Composición química de semillas de zanahoria (Daucus carota L.) cultivadas en Turquía: caracterización del aceite de semilla y del aceite esencial

Chemical composition and physical properties were established in carrot (Daucus carota L.) seeds from Konya, Turkey to investigate their potential uses. Mature seeds were evaluated for moisture, crude protein, crude oil, crude fiber, ash, HCl-insoluble ash, total carbohydrate, essential oil yield and weight of 1000 seeds. Also, relative density, refractive index, free fatty acids, peroxide value, iodine value, saponification number and unsaponifiable matter were determined in the seed oil. The main fatty acids identified by gas chromatography were petroselinic (59.35%), linoleic (11,82%), palmitic (10.01%) and stearic (2.41%) acids. Mineral contents (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Se, Sr, V and Zn) of seeds were also determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The seeds were found to be rich in protein, fiber and ash. The essential oil and edible oil compositions of carrot seeds from Konya were investigated by GC and GC-MS. The oil yields of essential and edible oil from carrot seeds were established as 0.83% and 7.84%, respectively. The major constituents of seed essential oil were carotol (66.78%), daucene (8.74)%, (Z,Z)--farnesene (5.86%), germacrene D (2.34%), trans--bergamotene (2.41%) and -selinene (2.20%). Whereas, carotol (30.55%), daucol (12.60%) and copaenol (0.62%) were the important components of edible carrot seed oil. However, the dominant component of both oils was carotol.Se determinó la composición química y las propiedades físicas de las semillas de zanahoria (Daucus carota L.) obtenidas en Konya, Turquía, con objeto de investigar usos potenciales de las mismas. Se determinó la humedad, el peso, el contenido proteico, en aceite, en fibra, en ceniza, en ceniza insoluble en ácido clorhídrico, los carbohidratos totales, y el rendimiento de la obtención de aceite esencial a partir de 1000 semillas maduras. Asimismo se determinó la densidad relativa, el índice de refracción, el contenido en ácidos grasos libres, el índice de peróxidos, el índice de yodo, el índice de saponificación y el insaponificable del aceite de la semilla. Los principales ácidos grasos determinados por cromatografía gaseosa fueron petroselénico (59.35%), linoleico (11.82%), palmítico (10.01%), y esteárico (2.41%). El contenido mineral (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Se, Sr, V and Zn) de la semillas fue determinado por espectroscopia de emisión de atómica (ICP-AES). Las semillas resultaron ser ricas en proteína, fibra y ceniza. Las composiciones del aceite esencial y del aceite comestible fueron determinadas por GC y GC-MS. Los rendimientos de aceite esencial y comestible fueron 0.83 y 7.84%, respectivamente. Los constituyentes mayoritarios del aceites esencial fueron carotol (66.78%), dauceno (8.74%), (Z,Z)--farneseno (5.86%), germacreno D (2.34%), trans--bergamoteno (2.41%), y -selineno (2.20%). Por su parte, carotol (30.55%), ducol (12.60%) y capaenol (0.62%) fueron los componentes principales del aceite comestible

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of Cordia africana leaf and stem bark extracts

Cordia africana (Boraginaceae) is a tree used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation related conditions and infectious diseases. This study was undertaken with the objectives of establishing the scavenging effect of extracts and fractions of Codia africana on the mediator of inflammation Lipoxygenases (LOX), and some non-biological free radicals such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), the [2, 2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] (ABTS) radicals and the Ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Antimicrobial activities, total phenolics/flavonoids and cytotoxicity of extracts of Codia africana were also evaluated. Extracts were obtained by maceration. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined using a LOX-inhibitor screening assay kit according to the manufacturer's instructions. A broth serial micro dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and Mycobacterium species. The antioxidant activity was determined using free-radical-scavenging assays, and the 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction assay was used for cytotoxicity. Both the extracts of C. africana inhibited LOX enzyme. The most active being the methanol extract of the bark with IC50 value of 55 ± 0.9 μg/ml. Both the extracts of C. africana, had excellent to weak antimicrobial activites (MICs ranging from 32 to 1024 μg/ml) against bacteria. All the extracts had significant (P< 0.05) free-radical scavenging activity (IC50 ranging from 6.79 ± 0.07 to 331.98 ± 0.07 μg/ml). There was a positive correlation between the antioxidant activity and the total flavonoid and total phenolic contents of Cordia africana. The cytotoxicity on Vero cells was low with LC50 of 81.79 ± 13.31 and 99.67 ± 16.10 μg/ml. The results support the use of C. africana leaves in traditional medicine to treat inflammation related conditions and infectious diseases.Keywords: Cordia Africana, Inflammation, antibacterial, antioxidant, total flavonoid

Burden of visceral leishmaniasis in villages of eastern gedaref state, Sudan: an exhaustive cross-sectional survey.

