Numerical Solutions for Linear Fredholm Integro-Differential Difference Equations with Variable Coefficients by Collocation Methods

We employed an efficient numerical collocation approximation methods to obtain an approximate solution of linear Fredholm integro-differential difference equation with variable coefficients. An assumed approximate solutions for both collocation approximation methods are substituted into the problem considered. After simplifications and collocations, resulted into system of linear algebraic equations which are then solved using MAPLE 18 modules to obtain the unknown constants involved in the assumed solution. The known constants are then substituted back into the assumed approximate solution. Numerical examples were solved to illustrate the reliability, accuracy and efficiency of these methods on problems considered by comparing the numerical solutions obtained with the exact solution and also with some other existing methods. We observed from the results obtained that the methods are reliable, accurate, fast, simple to apply and less computational which makes the valid for the classes of problems considered.   Keywords: Approximate solution, Collocation, Fredholm, Integro-differential difference and linear algebraic equation

Subchronic toxicity and behavioural effects of Glycine max (L.) oil emulsion in male rats

The oil of Glycine max commonly known as soybean oil has over the decades grown popularity for its low cholesterol hence its use within the household and commercially for food production has grossly increased. This study was aimed to determine the effects of long term consumption of soybean oil toxicologically and behaviourally.Male albino rats were administered with the vehicle, 5 and 10% oil emulsion for 30 days orally. The rats were subjected to behavioural tests such as novelty-induced behaviour (NIB), learning and memory tests and food intake measurement weekly. At the end of 30 days, rats were anesthetized and carefully dissected and blood sample was taken and analyzed haematogically and biochemically. The liver sample was also taken for biochemical analysis. Histopathological examinations were carried out on the brain, spleen, liver, kidney, lungs and testis samples.The results showed that oral administration of oil caused an increase in food intake, significant effect on NIB but had no effect on learning and memory. There was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the level of both haemoglobin and PCV in the grouped administered with high dose. Biochemical analysis revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in triglyceride, ALT, AST levels, with no effect on cholesterol. Histopathological analysis revealed no significant effects on the essential organs tested when compared with the vehicle treated rats.This study conclusively showed that soybean oil has central excitatory effects and there is need for caution when used for a long period since it has significant effects on biochemical parameters

Subchronic toxicity and behavioural effects of Glycine max (L.) oil emulsion in male rats

The oil of Glycine max commonly known as soybean oil has over the decades grown popularity for its low cholesterol hence its use within the household and commercially for food production has grossly increased. This study was aimed to determine the effects of long term consumption of soybean oil toxicologically and behaviourally.Male albino rats were administered with the vehicle, 5 and 10% oil emulsion for 30 days orally. The rats were subjected to behavioural tests such as novelty-induced behaviour (NIB), learning and memory tests and food intake measurement weekly. At the end of 30 days, rats were anesthetized and carefully dissected and blood sample was taken and analyzed haematogically and biochemically. The liver sample was also taken for biochemical analysis. Histopathological examinations were carried out on the brain, spleen, liver, kidney, lungs and testis samples.The results showed that oral administration of oil caused an increase in food intake, significant effect on NIB but had no effect on learning and memory. There was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the level of both haemoglobin and PCV in the grouped administered with high dose. Biochemical analysis revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in triglyceride, ALT, AST levels, with no effect on cholesterol. Histopathological analysis revealed no significant effects on the essential organs tested when compared with the vehicle treated rats.This study conclusively showed that soybean oil has central excitatory effects and there is need for caution when used for a long period since it has significant effects on biochemical parameters

Identification and Characterization of Microsporidia from Fecal Samples of HIV-Positive Patients from Lagos, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that infect a broad range of vertebrates and invertebrates. They have been increasingly recognized as human pathogens in AIDS patients, mainly associated with a life-threatening chronic diarrhea and systemic disease. However, to date the global epidemiology of human microsporidiosis is poorly understood, and recent data suggest that the incidence of these pathogens is much higher than previously reported and may represent a neglected etiological agent of more common diseases indeed in immunocompetent individuals. To contribute to the knowledge of microsporidia molecular epidemiology in HIV-positive patients in Nigeria, the authors tested stool samples proceeding from patients with and without diarrhea. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Stool samples from 193 HIV-positive patients with and without diarrhea (67 and 126 respectively) from Lagos (Nigeria) were investigated for the presence of microsporidia and Cryptosporidium using Weber's Chromotrope-based stain, Kinyoun stain, IFAT and PCR. The Weber stain showed 45 fecal samples (23.3%) with characteristic microsporidia spores, and a significant association of microsporidia with diarrhea was observed (O.R. = 18.2; CI: 95%). A similar result was obtained using Kinyoun stain, showing 44 (31,8%) positive samples with structures morphologically compatible with Cryptosporidium sp, 14 (31.8%) of them with infection mixed with microsporidia. The characterization of microsporidia species by IFAT and PCR allowed identification of Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis and E. cuniculi in 5, 2 and 1 samples respectively. The partial sequencing of the ITS region of the rRNA genes showed that the three isolates of E.bieneusi studied are included in Group I, one of which bears the genotype B. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: To our knowledge, this is the first report of microsporidia characterization in fecal samples from HIV-positive patients from Lagos, Nigeria. These results focus attention on the need to include microsporidial diagnosis in the management of HIV/AIDS infection in Nigeria, at the very least when other more common pathogens have not been detected

