Laboratory assessment of hypoglycaemia due to malaria in children attending general hospital, Katsina

Early and accurate laboratory diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia as well as assessment of its severity which include among other parameters; blood glucose concentration are very important in the management of children with complicated malaria. In this study, the conventional thick blood film examination was used to detect malaria parasitaemia, while enzymatic colorimetric glucose-oxidae technique was used to estimate blood glucose level. A total of (450) chlidren were assessed for malaria and hypoglycaemia due to malaria over a period of five months in paediatrics ward of General Hospital Katsina, Nigeria. From the results obtained, 380 (84.4%) children had primary diagnosis of malaria and 113 (25.1%) of the malaria positive children were hypoglycaemic on the first day of admission. Highest incidence of malaria and hypoglycaemia due to malaria were recorded in children between the age of 2-5 years with 37.3% and 9.3% respectively. Lowest incidence of malaria and hypoglycaemia due to malaria were recorded in children between the age of 11-15years with 9.3% and 3.3% respectively. Although apparently there was difference in the number of males and females found to be malaria positive as well as hypoglycaemic, chi-square (χ2) test at P≤0.05 showed no significant difference. Questionnaire analysis in this study showed that high incidence of severe malaria leading to hypoglycaemia in children could be attributed to poverty, malnutrition, inadequate management of uncomplicated malaria in the health centres as well as late arrival at the hospital. Early laboratory and clinical diagnosis, correct treatment and improved quality management are key strategies for malaria control. Key words: Hypoglycaemia, Malaria, Childre

Serological Characterization and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Clinical Isolates of Salmonella from Patients Attending General Hospital, Funtua, Nigeria

Serological characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of clinical isolates of Salmonella were carried out for a period of 8-months to study the most frequently encountered serovars in salmonellosis and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Two hundred and forty samples from both stool and blood specimens were collected from out patients attending General Hospital, Funtua, Katsina state of Nigeria. The samples were collected from patients diagnosed by clinicians of having either pyrexia, gastroenteritis or both. Samples were cultured, isolates identified and antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using standard procedures. The total number of 29(12.1%) of the 240 samples collected were identified as Salmonella strains. Out of the 29 isolates, 19(65.5%) were responsible for typhoidal salmonellosis while 10(34.5%) were responsible for non-typhoidal salmonellosis. Of the 29 cases of salmonellosis, 24(82.8%) were from children and 5(17.2.7%) from adults. However, the age of the patients have no significant relationship in both the typhoidal and non-typhoidal diseases, with their p values= 0.109, 0.784 > 0.05 respectively. S. typhi 16(55.2%) was the most frequently encountered, followed by S. enteritidis 7(24.1%) and 3(10.3%) each for S. paratyphi A and S. typhimurium. Of the total isolates, 26(89.7%) were found to be resistant to Ampicillin, 6(20.7%) resistant to Cefotaxime, 24(82.8%) resistant to Chloramphenicol, 9(31%) resistant to Co-trimoxazole and 2(6.9%) resistant to Nalidixic acid. However, resistance to Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin by the isolates were not observed. There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in antimicrobial resistance patterns exhibited among typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonellae. Therefore, Fluoroquinolones are recommended as the drug of choice for both typhoidal and non-typhoidal salmonellosis, although, caution should be taken by the clinicians in prescribing them in order to avoid resistance to these drugs

Application of Group-Based QSAR and Molecular Docking in the Design of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Antagonists

Purpose: To identify the structural requirements for designing a lead key for insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1R) inhibition using group-based quantitative structure activity relationship (GQSAR) and molecular docking.Methods: GQSAR method requires fragmentation of molecules. The molecules in the current dataset were fragmented into three (R1, R2 and R3) by applying common fragmentation pattern, and fragmentbased 2D descriptors were then calculated. GQSAR models were derived by applying various methods including multiple linear regressions and partial least square or k-nearest neighbour.Results: Four generated GQSAR models were selected based on the statistical significance of the model. It was found that the presence of flexible and non-aromatic groups on fragment R1 was conducive for inhibition. Additionally, the existence of amino groups as hydrogen bond donors at fragments R2 and R3 was fruitful for inhibition. Docking studies revealed the binding orientation adopted by the active compounds at several amino acid residues, including Met 1126, Arg, 1128, Met 1052, GLU 1050, Met 1112, Leu 1051, Met 1049, Val 1033, and Val 983 at ATP binding sites of IGF-1R kinase domain.Conclusion: The generated models provide a site-specific insight into the structural requirements for IGF-1R inhibition which can be used to design and develop potent inhibitors.Keywords: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptor, Quantitative structure-activity relationship, Adenosine triphosphate, Competitive inhibitors, Electrotopological state index

Evaluating the suitability of Adansonia digitata fruit pulp for the production of yoghurt

