Protective effect of co-administration of vitamins C and E on reserpine-induced oxidative stress in mice

Background: Several studies have shown potential benefits of antioxidants in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) but none have combined vitamins C and E targeting the oxidative stress (OS).Aim: To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of co-administration of vitamins C + E or single vitamin, on parameters of reserpine-induced OS in mice.Methods: Twenty-five mice were randomly assigned into 5 groups.: Group I received only distilled water (control); other groups received reserpine 0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneally on alternate days. In addition, Group III received vitamin E 200 mg/kg/day orally; group IV, had vitamin C 250 mg/kg/day orally and group V, had both vitamins orally. All drugs were given concurrently for 28 days. The mice were humanely acrificed and brain homogenate made to assess for biomarkers of OS. Data were expressed as mean ± SEM and values at p < 0.05 were considered significant.Results: The significant increase in malondialdehyde concentrations observed in the Res group (42.2±0.28 Umol/L) compared to control (37.54±1.27 Umol/L), was ameliorated in all the vitamin-treated groups with significance in the Res+Vit C group (35.0±1.69 Umol/L) compared to the Res group (p=0.002). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased significantly (p=0.003) across the vitamin-treated groups (24.9±2.11 Umol/mg, 24.0±1.78 Umol/mg and 22.4±1.50 Umol/mg in the Res+Vit E, Res+Vit C and co-administered groups respectively) compared to control (14.3±1.65 Umol/mg), with non-significant increase in the Res group (20.6±1.42 Umol/mg); catalase activity increased significantly in the Res+Vit C (28.0±3.70 Umol/mg) and co-administered (30.2±2.22 Umol/mg) groups compared to controls (14.3±1.65 Umol/mg) and Res (20.6±1.42 Umol/mg) groups (p=0.000), with non-significant increase in the Res+Vit E group (17.6±0.68 Umol/mg). The highest GSH level was seen in the Res group (45.2±2.65 Umol/mgpr) and the lowest level seen in the Res+Vit E group (38.58 ± 1.78 Umol/mgpr) with no significant difference across all the groups (p=0.104).Conclusion: The co-administration of vitamins C and E fails to confer significant superior neuroprotection against reserpine-induced OS compared to single vitamin administration.Keywords: Co-administration, neuroprotective, oxidative, reserpine-induced, stres

A study on the efficacy of extracts of Boerhavia diffusa L on bacterial isolates of finger tip infections (whitlow)

This research was conducted to determine the efficacy of crude extract of Boerhavia diffusa L (BHD L) on bacterial isolates of fingertip infection (Whitlow). Seventeen patients with whitlow were studied within 18 months and swabs of active fingertip infections were taken from the patients at Crossing-Kachia in Kaduna State for analysis at the microbiology laboratory of Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State Nigeria. Associated bacteria were isolated and identified using standard microbiological and biochemical tests. The isolates were tested against extracts of BHD L and commercially available antibiotics using the Kirby Bauer agar well diffusion method. Phytochemical analysis was also conducted in order to determine the bioactive compounds in BHD L that may be responsible for its effectiveness in treatment. The results showed that more males (76.5%) were affected while the mean age of people affected was 28.6years. The predominant causative agent was Staphylococcus epidermidis (89.5%) while Staphylococcus epidermidis confirmed its resistance to commercial antibiotics, hence difficulty of treatment of whitlow with orthodox medicines. Similarly, extracts of BHD L had no antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Thus, the efficacy of BHD L on the isolates of fingertip infections may be due to some other reasons yet unknown.Keywords - Antibacterial activity, Antibiotics, Efficacy, Photochemical, Whitlow

Epidemiological and Entomological Evaluations after Six Years or More of Mass Drug Administration for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination in Nigeria

