EFFECTS OF RAW AND COOKED AQUEOUS AND METHANOL EXTRACTS OF PHASEOLUS VULGARIS (KIDNEY BEANS) ON RENAL FUNCTION IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Objective: Phaseolus vulgaris, like other beans, is endowed with rich nutritional contents. This study evaluated the effects of raw and cooked aqueous and methanol extracts of P. vulgaris on renal function in albino Wistar rats. Methods: Oral acute toxicity (LD50) study of both extracts was conducted in two phases. In the main design, a total 36 Wistar albino rats were used and divided into nine groups of four rats and oral administration lasted for 7 days. Group 1 served as control and 2 – 9 treated groups. Groups 2 and 3; 4 and 5 were administered aqueous extracts while groups 6 and 7; 8 and 9 were administered methanol extracts of 350mg/kg and 550mg/kg body weight raw and cooked P. vulgaris respectively. Results: Results of LD50 of all extracts were greater than 5000mg/kg. Results showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in concentrations of urea and chloride across test groups administered aqueous extracts, than methanol extracts; a significant (P<0.05) increase in serum creatinine in test groups administered methanol extracts; a significant (P<0.05) increase of serum total protein of test groups compared to control; no significant (P<0.05) difference in the concentration of potassium in test groups administered compared to control group. Conclusion: It may be concluded that P. vulgaris portrays potentials capable of improving renal function and its consumption may contribute to the wellness of a person due to its rich nutrients, and based on the duration of this work and standard scale of toxicity; the extracts are practically non- toxic since the LD50 was greater than 5000mg/kg.                     Peer Review History: Received 17 May 2020; Revised 25 June; Accepted 3 July, Available online 15 July 2020   Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Al-Razi university, Department of Pharmacy, Yemen, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Prof. Dr. Ali Gamal Ahmed Al-kaf, Sana'a university, Yemen, [email protected] Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia, [email protected]  Similar Articles: ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF BAPHIA NITIDA EVALUATION OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF EUPHORBIA NERIIFOLIA STEM BARK ON BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS, SERUM AND TISSUE LIPIDS IN A PRECLINICAL MODEL ANTI-HYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIU

Stroke genetics informs drug discovery and risk prediction across ancestries

Previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of stroke - the second leading cause of death worldwide - were conducted predominantly in populations of European ancestry(1,2). Here, in cross-ancestry GWAS meta-analyses of 110,182 patients who have had a stroke (five ancestries, 33% non-European) and 1,503,898 control individuals, we identify association signals for stroke and its subtypes at 89 (61 new) independent loci: 60 in primary inverse-variance-weighted analyses and 29 in secondary meta-regression and multitrait analyses. On the basis of internal cross-ancestry validation and an independent follow-up in 89,084 additional cases of stroke (30% non-European) and 1,013,843 control individuals, 87% of the primary stroke risk loci and 60% of the secondary stroke risk loci were replicated (P < 0.05). Effect sizes were highly correlated across ancestries. Cross-ancestry fine-mapping, in silico mutagenesis analysis(3), and transcriptome-wide and proteome-wide association analyses revealed putative causal genes (such as SH3PXD2A and FURIN) and variants (such as at GRK5 and NOS3). Using a three-pronged approach(4), we provide genetic evidence for putative drug effects, highlighting F11, KLKB1, PROC, GP1BA, LAMC2 and VCAM1 as possible targets, with drugs already under investigation for stroke for F11 and PROC. A polygenic score integrating cross-ancestry and ancestry-specific stroke GWASs with vascular-risk factor GWASs (integrative polygenic scores) strongly predicted ischaemic stroke in populations of European, East Asian and African ancestry(5). Stroke genetic risk scores were predictive of ischaemic stroke independent of clinical risk factors in 52,600 clinical-trial participants with cardiometabolic disease. Our results provide insights to inform biology, reveal potential drug targets and derive genetic risk prediction tools across ancestries.</p

Intestinal Helminth Infection among Primary School Children in Ntezi Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria

A survey of intestinal helminth infections among primary school children in Ntezi, Ishielu LGA of Ebonyi state, Nigeria was undertaken using direct smear and egg floatation techniques. A total of three hundred stool samples were collected from pupils of both sexes and examined. Their ages ranged from six to fourteen years old. 81 out of the 300 samples were positive for various intestinal helminths with hookworm accounting for 16.7%; Ascaris lumbricoides, 8%; Trichuris trichura,1%; Strongyloides stercoralis,0.67%; and mixed infections of hookworm and Ascaris 0.67%. Age and sex affected the pattern of infections. Pupils aged 6-8 years had the highest prevalence of 40(35.6%); 9-11 years 32(33.3%) and 12-14 years had 9(10%). Infection was more in females (33.3%) than in males (19.6%). Pupils that defecate in the bush had highest infection of 15%; pit toilet 6.7%; stream 5% while those that use water closet had no infection. Assessment on source of water showed that pupils who use stream water had the highest infections of 45 (58%); well water 23(28.4%); borehole 11(13.6%) and rainfall had no infection. Infections were detected in all the schools investigated. The study showed that school pupils carry heavy intestinal parasite burden and the socio-economic status of parents, source of water and methods of fecal wastes disposal all had contributory effects on the prevalence of infections. To reduce the prevalence and effects of helminth infections in the area, school-based de-worming campaign, public health awareness programmes, improved water supply and improved socio-economic status of the populace are recommended

Endemicity Of Malaria Among Primary School Children In Ebonyi State, Nigeria

A study was undertaken to determine the prevalence o malaria among primary schoolchildren in Ebonyi State. The degree of malaria parasite, infection and species of the parasite isolated were used to determine the level of endemicity of the disease. Out of one thousand and two hundred (1,200) primary schoo children aged between 5 –16 years sampled, the prevalence rate of 40.08 % was recorded. The species of the parasite associated with the disease was Plasmodium falciparum. It was observed that the rate of malaria parasitaemia was higher in younger (aged 5-10 years) than those of older (aged 11-16 years) children. A X2-test conducted on the infection rate according to ages of the pupils showed significant difference between the age groups indicating that infection was age dependent (P 0.05). Among the Local Government Areas, Ivo had the highest prevalence rate. This was followed by Ishielu and Abakaliki local government areas of Ebonyi State. The results showed that malaria is endemic in the state and a major health problem for school children. The possible effect on academic performancewas discussed. Keywords: Malaria, Prevalence, Children, Endemicity, Parasitaemia, Ebonyi State Animal Research International Vol. 1 (3) 2004 pp. 155-15

Evaluation of parasitic contamination from local sources of drinking-water in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Water-borne parasitic infections have become a source of concern in recent times due to the  contamination of various drinking-water sources. A survey on the parasitic contamination of  drinking-water sources was carried out in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria. This is to evaluate the extent of contamination of these water sources and their public health implication. A total of 63 water samples were investigated from five major water sources within the study area. The samples were collected from ponds, wells, streams, boreholes and rain water and examined using Calcium Carbonate Floatation and Simple Microscopic methods. Among the water sources, pond water had the highest occurrence of parasites 35.9% followed by stream 28.1%, well 21.9%, borehole 9.4% while rainwater had the least 4.7%.Each of the sample sources harboured at least one parasite. Three parasites – Gardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptos poridiumparvum were observed in their cystic and oocystic forms. Among these parasites, Entamoeba histolystica had the highest prevalence of 29(45.3%), Gardia lamblia 22 (34.4%) and Cryptos poridium parvum 13 (20.3%). The results showed the extent of parasitic contamination of the various drinking water sources in the study area and the susceptibility of the populace to water-borne diseases. Hence, provision of portable water is of utmost importance within the area and the state in general. The inhabitants of the area should also stop activities that lead to the contamination of the water bodies and boil their drinking-water before consumption.Keywords: water-borne, parasites, contamination, cyst, oocyst

