iosr-JPBS   Volume-9 ~ Issue-5 ~ Sep-Oct 2014

Abstract: Let's begin this case study with a little Jules Verne touch. To quote James Mason from the movie "Journey to The Center of The Earth" - "Madam, since the beginning of time all women have heard footsteps, up there". Well these words can be hailed partially true in modern day USA along with some other countries. Partially; because today it's not just women but men as well, are suffering from such situations of annoying noise. This medical condition is named as Tinnitus. In this paper I'm not going to discuss the etiology of Tinnitus, rather I'd attract fellow researchers towards the events of recovery in a woman's life, who has been distressed with Tinnitus for 3 years. The recovery is made possible by the very device that was invented by me to cure Diabetes Mellitus. The preliminary research paper of the device "Miracurall" depicts the pathways of resolving innumerable disorders inside the human body starting with Diabetes Mellitus. To begin explaining her recovery I must start by saying that after two days of beginning Miracurall administration, for the first time in a couple of years she had a good night's sleep without artificial sleep inducing music of rain sound cd.

Keyword: Tinnitus, Miracurall, noise, sleep, Diabetes Mellitus, USA

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate about the glucose, glycogen content in liver and muscle in fresh water fish Cirrhinus mrigala exposed to nitrite toxicity. Plasma glucose level of Cirrhinus mrigala exposed to sublethal toxicity (28.31) of nitrite exhibited a significant increase throughout the study period (Table 20 and Fig. 19). The significant increase in plasma glucose level was directly proportional to the exposure period showing a minimum percent increase of 3.69, 5.55, 13.34, 20.53 at the end of 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, day and a maximum percent increase of 23.86 at the end of 35th day. The changes in the liver glycogen content of fish Cirrhinus mrigala exposed to sublethal concentration of nitrite were presented in Table 21 and Fig. 20. The liver glycogen content was gradually increased as the exposure extended showing a percent increase of 1.24, 1.34, 2.04, 3.64 and 3.95 at the end of 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, and 35th days respectively. Table 22 and Fig.21 present the data on changes in the muscle glycogen content of fish Cirrhinus mrigala exposed to sublethal concentration of nitrite for 35 days. During the above treatment period the muscle glycogen content was decreased throughout the study period showing a percent decrease of -7.44, -3.79, -10.37, -16.27, -31.03 at the end of 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 35th days, respectively.

Keywords: Cirrhinus mrigala, Nitrite, glucose, liver and muscle glycogen.

Abstract: Background: Gastroenteritis is a major cause of ill health and premature death in developing countries. Prevalence study of enteric pathogens among patients with gastrointestinal presentations in Lagos was done in a Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba. Lagos Nigeria. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of enteric pathogens thereby contributing to the existing data. Methods: 150 stool samples were collected from patients with gastrointestinal presentations attending LUTH.. Each specimen was cultured on media, isolates identified and the antibiotic susceptibilities of the isolates determined. Results: 37.3% of the 150 patients were infected with bacteria. The isolates in order of prevalence include Proteus species 53.6%, Pseudomonas species 17.9%, Aeromonas species 14.3%, Salmonella species 10.7% and Shigella 3.6%. The isolates were sensitive to nalidixic acid, ceftriaxone, gentamycin and nitrofurantoin while isolates like Salmonella and Shigella species were resistant to ampicillin and Proteus and Pseudomonas species were resistant to ampicillin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: The prevalence of enteric pathogens among patients with gastrointestinal presentations in Lagos are not higher in LUTH than earlier reports from other parts of the developing world. This low rate record is due to public hygiene awareness and improvement in environmental sanitation exercise in Nigeria. Resistances to some of the antibiotics by the isolates were because antibiotics could have been obtained without prescription; therefore, retail availability of nalidixic acid should be controlled to prevent broad and indiscriminate use.

