Antibacterial and Antifungal Efficacy of Partially Partitioned Fractions of Spondias mombin (Linn) Extracts (Root, Leaf and Stem Bark) against Clinical and Environmental Isolates

The purpose this research work is to determine the antibacterial and antifungal assay of partitioned fractions of S. mombin (Linn) extracts against clinical and environmental isolates. The root, leaf and stem-bark of S. mombin were harvested and air-dried. The dried S. mombin was milled into powdered form using manual grinder. Powdered S. mombin (1 kg) each of the different S. mombin parts was extracted with 3 L of 70% (v/v) ethanol, ethyl acetate and distilled water for 72 h at room temperature. The SMRE and SMREA were used to code for root part; SMLE and SMLEA for the leaf part; and SMSBE and SMSBEA for the stem-bark part, each was fractionated on column chromatography with silica as the stationary phase using n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol as the eluting solvent to obtain n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol fractions. Antimicrobial and antifungal screened was observed using agar well diffusion test. The result obtained showed that in partially purified ethyl acetate leaf extracts, Fraction (F1 SMLEAH) showed significant inhibitory effect (p ≤ 0.05) on all the test bacteria, except Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhi at concentrations of 20.0-2.5 mg/ml, Fraction (F2 SMLEAEA) was not effective against Salmonella cholleraesuis, B. substilis, Citrobacter koseri and Salmonella typhi. Fraction (F3 SMLEAE) showed little or no inhibitory effect on most of the bacteria at all the concentration used. It can be deduced that in partially purified ethanolic leaf extracts, Fraction (F1 SMLEH) showed inhibitory effect on Burkholderia cepacia. All the organisms were not susceptible to all the fractions except F1 which had diameter of zones of growth inhibition ranging between 4.0-1.0 mm at 5 mg/ml-0.625 mg/ml on Mycobacterium abscessus. Partially purified ethanolic stem bark extracts, antifungal activity of the partially purified ethanolic extracts of S. mombin, Fractions (F1 SMLEH, F2 SMLEEA) and F3 SMLEE), significant antifungal activity (p ≤ 0.05) was observed at 20.0 mg/ml with most test fungi. Trichoderma horizionum was not susceptible to all the three fractions, while Aspergillus niger and Syncephala strumracemosum were susceptible to only fraction (F2 SMLEEA). Fractions (F1 SMSBEH, F2 SMSBEEA), F3 SMSBEE) on the test as the eluting solvent. Significant inhibitory effect (p ≤ 0.05) was observed in all the fractions at 20 mg/ml against most of the test bacteria. While, zones of growth inhibition of the various fractions varied with the test bacteria with the highest diameter zone of 8.0 mm recorded in fraction F1 against Salmonella typhi. Fractions (F2 SMSBEEA and F3 SMSBEE) possessed significant inhibitory effect (p ≤ 0.05) at 20.0-5.0 mg/ml on the test fungi, except Candida kruise and Rhizopus stonifer. The plant part by solvent interactive effect was significant (p<0.05), suggesting that the MICs and MBCs of test bacteria were observed at 0.3125 and 0.1562 mg/ml and MICs and MFCs test fungal were observed at 0.3125 and 0.1562 mg/ml respectively, The various plants differ significantly according to extraction solvent, These findings demonstrate the possible effectiveness of the S. mombin plant, especially its stem bark extracts, in treating microbial infections

A study on the service radii and accessibility to health facilities in Suleja, Niger state

Government policies over the years has centered on the provision and delivery of healthcare to all. Spatial distribution of health facilities is subject to a number of social and commercial influences and healthcare needs of the population. The objective of this paper analyzed the service radii and accessibility of health facilities to people in different neighborhoods in the study area. The location of all hospitals and clinics in Suleja were identified and mapped with the use of ARCGIS software. Furthermore 231 questionnaires were administered to both male and female patients in the thirty- seven (37) health facilities identified in the study area. Analytical method such as Lorenz curve was used to show the level of inequality between the population and available health facilities. Hospitals and Clinics showed evidence of clustering in Madalla and Kabula districts, the reason for this could be attributed to the disregard of locational issues and the consequences of adopting a particular spatial pattern of healthcare service delivery. Findings revealed that 34.35% of the respondents travelled less than 1km before accessing the hospitals and clinics of their choice, while only about 11% of the patients travelled far distances from their places of residence; covering over 4km before accessing the health facility of their choice. The research sought to proffer recommendations such as the strict adherence to established standards, ideal for minimum distances to health facilities and the proper consideration of health needs of the population when future provision for health facilities is embarked on.    Key Words: Accessibility, Distribution health, Facility, Location, Spatial.

