Chemical constituents, toxicity and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil of the leaves of Tectona grandis

The leaves of Tectona grandis (Verbanaceae) was subjected to hydrodistillation in order to obtain the essential oil from the plant. The pale yellow essential oil gave a percentage yield of 0.184%. Relative percentages of individual component were analyzed by GC/GC-MS. A total of fifty-four (54) constituents were identified representing 86.5% of the total essential oil fraction. Oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, apocarotenoids, phenylpropanoids and non-terpene derivatives were the various classes of compounds identified. The LC50 value from the brine shrimp toxicity assay was 183.29µg/ml. The oil extract was also subjected to antibacterial assay and it showed significant activities against all the clinical test organisms used except Pseudomonas aeruginos

POWER MANAGEMENT SCHEME FOR WIRELESS TELEPHONY SERVICE PROVIDERS

The relationship between the mobile phone service providers and their service consumers since the about seven years ago when mobile phone became fully integrated into Nigeria society is to say the least rough. Accusations of poor services coupled with high charges are levied against the service providers and in defense the service providers blame it on high running cost especially fuelling and maintenance of generating sets for power supplies. Hence, for mobile phone service providers to provide satisfactory service to their customers, there is need for efficient power management system. This work finds the average power supply per day, cost of the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) generating set, cost of installing the generating set, fuel consumption of the generating set per certain periods based on BTS equipment data provided by one of the service providers, routine maintenance cost of the generating sets, etc and compare these with Photovoltaic (PV) system. The findings reveal that an environmental friendly renewable energy technology, a photovoltaic system is a potent alternative power source especially when life cycle cost (LCC) analysis is invoked and the site management scheme proposed is adopted. PV system has been found to be cost competitive with the conventional system

Formulation of hybrid 3D image segmentation algorithm based partial differential equation

Segmentation is an important tool for analysis and understanding of most images encountered in science and engineering. One of the best segmentation methods that can perform 3D segmentation is the level-set method which has its mathematical foundation in partial differential equation (PDE). Owing to its complex nature, it exhibits a level of unacceptable sluggishness on implementation hence a need to hasten up the process by hybridizing it with a faster region-based segmentation method which is inherently a logical approach to segmentation pivoted on thresholding but not as good in segmentation as the former. This work presents a mathematical hybrid of the two methods that is hoped to produce a better segmentation result

Brain tumor quantification equation: modeled on complete step response algorithm

In Image Guided neuro-Surgery (IGnS) protocol relating to tumor, the planning stage is the bottleneck where most times are spent reconstructing the slices in order to; quantify the tumor, get the tumor shape and location relative to adjacent cells, and determine best incursion route among others. This time consuming assignment is handled by a surgeon using any of the standardized IGnS software. It has been observed that the approach taken to quantify tumor in those software are simply replicating the surgeons’ experience-based brain tumor quantification technique fashionable in the pre-imaging era. The result is a quantification method that is time consuming, and at bests an approximation. What is presented here is a novel brain tumor quantification method based on step response algorithm utilizing a model which itself was based on step response model resulting in smart and rapid quantification of brain tumor volume

Plasmid profile of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 from apparently healthy animals

One hundred samples from healthy animals were screened for the presence of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli 0157: H7 and 17 were positive for EHEC 0157:H7 after confirmation using serology kits. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns showed the isolates to be highly susceptible to the various antibiotics screened with a few showing multiple antibiotic resistance. The plasmid profiles revealed that 8/17 (47%) of the animal isolates harboured detectable plasmids ranging in size from 0.564 kb to >23 kb. Key words: Escherichia coli, EHEC, animals, plasmid profile. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.2(9) 2003: 322-32

Iterative Spatial Sectoring: An Extention of Simpson’s Rule for Determining Area of Irregular Close Shape

