EKSTRAKSI PEKTIN DARI AMPAS NANAS

Abstrak Buah nanas setelah panen akan cepat mengalami kerusakan karena tingginya kandungan air yang ada pada buah. Untuk mengatasi masalah panen raya agar harga buah tidak turun maka pemanfaatan nanas sebaiknya ditingkatkan untuk diambil pektinnya mengingat pektin masih diimport dari luar negeri untuk kebutuhan dalam negeri. Pektin adalah bahan pengental alami yang berasal dari buah dan beberapa macam tumbuhan. Adapun penggunaan pektin dalam industri pangan adalah sebagai bahan pengental, bahan tambahan pada pembuatan selai, jelly dan marmalade. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengambil pektin yng terkandung dalam buah nanas dengan cara ekstraksi menggunakan pelarut asam sulfat (H2SO4). Adapun cara perolehan pektin tersebut dilakukan dengan menimbang ampas buah nanas sebanyak 10 gram yang dilarutkan dalam 100 cc aquadest, kemudian dicampur dengan asam sulfat sebagai bahan pelarut dengan konsentrasi 0,2 N pada volume (4 (pH=4), 9 (pH=3), 14 (pH=1,8), 19 (pH=1,5), 24 (pH=1,2) (cc)) dan suhu operasi 90 °C pada waktu ekstraksi (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 (menit)) dengan kecepatan pengadukan 300 rpm, kemudian dilakukan pengendapan dengan penambahan etanol dan yang terakhir adalah pencucian dan pengeringan dengan menggunakan oven. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kondisi operasi terbaik dicapai pada waktu ekstraksi 120 menit, pH ekstraksi adalah 1,2 dengan berat pektin yang dihasilkan sebanyak 0,3681 gram. Kata kunci : Nanas, Ekstraksi, Pekti

Relationships of Anthropometric Indices of Centripetal Adiposity With Essential Hypertension and Type - 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Kano Metropolis

The use of centripetal indices of adiposity for cardiovascular risk prediction is gaining popularity over body mass index (BMI). This study seeks to investigate the relationships of centripetal adiposity indices with essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus and find sexual  dimorphism in such relationship in Kano. It also investigates the correlation between centripetal adiposity indices and BMI. The study included 405 registered hypertensive, diabetic or  hypertensive – diabetic subjects (215 females and 190 males) with mean age of 53.4±0.36. The adiposity indices [BMI, waist circumference (WC) hip circumference (HC) and waist to hip ratio (WHR)] were obtained using standard protocol.  Chi-square and Pearson correlation were used to test for the relationship as described. The results showed that WC was not significantly associated (p>0.05) with essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus in females, but was significant in males (P = 0.04). In both sexes, WHR was significantly associated with essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, a stronger relationship was observed in males (P < 0.0001). Where both WC and WHR correlated positively with essential  hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus in males, the  relationship was stronger for WHR (P < 0.0001) compared to WC (P = 0.04). In conclusion, WHR in both sexes had significant association with essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus while WC in males correlated strongly with BMI compared to WHR.Keywords: Centripetal adiposity, essential hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Sexual  dimorphism

The influence of season of birth on the pattern of lip prints in Nigeria

Dermatoglyphs and their components can both environmentally and genetically be determined, even though the arrangement of ridges remains constant throughout life. The aim of this study was to determine the predominant lip print types in different seasons and the influences of the season of birth on the pattern of lip print among Nigerians. Five hundred and six students (256 males and 250 females) were recruited. The lip print was collected using glass slide and developed with carbon black powder. Each print was divided into ten compartments for final analyses of lip prints. Chi-square test was used to test for association between the season of birth and lip prints. Statistical significance was considered at p<0.05. The result shows the percentage distribution oflip print in upper lip in wet season with type III (31.02%) as predominant and type I’ (0.29%) the least, and for dry season the same trend was observed. In lower lip in wet season type V (29.50%) was predominant and type I’ (0.68%) the least, and the same trend was observed for dry season. In both lower and upper lips the season of birth shows no  statistically significant association (P > 0.05) with lip prints in all  compartments. In conclusion, the environmental factor considered in thisstudy (season of birth) has no influence in the determination of the lip prints patterns. Hence, recommending the use of lip print as a forensic tool.Key words; Nigeria, powder, lip prints, season of birt

Evaluation of the influence of maternal parity on neonatal anthropometric parameters among Hausas in Kano state

Maternal Parity has been shown to increase the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes, such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), prematurity, and mortality. The study was designed to evaluate the influence of maternal parity on neonatal anthropometric parameters among Hausas in Kano. Five hundred and twenty one subjects (mothers and babies) participated in the study. Questionnaire was used to collect the biodata, parity and other anthropometric variables (birth weight, birth length, head circumference, chest circumference, thigh circumference, mid upper arm circumference, hand length, hand breadth, foot length, foot breadth).The anthropometric variables were measured using standard procedures.One way ANOVA was used to determine the differences in neonatal variables across different categories of parity. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 20 statistical software was used for data analyses. The result shows that the mothers within the 1st category of parity give birth to babies with lower birth weight and smaller thigh circumference when compared with 2nd, 3rd and 4th. However, in birth length, head circumference and chest circumference of the neonate the differences (p < 0.001) were observed only between 1st and 2nd category of parity. Moreover, the mid upper arm circumference has similar pattern with addition to 3rd categories. In conclusion, the parity of the mother was found to influence the neonatal  anthropometric variables.Keywords: Maternal Parity, Neonatal Anthropometry, Hausa

Age specific sex differences in BMI and skin fold thickness among children of Kazaure Emirate, Nigeria