Since December 2009, Médecins Sans Frontières has diagnosed and treated patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Tabarak Allah Hospital, eastern Gedaref State, one of the main endemic foci of VL in Sudan. A survey was conducted to estimate the VL incidence in villages around Tabarak Allah

The gametocytocidal efficacy of primaquine in malaria asymptomatic carriers treated with dihydroartemisinin piperaquine in The Gambia (PRINOGAM): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background: Finding efficacious tools to decrease and interrupt malaria transmission is essential to sustain the gains in malaria control and contain the emergence of artemisinin resistance. Primaquine is effective against Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes and recommended for treatment campaigns in (pre-)elimination settings. Safety concerns preclude its use in endemic African countries with variable proportions of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient individuals. The efficacy of the current recommended dose needs to be evaluated, particularly in individuals with an asymptomatic malaria infection. Methods/design: This is a four-arm, open label, randomized controlled trial that aims to determine and compare the effect of three different single doses of primaquine combined with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, an artemisinin-based combination therapy, on gametocyte carriage in asymptomatic, malaria infected, G6PD-normal individuals. Approximately 1,200 participants are enrolled and followed for 42 days, with the primary endpoint being the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage at day 7 of follow-up determined by quantitative nucleic acid sequence based amplification assay. Direct membrane feeding experiments to determine infectiousness to mosquitoes are conducted as a biological secondary endpoint. Discussion: Sub-Saharan Africa, with a relatively high but poorly characterized G6PD prevalence, could potentially benefit from the use of primaquine to further reduce or interrupt malaria transmission. However, G6PD screening may not be feasible given the cost and difficulties in interpreting test results in terms of risk of haemolysis. Because the haemolytic effect of primaquine is dose-dependent, determining the minimal gametocytocidal and transmission-blocking dose of primaquine is extremely important to help address public health concerns over its safety and validate the efficacy of lower than recommended dosages. By including infectiousness to mosquitoes, the trial provides complementary evidence for the potential of the drug to interrupt transmission to mosquitoes

Cardiovascular risk and stroke mortality in persons living with HIV: a longitudinal study in a hospital in Yaounde

Introduction: HIV infection is a well-known risk factor for stroke, especially in young adults. In Cameroon, there is a death of data on the outcome of stroke among persons living with HIV (PLWH). This study aimed to assess the cardiovascular risk profile and mortality in PLWH who had a stroke. Methods: this was a retrospective cohort study of all PLWH aged ≥18 years admitted for stroke between January 2010 and December 2019 to the Cardiology Unit of the Yaoundé Central Hospital, Cameroon. Cardiovascular risk was estimated using the modified Framingham score, with subsequent dichotomization into low and intermediate/high risk. Mortality was assessed on day 7 during hospitalization (medical records), at one month, and one year by telephone call to a relative. Results: a total of 43 PLWH who had a stroke were enrolled. Their mean age was 52.1 (standard deviation 12.9) years, most of them were female (69.8%, n = 30). There were 25 (58.1%) patients on concomitant antiretroviral therapy. The Framingham cardiovascular risk score at admission was low in 29 patients (67.4%) and intermediate to high in 14 patients (32.6%). Ischemic stroke was the most common type of stroke in 36 persons (83.7%). The length of hospital stay was 11.4 (interquartile range 9.2-13.7) days. Mortality at 1 year was 46.5% (n = 20). Conclusion: stroke mortality was high in this population of PLWH. Most patients had a low Framingham score, suggesting that this risk estimation tool underestimates cardiovascular risk in PLWH