Spatial Analysis of Health Facilities in Suleja, Niger State, Nigeria

Health undoubtedly is a prerequisite for global liveability of man. Despite government policies on the provision and delivery of healthcare to all, the spatial distribution of such health facilities are subject to a number of social and commercial influences that do not take into account the healthcare needs of the population. The objective of this study was to map out the location of health facilities in Suleja, Niger State. The locations of all hospitals and clinics in the study area were identified and mapped using a combination of spatial GIS tools.  The locational quotient was utilised to visualise spatial distributions and degree of concentration of all thirty-seven (37) identified health facilities. Nearest Neighbourhood Analysis (NNA) was used to establish the distribution pattern of hospitals and clinics in the study area. Hospitals showed evidence of dispersed distribution with a z-score of 5.63 implying a significant level of accessibility, while the pattern of clinic location appears to indicate an insignificant level of accessibility with a z-score of 0.43.The research proffer recommendations considering healthcare needs of the population provision for future health facilities and frequent assessment of existing health facilities by concerned health agencies/ministries.Key Word: Distribution, Health facility, Planning location, Facilit

Antisickling agent in an extract of unripe pawpaw (Carica papaya): Is it real?

Investigations into antisickling and reversal of sickling activities of an aqueous extract of unripe pawpaw (Carica papaya) were carried out on blood from sickle cell patients (Haemoglobin SS, HbSS) using 2% sodium metabisulphite in a sickling test. The minimum concentration of the extract that achieved maximum antisickling in vitro and the fraction of the extract where the antisickling agent resides were determined. Our findings confirmed both antisickling and reversal of sickling activities ofthe extract. It was established that 1.0 g of unripe pawpaw in 1.0 ml of physiological saline was the minimum concentration that achieved maximum antisickling. Solvent partitioning of the extract withethyl acetate and butanol revealed that the antisickling agent in the extract of unripe pawpaw resides in the ethyl acetate fraction as this fraction prevented sickling of Hb SS red cells and reversed sickled HbSS red cells in 2% sodium metabisulphite whereas the butanol and aqueous fractions had none of these properties. We concluded that extract of unripe pawpaw really has antisickling agent and that thisantisickling agent lies in the ethyl acetate fraction of the extract

A New Bioactive Thiophenolic Glycoside From The Leaf Of Massularia Acuminata (G. Don Bullock) Ex Hoyle (Rubiaceae)

Background: Massularia acuminata is a small tree or shrub of tropical rainforest. The leaves are used in Nigerian ethno-medicine for the treatment of microbial infections and pharmacological report suggested the leaf extract as possessing antioxidant activity. This study was therefore carried out to determine the most antioxidant and antimicrobial active  fraction(s) of Massularia acuminata leaf and the constituent(s) responsible for the activities.Matherials and Methods: The leaf of Massularia acuminata was investigated for in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, using a  2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and agar  dilution method respectively.Results: The ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated the best activities among the partitioned fractions tested. Bioassay guided purification of the most active ethyl acetate fraction led to isolation of a new thiophenolic glycoside, characterized as 4-(3´,3´-dihydroxy-1-mercaptopropyl)phenyl glycosylpyranoside.Conclusion: The isolated compound from the leaf of Massularia acuminata demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and may be responsible for the activities of leaf extract and its ethyl acetate fraction, hence this may justify its ethnomedicinal use.Key words: Massularia acuminata, antioxidant, antimicrobial, DPPH, agar dilution, thiophenolic glycosid

Can physical activity attenuate the impact of internet addiction on anxiety in young adults? A moderation analysis

Background: The potential moderators of the nexus between internet addiction (IA) and symptoms of anxiety are less understood. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the moderating roles of physical activity (PA) and gender in the association between IA and anxiety. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 510 Nigerian undergraduate students was carried out. IA, anxiety, and PA levels (low, moderate, and high) were assessed using Internet Addiction Test, anxiety sub-scale of Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, and Patient-Centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise Plus Nutrition, respectively. Moderation analysis was applied while controlling for important covariates. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 21.33 ± 2.63 years. The prevalence of IA and anxiety was 57.6 % and 52.6 %. IA was positively associated with anxiety (b=0.307, 95 % CI: 0.2168-0.3982, t (498) =6.660, p < 0.001). PA level, but not gender seem to moderate the association between IA and anxiety (F (2, 498) =3.561, p=0.029, R2 change =0.011). Moreover, interaction between PA and gender indicated that the moderating effect of PA was less pronounced among females compared with males (F (3, 498) =2.895, p=0.035, R2 change =0.014). Conclusions: PA can attenuate the deleterious nexus between IA and anxiety in young adults. The attenuation of PA in IA-anxiety nexus is weaker among female young adults compared with male counterparts. PA is a viable low-cost intervention strategy in combating the effect of IA on symptoms of anxiety among young adults. Further longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms among IA, anxiety symptoms, PA, and gender

Validation of the Yoruba Version of the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire in patients with chronic low back pain

