Beta-lactamase production by bacteria isolated from the gastrointestinal, urogenital and urinary tracts of patients at Murtala Muhammed specialist hospital and decent laboratory, Kano

No AbstractKeywords: β-lactamase, Gram negative, Gram positive, Hospital, E. coli

A Survey of Bacterial and Fungal Oppurtunistic Infections among HIV Clients in Kano Metropolis

Ethical clearances from Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano (AKTH) and Hospitals Management Board, Kano State were obtained and 600 patients were randomly selected, their informed consents obtained and tested for HIV by rapid tests using serial algorithm as recommended by World Health Organization and adopted by the Federal Ministry of Health. The biodata of the patients were collected confidentially and anonymously. All those confirmed to be HIV positive were further tested for CD4 cell count by flowcytometry technique (Pertec®) and were selected and screened for opportunistic bacterial and fungal pathogens using sputum samples. The bacterial pathogens were isolated using Blood and Chocolate agar plates and identified biochemically except the Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) which was tested in all the HIV positive samples by Ziehl Neelson staining technique. The fungal pathogens were isolated using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) with antibiotics and Brain Heart Infusion ( BHI ) Blood agar also with antibiotics and identified morphologically by wet microscopic mount. Results of this study showed that out of the 600 blood samples tested, 72 ( 12 % ) were HIV positive, 46 (7.7%) were male while 26 (4.3%) were female. On the basis of age groups, 30 – 40 years were found to have the highest number of HIV positive (40%, n = 72), then followed by 15-20 years ( 40%, n = 72 ), while the lowest number was recorded among 5 – 14 years. CD4 cells count categorization by WHO showed highest number of HIV positive among those with CD4 cells of ≥ 500 cells/ml with 37 cases (51% n = 72), then followed by those in the third category with CD4 count of ≤ 200 cell/ml (28%, n = 72) while in the category of 200 – 499 cell/ml, 15 cases (21% n= 72) were recorded. The overall organisms isolated among the 72 HIV positive patients were 139 as follows: Streptococcus pneumoniae (4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (11%), Pseudomonas aerugenosa (19%), Haemophilus influenzae (4% ), Acid Fast Bacilli (23%), Candida albicans (26%), Aspergillus species (11%), Cryptococcus neoformans (1.4%), and Histoplasma capsulatum (0.6%). Highest number of the opportunistic pathogens was recorded in the ≤200 cell/ml CD4 category with 61 organisms while the other two categories both recorded 39 organisms each. In this study therefore, the number of the opportunistic pathogens isolated among HIV positives indicates significant co-existence of polymicrobial infection due to immune suppression (p < 0.05). Also significant association was found between low CD4 cells count of ≤200 cells/ml and the occurrence of major opportunistic bacterial and fungal pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida albicans ( p < 0.05) respectively. Key words: HIV, AIDS, Bacteria, Fungi, Opportunistic pathogens, CD4 cells

Physico-chemical Parameters and Heavy Metals Determination in Selected Medicinal Plants Sold in ‘Yar Marina Market, Sokoto-Nigeria

The increasing prevalence of environmental pollution, especially soil contamination by heavy metals has led to their increased uptake in the human food chains through plant parts. Accumulation and magnification of heavy metals and other toxins in human tissues through consumption of herbal remedies can cause serious negative impacts on health. This study was aimed at determining the physico-chemical parameters and the levels of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Mn, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn and Ni) concentration in selected crude herbal plants sold in ‘Yar Marina’ Market, Sokoto-Nigeria. The physico-chemical parameters were determined using standard analytical methods and the heavy metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) after wet digestion. The results shows that moisture content is 3.67 – 4.83 %,, ash value 11.0 – 18.7 % and acid insoluble ash 1.0% 8.4 %. The result also revealed the maximum concentrations (mg/Kg) of the heavy metals in the samples as: 0.034±0.001, 14.977±0.001, 0.193±0.001, 15.160±0.002, 1.715±0.001, 0.335±0.001, 0.429±0.001 for Cd, Mn, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn and Ni respectively. While the moisture content of the samples was excellent, ash and acid insoluble ash suggested some level of contermination probably with sand. Also, the levels of all the heavy metals analysed in the samples were found to be of acceptable limits for heavy metals in plant samples. The exception was only for manganese in Cassia singueana and Combretum micranthum leaves.. It is therefore, suggested that the quality, safety and efficacy of these medicinal plants be improved through pharmacovigilance. Keywords: Heavy Metals, Medicinal Plants, Physico-chemical and ’Yar Marina market

Antimicrobial profile of moringa oleifera lam. Extracts against some food – borne microorganisms

