COMPLIANCE OF DOCTORS AND MEDICAL ASSISTANTS TO THE NATIONAL PROTOCOL FOR THE TREATMENT OF MALARIA, WAD MEDANI TOWN, GEZIRA STATE

Across sectional study to assess the compliance of health workers to the national protocol for the treatment of malaria was conducted in Wad Medani town, (Gezira state) central Sudan. The protocol is a set of recommendations for a unified treatment. The main objectives were to assess the training, knowledge. Attitude and Practices (KAP) of the health providers towards the protocol and to determine different regimens used by them. 126 health workers were interviewed and their prescriptions were reviewed. The study revealed that the vast majority of the health workers (79%) were not trained in the protocol guidelines. Although 93.7% were aware about it, and (90.5%) were adherent to the 1st line of the protocol in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria, only 49.2% were adherent to the 2nd line treatment. In case of severe malaria most of the health workers were found to be not adherent to the protocol guideline 82.2%.The vast majority of the health workers believed that the new antimalarial drugs were effective 84.7% but 79.4% thought that it is costy. Out of the 1471 prescriptions (22.1%) were for antimalarial treatment the majority of them were written by Medical Officers. The most common antimalarial used was artemether (51.1%). Regarding the parentral artemether 14.2% was prescribed in smaller dose. However about 81.2% of antimalarial drugs prescription for simple malaria was judged to be adquate and conforming with the protocol

Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings: Comparison between Three Different Building Styles

More than one-third of the electricity generated in the world is being consumed in the residential sector. This study aims to model, simulate, and estimate electrical energy consumption in three different building styles. That is in order to compare and contrast energy consumption categories and their related social and architectural aspects for an unaddressed region that have its particular weather conditions and its special social and environmental aspects. The simulation is done by detailed modeling of the buildings using EnergyPlus. The results demonstrate that water heating systems account for almost one-fifth of the annual energy consumption. Cooling loads were found to be more than 5 times the heating loads. The peak of energy consumption was recorded to be in July, while the lowermost recorded in April and in November. The Apartment style requires the lowest annual energy consumption by an amount of 10 kWh/m2 per person followed by the Duplex house with 13 kWh/m2 per person, while the Single-Story house comes with the highest energy consumption of 18 kWh/m2 per person. These represent local power consumption of 69, 79, and 90 kWh/m2, respectively. On average, the water heating, space cooling, plus interior lights consume about 60% of total energy requirements with a mostly equal share for each, while the equipment has the maximum share of 35% of the total, leaving about 5% for the rest. The results of this study may be used as a reference line in the future for the calculations of energy savings in similar regions

Liquid-Liquid Successive Fractionation of Stem Bark Alcoholic Extract from Acacia polyacantha: GC-MS Analysis and Antibacterial Activities.

Antimicrobial resistance is considered as one of the top problematic issues facing world health system. Fortunately, medicinal plants, considered as ongoing source of antimicrobial agents can resolve this health problem Acacia polyacantha tree (AL-Kakamout) is widely available in Sudan. It is one of the main sources of Gum Arabic and used traditionally for treating many bacterial diseases. This study aimed to analyze the fractions of hydro-ethanol extract of A. polyacantha stem bark obtained by liquid-liquid successive fractionation by GC-MS method and to determine the antibacterial activity of these fractions against two standard bacterial strains of Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeroginosa (ATCC 27853) by well diffusion technique. The powdered A. polyacantha stem bark was extracted by cold maceration using 70% Ethanol and successively fractionated to produce petroleum ether, butanol and aqueous fraction. The butanol fraction in which Cyclolanostanol acetate (28.29%), Dopamine, N,N-dimethyl-, dimethyl ether (21.94%), were dominating, was the most active against both bacterial strains. Petroleum ether fraction which is rich in Lupeol, trifluoroacetate (37.64%) and stigmasterol (13.05%) triterpenoids was found to be more active against P. aeroginosa and with less activity against S.aureus. While the remaining aqueous fraction where hordenine alkaloid (47.21%) and 3-O-Methyl-d-glucose (%30.46) were dominant components showed no activity against S.aureus and with low activity against P. aeroginosa. In conclusion, A.polyacantha bark extract fractions are rich in phytochemical compounds having antibacterial activity and highly recommended to be further investigated as potential antibacterial agents

