Ricinus communis-linn (castor plant), male contraceptives and reproductive health of women

The medicinal use of castor plant is extensive. Castor oil is most commonly used as a laxative, and the leaves and seeds have been used to augment labour, promote lactation and to treat syphilis and leprosy. Its use for contraception is an ancient practice among the Rukuba women of Plateau State in Nigeria, who would chew 2-3 seeds for contraceptive coverage of one year. The acute and chronic spermatogenic effect of the minor seed variety of ricinus communis-linn is hereby reported. Thirty male rats weighing 200–250g were grouped (n = 5) and treated with the n-hexane extract of the seeds, each made up to 1ml with physiological saline, and given as a single dose, intraperitoneally. Control groups had 1 ml physiological saline. Semen was collected 72 h and 6 weeks after treatment and analyzed within one hour of collection. The seed extract suppressed spermatogenesis and sperm motility up to six weeks after treatment. But semen parameters reverted to normal values in the 7 weeks of treatment, showing primary spermatocytes and spermatids in the seminiferous tubules. Our results showed ricinus communis-linn to be a potent but reversible anti-spermatogenic agent with significant anti-motility properties. Moreover, being of plant origin, it is readily available and affordable. We hereby present ricinus communis-linn as a possible male contraceptive agent that can relieve women of their reproductive burden globally.   L'utilisation médicinale de la plante de ricin est étendue. L'huile de ricin est le plus souvent utilisée comme laxatif, et les feuilles et les graines ont été utilisées pour augmenter le travail, favoriser la lactation et traiter la syphilis et la lèpre. Son utilisation pour la contraception est une pratique ancienne chez les femmes Rukuba de l'État du Plateau au Nigeria, qui mâchaient 2-3 graines pour une couverture contraceptive d'un an. L'effet spermatogène aigu et chronique de la variété mineure de graines de ricinus communis-linn est rapporté ici. Trente rats mâles pesant 200 à 250 g ont été regroupés (n = 5) et traités avec l'extrait de n-hexane des graines, chacun complété à 1 ml de sérum physiologique et administré en une seule dose, par voie intrapéritonéale. Les groupes témoins avaient 1 ml de sérum physiologique. Le sperme a été collecté 72 h et 6 semaines après le traitement et analysé dans l'heure suivant le prélèvement. L'extrait de graines a supprimé la spermatogenèse et la motilité des spermatozoïdes jusqu'à six semaines après le traitement. Mais les paramètres du sperme sont revenus à des valeurs normales au cours des 7 semaines de traitement, montrant des spermatocytes et des spermatides primaires dans les tubules séminifères. Nos résultats ont montré que le ricinus communis-linn est un agent anti-spermatogène puissant mais réversible avec des propriétés anti-motilité significatives. De plus, étant d'origine végétale, il est facilement disponible et abordable. Nous présentons ici le ricinus communis-linn comme un agent contraceptif masculin possible qui peut soulager les femmes de leur fardeau reproductif à l'échelle mondiale

Water Pollution: Effects, Prevention, and Climatic Impact

The stress on our water environment as a result of increased industrialization, which aids urbanization, is becoming very high thus reducing the availability of clean water. Polluted water is of great concern to the aquatic organism, plants, humans, and climate and indeed alters the ecosystem. The preservation of our water environment, which is embedded in sustainable development, must be well driven by all sectors. While effective wastewater treatment has the tendency of salvaging the water environment, integration of environmental policies into the actor firms core objectives coupled with continuous periodical enlightenment on the present and future consequences of environmental/water pollution will greatly assist in conserving the water environment

Reconnaissance Study of Smectite ores of Lafarge- Ewekoro, Ogun State Nigeria for Industrial Applications

