Antimicrobial activities and phytochemical properties of Annona muricata leaf

Annona muricata is a well-known economic and traditional plant of Nigeria. The study investigated the properties of constituents and antimicrobial activities of extracts of the leaf of A.muricata. The extracts were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa,Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans by the agar well diffusion method at concentration of 20 mg/mL. The methanol (AM2) and ethyl acetate (AM4) extracts were characterized using UV and IR spectroscopy.The morphological structure of the A. muricata leaf was observed at a magnification of 20,000X using SEM and then subjected to EDX analysis.The results of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins and cardiac glycosides in the extracts. Anthraquinone was found absent. The ethyl acetate extract was found highly active against gram positive bacteria, S. aureus (ZI of 42mm; AI = 1.31) and ampicillin resistant gram negative P. aeruginosa (ZI of 34 mm; AI = 1.13). The IR spectra of AM2 and AM4 extracts of A. muricata showed peaks at a frequency of 3377 cm-1 to 3440 cm-1 indicating the presence of a phenolic OH stretch. This supports the phenolics detected chemically. The UV spectrum of methanol extract showed peaks that are typical of flavonoids and phenolics. The SEM revealed the sizes of the leaf particles as inhomogeneous. EDX results showed high oxygen concentration of 73.5 % and carbon concentration of 26.5 %.The findings proved the antiinfective potential of Annona muricata leaf and established physico-chemical markers for the active extracts

Antimicrobial activities and phytochemical properties of Annona muricata leaf

Annona muricata is a well-known economic and traditional plant of Nigeria. The study investigated the properties of constituents and antimicrobial activities of extracts of the leaf of A. muricata. The extracts were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans by the agar well diffusion method at concentration of 20 mg/mL. The methanol (AM2) and ethyl acetate (AM4) extracts were characterized using UV and IR spectroscopy. The morphological structure of the A. muricata leaf was observed at a magnification of 20,000X using SEM and then subjected to EDX analysis. The results of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins and cardiac glycosides in the extracts. Anthraquinone was found absent. The ethyl acetate extract was found highly active against gram positive bacteria, S. aureus (ZI of 42 mm; AI = 1.31) and ampicillin resistant gram negative P. aeruginosa (ZI of 34 mm; AI = 1.13). The IR spectra of AM2 and AM4 extracts of A. muricata showed peaks at a frequency of 3377 cm-1 to 3440 cm-1 indicating the presence of a phenolic OH stretch. This supports the phenolics detected chemically. The UV spectrum of methanol extract showed peaks that are typical of flavonoids and phenolics.  The SEM revealed the sizes of the leaf particles as inhomogeneous. EDX results showed high oxygen concentration of 73.5 % and carbon concentration of 26.5 %.The findings proved the anti-infective potential of Annona muricata leaf and established physico-chemical markers for the active extracts

Knowledge of spacer device, peak flow meter and inhaler technique (MDIs) among health care providers: an evaluation of doctors and nurses.

Background: Metered dose inhalers are cornerstone in effective management of bronchial asthma when correctly used. Most studies hitherto have focused on assessing patient’s knowledge of inhaler technique. We sought to assess the knowledge of inhaler technique, spacer device and peak flow meter among doctors and nurses in a tertiary healthcare institution in Nigeria.Method: A cross sectional survey of nurses and doctors from emergency department, family and internal medicine; who were attending a continuous professional development lecture, was carried out. From a total of 100 questionnaires administered, we retrieved 87 of which 75 were completed, giving a response rate of 75%. It was a selfadministered questionnaire. Data was analysed with SPSS version 21.0. Descriptive statistics were done. Associationwas examined using chi-square test.Result: Mean age of respondent was 35.8 years ± 8.7, 47(62.7%) were < 40 years, 33(44%) were male, nurses were 30(40.0%). Only 28(37.3%) had ever used a peak flow meter. Only 4(14.3%) used peak flow meter frequently, while 12(26.7%) checked patient’s inhaler technique often. Only 9 out of the 75 (12%) participants all of who are doctors knew at least 3 essential steps of the techniques in using the metered dose inhaler correctly. None of the participants got all the steps for the use of pMDI totally correct.Conclusion: Knowledge regarding the use of the metered dose inhaler and spacer device was poor. Health practitioners should have constant reminders in the form of continuous medical education to update their knowledge regarding correct inhaler technique.Funding: self-fundedKeywords: asthma, inhalers, knowledge, doctors, nurse

