In vitro antilisterial properties of crude aqueous and nhexane extracts of the husk of Cocos nucifera

The in vitro antilisterial activities and time kill regimes of crude aqueous and n-hexane extracts of the husk fiber of Cocos nucifera were assessed. The aqueous extracts were active against 29 of the 37 test Listeria isolates while the n-hexane extracts were active against 30. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of all the susceptible bacteria ranged between 0.6 and 2.5 mg/ml for the aqueous fraction and between 0.6 and 5.0 mg/ml for the n-hexane extract. The average log reduction in viable cell count in the time kill assay ranged between 0.32 Log10 and 3.2 Log10 cfu/ml after 4 h of interaction, and between 2.6 Log10 and 4.8 Log10 cfu/ml after 8 h interaction in 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC (aqueous extract); and between 2.8 Log10 and 4.8 Log10 cfu/ml after 4 h of interaction, and 3.5 Log10 to 6.2 Log10 cfu/ml after 8 h interaction in 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC for the n-hexane extract. The extract was bactericidal against one of the test bacteria at 1 × MIC and against three of the test bacteria at 2 × MIC for the 8 h interaction period for the aqueous extract, while for the n-Hexane fraction; the extract was bactericidal against all the five test bacteria at both MICs after the 8 h interaction period. We suggested that the crude aqueous and n-hexane extracts of the husk of C. nucifera could be bacteriostatic or bactericidal depending on the time of exposure and concentration.Key words: Cocos nucifera, n-hexane extract, aqueous extract, minimum inhibitory concentration, time-kill

EAPP: Gatekeeper at the crossroad of apoptosis and p21-mediated cell-cycle arrest

We previously identified and characterized E2F-associated phospho-protein (EAPP), a nuclear phosphoprotein that interacts with the activating members of the E2F transcription factor family. EAPP levels are frequently elevated in transformed human cells. To examine the biological relevance of EAPP, we studied its properties in stressed and unstressed cells. Overexpression of EAPP in U2OS cells increased the fraction of G1 cells and lead to heightened resistance against DNA damage- or E2F1-induced apoptosis in a p21-dependent manner. EAPP itself becomes upregulated in confluent cells and after DNA damage and stimulates the expression of p21 independently of p53. It binds to the p21 promoter and seems to be required for the assembly of the transcription initiation complex. RNAi-mediated knockdown of EAPP expression brought about increased sensitivity towards DNA damage and resulted in apoptosis even in the absence of stress. Our results indicate that the level of EAPP is critical for cellular homeostasis. Too much of it results in G1 arrest and resistance to apoptosis, which, paradoxically, might favor cellular transformation. Too little EAPP seems to retard the expression not only of the p21 gene, but also of a number of other genes and ultimately results in apoptosis

Blood pressure tracking in urban black South African children: birth to twenty cohort

Background Hypertension is an emerging public health problem in South Africa. Recent evidence from longitudinal studies has shown that hypertension in adulthood can be traced back to childhood. There is scarcity of longitudinal data on paediatric blood pressure (BP) particularly in African populations. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of hypertension and evaluate BP tracking between childhood and late adolescence among South African black Children. Methods This study utilized data from the Birth to Twenty cohort, which is comprised of children born in Soweto, Johannesburg in 1990 (N = 3273, 78.5 % black). Data on BP and anthropometry were collected at six follow-up periods between ages 5 and 18 years. Blood pressure status was classified using the Fourth report on National High Blood pressure program in children and adolescents. Pearson correlation coefficients and relative risk ratios (RR) were used to describe tracking of BP between childhood and late adolescence. Results The overall point prevalence ranged from 9.2 to 16.4 % for prehypertension and 8.4 to 24.4 % for hypertension. Tracking coefficients ranged from 0.20 to 0.57 for SBP and 0.17- 0.51 for DBP in both sexes over the 14 years of measurement. The proportion of children who maintained an elevated BP status between childhood, adolescence and age 18 years ranged from 36.1 % at age 5 years to 56.3 % at age 13 years. Risk of having elevated BP at 18 years ranged from; RR: 1.60 (95 % CI: 1.29–2.00) at 5 years to RR: 2.71 (95 % CI: 2.32–3.17) at 14 years of age. Conclusions This study reports high prevalence of elevated BP which tracks from early childhood into late adolescence. These findings emphasize the importance of early identification of children at risk of developing elevated BP and related risk factors plus timely intervention to prevent hypertension in adulthood

A three-year review of the pattern of HIV infection among pregnant women attending Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: The HIV prevalence rate in Rivers State was low at onset, but increased progressively, often exceeding the National average since 2001. However, there has been a reported decline in the prevalence in Nigeria and elsewhere with wide local and zonal differences. Aim: To assess the HIV sero-prevalence among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic (ANC) at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Methods: Hospital records of all pregnant women who registered and attended the antenatal clinic from 2nd January 2005 to 31st December 2007 and were screened for HIV infection at the Haematology laboratory were retrieved and analysed using Epi-Info version 6.04d.   Results: A total of 9,869 ANC attendees were screened for HIV infection at the Hospital.  The prevalence rates were 4.8% in 2005, 5.4% in 2006 and 5.3% in 2007. The pattern of infection showed that the highest prevalence rate of 5.6% was found among the youngest age group (15- 24 years), clients with only primary education (8.5%), and skilled workers (7.3%) (p= 0.000). Conclusion: HIV infection is still in its epidemic phase in Rivers State unlike in other areas in the country where declines have set in. Caution is therefore required in extending the emerging declines in prevalence rates elsewhere to Rivers State, so that the existing political will and commitment in control efforts in the State are not weakened, if the State wishes to experience a sustained decline in prevalence rate in the foreseeable future.   Keywords: HIV pattern, Prevalence, Pregnant women, Rivers State, Nigeri

