Effectiveness and Safety Assessment of Mist Tonica, a Herbal Haematinic

Anaemia is a widespread public health problem, and in Ghana it is the fourth leading cause of hospital admissions and the second factor contributing to death. Mist Tonica, an herbal haematinic produced by the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM), Ghana, was assessed for its effectiveness and safety in humans after Ethics Committee approval. Clinically established anaemic-patients aged, 13 years and above, with haemoglobin levels less than 11.5 g/dl and 13.5g/dl for females and males respectively were treated with Mist Tonica, 8.96 g/ 40 mls three times daily for two weeks . The mean haemoglobin rise per week caused by Mist Tonica was 1.92 (0.76) g/dl, range (1.66 – 2.55) g/dl/week and over 88 % of the patients on Mist Tonica had their appetite for food improved. Haematological profile, liver and kidney functions were not adversely affected by Mist Tonica. Results of the study suggest that Mist Tonica is an effective and safe herbal haematinic.     

Microcystin-LR degradation utilizing a novel effective indigenous bacterial community YFMCD1 from Lake Taihu

Microcystins (MC) produced by species of cyanobacteria including Microcystis, Anabaena, and Aphanizomenon are a group of monocyclic hepatotoxins posing serious threat to public health. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is the most toxic and frequently encountered microcystin variant in the environment, and thus removal of this toxin using bacteria was shown to be a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective method that avoids utilization of chemicals that may produce potentially harmful by-products. The aim of this study was to determine whether a novel indigenous bacterial community designated YFMCD1 was effective in destroying MC. In addition, the influence of environmental factors such as temperature, MC concentration, and pH was examined on the effectiveness of YFMCD1 to degrade MC-LR. MC-degradation products were identified by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with an ultra-high resolution LTQ Orbitrap Velos Pro ETD mass spectrometry equipped with electrospray ionization interface (HPLC-ESI-MS). MC-LR underwent maximal degradation at rate of 0.5 µg/ml/hr with YFMCD1 containing Klebsiella sp. termed YFMCD1-1 or Stenotrophomonas sp. termed YFMCD1-2. Moreover, Adda (3-amino-9-methoxy-2, 6, 8-trimethyl-10-phenyldeca-4, 6-dienoic acid) is a constituent within the MC-LR molecule found to be responsible for biological activity expression and critical for MC-induced toxicity, which is also degraded by YFMCD1. The results showed that YFMCD1 effectively degraded MC-LR. The degradation rate was significantly affected by temperature, pH, and MC-LR concentrations. Data indicate that this bacterial community may prove beneficial in bioremediation of lakes containing MC.     

Clinical and Bacteriological Efficacy of Rifampin-Streptomycin Combination for Two Weeks followed by Rifampin and Clarithromycin for Six Weeks for Treatment of Mycobacterium ulcerans Disease

Buruli ulcer, an ulcerating skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans infection, is common in tropical areas of western Africa. We determined the clinical and microbiological responses to administration of rifampin and streptomycin for 2 weeks followed by administration of rifampin and clarithromycin for 6 weeks in 43 patients with small laboratory-confirmed Buruli lesions and monitored for recurrence-free healing. Bacterial load in tissue samples before and after treatment for 6 and 12 weeks was monitored by semiquantitative culture. The success rate was 93%, and there was no recurrence after a 12-month follow-up. Eight percent had a positive culture 4 weeks after antibiotic treatment, but their lesions went on to heal. The findings indicate that rifampin and clarithromycin can replace rifampin and streptomycin for the continuation phase after rifampin and streptomycin administration for 2 weeks without any apparent loss of efficacy.     

Giant nonpancreatic pseudocyst causing acute anuria.

Giant intraabdominal cysts masquerading as ascites are not uncommon. We present a unique case of a giant intraabdominal pseudocyst that resulted in acute abdominal compartment syndrome, leading to anuria and acute renal failure. A 52-year-old woman with known severe cardiac dysfunction presented with generalized edema, marked abdominal distension, and decreased urine output. She was initially presumed to have congestive heart failure with refractory ascites. She became completely anuric. A diagnosis of intraabdominal compartment syndrome from a giant cyst was ultimately made after careful review of her abdominal imaging. Urgent drainage and subsequent marsupialization of the giant pseudocyst resulted in immediate diuresis and a subsequent return to her baseline renal function. As this case illustrates, differentiation of pseudoascites from true ascites may be difficult in a clinical setting or using laboratory studies. A clear differentiation can usually be made using imaging studies, mainly magnetic resonance imaging, computerized axial tomography, or ultrasound. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a nonrenal pseudocyst or cyst leading to acute renal failure from extrinsic compression. Abdominal compartment syndrome needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute renal failure and presumed large-volume ascites.     

Diamond Blackfan anaemia in the UK: clinical and genetic heterogeneity

A detailed family study was undertaken of patients notified to the UK Diamond Blackfan Anaemia (DBA) Registry. RPS19 mutations were detected in 16 of 104 families, including two patients with deletions detected by intragenic loss of heterozygosity of tightly linked polymorphisms. In two further cases, polymorphisms were used to determine the parental allele of origin of RPS19 point mutations. A review of clinical details of patients with mutations and patients in the literature having identical or equivalent mutations revealed evidence for a genotype:phenotype correlation with respect to the prevalence of physical anomalies, and the occurrence of mild or variable haematological severity. Nine of 60 patients had a known family history of DBA. Haematological abnormalities, including raised red cell adenosine deaminase activity, were found in first-degree relatives of 16 of 51 (31%) of patients not previously considered to have familial DBA. Results of both parents and any siblings were normal in only 35 of 60 (58%) of cases, who were therefore assumed to have sporadic de novo DBA. The classical inheritance pattern for DBA is autosomal dominant; however, 12 of 60 families (20%) had more than one affected child despite normal results in both parents. These results have important implications for genetic counselling, and for the selection of potential sibling bone marrow donors.     

Fundamentals and recent progress relating to the fabrication,functionalization and characterization of mesostructured materials using diverse synthetic methodologies

Since 1990 and the invention of the very first generation of ordered mesoporous silica materials, several innovative methodologies have been applied to synthesize, characterize, and modify silica/non-silica mesoporous materials. The growth of the mesoporous materials field has generated significant environmental and economic advantages compared to various other industrial developments. According to the literature, there are several key synthesis approaches and parameters that can affect the structural, textural and morphological characteristics of mesoporous materials. To date, huge attempts have been made to maximize the activities and selectivities of these materials through either the in situ or post-synthesis functionalization of the large interior surface areas and internal mesostructured frameworks in the presence of specific organic/inorganic components. However, the main challenge is to provide good control over the incorporation and distribution of multiple guest components within the mesostructured hosts. Mesostructured materials have received great attention for various applications, such as being used in electronics, medicine, photocatalysis, catalyst supports, catalysis, absorbers, sensors, gas separation, etc. In the current paper, several recent developments have been highlighted and reviewed regarding the fabrication and characterization of siliceous/non-siliceous mesoporous materials via various synthetic approaches. Furthermore, the availability of diverse functionalization methods has been reviewed to provide comprehensive approaches for synthesizing new generations of suitably modified mesoporous materials with superior structural, physicochemical, and textural characteristics.

Since 1990 and the invention of the very first generation of ordered mesoporous silica materials, several innovative methodologies have been applied to synthesize, characterize, and modify silica/non-silica mesoporous materials.