Think twice, look twice: Eustachian valve endocarditis due to Escherichia coli

Eustachian valve endocarditis is a rare cause of infective endocarditis. We present the case of a 72-year-old lady in whom this was found after a lengthy search. We then go on to discuss the prevalence and some of the difficulties found in the investigation of this disease

Hepatoprotective Potentials Of Hibiscus rosasinensis Petal anthocyanin Extracts Against Carbon tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Damage in Wistar Rats.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is haloalkane that possesses a hepatotoxic effect. Material and Methods: The impact of anthocyanin fractions obtained from Hibiscus rosasinensis petal on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced acute liver damage in wistar rats was studied using a combination of alanine transferase (ALT) activity value and liver: body weight gain ratio as indices. Results: CCl4 treatment significantly increased both ALT value and the liver: body weight gain ratio at the 1% probability level when compared with the control values. Conclusion: Pre-treatment with the anthocyanin fractions reduced the levels of these markers and hence, the degree of liver damage, though with varying potentials. The lead precipitated, non slimy red fraction possessed the greatest protective property on the rat liver when compared with the other anthocyanin fractions so tested. Keywords: Anthocyanin, carbon tetrachloride, alanine transferase, Hibiscus rosasinensis, liver damage.Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Vol. 3 (1) 2008: pp. 33-3

Zeolite Catalyzed Aldol Condensation Reactions

The review is based on the description of zeolite structure, uses, synthesis, and catalytic aldol reaction in aldol condensation. An internal aldol condensation reaction has been achieved over ZSM-5 zeolite with high silica-alumina ratio at 350°C. It therefore follows that zeolite can function as a catalyst in aldol type condensation reactions and that weak acid sites as well as a small number of active sites favor the aldol condensation reaction of carbonyl compounds. However, the mixed condensation product was found to be favored at temperatures above 300°C and the self-condensation of ethanal to crotonaldehyde was favored at temperatures below 3000C. It has also been suggested that both Broosted and Lewis acids are involved in aldol reactions with Lewis acid sites the most probable catalytic sites. The zeolite group of minerals has found use in many chemical and allied industries

HOFMANN-MARTIUS REARRANGEMENT REACTIONS CATALYSED BY ZEOLITE

N-Methylaniline was reacted over HZSM-5, H-Theta-1 and HY zeolites and was found to rearrange to give the toluidines, aniline and N,N-dimethylaniline. Percentage conversion to these products was found to be highest over HY zeolite with a higher selectivity to p-toluidine, whereas over HZSM-5 and H-Theta-1 selectivity was to N,N-dimethylaniline. The conversion to these products is in line with Hofmann-Martius and the Reilly-Hickin bottom rearrangement reactions. However the selectivity to N,N-dimethylaniline as observed over HZSM-5 and H-Theta-1 (medium pore zeolites) is ne

Outcomes of Planned Organisational Change in the Nigerian Public Sector: Insights from the Nigerian Higher Education Institutions

Conflicting and multiple theories on organisation theory make it complex and therefore present a challenge to public sector administrators and researchers in the public sector. This research shows that government reform agenda did not achieve the desired result in improving the quality and standard of education in Nigerian higher education. There are therefore still gaps in understanding the process of introducing reforms agenda. The result of the in-depth interviews conducted indicated that cultural differences account for organisational values. Thirty one respondents from the five higher institutions in Kwara State, Nigeria and senior officers from the state ministry of education, science and technology believed that a uniform reform agenda would be difficult to implement in all local governments with varying educational needs and levels of educational development. The analysis of the result suggested that culture determines and influences the values of where the institutions are situated. It was discovered that the five institutions have different needs which the society will appreciate if reform agenda focuses on such requirements of the institutions. The paper suggests that the values of the society where an institution is situated should be understood before a reform is formulated. This practice will make the reform easy to implement and reduce the incidence of resistance

CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACTIVITIES OF A NIGERIAN CEMENT INDUSTRY ON THE ENVIRONMENT

The cement industry and its products are resources that have an impact on the landscape with dust and noise and disruption to biodiversity, sterilization of lakes and forests. There is also the reduction in populations of small invertebrates and decomposers, of agricultural yields, and extensive structural damage by corrosion from the factory. The industry may create employment and business opportunities in the area they are situated. The aim of the study is to identify the key issues of the environmental pollution and contaminants, the composition of the pollutants andcontaminants and hence their effect on living caused by this resource. This study was undertaken at the Lafarge Cement Factory at Ewekoro in South West Nigeria. Samples used in this study were collected at strategic points around the factory. The results from this study showed that the water samples of Ewekoro contained Pb, Zn, and Ni with values higher than the WHO standard values and as such we suggest that the water is not portable for drinking. It is suggested that trees must be planted around the factory to reduce the pollutants. Experimental values of Fe are below the WHO standard (0.300 mg/L) in plants and water samples (0.005 mg/L and 0.030 mg/L respectively) while the values are high in the rock(2.270 mg/L) and in soils (2.720 mg/L) samples. It has been suggested that Montmorillonite ore might be present in the study areas, so we believe that. Montmorillonite could probably be a contributor to the high iron content

Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Oil Extracts from the Seeds of Ricinodendron heudelotii

Objective: The aim of this project is to extract the chemical components of various parts of this tree and to characterize the constituents of these extracts and to test for their biological activity. Methodology: Agar-well diffusion assay was used to determine the antimicrobial activity of the oil extract on the test isolates: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and the yeast Candida albicans. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for each test organism was determined by the broth dilution method using 0.5 McFarland’s standard. Results: Preliminary proximate and phytochemical analysis of the oil extracts from the seed showed the presence of the following minerals, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn as well as the following family of compounds: Steroids, saponin and terpenoids. Antimicrobial and antibacterial studies also revealed that the oil extract was active against Gram’s negative and positive bacteria and fungi. The test organisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and the yeast Candida albicans. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to the oil extract at all the concentrations used. Conclusion: Amongst the bacteria used, highest MIC of 150 mg mLG1 was recorded for Staphylococcus aureus , while lowest MIC of 50 mg mLG1 was observed in E. coli . Highest activity was observed against the fungus, Candida albicans with MIC of 25 mg mLG

Identification by GC-MS of the Components of Oils of Banana Peels Extract, Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Analyses

Banana is eaten all over the world by all sections of the population. A lectin, called BanLec, was isolated from banana fruit and found to possess anti-HIV-1 activity. However, the peels of banana are thrown away as rubbish although farmers are known to use them as feed for their animals. We thought that there might be some valuable chemicals in banana peels and therefore decided to extract the oils from their peels. Two varieties of Nigeria bananas were chosen for an initial study. The crude methanolic extract was subjected to phytochemical analysis, which revealed the presence of steroids, saponin, terpenoids, anthraquinones and tannins. Antimicrobial study of the methanolic extract showed that the oils were effective against some bacteria. The chemical constituents of the oils were identified and characterized by GC-MS. The fatty acids stearic, palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids and their methyl esters as well as 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarboxyaldehyde, cyclododecane, dibutyl phthalate, b-sitosterol, sesamin and epi-sesamin were among the identified components. These constituents were found to be compounds with known biological and medicinal activit

Antibacterial, Antifungal and Anti-tubercular Activities of Chloroform Fraction of the Leaf Extract of Irvingia Gabonensis (African Bush Mango)

The prevalence of anti-drug resistance by disease causing microorganisms has necessitated the search for alternative sources of drugs for the treatment of the ailments caused by these microorganisms. This study examines the biological properties of extracts from the leaves of Irvingia gabonensis (bush mango). Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the anti-microbial activity of chloroform fraction of the leaf extract and compare it with that of clinical reference. Method: Antimicrobial activity of the chloroform fraction of the leaf extract of Irvingia gabonensis was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella paratyphi, Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum by using the agar well diffusion method and Mycobacterium tuberculosis using agar proportion method on Lowenstein–Jensen medium. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the chloroform leaf fraction was done using qualitative standard methods. Result: This showed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins, coumarin, phenol and alkaloids. Organisms were susceptible to chloroform fraction at different concentrations. The lowest MIC value obtained was 0.625mg/mL for S. aureus and S. typhi. While, five out of seven mycobacterial strains that were used, were susceptible. Conclusion: The antimicrobial activity is a result of the phytochemicals present in leaf. Therefore, we conclude that Irvingia gabonensis leaves can be used in the development of new pharmaceuticals research activities such as drug productio

Antiplasmodial Activity shown by Secondary Metabolites Extracted from the Seeds ofPentaclethramacrophyllaBenth

Oil extracts from the African oil bean seed (PentaclethramacrophyllaBenth.) was analyzed for its phytochemical and mineral content and proximate, physicochemical and antimicrobial analyses were also performed. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of tannins, saponins, quinones, terpenoids, phenols and coumarins in the oil sample. Mineral determination of the cotyledon showed the presence of iron (Fe) (with the highest concentration), Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Pb and Cd; while proximate analysis gave the following result: moisture (14.2%), ash content (1.5%), crude fibre (4.9%), crude proteins (12.8%), oil contents (4.9%), and carbohydrate (61.8%). GC-MS analysis of the partitioned petroleum ether and chloroform fractions of the oil revealed the presence of 9-Octadecenoic acid, 9,12- Octadecadienoic acid and their methyl esters,cis-9-Hexadecenal among the many components of the oil extract. Physicochemical analysis of the oil indicateda saponification value (148.67 mg KOH/g), peroxide value(8.0 meq/g), iodine value (10.41 mg iodine/g) and free fatty acid (8.98 mg KOH/g). The need for the development of new drugs for malaria led to our study of the antiplasmodial activity of the oil from the seeds of Pentaclethramacrophylla. Toxicological studies were carried out to determine the LD50with chloroquinediphosphate as positive control and normal saline as negative control. Using the Peter’s 4 day suppressive test a parasite inhibition rate of 47.72% (25 mg/kg), 63.63% (50 mg/kg) and 61.36% (100 mg/kg) on day 4 after treatment was recorded. A 95.45% chemo-suppression was observed for animals treated with 10 mg/kg chloroquine. This resultis an indication that the extract had appreciable signs of chemosuppression