The bioactive potentials of two medicinal plants commonly used as folklore remedies among some tribes in West Africa

Jatropha curcas and Newboulda laevis are medicinal plants used for the treatment of ailments such as diarrhoea, dysentery, sexually  ransmitted diseases, jaundice and several other diseases caused bymicro-organisms. The antibacterial activities of the leaves of the plants were assessed against a panel of selected bacterial pathogens. Methanolic leaf extracts of J. curcas and N. laevis exhibited antibacterial activity against eight of the thirteen tested bacterial isolates at a final concentration of 20 mg/ml. The zones of inhibition exhibited by J. curcas ranged between 12 and 17 mm while that of N. laevis varied between 10 and 23 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration of J. curcas extract ranged between 0.625 and 10.00 mg/ml, while that of N. laevis extract varied between 0.313 and 10 mg/ml. The standard antibiotic – streptomycin had MIC values of between 0.0313 and 0.0625 mg/ml. Phytochemical compounds present in the extract of J. curcas include alkaloids, saponins, steroids and tannins, while those present in N. laevis extract includes alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins

In vitro antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of crude extract of stem bark of Afzelia africana (Smith)

Afzelia africana is used in folklore remedies for the treatment of diarrhoea, gastrointestinal disorders and gonorrhoea among other ailments; hence we assessed the in vitro antimicrobial activities of thisimportant medicinal plant. Thirty bacterial isolates as well as four fungal isolates were tested in this study. The crude extract of the stem bark of the plant exhibited antimicrobial activities at a concentration of 25 mg/ml against twenty-one of the bacterial isolates, (i.e. 72.41% of the tested isolates) comprising both Gram positive and Gram negative strains. The zones of inhibition exhibited by the extract against the test bacterial species ranged between 13 and 22 mm. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of the extract vary between 1.56 and 12.50 mg/ml while the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) ranged between 3.13 and 25.00 mg/ml. However, the extract lacked activity against all four tested fungal species. Phytochemical assay revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and saponins in the extract. We conclude that the stem bark of A. africana is a promising candidate as source of new antibacterial compounds

The bioactive and phytochemical properties of Garcinia kola (Heckel) seed extract on some pathogens

In vitro antimicrobial activities of crude extract of Garcinia kola was investigated against some bacterial isolates comprising of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. The methanolic crude extract exhibited significant inhibitory action against eleven out of fifteen bacterial isolates tested at a final concentration of 20 mg/ml. The zones of inhibition exhibited by the extract against the tested organisms ranged between 10 and 23 mm, while the zones of inhibition exhibited by streptomycin and tetracycline used as standard antibiotics ranged between 15 and 25 mm; 12 and 25 mm respectively. On the other hand, the minimum inhibitory concentrations exerted by the extract against the bacterial isolates ranged between 0.079 and 5.00 mg/ml while the ranged exhibited by streptomycin was between 0.0157 and 0.50 mg/ml. The plant extract compared favourably with the two standard antibiotics used in this study. The following phytochemical compounds were present in the plant extract: flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycoside, saponins, steroids and reducing sugars

Biocidal activity of partially purified fractions from methanolic extract of Garcinia kola (Heckel) seeds on bacterial isolates

The in vitro antibacterial activity of crude methanolic extract of the seeds of Garcinia kola was investigated. The extracts exhibited antibacterial activities with zones of inhibition ranging from 10 mm to 25 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the diethyl ether fraction was between 0.313 and 5.0 mg/ml, while that of butanol fraction varied from 0.157 to 5.0 mg/ml. The butanol fraction killed about 77% of Bacillus anthracis and 79% of Escherichia coli cells within 120 min at a concentration of 5.0 mg/ml. Protein leakage from the B. anthracis and E. coli cells when exposed to the butanol and diethyl ether fractions was observed. We conclude that Garcinia kola seed extract has a broad spectrum antibacterial activity, with the butanol and diethyl ether fractions being bactericidal as exemplified by the killing rate and protein leakage regimes, which suggest cell membrane disruption as a mechanism of action of the extract

Post-operative Anaemia and Prevalence of Blood Transfusion In Surgical Patients at The Rivers State University Teaching Hospital

Blood transfusion following surgical procedures may be a life saving venture especially in anaemic patients. Even though there is no universal accepted consensus on blood transfusion in surgical patients there should be clear cut indications prior to blood transfusion. The prevalence varies from centers and regions in the world. To determine post-operative anaemia and prevalence of blood transfusion in surgical patients at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). This was a six-month retrospective study of post-operative patients at the Surgery and Obstetrics/Gynaecology department of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. Ethical clearance was obtained from ethical committee of the Rivers State Hospital Management Board. The cut- off for anaemia was 33% in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO). Structured profoma was used to extract information from patients case notes and analysed using SPSS version 25. The subjects for the study were 370, comprising of 146 (39.5%) males and 224 (60.5%) females. The mean age was 31 years of which 194 (52%) were obstetrics and gynaecological surgeries while 176 (47.6%) were non-gynaecological surgeries. The commonest indication for surgery was ceasaren section representing 126 (34.1%) of the subjects; 259 (70%) had anaemia, of which 168 (64.8%) were females while 91 (35.2%) were males. Eighty-four (22.7%) of the subjects had blood transfusion. The prevalence of post-operative anaemia and blood transfusion in surgical patients at the RSUTH were 70% and 22.7% respectively. Optimizing surgical patients prior to operative procedures as well as taking measures to reduce blood loss intra-operatively cannot be overemphasized.&nbsp