The Efficacy Of Extracts From Four Oilseeds And An Oil Fruit As Agents Against Pathogenic Microbes In Comparison With Known Antibiotics

The antimicrobial action of extracts with known phytochemicals from 4 oil seeds (Irvingia gabonensis, Brachystegia eurycoma, Mucuna sloani and Ricinus communis and an oil fruit (Piper guineense) on selected bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and a fungus – Aspergillus flavus was investigated and compared with known antibiotics (Chloramphenicol and Nystatin). Ethanolic extract of P. guineense at 30% and 50% concentration showed more potency than chloramphenicol when they were tested on the bacterium S. aureus. Ethanolic extract of B. eurychoma and aqueous extracts of I. gabonensis and M. solani when tested on Aspergillus flavus showed more potency than Nystatin. For E.coli, Chloramphenicol showed more potency than all the extracts at their various levels of concentrations. It is therefore recommended that B. eurychoma, I. gabonensis and M. solani be used in the production of drugs for diseases caused by Aspergillus flavus. It is also recommended that ethanolic extract of P. guineense be used in production of drugs that can be used against staphylococcal infections. This is because, they are potent, cheaper to get and readily available. Results were based on the different zones of inhibition. Keywords: extracts, oilseeds, pathogenic microbes, antibioticsJournal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 119-12

Heterogeneity of resting-state EEG features in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and controls

Abnormal EEG features are a hallmark of epilepsy, and abnormal frequency and network features are apparent in EEGs from people with idiopathic generalized epilepsy in both ictal and interictal states. Here, we characterize differences in the resting-state EEG of individuals with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and assess factors influencing the heterogeneity of EEG features. We collected EEG data from 147 participants with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy through the Biology of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy study. Ninety-five control EEGs were acquired from two independent studies [Chowdhury et al. (2014) and EU-AIMS Longitudinal European Autism Project]. We extracted frequency and functional network-based features from 10 to 20s epochs of resting-state EEG, including relative power spectral density, peak alpha frequency, network topology measures and brain network ictogenicity: a computational measure of the propensity of networks to generate seizure dynamics. We tested for differences between epilepsy and control EEGs using univariate, multivariable and receiver operating curve analysis. In addition, we explored the heterogeneity of EEG features within and between cohorts by testing for associations with potentially influential factors such as age, sex, epoch length and time, as well as testing for associations with clinical phenotypes including anti-seizure medication, and seizure characteristics in the epilepsy cohort. P-values were corrected for multiple comparisons. Univariate analysis showed significant differences in power spectral density in delta (2-5Hz) (P = 0.0007, hedges' g = 0.55) and low-alpha (6-9Hz) (P = 2.9 × 10-8, g = 0.80) frequency bands, peak alpha frequency (P = 0.000007, g = 0.66), functional network mean degree (P = 0.0006, g = 0.48) and brain network ictogenicity (P = 0.00006, g = 0.56) between epilepsy and controls. Since age (P = 0.009) and epoch length (P = 1.7 × 10-8) differed between the two groups and were potential confounders, we controlled for these covariates in multivariable analysis where disparities in EEG features between epilepsy and controls remained. Receiver operating curve analysis showed low-alpha power spectral density was optimal at distinguishing epilepsy from controls, with an area under the curve of 0.72. Lower average normalized clustering coefficient and shorter average normalized path length were associated with poorer seizure control in epilepsy patients. To conclude, individuals with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy have increased power of neural oscillatory activity at low-alpha frequencies, and increased brain network ictogenicity compared with controls, supporting evidence from studies in other epilepsies with considerable external validity. In addition, the impact of confounders on different frequency-based and network-based EEG features observed in this study highlights the need for careful consideration and control of these factors in future EEG research in idiopathic generalized epilepsy particularly for their use as biomarkers