Effect of Growth Regulators on In Vitro Morphogenic Response of Boscia senegalensis (Pers.) Lam. Poir. Using Mature Zygotic Embryos Explants

The percent study describes the in vitro responses of mature zygotic embryos of Boscia senegalensis to different concentrations (0.0–5.0 mg/L) of 6-benzyladnine (BA), Thidiazuron (TDZ), α-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), and 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) supplemented on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS). The plant growth regulators (PGRs) were considerably affected the morphogenetic responses. BA produced adventitious shoots through two ways: direct organogenesis and auxiliary shoot formation. Both 2, 4-D and TDZ tend to produce callus, whereas NAA improve the development of embryos to seedlings. Maximum number of shoots/explant (14.8 ± 0.6) was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/L BA. 67.0% of excised shoots were rooted either on 1/2 MS medium augmented with or without 0.25 mg/L IBA. The highest number of roots (1.2 ± 0.4) and root length (0.5 ± 0.2 cm) was produced on 0.25 mg/L IBA-containing medium. Regenerated plants were successfully acclimatized and transferred to the green house with 70% survival rate. All the plants appeared morphologically uniform with normal growth pattern. A rapid (30 days), efficient and without subculturing protocol for in vitro regeneration of B. senegalensis was developed

Phytic Acid Anaylsis By Different Bacterial Phytases

Abstract: This study aimed to measure the in vivo (using 70 male Cobb chicks experiments) degradation of the inositol hexaphosphate (IP 6 ) to lower insitol phosphate (IP2-IP5) using different phytases from Aspergillus, Bacillus, E. coli and Klebsiella. The broiler chicks experiment was designed according to the GFE (1999) including two basal diets, one formulated to contain adequate levels of all nutrients (diet A-positive control) while the other was deficient in the phosphorus supply (diet Bnegative control) supplemented with the above mentioned enzymes. The inositol phosphates were analyzed in faeces and ileum content of all broiler chicks groups, the results revealed lower concentration of IP 2 -IP 5 and higher concentration of IP 6 for all groups. Moreover, the inositol hexaphosphate (IP 6 ) degradation was determined, on the basis of daily intake and excretion of inositol hexaphosphate (IP 6 ). The IP 6 degradation was significantly increased by the supplementation of different phytases. The highest degradation rate was 8.5 ± 3.7 µM/g dry matter in faeces caused by the supplementation of E. coli and 7.8 ± 3.5 µM/g dry matter in ileum by Bacillus phytases

GC-MS analysis, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of acetone fractions obtained from Guiera Senegalensis leaves and Quercus Infectoria Nutgalls extracts

Medicinal plants are considered an important source of phytochemical compounds that play a vital role to produce a definite physiological action for the treatment of several diseases. This study was aimed to investigate the phytoconstituents of Guiera senegalensis leaves and Quercus infectoria nutgalls extracts, and to study their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Ethanol extracts were subjected to sequential fractionation using petroleum ether, dichloromethane and acetone. Acetone fraction (as major) was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative GC-MS analysis. In vitro antioxidant activity and antibacterial sensitivity against Staphylococcus aureus of acetone fraction were evaluated whereas; DPPH radical scavenging activity and disc diffusion methods were used, respectively. Results obtained from GC-MS analysis for G. senegalensis were showed the presence of eupafolin, pyrogallol, hydroquinone and catechol with percentages of 65.16%, 15.79%, 10.36% and 8.69%, respectively. While Q. infectoria GC-MS analysis was revealed the presence of pyrogallol as major phytoconstituent (94.77%).  The antioxidant activity of the two extracts showed higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity (94%) at a concentration of 250 μg/ml compared to standard popylgallate. Both extracts at a concentration of 25 mg/ml were exhibited higher antibacterial activity against S. aureus compared to gentamicin. It could be concluded that G. senegalensis leaves and Q. infectoria nutgalls possess significant antioxidant and antibacterial principles for possible treatment of inflammations and bacterial infections especially those caused by S. aureus. Further experimental and clinical studies are warranted.

