Detection of integron genes in the plasmid DNA of multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from surgical wounds of some patients in Benin City, Nigeria

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen with the capability to cause serious surgical wound infections and remains a major healthcare problem. Plasmid is an extra chromosomal material in bacterial cells and confers resistance to the cell against many antibiotics. Genetic elements such as integron are implicated in conferring multidrug resistance (MDR) to P. aeruginosa . This study aims at investigating the occurrence of integron genes (int1, int2, int3) in the plasmid DNA and their ability to cause MDR in P. aeruginosa . In total, 284 different wound swabs were collected, P. aeruginosa isolated and screened using standard laboratory methods. Antibiotics susceptibility tests were carried out using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was also carried out using P. aeruginosa plasmid DNA as a template to detect the presence/absence of the integron genes using different pairs of specific primers. The results reveal that 34 (54.8%) of the microbes isolated were P. aeruginosa . Most of the isolates showed notable resistance to antibiotics, most notably against Ceftazidime, Augmentin, Cefixime and Gentamicin . Eleven isolates harbors the plasmid DNA . PCR amplification showed that 6 (54.5%) of the P. aeruginosa isolates harbor integron class 1 genes, non harbors the integron class 2 genes while 3 (27.3%) possess the integron class 3 genes. The isolates with these genes were highly resistant to most of the antibiotics used. int1 gene was prevalent then int3. Keywords: Antimicrobial, Wound infection, Integron, Polymerase chain reaction, Plasmid DN

In vitro assessment of antioxidant, phytochemical and nutritional properties of extracts from the leaves of Ocimum Gratissimum (linn).

The antioxidant, phytochemical and nutritional properties of acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum (Linn) were investigated to evaluate the therapeutic and nutritional potential of the leaves of this plant. The antioxidant of the plant extracts were assessed against 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis-(3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and ferric reducing agent. Total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols and proanthocyanidins were determined to assess their corresponding effect on the antioxidant activity of this plant. The extracts exhibited DPPH and ABTS.+ radical scavenging activities, which was comparable to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponin, steroids, cardiacglycoside, flavonoid, terpenoids and phenol. The proximate analysis confirms that the leaves contain appreciable amount of ash, crude protein, lipids, fibre and carbohydrates. The macro and micro elements and constituents revealed that the leaves contain significant amount of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, copper, nitrogen, and manganese. This study shows that the leaf can be used as a therapeutic agent and justifies its application in folkloric medicine.Keywords: Ocimum gratissimum, oxidative stress, polyphenolic, proximate composition, therapeutic activit

Optimization of Phytosynthesis of Magnesium Oxide and Magnesium Chloride Nanoparticles

In the present study, magnesium oxide (MgO) and magnesium chloride (MgCl) nanoparticles were phytosynthesized. Selected parameters like leaf extracts from Moringa oleifera, Vernonia amygadalina and Occimum gratissimum, time of reaction, precursor salts of magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride at varying concentrations, plant extracts to precursor salts volume ratio, pH of the medium and light sources were optimized for a better production of the nanoparticles. The phytosynthesized MgO and MgCl nanoparticles were characterized using UV- Vis spectroscopy technique. The study revealed that the leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera and Vernonia amyg dalina yielded more nanoparticles; the period of 24 hours incubation was enough time for nanoparticles formation and the 0.1 and 0.01 molar concentrations of the precursor salts gave optimal yields of the nanoparticles. The plant extracts at ratio two (2) to precursor salt solution at ratio three (3) resulted in better yield of the nanoparticles; the alkaline pH of 9 and 11 gave better nanoparticles synthesis and the visible light source and dark room environments were better exposure conditions for the nanoparticles formation. Keywords: Leaf extracts, Magnesium chloride nanoparticles, Magnesium oxide nanoparticles, Phytosynthesis, UV- Vis spectroscopy

Hematobiochemical changes of lead Poisoning and amelioration with Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Water in wistar albino rats

To determine the ameliorative effect of coconut water on haematobiochemical changes due to lead  poisoning in wistar albino rats for six weeks, sixty rats were assigned to four groups. 0.10g/l of lead  and 75ml coconut (cocus nucifera l.) water were given orally for six weeks. The mean values of red  blood  cells, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell distribution width and platelets  (8.10±0.63(×106μl), 52.7±0.87(μm3), 17.9±0.56(pg), 34.73±0.65(g/dl), 17.90±0.67(%) and 670.00±42.22(×103μl) respectively) reduced in lead treated rats when compared with control mean values (8.41 ± 0.90(×106μl), 56.60 ± 1.55(μm3), 19.33 ± 0.82(pg), 34.93 ± 0.90(g/dl), 18.27 ± 0.73(%) and  818.33± 123.68(×103μl) respectively ) and these values increased in75ml coconut water only group and the group of 0.10g/l lead + 75ml coconut water  except mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, and red blood cell distribution width of the 75ml coconut water only. The mean values of white blood cells, lymphocytes, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low  density lipoprotein-cholesterol/high density lipoproteincholesterol and total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol increased (12.23±0.57(×103μl),   79.83±3.87(%), 64.66±6.01(mg/dl), 89.00±7.94(mg/dl), 22.67±6.93(mg/dl), 21.00±4.58(mg/dl), 1.29±0.62 and 3.36±0.83 respectively ) in the lead group when compared with mean values of control group (5.83±0.74(×103μl), 69.07±10.57(%), 54.00±4.04(mg/dl), 97.33±11.34(mg/dl),   20.00±3.06(mg/dl), 17.00±6.51(mg/dl), 0.97±0.41 and 2.87±0.55 respectively) but the mean values decreased when compared with the mean values of group of 75ml coconut water only and group of 0.10g/l lead + 75ml coconut water, except the mean values of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. These results indicate that coconut water could ameliorate effects of lead toxicity © JASEMKeywords: Albino rats, Amelioration, Cocus nucifera L, Haematobiochemical, Lead toxicity.