STUDY DESIGN: Cultural adaptation and psychometric analysis. OBJECTIVE: This study determined the test-retest reliability, acceptability, internal consistency, divergent validity of the Yoruba pain self-efficacy questionnaire (PSEQ-Y). It also examined the ceiling and floor effects and the small detectable change (SDC) of the PSEQ-Y among patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are various indigenous language translations of the PSEQ and none adapted to African language. However, translations of the PSEQ into Nigerian languages are not readily available. METHODS: The validity testing phase of the study involved 131 patients with LBP, while 83 patients with LBP took part in the reliability phase. Following the Beaton recommendation for cultural adaptation of instruments, the PSEQ was adapted into the Yoruba language. The psychometric properties of the PSEQ-Y determined comprised: internal consistency, divergent validity, test-retest reliability, and SDC. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 52.96 ± 17.3 years. The PSEQ-Y did not correlate with the Yoruba version of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS-Y) scores (r = -0.05; P = 0.59). The values for the internal consistency and the test-retest reliability of the PSEQ-Y were 0.79 and 0.86, with the 95% confidence interval of the test-retest reliability ranging between 0.82 and 0.90. The standard error of measurement (SEM) and the SDC of the PSEQ-Y were 1.2 and 3.3, respectively. The PSEQ-Y had no floor or ceiling effect, as none of the respondents scored either the minimal or maximal scores. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in Nigeria to culturally adapt PSEQ. The PSEQ-Y showed adequate psychometric properties similar to existing versions. Therefore, the tool can be used to assess pain self-efficacy in clinical and research settings and help to improve the health outcomes of patients chronic LBP.Level of Evidence: 3

Translation and psychometric evaluation of the Yoruba version of the STarT Back tool among persons with longterm non-specific low-back pain

Background. Translating questionnaires into local languages is essential as it aids easy accessibility and understanding of such questionnaires by patients and their health caregivers. The STarT Back Tool (SBT), validated tool used to classify subgroups of persons with Low-Back Pain, has few translated versions. We translated the STarT Back Tool into the Yoruba language and established its psychometric properties among patients with long-term non-specific Low-Back Pain. Methods. Following the Lenz protocol, the SBT was successfully cross-culturally adapted into the Yoruba language. One hundred consenting patients (mean age = 57.0±11.43 years, 55% females) took part in the validation phase, while 53 of them participated in the test-retest phase. Psychometric indices of the Y-SBT assessed showed internal consistency, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), ceiling and floor effects and divergent validity. Results. The sub and total Cronbach’s α score for Y-SBT was 0.704 and 0.857, respectively. The test-retest reliability of the sub and total scores of the Y-SBT yielded an ICC of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.74 - 0.87) and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.84 - 0.93), respectively. The divergent validity for sub and total-scores of the Y-SBT based on Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale score for on-going pain was r = 0.374 (p = 0.001) and r = 0.432 (p = 0.001), respectively. The Y-SBT had no ceiling or floor effects. Conclusion. The Y-SBT have acceptable psychometric properties. It is recommended for use among Yorub speaking patients with LB

The changing global distribution and prevalence of canine transmissible venereal tumour.

BACKGROUND: The canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) is a contagious cancer that is naturally transmitted between dogs by the allogeneic transfer of living cancer cells during coitus. CTVT first arose several thousand years ago and has been reported in dog populations worldwide; however, its precise distribution patterns and prevalence remain unclear. RESULTS: We analysed historical literature and obtained CTVT prevalence information from 645 veterinarians and animal health workers in 109 countries in order to estimate CTVT's former and current global distribution and prevalence. This analysis confirmed that CTVT is endemic in at least 90 countries worldwide across all inhabited continents. CTVT is estimated to be present at a prevalence of one percent or more in dogs in at least 13 countries in South and Central America as well as in at least 11 countries in Africa and 8 countries in Asia. In the United States and Australia, CTVT was reported to be endemic only in remote indigenous communities. Comparison of current and historical reports of CTVT indicated that its prevalence has declined in Northern Europe, possibly due to changes in dog control laws during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Analysis of factors influencing CTVT prevalence showed that presence of free-roaming dogs was associated with increased CTVT prevalence, while dog spaying and neutering were associated with reduced CTVT prevalence. Our analysis indicated no gender bias for CTVT and we found no evidence that animals with CTVT frequently harbour concurrent infectious diseases. Vincristine was widely reported to be the most effective therapy for CTVT. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide a survey of the current global distribution of CTVT, confirming that CTVT is endemic in at least 90 countries worldwide. Additionally, our analysis highlights factors that continue to modify CTVT's prevalence around the world and implicates free-roaming dogs as a reservoir for the disease. Our analysis also documents the disappearance of the disease from the United Kingdom during the twentieth century, which appears to have been an unintentional result of the introduction of dog control policies.This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final version of this article has been published by BioMed Central: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/10/168