Assessment of selected liver enzyme activity in patients with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis receiving treatment at a tertiary healthcare facility, southwest Nigeria

Background: Several anti-tuberculous drugs have been effective in the treatment and management of drugsensitive and -resistant tuberculosis (TB). While these drug combinations have proven to be highly active against tubercle bacilli, side effects and toxicity may occur with tendency to interrupt or discontinue therapy, resulting in poor compliance. The objective of this study is to assess hepatotoxic potentials of anti-TB drugs among patients with rifampicin-resistant TB (RRTB) undergoing treatment at the directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) clinic of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a prospective study of 40 patients with RRTB on second-line anti-TB therapy including bedaquiline, moxifloxacin, prothionamide, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, isoniazid and clofazimine. RRTB was diagnosed by sputum smear AFB microscopy and Xpert MTB/RIF assay at the TB laboratory of Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Forty gender and age-matched apparently healthy persons were used as control. Venous samples (~5ml) were collected from each participant at baseline (prior to commencement of anti-TB therapy) and after completion of 9-11 months therapy, as well as from the controls. Plasma was separated by centrifugation and the activity of ALT, AST and ALP was measured by spectrophotometric analysis, while total protein and albumin levels were determined using routine methods. Data were presented as mean±SD and analysed using SPSS version 21.0. Comparison of the mean enzyme activity at baseline and after completion of therapy as well as with the control was done with unpaired ‘t’ test, and ‘p’ (two tail) value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The age range of the 40 RRTB patients is 20-67 years (mean age 45.50±10.1 years) while the age range of the 40 controls is 21-65 years (mean age 45.70±12.10 years). The male to female ratio is 1.2:1 for the patients and 1:1 for the control. There is statistically significant increase in post-therapy plasma activity of ALT (p<0.0001), AST (p<0.0001), ALP (p<0.0001), and total protein level (p=0.0086) compared to the baseline, while plasma albumin level decreased significantly post-therapy (p=0.007). Although there is no significant difference in the baseline activity of ALT (p=0.4936) and AST (p=0.2539) for the RRTB patients compared to the control, post-treatment activity of ALT (p<0.0001) and AST (p<0.0001) in RRTB patients were significantly higher than in apparently heathy controls. Conclusion: The activity of the liver enzymes (AST and ALT) reported among RRTB patients in our study are within the normal reference range for persons above 18 years of age, indicating a non-hepatotoxic effect of the anti-TB drugs. However, statistically significant increase in these enzyme activities in the patients’ posttreatment compared to the baseline, and to apparently healthy controls, indicates that the drugs may be potentially hepatotoxic on prolonged usage.   French title: Évaluation de l'activité des enzymes hépatiques sélectionnées chez les patients atteints de tuberculose résistante à la rifampicine recevant un traitement dans un établissement de soins de santé tertiaires, dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria Contexte: Plusieurs médicaments antituberculeux se sont révélés efficaces dans le traitement et la prise en charge de la tuberculose pharmacosensible et résistante. Bien que ces combinaisons de médicaments se soient avérées très actives contre les bacilles tuberculeux, des effets secondaires et une toxicité peuvent survenir avec une tendance à interrompre ou à interrompre le traitement, entraînant une mauvaise observance. L'objectif de cette étude est d'évaluer les potentiels hépatotoxiques des médicaments antituberculeux chez les patients atteints de tuberculose résistante à la rifampicine (RRTB) qui suivent un traitement à la clinique DOTS (Traitement de courte durée directement observé) de l'Université de technologie de Ladoke Akintola (LAUTECH), Hôpital, Ogbomoso, Nigéria Méthodologie: Il s'agissait d'une étude prospective de 40 patients atteints de RRTB sous traitement antituberculeux de deuxième ligne comprenant la bédaquiline, la moxifloxacine, le prothionamide, l'éthambutol, le pyrazinamide, l'isoniazide et la clofazimine. La RRTB a été diagnostiquée par microscopie AFB des frottis d'expectoration et test Xpert MTB/RIF au laboratoire de la tuberculose de l'hôpital universitaire de Bowen, à Ogbomoso, au Nigeria. Quarante personnes apparemment en bonne santé appariées selon le sexe et l'âge ont été utilisées comme contrôle. Des échantillons veineux (~5ml) ont été prélevés sur chaque participant au départ (avant le début du traitement antituberculeux) et après la fin du traitement de 9 à 11 mois, ainsi que sur les témoins. Le plasma a été séparé par centrifugation et l'activité de l'ALT, de l'AST et de l'ALP a été mesurée par analyse spectrophotométrique, tandis que les taux de protéines totales et d'albumine ont été déterminés à l'aide de méthodes de routine. Les données ont été présentées sous forme de moyenne ± ET et analysées à l'aide de SPSS version 21.0. La comparaison de l'activité enzymatique moyenne au départ et après la fin du traitement ainsi qu'avec le contrôle a été effectuée avec un test «t» non apparié, et une valeur «p» (deux queues) inférieure à 0,05 a été considérée comme statistiquement significative. Résultats: La tranche d'âge des 40 patients RRTB est de 20 à 67 ans (âge moyen 45,50±10,1 ans) tandis que la tranche d'âge des 40 témoins est de 21 à 65 ans (âge moyen 45,70±12,10 ans). Le ratio hommes/femmes est 1.2:1 pour les patients et 1:1 pour le contrôle. Il y a une augmentation statistiquement significative de l'activité plasmatique post-thérapie de l'ALT (p<0,0001), de l'AST (p<0,0001), de l'ALP (p<0,0001) et du taux de protéines totales (p=0,0086) par rapport à la ligne de base, tandis que l'albumine plasmatique le niveau a diminué significativement après le traitement (p=0,007). Bien qu'il n'y ait pas de différence significative dans l'activité de base de l'ALT (p=0,4936) et de l'AST (p=0,2539) pour les patients atteints de RRTB par rapport au groupe témoin, l'activité post-traitement de l'ALT (p<0,0001) et de l'AST (p<0,0001) chez les patients RRTB étaient significativement plus élevés que chez les témoins apparemment en bonne santé. Conclusion: L'activité des enzymes hépatiques (AST et ALT) rapportée chez les patients atteints de RRTB dans notre étude se situe dans la plage de référence normale pour les personnes de plus de 18 ans, indiquant un effet non hépatotoxique des médicaments antituberculeux. Cependant, une augmentation statistiquement significative de ces activités enzymatiques chez les patients après le traitement par rapport à la ligne de base et à des témoins apparemment sains, indique que les médicaments peuvent être potentiellement hépatotoxiques en cas d'utilisation prolongée