Responses to melatonin of 2 breeds of dairy ewes in early lactation under autumn photoperiod conditions

A total of 72 dairy ewes of 2 breeds (MN, Manchega, 72.4 ± 1.9 kg of body weight, n = 36; LC, Lacaune, 77.7 ± 2.3 kg of body weight; n = 36) were used to evaluate the lactational effects of melatonin implants in early lactation and under the short-day photoperiod conditions of autumn (experiment was centered on the winter solstice). Ewes lambed in autumn and were penned indoors in 12 balanced groups of 6 ewes by breed, body weight, age, and number of lambs, and randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial design (treatment × breed × replicate). Ewes suckled their lambs for 28 d. Treatments were (1) melatonin (MEL), which received 1 subcutaneous implant of melatonin (18 mg/ewe) in the ear base at 35 ± 1 d (1 wk after lamb weaning), and (2) control, which did not receive any treatment. Ewes were fed ad libitum a total mixed ration (forage:concentrate, 60:40) and machine milked twice daily. Daily milk yield was automatically recorded from d 29 to 105 of lactation and sampled every 2 wk for composition. Jugular blood was sampled for plasma hormone analyses at 30, 50, 80, 110, and 124 d of lactation. Body reserves were assessed every 2 wk. Feed intake was measured by pen during 3 separated periods after the start of the treatments (wk 2 to 3, wk 6 to 7, and wk 10 to 11). Feed intake, and milk yield and composition varied by breed, but no MEL effects were detected on dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition, or fat and protein standardized milk in either breed. As a result of the unique composition of the implants and the variable body weights of the ewes, the MEL treatment dose (on average, 0.24 mg/kg of body weight) was 6.8% greater in the MN (lighter) than in the LC (heavier) ewes. Plasmatic melatonin markedly increased in the MEL-treated ewes (on average, 111%), but despite the amount of MEL used, the MN responded greatly compared with the LC ewes (150 vs. 63%, respectively). No differences in basal plasmatic melatonin were detected between breeds (6.4 ± 1.1 pg/mL, on average), indicating the greater responsiveness to the implants of the lighter MN ewes. Plasmatic prolactin tended to decrease in the MEL-treated ewes (−35%, on average), but the effect was significant only in the MN ewes (−54%), in agreement with their greater response to MEL. No effects of MEL treatment were detected on plasmatic IGF-I in either breed. Moreover, body reserves did not vary by effect of MEL treatment or breed throughout the experiment. In conclusion, the use of exogenous melatonin as MEL implants, together with the endogenous melatonin naturally produced under short-day photoperiod conditions, had no effects on the early-lactation performances of dairy sheep, despite their breed and level of production

Childhood Steroid Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome: Characteristics and Predictors of Relapses; A study at a Single Center in Khartoum

Background: Childhood steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) usually has a favorable outcome in spite of its relapsing course. The objective of the authors was to study the demographic and clinical characteristics, outcome and risk factors for relapses in children with SSNS at a single center in Khartoum, Sudan. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional, facility-based study, the authors retrospectively reviewed all the records of children with SSNS, followed at the Pediatric Renal Unit, Soba University Hospital, Khartoum between 2001 and 2014. SSRNS was defined as the remission of proteinuria within 4–6 weeks of corticosteroids. Relapse is therecurrence of proteinuria after remission; frequent if ≥ 2 within initial six months or ≥ 4 within one year, and steroid dependence if 2 during therapy or within 14 days after stopping it. Results: 330 children (males 220; 66.7%) with SSNS were studied with a mean age of 5.2 ± 3.5 years of whom 42.4% aged 1–5 years. At the presentation, hypertension was detected in 31.8% and hematuria in 19.1%. Serum cholesterol was elevated in all patients (mean 347.34 ± 117.87 mg/dl) and serum creatinine in 7.27% (mean 1.4 ± 0.35 mg/dl). Renal histology showed mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (MesPGN) in 57.5%, minimal change disease (MCD) in 35.5%, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and IgM nephropathy in 3.5% each. During the course of the illness, 10.3% achieved long-term remission, 89.7% relapsed— of whom 52.3% had frequent relapsing/steroid-dependent (FR/SD) course and 37.7% had infrequent relapses. Risk of frequent relapses were age of onset and low/moderate socioeconomic status (P = 0.015 and 0.019, respectively). Infectionswere recorded in 71.8%, but not significantly associated with the risk of frequent relapses (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The majority children with SSNS at this single center in Khartoum had a relapsing course with the majority being FR or SD. Predictors of frequent relapses were young age at onset and low socioeconomic status