Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract and alpha-tocopherol alleviated gamma radiation-induced haematological and biochemical changes in rats

The methanolic extract of Vernonia amygdalina (MEVA) has previously been shown to possess antioxidant property and provide radioprotection in the brain and liver of rats, but this effect has not been tested in blood cells. The objective of this study was to test if MEVA could offer radioprotection for blood cells of rats using alpha-tocopherol (TOCO) as a standard antioxidant. Forty-two male albino Wistar rats, aged 12-14 weeks were randomly divided into seven groups of six rats each. The control group received distilled water orally, while other groups received either MEVA, MEVA with radiation, or radiation alone. Rats were treated for 14 days, irradiated on the 15th day, euthanized on the 16th day, and their blood investigated using standard methods. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with post-hoc test. Results showed that radiation caused a reduction in the haemoglobin, red blood cells and packed cell volume, which pretreatment with MEVA did not improve, whereas TOCO caused a significant increase in the values. The radiation-induced reduction of lymphocytes and increases in the liver enzymes was mitigated by pretreatment with both MEVA and TOCO. This study demonstrated that MEVA and TOCO provided radio-protection for rat’s lymphocytes and the liver enzymes.Keywords: Erythrocytes, Lymphocytes, Liver enzymes, Radioprotection, Radiotherapy, Antioxidan

Collection of edible wild fruits in Eastern Region of Ghana

Edible wild fruits were collected in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Interviews and group discussions were the methods used to know the locations and subsequent collecting of the fruits. Twelve accessions of fruits were collected of which most were from trees. Cash crop (cocoa) farms were the habitats for most fruit trees in the region. Chrysophyllum albidum and some trees were deliberately planted in farms for income and sale. Some fruit trees were being domesticated.La collection des fruits sauvages comestibles était entreprise dans la région de l'Est du Ghana. Les entrevues et les discussions en groupe étaient les méthodes adoptées pour connaître les emplacements et par la suite, la collecte des fruits. Douze accessions des fruits étaient ramassées dont la plupart étaient cueillies des arbres. Les champs de culture commerciale (cacao) étaient les habitats pour la plus grandes parties des arbres fruitiers dans la région. Chrysophyllum albidum et quelques arbres étaient délibérément plantés aux champs pour le revenu et le commerce. Certains des arbres fruitiers étaient en train d'être domestiqués. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 40 (2) 2008: pp. 165-16

Influence of age of mice on the susceptibility to murine schistosomiasis infection

Intensity of human schistosomiasis infection increases with age, a peak being attained at early puberty. Hormones could be involved in the age-related changes in susceptibility to schistosomiasis. Male BALB/c mice were infected with Schistosoma mansoni either before or after puberty and worm numbers, cellular immune responses, hormonal levels and pathology analysed. Pre-puberty infected mice had a significantly higher number of adult worms (

Bacteria associated with contamination of ready-to-eat (RTE) cooked rice in Lagos-Nigeria

The bacteria associated with contamination of ready-to-eat (RTE) cooked rice in Lagos, Nigeria were studied using standard microbiological methods. The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution of pathogenic bacteria recovered from RTE cooked rice in Lagos, assess bacteria load in the contaminated RTE cooked rice and evaluate their microbial quality. The microbial load of the RTE cooked rice ranged from 1.5 ± 0.29x 104- 4.8 ± 0.46x 106cfu/g for three markets. A further test revealed that the average bacteria counts at Ketu was significantly different from those at Yaba and Odogunyan. However it was found that counts at Yaba and Odogunyan were not significantly different. Based on the specification by the International Microbiological Standard limits for Foods (IMSF), the levels of contamination of the total samples that were above and below microbiological acceptable limit were 91.7% and 8.3% respectively. The predominant pathogenic bacteria associated with contamination of the RTE cooked rice samples were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, Brahamella sp, Enterobacter aerogenes and Salmonella typhi. Out of a total of 36 RTE cooked rice samples analyzed, Enterobacter aerogenes 36 (100%) had the highest occurrence followed in descending order by Staphylococcus aureus 33 (91.7%), Brahamella sp. 29 (80.6%) and Salmonella sp. 25(69%). The results indicated that most of the RTE cooked rice samples examined in this study did not meet bacteriological quality standards. These findings suggest that the presence of food pathogens in RTE rice hawked in our local markets may pose serious potential health risks to the consumers in the public.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Contamination, pathogenic, bacteria, ready-to-eat (RTE), cooked ric

