Antimicrobial activity and phytochemicals analysis of vernonia aemulans, vernonia amygdalina, lantana camara and markhamia lutea leaves as natural beer preservatives

Background: African traditional beers are both considered as food and beverages for African people and hence preserving them using the natural additive is of utmost importance. In the present study, the antimicrobial activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Rwandan plants Vernonia aemulans, Vernonia amygdalina, Lantana camara and Markhamia lutea leaves were tested against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium and Sacharomyces cerevisiae. Methodology: The antimicrobial activity was carried out by the disc diffusion method. The phytochemical screening of ethanolic extracts of these Rwandan plants was determined using standard method of analysis. Result: The results showed that the ethanol and aqueous extracts of V. aemulans, V. amygdalina, L. camara and M. lutea leaves have antibacterial activity against food spoilage bacteria and food-borne pathogens with inhibitory zone diameters ranging between 3-26 mm. All extracts analyzed did not possess antimicrobial activity against S. cerevisaie, which plays major role in African beers fermentation. The Gram-negative bacteria tested were found to be resistant only against the extracts of M. lutea leaves. The extracts of V. aemulans, V. amygdalina and L. camara possess antibacterial activities both against the Gram-positive (B. subtilis and S. aureus) and negative (E. coli and S. typhimurium) bacteria with the minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 2-16 mg mL-1. These inhibitory properties had been attributed to the presence of tannins (9.2-99 mg g-1), flavonoids (62.4-87.4 mg g-1), saponins (39.8-65 mg g-1), phenolic compounds (22.6-42.8 mg g-1) and alkaloids (32-40.7 mg g-1) in these plants. Conclusion: The findings established that V. aemulans, V. amygdalina and L. camara leaves can be used as natural beer preservatives with considerable market opportunities in African brewing industry due to their strong antimicrobial activity imparting extended shelf-life with less harmful effects. © 2017 Francisco Abel Lemos Alves et al

malaria infection among schoolchildren in highland Rwanda

Background Plasmodium infection and malaria in school children are increasingly recognized as a relevant public health problem, but data on actual prevalence and health consequences are insufficient. The present study from highland southern Rwanda aimed at estimating infection prevalence among children attending school, at identifying associated factors and at assessing the clinical consequences of these infections. Methods In a survey including 12 schools in the Huye district of Rwanda, 1089 children aged 6–10 years were clinically and anthropometrically examined, malaria parasites were diagnosed by microscopy and PCR, haemoglobin concentrations were measured, and socio- economic and behavioural parameters as well as medical histories were obtained. Results Upon examination, the vast majority of children was asymptomatic (fever 2.7%). Plasmodium infection was detected in 22.4% (Plasmodium falciparum, 18.8%); 41% of these were submicroscopic. Independent predictors of infection included low altitude, higher age, preceding antimalarial treatment, and absence of electricity or a bicycle in the household. Plasmodium infection was associated with anaemia (mean haemoglobin difference of −1.2 g/dL; 95% CI, −0.8 to −1.5 g/dL), fever, underweight, clinically assessed malnutrition and histories of fever, tiredness, weakness, poor appetite, abdominal pain, and vomiting. With the exception of underweight, these conditions were also increased at submicroscopic infection. Conclusion Malaria infection is frequent among children attending school in southern highland Rwanda. Although seemingly asymptomatic in the vast majority of cases, infection is associated with a number of non-specific symptoms in the children´s histories, in addition to the impact on anaemia. This argues for improved malaria surveillance and control activities among school children

Euthanasia and other end-of-life decisions: a mortality follow-back study in Belgium

BACKGROUND: This study compares prevalence and types of medical end-of-life decisions between the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities of Belgium. This is the first nationwide study that can make these comparisons and the first measurement after implementation of the euthanasia law (2002). METHODS: We performed a mortality follow-back study in 2005-2006. Data were collected via the nationwide Sentinel Network of General Practitioners, an epidemiological surveillance system representative of all Belgian GPs.Weekly, all GPs reported the medical end-of-life decisions among all non-sudden deaths of patients in their practice. We compared the northern Dutch-speaking (60%) and southern French-speaking communities (40%) controlling for population differences. RESULTS: We analysed 1690 non-sudden deaths. An end-of-life decision with possible life-shortening effect was made in 50% of patients in the Dutch-speaking community and 41% of patients in the French-speaking community (OR 1.4; 95%CI, 1.2 to 1.8). Continuous deep sedation until death occurred in 8% and 15% respectively (OR 0.5; 95%CI, 0.4 to 0.7). Community differences regarding the prevalence of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide were not significant.Community differences were more present among home/care home than among hospital deaths: non-treatment decisions with explicit life-shortening intention were made more often in the Dutch-speaking than in the French-speaking community settings (OR 2.2; 95%CI, 1.2 to 3.9); while continuous deep sedation occurred less often in the Dutch-speaking community settings (OR 0.5; 95%CI, 0.3 to 0.9). CONCLUSION: Even though legal and general healthcare systems are the same for the whole country, there are considerable variations between the communities in type and prevalence of certain end-of-life decisions, even after controlling for population difference

