Anatomical characterization and physicochemical standardization of Gongronema latifolium Benth. (Apocynaceae)

Gongronema latifolium Benth belongs to the family Apocynaceae. Generally, the leaves and stems of G. latifolium are used as medicine and spices for sauces, soups and salads in Southern Nigeria. In view of its medicinal uses, the present study aimed at documenting anatomical characters and physicochemical properties for its standardization. The leaf epidermis, transverse section of the midrib, petiole and stem were prepared using standard procedures. Physicochemical properties of the powdered plant were conducted following standard methods. The leaf epidermal layer revealed anomocytic stomata, calcium oxalate crystals (rosette), uniseriate multicellular trichome (nonglandular). The midrib has an abundantly non glandular trichome with numerous rosette crystals. The percentage extractive values for ethanol, distilled water and petroleum ether in the leaf powder were 16.71±0.53, 13.24±0.71 and 2.08±0.13%, respectively, while that of stem were 12.51±0.15, 10.90±0.53 and 1.10±0.21, respectively. The moisture content and total ash values for the leaf powder were 11.45±0.53 and 9.70±0.17%, respectively while for the stem were 11.07±0.38 and 7.50±0.05, respectively. In the light of frequent consumption and use of G. latifolium as medicine, some of the pharmacognostic standards provided herein may be useful for its proper identification and subsequent compilation in a monograph

Anatomical fat patterning in male Nigerian soccer players

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Due to i ts global acclaim, a lot of scient ific studies have been undertaken on different aspects of the sport, particularly in Europe. Few studies have investigated patterns of body fat distribution in African soccer players, in general and patterns offat distribution of soccer players by playing positions, in particular. The purpose of this study was to determine the patterns of body fat distribution among Nigerian university soccer players and the possible effect of fat pattern on playing positions. Skinfold measurements were taken on 20 soccer players, using ISAK procedures. Results showed that the midfielders had the least (13.5 ± 3.7 %), while the goalkeepers had thehighest percentage body fat (16.8 ± 2.3 %). Skinfold values were found to vary by playing positions. Goalkeepers had the highest bicepsskinfold thickness (7.2 ± 2.8 mm). Supra-iliac skinfold thickness was least in the defenders (5.2 ± 0.4 mm) but highest in the midfielders (13.1 ±6.5mm). Chest and waist girths were least in the midfielders (86.5 ± 5.3 cm; 82.3 ± 3.6cm). It was concluded that the differences in anthropometricvariables among soccer players could be due to the demands of the playing posi tions. This view is, however, contestable in view of the present playing style requiring all players (except the goal keepers)to assume different playing posi tions in actual competi tion

Local Epidemiology of Nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus Infection in a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital

Population-based studies of Staphylococcus aureus contribute to understanding the epidemiology of S. aureus infection. We enrolled surgical inpatients admitted to an African tertiary-care hospital in order to prospectively analyze the nosocomial impact of S. aureus. Data collection included an active sampling of the anterior nares and infectious foci within 48 h after admission and subsequently when clinically indicated. All S. aureus isolates were spa and agr genotyped. Possession of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and other toxin genes was determined. We analyzed antibiotic susceptibility profiles by VITEK 2 systems and verified methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) by mecA/C PCR. Among 325 patients, 15.4% carried methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) at admission, while 3.7% carried MRSA. The incidence densities of nosocomial infections due to MSSA and MRSA were 35.4 and 6.2 infections per 10,000 patient-days, respectively. Among all 47 nosocomial infections, skin and soft-tissue (40.4%) and bones or joints’ (25.5%) infections predominated. Six (12.7%) infection-related S. aureus isolates harbored PVL genes including two (4.2%) MRSA: overall, seventeen (36.2%) isolates carried pyrogenic toxin superantigens or other toxin genes. This study illustrates the considerable nosocomial impact of S. aureus in a Nigerian University hospital. Furthermore, they indicate a need for effective approaches to curtail nosocomial acquisition of multidrug-resistant S. aureus

Characterization of colonizing Staphylococcus aureus isolated from surgical wards' patients in a Nigerian university hospital.

In contrast to developed countries, only limited data on the prevalence, resistance and clonal structure of Staphylococcus aureus are available for African countries. Since S. aureus carriage is a risk factor for postoperative wound infection, patients who had been hospitalized in surgical wards in a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital were screened for S. aureus carriage. All S. aureus isolates were genotyped (spa, agr) and assigned to multilocus sequence types (MLST). Species affiliation, methicillin-resistance, and the possession of pyrogenic toxin superantigens (PTSAg), exfoliative toxins (ETs) and Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) were analyzed. Of 192 patients screened, the S. aureus carrier rate was 31.8 % (n = 61). Of these isolates, 7 (11.5%) were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). The isolates comprised 24 spa types. The most frequent spa types were t064, t084, t311, and t1931, while the most prevalent MLST clonal complexes were CC5 and CC15. The most frequent PTSAg genes detected were seg/sei (41.0%) followed by seb (29.5%), sea (19.7%), seh (14.7%) and sec (11.5). The difference between the possession of classical and newly described PTSAg genes was not significant (63.9% versus 59.0% respectively; P = 0.602). PVL encoding genes were found in 39.3% isolates. All MRSA isolates were PVL negative, SCCmec types I and VI in MLST CC 5 and CC 30, respectively. Typing of the accessory gene regulator (agr) showed the following distribution: agr group 1 (n = 20), group II (n = 17), group III (n = 14) and group IV (n = 10). Compared to European data, enterotoxin gene seb and PVL-encoding genes were more prevalent in Nigerian methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates, which may therefore act as potential reservoir for PVL and PTSAg genes

Results of testing 61 <i>S. aureus</i> isolates for staphylococcal PTSAg and ET genes by multiplex PCR.

1<p><i>sea</i>, staphylococcal enterotoxin A gene; <i>seb</i>, staphylococcal enterotoxin B gene; <i>sec</i>, staphylococcal enterotoxin C gene; <i>sed</i>, staphylococcal enterotoxin D gene; <i>see</i>, staphylococcal enterotoxin E gene; <i>tst</i>, toxin shock toxin gene; <i>seg-sei</i>, staphylococcal enterotoxin G and staphylococcal enterotoxin I genes; <i>seh</i>, staphylococcal enterotoxin H gene; <i>sej</i>, staphylococcal enterotoxin J gene; <i>eta</i>, exfoliative toxin A gene; <i>etb</i>, exfoliative toxin B gene; <i>etd</i>, exfoliative toxin D gene; <i>luk</i>S-PV and <i>luk</i>F-PV, Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes; <i>hlg</i>, gamma-hemolysin gene.</p

Characteristics of nasal and cutaneous <i>S. aureus</i> isolates.

1<p><i>spa</i>, staphylococcal protein A gene; <i>spa</i>CC, <i>spa</i> clonal complex inferred by BURP analysis; n, indicates number of isolates with similar identity for all characteristics tested;</p>2<p>MLST, multilocus sequence typing; CC, clonal complex; ST, sequence type;</p>3<p>PVL, Panton-Valentine leukocidin; pos., positive; neg., negative;</p>4<p>PTSAg/ET gene profile, pyrogenic toxin superantigen gene/exfoliative toxin gene profile; -, no PTSAg/ET gene detected;</p>5<p><i>agr</i>, accessory gene regulator type;</p>6<p>MSSA, methicillin-susceptible <i>S. aureus</i>; MRSA, methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i>;</p>7<p>ND, not done; NT, not type able.</p

Characteristics of the surgical patient cohort studied.

1<p>Data are no.(%) of participants unless otherwise indicated.</p