An important phenomenon occurring in human population is the variation in their physical morphology. The physical dimensions of human body are influenced by geographical, racial, age and gender factors. Physical anthropometry provides the technique by which human body dimensions can be evaluated and measured. The aim of the study was to determine age specific sex differences in height, weight, BMI and skin fold thickness among children aged 5- 12 years from Kazaure emirate, Jigawa State, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to investigate sexual dimorphism in the measured variables. A total of 1212 primary school pupils aged 5-12 years (659 males and 553 females) were involved. All the anthropometric variables were taken using standard protocols. An independent t-test was used to determine gender differences using SPSS version 20.0and P ≤ 0.05 considered a level of significance. The results showed a significant gender difference in height and weight at age of 8 years (P = 0.009) and (P< 0.001), respectively. For bicep skin fold thickness (BSF), the gender difference was observed at 7 to 12years of age with (P< 0.001). Similar pattern in triceps TSF) and suprailiac (SISF), showed significant difference at age six (P< 0.001) and (P =0.01), respectively. All ages showed differences in subscapular skin fold thickness (SSF)(P< 0.001). In the SSF, female had higher mean value while for height and weight the reverse trend was the case. In conclusion, the gender differences in SSF may be linked with higher adipose tissue in female than in the male counterparts in childhood.Keywords: Anthropometry, BMI, Skin fold thickness, age, sex, Nigeri

High-throughput testing in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma identifies agents with preferential activity in human papillomavirus-positive or negative cell lines.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common cancer diagnosis worldwide. Despite advances in treatment, HNSCC has very poor survival outcomes, emphasizing an ongoing need for development of improved therapeutic options. The distinct tumor characteristics of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive vs. HPV-negative disease necessitate development of treatment strategies tailored to tumor HPV-status. High-throughput robotic screening of 1,433 biologically and pharmacologically relevant compounds at a single dose (4 μM) was carried out against 6 HPV-positive and 20 HPV-negative HNSCC cell lines for preliminary identification of therapeutically relevant compounds. Statistical analysis was further carried out to differentiate compounds with preferential activity against cell lines stratified by the HPV-status. These analyses yielded 57 compounds with higher activity in HPV-negative cell lines, and 34 with higher-activity in HPV-positive ones. Multi-point dose-response curves were generated for six of these compounds (Ryuvidine, MK-1775, SNS-032, Flavopiridol, AZD-7762 and ARP-101), confirming Ryuvidine to have preferential potency against HPV-negative cell lines, and MK-1775 to have preferential potency against HPV-positive cell lines. These data comprise a valuable resource for further investigation of compounds with therapeutic potential in the HNSCC

MHD Flow and Heat Transfer in a Power-law Liquid Film at a Porous Surface in the Presence of Thermal Radiation

In this paper, the effects of variable thermal conductivity and thermal radiation on the MHD flow and heat transfer of a non-Newtonian power-law liquid film at a horizontal porous sheet in the presence of viscous dissipation is studied. The governing time dependent boundary layer equations are transformed to coupled, non-linear ordinary differential equations with power-law index, unsteady parameter, film thickness, magnetic parameter, injection parameter, variable thermal conductivity parameter, thermal radiation parameter, the Prandtl number and the Eckert number. These coupled non-linear equations are solved numerically by an implicit, finite difference scheme known as the Keller box method. The obtained numerical results for velocity and temperature profiles are presented graphically. Also, the obtained results of our study for some special cases are compared with the previously published results, and the results are found to be in very good agreement. The effects of unsteady parameter on the skin friction, wall-temperature gradient and the film thickness are explored for different values of the power-law index and the magnetic parameter. The results obtained reveal many interesting behaviors that warrant further study of the equations related to non-Newtonian fluid phenomena, especially the shear-thinning phenomena

Repurposing Albendazole: new potential as a chemotherapeutic agent with preferential activity against HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell cancer.

Albendazole is an anti-helminthic drug that has been shown to exhibit anti-cancer properties, however its activity in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) was unknown. Using a series of in vitro assays, we assessed the ability of albendazole to inhibit proliferation in 20 HNSCC cell lines across a range of albendazole doses (1 nM-10 μM). Cell lines that responded to treatment were further examined for cell death, inhibition of migration and cell cycle arrest. Thirteen of fourteen human papillomavirus-negative HNSCC cell lines responded to albendazole, with an average IC50 of 152 nM. In contrast, only 3 of 6 human papillomavirus-positive HNSCC cell lines responded. Albendazole treatment resulted in apoptosis, inhibition of cell migration, cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and altered tubulin distribution. Normal control cells were not measurably affected by any dose tested. This study indicates that albendazole acts to inhibit the proliferation of human papillomavirus-negative HNSCC cell lines and thus warrants further study as a potential chemotherapeutic agent for patients suffering from head and neck cancer

Lestaurtinib is a potent inhibitor of anaplastic thyroid cancer cell line models

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and lethal human malignancy with no known effective therapies in the majority of cases. Despite the use of conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgical resection, this disease remains almost universally fatal. In the present study, we identified the JAK2 inhibitor Lestaurtinib as a potent compound when testing against 13 ATC cell lines. Lestaurtinib demonstrated a potent antiproliferative effect in vitro at nanomolar concentrations. Furthermore, Lestaurtinib impeded cell migration and the ability to form colonies from single cells using scratch-wound and colony formation assays, respectively. Flow cytometry was used for cell cycle analysis following drug treatment and demonstrated arrest at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, indicative of a cytostatic effect. In vivo studies using the chick chorioallantoic membrane xenograft models demonstrated that treatment with Lestaurtinib resulted in a significant decrease in endpoint tumor volume and vascularity using power Doppler ultrasound imaging. Overall, this study provides evidence that Lestaurtinib is a potent antiproliferative agent with potential antiangiogenic activity that warrants further investigation as a targeted therapy for ATC