Association of Bacterial vaginosis and other Sexually Transmitted Infections with HIV among pregnant women in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and other sexually transmissible infections (STIs) with HIV prevalence among pregnant women in Jos, Nigeria. METHODS: This was a cross- sectional study of pregnant women who participated in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV program of the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, between April 2002 and July 2004, at the Jos University Teaching Hospital in Jos, Nigeria. Blood, high vaginal and endocervical samples were obtained for diagnosis of HIV, BV and other STIs. Data were analyzed for prevalence of HIV, BV and other STIs. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models generated unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR) as well as 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the association of BV and other STIs with HIV prevalence. P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 4,046 pregnant women were studied and 97.6% (3,950/4,046) had complete laboratory records for analysis. The prevalence of HIV was 8.2% (CI: 7.4-9.1); BV 11.9% (CI: 10.9-12.9); Candida 10.7% (CI: 9.7-11.7); mixed infection of BV and Candida 2.8% (CI: 2.3-3.4); Trichomonads 0.6% (CI: 0.3-0.8) and syphilis 0.35% (0.16-0.54). BV, Candida, mixed BV and Candida; and Trichomonads were independently associated with HIV infection [adjusted OR (95% CI), 2.9 (CI: 2.2-3.9); 2.0 (CI: 1.5-2.9); 3.4 (CI: 2.0-5.6), and 3.3 (CI: 1.1-9.7) respectively]. CONCLUSION: HIV prevalence is higher among pregnant women who have BV, Candida and Trichomonads vaginal infections compared with women who have no evidence of infection. The practice of routine screening for BV and other STIs among pregnant women as a strategy for identifying women at risk for prevalent HIV infection should be sustained/ encouraged and the syndromic management of STIs should be integrated into all antenatal care management protocols in antenatal clinics in order to curb the epidemic of heterosexual HIV transmission

Anthrax bio-surveillance of livestock in Arua District, Uganda, 2017-2018

Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UABThe authors would like to express their gratitude to the local Sub-County chiefs, district veterinary officers, community elders, and kraal leaders for being supportive during data collection. Author JG has received mobility support from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (action Erasmus+ KA107 Mobility Fellowship) and was supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya, Agency for Management of University and Research Grants co-financed with the European Social Found (grants for the recruitment of new research staff 2018 FI_B 00236). Authors RAO, ME, MA, MFN, MI, EI, MM, LP, BS, and SAA were funded by Livestock Disease Control project II.Anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis, is a widespread zoonotic disease with many human cases, especially in developing countries. Even with its global distribution, anthrax is a neglected disease with scarce information about its actual impact on the community level. Due to the ecological dynamics of anthrax transmission at the wildlife-livestock interface, the Sub-Saharan Africa region becomes a high-risk zone for maintaining and acquiring the disease. In this regard, some subregions of Uganda are endemic to anthrax with regular seasonal trends. However, there is scarce data about anthrax outbreaks in Uganda. Here, we confirmed the presence of B. anthracis in several livestock samples after a suspected anthrax outbreak among livestock and humans in Arua District. Additionally, we explored the potential risk factors of anthrax through a survey within the community kraals. We provide evidence that the most affected livestock species during the Arua outbreak were cattle (86%) compared to the rest of the livestock species present in the area. Moreover, the farmers' education level and the presence of people's anthrax cases were the most critical factors determining the disease's knowledge and awareness. Consequently, the lack of understanding of the ecology of anthrax may contribute to the spread of the infection between livestock and humans, and it is critical to reducing the presence and persistence of the B. anthracis spores in the environment. Finally, we discuss the increasingly recognized necessity to strengthen global capacity using a One Health approach to prevent, detect, control, and respond to public threats in Uganda

Association of extent of cannabis use and psychotic like intoxication experiences in a multi-national sample of first episode psychosis patients and controls

BackgroundFirst episode psychosis (FEP) patients who use cannabis experience more frequent psychotic and euphoric intoxication experiences compared to controls. It is not clear whether this is consequent to patients being more vulnerable to the effects of cannabis use or to their heavier pattern of use. We aimed to determine whether extent of use predicted psychotic-like and euphoric intoxication experiences in patients and controls and whether this differs between groups.MethodsWe analysed data on patients who had ever used cannabis (n = 655) and controls who had ever used cannabis (n = 654) across 15 sites from six countries in the EU-GEI study (2010–2015). We used multiple regression to model predictors of cannabis-induced experiences and to determine if there was an interaction between caseness and extent of use.ResultsCaseness, frequency of cannabis use and money spent on cannabis predicted psychotic-like and euphoric experiences (p ⩽ 0.001). For psychotic-like experiences (PEs) there was a significant interaction for caseness × frequency of use (p 0.5).ConclusionsFEP patients are particularly sensitive to increased psychotic-like, but not euphoric experiences, at higher levels of cannabis use compared to controls. This suggests a specific psychotomimetic response in FEP patients related to heavy cannabis use. Clinicians should enquire regarding cannabis related PEs and advise that lower levels of cannabis use are associated with less frequent PEs