The current strategy for interrupting transmission of lymphatic filariasis (LF) is annual mass drug administration (MDA), at good coverage, for 6 or more years. We describe our programmatic experience delivering the MDA combination of ivermectin and albendazole in Plateau and Nasarawa states in central Nigeria, where LF is caused by anopheline transmitted Wuchereria bancrofti. Baseline LF mapping using rapid blood antigen detection tests showed mean local government area (LGA) prevalence of 23% (range 4–62%). MDA was launched in 2000 and by 2003 had been scaled up to full geographic coverage in all 30 LGAs in the two states; over 26 million cumulative directly observed treatments were provided by community drug distributors over the intervention period. Reported treatment coverage for each round was ≥85% of the treatment eligible population of 3.7 million, although a population-based coverage survey in 2003 showed lower coverage (72.2%; 95% CI 65.5–79.0%). To determine impact on transmission, we monitored three LF infection parameters (microfilaremia, antigenemia, and mosquito infection) in 10 sentinel villages (SVs) serially. The last monitoring was done in 2009, when SVs had been treated for 7–10 years. Microfilaremia in 2009 decreased by 83% from baseline (from 4.9% to 0.8%); antigenemia by 67% (from 21.6% to 7.2%); mosquito infection rate (all larval stages) by 86% (from 3.1% to 0.4%); and mosquito infectivity rate (L3 stages) by 76% (from 1.3% to 0.3%). All changes were statistically significant. Results suggest that LF transmission has been interrupted in 5 of the 10 SVs, based on 2009 finding of microfilaremia ≥1% and/or L3 stages in mosquitoes. Four of the five SVs where transmission persists had baseline antigenemia prevalence of >25%. Longer or additional interventions (e.g., more frequent MDA treatments, insecticidal bed nets) should be considered for ‘hot spots’ where transmission is ongoing

Mosquito infection rates (all larval stages) in 10 sentinel villages: baseline and by year (n = 44,668).

<p>Dissections from bimonthly intradomiciliary pyrethrum knockdown collections of mosquitoes showing percent infected with any larval stage (L1–3) determined by dissection. Results reflect only <i>Anopheles</i> sp mosquito dissections. Collections were generally performed in the same household compounds. Baseline data point is explained in <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001346#pntd-0001346-g006" target="_blank">Figure 6</a> legend. The total n value in the table is also reflected in the related graph (<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001346#pntd-0001346-g006" target="_blank">Figure 6</a>). NA = not applicable, not available, or fewer than 100 mosquitoes dissected.</p><p>°Started treatment in 2000.</p><p>*Started treatment in 2001.</p><p>**Started treatment in 2002.</p><p>***Started treatment in 2003.</p

Mean sentinel village microfilaremia prevalence by MDA treatment year (n = 10,753).

<p>Nocturnal microfilaremia as determined by 60 ul thick smear. SV results across all four MDA phases have been adjusted to MDA treatment year for comparability. No pretreatment data are available for Gbuwhen, Gwamlar, Lankan, Maiganga and Seri, so earliest available mf data point was used as the baseline figure. Bars show 95% confidence intervals. Chi square for trend for all years was significant (p = 0.035), but was not significant using an analysis between baseline and MDA year 6 (p = 0.187). In addition, the key threshold of <1% microfilaremia was not attained by MDA year 6.</p

MF prevalence in 10 sentinel villages: baseline and by year (n = 10,753).

<p>Nocturnal microfilaremia as determined by 60 ul thick smear. The total n value in the table is also reflected in the related graph (<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001346#pntd-0001346-g004" target="_blank">Figure 4</a>). Baseline data point is explained in <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001346#pntd-0001346-g004" target="_blank">Figure 4</a> legend. NA = not applicable or not available.</p><p>°Started treatment in 2000.</p><p>*Started treatment in 2001.</p><p>**Started treatment in 2002.</p><p>***Started treatment in 2003.</p

Mean mosquito infection (all larval stages) by MDA treatment year in 10 sentinel villages (n = 44,668).

<p>Dissections from bimonthly intradomiciliary pyrethrum knockdown collected mosquitos for all larval stages (L1–3) combined across all SVs and adjusted to MDA treatment year for comparability. Baseline mosquito infection rates are the aggregate values from pretreatment and the first two years of treatment; no baseline data were available for Babale SV. Chi square for trend for all years was highly significant (p = 0.008), but the trend analysis was not significant using data between baseline and MDA year 6 (p = 0.131). Bars show 95% confidence intervals.</p

Annual reported treatment coverage of eligible population of sentinel villages, and 2003 surveyed coverage.

<p>Reported treatment of eligible (aged five and above healthy persons) populations in ten sentinel villages (SVs) based on registers kept by community directed volunteer drug distributors (CDDs). A confirmatory coverage survey undertaken in nine of the ten villages in 2003 showed an overall coverage of 82%, lower than the reported coverage that year of 90%. Gwamlar was not surveyed in 2003 due to insecurity. Babale, in the urban area of Jos North, did not get treated in 2009 due to civil unrest, and had the lowest surveyed coverage in 2003.</p><p>*Antigen >25%.</p><p>NA = Not applicable, in cells corresponding to the years before the MDA program in that SV had been launched.</p