Mutagenic and Genotoxic Screening of Eight Commonly used Skin Whitening Creams in Nigeria

Skin whitening (bleaching) creams are often used to deliberately lighten the skin in response to social pressures or for the treatment of skin pigmentation. Bleaching creams contain varied concentrations of hydroquinone, corticosteroids, ammoniated mercury and kojic acid. Prolonged use of these creams may have deleterious (mutagenic) effect on the genetic material (DNA) of body cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mutagenicity potentials of eight commonly used bleaching creams (Body white, Tura, Maxitone, Movate, Amos white, Top gel, Ultra clair, Fair and white), using the modified Ames test (with and without metabolic activation) that uses the wild type Escherichia coli (0157:H7) as tester strain. The assay was examined for revertant strains of the organism with at least three alterations in the phenotypic characteristics of the wild type organism. Results obtained showed that the eight bleaching creams produced revertant strains of the organism with alteration in more than three of its phenotypic characteristics and compared favourably with the standard mutagen (ethidium bromide), which produced the same effect. Three mutation mechanisms (forward, backward and silent mutations) were identified. The introduction of liver enzymes (S9 mix) made no significant difference in the number of characteristics altered (p>0.05). The results of this study revealed that the eight bleaching creams were mutagenic in bacteria and could be said to possess carcinogenic potentials. Their mechanism of mutagenesis could also be by intercalation just as ethidium bromide

Chlamydia and Vaginitis in Sexually Active Females: Classical Identification Methods for Effective Control

Laboratory diagnosis of Chlamydia and vaginitis in sexually active females has been limited by unavailability of a sequential method/rapid technique for simple diagnosis. Six hundred (600) adult females from hotel/brothel, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Clinic, Obstetrics/Gynaecology Clinic, Family Planning Clinic and Healthy controls were investigated for Chlamydia, Candida, trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis (BV). This was done using microscopy: wet mount, stained vaginal secretion and stained smear after culture. Results showed that there were 72% infections in the female groups. The brothel and STI group had infection in the range (70-86%). Chlamydial infection was highest in the STI group while Candida infection was highest in the healthy (control) females. Bacterial vaginosis was distributed in all groups. As p-value increased, f-value increased indicating constant co-infection of Candida and BV in Chlamydia positive females. Microscopy by direct detection from sample and stained smear after culture were in the range: 56-86%. Direct microscopy for BV was 78.5% and stained smear after culture, 57.1%. Sensitivity and specificity of the techniques showed that detection of Chlamydia was less sensitive by direct microscopy of sample but sensitivity and specificity of stained smear after culture were high. Immunoassay (32.2%) was also less sensitive. Sensitivity and specificity of wet mount microscopy for Candida, Trichomoniasis and BV were in the range 62.5 – 80% and 62.5-97.8% respectively. Wet mount has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting agents of vaginitis and may be useful for routine use and for diagnosis where disease is absent, thus, making identification more cost effective

In-vitro Assessment of Brands of Ampicillin Sold in Nigerian Markets

Objective: To determine the efficacy of ampicillin sold in Nigerian markets on bacterial pathogens and to ascertain their usefulness in the control of bacterial infections.Method: Five brands of ampicillin; Reichlin, Amcillin, Amikap, Neslin and Rajampi were tested for susceptibility using disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. Assay using Minimal Inhibitary Concentration (MIC) and Minimal bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were by two-fold dilution method.Concentrations 250μg/ml and 100 μg/ml served as stock.Results: Susceptibility were, Staphylococcus aureus (50%), Enterococcus faecalis(90%),E.coli (0%), Ps.aeruginosa (0%) and S.typhi (100%) . MIC (3-63)μg/ml and MBC (8-125)μg/ml were the range for all brands against S.aureus and E.faecalis, while Neslin and Rajampi were between (8-31)μg/ml for Salmonella typhi. The MIC critical values were (4-63) μg/ml at (30 to 40%) occurrence.Conclusion: This study has shown that ampicillin can be useful in the treatment of infections involving gram-positive organisms, in contrast to the illusion that it has no place in therapy, although S.aureusexpressed resistance to Neslin and Rajampi. Ps.aeruginosa and E.coli were 100% resistant therefore not useful for treatment of infections involving them. .The study provides the basis for continous monitoring of shelved antibiotics which may turn out to be useful, cost effective and indirectly conserve the tenacity of newer antibiotics