Dermatological emergencies: current trends in management

Emergencies in dermatology are well recognized and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Early recognition of these conditions with institution of prompt medical care can help in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with these conditions. This article reviews relevant dermatologic emergencies with respect to this environment with emphasis on current trends in management. Prompt and aggressive management of dermatologic emergencies are important to reduce mortality related to these skin disorders so as to prevent skin failure. Dermatologic emergencies are clinical conditions which lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Recognizing them and the urgency required in their management would help in reducing the attendant skin failure thatmay arise from these conditions.Keywords: Dermatologic emergency, skinfailure, management

Influence of Magnetic Field and Thermal Radiation on Steady Free Convective Flow in a Porous Medium

This paper investigated the influence of magnetic field and thermal radiation on steady free convective flow embedded in a porous medium with Soret effects. The governing equations are systems of nonlinear partial differential equations. Similarity variables were introduced on the set of governing equations and it was transformed into set of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The transformed coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations are solved using the Spectral Homotopy Analysis Method (SHAM). Influence of pertinent flow parameters is displayed in figures and table. Comparisons were done with existing problems/models in literature and our results were in good agreement. The results revealed that as the magnetic parameter increased the velocity profile was found to decrease as a result of the magnetic field applied in the direction of the flow but negligible or has no effect on the velocity distribution. The results shows that increase in the suction/injection velocity and Magnetic field parameter enrich the temperature and concentration.KEYWORDS: Buoyancy; Free Convective Flow; Magnetic Field; Porous Medium; Soret; Suction/Injection

Agronomic Response of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F.) to Plant Densities and Fertilizer Application in a Tertiary Institution Experimental Farm in Benin City Nigeria

The objectives of this study was to investigate yield, nutrient concentration and uptake of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F.) in response to plant densities and fertilizer application. Two fluted pumpkin plant densities (10,000 and 20,000 plants ha-1) D1 and D2 were evaluated at three levels of NPK fertilizer (F1, 20 t ha-1 poultry manure, F2, 300 kg ha-1 NPK 15:15:15 and F3, 10 t ha-1 poultry manure + 150 kg ha-1 NPK 15:15:15) using a factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Leaf length, breadth, number of leaves and stem diameter were significantly increased at both plant densities of 10,000 and 20,000 plants ha -1 while herbage yield increased with higher plant density of 20,000 plants ha -1using 300 kg ha-1 inorganic NPK 15:15:15 or a combination of 10 t ha-1 poultry manure + 150 kg ha-1 inorganic NPK 15:15:15. Potassium (K) concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) higher at 10,000 plants ha -1 and Iron (Fe) uptake was higher with combine application of organic and inorganic fertilizer (F3). To maximize good herbage yield of fluted pumpkin, farmers in this locality should adopt plant density of 20,000 plants ha -1using 300 kg ha-1 inorganic NPK 15:15:15 (D2F2) or a combination of 10 t ha-1 poultry manure + 150 kg ha-1 inorganic NPK 15:15:15 (D2F3)

Phytochemical screening and anti-inflammatory evaluation of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Euphorbia heterophylla Linn (Euphorbiaceae)

Euphobia heterophylla is a local medicinal plant used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of constipation, bronchitis and asthma. The aqueous decoction and the methanolic extracts were subjected to anti-inflammatory activity using experimental animal model, in the presence of the positive control drugs. The inflammation was induced by carraegenean. From the results obtained the aqueous extract showed significant activity (P < 0.001) comparable to the reference drug used. At the different dose range used (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg), there was no significant differences in their anti-inflammatory activity hence they were not dose-dependent. However, the methanolic extract did not show any appreciable activity (20-24% inhibition) and were also not dose-dependent. The results of the study showed the justification of the use of the plant in the treatment of inflammatory disease conditions, and the active chemical constituents when isolated will be added to the present anti-inflammatory agents.Key words: Anti-inflammatory activity, Euphorbia heterophylla, leaf extract