Assessment of intestinal parasites in goats slaughtered at Abakaliki Abattoir, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Intestinal helminth parasites constitute a serious impediment to small scale animal production by causing high mortality and low production in flocks. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminthes in goats slaughtered in Abakaliki Abattoir, Ebonyi State, Nigeria between October and November 2013. Faecal samples from the duodenum of 200 goats were collected and examined for the presence of adult worms, larvae and eggs of parasitic intestinal helminthes using simple flotation method and microscopy. Different species of nematodes, cestodes and trematodes were isolated. The nematode species include Trichostrongylus sp (10.4%), Ostertagia sp (15.0%), Bonustomu sp (5.4%), Oesophagostum sp (14.5%), Oesophagostum sp (13.2%),i(15.7%), Trichiuria sp (12.1%), Strongyloides sp (10.2%) and Nematodirus sp (3.4%). The cestode species include Monieze sp (60.4%)), Taenia sp (31.3%) and Amphistomum sp (8.4%). The trematode was Fasciola hepatica (54.3%). Mixed infections occurred as Nematode/Cestodes (47.1%), Nematode/Trematode (28.9%), Cestodes/Trematode (14.5%) and Nematode/trematode (8.7%). The results therefore suggest the need for effective prevention and control of helminthes infection in goats towards ensuring high animal production and resultant zoonotic effects of these  parasites.Keywords: goats, intestinal helminth, prevalence, domestic, abbattoir

Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in sexually active women of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Aresearch to investigate the prevalence of urinary tract infections in sexually active women (18 – 41 years) from selected health care centres in Abakaliki was carried out. Attempt was made to fined out the number of treated cases, aetiologic agents and age range with highest incdence o urinary tract infections over the study period (2004 – 2005). Medical records of urinary tract infected women from the selected health care centres were reviewed. The prevalence of urinary tract infections was high (1232) among the study group and Escherichia coli was implicated as theprincipal causative agent of these infections. The high prevalence recorded in this study makes it necessary for women to be adequately educated on matters affecting their reproductive health. There is also the need for government of the state to provide improved, adequate and affordable health care services in the communities.Keyword: Prevalence, Urinary, Tract infection, Sexually active wome

Larvicidal effects of ethanol extracts on leaves and fruits of Physalis angulata L. on the larvae of Anopheles mosquitoes from Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The larvicidal activities of ethanol extracts of leaves and fruits of Physalis angulata L. on the larvae of Anopheles mosquitoes were investigated. Larval mortalities were recorded within 30 minutes of contact with the plant extracts. Leaf extracts of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% concentrations caused 61%, 80% 91% and 92% mortalities while the same concentrations o fruit extracts caused 38%, 47%, 72% and 83% mortalties respectively. A combination of leaf and fruit extracts exerted synergistic effects and caused higher mortality rates of 67%, 84%, 91% and 95% mortalties at the same concentrations and time. The results also showed that the larvicidal effects of the leaf, fruit and synergy extracts increased wth increase in concentration. Significant result was observed for the synergy with 20% extract causing 95% mortality. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) among the leaf, fruit and synergy extracts. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloid (2.0%), cyanide (0.30%), flavonoid (15.5%), phytate (0.02%), saponin (2.0%) and tannin (0.05%) in the leaf and 0.01%, 0.2%, 13.2%0.01%, 1% 0.03% respectivelyinthe fruitKeywords: Larvicidal, Effects, Physalis angulata, Anopheles, Synergy, Ebonyi Stat

Multiancestry association study identifies new asthma risk loci that colocalize with immune-cell enhancer marks.

We examined common variation in asthma risk by conducting a meta-analysis of worldwide asthma genome-wide association studies (23,948 asthma cases, 118,538 controls) of individuals from ethnically diverse populations. We identified five new asthma loci, found two new associations at two known asthma loci, established asthma associations at two loci previously implicated in the comorbidity of asthma plus hay fever, and confirmed nine known loci. Investigation of pleiotropy showed large overlaps in genetic variants with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The enrichment in enhancer marks at asthma risk loci, especially in immune cells, suggested a major role of these loci in the regulation of immunologically related mechanisms