Mangifera indica as a bioindicator of lead, copper and iron in the vicinity of a metal smelting plant, Bukuru Jos, Nigeria

The levels of lead, Pb copper Cu and iron Fe in Mangifera indica leaf and bark and the native soil samples in the vicinity of Makeri smelting plant, Bukuru, Plateau state, were determined using Atomic AbsorptionSpectrophotometer (AAS). The aim was to assess the extent of pollution of the environment under study. Results show that the soil pH ranged from 9.40 to 10.17 indicating that the soil samples were generally alkaline with the possible effect of trapping metal ions as hydroxides. The leaf, bark and soil samples gave mean Pb values of 33.40±0.01, 19.25±0.03 and 12.30±0.12ìg/g respectively at a distance of 10 metres from the factory. The corresponding values obtained at a distance of 200 metres were 9.65±0.01, 5.20±0.10 and 11.65±0.0ìg/g for leaf, bark and soil samples respectively. However, at a distance of 400 metres away from the factory, the leaf, bark and soil samples gave 6.03±0.02, 3.10±0.12 and 10.40±0.05ìg/g. The value of Cu was 27.00±0.11, 14.00±0.17 and43.50±0.15ìg /g in the leaf, bark and soil samples respectively at 10 metres away from the factory, decreasing to 20.00±0.03, 10.85±0.02 and 39.30±0.20ìg/g while at a distance of 400 metres the corresponding values were 19.30±0.22, 8.00±0.13 and 3.00±0.17ìg/g for the leaf, bark and soil samples respectively. The value of Fe was 479.55±0.1ìg/g in the leaf, 116.8±015ìg/g in the bark and 817.11±0.10ìg/g in the soil sample at a distance of 10 metres which decreased to 220.00±0.22, 80.30±0.10 and 749.60±0.13ìg/g respectively at 200metres. The values further decreased to 62.15±0.13, 32.70±0.11 and 655.20±0.21ìg/g in the leaf, bark and soil samples respectively at a distance of 400 metres suggesting that the metal smelting activity of the factory has contributed to high metal load inthe environment

A 37-year-old woman presenting with impaired visual function during antituberculosis drug therapy: a case report

Abstract Introduction Combination antituberculosis drug therapy remains the mainstay of treating tuberculosis. Unfortunately, antituberculosis drugs produce side effects including (toxic) impaired visual function, which may be irreversible. We report a case of antituberculosis-drug-induced impaired visual function that was reversed following early detection and attention. Case presentation A 37-year-old Yoruba woman, weighing 48 kg, presented to our facility with impaired visual functions and mild sensory polyneuropathy in about the fourth month of antituberculosis treatment. Her therapy comprised ethambutol 825 mg, isoniazid 225 mg, rifampicin 450 mg, and pyrazinamide 1200 mg. Her visual acuity was 6/60 in her right eye and 1/60 in her left eye. She had sluggish pupils, red-green dyschromatopsia, hyperemic optic discs and central visual field defects. Her intraocular pressure was 14 mmHg. Her liver and kidney functions were essentially normal. Screening for human immunodeficiency virus was not reactive. Her impaired visual function improved following prompt diagnosis and attention, including the discontinuation of medication. Conclusions The ethambutol and isoniazid in antituberculosis medication are notorious for causing impaired visual function. The diagnosis of ocular toxicity from antituberculosis drugs should never be delayed, and should be possible with the patient's history and simple but basic eye examinations and tests. Tight weight-based antituberculosis therapy, routine peri-therapy visual function monitoring towards early detection of impaired function, and prompt attention will reduce avoidable ocular morbidity.</p

Exploration of Shared Genetic Architecture Between Subcortical Brain Volumes and Anorexia Nervosa

