Antibacterial Activities of Selected Fruit Peels against Organisms Associated with Urinary Tract Infection

The use of natural products as anti-infective agents, have given rise to new chemical diversity and are preferred in modern world. Among all these natural sources, plants and its products is more reliable because of its renewability.Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infectious diseases occurring in either the community or healthcare setting. Orange and Plantain peels were used to determine the antibacterialactivities. A measure of 50 grams of powder was filled in the thimble and extracted with 150 ml of ethanol successively up to 48 hours. The solvent extracts were concentrated separately under reduced pressure, 2g of each concentrated solvent extracts weredissolved in 20 ml of 20% dimethyl sulphoxide and used for antibacterial assays using agar well diffusion and broth method. The phytochemical analysis of sweet orange peel shows that carbohydrate, reducing sugars, tannins and flavonoids were present, The zone of inhibition effect of the extracts on selected organism was concentration dependent (25<50<75<100). Higher concentration of extract recordedlarger/wider effect on each test organism.Musa paradisiacalpeel showed no effect on test organism except at 100mg/ml that recorded 4.7±0.47mm against E. coligrowth. The MIC and MBC of both orange peel and plantain peels suggest potency against test organisms.Orange peel has advantage over plantain peel;S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosawere susceptible tothe extract exemptingK. pneumonia, whichshowed no susceptibility to the duo extracts. The peels of Citrus sinensisand Musa paradisiacalexhibited inhibitory activity against certain bacteria, which can be attributed to the presence of certain secondary metabolites. But when compared with standard antibiotics, the ethanoic extracts of the duo was less efficient as there was a smaller size of zone of inhibition against the luxurious growth of tested organism

Suitability of Using Agbarha Clay for Drilling Mud Formulation in Oil and Gas Industry

In this research, a locally sourced clay from Niger-Delta Agbarha clay deposit formation was processed and treated to meet up with API standard specification for drilling fluid. Clay concentrations of 17.5 g, 21.0 g and 24.5 g of the local mud (Agbarha clay) and foreign Bentonite mud was prepared and analyzed using a standard measuring techniques. Laboratory analyses of the Properties of the Sample Mud (Agbarha clay) was compared with that of API Numerical Value Specification before and after beneficiation. The result shows that sample mud Weight, Apparent Viscosity (cp), Plastic Viscosity, Yield Point, Gel Strength (10 sec), Gel Strength (10min) showed values lower or a little short of API minimum numerical value standard while pH, Sand Content and ―n‖ factor give a values that are higher than thatof standard API minimum numerical value after aging for 48 hrs without beneficiation. Therefore, there is a need to beneficiate this local mud sample (Agbarha clay) to meet that of API standard specification. After beneficiation with 5g Hydroxyl Ethyl Cellulose (HEC), the sample mud sand content remains the same; Mud weight, Apparent Viscosity, Plastic Viscosity, Yield Point, Gel Strength(10sec) Gel Strength (10min), ―n‖ factor increased, pH of the mud sample reduced; all to values within API numerical value specification for standard drilling mud. Based on this research, Agbarha clay can therefore be recommended for formulation of drilling mud and can also serve as a substitute to foreign Bentonite mud. This will conserve foreign exchange, generate more employment and also enhance Nigerian local content development in the drilling component of oil and gas industry

Ambiguity in Section136 of the Mental Health Act1983

AIMSANDMETHODTo investigate the interpretation ofSection 136 of the Mental Health Act1983 by Section12+2) approveddoctors and to describe a pathwaythat facilitates early assessment ofpeople detained under Section136.We surveyed a random sample ofSection12+2) approved doctors in theWest Midlands.RESULTSA response rate of 70% was achieved.Approximately 65% believe that itwould be illegal to transfer a personunder Section136 from the policestation to a further place of safety,such as hospital.Thirty-five per centbelieved that this could be donelegally or were unsure.CLINICALIMPLICATIONSAmbiguity still remains about thelegal interpretations of the provi-sions of Section136 of the MentalHealth Act1983, which needs to berectified