Assessment of heavy metals bioavailability in dumpsites of Zaria Metropolis, Nigeria

The objectives of this study was to investigate the chemical fractionation, mobility and bioavailability of Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn in refuse waste soils of some dumpsites in Zaria metropolis. The heavy metals in the waste soils samples were sequentially extracted and measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean of total extractable metals in the samples analysed for Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn ranged from 25.86 – 95.71, 1.70 – 446.43, 141.92 – 423.22, 39.9 – 739.10, and 122.45 – 511.57 mgKg-1 dry weight, respectively. Cd and Pb were mostly found to be in the mobile phase of the samples indicating that the metals are potentially more bioavailable to the environment than the other metals studied. Overall, the order of mobility and bioavailability of the metals is Cd > Pb > Zn > Mn > Cu

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Fourier Transformed Infra-Red analysis of Senna occidentalis root

Senna occidentalis Linn is a member of the Fabaceae family (Leguminosae family). Different parts of the plant have been used in Hausa traditional medicine to treat various ailments ranging from microbial infections, jaundice and body weakness to fevers. The roots, leaves, flowers and seeds have been employed in herbal medicine around the world in various treatments. Senna occidentalis root was extracted using distilled water and methanol and was used to carry out phytochemical screening which revealed the presence of carbohydrates, monosaccharides, reducing sugars, combined reducing sugars, tannins, free anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids and alkaloids. Fractionation of the methanol extract was done with four different solvents. The ethyl acetate fraction was further used for thin layer chromatography (TLC) and column chromatography (CC) and the sub-fractions obtained were coded ARE-GRE. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed on ARE sub-fraction where fifteen different phytochemical compounds were identified. Fourier Transformed-Infra Red (FT-IR) analysis also showed sixteen peaks of different shapes and wavelengths. The presence of these phytochemicals in the roots of the plant could justify its use in traditional medicine to treat antimicrobial infections and other diseases

Case Report Common Atrium: A Rare Cause of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

We report a rare case of common atrium and acute decompensated heart failure most likely precipitated by acute bacterial pericarditis leading to premature death, in a 25-year-old male footballer. The silent course of the disease for decades as well as the diagnostic and management pitfalls of this case illustrates the importance of early detection by echocardiography and urgent appropriate treatment in intensive care settings to limit the poor prognosis of the condition

Pharmacognostic and Acute Toxicity Study of Burkea Africana Root

Burkea africana is a plant that belongs to then family Fabaceae; it is widely spread in tropical Africa including Nigeria. It is of valuable in  ethnomedicine especially in the treatment of antidote for venomous stings and bites, cutaneous and sub cutaneous parasitic infection, convulsion and pulmonary troubles. Despite the fact that roots of Burkea africana have several medicinal properties, no standardization parameter has been  assessed. Due to lack of standard parameters, proper identification and ascertaining quality and purity in the events of adulteration has been thwarted. The objective of the study was to establish some important pharmacognostic profile and safety margin of Burkea africana root with the hope of assisting in its standardization for quality, purity and safety. Elemental analysis was carried out using acid digestion method and phytochemical composition of the plants was evaluated using standard method. Acute toxicity was achieved using Lorke method to determine the LD50. Chemomicroscopical evaluation revealed the presence of cellulose, tannins, starch, lignin, calcium oxalate, suberin, aleurone grain and mucilage with the exception of calcium carbonate. The average moisture contents, total ash, acid insoluble, water soluble ash, alcohol extractive value and water extractive values in the powdered plant material were 3.8%, 7.5%, 4.43%, 8.07%, 25.0% and 20.33% respectively. In addition, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cu were found to be within the safety limit. Phytochemicals which include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates and triterpenes were detected in both aqueous and methanolic extracts. The LD50 of Burkea africana was found to be greater than 5000 mg /kg and could be considered safe for consumption. Keywords: Elemental analysis, Burkea africana, Pharmacognostic, Phytochemica

APOE E4 is associated with impaired self-declared cognition but not disease risk or age of onset in Nigerians with Parkinson's disease

The relationship between APOE polymorphisms and Parkinson's disease (PD) in black Africans has not been previously investigated. We evaluated the association between APOE polymorphic variability and self-declared cognition in 1100 Nigerians with PD and 1097 age-matched healthy controls. Cognition in PD was assessed using the single item cognition question (item 1.1) of the MDS-UPDRS. APOE genotype and allele frequencies did not differ between PD and controls (p > 0.05). No allelic or genotypic association was observed between APOE and age at onset of PD. In PD, APOE ε4/ε4 conferred a two-fold risk of cognitive impairment compared to one or no ε4 (HR: 2.09 (95% CI: 1.13-3.89; p = 0.02)), while APOE ε2 was associated with modest protection against cognitive impairment (HR: 0.41 (95% CI 0.19-0.99, p = 0.02)). Of 773 PD with motor phenotype and APOE characterized, tremor-dominant (TD) phenotype predominated significantly in ε2 carriers (87/135, 64.4%) compared to 22.2% in persons with postural instability/gait difficulty (PIGD) (30/135) and 13.3% in indeterminate (ID) (18/135, 13.3%) (p = 0.037). Although the frequency of the TD phenotype was highest in homozygous ε2 carriers (85.7%), the distribution of motor phenotypes across the six genotypes did not differ significantly (p = 0.18). Altogether, our findings support previous studies in other ethnicities, implying a role for APOE ε4 and ε2 as risk and protective factors, respectively, for cognitive impairment in PD

