Proximate analysis of different fermented Citrillus vulgaris products from different cultivars of melons and Bacillus subtilis strains in South West Nigeria

The strains of Bacillus subtilis obtained from different condiments such as Natto (USA), Kinema, Natto (Nigeria), ‘Iru’ (fermented Parkia biglobosa), Soy-iru, Cowpea ‘iru’ and commercial ‘ogiri’ were used to ferment three different cultivars of melon seeds which include Citrullus lanatus and Cucumeropsis manii. Proximate analyses of the products were also determined, while the fermented and unfermented seed products were compared. The moisture content ranges between 7.57 to 39.33%, dry matter (60.7 to 93.4%), ash (2.65 to 4.71%), soluble protein (24.4 to 35.9%), fatty acid (32.47 to 53.5%), crude fibre (1.89 to 3.75%), carbohydrate (7.60 to 25.17%), pH (6.10 to 7.7) and titratable acidity (0.10 to 0.24). The mineral contents and sensory evaluation of both fermented and unfermented melon seeds were done and revealed that Citrullus vulgaris seed is the best raw material for ‘ogiri’ production, supported by the proximate values of the seeds and fermented product. Keywords: Proximate analysis, Citrullus vulgaris, Cultivars and Bacillus subtilis strain

MODELLING AND OPTIMIZATION OF COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE OF LOWER TEMPERATURE CYCLE OF TWO-STEP REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS

The coefficient of performance (COP) of a single-stage refrigeration system is low, thus there is a need for two-step refrigeration systems when there is a desire to have an evaporator temperature that is below -25 oC. The COP of the lower temperature cycle of the two-step refrigeration systems is a function of the COP of the refrigeration systems.This research aimed at optimizing COP of the lower temperature cycle of two-step refrigeration systems using eco-friendly refrigerants.Thermodynamic analysis of these refrigeration systems was performed by varying seven operating parameters. R-134a was used in the high-temperature cycle (HTC) and R-23 was used in the low-temperature cycle (LTC). The coefficient of performance of the lower temperature cycle (COP.REF[LTC]) of the refrigeration systems was optimized using Half Factorial Design of Design-Expert 12.0.1. The influence of the condensing temperature (TC,HTC),evaporating temperature (TE,HTC), cascade temperature difference (∆TCAS,DIFF), evaporating temperature (TE,LTC), superheating temperature (TSUP,LTC), sub-cooling temperature (TSUB,LTC), and refrigerant mass Flow rate (ṁHTC)was investigated on the values of COP.REF[LTC] of the refrigeration systems. The highest value of COP.REF[LTC] (18.1) was obtained under optimum conditions of the 30 TC,HTCoC , -40 TE,HTCoC, 0 ∆TCAS,DIFFoC, -50 TE,LTCoC, 0 TSUP,LTCoC, 20 TSUB,LTCoC and 0.01 ṁHTC kg/s.The study revealed that all the factors having interaction with TC[HTC] and TE[HTC] have a great influence on the value of COP.REF[LTC

Synthesis, antibacterial, and cytotoxicity evaluation of oleanolic acid-4-aminoquinoline based hybrid compounds

AIM : The study aims to prepare a class of oleanolic-based compounds. BACKGROUND : Conventional drugs used to treat infectious diseases suffer from limitations such as drug toxicity and drug resistance. The resistance of microbes to antimicrobial agents is a significant challenge in treating microbial infections. Combining two or more drugs with different modes of action to treat microbial infections results in a delay in developing drug resistance by the microbes. However, it is challenging to select the appropriate drugs for combination therapy due to the differences in stability and pharmacokinetic profile of the drugs. Therefore, developing hybrid compounds using the existing drugs is a promising approach to design effective antimicrobial agents. OBJECTIVES : To prepare oleanolic-based hybrid compounds followed by characterization, in vitro antibacterial and cytotoxicity evaluation. METHODS : Oleanolic acid-4-aminoquinoline-based hybrid compounds were synthesized via esterification and amidation. The compounds were characterized using FTIR, NMR, and UHPLC-HRMS. Oleanolic acid (OA) was isolated from the flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry, a species from Kingdom Plantae, order Mytales in the Myrtaceae family. Antibacterial activity was determined against selected strains of bacteria using the microdilution assay and cytotoxicity activity was assessed using the sulforhodamine B assay against selected cancer cell lines. RESULTS : The synthesized hybrid compounds exhibited antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC13047), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC19659), Staphylococcus aureus as well as Gram-negative bacteria, Klebsiella oxytoca (ATCC8724), Escherischia coli (ATCC25922), and Proteus vulgaris (ATCC6380) with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 1.25 mg/mL compared to oleanolic acid (2.5 mg/mL). Compounds 13 and 14 displayed cytotoxicity in vitro against the cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and DU 145) compared to the oleanolic acid (IC50 ˃ 200 μM). CONCLUSION : Modification of C28 of OA enhanced its biological activity.https://www.eurekaselect.com/journal/207hj2022Pharmacolog

Between life and death: exploring the sociocultural context of antenatal mental distress in rural Ethiopia

