Antimicrobial activities of marine fungi from Malaysia

Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Cytological screening and Seroincidence of IgM with possible risk factors associated with naturally selected high risk group for Oncogenic Human Papilloma Virus Infection in Daura, Katsina State

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the developing countries and the seventh commonest cancer in the developed countries. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is now known to be the main factor in the aetiology of cervical cancer with over 99.7% of cases being associated with previous high risk HPV infection. The aim of the research is to determine the risk factors and incidence of oncogenic human papilloma virus among women of reproductive age in Daura. This was a cross-sectional prospective study involving a total of 120 women. Questionnaires were administered to collect data such as socio-demographic and possible risk factors. Endocervical swab and serum samples were then collected from the participants. Samples were analyzed by Enzyme Linked immunosorbent Assay and Pap smear respectively. The findings of this research revealed and overall high seroincidence of 36.6% as well as significant difference between seroincidence rate of pregnant and non-pregnant women. The findings also revealed that 10-20 age groups had the higher seroincidence rate of (50.0%) with no statistical significant difference between age groups. None of the sociodermographic factors involved in the research show significant association with HPV infections. The result by type of marriage shows that similar seroincidence rate was obtained in both monogamy and polygamy forms of marriage (36.7%). The study also reveals that risk factors like sexual partners, HIV status and sexual debut are significantly associated with HPV infection (P<0.05). Sixty (60) participants show normal cytole under microscope with prevalence of 50.0% and those with abnormal cytole had prevalence of (16.7%) while lowest prevalence of (3.3%) was obtained from participants with high squamous intraepithelial lesions. These results demonstrate a high seroincidence of HPV infection among women in the study area. We recommend improved education regarding HPV and cervical cancer among the populace and increasing cervical cancer screening particularly to attendees of antenatal care to prevent HPV related morbidity and mortality. Keywords: HPV; Cervical cancer; Endocervical swab; Seroincidenc

New proaporphines from the bark of Phoebe scortechinii

The phytochemical study of the bark of Malaysian Phoebe scortechinii (Lauraceae) has resulted in the isolation and identification of two new proaporphine alkaloids; (+)-scortechiniine A (1) and (+)-scortechiniine B (2) together with two known proaporphines; (−)-hexahydromecambrine A (3), (−)-norhexahydromecambrine A (4), and one aporphine; norboldine (5). Structural elucidations of these alkaloids were performed using spectroscopic methods especially 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR

Characteristics of unsupported alumina membrane prepared using sol-gel technique

A laboratory scale alumina membrane was prepared using sol-gel technique. Results from the experiment demonstrate that the addition of PVA is important for viscosity adjustment to determine the appropriate coating time if the membrane is required for coating on the porous support. The effects of varying PVA content  and sintering temperature on the characteristics of the sintered membrane are discussed. In this work, a 2 volume % of PVA solution containing 4g of PVA in lOOml of water was discovered to be adequate to achieve appropriate porosity level and avoid cracks in the gel layer. It was also discovered that the sol viscosity essentially increased as the PVA addition was increased. On the contrary, the coating time decreased as PVA content in the sol was increased. Generally, the pore size of the membrane increased with the increase in PVA addition. The density of the membrane increased with increase in sintering temperature. The porosity level however, decreased as the temperature was increased. The pore size became greater and pore size distribution wider at higher sintering temperatures

Gas Permeation Characteristics across Nano-Porous Inorganic Membranes

An overview of parameters affecting gas permeation in inorganic membranes is presented. These factors include membrane physical characteristics, operational parameters and gas molecular characteristics. The membrane physical characteristics include membrane materials and surface area, porosity, pore size and pore size distribution and membrane morphology. The operational parameters include feed flow rate and concentration, stage cut, temperature and pressure. The gas molecular characteristics include gas molecular weight, diameter, critical temperature, critical pressure, Lennard-Jones parameters and diffusion volumes. The current techniques of material characterization may require complementary method in describing microscopic heterogeneity of the porous ceramic media. The method to be incorporated in the future will be to apply a stochastic model and/or fractal dimension. Keywords: Inorganic membrane, surface adsorption, Knudsen diffusion, Micro-porous membrane, permeation, gas separation

Characteristics of unsupported alumina membrane prepared using sol-gel technique

A laboratory scale alumina membrane was prepared using sol-gel technique. Results from the experiment demonstrate that the addition of PVA is important for viscosity adjustment to determine the appropriate coating time if the membrane is required for coating on the porous support. The effects of varying PVA content and sintering temperature on the characteristics of the sintered membrane are discussed. In this work, a 2 volume % of PVA solution containing 4g of PVA in lOOml of water was discovered to be adequate to achieve appropriate porosity level and avoid cracks in the gel layer. It was also discovered that the sol viscosity essentially increased as the PVA addition was increased. On the contrary, the coating time decreased as PVA content in the sol was increased. Generally, the pore size of the membrane increased with the increase in PVA addition. The density of the membrane increased with increase in sintering temperature. The porosity level however, decreased as the temperature was increased. The pore size became greater and pore size distribution wider at higher sintering temperatures

Prevalence and risk factors associated with rotavirus diarrhoea in children less than five years in Katsina State, northwestern Nigeria

No Abstract

Anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-α-glucosidase, anti-leishmanial and anti-fungal activities of chemical constituents of Beilschmiedia species

Phytochemical investigation of Beilschmiedia alloiophylla has resulted in the isolation of one new alkaloid, 2-hydroxy-9-methoxyaporphine (1), and ten known natural products, laurotetanine (2), liriodenine (3), boldine (4), secoboldine (5), isoboldine (6), asimilobine (7), oreobeiline (8), 6-epioreobeiline (9), β-amyrone (10), and (S)-3-methoxynordomesticine (11). Chemical studies on the bark of B. kunstleri afforded compounds 2 and 4 along with one bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid,N-dimethylphyllocryptine (12). Structures of compounds 1-12 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. All of these isolates were evaluated for their anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE), anti-α-glucosidase, anti-leishmanial and anti-fungal activities. Compounds 1-12 exhibited strong to moderate bioactivities in aforementioned bioassays

Cytotoxic triterpenoids from the bark of Aglaia smithii (Meliaceae)

Two new dammarane triterpenoids, aglinone (1) and aglinin E (20S,24S-epoxy-25-hydroxy-1-en-dammarene) (2) along with three known compounds, 3-epiocotillol (3), aglinin A (4), and eichlerianic acid (5), were isolated from the bark of Aglaia smithii. The chemical structures of the new compound were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. All the compounds isolated were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects against P-388 murine leukemia cells. Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 showed cytotoxicity against P-388 murine leukemia cells with IC50 values of 21, 42, 34, and 11 μg/mL, respectively