IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL ANTIOXIDANT AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF VITEX DONIANA BY UHPLC/+ESI-QQTOF-MS/MS ANALYSIS

Objective: This study evaluated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of the dichloromethane (DCM-F) and n-butanol (BUT) fractions of Vitex doniana and identified the bioactive constituents using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Methods: The methanol extract of the leaves was subjected to liquid-liquid fractionation and the BUT soluble separated by vacuum LC (VLC) using binary mixtures of DCM in methanol (1 L) sequentially in the ratios of 9:1 BF1–1:9 BF5. The antioxidant activity was investigated in vitro using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, phosphomolybdenum total antioxidant capacity, and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power assay methods. The in vivo antioxidant potential was performed by measuring the concentrations of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic parameters in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury. Results: The extract, DCM-F, and the VLC sub-fractions showed good antioxidant activity which is comparable with ascorbic acid (53.6%). DCM-F showed the highest antioxidant activity (71.6%), while the least activity was shown by BF5 (15.0%). Peak dereplication of LC-MS chromatograms identified several putative compounds in the BUT soluble. DCM-F caused a significant increase (p<0.05) in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and Vitamins C and E in CCl4-induced rats compared to standard. The levels of serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and malondialdehyde that were elevated in CCl4-induced rats were also significantly reduced (p<0.05) by the DCM-F compared to standard. Conclusion: The ability of V. doniana leaves to mop up free radicals and reverse the CCl4-induced hepatic injury in rats suggests antioxidant potentials. The bioactive compounds identified in BUT fraction could support its ethnomedicinal uses in the treatment of illnesses associated with radical scavenging activity

Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation of a Multi-Level Diode Clamped Converter with Experimental Verification

This paper presents the analysis of a multi-level diode clamped converter (DCC) which is implemented using space-vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) technique, widely considered as the most efficient and easily applied modulation technique in most industrial drives and control applications. It also focuses on the step by step development of MATLAB /SIMULINK modeling of the space vector pulse-width modulation and the spectral analysis of the resultant waveforms obtained from the modulation results were carried out.  Results of the simulations obtained from DCC using SVPWM were equally presented and analyzed. This paper used generic on-time application method to realize the application time for the zero vector and two adjacent active vectors in determining the switching process of the multilevel DCC, quite unlike the look-up table which is common in this area. To verify the analysis, a small scale experimental work, was carried out. All experimental works were done in the laboratory and the results confirm the simulation results obtained from the SIMPLORER Student version 6 Software used in simulating the un-modulated three-level diode clamped converter

Prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity profile of urinary tract infection pathogens among pregnant and non pregnant women

The prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity profile of urinary tract infection isolates from 100 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Owerri General Hospital, Nigeria was assessed. The prevalence of UTI isolates from the pregnant women was compared with that in non-pregnant women. The organisms isolated include: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Klebsiella spp, Pseudomonas spp, Proteus spp and Streptococcus spp. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolates were also determined using disk diffusion test. One hundred (100) women were tested; 40% had bacteriuria as against 31% in non-pregnant women. The most sensitive isolate was E. coli, while the least was Streptococcus spp. The most effective antibiotics were Gentamycin, Tarivid and Ciprofloxacin, while the least occurred with Chloramphenicol, Ampicillin, Septrin, Ampiclox. Improvement on personal hygiene and diagnostic screening and treatment will help to reduce the prevalence of bacteriuria in pregnancy. There is also the need for regular antibiotic survey as this will ensure up to date information on the usefulness of the various antibiotics to treat infection thereby avoiding drug resistance as a result of continuous usage of drugs that are not sensitive to some microorganisms.Keywords: antibiotic sensitivity, urinary tract, bacteriuria, women, gram-positive, gram-negative

Superior antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell response with AS03-adjuvantation of a trivalent influenza vaccine in a randomised trial of adults aged 65 and older

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of trivalent influenza vaccines may be reduced in older versus younger adults because of age-related immunosenescence. The use of an adjuvant in such a vaccine is one strategy that may combat immunosenescence, potentially by bolstering T-cell mediated responses. METHODS: This observer-blind study, conducted in the United States (US) and Spain during the 2008-2009 influenza season, evaluated the effect of Adjuvant System AS03 on specific T-cell responses to a seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) in >/=65 year-old adults.Medically-stable adults aged >/=65 years were randomly allocated to receive a single dose of AS03-adjuvanted TIV (TIV/AS03) or TIV. Healthy adults aged 18-40 years received only TIV. Blood samples were collected on Day 0, Day 21, Day 42 and Day 180. Influenza-specific CD4+ T cells, defined by the induction of the immune markers CD40L, IL-2, IFN-gamma, or TNF-alpha, were measured in ex vivo cultures of antigen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. RESULTS: A total of 192 adults were vaccinated: sixty nine and seventy three >/=65 year olds received TIV/AS03 and TIV, respectively; and fifty 18 - 40 year olds received TIV. In the >/=65 year-old group on Day 21, the frequency of CD4+ T cells specific to the three vaccine strains was superior in the TIV/AS03 recipients to the frequency in TIV (p /=65 year-old recipients of TIV/AS03 than in the 18 - 40 year old recipients of TIV on Days 21 (p = 0.006) and 42 (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: This positive effect of AS03 Adjuvant System on the CD4+ T-cell response to influenza vaccine strains in older adults could confer benefit in protection against clinical influenza disease in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: (Clinicaltrials.gov.). NCT00765076

Globalisation, accounting and developing countries

Accounting is an instrument and an object in globalisation but its impact and manifestation is not uniform across Northern developed countries and Southern developing countries (DCs). This paper reviews contributions on globalisation and its influence on accounting in DCs, and identifies important research gaps. It examines the role of accounting in changing development policies, from state capitalism through neo-liberal market-based to good-governance policies. It then considers specific accounting issues, namely the diffusion of International Accounting Standards (now International Financial Reporting Standards) and how they promote global neo-liberalism; the development of the accounting profession in DCs in the face of competition from Northern global accounting firms and professional associations; accounting issues in state-owned organisations, and privatised and multinational corporations; government accounting reforms and the resurrection of the state in DCs; social and environmental accounting issues; and the rise of non-governmental organisations and their accounting and accountability. The discussion and conclusions reflect on achievements to date and important areas requiring further development

Personalizing health care: feasibility and future implications

Considerable variety in how patients respond to treatments, driven by differences in their geno- and/ or phenotypes, calls for a more tailored approach. This is already happening, and will accelerate with developments in personalized medicine. However, its promise has not always translated into improvements in patient care due to the complexities involved. There are also concerns that advice for tests has been reversed, current tests can be costly, there is fragmentation of funding of care, and companies may seek high prices for new targeted drugs. There is a need to integrate current knowledge from a payer’s perspective to provide future guidance. Multiple findings including general considerations; influence of pharmacogenomics on response and toxicity of drug therapies; value of biomarker tests; limitations and costs of tests; and potentially high acquisition costs of new targeted therapies help to give guidance on potential ways forward for all stakeholder groups. Overall, personalized medicine has the potential to revolutionize care. However, current challenges and concerns need to be addressed to enhance its uptake and funding to benefit patients