Antimicrobial activity of Berkheya bergiana leaves extracts

The leaves of Berkheya bergiana Soderberg (Asteraceae) were screened for phytochemical composition and antimicrobial potential. Phytochemical screening of the crude methanol extract showed the presence of various secondary metabolites. In vitro antimicrobial activities of the extracts obtained from six solvents were carried out against 28 bacterial strains using traditional methods. Chloroform extract exhibited the highest broad spectrum antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria and decreased in the order chloroform > ethyl acetate > butanol > hexane > aqueous extract at a concentration of 5.0 mg mL-1 for bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) exhibited by EtOAc, CHCl3 and HEX extracts against the bacterial strains range between 0.07 and 2.5 mg mL-1, while that of BuOH and aqueous extracts ranged between 0.07 and 5.0 mg mL-1. The antibacterial activities of the plant were compared with standard (neomycin, ampicilin and tetracycline) antibiotics at the same concentration. The leaves extracts showed antibacterial potential, inhibiting the growth of some of the tested bacterial more than the standard drugs. The results obtained appeared to confirm the antibacterial potential of the plant investigated.Key words: Berkheya bergiana, Asteraceae, antimicrobial activity, screening

Awareness of Breast Cancer and Practice of Breast Self-Examination among Rural Women in Ife-North Local Government Area, Osun State, South-West Nigeria

Background and Objective: Breast cancer is the commonest cancer among women in globally and in Nigeria. In Nigeria, cases of breast cancer cases have been prevalent for three decades and more than 90% of cases can be detected by women themselves through breast self – examination. The objective of this study therefore, was to assess rural women's level of awareness and knowledge of breast cancer and the practice of breast self- examination.Methods: The data for this was collected in the months of March and April, 2011. A structured interviewer–administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 420 randomly selected volunteered women from two randomly selected wards in Ife North Local Government Area (a rural Local Government Area) in Osun State, SW Nigeria.Results: 400 questionnaires were properly filled and subsequently used for data analysis and results showed that a large proportion (78.8%) had erroneous belief that keeping money in the brassier can cause breast cancer despite the fact that majority (87.8%) of them claimed to be aware of the disease. Cigarette smoking had the highest percentage (51.5%) among the correct risk factors for breast cancer being agreed to by the respondents. Their awareness and practices of breast self- examination (BSE) were also low (47% and 29% respectively). Age and religion of the respondents had significant effect on the practices of BSE (p=0.013 and p=0.0001 respectively).Conclusion: Appropriate educational program is suggested in order to improve the knowledge of women regarding breast cancer and increase their practices of breast self examination.Keywords: Breast Cancer, Breast Self- Examination, Knowledge, Rural Wome

Heavy metal profiles in limpets and algae on the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa

Heavy metal pollution is an increasing threat to the marine environment and is a major health concern. Both marine limpets and algae have been employed as biomonitors elsewhere in the world, but there are few or no data for these taxa along the South African coast. We investigated heavy metal concentrations in the tissues of selected limpet and algae species sampled at four sites on the southeast coast of South Africa (Silaka, Hluleka, Mthatha and Mbhashe), and determined whether there was any relationship between heavy metal concentrations in the limpets and their algae food sources as evidenced by the trophic transfer factor (TTF). Samples were collected in July 2019 and the tissues were digested following normal protocols. Heavy metals were detected using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Significant differences in metal concentrations were observed among the algae species. The soft tissues of limpets from Silaka had the highest heavy metal concentrations, and samples from Mthatha had the lowest, with only mercury (Hg) occurring in high concentrations. Metal concentrations in soft tissues were generally 10-times higher than in shell tissues and differed between lower- and upper-shore species. Cadmium (Cd) biomagnified (TTF > 1) in all limpet species at all sites. Cd, arsenic (As), lead (Pb) and Hg measured in our study were above the maximum limits set by the South African Department of Health. This study suggests that the use of limpet and algae species as bioindicators is feasible since they are widely distributed and can accumulate a wide range of heavy metals

Cardiovascular responses to treadmill exercise in Nigerian hypertensives with left ventricular hypertrophy

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for adverse cardiac outcomes in hypertensive patients.Objective: This study is designed to assess the cardiovascular responses to treadmill exercise among Nigerian hypertensives with echocardiographically proven LVH.Materials and Methods: Fifty hypertensive patients with LVH (27 males and 23 females) between 30 and 65 years of age were studied in Nigeria. 50 hypertensive patients without LVH and 50 normal subjects who were age and sex matched served as controls. All patients and control subjects underwent M-mode, 2-D and Doppler ECHO-studies and the Bruce protocol treadmill exercise test.Results: The study showed that the estimated maximal oxygen consumption (MVO2) in MET reduced progressively from 8.39 ± 1.26 (normotensive control) to 7.62 ± 1.33 (hypertensive without LVH), 6.27 ± 0.99 (hypertensive with LVH) (P<0.0001ANOVA). The duration of exercise (s) was also reduced in that order from 455.4 ± 79.1 to 411.6 ±8 2.3, 315.8 ± 75.6 respectively (P<0.0001). The systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pressure rate product (PRP) during maximal exercise were also increased in hypertensives with LVH and hypertensive without LVH when compared to normotensive controls. The hypertensives with LVH and hypertensives without LVH also showed significant limitation to heart rate increase with exercise compared to normotensive controls (P<0.003).Conclusion: This study demonstrated significant impairment of exercise capacity in hypertensives with or without LVH compared to normotensive subjects. Both earlier recognition and improved understanding of LVH may lead to more effective therapeutic strategies for this cardiovascular risk factor

