoside ( 1 ), 5‐methoxy‐(E)‐resveratrol 3‐O‐rutinoside ( 2 ), and pinostilbene ( 3 ), together with 3‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxybenzoic acid ( 4 ) were isolated from the methanol fraction of C. africana. Their structures were determined by extensive analysis of their HREIMS and NMR spectra. The cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds against four human carcinoma cells was determined using the MTT assay. Compound 1 displayed the highest antiproliferative effect on the cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 16.80, 21.74, 17.89, and 17.44 μM, against MCF7, A549, PC3, and HepG2 human cancer cell lines, respectively. In addition, compounds 1 – 3 showed low toxicity against normal human prostate cell line, with selectivity indices greater than five across the carcinoma cells, indicating that the compounds possess potential in the development of low‐toxicity chemotherapeutic agents. These results support the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of cancer.     

Noma (cancrum oris): questions and answers

Noma (cancrum oris) is an infectious disease which destroys the oro-facial tissues and other neighboring structures in its fulminating course. It affects predominantly children aged 2-16 years in sub-Saharan Africa where the estimated frequency in some communities may vary from one to seven cases per 1000 children. The key risk factors are poverty, malnutrition, poor oral hygiene, deplorable environmental sanitation, close residential proximity to livestock, and infectious diseases, particularly measles. Malnutrition acts synergistically with endemic infections in promoting an immunodeficient state, and noma results from the interaction of general and local factors with a weakened immune system as the common denominator. Acute necrotizing gingivitis (ANG) is considered the antecedent lesion. Current studies suggest that evolution of ANG to noma requires infection by a consortium of microorganisms with Fusobacterium necrophorum and Prevotella intermedia as the suspected key players. Without appropriate treatment, mortality rate is 70-90%. Survivors suffer the two-fold affliction of oro-facial disfigurement and functional impairment. Reconstructive surgery of the resulting deformity is time-consuming and financially prohibitive for the victims who are poor.     

Microbiological understandings and mysteries of noma (cancrum oris)

The microbiologic history of noma was reviewed. Studies have associated the disease process with large numbers of fusiform bacilli and spirochetal organisms. In order to study the microbiology of the staging and infection periods of noma 62 Nigerian children, aged 3-14 years, 22 children had acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) and were also malnourished, 20 exhibited no acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis but were malnourished and 20 were free of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis and in good nutritional state) were evaluated for the presence of viruses and oral microorganisms. The ANUG cases in the malnourished children had a higher incidence of Herpesviridae, the main virus being detected was cytomegalovirus. There were more anaerobic microorganisms recovered, with Prevotella intermedia as the predominant isolate, in the malnourished children as compared to the healthy children. A study of the predominant microflora in active sites of noma lesions was carried out in eight noma patients, 3-15 years of age, in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria. Fusobacterium necrophorum was recovered from 87.5% of the noma lesions. Oral microorganisms isolated included Prevotella intermedia, alpha-hemolytic streptococci and Actinomyces spp. which were isolated from 75.0, 50.0 and 37.5% of the patients, respectively. Peptostreptococcus micros, Veillonella parvula, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas spp. were each recovered from one lesion. All strains were observed to be sensitive to all of the antibiotics tested with the exception of one strain of P. intermedia which showed resistance to penicillin. The pathogenic mechanisms of F. necrophorum as a trigger organism were discussed. The isolation from human noma lesions of F. necrophorum, a pathogen primarily associated with animal diseases, may have important etiologic and animal transmission implications.     

鱼对母体、胎儿及新生儿营养的潜在益处

育龄妇女的膳食中包含来自鱼类的人体必需脂肪酸对健康有潜在影响。充足的膳食脂肪量对于健康是不可缺少的，在妊娠和哺乳期之前及期间尤为重要。人体必需脂肪酸对婴儿的正常生长发育极为重要。在妊娠之前和期间而不是在孩子出生后强化育龄妇女（及其家庭）膳食的观念，要比任何其他措施更可能带来持续的健康影响。然而，证明这种干预活动的证据自相矛盾。本对现有献进行了广泛评述，并查明需要在非洲以玉米为基础膳食的人群中进一步进行应用研究。     

Biochemical and Toxicological Studies of Aqueous Extract of Syzigium Aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry (Myrtaceae) in Rodents

The effects of long-term administration of boiled aqueous extract of Syzigium aromaticum (SYZ), commonly known as clove (which has been locally employed for treating gastrointestinal tract diseases and also used as food spices), on some biochemical indices, such as body weight, liver functions and blood parameters were studied in adult albino rats of both sexes. Selected doses of 300 and 700 mg kg⁻¹ were given orally through cannular to groups of animals for a period of 90 days, while the control group received distilled water throughout the duration of study via the same route. Blood samples collected after therapy and assayed for activities of some liver enzymes recorded a significant (p<0.05) and prominent effect on ALP and AST. Measurement of haematological parameters also revealed significant effects (p<0.05; p<0.001) on Hb, RBC (p<0.05), PCV (p<0.001), platelets (p<0.001) and granulocytes (p<0.001). An insignificant reduction was recorded for total WBC. The histopathological study conducted was in consonance with the results of the biochemical investigations that the aqueous extract of SYZ even at moderate doses, significantly affects body organs, their enzymes as well as the various functions. LD₅₀ for both intraperitoneal and oral routes of SYZ were 263 and 2500 mg kg⁻¹ respectively. The present work has revealed the toxicity of sub chronic administration of SYZ, which suggests that its prolonged usage must be avoided.     

Antimalarial Ethnobotany: In Vitro. Antiplasmodial Activity of Seven Plants Identified in the Nigerian Middle Belt

Abstract

Seven methanol extracts of seven plants from seven plant families were screened for antimalarial properties. The plants were identified and selected from Gboko and Kastina-Ala local government areas in the Tivland ethnobotany in the Middle Belt Zone of Nigeria. Methanol plant extracts were evaluated for in vitro. antimalarial properties using the lactate dehydrogenase technique, with a multiresistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum. K1. Quantification of activity was by estimation of the concentration of extracts that inhibited 50% growth of parasite (IC₅₀) in µg/ml. Of the seven plants screened, Erythrina senegalensis. DC (Leguminosae), Pericopsis elata. Harms (Papilionaceae), and Bridelia micrantha. Benth (Fabaceae) had IC₅₀ values of 99.7, 124.8, and 158.7?µg/ml, respectively. Nauclea latifolia. SM (Rubiaceae) extract exhibited the least activity in the assay with an IC₅₀ value of 478.9?µg/ml.