Microbiological and Enzymatic Studies During the Development of an ‘Iru’ (A Local Nigerian Indigenous Fermented Condiment) Like Condiment From Bambara Nut [Voandzeia subterranea (L) Thours]

Fifteen isolates were obtained from a-96 h spontaneously fermented bambara nut to produce an ‘Iru’ like condiment. Pure cultures of the isolates were identified employing API 50CH strips and API CHL medium (API system, Montalieu, Vercieu, France). Their identities were confirmed as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus pumilus. The total microbial counts showed that the microbial load increased significantly from 3.2 x 10^5 + 0.11 cfu/g at 0 h to 9.2 x 10^7 + 0.20 cfu/g at 96 h (p < 0.05). The investigation into enzymatic activities during product development revealed that the amylase activity fluctuated, by increasing significantly from 0.33 + 0.1 x s unit g/dry wt at 0 h to 0.39 + 0.04 x s unit g/dry wt at 60 h which finally decreased to 0.32 + 0.08 x s unit g/dry wt at the end of fermentation. Proteinase activity showed that at 0 h an activity of 0.22 + 0.09 x s unit g/dry wt was recorded, which increased significantly to 0.24 + 0.06 x s unit g/dry wt at 24 h. This value decreased significantly to 0.21 + 0.03 x s unit g/dry wt at 48 h which increased significantly to 0.28 + 0.08 x s unit g/dry wt at 96 h. However, the lipase which was observed at 0 h to show an activity of 0.50 + 0.05 x s unit g/dry wt increased significantly to 0.80 + 0.06 x s unit g/dry wt at 72 h and decreased to 0.70 + 0.08 x s unit g/dry wt at the end of production period

Influence of fixed-oils in the dispersion of some water-insoluble antimicrobial compounds

Ampicillin trihydrate, salicylic acid and griseofulvin were subjected to interphasal partitioning between an organic and aqueous phases formed from mixtures of sterile fixed-oils and distilled water. The fixed-oils used were groundnut oil, cotton-seed oil, vegetable oil and cod-liver oil. At each of the varying concentrations of the respective antimicrobial compounds, more molecules of each compound were found to have partitioned into organic (oily) phase than the aqueous phase. Based on physico-chemical and susceptibility studies report with Staphylococcus aureus, groundnut oil and cod-liver oil ranked better than cotton-seed oil and vegetable oil oils in their dispersion ability of the drugs. The results support the use of the local fixed-oils as suitable dispersion media in pharmaceutical oil-based preparations and susceptibility testing.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (6), pp. 502-505, 200

Primary umbilical endometriosis: Radical excision (omphalectomy) and laparoscopic management of associated pelvic endometriosis in a low resource tertiary hospital

Primary umbilical endometriosis (PUE) is a rare condition affecting 0.5 – 1% of all extragenital endometriosis cases. We reviewed the data of five women with umbilical endometriosis retrospectively. The age range was 29 – 46 years, and they were all nulligravid at presentation. Common clinical presentation was umbilical pain and masses, dysmenorrhea, and primary infertility. Radical umbilical excision was performed to remove the nodule as a definitive treatment. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed, followed by varying degrees of operative laparoscopic procedures. They all had endometriosis in the pelvis. Three out of five women operated became pregnant and had live births. Complete resolution of clinical symptoms with a reduction in umbilical and menstrual pain scores occurred. In resource-constrained settings, diagnosis, and treatment of PUE may be challenging. Clinical suspicion and appropriate case management are critical for good reproductive outcomes and quality of life. &nbsp; L'endométriose ombilicale primaire (PUE) est une maladie rare affectant 0,5 à 1 % de tous les cas d'endométriose extragénitale. Nous avons examiné les données de cinq femmes atteintes d'endométriose ombilicale rétrospectivement. La tranche d'âge était de 29 à 46 ans, et ils étaient tous nulligravides à la présentation. Le tableau clinique commun était la douleur et les masses ombilicales, la dysménorrhée et l'infertilité primaire. Une excision ombilicale radicale a été réalisée pour retirer le nodule comme traitement définitif. La laparoscopie diagnostique a été réalisée, suivie de divers degrés de procédures laparoscopiques opératoires. Ils avaient tous une endométriose du bassin. Trois femmes opérées sur cinq sont tombées enceintes et ont eu des naissances vivantes. Une résolution complète des symptômes cliniques avec une réduction des scores de douleur ombilicale et menstruelle s'est produite. Dans les milieux à ressources limitées, le diagnostic et le traitement du PUE peuvent être difficiles. La suspicion clinique et une prise en charge appropriée des cas sont essentielles pour de bons résultats en matière de reproduction et une bonne qualité de vie

An immunoinformatics approach for the design of a multi-epitope subunit vaccine for urogenital schistosomiasis

Discovery of T and B memory cells capable of eliciting long-term immunity against schistosomiasisis is important for people in endemic areas. Changes in schistosomes environment due to developmental cycle, induces up-regulation of Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) which assist the parasite in coping with the hostile conditions associated with its life cycle. This study therefore focused on exploring the role of HSPs in urogenital schistosomiasis to develop new multi-epitope subunit vaccine against the disease using immunoinformatic approaches. The designed subunit vaccine was subjected to in silico antigenicity, immunogenicity, allergenicity and physicochemical parameters analysis. A 3D structure of the vaccine construct was predicted, followed by disulphide engineering for stability, codon adaptation and in silico cloning for proper expression and molecular protein–protein docking of vaccine construct in the vector against toll-like receptor 4 receptor, respectively. Consequently, a 493 amino acid multi-epitope vaccine construct of antigenicity probability of 0.91 was designed. This was predicted to be stable, non-allergenic in nature and safe for human use

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Housing Provision in Lagos Megacity Region, Nigeria

The adoption of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in housing provision in Nigeria is intended to increase urban housing stock and address housing affordability and accessibility challenges. However, to date, very little is known about how PPP housing schemes have addressed these challenges. This paper therefore explores the extent to which PPP in housing provision has so far contributed to solving the housing challenges in the Lagos Megacity Region of Nigeria. The paper presents the result of a cross-sectional survey of operators of PPP schemes and housing consumers in the study area. The results show that the PPP approach is basically a formal joint venture partnership involving government providing land at subsidised cost and the provision of serviced plots or construction of housing units by private sector partners. Although the approach has provided affordable serviced plots and housing units for a few high income elites, it has contributed very little to the volume of housing units available to low-income people in Lagos. The paper suggests the adoption of a uniform policy on PPP in housing provision and the establishment of a co-ordinating agency. In addition, government involvement in the provision of infrastructure in PPP housing schemes could increase the affordable housing stock accessible to low-income people in the city.Public-Private Partnership, urban housing, housing affordability, Lagos Megacity Region, Nigeria,