Biological Activities of a Macrocyclic Diterpenoid Isolated from the Roots of Jatropha gossypiifolia

Background: Extracts of Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae) have been used ethnomedicinally for the treatment of various ailments. The present study was to investigate the biological activity of Jatrophone, a macrocyclic diterpenoid isolated from the roots of J. gossypiifolia. Methods: Phytochemical studies followed by chromatographic separation of the methanol root bark extract led to the isolation of a macrocyclic diterpenoid, identified as jatrophone on the basis of NMR and mass spectra data and by comparison with literature. The isolated compound, jatrophone was evaluated for its antiprotozoal activity against Plasmodium falciparum strains [D6 (chloroquine sensitive) and W2 (chloroquine-resistant)], Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma brucei. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against type culture of selected fungi and bacteria. Analgesic activity was investigated using the acetic acidinduced writhing and hot plate model in mice. The cytotoxicity was assessed against VERO cell line (monkey kidney fibroblast) using neural red uptake method. Results: Jatrophone showed significant antiplasmodial and antileishmanial activities with IC50 of 0.55, 0.52 and < 0.4 µg/mL for P. falciparum (D6 strain), P. falciparum (W2 strain) and L. donovani respectively. Compound 1 was highly cytotoxic to VERO cell line with IC50 of 0.43 µg/mL. Jatrophone demonstrated significant analgesic effect with a percentage reduction in acetic acid-induced writhes of 54.03% and 66.35% at 5 and 10 mg/kg respectively. No significant antimicrobial activity was observed against the test organisms. Conclusion: The present study has shown that jatrophone possess antimalarial, antileishmanial, and analgesic activitie

SOME HEAVY METALS IN SURFACE WATER, SEDIMENT AND FISH (Clarias gariepinus) FROM IKPOBA RIVER BENIN-CITY, EDO-STATE, NIGERIA

Fumes from high vehicular traffic dense areas combined with mixed effluent sources, and run-off waters from some industrial areas channelled into water bodies are possible sources of metal pollutions. Specimens of Clarias gariepinus, surface water samples and sediments from Ikpoba River were collected from two stations, on monthly basis for six months: They were analyzed for concentrations of some heavy metals, using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Metal absorption in all three samples revealed a decreasing order of concentration as follows: fish>sediments>surface water. Total mean concentration of metals in samples also showed a decreasing order Zinc>Lead > Copper>Cadmium>Chromiun. ANOVA results revealed that all metals except Chromium and Copper, were higher in fish  harvested from station 1 than those from station 2. Samples of fish, water or sediment harvested in station 1, contained higher concentration of metals than those isolated from station 2. For instance,  Zinc (45.03mg/l) had the highest total mean concentration from fish in stations 1. Surface water in station 1 (0.111mg/l) had higher concentration of lead than station 2 (0.106mg/l) whereas station 2 (0.154mg/l) recorded higher concentration of Copper than station 1 (0.137mg/l). All metals analyzed in sediment samples were higher in station 1 than in station 2 except for Chromium where the value in station 2 (0.29mg/l) exceeded that in station 1 (0.15mg/l). Lead and Zinc concentrations from sediments were highest at station 1 (28.71mg/l) and (24.11mg/l) respectively. The observed concentrations of Lead and Cadmium in fish samples exceeded the WHO maximum permissible limits for aquatic lives, while other metals did not. The results suggest that Ikpoba River is polluted and Clarias gariepinus fish from the river may not be fit for human consumption.Â

