Detection of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii among Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolated from Clinical Samples

Acinetobacter baumannii is an aerobic, Gram -negative cocco-bacilli, non-fermentative, non-motile, and non-fastidious organism belonging to the genus Acinetobacter. The A. baumannii has emerged as a worldwide nosocomial pathogen causing about 80%25 of nosocomial infections comprising ventilator-acquired pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissues infections associated with high mortality rate of approximately 63.3%25. Although literature shows sufficient information about the drug resistant A. baumannii, there has been inadequate reports on the antibiotic resistance level of this bacterium in the study area. The aim of this research was to detect Multidrug-resistant A. baumannii isolates among Gram-negative bacteria isolated from Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria. A total of 1008 clinical samples were collected and cultured on MacConkey agar and Blood agar plates at 37o C for 18-24 hours. Following the incubation period, discrete colonies obtained were subjected to Gram staining. The Gram-negative isolates were identified based on conventional biochemical tests with further use of VITEK 2 COMPACT (BioMérieux, France) for confirmation of A. baumannii amongst the Gram-negative organisms. The results obtained showed that 263 Gram-negative organisms were isolated. A. baumannii accounted for 8.5%25 prevalence. Most of the A. baumannii isolated were from the male patients (75%25) within the age range of 33-48 years. Antibiotic susceptibility test using Kirby Bauer method in accordance with CLSI guidelines was done on 20 A. baumannii isolates. The isolates were more sensitive to levofloxacin (60%25), followed by Gentamicin (55%25), then Ciprofloxacin and Tetracycline (50%25) respectively. High level of resistance to Ceftriaxone (80%25), Cefepime (75%25), Ceftazidime (65%25), Piperacillin-Tazobactam (55%25), Ampicillin%252FSulbactam (60%25), Tigecycline (60%25), Meropenem (55%25) and Amikacin (60%25). This study revealed that 15 (75%25) of the A. baumannii were found to be multidrug-resistant. Therefore, antibiotic stewardship is necessary to combat further dissemination of this organism

Evaluation of Antibacterial Potency of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Mentha piperita

The Mentha piperita is an aromatic perennial herb, a member of the family Lamiaceae (Labiatae) that produces creeping stolons, growing in the range of 45 to 80 cm tall. Fungal endophytes reside in the healthy plant tissues to produce several metabolic products such as plants growth hormones, anti-phagocytes to biological feeding, medicinal ingredients, and many products of biological activities. Hence, they are regarded as a reservoir of active metabolites for the development of novel drugs. Although, many endophytic fungi have been reported from different plants, reports on fungal endophytes from M. piperita are very limited. In this study, fungal endophytes from the leaf and stem of M. piperita were successfully evaluated for their potential antibacterial properties. Healthy leaves of the peppermint were prepared and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates for 5 to 7 days at 28 oC until fungal colonies appeared. Fifteen (15) fungal isolates were identified based on cultural and morphological characteristics and had six (6) rapid growing species, namely Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhizopus arrhizus, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternate which were selected and evaluated their crude metabolites against c using agar well diffusion method. The susceptibility study showed a remarkable in vitro antibacterial activity of the fungal crude metabolites against all the test bacteria which increased with an increased incubation time of 7, 14 and 21 days incubation. However, the fungi displayed maximal zone of growth inhibition after 21 days of incubation. In conclusion, fungal endophytes were isolated from M. piperita and evaluated in vitro antibacterial activity of their crude metabolites against the test bacterial isolates

Parallel Computational Modelling of Inelastic Neutron Scattering in Multi-node and Multi-core Architectures

This paper examines the initial parallel implementation of SCATTER, a computationally intensive inelastic neutron scattering routine with polycrystalline averaging capability, for the General Utility Lattice Program (GULP). Of particular importance to structural investigation on the atomic scale, this work identifies the computational features of SCATTER relevant to a parallel implementation and presents initial results from performance tests on multi-core and multi-node environments. Our initial approach exhibits near-linear scalability up to 256 MPI processes for a significant model

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Influence of Metronidazole on the Pharmacokinetics of Metformin in Type II Diabetic Patients

Infection is common in diabetes and metronidazole is often co-administered with metformin. This study is therefore to examine the influence of concomitant administration 400 mg dose metronidazole tablet with (2x500mg) metformin on pharmacokinetic parameters of metformin in type II diabetic Patients. The approval for the research was granted by the Ethical Committee of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Nigeria. Six Type II diabetic patients with age ranging from 25-55 years, weight from 50-70 kg took part in the study. Each of the six patients received the following treatment at two weeks intervals; Metformin tablet (1gm alone and concomitantly with 400 mg metronidazole tablets. Blood samples were collected at interval of 0 to 8 hours and stored at -40C before analysis. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was adopted, modified and validated to measure the plasma levels of metformin in the samples. Samples were chromatographed on Agilent Technologies 1120 Compact LG model of HPLC, on column Eclipse x BD C-8,4.6 x 150 nm for metformin with mobile phase acetonitrile: potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate (79:21) with flow rate of 1.50 mL/min, using UV detector. The results obtained altered the pharmacokinetic parameters of metformin significantly. The highest plasma concentration increased from 1140.43±0.52 to 1326.67±0.4 ng/ml at Tmax 3.0 hours, with increase in area under the plasma concentration – time curve from 4388.81±0.52 to 5361.84±0.80 ng/ml/h. Significant decrease in volume of distribution from 333852.19±0.87  to 313, 061.43 ± 0.02ml was also observed. The results showed that metronidazole has potentiation effect on the disposition of metformin when concomitant administered to type II diabetic patients. Diabetic patients who require metronidazole needs adjustment of dosage regimen to avoid the risk of toxicity

