Occurrence of Salmonella and Shigella in edible frogs (Hoplobatrachus spp) from Hanwa Frog market Zaria, Nigeria

Frogs have been associated with bacterial infection among those who handle them resulting in symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, fever and vomiting. Frogs are a rich source of proteins and they are considered a delicacy by some in Nigeria. Considering the high demand for edible frogs, it is important to determine the occurrence of Salmonella and Shigella organisms from edible frogs (Hoplobatrachus spp). Edible frogs (n=202) were collected from February to July, 2016, from the Hanwa frog market, Zaria, Kaduna State. The intestinal contents of each sampled frog were scraped into the selenite broth bottles and cultured on Deoxycholate Citrate Agar for enrichment and isolation respectively. Biochemical test and sugar fermentation tests were carried out on the suspected isolates. Overall, twenty seven 27(13.37%) of the processed samples were suggestive of Shigella, while 22(10.9%) were suspect Salmonella organisms. There was no significant association between sex of the frogs and the isolation of Shigella and Salmonella organisms, despite the high occurrence of Shigella organism (14.17%) in the males. Source wise the occurrence of Salmonella in frogs was high in Tudun Wada (20%), while Katsina (8.5%) had the least. There was also no association between source and Shigella organisms. Frogs within the weight range of 175-224g had the highest occurrence rate for Shigella isolation, while frogs of 73-125g weight range had the highest occurrence rate for Salmonella isolation. This study shows the presence of Shigella and Salmonella organisms in the intestinal contents of frogs. Therefore the unhygienic and unsanitary environment, handling and processing of frogs is of great public health concern and as such measures are to be put together to ensure safety and wholesomeness of the frog meat been sold for human consumption.Keywords: Edible, Frog, Safety, Salmonella , Shigella, Zari

Effect of processing on iodine content of some selected plants food

Effect of processing on iodine content of some selected plants food was investigated. Results showsignificant reduction (p < 0.05) in the iodine content of the processed food compared with the rawforms. The iodine value of 658.60 ± 17.2 ìg/100g observed in raw edible portion of Discorea rotundatawas significantly higher compared with the value of 448.60 ± 2.46, 248.60 ± 2.46 and 300.05 ± 5.66ìg/100g dry matter observed in the boiled yam, pounded yam and yam flour, respectively. The resultalso indicates that the iodine value of 592.50 ± 8.22 ìg/100g dry matter observed in the raw form ofcassava was higher when compared with that of garri (366.03 ± 3.82 ìg/100g) and cassava flour (216.90± 1.03 ìg/100g dry matter). Similarly, raw Zea mays contain higher iodine (112.24 ± 0.42 ìg/100g)compared with boiled maize (79.44 ± 0.64 ìg/100g dry matter) and fresh ogi (45.07 ± 1.24 ìg/100g drymatter). The result also indicates that raw Vigina uguicnlata and Arachis hypogea contain higher iodinecontent (112.22 ± 0.22 and 119.62 ± 0.22 ìg/100g dry matter, respectively) when compared with theirboiled forms (97.33 ± 1.53 and 83.12 ± 1.35 ìg/100g, respectively). Results obtained in this study thusindicate that processing significantly reduces iodine content of food products, hence considerationmust be given to different processing methods when accessing Iodine intake from different processedfoods

Ethanolic leaf extract of Langenaria breviflora (bitter gourd) inhibits gastric onslaught in indomethacininduced ulcerated rats

Objective: Gastrointestinal toxicity remains a barrier to applications of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in medical practice. Plant extract with excellent therapeutic potential may proffer solution to this menace. Thisstudy investigated the gastroprotective effect of Lagenaria breviflora leaves extract against indomethacinmediated gastric ulcer in rats.Methodology and result: Ulceration in the rat was induced by a single oral dose of indomethacin (60 mg/kg body weight). Ulcerated rats were orally administered with Lagenaria breviflora extract at 200 mg/kg body weight once daily for 21 days prior to and after ulcer induction. Gastric secretions and antioxidant parameters were then evaluated. The study indicates that indomethacin caused a significant increase in ulcer index, gastric acidity, malondialadehyde level and pepsin activity. Administration of Lagenaria breviflora in rats reversed these metabolic alterations. The extract also attenuated the reduced activity of catalase, pH and mucin content in the ulcerated rats.Conclusions and application of findings: These findings are indicative of gastroprotective and antioxidative attributes of the extract, which is revealed in the percentage protection offered against ulceration. Thesupportive evidences in this study suggest that the effect of leaves extract of Lagenaria breviflora proved to be capable of modulating indomethacin-mediated gastric ulceration and could be harnessed as preventive therapyin the treatment of gastric ulcer related disorder.Key words: Gastroprotective; H2 receptor; Medicinal; NSAIDS; Proton pump inhibitor; Ulceration

Preliminary report on hepatic and cardiovascular risk assessment of automobile mechanics in Nigeria

Automechanics are among the job professionals in proximity to diesel and gasoline exhaust whose components are known to be toxic. This raises serious public health concern. This study is a population-based-cross-sectional survey, set up to investigate the risk of cardiovascular and hepatic injury incurred by people engaged in work as mechanics. For information on the year of experience, socio demography, nutrition and lifestyle, structured questionnaires were administered. Ninety-one out  of 186 mechanics drawn from 671 mechanic workshops along with 91 control subjects were analyzed. Venous blood was taken for determination of concentrations of lipids, transaminases and alkaline phosphatase activity. The body mass index, coronary and artherogenic risk index and blood pressure were also determined. Student’s t-test for unpaired samples was used to analyze all data. As such, Pvalues of <0.05 were accepted as significant. The mechanics’ total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and  HDL-cholesterol, were not different from that of the control subjects. The triglyceride level, artherogenic and coronary risk index of the mechanics was higher than that of the control subjects. However, the enzymes’ activity was not different for the mechanics and the control subjects, and the blood pressure of the mechanics was also not different from that of the control subjects. Our result does not suggest a greater risk of hepatic and cardiovascular diseases in the mechanics, but the observed increase in artherogenic and coronary risk index is, however, of interest.Key words: Occupational risk, mechanics, lipid profile, cardiovascular disease, liver dysfunction, benzene

Prevalence of hypercalcaemia in Shagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria

Nine hundred and two (902) patients were randomly selected from the patients that reported in the Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Shagamu, Nigeria. The period of study was 2 years. The prevalence of hypercalcaemia was found to be 3.79%, (Calcium level = 12.75 ± 2.30 mg/100ml), this finding is important because it calls for a greater concern in screening patients for hypercalcaemia. 61.76% of hypercalcaemic patients were diagnosed for malignant diseases (Calcium level = 13.11 ± 2.06mg/100ml). The malignant diseases ranged from various degrees of lymphoma to malignant ulcer. 38.24% were diagnosed for non-malignant diseases (Calcium level = 12.11 ± 1.08mg/100ml. The non-malignant diseases ranged from sepsis to respiratory diseases. Lymphoma constituted 35.29% of hypercalcaemic patients (Calcium level = 13.68 ± 2.20mg/100ml). Keywords: biochemical screening, hypercalcaemic patients, prevalence Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 4(2) 2005: 149-15

Nigerian mistletoe (Loranthus micranthusLinn) aqueous leaves extract modulates some cardiovascular disease risk factors in monosodium glutamate induced metabolic dysfunction

The safety of monosodium glutamates (MSG's) usage has generated much controversy locally and globally. This study investigates the efficacy of Loranthus micranthus in modulating the metabolic disorder associated with MSG intake. Thirty five (35) female rats randomized to three groups labeled 1 (7 rats), 2 (21 rats) and 3 (7 rats), respectively were used. They were administered with normal saline, MSG (200 mg/Kg) and MSG (200 mg/kg) + L. micranthus (600 mg/Kg), respectively for 28 days. Seven rats were then sacrificed from each group. The remaining rats in group 2 were then redistributed to groups labeled 4 and 5 consisting of 7 rats each. MSG was then withdrawn from all the rats. Group 4 was treated with L. Micranthus (600 mg/Kg) while normal saline was administered to group 5. All administrations were carried out for 30 days. The rats were then sacrificed and the serum was used for analysis. Analysis showed increase total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) -cholesterol, glucose and total protein concentrations and a reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) -cholesterol (when MSG was administered). These parameters were restored to normal with L. micranthus treatment. Although no histological change was observed in the uterus, there was a significant increase in organs relative weight when rats were placed on MSG but this was reversed with L. micranthus. The study suggests the efficacy of L. micranthus in reversing cardiovascular disorder and its ability to prevent MSG induced fibroid in rat.Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases, cholesterol, Lipid profile, Loranthus micranthus, of monosodium glutamates (MSG).African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(39) 3989-399

Protective Effect of Garcinia Kola (Kolaviron) Extract on Predisposition of Rats to Cardiovascular Diseases Following Separate Administration of Amodiaquine and Artesunate

This study was carried out to investigate the cardiovascular effect of administration of antimalarial drugs amodiaquine and artesunate and the efficacy of Garcinia kola extract (kolaviron) in protecting against such possible effect. Thirty (30) adult male albino rats divided into six (6) groups were used in this study. Groups D, E and F were treated with 100 mg/Kg b. w of the extract twice daily for the first one week and 200 mg/Kg b. w. /day for the subsequent three (3) weeks. Amodiaquine (10mg/Kg. b. w. /day) was administered orally for four (4) days into rats in groups A and E while rats in groups B and F were treated with artesunate (5mg/Kg b. w. /day) for four (4) days. Group C rats (normal control) were treated with normal saline. All the rats were sacrificed after four (4) weeks treatment period. Blood was withdrawn by cardiac puncture while the liver, kidney, stomach and heart were removed, cleansed and weigh. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in the serum, while total fibrinogen, platelet count, red blood cell and white blood cell count were measured in the whole blood. The artherogenic and coronary risk index were also determined. Results indicate that both amodiaquine and artesunate predispose to cardiovascular disease, however the effect was more pronounced with artesunate than amodiaquine. The result also suggests that both drugs could increase the risk of coronary and artherogenic diseases and that Garcinia kola do not prevent the cardiotoxicity and coronary risk effect

Iodine contents of some selected roots/tubers, cereals and legumes consumed in Nigeria

Some selected staple foods: tubers, cereals, and legumes, grown, sold and consumed in Ijebu-North Local Government area, Nigeria were evaluated for their iodine content using standard methods. Among the tubers, Ipomea batata (sweet potatoe, red species) was observed to have the highest iodine content (311.33±8.52 mgI) while the least iodine value of 88.97±1.31 mgI was recorded in Discovea avenmensis (cocoyam). Among the cereals, maize was observed to have the highest iodine content(100.96±3.50 mgI). When the iodine content of the legumes was compared, the highest was observed in Glycine soja (soybean; 179.56±4.66 mgI) while the least was in Cucus melo (mellon; 29.84±1.21 mgI). Result from our findings indicated that most of the staple foods contain high level of iodine