The potentials of neglected and under-utilized plant species (NUS) to enhance food security and safety has been highlighted in recent years. NUS have the potential to fight malnutrition and improve human health particularly in Africa. Despite their potentials, there is still a huge  knowledge gap as to their potential effect when used to fortify foods. This research was conducted to evaluate the suitability of Adansonia digitata fruit pulp for yoghurt production using different mixtures of milk and A. digitata fruit pulp powder in ratios of 4:1, 3:2, 2:3, 1:4 and 5:0. Proximate and mineral content analysis was conducted using the AOAC method. Sensorial analysis was done and the outcome informed the choice of  samples analysed for volatile compounds profile by GC-MS analysis of the chloroform extract. The proximate composition of the yoghurt samples increased with the addition of A. digitata pulp powder and the results  showed that the ratio of 2:3 had highest lipid content (5.5%) and fiber, 1:4 had highest protein content (5.65%) while commercial yoghurt had trace ash and no fiber. Calcium content was highest in the mixture; 2:3 and 4:1 (0.5 mg/kg), 2:3 had highest magnesium content (0.8 mg/kg) and  potassium content was highest in 4:1 (1250 mg/kg) respectively. Gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis revealed that 2:3 mixture had  eleven (11) volatile metabolites, 1:4 had (9) while plain powder also had (9) volatile metabolites. This study shows that  incorporation of A. digitata fruit pulp increased the bioavailability of  nutrients, minerals and a volatile metabolite with medicinal properties. The fortification of yoghurt in the ratio of 2:3 A. digitatato milk is suitable and could lead to reduction in yoghurt price and create job.Keywords: Adansonia, GC-MS, volatile metabolites, yoghurt

Factors influencing utilisation of family planning services among female of reproductive age (15-45 years) in Bauchi local government area, Bauchi state

Background: Family Planning services are preventive health services that provide quality, low cost and easily accessible reproductive health care to women and men during their reproductive years. Family planning is often limited to the use of contraception. However, family planning provides a holistic service that aims to promote a positive view of sexuality and enable people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being. It also ensures that resources are available for raising a child in significant amount, which include time, finance and social environment at intervals mutually determined by both partners to have their desired number of children. Studies indicates that the utilisation of family planning services in Nigeria is low when compared to high population growth rate in Africa, high fertility that translates into high population growth. Many scholars reported that it is likely that the utilisation of family planning services can alter the population growth rate. Studies have also shown that contraceptive knowledge, and usage is very low in Nigeria, hence the reason for the high fertility and increase population. Aim: There for the study aimed at determining factors influencing the utilisation of family planning services among female of reproductive age (15-45 years) in Bauchi Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Hundred questionnaires were distributed to 100 women of reproductive age of which 96 of them were retrieved. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics was used to summarise and organise the data. Pearson’s Chisquare test was used to test for association between variables and level of significant was set at 5% (0.05). Findings: Results from this study show that (84.4%) respondent’s utilisation of family planning services depends on husband’s acceptance of the family planning method. The study also found that cultural acceptance, access to family planning services, schedule of family planning clinic, effectiveness of family planning method and awareness; 75%, 75%, 62.5%, 79.2% and 63.5% respectively all influence utilisation of family planning. Academic attainment and knowledge of family planning methods were significant and influence family planning use. Conclusion: The study showed that family planning used depends on husband’s acceptance of the family planning method. This study also recommends for spouses to be continuously involved in family planning education as their approval influences family planning. It is hoped that the knowledge of this research will help health care givers to provide adequate health education to clients and family in the community to expand their knowledge of family planning services to ensure adequate child spacing and reproductive health. Thus, preventing unintended pregnancies, reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality rate

Human Nasal Challenge with Streptococcus pneumoniae Is Immunising in the Absence of Carriage

Infectious challenge of the human nasal mucosa elicits immune responses that determine the fate of the host-bacterial interaction; leading either to clearance, colonisation and/or disease. Persistent antigenic exposure from pneumococcal colonisation can induce both humoral and cellular defences that are protective against carriage and disease. We challenged healthy adults intra-nasally with live 23F or 6B Streptococcus pneumoniae in two sequential cohorts and collected nasal wash, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and blood before and 6 weeks after challenge. We hypothesised that both cohorts would successfully become colonised but this did not occur except for one volunteer. The effect of bacterial challenge without colonisation in healthy adults has not been previously assessed. We measured the antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in challenged but not colonised volunteers by ELISA and Flow Cytometry. Antigen-specific responses were seen in each compartment both before and after bacterial challenge for both cohorts. Antigen-specific IgG and IgA levels were significantly elevated in nasal wash 6 weeks after challenge compared to baseline. Immunoglobulin responses to pneumococci were directed towards various protein targets but not capsular polysaccharide. 23F but not 6B challenge elevated IgG anti-PspA in BAL. Serum immunoglobulins did not increase in response to challenge. In neither challenge cohort was there any alteration in the frequencies of TNF, IL-17 or IFNγ producing CD4 T cells before or after challenge in BAL or blood. We show that simple, low dose mucosal exposure with pneumococci may immunise mucosal surfaces by augmenting anti-protein immunoglobulin responses; but not capsular or cellular responses. We hypothesise that mucosal exposure alone may not replicate the systemic immunising effect of experimental or natural carriage in humans

Authentication and characterisation of a new oesophageal adenocarcinoma cell line: MFD-1.

