Inhibitory effects of Phyllanthus amarus extracts on the growth of some pathogenic microorganisms

This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of Phyllanthus amarus extracts on Staphylococcus aureus,  Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. These effects were compared with those of ampicillin, gentamicin and pefloxacin. Phytochemical  analysis showed that the plant contained flavonoids, steroids, terpenes, alkaloids, benzenoids, saponins and lipids. This plant was found to have remarkable inhibitory effects on the growth of all the  organisms tested; S. aureus was the most susceptible (MIC 20ug/ml) while Pseudomonas aeruginosa and C. albicans were the least susceptible (MIC 30ug/ml). The organisms were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner, the inhibition was almost directly proportional to the extract concentration. The aqueous extract had no significant increase inhibitory effects compared to the ethanol extract (p > 0.05). The standard antibiotics had no greater inhibitory effects on the test organisms in relation to the plant extracts (p>0.05). The in vitro analysis revealed that Phyllanthus amarus possesses an antimicrobial activity comparable with those of standard antibiotic discs. Further works is recommended to determine its suitability in chemotherapy. Keywords: Inhibitory effects, Phyllanthus amarus extract, Pathogenic microorganisms

Airway management: A survey of training and practices of Nigerian anesthetists

Background: Airway management is an integral part of anesthetist’s  training and clinical practice. Studies have suggested that opportunities for anesthesia trainees to learn and practice endotracheal intubation have decreased over time. We sought to examine the current training and practices of airway management by anesthetists practicing in Nigeria.Materials and Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to delegates at an annual conference of the Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists. A total of 49 respondents participated in the survey. The data were  analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0, the results are presented in appropriate statistical tools, and the findings discussed.Results: The response rate was 82%. Majority of the respondents (61%) had attended a course on airway management. Many of the respondents (54%) had less than 10 years of experience in anesthesia. Majority (69%) of the respondents were from teaching hospitals. All the respondents had access to laryngeal mask airways (LMAs) and 85% of respondents could use them very well. Fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) was available to 51% of the respondents and only 22% of them were conversant with its use, while 31% admitted that they needed more training. Majority (71%) of the respondents had received formal training in airway management, some of a short duration (47%).Conclusion: Majority of our respondents had good knowledge of routine airway management using LMAs. Though FOBs may be available in some of the teaching hospitals, very few anesthetists are conversant with its use. There is increased use of simple airway devices with deskilling in complex airway management. Resource limitation means that very few individuals have access to training with novel airway techniques. There is need to increase funding of anesthesia training and services in order to improve skill acquisition and practice of airway management.Key words: Airway management, anesthetists, practice, trainin

A longitudinal survey of African animal trypanosomiasis in domestic cattle on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria:prevalence, distribution and risk factors

BACKGROUND: Trypanosomiasis is a widespread disease of livestock in Nigeria and a major constraint to the rural economy. The Jos Plateau, Nigeria was free from tsetse flies and the trypanosomes they transmit due to its high altitude and the absence of animal trypanosomiasis attracted large numbers of cattle-keeping pastoralists to inhabit the plateau. The Jos Plateau now plays a significant role in the national cattle industry, accommodating approximately 7% of the national herd and supporting 300,000 pastoralists and over one million cattle. However, during the past two decades tsetse flies have invaded the Jos Plateau and animal trypanosomiasis has become a significant problem for livestock keepers. METHODS: In 2008 a longitudinal two-stage cluster survey on the Jos Plateau. Cattle were sampled in the dry, early wet and late wet seasons. Parasite identification was undertaken using species-specific polymerase chain reactions to determine the prevalence and distribution bovine trypanosomiasis. Logistic regression was performed to determine risk factors for disease. RESULTS: The prevalence of bovine trypanosomiasis (Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Trypanosoma congolense savannah, Trypanosoma vivax) across the Jos Plateau was found to be high at 46.8% (39.0 – 54.5%) and significant, seasonal variation was observed between the dry season and the end of the wet season. T. b. brucei was observed at a prevalence of 3.2% (1% – 5.5%); T. congolense at 27.7% (21.8% - 33.6%) and T. vivax at 26.7% (18.2% - 35.3%). High individual variation was observed in trypanosomiasis prevalence between individual villages on the Plateau, ranging from 8.8% to 95.6%. Altitude was found to be a significant risk factor for trypanosomiasis whilst migration also influenced risk for animal trypanosomiasis. CONCLUSIONS: Trypanosomiasis is now endemic on the Jos Plateau showing high prevalence in cattle and is influenced by seasonality, altitude and migration practices. Attempts to successfully control animal trypanosomiasis on the Plateau will need to take into account the large variability in trypanosomiasis infection rates between villages, the influence of land use, and husbandry and management practices of the pastoralists, all of which affect the epidemiology of the disease

Hiv infection prevalence among women visiting the Hiv counselling centre in Nnewi, Nigeria.

Objective: This study is aimed at determining the HIV prevalence rate among women attending the HIV counselling & testing centre at Nnewiand the effect of marital status on this.Method: This is a retrospective review of the records of women visiting the HIV counselling and testing (HCT) centre of the Nnamdi AzikiweUniversity Teaching Hospital from July 2004 to June 2005 to determine their HIV status. They include women attending antenatal clinic,premarital test, pre employment test and those referred from other centres for confirmation of their status. The data was analysed and presented in tables using comparative percentages.Results: HCT uptake during this period was 87.6% (1419/1620) while HIV sero-prevalence was 28.3% (402/1419). The breakdown of thefemale population showed a 15.3% (70/458) sero-positivity among pregnant women, 25.8% (69/268) sero-positivity among single non-pregnant girls and 38.0% (269/693) sero-positivity among married non-pregnant women. The 25 – 29 years age range had the highest sero-prevalence for HIV infection though there was no significant difference in prevalence of HIV infection for women above 20 years of age. However, the adolescents (15-19 years) had a significantly lower prevalence (

The Outcome of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV Infection Programme in Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria

No Abstarc

Do Physiotherapy Students Demonstrate Ageist Attitude? A Scoping Review of Literature.

Aims: To describe attitudes of physiotherapy students toward older adults and their interest in working with them; and to identify factors that may influence physiotherapy students' attitude, knowledge and beliefs toward older adults or interest in working with them. Methods: We used the five-step scoping review approach described by Arksey and O'Malley (2005). We obtained studies published or in press between 2000 and 2016 of attitudes of physiotherapy students towards older adults either alone or among other groups. We excluded qualitative studies, opinion papers and articles focused on determining the psychometric properties of questionnaires. Two independent coders identify the major themes in the included studies. Results: Fourteen studies met criteria and were reviewed in detail. All reported that physiotherapy students have positive attitude towards older adults. Only four studies reported physiotherapy students' interest in working with older adults, of which three reported low interest and one reported moderate interest. Contact with older adults before entering physiotherapy education was the only factor that showed a consistently positive influence on attitudes toward older adults. Conclusions: Physiotherapy students do not demonstrate ageist attitude but have low interest in working with older adults.</p