Optimization of a two stage process for biodiesel production from shea butter using response surface methodology

The challenges of biodiesel production from high free fatty acid (FFA) shea butter (SB) necessitated this study. The reduction of %FFA of SB by esterification and its subsequent utilization by transesterification for biodiesel production in a two stage process for optimization studies was investigated using response surface methodology based on a central composite design (CCD). Four operating conditions were investigated to reduce the %FFA of SB and increase the %yield of shea biodiesel (SBD). The operating conditions were temperature (40–60°C), agitation speed (200–1400 rpm), methanol (MeOH): oil mole ratio: 2:1–6:1 (w/w) for esterification and 4:1–8:1 (w/w) for transesterification and catalyst loading: 1–2% (H2SO4, (v/v) for esterification and KOH, (w/w) for transesterification. The significance of the parameters obtained in linear and non-linear form from the models were determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimal operating conditions that gave minimum FFA of 0.26% were 52.19°C, 200 rpm, 2:1 (w/w) and 1.5% (v/v), while those that gave maximum yield of 92.16% SBD were 40°C, 800 rpm, 7:1 (w/w) and 1% (w/w). The p-value of <0.0001 for each of the stages showed that the models were significant with R2 of 0.96 each. These results indicate the reproducibility of the models and showed that the RSM is suitable to optimize the esterification and transesterification of SB for SBD production. Therefore, RSM is a useful tool that can be employed in industrial scale production of SBD from high FFA SB

Prevalence and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in a semi-urban Nigerian community: A cross-sectional study