This work aimed to study the aluminosilicate ore contents at Lafarge Ogun State environ as a means of identification of background variation of smectite in the ore-bodied environment. Smectite clay samples (bentonite) were collected from Larfarge Ewekoro environ, while zeolite used as a standard in this work was obtained from Petroleum Department of Covenant University for comparism purpose. The samples were digested with nitric acid, HNO3 and hydrochloric acid, HCl, after which the digested samples were characterized with, ultraviolet visible (UV-VIS), scanning, absorbance; and % transmittances. The results revealed similarity in ultraviolet visible for bentonite and zeolite with predominance of iron in bentonite samples. The colouration of bentonite due to the presence of transition metals in the environment under study could be of industrial uses in the manufacture of coloured wares and tiles, and magnetic ceramic, though further pre-application specific investigations are recommended. Also, the observed properties favour many aspects of industrial applications such as in pharmaceuticals, refractories, adhesives and porcelain wares. These will help in setting up small and medium-sized enterprise in this area resulting in employment creation and revenue generation

Estimation of sex from metatarsals using discriminant function and logistic regression analyses

© 2020, © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world and the discovery of dismembered bodies for human identification process poses a greater challenge. The South African Africans (also known as South African blacks) population group is often the victims of crimes as they are the largest group. While measurements of several bones of the human skeleton have been used for sex estimation, the potential of metatarsals have not been explored in this population group. Metatarsal bones are usually well-preserved since they are recovered in shoes protected from scavengers and they are able to withstand environmental degradation and taphonomy. This study investigated the potential of measurements of metatarsals in sex estimate amongst South African Africans using logistic and discriminant function analysis. Six measurements of metatarsals from 100 individuals of known sex and population affinity from the Raymond Dart Collection of Human skeletons were analysed. Various combinations of measurements of metatarsal bones yielded suitably high average accuracies (79% to 84%) for sex estimation and are comparable to functions derived from other skeletal elements of South African Africans. Metatarsals of South African Africans are therefore useful as alternatives to highly sexual dimorphic bones in the forensic estimation of sex

Breast Cancer Phenotypes in Africa: A Scoping Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE Africans have been associated with more aggressive forms of breast cancer (BC).However, there is a lack of data regarding the incidence and distribution of different subtypes on the basis of phenotypic classification. This scoping review and meta-analysis was undertaken to determine the distribution pattern of BC phenotypes (luminal, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]1, and triple-negative breast cancer [TNBC]) across the African region. METHODS Four online databases (PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost) were accessed to identify studies published between 2000 and 2022 reporting the representation of receptor status (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2) in African patients with BC. Furthermore, the meta-analysis was carried out using a random-effects model and pooled using the inverse variance method and logit transformation. 95% CI and I2 statistics were calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method to estimate between-study heterogeneity. RESULTS A total of 2,734 records were retrieved, of which 2,133 were retained for further screening. After the screening, 63 studies were finally selected for the scoping review and meta-analysis. The pooled frequency of luminal, HER2-positive (HER21), and TNBC was estimated at 56.30%, 12.61%, and 28.10%, respectively.Northern Africa had the highest frequency of the luminal subtype, while West Africa showed higher frequencies of HER21 and TNBC subtypes. The review also had a representation of only 24 countries in Africa. CONCLUSION Our results highlight the disparity in the representation of molecular subtypes among the people in different regions of Africa. There is a need to incorporate routine molecular subtyping into the management of African patients with BC

Protective intraoperative ventilation with higher versus lower levels of positive end-expiratory pressure in obese patients (PROBESE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) increase the morbidity and mortality of surgery in obese patients. High levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) with lung recruitment maneuvers may improve intraoperative respiratory function, but they can also compromise hemodynamics, and the effects on PPCs are uncertain. We hypothesized that intraoperative mechanical ventilation using high PEEP with periodic recruitment maneuvers, as compared with low PEEP without recruitment maneuvers, prevents PPCs in obese patients. Methods/design The PRotective Ventilation with Higher versus Lower PEEP during General Anesthesia for Surgery in OBESE Patients (PROBESE) study is a multicenter, two-arm, international randomized controlled trial. In total, 2013 obese patients with body mass index ≥35 kg/m2 scheduled for at least 2 h of surgery under general anesthesia and at intermediate to high risk for PPCs will be included. Patients are ventilated intraoperatively with a low tidal volume of 7 ml/kg (predicted body weight) and randomly assigned to PEEP of 12 cmH2O with lung recruitment maneuvers (high PEEP) or PEEP of 4 cmH2O without recruitment maneuvers (low PEEP). The occurrence of PPCs will be recorded as collapsed composite of single adverse pulmonary events and represents the primary endpoint. Discussion To our knowledge, the PROBESE trial is the first multicenter, international randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of two different levels of intraoperative PEEP during protective low tidal volume ventilation on PPCs in obese patients. The results of the PROBESE trial will support anesthesiologists in their decision to choose a certain PEEP level during general anesthesia for surgery in obese patients in an attempt to prevent PPCs. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02148692. Registered on 23 May 2014; last updated 7 June 2016. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-1929-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Forensic utility of cranial measurements in stature reconstruction in South Africans of European descent.