Just as the method for determining the properties of shapes like  triangles, parallelogram, cuboids, and geometric figures like circle, and spheres have standard formulae, the determination of a function F(x) in many dimensions have formulae or standard methods. Complex 2D and 3D figures consisting of intricate merger of regular shapes have had their parameters determined through careful separation and determination of the properties of individual components that make up the figure.  Moreover, the case of irregular close shapes mostly but not limited to 2D and 3D which abound in science and engineering have equally received attention resulting in lots of approximation method evolved over time. The Iterative spatial sectoring is a novel way of determining the area of 2D irregular close shape by expanding on the famours Simpson’s method for finding the area of a function F(x) whose definite integral is either tedious or impossible by standard approaches. ABSTRAK: Seperti beberapa kaedah yang ada yang sering kali digunakan untuk menentukan sifat-sifat bentuk seperti segi tiga, segi empat selari, kuboid, dan rajah geometrik seperti bulatan, dan sfera; semuanya mempunyai formula-formula yang standard, penentuan fungsi F(x). Bentuk kompleks dua dimensi, 2D dan tiga dimensi, 3D terdiri daripada penyatuan rumit bentuk-bentuk yang biasa dimana parameternya ditentukan melalui pengasingan yang cermat dan penentuan ciri-ciri komponen individu yang akhirnya membentukkannya. Walaupun begitu, dalam hal bentuk tertutup yang tak nalar, ia bukan hanya terhad kepada bentuk 2D dan 3D yang banyak terdapat dalam bidang sains dan kejuruteraan.  Ia mendapat perhatian meluas dimana pelbagai kaedah penghampiran dihasilkan.  Pensektoran ruang berlelar merupakan cara baru yang digunakan untuk menentukan keluasan bentuk  2D tak nalar yang bertutup  dengan mengembangkan kaedah Simpson’s untuk mendapatkan keluasan dengan fungsi F(x) dimana kamirannya sama ada terlalu rumit ataupun di anggap mustahil mengikut cara biasa. KEYWORDS: function F(x); irregular shape; Simpson’s method; definite integral; iterative spatial sectorin

Current trend in Image Guided Surgery(IGS)

Image-guided surgery (IGS)! Computer-aided surgery (CAS) is a technology mostly deployed in minimally invasive operation [1] which involves the use of tracked surgical instruments in real-time, and computer technology to correlate the operative field to preoperative or intra-operative radiological images during surgical intervention. It also encompasses the use of radiological images and software programs for pre-surgical planning, and post operation monitoring, treatment and medication to patients

Higher dose corticosteroids in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 who are hypoxic but not requiring ventilatory support (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

BACKGROUND: Low-dose corticosteroids have been shown to reduce mortality for patients with COVID-19 requiring oxygen or ventilatory support (non-invasive mechanical ventilation, invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). We evaluated the use of a higher dose of corticosteroids in this patient group. METHODS: This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing multiple possible treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19. Eligible and consenting adult patients with clinical evidence of hypoxia (ie, receiving oxygen or with oxygen saturation <92% on room air) were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual care with higher dose corticosteroids (dexamethasone 20 mg once daily for 5 days followed by 10 mg dexamethasone once daily for 5 days or until discharge if sooner) or usual standard of care alone (which included dexamethasone 6 mg once daily for 10 days or until discharge if sooner). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality among all randomised participants. On May 11, 2022, the independent data monitoring committee recommended stopping recruitment of patients receiving no oxygen or simple oxygen only due to safety concerns. We report the results for these participants only. Recruitment of patients receiving ventilatory support is ongoing. The RECOVERY trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). FINDINGS: Between May 25, 2021, and May 13, 2022, 1272 patients with COVID-19 and hypoxia receiving no oxygen (eight [1%]) or simple oxygen only (1264 [99%]) were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus higher dose corticosteroids (659 patients) versus usual care alone (613 patients, of whom 87% received low-dose corticosteroids during the follow-up period). Of those randomly assigned, 745 (59%) were in Asia, 512 (40%) in the UK, and 15 (1%) in Africa. 248 (19%) had diabetes and 769 (60%) were male. Overall, 123 (19%) of 659 patients allocated to higher dose corticosteroids versus 75 (12%) of 613 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·59 [95% CI 1·20–2·10]; p=0·0012). There was also an excess of pneumonia reported to be due to non-COVID infection (64 cases [10%] vs 37 cases [6%]; absolute difference 3·7% [95% CI 0·7–6·6]) and an increase in hyperglycaemia requiring increased insulin dose (142 [22%] vs 87 [14%]; absolute difference 7·4% [95% CI 3·2–11·5]). INTERPRETATION: In patients hospitalised for COVID-19 with clinical hypoxia who required either no oxygen or simple oxygen only, higher dose corticosteroids significantly increased the risk of death compared with usual care, which included low-dose corticosteroids. The RECOVERY trial continues to assess the effects of higher dose corticosteroids in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 who require non-invasive ventilation, invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. FUNDING: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council), National Institute of Health and Care Research, and Wellcome Trust

