Micro-CT Characterization of Human Trabecular Bone in Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic syndrome affecting collagen synthesis and assembly. Its symptoms vary widely but commonly include bone fragility, reduced stature, and bone deformity. Because of the small size and paucity of human specimens, there is a lack of biomechanical data for OI bone. Most literature has focused on histomorphometric analyses, which rely on assumptions to extrapolate 3-D properties. In this study, a micro-computed tomography (μCT) system was used to directly measure structural and mineral properties in pediatric OI bone collected during routine surgical procedures. Surface renderings suggested a poorly organized, plate-like orientation. Patients with a history of bone-augmenting drugs exhibited increased bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), and connectivity density (Eu.Conn.D). The latter two parameters appeared to be related to OI severity. Structural results were consistently higher than those reported in a previous histomorphometric study, but these differences can be attributed to factors such as specimen collection site, drug therapy, and assumptions associated with histomorphometry. Mineral testing revealed strong correlations with several structural parameters, highlighting the importance of a dual approach in trabecular bone testing. This study reports some of the first quantitative μCT data of human OI bone, and it suggests compelling possibilities for the future of OI bone assessment

STUDIES ON XYLANASE PRODUCTION BY Aspergillus niger ON TOMATO POMACE MEDIUM

There is a need for locally produced xylanase because of its vast importance and high cost of importation. Xylanase is used for many industrial processes such as for baking, bleaching paper pulp, bioethanol production and juice clarification. This study was therefore carried out to examine the potentials of tomato pomace as part of the growth medium for xylanase production. The objectives are to identify the specific activities of xylanase from the basal salt medium and the tomato pomace medium and to determine the Partial Purification of xylanase obtained from tomato pomace medium inoculated with A.niger This study isolated xylanase from A. niger on tomato pomace medium. The xylanase was partially purified and characterized. A. niger was obtained from deteriorated banana (Musa acuminata) fruit. A 72-h-old culture of A. niger was employed as the inoculum. It was inoculated onto Tomato pomace medium and a basal salt. Xylanase production was carried out after four days at room temperature (27 oC). Xylanase activity was determined by measuring the released reducing sugar (xylose). The specific activities of xylanase from the basal salt medium and the tomato pomace medium were 3.6 U/mg and 2.0 U/mg respectively. Partial purification of xylanase was by Ammonium sulphate precipitation. Optimum substrate concentration of 0.5mg/ml and a purification fold of 4.3 were obtained. The Michael is Menten constant (Km) from the Line-weaver burk plot was approximately 0.50mg/ml. This study established appreciable activity of xylanase from the A. niger used. It is therefore a potential organism for the utilization of tomato waste for xylanase production

Modification of Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes from Soursop (Annona muricata) Fruit Deterioration for Improved Commercial Development of Clarified Soursop Juice (A Review

The soursop fruit and the entire soursop plant is associated with a lot of health benefits which includes the killing of cancer cells in cancer patients. The treatment of cancer with soursop has been reported to be accompanied with the risk of Parkinson’s disease while soursop juice is considered safe for consumption. The fruit had been associated with preharvest and postharvest deterioration caused by microorganisms and this reduces the total production of soursop fruit. The deterioration process is being accompanied with the production of cell wall degrading enzymes which has the advantage of being used for industrial purposes. One of the important uses of these enzymes is in the clarification of fruit juices. This review proposes the genetic modification of the genes coding for important microbial enzymes for the clarification of soursop juice for improved yield, taste, and colour

STUDIES ON PECTINOLYTIC AND PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES FROM DETERIORATED GRAPES (Vitis vinifera)

The ability of microorganisms to cause grape (Vitis vinifera) fruit deterioration by production of pectinolytic and proteolytic enzymes to degrade the plant cell was carried out in the Microbiology laboratory of the Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. A bunch of grape fruit was purchased from a local market in Ikeja, Lagos, South West, Nigeria. These samples were allowed to rot for five days in a clear packaging bag. The grape samples were disinfected and cultured on nutrient agar and potato dextrose agar for bacterial and fungal isolates respectively. The morphological and microscopic characteristics of the isolates in combination with a series of biochemical tests were used to identify them. The isolates were tested for their ability to produce pectinolytic and proteolytic enzymes. Aspergillus sp, Mucor sp, Rhizopus sp., Micrococcus sp., and Bacillus sp. were the organisms isolated from this study. The results of this investigation revealed appreciable pectinolytic, and proteolytic enzymes by Aspergillus niger and Bacillus sp. These organisms can be utilized as good sources of industrial enzymes.Keywords: Grape (Vitis vinifera) fruits; Pectinase, Protease, Fungal isolates and Bacterial isolate