Background: The uptake of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is low globally including Nigeria despite its benefits and interventions. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of EBF among mothers in a semiurban Nigerian community. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among nursing mothers attending the immunization clinic at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State. A semi-structured questionnaire containing the World Health Organization’s indicators for assessing breastfeeding practices was used for data collection. Results: A total of 386 mothers were recruited with a mean age of 30.8 ± 5.0 years. Among them, 149 (36.8%) were below 30 years, 345 (89.4%) have had ANC visit at least four times, and 259 (67.1%) had initiated breastfeeding immediately after delivery. The prevalence of EBF was 52.6%. Natural feeds were the common feeds introduced after 6 months among 159 (78.3%) mothers. One hundred and forty-four&nbsp; (62.1%) nursing mothers aged 30 years or older practiced EBF compared to 72 (48.3%) persons below 30&nbsp; years (X2 = 6.290, p = 0.012). Also, 38 (70.3%) mothers who have delivered four or more children practiced&nbsp; EBF compared to 180 (54.2%) with fewer children (X2 = 5.437, p = 0.020). Nursing mothers aged&nbsp; 30 years or older had 36% higher odds of practicing EBF compared to younger persons (Adjusted&nbsp; Odds Ratio = 1.358, 95%CI = 0.886 – 2.081, p = 0.160). Conclusion: To achieve the WHO recommended target of ensuring that 90% of nursing mothers practice EBF, advocacy and health education must be intensified

Prospective Jatropha Curcas based Firms in Nigeria. How Viable?

This study examined the viability of prospective Jatropha based firms vis–a-vis employment opportunities in Nigeria, specifically the study identified the Jatropha bio-diesel and other allied products that were been researched into in Nigeria, estimated the costs and returns structure to Jatropha cultivation and the production of Jatropha based products. For the study, small scale Jatropha based firms were investigated. The results of the study revealed that Jatropha based products manufactured include bio-diesel, Jatropha kernel cake livestock feed, Jatropha ink pigment and dye, glycerine and Jatropha seeds-coat cement sheet and floor tiles. All the various parts of the Jatropha seeds are useful either for one or two of these products. Jatropha cultivation, was shown to be very profitable. Among Jatropha products, only the costs of the biodiesel Jatropha fuel is relative expensive when compared with the common fossil diesel. Based on the study findings, the study calls for the mobilisation of the Nigerian farmers to cultivate Jatropha, Alongside training to intimate the masses of the numerous products and benefits from Jatropha is necessary. They should be trained to manufacture simple Jatropha based necessities like those highlighted in the study. Market accessibility training to farmers and other stakeholders involved should also be embedded in the training. There is also the need to popularize the practicality of using Jatropha to produce these products via workshops and seminars. It is also necessary to step-up steps at introducing these products to the markets so as to enhance the marketability and competitiveness of the Jatropha based firms. Government and also other individuals and stake-holders need ensure the availability of supporting infrastructures for these small holder industries to thrive in the long-run

COMPARISON OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SOME SELECTED ALMOND CULTIVARS WITH HARD AND SOFT SHELL UNDER COMPRESSION LOADING

The mechanical properties of Nonpareil versus Gulcan 101-23 almond cultivars that have different shell properties were loaded between two parallel plates to determine the rupture force, rupture energy, rupture power requirement, toughness and firmness. The tests were carried out with three moisture contents, namely, 7.2, 22.9 and 33.6% wet basis and three loading axes (x, y, z). Physical characteristics of the almond cultivars such as length, width, thickness, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, volume, surface area and weight were determined. Physical properties of both cultivars increased as a numerical by increasing moisture content. The highest rupture force in all moisture content levels was obtained for almond pit loaded along the y-axis. In addition to rupture force, values of absorbed energy, toughness, power requirement and firmness were calculated as mechanical properties. The maximum force required to initiate pit rupture was found as maximum 554.3 N at y-axis for 7.2% moisture content and minimum 126.9 N at x-axis for 33.6% moisture content for Gulcan 101-23 cultivar. These values were determined as 53.3 and 11.2 N, respectively, for Nonpareil cultivar. Rupture force, absorbed energy, toughness, power requirement and firmness decreased with an increase of moisture content. The difference between mechanical properties of Nonpareil versus Gulcan 101-23 almond cultivars was found to be highly significant (P < 0.001)