The height of an individual (stature) is one of the biological profiles that is estimated as part of human identification process from various components of the human skeleton. The anatomical method is often used for this purpose when a complete and intact skeleton is available for forensic analysis because it is accurate. Since complete skeletons are seldom present in most forensic cases, the mathematical method, which shows linear relationship between stature and bone measurements, becomes the method of choice. Population and sex-specific regression equations for stature estimation have been formulated using intact and fragmentary long bones amongst South African whites and blacks. Individual and combinations of measurements of other skeletal elements including bones of the feet have also been used in the formulation of regression equations. However, few studies have utilized measurements of the skull for stature reconstruction. Skeletal height, calculated from a suite of measurements, was regressed on six cranial measurements. Basibregmatic height and basion-nasion length presented with the highest correlation coefficient for an individual variable in males (0.50) and females (0.48), respectively. The range of correlation coefficient from multivariate analyses in males (0.58-0.63) is similar to that obtained in females (0.55-0.62). The standard error of estimates of the equations, a measure of the accuracy of the equations, for male sample (6.74-7.09) was slightly higher than that for females (5.47-5.89). Regression equations presented in this study should be used with caution in forensic cases when only the skull is available for human identification. Significance of main findings: 1. Skull measurements show low to moderate correlation with stature. 2. Use of skull dimensions is advised only in the absence of intact long bones and other skeletal elements in South Africa

Microbiological quality of locally fermented milk (nono) and fermented milk-cereal mixture (fura da nono) drink in Bauchi, a Nigerian city

Fura da nono, fura and nono samples obtained from three areas in Bauchi metropolis were analysed to determine their microbial quality, the moisture content, pH and titratable acidity. The analysed samples were found contaminated with coliforms. The identified bacterial isolates from the products were Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter sp, Streptococcus sp, Bacilus cereus and Lactobacillus sp. The fungal isolate includes yeast Sacharomyces cerevisae and mold species of Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus nigricans. The average microbial load of bacteria isolates from the samples ranges between 3.0 -4.7 x 104 cfu/ml., for fungal isolates it ranges between 1.0x104 to 2.9x104 cfu/ml and yeast counts from 0.0 x104 cfu/ml in fura to 5.3 x104 cfu/ml in fura da nono

Microbiological quality of locally fermented milk (nono) and fermented milk-cereal mixture (fura da nono) drink in Bauchi, a Nigerian city

Fura da nono, fura and nono samples obtained from three areas in Bauchi metropolis were analysed to determine their microbial quality, the moisture content, pH and titratable acidity. The analysed samples were found contaminated with coliforms. The identified bacterial isolates from the products were Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter sp, Streptococcus sp, Bacilus cereus and Lactobacillus sp. The fungal isolate includes yeast Sacharomyces cerevisae and mold species of Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus nigricans. The average microbial load of bacteria isolates from the samples ranges between 3.0 -4.7 x 104 acfu/ml., for fungal isolates it ranges between 1.0x104 to 2.9x104 cfu/ml and yeast counts from 0.0 x104 cfu/ml in fura to 5.3 x104 cfu/ml in fura da nono. The Journal of Food Technology in Africa Volume 6 No.3, 2001, pp. 87-89 KEY WORDS: Microbiological quality, nono, fura da nono, mold