CLARIFICATION OF APPLE JUICE WITH LABORATORY- PRODUCED-PECTINASE OBTAINED FROM THE DETERIORATION OF APPLE (Malus domestica) FRUITS BY Aspergillus niger

There are different varieties of Apple fruits which have resulted from natural cross-pollination involving different species. Apples are often eaten in a raw fresh form, sometimes baked or stewed for other uses. They have some beneficial purposes such as helping in preventing the growth of prostate cancer, improving bowel function and regulating blood sugar. The activity of enzymes is usually affected by factors such as temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and enzyme concentration. The effect of enzyme concentration on pectinase obtained from the deterioration of three different varieties of apple fruits by Aspergillus niger was therefore investigated. A 72-hours-old culture of Aspergillus niger subcultured onto fresh Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plates was inoculated into three different varieties of fresh Apple fruits obtained from a Supermarket along Idiroko road, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The fruits were surface sterilized, inoculated with the fungi and o incubated at room temperature of 27 C. They were monitored for complete deterioration over twelve days. Pectinase obtained from the deteriorated fruits was used in clarifying apple juice from the different varieties of apple fruits with different volume of enzyme. Equivalent volume of water was also treated in like manner. The same experiment was carried out for commercial pectinase in comparison with the laboratory-produced – pectinase was also more effective than the commercially produced enzyme. The result of this investigation will be very useful in the production of commercial pectinase obtained from fungal deterioration

The Effect of Temperature on the Clarification of Apple (MALUS DOMESTICA) Juice with Pecinase obtained from ASPERGILLUS NIGER

Aspergillus niger is a saprophytic fungus existing ubiquitously in the soil and on decaying vegetation. Various researchers have reported Aspergillus niger as frequently responsible for postharvest decay of fresh fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, melons, onions and some vegetables. The fungus has been implicated in the deterioration of apple fruits with the production of Pectinolytic enzymes during the breakdown of the plant cell wall by microbial attack. The three varieties of apple (Malus domestica) fruits used for this work are commonly referred to as Red, Green and Yellow varieties from their physical appearance. The fruits were obtained from a grocery store along Idiroko road, Ota, Ogun State in Nigeria. The fruits were disinfected and inoculated with a 72-h-old culture of A. niger. Control fruits were inoculated with sterile inoculum. The fruits were incubated at room temperature of 27oC for twelve days. Extracts from the inoculated fruits exhibited appreciable polygalacturonase activity while those from the uninoculated fruits possessed only traces of the enzyme activity. The enzyme obtained from the deteriorated fruits and commercially produced pectinase were applied for the clarification of freshly ripe apple fruits under controlled experimental conditions at different temperatures (20oC, 25oC, 30oC, 35oC, 40oC and 45oC) to investigate the role of pectinase in the clarification of apple juice. The temperature of incubation had different effects on the three varieties of apple fruits studied. The volume of juice was more in the cylinders with the enzyme clarification at all temperatures than that with water. The optimum temperature was at 25oC for the three varieties green and red apples. The commercial pectinase produced more juice than the crude pectinase

STUDIES ON PECTINOLYTIC AND PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES FROM DETERIORATED GRAPES (Vitis vinifera)

The ability of microorganisms to cause grape (Vitis vinifera) fruit deterioration by production of pectinolytic and proteolytic enzymes to degrade the plant cell was carried out in the Microbiology laboratory of the Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. A bunch of grape fruit was purchased from a local market in Ikeja, Lagos, South West, Nigeria. These samples were allowed to rot for five days in a clear packaging bag. The grape samples were disinfected and cultured on nutrient agar and potato dextrose agar for bacterial and fungal isolates respectively. The morphological and microscopic characteristics of the isolates in combination with a series of biochemical tests were used to identify them. The isolates were tested for their ability to produce pectinolytic and proteolytic enzymes. Aspergillus sp, Mucor sp, Rhizopus sp., Micrococcus sp., and Bacillus sp. were the organisms isolated from this study. The results of this investigation revealed appreciable pectinolytic, and proteolytic enzymes by Aspergillus niger and Bacillus sp. These organisms can be utilized as good sources of industrial enzymes

