Anthropometrics and Ergonomics of Secondary School Students in Four Yola Metropolis, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Uncomfortable and bad sitting position can impact a student's interest in learning. This study therefore evaluates the anthropometrics and ergonomics of secondary school students in four Yola metropolis, Adamawa State, Nigeria to evaluate their physical measures of a person's size, form, and functional capacities and their working environment using standard methods with 200 students, of which 102 were male and 98 were female.  In accordance with the current seat height, a match criterion was established for each class. The extent of mismatch was then assessed by comparing the average popliteal heights of each class using the match criterion. The findings show that in all courses across all schools, more than 80% of the pupils did not have a suitable seat height. Over 80% of the classes in the schools had levels of mismatch (low), which is an obvious sign that the students' seats are on furniture that is too low for their heights. The article suggested a furniture design that was ergonomically orientated. When creating school furniture for pupils, it was suggested that their anthropometrics be employed to account for their diversity between classes and ages

Sub-Chronic Administration of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Ficus Sycomorus on some Liver and Kidney Function Indices in Rats

The stem bark of Ficus sycomorus is used traditionally for cure of fungal infection, jaundice and dysentery in some parts of northern Nigeria. The leaves of Ficus sycomorus were collected, dried and extracted to screen for some phytochemicals and study its effect on liver and kidney functions in experimental rats. Phytochemical screening of leaf extract of F. sycomorus indicates the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids and reducing sugars. Animals were divided into two sets (A&B) of five groups each and were administered 0.00, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mgkg-1 body weight of the aqueous leaf extract for 14 days orally with set A administered once daily and set B administered twice daily. Serum activities of ALT, AST, ALP and concentration of urea and creatinine of both sets show no significant difference (p<0.05) compared to the control group; except in ALP (148.00±0.77 and 175.80±0.45U/L) and urea (41.20±0.09 and 53.38±0.17mg/dL) at higher doses  (1600mgkg-1) of the extract. Base on this study, the extract show neither liver nor kidney toxicity, however, it should be use with caution especially at higher dose and long time exposure.Keyword: Ficus sycomorus, phytochemical screening, kidney indices, liver indices

Assessment of Fire Safety Preparedness in Muhammad Abubakar Rimi Market (Sabon Gari) Kano, Nigeria

The frequent occurrence of fire disaster in industrial and commercial buildings, shopping malls, and markets in Nigeria has become a serious threat to the nation’s fragile economy. This research is aimed to assess the fire safety preparedness among the marketers in Muhammad Abubakar Rimi market (Sabon Gari) Kano. Interview and questionnaire survey ware conducted to collect data about the level of fire safety preparedness among the tenants within Muhammad Abubakar Rimi market (Sabon Gari). A total of 396 copies of a questionnaire were distributed. A purposive sampling was used to select the market, a stratified sampling was used to stratify the marketers based on the flammability nature of the commodity they sell and availability sampling was employed to collect data directly from the respondent. The data was analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) and presented in pie chart, bar chart, percentages and tables. The result from the analysis revealed that: Majority of respondents (78%) are not well prepared against fire disaster in the market and this is due to their lack of knowledge on fire safety, lack of knowledge and training regarding the use of fire extinguisher. In conclusion, level fire safety preparedness among the tenants is very low. The study recommends for integrated fire disaster management system involving all stakeholders for sustainable commercial activities in Muhammad Abubakar Rimi market (Sabon Gari)

L’ETHIQUE EN MATIERE DE SANTE ENTRE ANTINOMIES, LIBERTE DE CHOIX ET DIFFICULTE DU QUOTIDIEN

The progressive increase of biotechnology, of more and more sophisticated and customized drugs, springs from a real requirement of citizens or instead from an offer coming from different corporations? Ethics in health care is everyday more contradictory, permeated by antinomies, freedom of choice, inequalities and problems connected to everyday life

Glycerol Monolaurate and Dodecylglycerol Effects on Staphylococcus aureus and Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-1 In Vitro and In Vivo

