Malaria is an uncommon cause of adult sepsis in south-western Uganda

Malaria is often considered a cause of adult sepsis in malaria endemic areas. However, diagnostic limitations can make distinction between malaria and other infections challenging. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the relative contribution of malaria to adult sepsis in south-western Uganda

First Molecular Epidemiological Study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Libya

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. The disease is characterized by the formation of chronic skin lesions followed by permanent scars and deformation of the infected area. It is distributed in many tropical and subtropical countries with more than 2 million cases every year. During the past few years CL has emerged as a major public health problem in Libya. So far, diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms and microscopic observation of parasites. Disease outbreaks were not investigated and the causative leishmanial species of CL were not identified so far. Our study indicates the presence of two coexisting species: Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica. These results are crucial in order to provide accurate treatment, precise prognosis and appropriate public health control measures. The recent armed conflict in Libya that ended with the Gadhafi regime collapse on October 2011 has affected all aspects of the life in the country. In this study we discussed multiple risk factors that could be associated with this conflict and present major challenges that should be considered by local and national health authorities for evaluating the CL burden and highlighting priority actions for disease control

Soap Production From Shea nut Butter

The study was carried out to explore the use of shea butter for soap production. The traditional method of extraction of the shea nut oil was employed. A simple cold-process alkali hydrolysis of the shea nut oil, which is a village adoptable technology was used in producing the soap. The chemical analysis of the oil revealed that it had saponification, iodine and acid values of 183.1 mgKOH/g, 53.6 I2/100g and 10.3 mgKOH/g respectively. Keywords: Shea nut butter, soap, saponification, village technology International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(4): 410-412, 200

Genotoxic effect of pesticides on gill tissues of green-lipped mussel <em>Perna viridis</em> (L.)

611-615The marine ecosystem is constantly threatened by a wide variety of anthropogenic hazardous chemicals, such as, heavy metals, pesticides, oil, petroleum hydrocarbons, etc., from industries, agricultural sources and sewage disposal. Pakistan, being a country with agriculture prominence, uses pesticides widely for crop protection, and thereby suffers from pollution. In the present study, we assessed a few biomarkers as indicators of the genotoxic chemicals, pesticides and herbicides. We inducted micronucleus (MN) in the gill tissues of green mussel Perna viridis (L.) exposed to different concentrations of organo-phosphate pesticides (chlorpyrifos, malathion) and synthetic pyrethroid pesticides (cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin) and a herbicide (buctril). The MN frequencies of the pesticides treated mussels were observed to increase significantly (P th day (10, 11.5 and 13.5‰ at 0.5, 1 and 1.5 ppm, respectively). The genotoxic effect of pesticides on Perna viridis (gill tissue) was in the following order cypermethrin > chlorpyrifos > malathion > lambda-cyhalothrin > buctril

In vitro and in vivo anti-colon cancer effects of Garcinia mangostana xanthones extract

Background: Xanthones are a group of oxygen-containing heterocyclic compounds with remarkable pharmacological effects such as anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities.Methods: A xanthones extract (81% α-mangostin and 16% γ-mangostin), was prepared by crystallization of a toluene extract of G. mangostana fruit rinds and was analyzed by LC-MS. Anti-colon cancer effect was investigated on HCT 116 human colorectal carcinoma cells including cytotoxicity, apoptosis, anti-tumorigenicity, and effect on cell signalling pathways. The in vivo anti-colon cancer activity was also investigated on subcutaneous tumors established in nude mice.Results: The extract showed potent cytotoxicity (median inhibitory concentration 6.5 ± 1.0 μg/ml), due to induction of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Three key steps in tumor metastasis including the cell migration, cell invasion and clonogenicity, were also inhibited. The extract and α-mangostin up-regulate the MAPK/ERK, c-Myc/Max, and p53 cell signalling pathways. The xanthones extract, when fed to nude mice, caused significant growth inhibition of the subcutaneous tumor of HCT 116 colorectal carcinoma cells.Conclusions: Our data suggest new mechanisms of action of α-mangostin and the G. mangostana xanthones, and suggest the xanthones extract of as a potential anti-colon cancer candidate