Baricitinib in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial and updated meta-analysis

Background: We aimed to evaluate the use of baricitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) 1–2 inhibitor, for the treatment of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus baricitinib 4 mg once daily by mouth for 10 days or until discharge if sooner (baricitinib group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality assessed in the intention-to-treat population. A meta-analysis was done, which included the results from the RECOVERY trial and all previous randomised controlled trials of baricitinib or other JAK inhibitor in patients hospitalised with COVID-19. The RECOVERY trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936) and is ongoing. Findings: Between Feb 2 and Dec 29, 2021, from 10 852 enrolled, 8156 patients were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus baricitinib versus usual care alone. At randomisation, 95% of patients were receiving corticosteroids and 23% were receiving tocilizumab (with planned use within the next 24 h recorded for a further 9%). Overall, 514 (12%) of 4148 patients allocated to baricitinib versus 546 (14%) of 4008 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (age-adjusted rate ratio 0·87; 95% CI 0·77–0·99; p=0·028). This 13% proportional reduction in mortality was somewhat smaller than that seen in a meta-analysis of eight previous trials of a JAK inhibitor (involving 3732 patients and 425 deaths), in which allocation to a JAK inhibitor was associated with a 43% proportional reduction in mortality (rate ratio 0·57; 95% CI 0·45–0·72). Including the results from RECOVERY in an updated meta-analysis of all nine completed trials (involving 11 888 randomly assigned patients and 1485 deaths) allocation to baricitinib or another JAK inhibitor was associated with a 20% proportional reduction in mortality (rate ratio 0·80; 95% CI 0·72–0·89; p<0·0001). In RECOVERY, there was no significant excess in death or infection due to non-COVID-19 causes and no significant excess of thrombosis, or other safety outcomes. Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, baricitinib significantly reduced the risk of death but the size of benefit was somewhat smaller than that suggested by previous trials. The total randomised evidence to date suggests that JAK inhibitors (chiefly baricitinib) reduce mortality in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 by about one-fifth. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Casirivimab and imdevimab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Casirivimab and imdevimab are non-competing monoclonal antibodies that bind to two different sites on the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, blocking viral entry into host cells. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of casirivimab and imdevimab administered in combination in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: RECOVERY is a randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial comparing several possible treatments with usual care in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. 127 UK hospitals took part in the evaluation of casirivimab and imdevimab. Eligible participants were any patients aged at least 12 years admitted to hospital with clinically suspected or laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual care plus casirivimab 4 g and imdevimab 4 g administered together in a single intravenous infusion. Investigators and data assessors were masked to analyses of the outcome data during the trial. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality assessed by intention to treat, first only in patients without detectable antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 infection at randomisation (ie, those who were seronegative) and then in the overall population. Safety was assessed in all participants who received casirivimab and imdevimab. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between Sept 18, 2020, and May 22, 2021, 9785 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible for casirivimab and imdevimab, of which 4839 were randomly assigned to casirivimab and imdevimab plus usual care and 4946 to usual care alone. 3153 (32%) of 9785 patients were seronegative, 5272 (54%) were seropositive, and 1360 (14%) had unknown baseline antibody status. 812 (8%) patients were known to have received at least one dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. In the primary efficacy population of seronegative patients, 396 (24%) of 1633 patients allocated to casirivimab and imdevimab versus 452 (30%) of 1520 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio [RR] 0·79, 95% CI 0·69–0·91; p=0·0009). In an analysis of all randomly assigned patients (regardless of baseline antibody status), 943 (19%) of 4839 patients allocated to casirivimab and imdevimab versus 1029 (21%) of 4946 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (RR 0·94, 95% CI 0·86–1·02; p=0·14). The proportional effect of casirivimab and imdevimab on mortality differed significantly between seropositive and seronegative patients (p value for heterogeneity=0·002). There were no deaths attributed to the treatment, or meaningful between-group differences in the pre-specified safety outcomes of cause-specific mortality, cardiac arrhythmia, thrombosis, or major bleeding events. Serious adverse reactions reported in seven (<1%) participants were believed by the local investigator to be related to treatment with casirivimab and imdevimab. Interpretation: In patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, the monoclonal antibody combination of casirivimab and imdevimab reduced 28-day mortality in patients who were seronegative (and therefore had not mounted their own humoral immune response) at baseline but not in those who were seropositive at baseline. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research