New biological tools are required to understand the functional significance of genetic events revealed by whole genome sequencing (WGS) studies in oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC). The MFD-1 cell line was isolated from a 55-year-old male with OAC without recombinant-DNA transformation. Somatic genetic variations from MFD-1, tumour, normal oesophagus, and leucocytes were analysed with SNP6. WGS was performed in tumour and leucocytes. RNAseq was performed in MFD-1, and two classic OAC cell lines FLO1 and OE33. Transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) was performed in MFD-1, OE33, and non-neoplastic HET1A cells. Functional studies were performed. MFD-1 had a high SNP genotype concordance with matched germline/tumour. Parental tumour and MFD-1 carried four somatically acquired mutations in three recurrent mutated genes in OAC: TP53, ABCB1 and SEMA5A, not present in FLO-1 or OE33. MFD-1 displayed high expression of epithelial and glandular markers and a unique fingerprint of open chromatin. MFD-1 was tumorigenic in SCID mouse and proliferative and invasive in 3D cultures. The clinical utility of whole genome sequencing projects will be delivered using accurate model systems to develop molecular-phenotype therapeutics. We have described the first such system to arise from the oesophageal International Cancer Genome Consortium project.Cancer Research UK, Medical Research CouncilThis is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Nature Publishing Group via http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep3241

Travel burden and clinical presentation of retinoblastoma: analysis of 1024 patients from 43 African countries and 518 patients from 40 European countries

BACKGROUND: The travel distance from home to a treatment centre, which may impact the stage at diagnosis, has not been investigated for retinoblastoma, the most common childhood eye cancer. We aimed to investigate the travel burden and its impact on clinical presentation in a large sample of patients with retinoblastoma from Africa and Europe. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis including 518 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 40 European countries and 1024 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 43 African countries. RESULTS: Capture rate was 42.2% of expected patients from Africa and 108.8% from Europe. African patients were older (95% CI -12.4 to -5.4, p<0.001), had fewer cases of familial retinoblastoma (95% CI 2.0 to 5.3, p<0.001) and presented with more advanced disease (95% CI 6.0 to 9.8, p<0.001); 43.4% and 15.4% of Africans had extraocular retinoblastoma and distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis, respectively, compared to 2.9% and 1.0% of the Europeans. To reach a retinoblastoma centre, European patients travelled 421.8 km compared to Africans who travelled 185.7 km (p<0.001). On regression analysis, lower-national income level, African residence and older age (p<0.001), but not travel distance (p=0.19), were risk factors for advanced disease. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than half the expected number of patients with retinoblastoma presented to African referral centres in 2017, suggesting poor awareness or other barriers to access. Despite the relatively shorter distance travelled by African patients, they presented with later-stage disease. Health education about retinoblastoma is needed for carers and health workers in Africa in order to increase capture rate and promote early referral

Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practice for 10 years, yet its place in emergency surgery has not been assessed on a global scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate reported checklist use in emergency settings and examine the relationship with perioperative mortality in patients who had emergency laparotomy. Methods In two multinational cohort studies, adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were compared with those having elective gastrointestinal surgery. Relationships between reported checklist use and mortality were determined using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapped simulation. Results Of 12 296 patients included from 76 countries, 4843 underwent emergency laparotomy. After adjusting for patient and disease factors, checklist use before emergency laparotomy was more common in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) (2455 of 2741, 89.6 per cent) compared with that in countries with a middle (753 of 1242, 60.6 per cent; odds ratio (OR) 0.17, 95 per cent c.i. 0.14 to 0.21, P <0001) or low (363 of 860, 422 per cent; OR 008, 007 to 010, P <0.001) HDI. Checklist use was less common in elective surgery than for emergency laparotomy in high-HDI countries (risk difference -94 (95 per cent c.i. -11.9 to -6.9) per cent; P <0001), but the relationship was reversed in low-HDI countries (+121 (+7.0 to +173) per cent; P <0001). In multivariable models, checklist use was associated with a lower 30-day perioperative mortality (OR 0.60, 0.50 to 073; P <0.001). The greatest absolute benefit was seen for emergency surgery in low- and middle-HDI countries. Conclusion Checklist use in emergency laparotomy was associated with a significantly lower perioperative mortality rate. Checklist use in low-HDI countries was half that in high-HDI countries.Peer reviewe