Effects of Lysine Supplementation on Performance Characteristics and Mineral Retention of Broiler Chickens Fed Raw Benne Seed Based Diets

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of raw benne seed (RBS, Sesamum indicum) with or without lysine supplementation on the performance characteristics and mineral retention of broiler chickens. The feeding trial lasted for 56 days. One hundred and forty unsexed day old broiler chicks (Marshall strain) were used for the study. RBS was incorporated into the diets at 15% and 30% levels and supplemented with 0%, 0.25% and 0.5% of lysine, respectively. Average weekly feed intake in birds fed the control diet and 15% RBS based diet supplemented with 0.25 % and 0.5% lysine were not significantly different, but significantly (

Molecular Characterization of Successive Yeasts Strains and their Optimal Invertase Producing Conditions in Fresh Palm Wine (Raphiahookeri) Obtained from Lagos, Nigeria

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is known to produce invertase. However, molecular characterization of successive yeast strains and their optimal invertase producing conditions in Nigerian Raphiahookeri has not been documented. In this study, molecular characterization of successive yeast strains and their optimal invertase producing conditions in fresh palm wine (Raphiahookeri) obtained from Lagos, Nigeria was evaluated. To achieve this, sequencing of 18S rDNA was carried out following DNA extraction from the yeast isolates. Invertase production within 5-day period was also monitored at different conditions for the yeast strains. The physicochemical parameters investigated include pH, optical density, titratable acidity, sugar concentration and alcohol content. Out of the 21isolates obtained, 18 were identified by 18S rDNA to beS. cerevisiae, while 3 were Penicillium chrysogenum, Blumeriagraminissp. Tritici and Fusarium culmorum. Thefungal population density decreased from 1.01 x 107 to 0.9 x 105CFU/ml. The pH and sugar concentration decreased with increase in age of the wine ranging from 6.05-3.33 and 3.70-1.10mg/100ml respectively. The optical density, titratable acidity and alcohol content increased with time and ranged from 0.454-0.904, 0.266-0.412 % and 0.920-5.640 % respectively. All isolates produced invertase optimally at pH 6, 30°C after 48 h incubation with S. cerevisiae CP006433.1 having the highest production (1.745U/ml).The results highlight the effect of fermentation conditions on the survival and invertase production of yeast strains in Nigerian palm wine

Changes in the visceral functions of Plasmodium berghei-infected and-uninfected rats following administration of artemether.

The effects of artemether (12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg per day, i.m.), administered to different groups of Plasmodium berghei‐infected and ‐uninfected adult Wistar rats for 1 week, were investigated. The parameters evaluated were the feeding, drinking and urinating patterns of the rats and these were compared with those of rats that received normal saline. Artemether caused a significant dose‐dependent reduction in food consumption of both P. berghei‐infected and ‐uninfected rats (P < 0.05). Food intake in infected rats was reduced by approximately 7 g/24 h. This reduction in food intake was further reduced during drug treatment with artemether. Artermether also reduced food intake in uninfected rats. The food consumption of rats that received 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg artemether was restored after stopping treatment, in contrast with rats that received 50.0 mg/kg, in which the significant reduction in food consumption persisted 1 week after drug administration. During treatment with artemether, the water intake of infected rats was significantly lower than that of uninfected rats in the 12.5 mg/kg artemether‐treated group, but was significantly higher in infected rats than in uninfected rats dosed with 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg artemether. For all doses of artemether tested, a significant increase in urine output was observed in infected rats during treatment and 1 week after treatment, whereas in uninfected rats a significant increase in urine output was observed only following 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg artemether 1 week after drug administration. The present study confirms the anorexic activity of a high dose of artemether in both P. berghei‐infected and ‐uninfected rats. It also indicates that high doses of the drug could cause impaired renal function in rats and that the significant increase in urine output could also be due to other effects of artemether, namely those on thirst, anti‐diuretic hormone output and the osmotic pressure of the blood

A Constrained Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Model for Upscaling Permeability

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Temiloluwa A. Onimisi would like to acknowledge Petroleum Development Trust Fund Nigeria, for funding this PhD research project. Research Funding Petroleum Development Trust Fund NigeriaPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Changes in some biochemical parameters of kidney functions of Plasmodium berghei infected rats administered with some doses of artemether

This study aimed at determining changes in urine concentrations of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) of Plasmodium berghei infected rats during a week of intramuscular administration of artemether (12.5 to 50.0 mg/kg/day) and one week thereafter. Their concentrations and that of creatinine and urea in the plasma were also determined at the end of the study. The observed changes were related to the effects of artemether on the kidneys of the rats. The urine levels of the two electrolytes decreased significantly during treatment (P< 0.05). One week post-treatment with 12.5 mg/kg of artemether, the urine concentrations of the electrolytes increased to values that were not significantly different from that of day 0. At 25 and 50 mg/kg, their urine concentrations still remained significantly lower than day 0 values (P< 0.05). Plasma concentrations of the electrolytes one week post-treatment increased, but they were only significant at 25 mg/kg for K+. A significant increase in the plasma level of creatinine was observed at all the doses of the drug at one week post-treatment. A dose-dependent degeneration of the renal tissue of all the experimental rats was also observed. We concluded that high doses of artemether caused progressive degeneration of the renal tissue of P. berghei infected rats

Effects of artemether on biochemical markers of liver function in Plasmodium berghei-infected and non-infected rats