Dual Hypocretin Receptor Antagonism Is More Effective for Sleep Promotion than Antagonism of Either Receptor Alone

The hypocretin (orexin) system is involved in sleep/wake regulation, and antagonists of both hypocretin receptor type 1 (HCRTR1) and/or HCRTR2 are considered to be potential hypnotic medications. It is currently unclear whether blockade of either or both receptors is more effective for promoting sleep with minimal side effects. Accordingly, we compared the properties of selective HCRTR1 (SB-408124 and SB-334867) and HCRTR2 (EMPA) antagonists with that of the dual HCRTR1/R2 antagonist almorexant in the rat. All 4 antagonists bound to their respective receptors with high affinity and selectivity in vitro. Since in vivo pharmacokinetic experiments revealed poor brain penetration for SB-408124, SB-334867 was selected for subsequent in vivo studies. When injected in the mid-active phase, SB-334867 produced small increases in rapid-eye-movement (REM) and non-REM (NR) sleep. EMPA produced a significant increase in NR only at the highest dose studied. In contrast, almorexant decreased NR latency and increased both NR and REM proportionally throughout the subsequent 6 h without rebound wakefulness. The increased NR was due to a greater number of NR bouts; NR bout duration was unchanged. At the highest dose tested (100 mg/kg), almorexant fragmented sleep architecture by increasing the number of waking and REM bouts. No evidence of cataplexy was observed. HCRTR1 occupancy by almorexant declined 4–6 h post-administration while HCRTR2 occupancy was still elevated after 12 h, revealing a complex relationship between occupancy of HCRT receptors and sleep promotion. We conclude that dual HCRTR1/R2 blockade is more effective in promoting sleep than blockade of either HCRTR alone. In contrast to GABA receptor agonists which induce sleep by generalized inhibition, HCRTR antagonists seem to facilitate sleep by reducing waking “drive”

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700

Anaphe venata larva extract-induced purposeless chewing in rats: the role of cholinergic, GABAergic and opioid systems

Seasonal ataxia was reported in humans following the consumption of Anaphe venata larva as protein supplement in diet and altered motor function in rodents when the extract was administered intraperitoneally. In this study we investigated the effect of the crude aqueous and Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS) extracts of this larva on altered spontaneous rat behavior in a novel environment particularly chewing behaviour, with a view to determine the mechanism(s) involved in these behavioural alteration. Animals were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 6-12 per group) and graded doses of aqueous and PBS extracts (100-400 mg/kg) were administered dissolved in saline intraperitoneally (i.p.) to each animal in the experimental groups. The control group received an equivalent volume of saline. Behavioral scores were recorded for a period of 30 minutes after the administration of saline or extract. The role of various receptors in the extract induced chewing was evaluated using known receptor agonist/antagonists. Results revealed a significant increase in purposeless chewing (F (7, 95) = 7.85; p<0.05) by the aqueous extract compared to saline control at all dose levels, which was significantly attenuated by scopolamine (3 mg/kg, i.p) and thiamine (1 mg/kg, i.p) respectively (p<0.05); while flumazenil (2 mg/kg, i.p) and naloxone (2.5 mg/kg, i.p) did not alter the induced purposeless chewing behaviour. Also, administration of PBS induced a significant (F (7, 95) = 6.11; p<0.05) increase in chewing behaviour but only at 400 mg/kg dose level which was attenuated by scopolamine (3 mg/kg, i.p); while flumazenil (2 mg/kg, i.p), naloxone (2.5 mg/kg, i.p), and thiamine (1 mg/kg, i.p) potentiated purposeless chewing behaviour respectively. It may therefore be concluded from this study that Anaphe extract-induced purposeless chewing behaviour in rat is mediated via the activation of cholinergic neurotransmission which is modulated by GABAergic and opioid receptor systems

Behavioural effects and mechanisms of essential oils of dennettia tripetala g. Baker (annonaceae) in mice

The fruits of the plant Dennettia tripetala G.Baker (Annonaceae) are well known in many communities of some southern states of Nigeria and some West African countries. They are commonly eaten as spices. We investigated the acute toxicity and behavioural effects of the essential oils of these fruits in mice and the mechanism(s) involved in the mediation of the observed behavioural effects. The result obtained showed that LD50 value of the oils in mice is 470 mg/kg (i.p.). The oils at all the dose levels used suppressed the gross behaviours and significantly (