Investigating and Remediating Gender Difference in Mathematics Performance among Dyslexic and Dyscalculic Learners in Sokoto State, Nigeria.

This study investigated and remediated gender difference in Mathematics performance among dyslexic and dyscalculic learners in Sokoto State. A sample of eight hundred and twenty seven (827) students at Junior Secondary Schools was used, comprising of four hundred and twenty three (423) males and four hundred and four (404) females. The data collected was computed using Statistical Package for the Social Scientists (SPSS) version 19. Mean scores, standard deviations, and t-test were employed at significance level of 0.05. The scores for the experimental groups increased by 54.49%, while the scores for the control groups decreased by 0.3% after remediation. The findings indicated that the treatment given on the experimental groups was significantly effective on dyslexic and dyscalculic students and confirmed no gender difference in academic performances at both pre-test and post-test levels. The study recommended that investigation and remediation of dyslexic and  dyscalculic students should always be carried out  by teachers and be seen as a special tool for reducing the level of difficulties as well preventing the existence of gender difference among students in mathematics. Keywords: Investigating, Gender Difference, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Remediatio

Phytochemistry and Inhibitory Activity of Chrozophora senegalensis Extracts against Some Clinical Bacterial Isolates

Dried leaves of Chrozophora senegalensis were extracted with acetone and hexane respectively using percolation method. The crude leaf extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening for the presence of secondary metabolites using standard procedures. The inhibitory activities of the extracts were tested against clinical bacterial isolates of E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp. and Salmonella spp. using disc diffusion and broth dilution techniques. The results of phytochemical screening have demonstrated the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugars, tannins and saponins in acetone extracts while hexane extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids and saponins only. The result of antibacterial activity indicated that all the test isolates were sensitive to hexane extracts while Proteus spp. was the only isolate sensitive to Acetone extracts at equal concentration of 30Bg/disc. Apart from Salmonella spp. which had minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of 500 and 1000Bg/ml, the MIC and MBC of the remaining isolates were greater than the highest concentration 2000Bg/ml used in this study. Keywords: Phytochemistry, Inhibitory activity, Chrozophora senegalensis, Extracts, Clinical bacterial isolate

Inhibitory activity of psidium guajava extracts on some confirmed extended-spectrum β-lactamases producing escherichia coli, klebsiella pneumoniae and proteus vulgaris isolates

Psidium guajava (L.) leaves powder was extracted with ethanol and methanol using percolation method. The extracts were tested for antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates of confirmed extended spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris isolates using disc diffusion method. The extracts were further subjected to phytochemical tests using standard procedures. Sensitivity test results showed that ethanol extract of the plant was active against K. pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris (8mm) but inactive against E. coli at 30μg/disc concentration while methanol extract of the plant was active against Proteus vulgaris isolates (8mm) but inactive against the remaining isolates at 30μg/disc concentration. Both extracts were active against ESBLs producing Proteus isolates with similar zone of inhibition in response to equal concentration of the extracts. The results of phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugars, saponins, steroids and tannins in either or both extracts

Detection of Extended-Spectrum Β-Lactamases among Gram Negative Isolates from Gombe Specialist Hospital Using Disc Replacement Method

A total of 500 clinical bacterial isolates from various sources including stool, urine, sputum and swabs obtained from Gombe State Specialist Hospital between July, 2011 and January, 2012 were used in this study. Gram’s stain reaction of the isolates separated them into Gram-positives (200) and Gram-negatives (300). Biochemical tests confirmed the identity of the Gram-negative isolates to be members of the enterobactericeae, which included Klebsiella pneumoniae (60), Escherichia coli (98), Providencia Spp. (32), Morganella moganii (32), Shigella Spp. (14), Citrobacter freundii (14), Serratia marcescens (10), Salmonella paratyphi A (10), Yersinia enterocolitica (8), Proteus vulgaris (4), Salmonella typhi (2) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16). Of the 300 Gram-negative isolates subjected to screening using Cefpodoxime (CPX 10μg, oxoid England) and Cefotaxime (CTX 30μg, Oxoid England) for ESβL- production based on Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) breakpoint, 250 (83.33%) were found to be positive which included K. pneumoniae (40), E. coli (92), Providencia Spp. (30), M. morganii (20), P. aeruginosa (14), Shigella Spp. (14), C. freundii (12), S. marcescens (6), and Y. enterocolitica (6), S. paratyphi A (10), P. vulgaris (4) and S. typhi (2). However, one hundred and sixty four, 164 (65.6%) were confirmed ESβL- producers based on DRM using Amoxicillin-clavulanate (AMC 30μg, Oxoid England) which included; K. pneumoniae 32(19.50%), E. coli 52(31.71%), Providencia Spp 20(12.20%), M. morganii 16(9.76%), P. aeruginosa 8(4.88%), Shigella Spp. 12(7.32%), C. freundii 6(3.66%), S. marcescens 4(2.44%), S. paratyphi A 8(4.88%), Y. enterocolitica 6(3.66%), P. vulgaris (0.0%), and S. typhi (0.0%).Keywords: Detection, ESBLs, Clinical isolates, Disc Replacement Method, Gomb

Improving Secondary School Teachers’ Performance to Re-Brand Students to Think Mathematically

The paper examines ways of improving secondary schools teachers’ performance in a bid to rebrand students to think mathematically. It discusses the beliefs about the nature of Mathematics, teachers’ content knowledge of Mathematics and use of instructional strategies. The paper recommends that teachers content knowledge to be enhanced through workshops, seminars, conferences and In-service training. Mathematics teachers should teach with enthusiasm so that students should learn enthusiastically among others. Key words: Improving Performance, Re-branding, Mathematics Beliefs, Content Knowledg