In MRI scans of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), reductions in brain volume are often apparent. However, it is unknown whether such brain abnormalities are influenced by genetic determinants that partially overlap with those underlying AN. Here, we used a battery of methods (LD score regression, genetic risk scores, sign test, SNP effect concordance analysis, and Mendelian randomization) to investigate the genetic covariation between subcortical brain volumes and risk for AN based on summary measures retrieved from genome-wide association studies of regional brain volumes (ENIGMA consortium, n = 13,170) and genetic risk for AN (PGC-ED consortium, n = 14,477). Genetic correlations ranged from − 0.10 to 0.23 (all p > 0.05). There were some signs of an inverse concordance between greater thalamus volume and risk for AN (permuted p = 0.009, 95% CI: [0.005, 0.017]). A genetic variant in the vicinity of ZW10, a gene involved in cell division, and neurotransmitter and immune system relevant genes, in particular DRD2, was significantly associated with AN only after conditioning on its association with caudate volume (pFDR = 0.025). Another genetic variant linked to LRRC4C, important in axonal and synaptic development, reached significance after conditioning on hippocampal volume (pFDR = 0.021). In this comprehensive set of analyses and based on the largest available sample sizes to date, there was weak evidence for associations between risk for AN and risk for abnormal subcortical brain volumes at a global level (that is, common variant genetic architecture), but suggestive evidence for effects of single genetic markers. Highly powered multimodal brain- and disorder-related genome-wide studies are needed to further dissect the shared genetic influences on brain structure and risk for AN

Level of heavy metals in soils and lemon grass in Jos, Bukuru and environs, Nigeria

No Abstract.Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 13 (2) 2007: pp. 193-19

Influence of Biotechnological Processes, Speed of Formulation Flow and Cellular Concurrent Stream-Integration on Insulin Production from ß-cells as a Result of Co-Encapsulation with a Highly Lipophilic Bile Acid

Introduction: We have shown that incorporation of the hydrophilic bile acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, into ß-cell microcapsules exerted positive effects on microcapsules’ morphology and size, but these effects were excipient and method dependent. Cell viability remained low which suggests low octane-water solubility and formation of highly hydrophilic dispersion, which resulted in low lipophilicity dispersion and compromised cellular permeation of the incorporated bile acid. Thus, this study aimed at investigating various microencapsulating methodologies using highly lipophilic bile acid (LPBA), in order to optimise viability and functions of microencapsulated ß-cells. Methods: Four different types of microcapsules were produced with (test) and without (control) LPBA, totalling eight different microcapsules. Microencapsulating methodologies were screened for best microcapsule-cell functions and microencapsulating processes were examined in terms of frequency, formulation flow, total bath-gelation time and cellular concurrent stream-integration rate, cell-viability, insulin production and inflammatory profile. Results: Optimum biotechnological processes include formation frequency (Hz) of 2350, formulation flow (ml/min) of 1.2, total gelation time (min) of 18 and cellular concurrent stream-integration rate (ml/min) of 0.7. In all formulations, LPBA consistently improved cell viability, insulin production, mitochondrial activities and ameliorated inflammation. Conclusion: The deployed biotechnological processes and LPBA optimised formation and functions of ß-cell microcapsules, which suggests potential applications in diabetes mellitus via the creation of more stable ß-cell microcapsules capable of delivering adequate levels of insulin to control glycaemia and potentially curing diabetes

The biological effects of the hypolipidaemic drug probucol microcapsules fed daily for 4 weeks, to an insulin-resistant mouse model: potential hypoglycaemic and anti-inflammatory effects

Probucol (PB) is an hypolipidaemic drug with potential antidiabetic effects. We showed recently using in vitro studies that when PB was incorporated with stabilising lipophilic bile acids and microencapsulated using the polymer sodium alginate, the microcapsules showed good stability but poor and irregular PB release. This suggests that PB microcapsules may exhibit better release profile and hence better absorption, if more hydrophilic bile acids were used, such as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Accordingly, this study aimed to produce PB-UDCA microcapsules and examine PB absorption and antidiabetic effects in our mouse-model of insulin-resistance and diabetes (fed high-fat diet; HFD). The study also aimed to examine the effects of the microcapsules on the bile acid profile. Healthy mice (fed low-fat diet; LFD) were used as control. Seventy mice were randomly allocated into seven equal groups: LFD, HFD given empty microcapsules, HFD given metformin (M), HFD given standard-dose probucol (PB-SD), HFD given high-dose probucol (PB-H), HFD given UDCA microcapsules and HFD given PB-UDCA microcapsules. Blood glucose (BG), inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-a, IFN-?, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-17), plasma cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids and triglycerides were analysed together with plasma bile acid and probucol concentrations. PB-UDCA microcapsules reduced BG in HFD mice, but did not reduce inflammation or improve lipid profile, compared with positive control (HFD) group. Although PB-UDCA microcapsules did not exert hypolipidaemic or antiinflammatory effects, they resulted in significant hypoglycaemic effects in a mouse model of insulin resistance, which suggests potential applications in insulin-resistance and glucose haemostasis