Influence of ampicllin/cloxacilin combination on pharmacokinetics of metformin in type II diabetic patients

Infection is common in diabetes and ampicillin/cloxacillin combination (Ampiclox®) is often coadministered with metformin. The study examined the influence of concomitant administration of a single dose of (2 x 500 mg) capsules of Ampiclox with (2 x 500 mg) metformin on the pharmacokinetics of the latter in Type II diabetic patients. The approval for the research was granted by the Ethical Committee of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Nigeria. Six Type II diabetic patients with ages ranging from 25 - 55 years, weight from 50-70 kg took part in the study. Each of the six patients received the following treatments at two weeks intervals: 1 gm of metformin tablets alone and concomitantly with Ampiclox capsules. Blood samples were collected at intervals of 0 to 8 h and stored at -40C before analysis. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was adopted, modified and validated to measure the plasma levels of metformin in the samples. Samples were chromatographed on Agilent Technologies 1120 Compact LG model of HPLC, on column Eclipse x BD C-8,4.6 x 150 nm for metformin with mobile phase acetonitrile: potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate (79:21), using UV detector. The results obtained from the study indicated a statistically significant (P < 0.5) increase in the plasma concentration (Cmax) of metformin from 1140.43±0.52 to 1,379.55±0.4 ng/ml at Tmax 3.0 h, AUC0- 8hrs from 4388.81±0.52 to 5179.71±0.80 ng/ml/hr and elimination half-life t1/2β from 3.8 to 5.1 hr-1. Statistically significant decrease in volume of distribution from 333,852.19.28 ± 0.27 to 283,061 ± 0.02 ml was also recorded. Ampiclox must have inhibited the renal secretion of metformin resulting in higher circulating plasma concentrations. Patients on metformin who require Ampiclox , need therefore to be monitored to avoid therapeutic failure.Keywords: Ampiclox®, Diabetes, HPLC, Metformin, Pharmacokinetic

The influence of ampicillin/cloxavillin on the pharmacokinetics of chlorpropamide in type II Diabetes Mellitus patients

No Abstrac

A business frame perspective on why perceptions of top management's bottom-line mentality result in employees’ good and bad behaviors

Emerging research suggests that bottom-line mentalities (BLMs) (i.e., a sole focus on bottom-line outcomes to the exclusion of other considerations) can have dysfunctional consequences within the workplace. However, research has yet to consider how and why BLMs may result in both beneficial and dysfunctional organizational outcomes. In the present research, we examine employees’ perceptions of top management's BLM as a type of business frame that results in two cognitive states. Under the influence of this business frame, employees may adopt a mental preoccupation with work (i.e., a state of ongoing work-related cognitions) that propels beneficial employee outcomes by reducing customer incivility and enhancing customer service performance. Yet, also in response to top management's high BLM as a business frame, employees may adopt self-interest cognitions (i.e., a cognitive state of self-interest) that instigate customer-directed unethical conduct. Across two field studies, we found general support for our hypotheses. Taken together, our findings suggest that perceptions of top management's high BLM can be a mixed blessing in that it may drive employees to adopt focused work efforts (mental preoccupation with work), but also self-interest cognitions, with each cognitive state predicting beneficial or dysfunctional behaviors. We discuss the implications of these findings and directions for future research

Isolation and evaluation of in vitro antibacterial potential of endophytic fungi from the leaves of Psidium guajava (Guava)

No Abstract

Bien manger et bien vivre : anthropologie alimentaire et développement en Afrique intertropicale : du biologique au social

L'anthropologie alimentaire de la population d'Awing, province du Nord-Ouest, a été étudiée dans le cadre du projet "Anthropologie Alimentaire des Populations Camerounaises". Awing représente un exemple typique d'une zone de culture du café arabica. La consommation alimentaire, le budget-temps et l'anthropométrie ont été étudiées pendant une période de deux ans. 30 familles ont été retenues pour l'étude de la consommation alimentaire ainsi que celle du budget-temps et 100 familles pour l'étude anthropométrique. Les résultats montrent que le village a une population très jeune (plus de 60 % de la population a moins de 15 ans) et que l'exode rural concerne principalement les hommes entre 20 et 50 ans. Seuls 4,5 % de la population a plus de 60 ans. Le principal aliment, mais pas le plus important, est l'achu, préparé avec des tubercules bouillis de taro et macabo (#Colocasia sp. et #Xanthosoma sp.) qui sont pilés avec des bananes vertes bouillies (#Musa paradisiaca$ sp.) et le mélange est emballé dans des feuilles. Ce plat est consommé avec la "yellow soup", préparée avec de l'huile de palme, du sel végétal et, si possible, du bouillon de viande. Des préparations incluant du maïs sont cependant le plus couramment consommées : "fou fou" (pâte de maïs), "corn chaff" (maïs en grains et haricots). D'autres plats importants sont des préparations de haricots noirs et de pommes de terre. Le vin de palme et la bière sont des sources importantes d'énergie. L'état nutritionnel montre qu'Awing est un des rares sites ruraux camerounais où la malnutrition concerne plus l'obésité que la sous-nutrition. Deux groupes en sont spécialement atteints : les enfants de 0-4 ans (11 %), en particulier les moins d'un an (43 %), et les femmes adultes (19 %). Les variations saisonnières ne concernent que les femmes qui perdent du poids pendant la période agricole (mai-septembre) : entre janvier et septembre elles perdent 0,5 kg et entre juin et janvier (période de récolte et de repos relatif) elles prennent 2 kg. (Résumé d'auteur