The high prevalence of antenatal common mental disorders in sub-Saharan Africa compared to high-income countries is poorly understood. This qualitative study explored the sociocultural context of antenatal mental distress in a rural Ethiopian community. Five focus group discussions and 25 in-depth interviews were conducted with purposively sampled community stakeholders. Inductive analysis was used to develop final themes. Worry about forthcoming delivery and fears for the woman’s survival were prominent concerns of all participants, but only rarely perceived to be pathological in intensity. Sociocultural practices such as continuing physical labour, dietary restriction, prayer and rituals to protect against supernatural attack were geared towards safe delivery and managing vulnerability. Despite strong cultural norms to celebrate pregnancy, participants emphasised that many pregnancies were unwanted and an additional burden on top of pre-existing economic and marital difficulties. Short birth interval and pregnancy out of wedlock were both seen as shameful and potent sources of mental distress. The notion that pregnancy in traditional societies is uniformly a time of joy and happiness is misplaced. Although antenatal mental distress may be self-limiting for many women, in those with enduring life difficulties, including poverty and abusive relationships, poor maternal mental health may persist

Surfactant protein-D and pulmonary host defense

Surfactant protein-D (SP-D) participates in the innate response to inhaled microorganisms and organic antigens, and contributes to immune and inflammatory regulation within the lung. SP-D is synthesized and secreted by alveolar and bronchiolar epithelial cells, but is also expressed by epithelial cells lining various exocrine ducts and the mucosa of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. SP-D, a collagenous calcium-dependent lectin (or collectin), binds to surface glycoconjugates expressed by a wide variety of microorganisms, and to oligosaccharides associated with the surface of various complex organic antigens. SP-D also specifically interacts with glycoconjugates and other molecules expressed on the surface of macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes. In addition, SP-D binds to specific surfactant-associated lipids and can influence the organization of lipid mixtures containing phosphatidylinositol in vitro. Consistent with these diverse in vitro activities is the observation that SP-D-deficient transgenic mice show abnormal accumulations of surfactant lipids, and respond abnormally to challenge with respiratory viruses and bacterial lipopolysaccharides. The phenotype of macrophages isolated from the lungs of SP-D-deficient mice is altered, and there is circumstantial evidence that abnormal oxidant metabolism and/or increased metalloproteinase expression contributes to the development of emphysema. The expression of SP-D is increased in response to many forms of lung injury, and deficient accumulation of appropriately oligomerized SP-D might contribute to the pathogenesis of a variety of human lung diseases

Management of peripheral facial nerve palsy

Peripheral facial nerve palsy (FNP) may (secondary FNP) or may not have a detectable cause (Bell’s palsy). Three quarters of peripheral FNP are primary and one quarter secondary. The most prevalent causes of secondary FNP are systemic viral infections, trauma, surgery, diabetes, local infections, tumor, immunological disorders, or drugs. The diagnosis of FNP relies upon the presence of typical symptoms and signs, blood chemical investigations, cerebro-spinal-fluid-investigations, X-ray of the scull and mastoid, cerebral MRI, or nerve conduction studies. Bell’s palsy may be diagnosed after exclusion of all secondary causes, but causes of secondary FNP and Bell’s palsy may coexist. Treatment of secondary FNP is based on the therapy of the underlying disorder. Treatment of Bell’s palsy is controversial due to the lack of large, randomized, controlled, prospective studies. There are indications that steroids or antiviral agents are beneficial but also studies, which show no beneficial effect. Additional measures include eye protection, physiotherapy, acupuncture, botulinum toxin, or possibly surgery. Prognosis of Bell’s palsy is fair with complete recovery in about 80% of the cases, 15% experience some kind of permanent nerve damage and 5% remain with severe sequelae

Selective AKR1C3 inhibitors do not recapitulate the anti-leukaemic activities of the pan-AKR1C inhibitor medroxyprogesterone acetate

Background: We and others have identified the aldo-keto reductase AKR1C3 as a potential drug target in prostate cancer, breast cancer and leukaemia. As a consequence, significant effort is being invested in the development of AKR1C3-selective inhibitors. Methods: We report the screening of an in-house drug library to identify known drugs that selectively inhibit AKR1C3 over the closely related isoforms AKR1C1, 1C2 and 1C4. This screen initially identified tetracycline as a potential AKR1C3-selective inhibitor. However, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance studies identified that the active agent was a novel breakdown product (4-methyl(de-dimethylamine)-tetracycline (4-MDDT)). Results: We demonstrate that, although 4-MDDT enters AML cells and inhibits their AKR1C3 activity, it does not recapitulate the anti-leukaemic actions of the pan-AKR1C inhibitor medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). Screens of the NCI diversity set and an independently curated small-molecule library identified several additional AKR1C3-selective inhibitors, none of which had the expected anti-leukaemic activity. However, a pan AKR1C, also identified in the NCI diversity set faithfully recapitulated the actions of MPA. Conclusions: In summary, we have identified a novel tetracycline-derived product that provides an excellent lead structure with proven drug-like qualities for the development of AKR1C3 inhibitors. However, our findings suggest that, at least in leukaemia, selective inhibition of AKR1C3 is insufficient to elicit an anticancer effect and that multiple AKR1C inhibition may be required