Assessment of the nutritive value of Phyllanthus niruri Linn. (stonebreaker) leaves

The leaves of Phyllanthus niruri was evaluated for the proximate, minerals, vitamins and phytochemical composition. Phyllanthus niruri leaves were harvested, air-dried at room temperature for 4 days and milled to form Phyllanthus niruri leaf meal. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used in determination of the leaves for macro (Sodium Na, Calcium Ca, Phosphorus P, Potassium K, Magnesium Mg) and micro (Iron Fe, Zinc Zn, Manganese Mn, Copper Cu) minerals; and phytochemicals (total phenolics, tannin, alkaloid, saponin, phytate, oxalate, flavonoid) were also determined using appropriate techniques. Proximate analysis indicated that the leaves had high concentration of dry matter (91.06%), crude fibre (16.90%), crude protein (14.74 %), ether extract (7.55%), ash (7.33%), neutral detergent fibre (43.81%), acid detergent fibre (25.49%), metabolizable energy (7.74MJ/Kg) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (57.40%). Mineral and vitamin analysis  showed that Phyllanthus niruri leaves contained macro minerals (ppm) such as Na (1947), Ca (2911), P (6978), K (18252), Mg (2914), micro minerals (ppm) such as Mn (94), Fe (665), Cu (12), Zn (37) and high content of vitamins A (812.78 µg/100g), D (34.79 µg/100g) and E (57.18 mg/100g) respectively. Phytochemical evaluation revealed that Phyllanthus niruri leaf have high contents of total phenolic (11.85mgGAE/100g), oxalate (22.69mg/g), phytate (5.40g/100g), moderate in alkaloid (3.67g/100g), but low in tannin (0.001g/100g), saponin (0.20g/100g), and flavonoid (1.40g/100g). The results showed that Phyllanthus niruri leaves are of high nutritional quality due to high crude protein, vitamin A, mineral contents especially potassium with the resultant phyto-chemicals attributes that could serve as feed additives in poultry production

Unruptured Second Trimester Tubal Pregnancy-A Case Report

Ectopic pregnancy is a major health risk for women of reproductive age group and is a major cause of death in the first trimester. While most cases of tubal pregnancy will present in the first trimester, advanced tubal pregnancy is rare and may be associated with diagnostic difficulty. We present the case of a 30 year-old primigravida who had total salpingectomy for unruptured mid-trimester tubal pregnancy with favorable outcome at 20 weeks gestation

Phytochemical Screening and Microbial Inhibitory Activities of Ficus Capensis

Ficus plant components have application in traditional medicine because of the myriad uses they have been subjected to. The ease of application is based on the secondary metabolites this plant contains. The challenges faced by modern medicine especially in the complete cure of microbially-associated diseases through abrupt and unpredictable genetic mutations in the presence of conventional drugs informed the investigation of the microbial inhibitory activities of the stem, root and leaf parts of F. capensis against test disease causing microorganisms. The phenolic, alkaloid and tannin phytochemical fractions were highest in F. capensis bark extract (180, 165 and 155 μg/ml respectively) followed by that contained in the stem extract (100, 90 and 85 μg/ml respectively). While Streptococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas mirabilis were resistant to many different antibiotics (87.5%), they were effectively inhibited by all concentrations of ethanolic F. capensis extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration of ethanolic extracts ranged from 25% leaf and stem extract concentration respectively (4mm) against S. faecalis and (2mm) against P.mirabilis. All test isolates were 100% susceptible to ethanol extract growth inhibition.

Ectopic Pregnancy in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. Ikeja, Lagos .Nigeria

We set out to determine the socio-demographic factors,pattern of presentation and management of ectopic pregnancy in a University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. A retrospective descriptive analysis of all cases of ectopic pregnancy over a 2-year period was carried out. The case notes were retrieved from the Records Department and the following information extracted; age, parity, clinical presentation, findings at laparatomy, estimated blood loss and the need for blood transfusion. Statistical analysis was done using Epi-info 3.5 statistical software (2008 version). The incidence during the period of study was 38.85/1000 live births.The mean age at presentation was 29.5 _ + 5.7 year(SD) and 124 patients constituting 30.1% were nulliparous .Presentation was usually late with rupture and haemoperitoneum as demonstrated by the large percentage (99.2%). Ampullary part of the fallopian tube was most commonly affected accounting for 360(87.6%) of the cases. Salpingectomy was done in majority of cases - 376(91.3%), while 181 (44%) did not require blood transfusion. There were 3 maternal deaths during the study period..Ectopic presents a major public health challenge among women of reproductive age group in Nigeria. Efforts should be directed to public awareness on sex education , contraception , prevention and treatment of common risk factors for ectopic pregnancy and in cases of early rupture, auto-tansfusion should be encouraged.Key words: Ectopic pregnancy, Factors, Operatio

Wet-cold preservation of West African yam (Dioscorea spp.) pollen

Hermetic cold storage without previous drying (wet–cold storage) was experimented for the preservation of yam pollen grains. Pollens collected from white yam D. rotundata and a wild relative, D. praehensilis, were stored at -80, -20, 5, and 150C in sealed packs for 2 years. Pollen samples were drawn for in vitro germination tests after 100 and 700 days, and hand pollination was conducted after 365 and 730 days in storage. Pollen germination responses were not significantly different among the two species. Though pollen maintained germination capacity at all the storage temperature regimes, there was a significant loss in the viability of pollen stored at 5 and 15 _C after 100 days of storage. After 700 days in storage, pollens stored at 5 and 150C had lost germination capacity while there were no significant differences in the germination of fresh pollen and pollen frozen at -80 and -200C. Hand pollination with pollen of D. rotundata frozen at -800C for 365 days gave 69.5% fruit set and 50% fruit set after 730 days in storage. From these results, the wet–freeze procedure appears promising to execute the establishment of pollen gene banks for yam breeding and for conservation of haploid gene pool of yams in base collections. A pollen storage protocol based on the procedure is recommended

The changing pattern of obstructed labour in Lagos

Background: Obstructed labour is still a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity and of adverse perinatal outcome in developing countries.Objectives: To determine the incidence, pattern of presentation, source of referral, complications, maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity from obstructed labour as seen in a university teaching hospital.Methods: A longitudinal descriptive study of all cases of obstructed labour managed at Ayinke House; the Obstetric and Gynecology unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja, between January 2007 and December 2008 was carried outResults: There were 7,470 deliveries during the study period and 316 of these were complicated by obstructed labour giving an incidence of 4.2%. Of the 316 women, 189 (59.8%) were nullipara. One hundred and eleven cases (35.1%) with obstructed labour were booked in LASUTH, while the remainder were unbooked. Cephalopelvic disproportion was the commonest cause of obstruction and accounted for 69.6% of cases and lower segment cesarean section was the most common intervention. Most of the women (42.4%) were in occupational social class IV. The leading complication of obstructed labour was wound infection/ puerperal sepsis accounting for 18.7% of cases There were 15(4.7%) maternal deaths giving a maternal mortality ratio of 1,415 /100,000 and perinatal mortality was 19.9%.Conclusion: Obstructed labour remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in this centre with majority being booked for antenatal care.Keywords: obstructed labour, new trend, maternal morbidity and mortalit