Keywords: enteric pathogens, diarrhoea, prevalence; gastrointestinal presentations,

Abstract: In the present study a preliminary attempt has been made to analyse the presence of probiotic activity in rice staple water and also to prove the importance of rice staple water as an effective probiotic by comparing three varieties of rice staple water namely brown rice, raw rice and parboiled rice as a sample. Three varieties of rice from which the staple water was taken and the analysis was carried out using culture technique, biochemical analysis and confirmatory tests. From this study, two commonly known lactose fermenting probiotic organisms were obtained namely as lactobacillus and lacto coccus. Further, the samples were subjected to evaluate the inhibitory effect of the probiotics against pathogenic bacteria. Out of the result obtained, sample 1 (Brown rice) was found to be more potent than the other samples having anti-microbial activity.

Keywords: Anti-microbial activity, Lactobacillus, Lacto coccus, Probiotic, Rice staple water.

Abstract: The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in both self reported symptomatic and asymptomatic female students of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,Umudike,was investigated. Two hundred high vaginal swabs were collected, cultured and their susceptibility to various antibiotics was determined. Out of 200 samples examined,148(74%) had one form of microbial organism or the other, ranging from bacteria to fungi;bacteria making up to 104 of the isolates while 44 isolates were of fungal infection. Fifty two (52) patients representing 26% had none. The frequency of isolation of organism was E.coli 68(46.0%),Yeast,44(29.7%) and Staphylococcus aureus 36(24.3%).Almost all the patients who practiced douching with soap and antiseptics had more than 90% of the symptoms of vaginal itching, dour and discharge. This shows that there is significant effect of douching method on the various indications for BV. The low sensitivity(28.1%),low positive predictive value and high specificity(65%),using vaginal discharge as a gold standard, pointed more to bacterial vaginosis.The most effective antibiotic against E.coli isolates was ciprofloxacin,52(76.5%) and tarvid,(77.9%),while tetracycline 2(3.0%) was the least effective. Staphylococcus aureus isolate was most sensitive to ciprofloxacin 33(91.7%) whereas they were resistant to cotrimoxazole and nalidixic acid, 0(0%) each. This study emphasizes the need for routine HVS examination among the female students, the need to stop the practice of douching especially with antiseptics and also on the importance of restriction of indiscriminate use and abuse of antibiotics to forestall resistance.

Keywords: Prevalence, Bacteria Vaginosis and Fungi and Sensitivity.

Abstract: To assess the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy and recommend a cut-off value for antenatal women in developing countries, a cross sectional study was carried out in the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), Port Harcourt, a tertiary health care centre in Nigeria. 346 apparently healthy asymptomatic pregnant women visiting the antenatal clinic for the first time were enrolled for the study. Hemoglobin concentrations were determined using standard hematological procedures. Out of the 346 pregnant women studied, 50 (14.5%) were non-anaemic and 296 (85.5%) were anaemic giving a prevalence rate of 85.5%. There is moderate prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy in this part of the world. Since the mean Hb value of the pregnant women in this study was 11.25gldl and the pregnant women with Hb values around 10gldl are apparently healthy, a cut-off value of 10.0gldl may be considered ideal for defining anaemia in developing countries.

Keywords: Anemia, Pregnancy, non-anaemic, antenatal and heamoglobin concentration

Abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C viral infections are common in Nigeria and are a significant course of mortality and morbidity. This study was undertaken to examine the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C antibodies among 500 pregnant women in Port Harcourt. HIV status of subjects was evaluated using an enzyme linked immunosorbert assay (ELISA) of Immunocomb HIV – 1 and 2 kits and hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C antibodies were evaluated using commercially available clinotech HBsAg and HCV test strips. The prevalence of HIV, HBsAg and HCV were 27 (5.4%), 8(1.6%) and 30.6%) respectively. It was recommended that intensive preventive measure be instituted to control the scourge of these viruses.

Keywords: HIV, hepatitis B, antigen, antibodies and ELISA.

Abstract: The chemical and elemental constituents of Vernonia amygdalina and Azadirachta indica leaves were investigated. Phytochemical analysis was determined by the methods of Association of Analytical Chemists (AOAC). The trace elements and macronutrients concentrations of both samples were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). Vernonia amygdalina leaves recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of flavonoids, saponins and caroteinoids while Azadirachta indica leaves had higher levels of alkaloids, glycosides, phenols and steroids. Vernonia amygdalina also recorded higher concentrations of zinc, iron, and manganese while there were higher levels of nickel, molybdenum, cobalt, silicon and lead in the leaves of Azadirachta indica. There were higher levels (mg/100g) of potassium, sodium and phosphorus in Azadirachta indica which recorded 0.843 ± 0.019, 0.301 ± 0.047 and 0.280 ± 0.002 respectively with corresponding values in Vernonia amygdalina as 0.710 ± 0.016, 0.334 ± 0.006 and 0.382 ± 0.006. The results showed that both leaves contained varying concentrations of chemical, elemental and macronutrient components. They can serve as good sources of useful elements. The leaves of Vernonia amygdalina could have better anti-oxidant properties than Azadirachta indica leaves.

Key words: Chemical analysis, Vernonia amygdalina, Azadirachta indica.

Abstract: There is a high variability in chemical composition of essential oil from Thymus vulgaris grown in different countries and different localities in the same country. Only three reports were published on the essential oil composition of Thymus vulgaris grown in Jordan and non of them reported from South Jordan. The current study aims to determine the essential oil composition of Thymus vulgaris grown wild in South Jordan and to test their activity against clinical isolate antibiotics resistant bacteria. The composition of the essential oil from Thymus vulgaris was determined using GC-MS while the screening for essential oil activity was carried out using disc diffusion method. The results of GC-MS produced forty-eight components of the oil representing more than 97% of the oil contents, monoterpenes being most abundant (about 85%) with thymol (37.05%), cis-dihydrocarvone (9.34%), carvacrol (8.45%), hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-3-cyclopenten-1-one (8.41%), p-cymene (5.73%), cis-sabinene (4.42%), z-isoeugenol (3.342%), and aromadendrene (3.42%) as major constituents. The essential oil from Thymus vulgaris was found to be active against all the tested bacteria except in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The high concentrations of thymol and carvacrol may account for its high activity against resistant bacteria.

Keywords: GC-MS, resistant bacteria, thyme, thymol, carvacrol

Abstract: Background: School going children of age 6-12 years are the prime victims of intestinal parasitic infections. There is scant information available on the prevalence and distribution of intestinal parasites among school children in Bhopal region of Central India. Aim: To study, (a) prevalence and types of intestinal parasites in school children (b) Demographic status and sanitary habits of school children. Materials and Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted in 300 rural and 300 urban school children of age 6-12 years. Data collected from their parents on demographic factors and behavioral habits. As consent was obtained only from rural school, stool samples of rural school children were examined for parasites by saline and iodine wet mount. Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 40.7%. Giardia intestinalis was the commonest protozoa found (43.44%). Among helminths, Ascaris lumbricoides was predominantly detected (9.84%). Literacy rate of head of family was 85% and 1.67% in rural and urban school children respectively. 49.33% used cloth filter and 41.66% used plain water for drinking in rural area while 15% used cloth filter and 34.66% used plain water for drinking in urban area. 7.33% of children from rural area and 3.0% children from urban area used open field for defecation. Dirty untrimmed nails were found in 86.23% of rural and 28.66% of urban school children. Conclusion: Burden of parasitic infections and poor sanitation are still important public health problems in school children of our region. Creating awareness about health, improving sanitation level and promotion of de-worming could reduce intestinal parasitic infestation.

Keywords: Intestinal parasitic infections, school children, rural and urban

Abstract: The effect of age on prothrombin time (PT) activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and platelet count (PC) was investigated. Forty male and female above 60 years where sampled. Their prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and platelet counts were determined. The forty candidates were made up of twenty male and twenty female. In addition, twenty control subjects made up of ten male and ten female below the age of 25 years were also investigated. Both the elderly male and female were graded from 60-65, 65-70 and 70 and above. At the time of this research, the people investigated were ambulant and free from carcinoma, thrombosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and liver disease. The mean prothrombin time for the 60-65 groups was 15.5±1.3 for elderly male and 15.0±0.6 for elderly female. The mean prothrombin time for the 65-70 groups was 16.5±1.7 and 15.5±0.9 for elderly male and female respectively. For 70 and above group, it was 18.0±1.3 and 16.5±1.9 for elderly male and female respectively. The means of all the three groups together are significantly higher than the mean of the control groups 13.0±1.1, 12.7±1.3 at (p<0.05). Also, the mean APTT for elderly male at 60-65, 65-70 and 70 years and above were 35.5±0.3, 36±1.4 and 37.0±1.5 respectively. The mean APTT for elderly male at 60-65, 65-70 and 70 years and above were 33.5±0.4, 35.0±1.5 and 36.5±1.2 respectively. When the means were compared with the means of male (34.0±0.7) and female control (32.0±0.6), it showed a significant increase in APTT in both elderly male and female at (p<0.05). But there is a marked decrease in levels of the platelet count. This is shown by the mean platelet counts in elderly male of about 205±5x109/L, 201±8x109/L and 185±7x109/L at 60-65, 65-70 and 70 years and above respectively as against the mean platelet counts of 254±11x109L recorded in male controls. The mean counts of 186±9x109/L, 182±109/L and 155±109/L recorded in elderly female at 60-65, 65-70, and 70 years and above respectively as compared to the mean count of 260±12x109/L recorded in female control. The decrease is more pronounced in elderly female than in male. Keywords: Prothrombin time, APTT, platelet counts and age

Abstract: This study was carried out to determine the ferritin level and total iron binding capacity in pregnancy and postpartum. The study was carried out at federal medical center Owerri (FMC). Sixty (60) samples were used for the study, thirty (30) pregnant women and (30) thirty postpartum women were studied. Serum iron and TIBC were determined using standard haematological method. The results obtained were 115.6±41.3 for pregnant women and 121.3±44.85 for postpartum. When the two results were analyzed statistically, there is a statistical significant difference between the two p<0.05. The results obtained in TIBC were 265.3±79.1 for pregnant women and 473.5±82.6 for postpartum women. When the two results were analyzed statistically there is a statistical significant difference between the two P<0.05. From this study, there is a statistical significant decrease in serum iron for pregnant women (115.6±41.3) than in postpartum women (121.3±44.85) P < 0.05. And also a statistical significant decrease in TIBC for pregnant women (265.3±79.1) than in postpartum women (473.5±82.6) P < 0.05.

Keywords: Pregnancy, haematological, Serum iron, ferritin level and TIBC.

Abstract: Atherothrombotic diseases or coronary artery thrombosis are common disorders which are treated by streptokinase (SK), urokinase (UK) or tissue plasminogen activators (t-PA). Because of the high risk of bleeding, severe anaphylactic shock, intracranial hemorrhage and lacks of specificity of these drugs, they are restricted to those patients whohave undergone surgery or those with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding or hypertension. Therefore, plant based drugs are used because they are cheap, safe, low side effects and effective against many diseases.The study was carried out to check the clot lysis effect and cytotoxic effects ofMenthaarvensis L., Menthaspicata L. and MenthaviridisL.using streptokinase as a positive control and water as a negative control. In this experiment, the M. arvensis, M.spicata and M. viridisshowed 32.56%, 30.89%, 30.29% clot lysis activity in case of methanol extract, 32.04%, 30.37%, 30.02% clot lysis activity in case of ethanol extract, 31.87%, 29.77%, 29.05%clot lysis activity in case of chloroform extract and 30.29%, 28.45%, 27.55% clot lysis activity in case of acetone extract respectively. In brine shrimp cytotoxic assay the methanol extractsM. arvensis, M. spicata and M. viridis showed LC50 values of 2.088, 1.964 and 1.812 μg/ml, respectively, which was referred to Vincristine sulfate (LC501.160).From this study, it can be said that the M. arvensis, M.spicata and M.viridis has clot lysis activity and low cytotoxic activity. So, these plantscould be incorporated as a thrombolytic agent with In vivo effects to improve the atherothrombotic patients.

Keywords: Thrombolysis, Cytotoxicity,Menthaarvensis L., MenthaspicataL.,Menthaviridis L., Streptokinase

Abstract: Bioflocculants are essentially polymers produced by microorganisms during their growth . In the present study, screening of twenty eight bacterial isolates producing flocculating substances were carried out .They were isolated from cultivated soil from El-Qanater El-Khayria, Egypt and the raw water samples tested [ River Nile water] have been collected from Ismailia Canal ( about 13Km2 from EL-Marge station for water treatment plant). From all isolates , two isolates that secret a largest amount of bioflocculant were selected . Based on16S rRNA gene sequencing and its morphological, physiobiochemical, characteristics, the isolates were identified as Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis respectively . Maximum bioflocculant producing activity percent in water samples was affected by pH between 7-8 and at temperature rang 30- 40oC and during growth period of strains from 72 to 96 h .The biopolymer flocculants named FQ-B1 and FQ-B2, produced by Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis were precipitated chemical elemental analyses and UV scan were achieved for investigating the purified bioflocculant. In two isolates bioflocculants ,

Key words: Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis. , Bioflocculant, Flocculating activity, Water treatment, Gold and silver nanoparticles .

Abstract: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes alterations in thyroid hormones without underlying thyroid disorder this syndrome known as nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIs). This syndrome is mainly characterized by decrease in total triiodothyronine (tT3) level with normal thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH) level . The low tT3 level in CKD patients have been correlated with higher levels of inflammation markers such as interleukin -6 (IL-6). This study included 65 hemodialysis (HD) patients and 25 healthy volunteers as normal control group. Serum total triiodothyronine (tT3) and total thyroxin (tT4) levels were low, but serum TSH level was normal when compared with control group. These results associated with high level of IL-6. Also, there were highly significant negative correlation between serum IL-6 and tT3 level but mild significant negative correlation with tT4 level in HD patients. On the other hand, there was no significant correlation between serum IL-6 and TSH level.

Keywords: Nonthyroidal illness syndrome, Thyroid- stimulating hormone, Interleukin -6 Hemodialysis, Total Thyroxin

Abstract: Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide widely used to protect crop against pest and insect, resulting human health and their related environment are under great risk due to undesirable toxicity. The present study was carried out to evaluate extinct of damage caused by subcutaneous introduction of cypermethrin on liver and kidney tissue of mice model. Forty switch albino mice were dispense mainly into two groups as control and treatment group. The animals of three treatment groups (each group contain ten animal) were provided ordinary poultry food containing cypermethrin at dose level of 5, 7.5 & 10 ml/kg body weight respectively for different period based on the number of treated group. After ending treatment period, the animals were sacrificed for histological study and visualized under light microscope. Result were demonstrated enlargement in the sinusoidal space, vacuole formations in hepatocytes, leucocytic infiltrations, congestion of blood vessels with hemorrhage in hepatic tissue and shrinkage of glomeruli, necrosis of renal tubules, deleted blood vassal and severe congestion of renal glomerulus along with hemorrhage in renal tissues compared with the regular organization of their control. Therefore, we strongly recommend for the ban of cypermethrin and searching out nontoxic pesticide for agricultural use.

Keyword: Cypermethrin, histology, kidney, liver and Mus musculus.

Abstract: Rumex vesicarius L. is an edible herb belonging to the family Polygonaceae. It has many important medicinal uses. Since there are no reports available on somatic embryogenesis and synthetic seed production in this potential medicinal herb, the present study is undertaken to optimize protocol for somatic embryogenesis and synthetic seed production from R. vesicarius L. Different explants of R. vesicarius were cultured for profuse callusing and regeneration on MS medium with different combinations of growth regulators. Somatic embryos were encapsulated and stored up to 60 days with five time intervals at two storage temperature, cold (4°C) and room temperature. Embryogenic callus was obtained on MS medium supplemented with BAP (2 mg/l) and NAA (0.5mg/l). Transfer of embryogenic callus on MS medium with 2 mg/l 2,4-D supplemented with 40% coconut milk, resulted in somatic embryos. Leaf derived callus when cultured on MS medium supplemented with BAP (4mg/l), NAA (1 mg/l) developed multiple shoots, subsequently the excised shoot transferred on half strength MS with NAA (1 mg/L) induced rooting. Stored encapsulated somatic embryos were cultured on MS medium amended with BAP 2mg/l and NAA 0.5 mg/l for regeneration of plants. Cold temperature stored synthetic seed showed high rate of survivability compared to room temperature. The protocol developed in this study is simple and effective tool for mass propagation and conservation of Rumex vesicarius L.

Key words: Coconut milk, Multiple shoot, Regeneration, Somatic embryo.