Possible role of HIV in stroke: HIV status of stroke patients as seen in A Tertiary Hospital

Background: Stroke has been reported as a complication of HIV/AIDS. However, sparse data exists to quantify the risk of AIDS-associated stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine the HIV status of stroke patients; as well as the frequency of well-established stroke risk factors disease. Method: This was a hospital-based, case-control study. Sixty five (65) consecutive stroke patients (36 males and 29 females) aged 20-68 years and sixty five (65) age-and-sex matched controls were enrolled. A structured questionnaire was administered. Neurological examination was performed and computed tomography scan of the brain done. Blood samples were taken for HIV 1&2 screening using ELISA method positive test using two different kits constituted a positive result. Result: The frequency of HIV infection among stroke cases was significantly higher than in controls 13 (20%) versus 3 (4.6%): p-value <0.016. Odds ratio 5.17. Conclusion: Human Immunodeficiency virus infection might be a risk factor for ischemic stroke in the adult population of North-eastern Nigeria. Therefore, a longitudinal community based study is suggested to further elucidate the relationship between HIV infection and risk of stroke

Attitude of medical practitioners to chronic pain management at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital

Background: Chronic pain occurs in various medical conditions including among others, arthritis, herniated disc, cancer and trauma. It is a leading cause of lost workdays and economic loss worldwide. Doctors may view pain as a mere vexing side effect of a primary medical conditions rather than a serious and consequential health issues in its own right. This study seeks to assess doctor′s attitude towards management of chronic pain. Methods: The study was conducted between January and March 2007 at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, using a 7-item self-administered questionnaire to determine the attitude of medical practitioners towards pain management. Data obtained included gender, type of chronic pain disorder, goal in pain management, use of analgesic and strong opiates; and multi-disciplinary approach to chronic pain management. Results: Of the 65 medical practitioners, 52 (80%) responded. Respondents represented the following medical disciplines: Internal Medicine (17.3%) Surgery (5.8%) Pediatrics (11.4%) Obstetrics/ Gynecology (15.9%o) and General Out-Patient Department (49.6%>). Low back pain was the commonest type of chronic pain. It was observed in 48.1%> of patients. The main goals of medical practitioners in chronic pain management included adequate pain relief (65.4%), absolute pain relief (30.8%) and moderate pain relief (3.8%). A high percentage (51.9%>) of clinicians showed negative psychologic traits regarding use of opiates. Conclusion: Adequate rather than absolute pain relief or moderate pain relief is the main goal of chronic pain management among medical practitioners. Many clinicians demonstrated negative attitude regarding use of opiates

Role of genetics in the etiopathogenesis of genetic generalized epilepsy: A review of current literature

Until recently, genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) was believed to be of presumed genetic etiology with no identifiable genetic mutation or demonstrable epigenetic abnormality. A wide range of epileptic disorders has clue for an inherited susceptibility. Monogenic disorders associated with epilepsy mental retardation and structural brain lesion typified by heterotopias, tuberous sclerosis, and progressive myoclonus epilepsies account for about 1% of epilepsies. This review focuses on the role of genetic mutations and epigenetic rearrangements in the pathophysiologic mechanism of GGE. To achieve this; PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were systematically and comprehensively searched using keywords (“epilepsy” “juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME),” “typical absences,” “idiopathic generalized epilepsy,” “JME,” “juvenile absence epilepsy,” “childhood absence epilepsy” “generalized tonic-clonic seizure” “GTCS”). Most GGE has evidence of underlying genetic inheritance. Recent animal studies have shown that early detection and treatment of genetic generalized epilepsies can alter the phenotypic presentation in rodents. These findings suggest a critical period in epileptogenesis, during which spike-and-wave seizures can be suppressed, leading to chronic changes in the brain (epileptogenesis) and the preceding dysfunctions may, therefore, be targeted using therapeutic approaches that may either delay or inhibit the transition to active epileptic attack. The interplay between genetic mutations and epigenetic rearrangements play important roles in the development of GCE and that this process, especially at crucial developmental periods, is very susceptible to environmental modulations