Nationwide monitoring of end-of-life care via the Sentinel Network of General Practitioners in Belgium: the research protocol of the SENTI-MELC study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>End-of-life care has become an issue of great clinical and public health concern. From analyses of official death certificates, we have societal knowledge on how many people die, at what age, where and from what causes. However, we know little about how people are dying. There is a lack of population-based and nationwide data that evaluate and monitor the circumstances of death and the care received in the final months of life. The present study was designed to describe the places of end-of-life care and care transitions, the caregivers involved in patient care and the actual treatments and care provided to dying patients in Belgium. The patient, residence and healthcare characteristics associated with these aspects of end-of-life care provision will also be studied. In this report, the protocol of the study is outlined.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>We designed a nationwide mortality follow-back study with data collection in 2005 and 2006, via the nationwide Belgian Sentinel Network of General Practitioners (GPs) i.e. an existing epidemiological surveillance system representative of all GPs in Belgium, covering 1.75% of the total Belgian population. All GPs were asked to report weekly, on a standardized registration form, every patient (>1 year) in their practice who had died, and to identify patients who had died "non-suddenly." The last three months of these patients' lives were surveyed retrospectively. Several quality control measures were used to ensure data of high scientific quality.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>In 2005 and 2006, respectively 1385 and 1305 deaths were identified of which 66% and 63% died non-suddenly. The first results are expected in 2007. Via this study, we will build a descriptive epidemiological database on end-of-life care provision in Belgium, which might serve as baseline measurement to monitor end-of-life care over time. The study will inform medical practice as well as healthcare authorities in setting up an end-of-life care policy. We publish the protocol here to inform others, in particular countries with analogue GP surveillance networks, on the possibilities of performing end-of-life care research. A preliminary analysis of the possible strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of our research is outlined.</p

Oral Health Care Habits And Its Role In Preventing Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes In Rwanda

Background: More than 20 million infants in the world (15.5 % of all births) are born preterm with low birth weight (PLBW). Ninety-five % of them are in developing countries and the rate of PLBW in developing countries is more than double (16.5 %) that in developed countries. It has been suggested that oral infection can act as the site of origin for dissemination of periodontopathogens and their toxins as well as induce inflammatory mechanisms to distant body sites, thus linking periodontal diseases to pre-term delivery of low birth weight (PLBW) infants. The objective of this study was to assess the general oral health care habit of pregnant mothers in order to determine its association with premature delivering of low birth weight infants. Methods: Study participants were asked to complete a questionnaire to obtain information regarding their oral health care habits and the responses linked to their gestation term and time of delivery. In addition, their mouths were examined for gingival inflammation and / or bleeding which might be attributed to lack of oral health care. Results and conclusion: Although in this study oral health care habits of the mothers did not appear to directly influence the gestation period and birth weight of the infants, the resulting gingival inflammation and bleeding showed a significant correlation with PLBW (p = 0.004). Therefore maternal dental care during pregnancy and good oral hygiene habits could be highly recommended. Also more detailed examination and assessment of the oral health status of mothers with particular emphasis on periodontal disease and its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes are needed.Introduction: Plus de 20 millions d’enfants (15.5 %) au monde naissent prématurément. Quatre-vingt quinze % parmi eux se retrouvent dans les pays en voie de dévelopmemt où la fréquence des naissances d’enfants prématurés et à sous-poids est plus du double (16.5 %) que celle des pays développés. Il a été suggeré qu’une infection d’origine orale peut être à la source de la dissemination des bactéries paradontal et leurs produits toxiques à des sites éloignés du corps humain ainsi faisant une liaison entre les maladies paradontales et les accouchements prematurés et à sous-poids. L’objectif de ce travail était de faire une évaluation général de l’état de santé buccal des femmes enceintes en vue de determiner s’il y aurait une association avec les accouchements prématurés et à sous poids. Méthodes: Un questionnaire était donné aux participants de cette étude pour obtenir des informations en rapport avec leur état de santé buccale et aussi les informations en rapport avec le temps de gestation. Aussi un examen de la cavité buccal était fait pour avoir une idée sur l’état d’inflammation et de saignaiment de la gencive. Résultats et conclusion: Quoique que dans cette étude, l’hygiène buccale des participants n’avait pas une influence directe sur la période de gestation et aussi sur le poid des enfants, il y avait une corrélation significative (p = 0.004) entre l’inflammation et le saignement de la gencive avec les accouchements prématurés et à sous poids