The chloroform and ethanol extracts of seeds and leaf of Moringa oleifera were investigated for antimicrobial activity against some selected food – borne microorganisms as a first step in the screening of the extracts for preliminary sanitizing/preservative properties on foods. The preliminary phytochemical screening and antimicrobial assay were carried out using standard procedures. The results of the phytochemical analysis revealed differences in the presence of the phytochemicals among the extracts. Saponins were detected in all the extracts while tannins were only detected in Moringa oleifera leaf chloroform extract. The antibacterial assay results show that M. oleifera leaf ethanol extract exhibited broad spectrum activity against the test organisms with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogenes susceptible. The MIC values ranged between 2.0 and >4.0mg/ml for all the organisms. M. oleifera seed chloroform extract was only active against E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The MIC values ranged between 1.0 and >4.0mg/ml for the tested organisms respectively. Antifungal activity result revealed 100% inhibition in growth of Mucor and Rhizopus species by M. oleifera seed chloroform extract at concentration of 1mg/ml. Standard Ketoconazole (control) inhibited the test organisms by 100% at 0.5mg/ml concertration. The result of this study have shown the potentials of M. oleifera extracts as sanitizers/preservatives by inhibiting the growth of the test organisms, which range from food – borne pathogens to spoilage causing organisms in foods

The Effect of Indirect Written Corrective Feedback to Arabic Language Intermediate Students’ in Kuwait

This study investigates the effect of indirect written corrective feedback to Arabic intermediate students in Kuwait. There are 20 participants altogether in this study, ten male and ten female. They each wrote two assignments on the same topic. No feedback was received on the first assignment, and the second was conducted after indirect feedback was offered to them on the first task. The results show that indirect feedback is effective in improving their writing and language skills. The results also indicated a higher number of spelling errors than any other errors. The findings of this study suggest some teaching implications which include raising students’ awareness of the need to avoid many writing errors. Teachers should not correct all students’ errors, but should only correct those errors which are deemed necessary to correct. Teachers should also focus their attention on teaching and learning tasks, which concentrate on indirect written feedback rather than direct feedback. Again, as the leaners seem to have more problems with spelling errors rather than any other errors, teachers should devise strategies which concentrate on improving such errors, and writing correct words. This study advocates a large scale of studies which cover the wider context of Kuwaiti intermediate students

Prenylation of Aromatic Secondary Metabolites: A New Frontier for Development of Novel Drugs

Prenylation of aromatic secondary metabolites is an important process involved in the biosynthesis of many biologically active compounds in plants and animals. Many prenylated natural products have been shown to exhibit very good anti-tumor, anti inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. The addition of prenyl side chain to an aromatic secondary metabolite often affects its pharmacological activity. The aim of this review is to examine the influence of the prenyl side chain on the pharmacological activities of some classes of aromatic secondary metabolites and the potential application of prenylation in the development of novel drugsKeywords: Secondary metabolite, Prenylation, Aromatic, Ras antagonist, Novel drugs

A Rapid Method of Crude Oil Analysis Using FT-IR Spectroscopy

This study determines the viability of the use of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as a substitute to traditional petroleum geochemical methods for crude oil characterisation. IR spectra of Crude oil sample containing a mixture of both degraded (sample 151) and non-degraded (sample 145) oils at different concentrations were determined. The IR fingerprints agree with results obtained from GC analysis. Partial least square regression analysis was used to predict saturates for omitted mixtures (10 and 80% 151) and also saturates of five other samples (i.e. 145, 149, 172, H1 and AL10) within acceptable error limits. It therefore, follows, that although some improvements might still need to be made, FTIR spectroscopy can indeed be a viable, simple, cheaper and faster technique of crude oil characterisation compared with the traditional fractionation methods.Keywords: FTIR-ATR spectroscopy; GC-MS; Partial least squares (PLSR). Rapid analysis

In vitro Inhibition of Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Some Nigerian Medicinal Plants

Some Nigerian plants used in traditional medicine to treat tuberculosis and/or some of its symptoms were screened for in vitro activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis and a clinical isolate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Only 3 of the 6 crude methanolic extracts of the 6 plant species exhibited inhibitory activities against M. smegmatis, while 5 inhibited the growth of M. tuberculosis. Three and four water extracts inhibited M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis, respectively. Both methanol and water extracts of Artemisia annua, Pterocarpus erinaceus and Piper guiniense showed inhibitory activities against the two Mycobacteria. Methanol extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Piper guiniense exhibited the highest activity against M. tuberculosis with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.1 mg/ml. Key Words: Nigerian medicinal plants, Mycobacterium species, Inhibition East & Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol.6(1) 2003: 15-1