Twenty-first century technology of combating wildfire

Wildfire causes havoc and serious destruction of forest resources and wildlife. It also causes occasionally serious damages to human lives and properties. Current technology of fighting wildfire employs fire retardant chemicals, which pollute the environment seriously, and damages both wild and aquatic lives. Based on the new novel technology, it is possible that in the near future the industrial emissions that pollute the environments and cause health problems would be completely captured in frozen solid forms of emissions products. One of these is the frozen carbon dioxide, which is known as dry ice, which would be available than in hundreds of millions of tons in any country. Cost analysis shows that the power and cement industries would significantly benefit by selling the dry ice captured using the technology, just at $0.07 per kg. The present paper discusses the new technology of applying dry ice that would thus be abundantly available in fighting a wildfire. The paper discusses how the new technology would be by far superior to current technology that employs fire retardant chemicals in terms of environmental protection and the cost-effectiveness over the current technology

Association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been associated with exposures in the workplace. We aimed to assess the association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study. Methods We analysed cross-sectional data from 28 823 adults (≥40 years) in 34 countries. We considered 11 occupations and grouped them by likelihood of exposure to organic dusts, inorganic dusts and fumes. The association of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheeze, dyspnoea, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/FVC with occupation was assessed, per study site, using multivariable regression. These estimates were then meta-analysed. Sensitivity analyses explored differences between sexes and gross national income. Results Overall, working in settings with potentially high exposure to dusts or fumes was associated with respiratory symptoms but not lung function differences. The most common occupation was farming. Compared to people not working in any of the 11 considered occupations, those who were farmers for ≥20 years were more likely to have chronic cough (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.19–1.94), wheeze (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.16–1.63) and dyspnoea (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.53–2.20), but not lower FVC (β=0.02 L, 95% CI −0.02–0.06 L) or lower FEV1/FVC (β=0.04%, 95% CI −0.49–0.58%). Some findings differed by sex and gross national income. Conclusion At a population level, the occupational exposures considered in this study do not appear to be major determinants of differences in lung function, although they are associated with more respiratory symptoms. Because not all work settings were included in this study, respiratory surveillance should still be encouraged among high-risk dusty and fume job workers, especially in low- and middle-income countries.publishedVersio

Prevalence and predictors of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in a sample of patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Nigeria

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) are growing health challenges worldwide. However, the relation of OSA with type 2 diabetes is not well understood in developing countries. This study described the prevalence and predictors of OSA in type 2 DM patients using a screening questionnaire. Materials and Methods: Patients aged 40years and above with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited into the study consecutively from the outpatient clinics of a university hospital. They were all administered the Berlin questionnaire and the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) to assess the risk of OSA and the tendency to doze off, respectively. Anthropometric details like height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were measured and short-term glycaemic control was determined using fasting blood glucose. Results: A total of 117 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited into the study. The mean (SD) age, height and BMI was 63 years (11), 160 cm (9) and 27.5 kg/m2 (5.7), respectively. Twenty-seven percent of the respondents had a high risk for OSA and 22% had excessive daytime sleepiness denoted by ESS score above 10. In addition, the regression model showed that for every 1 cm increase in neck circumference, there is a 56% independent increase in the likelihood of high risk of OSA after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, waist, hip circumferences and blood glucose. Conclusion: Our study shows a substantial proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes may have OSA, the key predictor being neck circumference after controlling for obesity.Keywords: Diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, slee