Plasma Interferon-gamma and IL-4, Immunoglobulin Classes and Nitric Oxide in Nigerians with Acute Leukaemia

Acute leukaemia are usually rapidly progressive with death often occurring in a few weeks to a few months in untreated patients as a result of abnormal hematopoietic function as well as impaired immune response. The risk of relapse which remains in 20% of patients in remission calls for more research on acute leukaemia. This study therefore, evaluated the plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and immunoglobulin classes (IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE) in twenty-five (25) patients with acute leukaemia (AL) and twenty-five (25) apparently healthy controls. The mean levels of plasma IgA, IgG and IgM were not significantly elevated in leukaemia patients compared with control. However, the mean plasma levels of IgE, NO, IL-4 and IFN-γ were significantly elevated in leukaemia patients compared with controls. It could therefore be concluded from this study that humoural immunity is not depressed in acute leukaemia patients

Human rotavirus group a serotypes causing gastroenteritis in children less than 5 years and HIV-infected adults in Viwandani Slum, Nairobi

Background: Rotavirus remains a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in children worldwide with an estimated 2000 deaths each day in developing countries. Due to HIV/AIDS scourge in Kenya, it is possible that rotavirus-related gastroenteritis has been aggravated in adults. The Global Alliance for Immunizations has ranked rotavirus infection a priority for vaccine, and, to ensure its success, there is a need to document the local strain(s) circulating in different regions.Methods: A cross-sectional study wasconducted to documenthuman rotavirus group A serotypes in children below 5 years and HIV-infected adults in Viwandani slum in Nairobi, Kenya. A total of 260 (128 from children and 132 from HIV infected adults) fecal specimen samples were analyzed from August 2012 to July 2013. Screening for rotavirus was done by antigen based enzyme immune-sorbent assay (ELISA), Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was used to detect rotavirus electropherotypes and finally genotyping was done by RT-PCR using genotype-specific primer sets targeting VP4 and VP7 genes.Results: Rotavirus was detected in 23% and 8% of children and adult,respectively. Prevalence was high in children of < 2years and adults of > 48 years.  Long electropherotypes accounted for 80% and 60% while short electropherotypes accounted for 20% and 40% in children and adult, respectively. The common globally distributed strains, G1 and G3, accounted for 60% detections while the unusual G9 strain accounted for 80% infection in adults. G1P[8]was the common genotypic combination in children, accounting for 40% infection, whereas G9[P8]accounted for 60% of the infections in adults.Conclusion: This study shows the existence of strain diversity between rotavirus circulating in children and adults withinthis study group. It further shows that as currently constituted, the 2 vaccines recommended for rotavirus would cover the circulating strain in Viwandani slum. Finally,there is a need for continuous rotavirus strain surveillance in children and a further focus on HIV infected adults.Keywords: Rotavirus, Diarrhoea, Gastroenteritis, Viwandani slum, Keny

Computational analysis of third-grade liquid flow with cross diffusion effects: application to entropy modeling

The key goal of this current study is to analyze the entropy generation with cross diffusion effects. The third-grade type non-Newtonian fluid model is used in this study. The current flow problem is modelled with stretching plate. Modified Fourier heat flux is replaced the classical heat flux. The appropriate transformation is availed to convert the basic boundary layers equations into ODEs and then verified by homotopy algorithm. The consequences of various physical quantities on temperature, velocity, entropy and concentration profile are illustrated graphically

Allergic Rhinitis and its Associated Co-Morbidities at Bugando Medical Centre in Northwestern Tanzania; A Prospective Review of 190 Cases.