Antimicrobial activity of ethyl acetate extract of Citrullus lanatus seeds

Purpose: To determine the antimicrobial activity and chemical constituents of ethyl acetate extract of Citrullus lanatus seeds.Methods: Antimicrobial activity of the ethyl acetate extract of the seeds of C. lanatus was evaluated against Staphylococus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Bacillus subtilis NCTC8236, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145 and Candida albicans ATCC 24433 using standard microbiological method. Chemical constituents of the extract were determined with Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC MS) systems.Results: An oily, yellowish orange coloured extract with a yield of 18.7 % was obtained. The extract inhibited the growth of all test microorganisms at minimum inhibitory concentration range of 0.313 -2.5 mg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration of 0.313-5 mg/mL. GC MS profile of the extract showed the presence of oleic acid (31.22 %), saturated fatty acid (23.85 %) and gamma tocopherol (8.79 %). Other organic compounds accounted for 36.16 % of the extractConclusion: Ethyl acetate extract of the seeds of Citrullus lanatus has antimicrobial effect against some Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria as well as C. albicans. Twenty-one compounds including fatty acids, hexamethyl-2-ethylacridine, gamma tocopherol and methylphthalate have been identified in the seeds.Keywords: Citrulluslanatus seeds, ethyl acetate extract, antimicrobial activit

Densification behavior of spark plasma sintered duplex stainless steel reinforced with TiN nanoparticles

Abstract: Duplex stainless steel (SAF 2205) reinforced with titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles ranging from 0 to 8 wt% were fabricated in vacuum via spark plasma sintering (SPS) using optimized SPS process parameter of 1150 oC, 10 min and 100 oC/min. The influence of TiN addition on the densification and shrinkage mechanism of the fabricated duplex stainless steel composite were evaluated. The results indicate even dispersion of the TiN nanoparticles in the steel matrix during tubular mixing. The displacement and shrinkage rates showed three densification stages relating to micro-nano particles rearrangement, plastic deformation of the particles and rapid densification of the composite. The steel composite samples displayed relatively high densities in the range of 96-99 % of the calculated theoretical density but were noted to decrease with TiN content

Evaluation of three medicinal plant extracts against Plasmodium falciparum and selected microganisms

Background: A great revival of scientific interests in drug discovery has been witnessed in recent years from medicinal plants for health  maintenance. The aim of this work was to investigate three Nigerian  medicinal plants collected in Nigeria for their in vitro antiplasmodial and antimicrobial activities.Materials and Methods: Extracts obtained from parts of Persea americana, Jatropha podagrica and Picralima nitida and their fractions wereevaluated for in vitro antiprotozoal and antimicrobial activity.Result: The methanol extract of P. nitida demonstrated activity against chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum clones with IC50 values of 6.3 and 6.0 µg/mL, respectively. Methanol and chloroform extracts of P. americana seed showed antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans IC50 less than 8 and 8.211 µg/mL respectively. Finally, the petroleum ether extract of P. americana had activity against methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with an IC50 value of 8.7 µg/mL.Conclusion: The study revealed the antibacterial and antiplasmodial activities of the plants extracts at the tested concentrations.Keywords: Antifungal, Antibacterial, Persea americana, Picralima nitida, Jatropha podagrica, Plasmodium falciparu

Identification of Compounds and Insecticidal Activity of the Root of Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia Pulcherrima L)

Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Caesalpiniaceae) is an ornamental plant with several ethnomedicinal uses. The present study was designed to investigate the brine shrimp cytotoxicity and insecticidal activity of oil obtained from C. pulcherrima root. The powdered root was extracted with methanol and then defatted with petroleum ether (40-60oC) to obtain a viscous oil. The oil was investigated for its brine shrimp cytotoxicity and insecticidal activity in vitro. The chemical constituents were identified by Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry. The oil showed significant lethal effect against Artemia salina (Brine shrimp) with LC50 of 23.85 μg/mL and mild insecticidal activity against Tribolium castaneum and Callosbruchus analis with percentage mortality of 20% and 40% respectively at 1 mg/cm2. GC-MS analysis identified 37 compounds mainly steroids, terpenoids and fatty acids.Keywords: Caesalpinia pulcherrima, chemical constituents, cytotoxicity, insecticidal activity