Sensitivity of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing enterobacteriacea to Acalypha maccafeana extracts

Powdered leaves of Acalypha maccafeana (L.) “Red Acalypha” was extracted with ethanol and fractionated with Petroleum ether, Chloroform and n-butanol using maceration technique. The extract and fractions were tested for antimicrobial activity against confirmed extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) producing enterobacteriaceae isolates of Escherichia coli, Citrobacter species, Enterobacter species, Klebsiella species, Proteus species and Salmonella species using disc diffusion method and microbroth dilution technique. The extract and fractions were further subjected to screening for phytochemical constituents. Sensitivity test results showed that ethanol extract, petroleum ether and residue fractions of red Acalypha were active against the isolates tested. The results of phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugars, steroids and tannins in both extract and fractions with flavonoids only present in ethanol extract and residue fractions of the plant. Keywords: Sensitivity, β-lactamase, Enterobacteriaceae, Acalypha maccafean

In vitro sensitivity pattern of some urinary tract isolates to Carica papaya extracts

Powdered leaves of Carica papaya(L.) were extracted with ethanol and partitioned in chloroform and distilled water. The extract and fractions were tested for antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas species using disc diffusion and microbroth dilution technique. The extract and fractions were further subjected to phytochemical tests for the presence of secondary metabolites using standard procedures. Results of sensitivity test results showed that ethanol extract of the leaf was active against E. coli and K. pneumoniae (7mm each) at 1000μg/disc concentration while chloroform and water fractions of the leaf were active against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis at 1000μg/disc concentration with zone diameter of 7mm each. Both the extract and fractions were inactive against P. aeruginosa at all concentrations used in this study. The results of phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids and tannins in either ethanol extract, fraction(s) or both. This indicates that the Carica papaya has the potential for the production of drugs against organisms causing urinary tract infections. Keywords: Sensitivity, Clinical isolates, Urinary tract, Carica papaya, Extract, Fraction

Helicobacter pylori: the causative agent of peptic ulcer

This review examines Helicobacter pylori as an organism and as the causative agent of peptic ulcers. The review also examined the classification of ulcers, how the bacterium produces the ulcer, some of the virulence factors possessed by the organism, its metabolism and growth requirements. The incidence and prevalence of peptic ulcers were originally believed to have resulted from some factors such as stress, eating spicy food, long term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), like aspirin and ibuprofen, smoking, and many alike. presently due to the development in the field of research, researchers from different geographical locations have reported a spiralshaped Gram-negative bacterium called Helicobacter pylori to be responsible for the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer. This confirmation has been supported by the strong and effective diagnostic procedures such as urea breath test, stool test, endoscopy, and blood test. Elimination of Helicobacter pylori by treatment with antibiotics in peptic ulcer patients resulted in the healing of the ulcer. Prevention of Helicobacter pylori infections is difficult because the mode of transmission is not well known. Key words: Helicobacter pylori, peptic ulcer, causative agent

Phytochemical Screening and Antibacterial Activity of Cybopogon citrates Extracts against Some Clinical Bacterial Isolates

Dried leaf powder of Cybopogon citratus was extracted with distilled water, acetone and hexane using percolation method. The extracts were screened for the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, tannins and saponins using standard procedures. Inhibitory activities of the extracts were tested against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp. and Proteus spp. using disc diffusion method and broth dilution techniques. The results of phytochemical screening have demonstrated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, tannins and saponins in some or all of the extracts. Similarly, the results of antibacterial activity testing of the extracts at equal disc concentration of 30@g/disc showed that E. coli was sensitive to all extracts with inhibition zone diameters of 7mm, Klebsiella spp. and Proteus spp. were sensitive to acetone extract of the plant with inhibition zone diameters of 7mm each while Salmonella spp. was sensitive to acetone and hexane extracts of the plant with inhibition zone diameters of 7mm and 8mm respectively. Salmonella spp. demonstrated MIC and MBC values of 1000@g/ml and 2000@g/ml respectively. These results suggest that C. citratus used in this study has the potential for the production of drugs against bacterial infections.Keywords: Phytochemical properties, Antibacterial activity, Cybopogon citratus, Extracts, Bacterial isolate

Prevalence of extended spectrum β-lactamases (esbls) among enterobacteriaceae in murtala mohammed specialist hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Confirmed variants of enterobacteriaceae isolated from 143 patients that attended Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano, were screened for extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) production using Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) breakpoint. Suspected ESBLs producers were subjected to confirmation using Disc Replacement Method (DRM). Standard discs of augmentin {AMC 30μg (Oxoid, England)}, ceftriaxone {AUF 30μg (Oxoid, England)} and ceftazidime {RP 30μg (Oxoid, England)} were used in the screening. Of the 143 isolates screened, 114 (79.72%) were Gram negative isolates belonging to the family enterobacteriaceae. Among the enterobacteriaceae isolates screened, the results of CLSI breakpoint test showed that 76 (66.7%) were ESBLs producers viz: Citrobacter spp. (3), Enterobacter spp. (2), E. coli (28), Klebsiella spp. (18), Morganella morganii (7), Proteus spp. (13), Salmonella spp. (1), Serratia spp. (1), Shigella spp. (2) and Yersinia spp (1). On subjecting the CLSI positive isolates to DRM, only 47 (41.2%) were confirmed ESBLs producers. These include; Citrobacter spp. (1), E. coli (20), Klebsiella spp. (12), Morganella morganii (4), Proteus spp. (8), Salmonella spp. (1) and Shigella spp. (1). ESBLs occur at an alarming rate among enterobacteriaceae isolates in Kano which calls for government intervention in the healthcare setting