GC–MS profile, anti-seizure and anti-pyretic activities of palm kernel nut oil and its isolate, N-Octanoic acid from specially breed palm kernel Elaeis guineensis

PURPOSE: Palm kernel nut oil (PKNO) from palm fruit of a rare breed of Elaeis guineensis (virescens), and one of the species belonging to the Elaeis genre of arecaceae family was subjected to Gas chromatography - Mass spectroscopic studies as well as anti-seizure and anti-pyretic studies. It is used in South-Eastern part of Nigeria as antipyretic and anti-seizure agents especially in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical contents of PKNO using GC-MS and to investigate the antiseizure and antipyretic properties of PKNO using animal model.METHOD: 1500 g Palm Kernels (PK) of the rare breed collected from Abia State were cracked open and the nuts (1000 g) poured into steel vessel and heated until oil was produced after charring the nuts. The oil (PKNO) was analyzed using GC-MS to determine its chemical composition. Yeast induced hyperthermia method was used for anti-pyretic studies while strychnine sulphate induced method was used for anti-seizure studies. PKNO and Octanoic acid (0.5 mg/kg ,1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally (IP).Paracetamol (0.15mg/kg) was used as reference standard for anti-pyretic assay while epilim and tegretol (0.14mg/kg, resp.) were used as reference standards for anti-seizure assay.RESULTS: The major component identified in the extract include: Dodecanoic  acid,2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester(19.36 %),n-Hexadecanoic acid(15.49  %),Dodecanoic acid( 12.51 %),Myristic acid ( 6.47 %), Dodecanedioic acid (3.93 %),n-Acetylpyrrolidone (3.67 %) , Thiazole (0.98 %) and Octanoic acid, OA ( 3.19 %).The anti-seizure results showed that doses of PKNO and OA used had Significant (p<0.02) anti-seizure activities by delaying the on-set of seizure from time of induction to time of first seizure observed. In yeast induced hyperthermia model, PKNO exhibited good level of anti-pyretic activities by direct reduction of pyrexia with the highest dose, 2.0 mg/kg. The PKNO and OA are proven to be safe till 3000 μl/kg as indicated by LD50 results.CONCLUSION: PKNO and its components mainly fatty acids, thiazole, and n- acetylpyrrolidone are potent and promising agents with anti-pyretic and antiseizure activities.Keywords: Anti-Seizure, anti-pyretic, Octanoic acid, elaeis virescens, GC-MS, Palm kernel nut oil (PKNO

A prospective study on obesity and subcutaneous fat patterning in relation to breast cancer in post-menopausal women participating in the DOM project.

The associations of body fat and body fat distribution with breast cancer risk were examined in a prospective study in 9,746 post-menopausal women with a natural menopause, aged 49-66 at intake, participating in a breast cancer screening project (the DOM project in Utrecht). During a follow-up period of 15 years (mean follow-up time 12.5 years) 260 women developed breast cancer. Fat distribution, assessed by contrasting groups of subcapsular and triceps skinfold thickness, was found to be unrelated to breast cancer incidence. No significant relationship between body fat, measured either by weight, Quetelet's index, triceps skinfold or subscapular skinfold, and breast cancer risk was found when analysed in quartiles. However, women in the upper decile compared with the lower decile of the distribution of Quetelet's index were found to have a 1.9 times (95% CI 1.1-3.3) higher risk for breast cancer. These results seemed to be in contrast with the significant positive association between fatness, analysed in quartiles, and breast cancer observed in a cross-sectional study, based on mammographic screening, carried out previously in the same population. Although the differences between the present, prospective, study and our cross-sectional study may be due to chance it may be that there are differences between characteristics of breast cancer detected at screening and subsequently, which influence the associations between measures of fatness and risk of breast cancer

Delivery outcomes of patients with pre-eclampsia at 27 - 34 weeks’ gestation at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa: A retrospective observational study