Causes, Patterns and Outcome of Severe Injuries in Children – A Hospital based Study

Background: Injuries are important causes of morbidity and mortality in childhood. There is a therefore, a need, especially in developing countries, to determine the relative contributions made by injuries singly and in combinations, to childhood morbidity and mortality in hospital practice. Objectives: To determine the causes, patterns, and outcome of various childhood injuries resulting in hospital admissions over a 15-year period. Design: Retrospective analysis of hospital records. Patients and Methods: The case files of all children aged 16 years and below, admitted to the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, between 1984 and 1998 with burns, poisoning, animal bites and stings, bone, joint, head, soft tissue and other injuries, were analysed and the data on various injury types, compared. Results: Injuries accounted for 5.1 percent of total paediatric admissions and 5.4 percent of deaths during the study period, with males predominating in every injury type. Fractures, burns, poisoning, soft tissue and head injuries constituted 36.5, 23.4, 13.3, 12.2 and 10.6 percent respectively, of the 1,249 total injuries seen. Motor vehicle accidents and falls were responsible for 85.6 percent of all fractures, soft tissue and head injuries. Hot water caused 52.1 percent of all burns while 36.7 and 24.7 percent respectively, of poisoning were due to kerosene and traditional drug mixtures. Vehicle related injuries constituted a significant percentage of all injuries in the last decade of the review. Duration of hospitalisation was significantly longer for fractures than for any other injury type. Mortality rates were 9.2 and 12.7 percent respectively, for burns and poisoning, both of which accounted for 71.6 percent of deaths due to injuries. Conclusion: Health promoting and injury preventive interventions should be instituted to reduce the rate of injuries and their effects on children. Key Words: Injuries, Nigerian children, Causes, Patterns. Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics 30(3) 2003: 86-9

Comparative Studies on Mosses for Heavy Metals Pollution Monitoring in Sub-Urban and Rural Towns in Ekiti State

The level of heavy metals deposition in Ido-Ekiti, a sub-urban town and Ipere-Ekiti, a rural town was investigated using mosses grown in the localities as possible bio-indicators. The sources of these heavy metals were discovered to include: vehicular emission and incineration of domestic wastes and the heavy metals from these sources were discovered to pose severe toxicological risks to the environment and human health. Samples of mosses were collected at eight different locations in each town. The samples were digested in an acid and the concentration of five heavy metals; Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr) and Nickel (Ni) in the samples were determined using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The study reveals distinct variation in metal concentrations across the locations. It was reveals that the heavy metal concentration were mostly higher in moss samples than their corresponding substrates, this suggest that the heavy metals were concentrated in the atmosphere. The highest metal concentrations obtained in Ido-Ekiti than Ipere-Ekiti could be attributed to the higher anthropogenic activities in Ido-Ekiti. In order to minimize and control the high level of these heavy metals in the environment, the use of bio-fuel, closure of heavy industries located near residential areas, emission control legislation, reduction in fossil fuel combustion and significant decrease in leaded petrol combustion should be encouraged.Keywords: Anthropogenic, Bio-indicator, Environment, Heavy metal, Mosses, Pollution

Sexual Behaviour of the Elderly at Ile-Ife, Nigeria

The study examined the pattern of sexual behaviour among middle and older adults in Ile-Ife. The study was a cross-sectional survey that collected data from middle and older adults in Ife Central Local Government Area using a multi-stage sampling technique. The sample consisted of 375 adults comprising of 170 middle adults (45.3%) and 205 older adults (54.7%). A standardized psychological instrument (Sexual Behaviour Scale) was used to collect data from the respondents. The results showed that the pattern of sexual behaviour, that is, holding hands 53.2%, hugging 52.1%, kissing 50.9%, fondling 58.0%, caressing 60.1%, vaginal sex 51.5%, use of condom with spouse 72.7%and use of condom with someone other than spouse 90.9%, and transactional sex 61.1% are more prevalent among middle adults than older adults while oral 78.9% and anal sex 100% are more prevalent among older adults than middle adults. Sex, religion, educational level, occupation and marital status do have a significant influence on the sexual behaviour of middle and older adults

Antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of the leaf and bark extracts of Tarchnanthus camphorates

Purpose: To investigate the antioxidant potential and cytotoxicity of the leaf and bark extracts of Tarchonanathus campharatus. Methods: The antioxidant activity of the aqueous leaf extract (Aq LF), methanol leaf extract (MET LF), dichloromethane leaf extract (DCM LF), methanol bark extract (MET BK), dichloromethane bark extract (DCM BK), and ethyl acetate bark extract (Et Ac BK) were examined by 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH), 2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS.+), nitric oxide radical scavenging, reducing power and iron chelating activity methods. Brine shrimp lethality and MTT cytotoxicity tests were used to investigate the cytotoxicity of the extracts. Results: The Aq LF, DCM LF, MET LF and MET BK showed good DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging and total reducing power activities. Total reducing power was high and in the rank order of DCM LF > Aq LF > MET LF > MET BK. All the extracts, however, showed weak nitric oxide scavenging activity as well as weak iron chelating ability. Flavonoids, phenols, tannins and saponins were present in some of the extracts, but alkaloids, terpenoids, cardenolides and cardiac glycosides were absent in all the extracts. All the extracts did not show significant cytotoxic properties (p ≥ 0.05) with 50% inhibitory concentration IC50 values > 30 μg/ml in both cytotoxicity assays. Conclusion: The antioxidant activity and low cytotoxicity of Tarchonanthus camphoratus probably justify its use in folk medicin