Possibilities of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] value chain upgrading as revealed by physico-chemical composition of ten elites landraces of Benin

Sweet potato is one of the most important food security promoted root crops in the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, the crop is still neglected and underutilized in Benin Republic. To establish baseline data for its better utilization for upgrading its value chain, 10 selected local varieties (01 cream, 02 white, 03 yellow, and 04 orange flesh-colored) were compared for their macro-nutritional composition assessed using standard Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) procedures and spectrophotometry methods. The results indicate that sweet potato dry matter, protein, fiber, and ash content ranged from 46.11 to 25.9%, 4.09 to 1.97%, 1.81 to 3.00%, and 4.70 to 2.56%, respectively and orange flesh cultivars were found very rich. Pearson correlation analysis of variables revealed that dry mater content is positively correlated with carbohydrate and energy values, but negatively correlated with ash and fiber content, while starch content is strongly correlated with fiber content. Principal component analysis allowed us to classify the sweet potato varieties into 03 varietal groups among which Group 2 (05 varieties) exhibited rich fiber, ash, and protein contents and may be recommended for infant foods formulations. These results constitute important orientation for sweet potato processing chain organization in Benin and for the establishment of future nutrition and breeding programme.Key words: Benin, sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas, nutritional composition, orange flesh cultivar, value chain

Proximate, mineral and vitamin C composition of vegetable Gbolo [Crassocephalum rubens (Juss. ex Jacq.) S. Moore and C. crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore] in Benin

Gbolo (Crassocephalum crepidioides and Crassocephalum rubens) is a traditional leafy vegetable highly consumed in southern and central Benin, as well as in some part of northern Benin. The nutritional potential of the two species of Gbolo were evaluated through their proximate composition, mineral and vitamin C profile using recommended AOAC method of analysis. The analysis revealed that the contents in raw protein, total lipids, ash and carbohydrates expressed in % of dry matter were  27.13±0.01%,3.45± 0.00%,19.02± 0.01%and 42.22 ± 0.04% for C. crepidioides; 26.43± 0.01%, 2.75± 0.01%, 19.76± 0.05% and 43.11±0.10 % for C. rubens respectively. The content of vitamin C for 100g of fresh leaf is of 9.17 mg for C. crepidioides and 3.60 mg for C. rubens. The moisture content (% of cool matter) and the total metabolizable energy (kcal/100 g of dried matter) were respectively 86.79± 0.04 %and 308.45 ± 0.28 for C. crepidioides and 87.95% ± 0.07 %and 302.91 ± 0.56 for C. rubens. The result of the mineral composition indicated that the sodium (Na), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Copper (Cu) contents were higher in C. rubensthan in C. crepidioides. With regard to the obtained values, the Gbolo vegetable showed a satisfactory composition and a significant variability between the mineral salts in its two species and can be valorised for a balanced nutrition of populations. Efforts should be made for the promotion of its wide cultivation and consumption. © 2013 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Benin, Crassocephalum, Gbolo, mineral composition, proximate composition, vitamin C

Adsorption isotherms and thermodynamics properties of water yam flour

Adsorption isotherms of water yam flour were determined by static gravimetric method of saturated salt solutions in the range of water activities between 0.11 and 0.96 and at temperatures of 25, 35 and 45 °C. The experimental sorption data was fitted to five models: Guggenheim-Anderson-De Boer (GAB), Peleg, Iglesias-Chirife, Exponential and Oswin and the differential enthalpy and entropies were determined. Equilibrium moisture contents decreased with increase in temperature at all the water activities studied. Peleg model gave the best fit for the sorption isotherm of water yam flour. Monolayer moisture content values estimated from the GAB-model were found to decrease with increases in temperature. The differential enthalpy and entropy decreased with increases in moisture content. The isokinetic temperature was 371.32 K and the compensation theory was satisfied

Site-Directed Mutagenesis to Assess the Binding Capacity of Class S Protein of Staphylococcus aureus Leucotoxins to the Surface of Polymorphonuclear Cells

Staphylococcal leucotoxins result from the association of class S components and class F component inducing the activation and the permeabilization of the target cells. Like α-toxin, the leucotoxins are pore-forming toxins with more than 70% β-sheet. This was confirmed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. In addition, threonine 28 of a predicted and conserved β-sheet at the N-terminal extremity of class S proteins composing leucotoxins aligns with histidine 35 of α-toxin, which has a key role in oligomerization of the final pore. Flow cytometry was used to study different aminoacid substitutions of the threonine 28 in order to evaluate its role in the biological activity of these class S proteins. Finally, results show that threonine 28 of the leucotoxin probably plays a role similar to that of histidine 35 of α-toxin. Mutations on this threonin largely influenced the secondary interaction of the class F component and led to inactive toxin

PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL FORMS OF MALARIA AMONG FEBRILE HIV-INFECTED CHILDREN SEEN AT USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SOKOTO, NIGERIA

Background: Malaria and HIV infections are major health problems facing the world today. Sub-Saharan Africa with 10 percent of world’s population harbors more than half the burden of the scourge. The present study determined the prevalence and clinical forms of malaria among febrile HIV-infected children aged 3months to 15years, seen in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study among febrile HIV-infected children and their control cohort were carried out between May and October 2016. The participants had the following investigations: malarial parasite, packed cell volume, random blood sugar, retroviral test.  Results: A total of 140 febrile HIV-infected children aged 3 months to 15 years and 140 febrile HIV-negative age- and gender-matched children were recruited; 100 of the HIV-infected children were on ART and cotrimoxazole. The prevalence of malaria among the febrile HIV-infected children was 71.4% (100/140) which was significantly lower than the prevalence of 94.3% (132/140) among the control group (χ2 27.72, p=0.001). Among the febrile HIV-infected children that had malaria, 54(54.0%) had uncomplicated malaria while 46(46.0%) had severe malaria. Of the 132 controls that had malaria, 48(36.4%) had uncomplicated malaria and 84(63.6%) had severe malaria (χ2 =7.184, p=0.007). Conclusion: Malaria is a problem in HIV-infected children. Since nearly half of the febrile HIV-infected children had severe form of malaria, it is recommended that health promotion, intermittent malaria prophylaxis, early diagnosis and prompt effective treatment should be instituted for HIV-infected children. This may prevent severe form of malaria and its attendant mortality

Toxins and adhesion factors associated with Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from diarrhoeal patients in Benin

Staphylococcus aureus is a causative agent of acute and infectious diarrhoea. In Africa, there is no sufficient information on the virulence and the degree of factors produced by its diarrhoea-isolated strains. Clinical features and virulence factors produced by S. aureus isolated from diarrhoeal-patients admitted at the Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (HKM) in Cotonou was investigated. The virulence factors were screened by radial immunoprecipitation and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Fifteen antibiotics were tested. Among independent 115 patients examined for diarrhoea, 32 had faeces positive for S. aureus isolated as pure culture. Most of these patients were hospitalized (21/32) and developed aqueous, bloody and painful diarrhoea, after antimicrobial therapy. About 62% were resistant to oxacillin. Genes encoding for clumping factor B and for laminin binding protein were detected in 62% of S. aureus isolates. About 94% of LukE-LukD producing strains have been isolated from patientsdeveloping post-antibiotic associated diarrhoea (PAAD). The Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL) was produced by 19% of isolates, all from PAAD. This study points out new data concerning virulencefactors and adhesion factor produced by S. aureus strains isolated from diarrhoea in Benin. The culture of the faeces will not always allow the diagnosis. It is important to update a technique, which enablesresearchers to carry out the virulence factors produced by these bacteria

Perceptions of psychosocial impacts of epilepsy by affected persons in northern Nigeria

Background Globally persons afflicted with epilepsy suffer social and psychological problems due to factors such as stigmatization and discrimination, overprotection and seclusion by parents and social isolation. This descriptive cross sectional study set out to investigate psychosocial impacts of epilepsy on affected individuals in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria.Method Two hundred and forty two adults attending epilepsy clinic at two tertiary hospitals were questioned on impacts of epilepsy on personal developments and social interactions.Results The subjects comprised 168 (69.4%) males and 74 (30.6%) females with mean ages of 29.5±12.4years and 30.7 ±16.0 years respectively. Their respective mean ages of onset of epilepsy were 18.6 ±14.0 years and 20.9 ±17.4 years. 8% had no formal education, 50% stopped school at various stages, while 28%, 12% and 2% completed primary, secondary and tertiary education at respective ages of 12.8 ±2.1 years, 18.2 ± 1.9 years and 24.4 ± 0.9 years. 73% were unemployed and 79% were unmarried due to rejection by spouses. More than 90% were unhappy about epilepsy, 4% were depressed and 0.8% had suicidal ideations. 28% would not socialise because of stigmatization and discrimination at home or workplace, while 5% experienced hostility from employers and colleagues at workplace.Conclusions The study highlighted some psychosocial impacts of epilepsy in more than 90% of persons with epilepsy in Kaduna State, Nigeria.Key words: Epilepsy, Nigeria, Perceptions, Psychosocial impact