This study aimed at determining changes in plasma activities of some enzymes and concentrations of plasma organic constituents which are often used in the assessment of liver functions in uninfected rats (UNR) and Plasmodium berghei infected rats (INR), following a week of intramuscular administration of artemether (12.5 to 50.0 mg/kg/day). The observed changes were related to the effects of artemether on the liver of the rats. At all the doses tested, the plasma concentrations of total and conjugated bilirubin increased significantly in both INR and UNR. A significant decrease in the plasma concentrations of glucose was also observed in UNR. The levels of cholesterol were significantly higher in INR than UNR. Plasma glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activity was significantly increased in both categories of rats, but more significantly in INR. The activity of plasma glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) increased significantly at 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg only in UNR, while a significant increase was observed at 50.0 mg/kg in the INR. Photomicrograph of the liver revealed progressive tissue damage which was more pronounced in INR than UNR. We concluded that high doses of artemether are toxic to the liver of both infected and uninfected rats

Effects of artemether on the plasma and urine concentrations of some electrolytes in rats

This study was carried out to determine the changes in the urine levels of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and calcium (Ca 2+) of rats during a week of intramuscular administration of artemether (12.5 to 50.0 mg/kg/day), another one week thereafter and their concentrations in the plasma at the end of the study. At 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg of artemether, urine Na+ concentration was significantly increased throughout the study (p< 0.05), except on Day 7 (at 12.5 mg/kg) and Day 11 (at 25.0 mg/kg), when it was not significantly different from the control. At 12.5 mg/kg of the drug, urine K+ concentration was significantly increased throughout the study (p< 0.05). Artemether caused no significant changes in urine Ca 2+ concentration in the control rats as well as those that received 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg of artemether. Progressive and significant reductions in the urine concentrations of all the electrolytes at 50.0 mg/kg of artemether were observed. Their concentrations in the plasma were also significantly reduced at this dose of the drug. A dose-dependent degeneration of the renal tissue of all the experimental rats was also observed. We concluded that high doses of artemether caused progressive degeneration of the renal tissue of rats, inability of the damaged kidneys to concentrate urine, which manifested as excessive water loss and electrolyte depletion

Simultaneous Quantification of Lamivudine, Zidovudine and Related Impurities in Fixed Oral Dosage Combination Using RP-HPLC with DAD detection

A simple and fast isocratic Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of Lamivudine, zidovudine and their related impurities in tablets. The method consists of a mobile phase combination of Acetonitrile (HPLC grade) and Buffer (0.0680 g of Potassium Dihydrogen Orthophosphate, 0.3 ml of Triethylamine, pH adjusted to 8.0 with Orthophosphoric acid to a final volume preparation of 100 ml) in the ratio 10:90. Phenomenex Luna 5-µm C18 (2)-250 x 4.6-mm, 5-µm) was used as the stationary phase. The column oven was set to a temperature of 30±1oC. Quantification was achieved with a DAD detector set at 270 nm. Resolution was achieved at a short run time of 25 minutes. Zidovudine related impurity C, Lamivudine, salicylic acid, Zidovudine and Zidovudine related impurity B eluted at 3.749±0.004, 4.862±0.013, 15.332±0.064, 21.201±0.076 and 23.682±0.117 respectively. Relative retention times (RRT) for lamivudine unknown related impurities with respect to Zidovudine were 0.15, 0.17, 0.30 and 0.59. RRT for Zidovudine unknown related impurities with respect to Zidovudine were 0.39 and 0.63.  The method was found to be specific, robust, accurate and precise for the estimation of Zidovudine related impurity C, Lamivudine, salicylic acid, Zidovudine and Zidovudine related impurity B in fixed oral dosage tablets over the concentration ranges of 0.0204 mg/mL-0.0088 mg/mL, 0.0962 mg/mL-0.7699 mg/mL, 0.1929 mg/mL-1.5410 mg/mL and 0.0088 mg/mL-0.024 mg/mL respectively. The Correlation Coefficient (r2) for Zidovudine related impurity C, Lamivudine, salicylic acid, Zidovudine and Zidovudine related impurity B were greater than 0.998. The LOD were found to be between 1.9x10-4 mg/mL to 2.69 x10-4 mg/mL.  The proposed method is precise, specific, accurate and robust for the simultaneous estimation of Zidovudine related impurity C, Lamivudine, salicylic acid, Zidovudine, Zidovudine related impurity B and other related impurities in dosage forms. Keywords: Zidovudine related impurity C, Lamivudine, salicylic acid, Zidovudine, Zidovudine related impurity B, Lamivudine related impurities, Zidovudine related impurities RP-HPLC, Validation.

Bioconversion of Aspergillus niger KM treated rice and wheat bran for experimental rat feed formulation

This study investigated the nutritional value of pre-treated rice and wheat bran wastes as feed formulation in experimental rats. Aspergillus niger KM isolated from decomposing organic matter was tested for cellulase assay. The lignocellulosic agricultural residues (wheat bran and rice bran) were pretreated with ammonia and diluted sulfuric acid after which solid substrate fermentation with Aspergillus niger KM was carried out. Determination of reducing sugar was carried out and the fermented residues were included as components in feed formulation and were fed to different groups of rats for four weeks. The proximate analysis of the feed formulation showed that the NH3 pretreated feeds gave higher protein content of 21.94%, relative to the control or other groups. Growth performances of animals fed with NH3 pretreated wheat bran significantly increased from 158.25 to 201.66 g throughout the feeding periods. Evaluation of the various feeds’ effect on tissue marker enzymes revealed inconsistent alterations relative to the control. Bioconverted wheat or rice bran has nutritive value to support animal growth and could be explored in animal feed preparation