The reversal effects of Irvingia gabonensis seed extract on ethanol-induced hypertension in male Wistar rats

Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill is a tropical African tree widely used for the treatment of deranged body weight, blood sugar, and blood cholesterol in China, India, and Africa. Despite its medicinal uses, there is no documented report on its role and mechanism of action in the management of hypertension. In this study, we investigated the reversal effects of n-hexane extract (oil) of Irvingia gabonensis seed on ethanol-induced hypertension in male Wistar rats. Twenty-five (25) male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups. Group A (control) received normal saline (10 mL/kg) orally, while groups B to E received 5% ethanol (10 mL/kg) alone daily for 14 consecutive days to induce hypertension. Thereafter, oral administration of Irvingia gabonensis at 250 mg/kg/day, 500 mg/kg/day, and enalapril at 0.1 mg/kg was introduced from day 15 to 35 in groups C to E, respectively. The results showed that ethanol caused a significant increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), heart rate (HR), and a reduction in mean weight gain in normotensive rats. However, treatment with n-hexane extract (oil) of the seed of Irvingia gabonensis or enalapril showed a significant (P=0.001) reversal in SBP, DBP, MABP, HR, and body weight gain compared to the ethanol-induced hypertensive rats. The study showed that Irvingia gabonensis seed oil administered at 250 mg/kg has a potency similar to enalapril in reducing blood pressure and heart rate and reversing weight loss in ethanol-induced hypertension. Also, it reversed the deleterious effects of ethanol on the architecture of the cardiac and renal tissues. The reversal effect of Irvingia gabonensis oil on hypertension was attributed to its antihypertensive and cytoprotective effects, resulting from the potent oil fingerprint of the extract

Endocrine Functions of the Testes

The testes, also known as the male gonads are found in the scrotal sacs. In addition to their spermatogenic functions, they also secrete steroids and protein hormones. The steroid hormones are the androgens, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone as well as estrogen, while the protein hormones are inhibins, activins, and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH). This chapter therefore discusses the role of the testis in the production and functions of the testicular androgens as well as testicular protein hormones

IN VITRO ASSESSMENT OF ANTIOXIDANT, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES OF EXTRACTS FROM THE LEAVES OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM (LINN)

The antioxidant, phytochemical and nutritional properties of acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum (Linn) were investigated to evaluate the therapeutic and nutritional potential of the leaves of this plant. The antioxidant of the plant extracts were assessed against 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and ferric reducing agent. Total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols and proanthocyanidins were determined to assess their corresponding effect on the antioxidant activity of this plant. The extracts exhibited DPPH and ABTS.+ radical scavenging activities, which was comparable to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponin, steroids, cardiacglycoside, flavonoid, terpenoids and phenol. The proximate analysis confirms that the leaves contain appreciable amount of ash, crude protein, lipids, fibre and carbohydrates. The macro and micro elements and constituents revealed that the leaves contain significant amount of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, copper, nitrogen, and manganese. This study shows that the leaf can be used as a therapeutic agent and justifies its application in folkloric medicine

Carbothermic reduction of complex sulphides

Imperial Users onl

Creation of a liveability index for Dundee adopting Your Housing Group (YHG) methodology to analyse Dundee’s Local Development Plan (2019)

With predicted economic and population growth the council need to determine the housing situation in Dundee. Since they plan to attract young skilled workers and families, they need to identify areas where development is needed. For this reason, an index following the Your Housing Group (YHG) liveability index was created. The index identifies areas where average income families will find it easiest to live. The results from the index showed several liveable areas in the north of the city while there were a cluster of unliveable areas to the south/southwest of the city. This spatial distribution of least liveable areas most likely relates to the industrial past of the city and the late development of the Westend. As the Waterfront regeneration continues to go on, it could be a good idea if the council work on making Westend more residential. Additionally, some proposed developments are in the west. An example of this is the Western Gateway development (Western Edge). The Western Edge has low liveability so this could be a great location to develop. Additionally, there are developments planned in Lochee which is another ideal location to develop due to low liveability. Lochee is also a network centre (important community) for Dundee so it would greatly benefit the city. All in all, Dundee is working to make itself an economic hub for Scotland. The council do need to analyse their development locations and make sure new developments will impact the area positively