BACKGROUND:Glycerol monolaurate (GML), a 12 carbon fatty acid monoester, inhibits Staphylococcus aureus growth and exotoxin production, but is degraded by S. aureus lipase. Therefore, dodecylglycerol (DDG), a 12 carbon fatty acid monoether, was compared in vitro and in vivo to GML for its effects on S. aureus growth, exotoxin production, and stability. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Antimicrobial effects of GML and DDG (0 to 500 microg/ml) on 54 clinical isolates of S. aureus, including pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) types USA200, USA300, and USA400, were determined in vitro. A rabbit Wiffle ball infection model assessed GML and DDG (1 mg/ml instilled into the Wiffle ball every other day) effects on S. aureus (MN8) growth (inoculum 3x10(8) CFU/ml), toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) production, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations and mortality over 7 days. DDG (50 and 100 microg/ml) inhibited S. aureus growth in vitro more effectively than GML (p<0.01) and was stable to lipase degradation. Unlike GML, DDG inhibition of TSST-1 was dependent on S. aureus growth. GML-treated (4 of 5; 80%) and DDG-treated rabbits (2 of 5; 40%) survived after 7 days. Control rabbits (5 of 5; 100%) succumbed by day 4. GML suppressed TNF-alpha at the infection site on day 7; however, DDG did not (<10 ng/ml versus 80 ng/ml, respectively). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:These data suggest that DDG was stable to S. aureus lipase and inhibited S. aureus growth at lower concentrations than GML in vitro. However, in vivo GML was more effective than DDG by reducing mortality, and suppressing TNF-alpha, S. aureus growth and exotoxin production, which may reduce toxic shock syndrome. GML is proposed as a more effective anti-staphylococcal topical anti-infective candidate than DDG, despite its potential degradation by S. aureus lipase

The Staphylococcus aureus Response to Unsaturated Long Chain Free Fatty Acids: Survival Mechanisms and Virulence Implications

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human commensal and opportunistic pathogen responsible for a wide range of infections. Long chain unsaturated free fatty acids represent a barrier to colonisation and infection by S. aureus and act as an antimicrobial component of the innate immune system where they are found on epithelial surfaces and in abscesses. Despite many contradictory reports, the precise anti-staphylococcal mode of action of free fatty acids remains undetermined. In this study, transcriptional (microarrays and qRT-PCR) and translational (proteomics) analyses were applied to ascertain the response of S. aureus to a range of free fatty acids. An increase in expression of the σB and CtsR stress response regulons was observed. This included increased expression of genes associated with staphyloxanthin synthesis, which has been linked to membrane stabilisation. Similarly, up-regulation of genes involved in capsule formation was recorded as were significant changes in the expression of genes associated with peptidoglycan synthesis and regulation. Overall, alterations were recorded predominantly in pathways involved in cellular energetics. In addition, sensitivity to linoleic acid of a range of defined (sigB, arcA, sasF, sarA, agr, crtM) and transposon-derived mutants (vraE, SAR2632) was determined. Taken together, these data indicate a common mode of action for long chain unsaturated fatty acids that involves disruption of the cell membrane, leading to interference with energy production within the bacterial cell. Contrary to data reported for other strains, the clinically important EMRSA-16 strain MRSA252 used in this study showed an increase in expression of the important virulence regulator RNAIII following all of the treatment conditions tested. An adaptive response by S. aureus of reducing cell surface hydrophobicity was also observed. Two fatty acid sensitive mutants created during this study were also shown to diplay altered pathogenesis as assessed by a murine arthritis model. Differences in the prevalence and clinical importance of S. aureus strains might partly be explained by their responses to antimicrobial fatty acids

Capric Acid Secreted by S. boulardii Inhibits C. albicans Filamentous Growth, Adhesion and Biofilm Formation

Candidiasis are life-threatening systemic fungal diseases, especially of gastro intestinal track, skin and mucous membranes lining various body cavities like the nostrils, the mouth, the lips, the eyelids, the ears or the genital area. Due to increasing resistance of candidiasis to existing drugs, it is very important to look for new strategies helping the treatment of such fungal diseases. One promising strategy is the use of the probiotic microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit. Such a probiotic microorganism is yeast Saccharomyces boulardii, a close relative of baker yeast. Saccharomyces boulardii cells and their extract affect the virulence factors of the important human fungal pathogen C. albicans, its hyphae formation, adhesion and biofilm development. Extract prepared from S. boulardii culture filtrate was fractionated and GC-MS analysis showed that the active fraction contained, apart from 2-phenylethanol, caproic, caprylic and capric acid whose presence was confirmed by ESI-MS analysis. Biological activity was tested on C. albicans using extract and pure identified compounds. Our study demonstrated that this probiotic yeast secretes into the medium active compounds reducing candidal virulence factors. The chief compound inhibiting filamentous C. albicans growth comparably to S. boulardii extract was capric acid, which is thus responsible for inhibition of hyphae formation. It also reduced candidal adhesion and biofilm formation, though three times less than the extract, which thus contains other factors suppressing C. albicans adherence. The expression profile of selected genes associated with C. albicans virulence by real-time PCR showed a reduced expression of HWP1, INO1 and CSH1 genes in C. albicans cells treated with capric acid and S. boulardii extract. Hence capric acid secreted by S. boulardii is responsible for inhibition of C. albicans filamentation and partially also adhesion and biofilm formation