Background. Obstetricians are cognisant of the serious nature of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Despite a 17% overall reduction in maternal deaths in South Africa between 2011 and 2016, there was a 14% increase in deaths due to hypertension. Delivery is the only known cure for pre-eclampsia, but the question regarding the safest route of delivery remains difficult to answer.Objectives. To determine the success rate of induction of labour (IoL) in patients with early-onset pre-eclampsia with severe features (EOPES) before 34 weeks’ gestation. Furthermore, the data from the induction group were compared with those of the caesarean delivery (CD) groups where patients were not eligible for IoL. Additional objectives were to identify variables that could influence the success rate, to determine whether any delivery method was associated with increased morbidity, to assess the short-term maternal and neonatal outcomes, and to make recommendations for future decision-making regarding delivery for women with EOPES.Methods. In this single-institution retrospective observational study, all cases in which a decision for delivery was made before 34 weeks 0 days of gestation (or the infant’s birthweight was ≤2 000 g with uncertain gestation) at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, between 1 January and 30 June 2017 were identified from the electronic birth register. The cohort fitting the inclusion criteria was subdivided into IoL and CD groups.Results. From a total of 3 938 deliveries, 168 patients met the inclusion criteria. IoL was indicated in 55 cases, resulting in 20 vaginal deliveries (VDs) (36%) and 35 CDs (64%). The remaining 113 patients were not candidates for IoL; of these, 89 required emergency CDs and 24 had semi-elective CDs. In the IoL group with abnormal umbilical artery Dopplers (UADs) there was 1 VD, and 4 CDs were performed for fetal compromise. Of cases with an estimated fetal weight (EFW) ≤3rd centile, emergency CD was required in 24 (65%), and 8 (22%) were considered for IoL, in 6 of which CD was required.Conclusions. Of the EOPES population, 36% had successful IoL that culminated in VD. VD was more likely to occur with fetal growth appropriate for gestational age. The likelihood of CD increased if the UAD was abnormal, if the EFW was ≤3rd centile or if eclampsia was present. The decision to induce should be considered carefully in these circumstances.

The effects of 5-fluorouracil and interferon-alpha on early healing of experimental intestinal anastomoses.

The continuing search for effective adjuvant therapy after resection of intestinal malignancies has prompted a growing interest in both immediate post-operative regional chemotherapy and the combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and interferon-alpha as drugs of choice. We have compared the effects of both compounds, alone and together, on early healing of intestinal anastomoses. Four groups (n = 26 each) of rats underwent resection and anastomosis of both ileum and colon: a control group and three groups receiving intraperitoneal 5-FU, interferon-alpha or both on the day of surgery and the next 2 days. Animals were killed 3 or 7 days (n = 10 each) after operation in order to measure anastomotic strength and hydroxyproline content. The remaining six animals in each group were used to study anastomotic collagen synthetic capacity at day 3. Three days after operation, ileal anastomotic bursting pressure was lowered by 37% in the 5-FU/interferon-alpha group (P = 0.0104). At day 7, anastomotic breaking strength was reduced significantly in ileum (P = 0.0221) and colon (P = 0.0054) of the 5-FU/interferon-alpha group and in colon of the interferon-alpha group (P = 0.0221). Collagen synthetic capacity was strongly suppressed by 5-FU but not by interferon-alpha. However, no differences in anastomotic hydroxyproline content were observed between groups at both days 3 and 7. Thus, post-operative use of interferon-alpha, in particular in combination with 5-FU, may be detrimental to anastomotic repair in the intestine

Analyse van de onderhoudskosten van leidingen, in enkele Drentse waterschappen over het jaar 1965

In verband met de flink gestegen onderhoudskosten van leidingen voor waterschappen werd besloten over te gaan tot een systematische bijhouding van het onderhoud van vijf waterschappen over het jaar 1963: De Oostmoersche Vaart, het Middenveld, de Wold Aa, de Vledder- en Wapserveense Aa en het Riegmeer

What tweets tell us about MOOC participation

In this research paper, the authors analyze the collected Twitter data output during MobiMOOC 2011. This six-week data stream includes all tweets that contain the MOOC's hashtag (#mobiMOOC) and it has been analyzed using qualitative methodology. The analysis sought to examine the emotive vocabulary used, to determine if there was content-sharing via tweets, and to analyze the folksonomic trends of the tweets. In Addition sought a deeper understanding of what, and how, MOOC participants share what they share on the MOOC's Twitter channel. The aim of this study is to provide a little more insight into MOOC learner behaviors on Twitter so that future MOOC designers and facilitators can better engage with their learners.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Raising awareness of the accessibility challenges in mathematics MOOCs

MOOCs provide learning environments that make it easier for learners to study from anywhere, at their own pace and with open access to content. This has revolutionised the field of eLearning, but accessibility continues to be a problem, even more so if we include the complexity of the STEM disciplines which have their own specific characteristics. This work presents an analysis of the accessibility of several MOOC platforms which provide courses in mathematics. We attempt to visualise the main web accessibility problems and challenges that disabled learners could face in taking these types of courses, both in general and specifically in the context of the subject of mathematics

What tweets tell us about MOOC participation

In this research paper, the authors analyze the collected Twitter data output during MobiMOOC 2011. This six-week data stream includes all tweets that contain the MOOC's hashtag (#mobiMOOC) and it has been analyzed using qualitative methodology. The analysis sought to examine the emotive vocabulary used, to determine if there was content-sharing via tweets, and to analyze the folksonomic trends of the tweets. In Addition sought a deeper understanding of what, and how, MOOC participants share what they share on the MOOC's Twitter channel. The aim of this study is to provide a little more insight into MOOC learner behaviors on Twitter so that future MOOC designers and facilitators can better engage with their learners.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta