Biochemical and Toxicological Evaluations of Aqueous Extract of Parquetina nigrescens (Afzel.) leaves on Mifepristone-induced Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Rats

The biochemical and toxicological effects of aqueous extract of Parquetina nigrescens leaves (AEPNL) at the doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight on mifepristone-induced in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) was investigated in female Wistar rats. Sixty female Wistar rats (190.00 ± 13.00 g) were assigned into 6 groups (A - F) of ten each: animals in group A received 0.5 ml of distilled water orally on daily basis for 30 days while the mifepristonized rats in groups B, C, D and E also received orally 0.5 ml of distilled water, 7.14mg/kg of metformin (reference drug) and same volume of the extract corresponding to 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight of AEPNL respectively after which levels of some biochemical and toxicological indices were determined. AEPNL aggravated mifepristone-treatment related increases in albumin, total protein and liver aspartate aminotransferase activity and mitigated the increases in globulin, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, liver and serum alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase activities, and no treatment-related histoarchitectural changes occurred in the liver, kidney and uterus of the female rats. Therefore, the aqueous extract of Parquetina nigrescens leaves attenuated and also aggravated some biochemical parameters in the serum, liver and kidney but with no histological changes in the liver, kidney and uterus of the mifepristonized female Wistar rats. Keywords: Mifepristone, toxicology, Parquetina nigrescens, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, histolog

Bakteriurija među učenicima osnovnih i srednjih škola u Akuri, država Ondo, Nigerija

Bacteriuria in urinary tract infection is severe and associated with considerable morbidity if left untreated. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of bacteriuria among primary and secondary school pupils in Akure North Local Government Area. The study included subjects from the highly populated schools in this local government area. The samples analyzed were exclusively collected from volunteer pupils whose age and sex were documented by the questionnaire distributed to them. Urine samples were collected randomly under aseptic conditions from 250 pupils aged 5-20 attending primary and secondary schools. Urine samples were subjected to microbiological analysis by culturing 1 mL each on nutrient agar, mannitol salt agar, cystine lactose electrolyte deficient agar, plate count agar and chocolate agar for possible isolation of any bacteria. Bacterial colonies were enumerated and identified to the species level. Analytical indices revealed bacteriuria to be more common in female (41.2%) than male (3.2%) subjects. The highest bacterial count in female urine samples was 281x103 against 149x103 in male samples. A higher infection rate was recorded in secondary school pupils aged 11-20. Escherichia coli predominated among isolated bacteria species with 48.8%. Laboratory results confirmed urinary tract infection in some of the study pupils. As only volunteer pupils submitted their samples for analysis, this small population was represented in the study, predominated by female subjects. None of the pupils showed signs of infection, therefore routine laboratory checkup is important among children in order to limit damage to some of their vital tissues.Bakteriurija kod infekcije mokraćnog sustava je teška i udružena sa znatnim pobolom ako se ne liječi. Zato je cilj ove studije bio procijeniti učestalost bakteriurije među učenicima osnovnih i srednjih škola na području Akure North Local Government Area, Nigerija. U studiju su uključeni učenici vrlo napučenih škola u ovom području. Analizirani uzorci mokraće prikupljeni su isključivo od učenika dobrovoljaca čija su dob i spol dokumentirani podijeljenim anketnim upitnikom. Uzorci mokraće prikupljeni su nasumce pod aseptičnim uvjetima od 250 učenika u dobi od 5-20 godina, polaznika osnovnih i srednjih škola. Za mikrobiološku analizu je 1 mL svakog uzorka kultiviran na hranjivoj podlozi, slanoj hranjivoj podlozi s manitolom, hranjivoj podlozi sa cistinom i laktozom bez elektrolita (CLED agar), hranjivoj podlozi za brojenje kolonija (plate count agar) i čokoladnoj hranjivoj podlozi za moguću izolaciju bakterija. Izbrojene su kolonije bakterija i identificirane na razini vrste. Rezultati su pokazali da je bakteriurija češća među ženskim osobama u usporedbi s muškim osobama (41,2% prema 3,2%). Najviši broj bakterija u ženskim uzorcima mokraće bio je 281x103 prema 149x103 u muškim uzorcima. Viša stopa infekcije zabilježena je među polaznicima srednjih škola u dobi od 11-20 godina. Među izoliranim bakterijama prevladavala je Escherichia coli s 48,8%. Laboratorijski rezultati potvrdili su infekciju mokraćnog sustava u nekih učenika. Kako su uzorci za analizu prikupljeni na dobrovoljnoj osnovi, u ovoj maloj studijskoj populaciji prevladavale su ženske osobe. Nijedan učenik nije pokazivao znakove infekcije, stoga je važno rutinski provoditi laboratorijsko testiranje među djecom kako bi se ograničilo oštećenje nekih vitalnih tkiva

Poverty: Place of Agricultural Development on Economic Growth of Nigeria

No society attains development where poverty and economic insecurity prevail. This article examines poverty with the place of agricultural development on the economic growth of Nigeria. It aims at examining the importance of agricultural growth on sustainable development while also looking at the barriers to effective economic growth through agriculture. Agriculture has always been a major boost in Nigeria's economy from inception until the shift from agriculture to oil production which has brought about the declining trend of growth in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey as the design for the study. The Cluster sampling technique was employed in this study. 200 respondents carefully arrived at on referrals from farming associations in Kwara state made up the sample size for the study. The study gathered data from the study population through questionnaires and such data collected were analyzed using simple percentages and frequency tables so as to reach conclusions to the issues being addressed. Findings from the study reveal that majority of the respondents have no tertiary education and thus practice traditional methods of farming. It also brought forth that agriculture, as practiced by the majority of the respondents, is a vital tool to reducing unemployment but not able to reduce poverty. It sees lack of support from the government as a blow to the interest of the youth in Agriculture It, therefore, suggests that for the economic growth of Nigeria to be repositioned, the nature and manner in which agriculture is practiced should be reviewed and government intervention should be intensified

Poverty: Place of Agricultural Development on Economic Growth of Nigeria

No society attains development where poverty and economic insecurity prevail. This article examines poverty with the place of agricultural development on the economic growth of Nigeria. It aims at examining the importance of agricultural growth on sustainable development while also looking at the barriers to effective economic growth through agriculture. Agriculture has always been a major boost in Nigeria's economy from inception until the shift from agriculture to oil production which has brought about the declining trend of growth in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey as the design for the study. The Cluster sampling technique was employed in this study. 200 respondents carefully arrived at on referrals from farming associations in Kwara state made up the sample size for the study. The study gathered data from the study population through questionnaires and such data collected were analyzed using simple percentages and frequency tables so as to reach conclusions to the issues being addressed. Findings from the study reveal that majority of the respondents have no tertiary education and thus practice traditional methods of farming. It also brought forth that agriculture, as practiced by the majority of the respondents, is a vital tool to reducing unemployment but not able to reduce poverty. It sees lack of support from the government as a blow to the interest of the youth in Agriculture It, therefore, suggests that for the economic growth of Nigeria to be repositioned, the nature and manner in which agriculture is practiced should be reviewed and government intervention should be intensified

Circadian control of fatty acid elongation by SIRT1 protein-mediated deacetylation of acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase 1.

The circadian clock regulates a wide range of physiological and metabolic processes, and its disruption leads to metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. Accumulating evidence reveals that the circadian clock regulates levels of metabolites that, in turn, may regulate the clock. Here we demonstrate that the circadian clock regulates the intracellular levels of acetyl-CoA by modulating the enzymatic activity of acetyl-CoA Synthetase 1 (AceCS1). Acetylation of AceCS1 controls the activity of the enzyme. We show that acetylation of AceCS1 is cyclic and that its rhythmicity requires a functional circadian clock and the NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase SIRT1. Cyclic acetylation of AceCS1 contributes to the rhythmicity of acetyl-CoA levels both in vivo and in cultured cells. Down-regulation of AceCS1 causes a significant decrease in the cellular acetyl-CoA pool, leading to reduction in circadian changes in fatty acid elongation. Thus, a nontranscriptional, enzymatic loop is governed by the circadian clock to control acetyl-CoA levels and fatty acid synthesis

Circadian control of fatty acid elongation by SIRT1 protein-mediated deacetylation of acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase 1.

The circadian clock regulates a wide range of physiological and metabolic processes, and its disruption leads to metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. Accumulating evidence reveals that the circadian clock regulates levels of metabolites that, in turn, may regulate the clock. Here we demonstrate that the circadian clock regulates the intracellular levels of acetyl-CoA by modulating the enzymatic activity of acetyl-CoA Synthetase 1 (AceCS1). Acetylation of AceCS1 controls the activity of the enzyme. We show that acetylation of AceCS1 is cyclic and that its rhythmicity requires a functional circadian clock and the NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase SIRT1. Cyclic acetylation of AceCS1 contributes to the rhythmicity of acetyl-CoA levels both in vivo and in cultured cells. Down-regulation of AceCS1 causes a significant decrease in the cellular acetyl-CoA pool, leading to reduction in circadian changes in fatty acid elongation. Thus, a nontranscriptional, enzymatic loop is governed by the circadian clock to control acetyl-CoA levels and fatty acid synthesis