Chronic airflow obstruction in a black African population: Results of BOLD Study, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Global estimates suggest that Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is emerging as a leading cause of death in developing countries but there are few spirometry-based general population data on its prevalence and risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa. We used the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) protocol to select a representative sample of adults aged 40 years and above in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. All the participants underwent spirometry and provided information on smoking history, biomass and occupational exposures as well as diagnosed respiratory diseases and symptoms. Chronic Airflow Obstruction (CAO) was defined as the ratio of post-bronchodilator (BD) one second Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV 1) to Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) below the lower limit of normal (LLN) of the population distribution for FEV 1/FVC. The overall prevalence of obstruction (post-BD FEV 1/FVC < LLN) was 7.7% (2.7% above LLN) using Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) equations. It was associated with few respiratory symptoms; 0.3% reported a previous doctor-diagnosed chronic bronchitis, emphysema or COPD. Independent predictors included a lack of education (OR 2·5, 95% CI: 1.0, 6.4) and a diagnosis of either TB (OR 23.4, 95% CI: 2.0, 278.6) or asthma (OR 35.4, 95%CI: 4.9, 255.8). There was no association with the use of firewood or coal for cooking or heating. The vast majority of this population (89%) are never smokers. We conclude that the prevalence of CAO is low in Ile-Ife, Nigeria and unrelated to biomass exposure. The key independent predictors are poor education, and previous diagnosis of tuberculosis or asthma

Antimicrobial activities and phytochemical properties of Annona muricata leaf

Annona muricata is a well-known economic and traditional plant of Nigeria. The study investigated the properties of constituents and antimicrobial activities of extracts of the leaf of A. muricata. The extracts were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans by the agar well diffusion method at concentration of 20 mg/mL. The methanol (AM2) and ethyl acetate (AM4) extracts were characterized using UV and IR spectroscopy. The morphological structure of the A. muricata leaf was observed at a magnification of 20,000X using SEM and then subjected to EDX analysis. The results of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins and cardiac glycosides in the extracts. Anthraquinone was found absent. The ethyl acetate extract was found highly active against gram positive bacteria, S. aureus (ZI of 42 mm; AI = 1.31) and ampicillin resistant gram negative P. aeruginosa (ZI of 34 mm; AI = 1.13). The IR spectra of AM2 and AM4 extracts of A. muricata showed peaks at a frequency of 3377 cm-1 to 3440 cm-1 indicating the presence of a phenolic OH stretch. This supports the phenolics detected chemically. The UV spectrum of methanol extract showed peaks that are typical of flavonoids and phenolics.  The SEM revealed the sizes of the leaf particles as inhomogeneous. EDX results showed high oxygen concentration of 73.5 % and carbon concentration of 26.5 %.The findings proved the anti-infective potential of Annona muricata leaf and established physico-chemical markers for the active extracts

Analysis of aeromagnetic data: Application to Early-Late Cretaceous events in parts of Lower Benue trough, Southern Nigeria

The study of the sedimentary sequence in parts of the Nigerian lower Benue trough has been carried out to understand the sedimentary thickness and its structural framework using high resolution aeromagnetic gridded data. It represents background investigation for targeting new mineralization zones and probable locations for detailed petroleum system analysis in the study area. The first order vertical derivative and the horizontal gradient magnitude of the reduced to the magnetic equator anomaly map were derived while edge detection techniques such as analytic signal, tilt derivative and horizontal derivative of tilt were implemented. Quantitative interpretations such as three dimensional Euler deconvolution, spectral analysis, and Source Parameter Imaging were applied to the residual magnetic intensity anomaly map. The results obtained show the Abakaliki Albian Asu River Group, the Caniacian Awgu shale and the Agala / Amasiri sandstones of Agubala and Ngbo to be severely intruded by rocks suspected to be basic or ultrabasic plutonic rocks. The basement topography, the sedimentary thickness of about 3800 m characterized by moderate volcanic intrusions, and the presence of a prominent anticlinorium for hydrocarbons preservation in Okpoto and environs call for a detailed petroleum system analysis. Structures hosting Lead-Zinc-Copper mineralization were identified in Ishieke, Ekeriegwe, Ugbuloke, and Abakaliki during an onsite mapping of notable structures. The mineralized structures in the areas are generally of dual origins − hydrothermal and volcanic. The hydrothermal minerals are connected to lineament intersections and occur as veins and veinlets in sedimentary rocks and feldspars while volcanic related ones occur as grains and with gangues in volcanic rocks