STUDIES ON XYLANASE PRODUCTION BY Aspergillus niger ON TOMATO POMACE MEDIUM

Xylanase production by Aspergillus niger was investigated using tomato pomace medium in comparison with a basal salt medium. The importance of xylanase in industries cannot be overemphasised. They are used for baking, bleaching paper pulp, improving animal feed, bioethanol production, fruit juice and beer clarification to mention a few. Considering the vast importance of xylanase enzyme, there is a need for locally produced xylanase enzyme. Aspergillus niger was obtained from deteriorated banana (Musa acuminata) fruit. A pure culture was obtained and prepared on agar slants. Tomato pomace medium and a basal salt medium were inoculated with 72-h-old culture of Aspergillus niger. Xylanase production was tested in both growth media after four days of inoculation at room temperature (27 0C). Xylanase activity was determined by measuring the released reducing sugar (xylose) and the specific activities of xylanase from the basal salt medium and the tomato pomace medium were 3.6 U/mg and 2.0 U/mg respectively. Partial purification of the enzyme was carried out by Ammonium sulphate precipitation. The optimum condition for xylanase activity was determined by characterizing the partially purified enzyme. Optimum temperature and pHof 40oC and 3.5 respectively was obtained for the partially purified enzyme. Optimum substrate concentration of 0.5mg/ml and a purification fold of 4.3 were obtained for the xylanase. The apparent dissociation constant or Michaelis Menten constant (Km) which is the substrate concentration at half maximum velocity obtained from the Line-weaver burk plot was approximately 0.50mg/ml. This study established that the fungal strain of A. niger used for this study produced appreciable xylanase activity. This strain is a potential organism for the utilization of tomato waste. This makes tomato wastes a suitable medium for fungal xylanase production. The use of tomato waste will cut down on the foreign exchange spenton importation of xylanase by industries that depend on its use for their manufacturing processes

Studies on Home-Based Management of Malaria in Ogun State, South Western Nigeria

Background: The study area is Olambe, a fast-growing community in Ogun State, Nigeria. It shares the same boundary with Lagos State, Nigeria. It is highly populated due to high cost of rent and high cost of living in Lagos State which made lots of the inhabitants to migrate to neighbouring towns with easy access to Lagos State especially for workers or employees of Lagos State. The effect of home-based management of malaria (HMM) was carried out in Olambe in 2013. HMM is a major means of treatment in this part of Ogun State because the general hospitals or government hospitals available are only in Lagos State and it is quite a distance. A large percentage of the populace receives treatments from private-owned hospitals or solely depends on HMM. Methods: The sampling population was 250 respondents which are mothers of children under the age of five years. Structured questionnaires and oral interview were used in collecting data from the 250 consenting individuals. Results: A large percentage of the respondents were traders and not-well educated individuals (65.0%) who believed so much in home-based management of malaria due to financial difficulties, ignorance and distance to hospitals. About 5.5% are not educated and they attributed the ineffectiveness of some malaria drugs to fake drugs. They therefore use different herbal treatments. About 30.5% use both malaria drugs and herbal treatments for the treatment of malaria. The major factor for ineffective HMM in Olambe is wrong dosage of anti-malarial drugs, herbal treatment and wrong diagnosis. Artemisinin- based combination therapies (ACTS) was the preferred anti-malarial drug in this area. There is poor correlation between the reoccurrence of malaria and the type of drug used for the children (p0.05) Conclusion: This study deduced that few respondents practice HMM correctly while many of them end up in hospitals due to lack of ideal dosage of anti-malarial drugs. A large percentage of respondents take traditional treatments. There is paucity of information on the use of HMM in Olambe, Ogun State, Nigeria and therefore a need to improve HMM, organize programmes to sensitize the area and the local communities around Olambe on the way forward in HMM