Evaluation of microorganisms transmissible through handshake

Microorganisms transmissible through handshake were experimentally isolated from samples collected from primary and secondary school students as well as undergraduates and staff of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Bacteria isolated include Staphylococcus aureus, S. epididimis, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Actinobacillus sp while fungi isolated include Penicillum notatum, Aspergillus niger and Cladosporium sp. The prevalence of these microorgansims was higher in the primary and secondary school students than in the undergraduates and staff of the university. The significance of the findings to public health in general is discussed

Influence of Sprouting on Proximate and Anti-nutritional Factors of Jacbean ( Canavalia ensiformis ) Flour

The influence of sprouting on proximate and anti-nutritional factors of Jackbean flour was investigated. Jackbean was procured from the Genetic Resources Unit of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria. The seeds were carefully sorted and sprouted for 10 days. The sprouted and unprocessed (control) bean were then milled into flour and thereafter assessed for proximate and antinutritional factors. The data generated were subjected to statistical analyses using SAS 2.0 and SPSS 20.0 packages. The results of influence of sprouting on proximate constituents and anti-nutritional factors revealed that sprouting for nine days (S5) resulted in flour sample with highest protein content and significant reduction in anti-nutritional factors most especially trypsin inhibitor from 32.08 \ub1 0.13; 29.18 \ub1 0.46 in control to 39.50 \ub1 0.06; 18.33 \ub1 0.03 in the sprouted samples respectively. Sprouting thus had positive effect on proximate and anti-nutritional factors of Jackbean flour

Screening for antimicrobial activity of ten medicinal plants used in Colombian folkloric medicine: A possible alternative in the treatment of non-nosocomial infections

BACKGROUND: The antimicrobial activity and Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the extracts of Bidens pilosa L., Bixa orellana L., Cecropia peltata L., Cinchona officinalis L., Gliricidia sepium H.B. & K, Jacaranda mimosifolia D.Don, Justicia secunda Vahl., Piper pulchrum C.DC, P. paniculata L. and Spilanthes americana Hieron were evaluated against five bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus β hemolític, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli), and one yeast (Candida albicans). These plants are used in Colombian folk medicine to treat infections of microbial origin. METHODS: Plants were collected by farmers and traditional healers. The ethanol, hexane and water extracts were obtained by standard methods. The antimicrobial activity was found by using a modified agar well diffusion method. All microorganisms were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). MIC was determined in the plant extracts that showed some efficacy against the tested microorganisms. Gentamycin sulfate (1.0 μg/ml), clindamycin (0.3 μg/ml) and nystatin (1.0 μg/ml) were used as positive controls. RESULTS: The water extracts of Bidens pilosa L., Jacaranda mimosifolia D.Don, and Piper pulchrum C.DC showed a higher activity against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli than gentamycin sulfate. Similarly, the ethanol extracts of all species were active against Staphylococcus aureus except for Justicia secunda. Furthermore, Bixa orellana L, Justicia secunda Vahl. and Piper pulchrum C.DC presented the lowest MICs against Escherichia coli (0.8, 0.6 and 0.6 μg/ml, respectively) compared to gentamycin sulfate (0.9 8g/ml). Likewise, Justicia secunda and Piper pulchrum C.DC showed an analogous MIC against Candida albicans (0.5 and 0.6 μg/ml, respectively) compared to nystatin (0.6 μg/ml). Bixa orellana L, exhibited a better MIC against Bacillus cereus (0.2 μg/ml) than gentamycin sulfate (0.5 μg/ml). CONCLUSION: This in vitro study corroborated the antimicrobial activity of the selected plants used in folkloric medicine. All these plants were effective against three or more of the pathogenic microorganisms. However, they were ineffective against Streptococcus β hemolytic and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Their medicinal use in infections associated with these two species is not recommended. This study also showed that Bixa orellana L, Justicia secunda Vahl. and Piper pulchrum C.DC could be potential sources of new antimicrobial agents

Prevalence of self-harm among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adolescents: a comparison of personal and social adversity with a heterosexual sample in Ghana

Objectives We sought to estimate the prevalence of self-reported self-harm among adolescents identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) in Ghana, and compare self-reported personal and social adversities related to self-harm in this group to those in a random sample of heterosexual adolescents from the same locality. Results A total of 444 adolescents aged 13-21 years, comprising 74 LGBT adolescents and 370 heterosexual adolescents, provided data. The lifetime prevalence estimate of self-harm was higher in the LGBT group (47%) than the heterosexual group (23%). The LGBT group reported a higher rate of self-harm during the previous 12 months (45%), compared to the heterosexual group (18%). LGBT adolescents reported more alcohol and substance use and more personal social adversities, including various forms of victimisation, than heterosexual adolescents. They were no more likely to report difficulty in making and keeping friends or schoolwork problems than were heterosexual adolescents

Atypical presentation of clay shoveler’s fracture: A case report and literature review

Clay shoveler’s fracture causes disruption of the spinous processes at C6 to T3 spinal vertebrae.This is a case report of an atypical clay shoveler’s fracture from Babcock university teaching Hospital ,Ogun-state, Nigeria. It involved a 62-year-old male travelling in the south-western region of Nigeria who was invloved in a Road traffic accident and presented with pain at the posterior aspect of the neck.X-ray and 3D oriented CT scan confirmed the fractures with lateral views being the most favored.Classical Clay shoveler’s fracture usually has no neuromuscular deficit since it is a stable fracture and involves only the posterior spinal column based on the Denis classification for 3 column concept for stable and unstable fractures of the spine.When a fracture involves the spinolaminar line it’s proximity to the spinal cord and risk of neurological deficit must be adequately ruled out.This report evaluates the mechanism of injury, treatment given and prognosis of the patient involved.</p

Water Supply and Sanitation Facility Accessibility in Off-Campus Houses Populated by Students in Tertiary Institutions, Abeokuta, Nigeria

Water as potential in the transmission of parasitic diseases was used to evaluate its access and sanitation facility in off-campus hostels populated by students of tertiary institutions in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were administered to 600 consented students to obtain information on drinking water source, rate of illness, type and usage of sanitation facilities. Geographical Positioning System was used to obtain coordinates of the different houses. Data were analysed using SPSS version 17.0. Results showed that 59% of students were males and females (41%). Age groups were varied; 54%of the respodents were within 21-25 years. On access to water supply, only 29% had water in their premises, while 71% access water elsewhere of 30 minutes distance. The sources include borehole, protected dug wells, unprotected dug wells; while others during the wet season harvest rain water. Only 18% of the students treated their water by boiling it, adding chlorine, solar disinfection, or adding alum to concentrate the sediments before drinking. Most houses (98%) had sanitary/toilet facilities but the households shared the facilities. A significant relationship (p&lt;0.05) was observed between access to water and number of households. On perception of students to implications of disease transmission, 66% of students were aware; but only 23% had not fallen ill since the past one year. It is advocated that provision of improved facilities for sanitary disposal of excreta should be made available for households, in addition to safe and sufficient water to avoid future disease outbreak.Keywords: Water, Sanitation, Accessibility, Students, Abeokut

Utilization of dental services by administrative staff in a tertiary health institution in Lagos, Nigeria: a pilot study

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The associations of malaria parasite and ABO blood groups with aggressive periodontitis in Nigerians - a preliminary study

Objective: Aggressive Periodontitis (AgP) is a rare form of periodontitis which has been associated with aetiological factors including genetic predisposition, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and blood group B. It seems to have a racial predisposition being more common among blacks, particularly people of West African origin. The role of endemic factors such as malaria is yet to be investigated in AgP. The aim of this study was to explore the associations of malaria parasites and ABO blood groups with aggressive periodontitis.Method: A preliminary case-control study on localized aggressive periodontitis patients and age and gender matched controls. Microbiological and hematological tests were performed to determine the presence of malaria parasites and ABO blood groups respectively.Result: Eight LAgP patients and 9 age and gender-matched controls were seen. Six patients were positive for Plasmodium Falciparum malaria parasite, compared with 2 controls. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.044). The prevalence of malaria infection was not significantly associated with age (p = 0.44) or gender (p = 0.34) of the subjects.Conclusion: This preliminary study showed a high prevalence of malaria parasites among patients with aggressive periodontitis. Malaria infection may be associated with AgP. Studies with larger sample sizes may be needed to further investigate the relationship between aggressive periodontitis and malaria infection.Key words: Aggressive periodontitis, Malaria parasite, ABO blood group, Control