Allergic rhinitis is one of the commonest atopic diseases which contribute to significant morbidity world wide while its epidemiology in Tanzania remains sparse. There was paucity of information regarding allergic rhinitis in our setting; therefore it was important to conduct this study to describe our experience on allergic rhinitis, associated co-morbidities and treatment outcome in patients attending Bugando Medical Centre. This was descriptive cross-sectional study involving all patients with a clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis at Bugando Medical Centre over a three-month period between June 2011 and August 2011. Data was collected using a pre-tested coded questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS statistical computer software version 17.0. A total of 190 patients were studied giving the prevalence of allergic rhinitis 14.7%. The median age of the patients was 8.5 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1. Adenoid hypertrophy, tonsillitis, hypertrophy of inferior turbinate, nasal polyps, otitis media and sinusitis were the most common co-morbidities affecting 92.6% of cases and were the major reason for attending hospital services. Sleep disturbance was common in children with adenoids hypertrophy (χ2 = 28.691, P = 0.000). Allergic conjunctivitis was found in 51.9%. The most common identified triggers were dust, strong perfume odors and cold weather (P < 0.05). Strong perfume odors affect female than males (χ2 = 4.583, P = 0.032). In this study family history of allergic rhinitis was not a significant risk factor (P =0.423). The majority of patients (68.8%) were treated surgically for allergic rhinitis co morbidities. Post operative complication and mortality rates were 2.9% and 1.6% respectively. The overall median duration of hospital stay of in-patients was 3 days (2 - 28 days). Most patients (98.4%) had satisfactory results at discharge. The study shows that allergic rhinitis is common in our settings representing 14.7% of all otorhinolaryngology and commonly affecting children and adolescent. Sufferers seek medical services due to co-morbidities of which combination of surgical and medical treatment was needed. High index of suspicions in diagnosing allergic rhinitis and early treatment is recommended

Using laser ultrasound to detect sub-surface defects in metal laser powder bed fusion components

Laser powder bed fusion offers many advantages over conventional manufacturing methods, such as the integration of multiple parts which can result in significant weight-savings. The increased design freedom that layer-wise manufacture allows has also been seen to enhance component performance at little or no added cost. However, for such benefits to be realised, the material quality must first be assured. Laser ultrasonic testing is a non-contact inspection technique which has been proposed as suitable for in-situ monitoring of metal additive manufacturing processes. This paper explores the current capability of this technique to detect manufactured, sub-surface defects in Ti-6Al-4V samples, ex-situ. The results are compared with x-ray computed tomography reconstructions and focus variation microscopy. Whilst laser ultrasound has been used to identify material discontinuities, further work is required before this technique could be implemented in-situ

Response to novel objects and foraging tasks by common marmoset (Callithrix Jacchus) female Pairs

Many studies have shown that environmental enrichment can significantly improve the psychological well-being of captive primates, increasing the occurrence of explorative behavior and thus reducing boredom. The response of primates to enrichment devices may be affected by many factors such as species, sex, age, personality and social context. Environmental enrichment is particularly important for social primates living in unnatural social groupings (i.e. same-sex pairs or singly housed animals), who have very few, or no, benefits from the presence of social companions in addition to all the problems related to captivity (e.g. increased inactivity). This study analyses the effects of enrichment devices (i.e. novel objects and foraging tasks) on the behavior of common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) female pairs, a species that usually lives in family groups. It aims to determine which aspects of an enrichment device are more likely to elicit explorative behaviors, and how aggressive and stress-related behaviors are affected by its presence. Overall, the marmosets explored foraging tasks significantly longer than novel objects. The type of object, which varied in size, shape and aural responsiveness (i.e. they made a noise when the monkey touched them), did not affect the response of the monkeys, but they explored objects that were placed higher in the enclosure more than those placed lower down.Younger monkeys were more attracted to the enrichment devices than the older ones. Finally, stress-related behavior (i.e. scratching) significantly decreased when the monkeys were presented with the objects; aggressive behavior as unaffected. This study supports the importance of environmental enrichment for captive primates and shows that in marmosets its effectiveness strongly depends upon the height of the device in the enclosure and the presence of hidden food. The findings can be explained ifone considers the foraging behavior of wild common marmosets. Broader applications for the research findings are suggested in relation to enrichment