Prevalence and risk estimates of Cryptosporidium oocysts infection associated with consumption of raw-eaten vegetables in Maiduguri metropolis LGAs, Northeast Nigeria

Cryptosporidium is one of the most important protozoan parasitic pathogens, and it is a common cause of diarrhoea in humans, domestic animals, and wild vertebrates and has serious public health threats. A cross-sectional study was designed to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in raw-eaten vegetables in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Areas (LGAs). A total of 400 samples were collected from four (4) different locations, namely Tashan Bama, Gomboru, and Monday Markets (n = 100), while fifty (n = 50) each from 202-Vegetable-Vendors and Unimaid Commercials. A total of 16 visits were conducted in all the sampling areas (twenty-five samples per visit). The Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected using the Modified Ziehl-Neelsen Staining Technique. The locations, sources, and types of raw-eaten vegetables were also assessed. The oocysts were confirmed (100×) as bright pink spherules. Data generated were analyzed using IBM-SPSS V23.0, and p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Out of the total samples (n = 400) analyzed, cabbage appeared to have the highest number of 10 (12.5%) of Cryptosporidium oocysts detected, while Tomato and garden egg had 9 (11.3%) and 1 (1.2%), respectively. There was a statistically significant association (χ2 = 12.5, P = 0.014) between the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in raw-eaten vegetables and vegetable types. Among the sources of the vegetables sampled, Alau had the highest number of Cryptosporidium oocysts, 15 (12.5%), followed by Kilari-Abdullahi and Zabarmari sources with 4 (10.0%) and 4 (5.0%), respectively. However, Jetete appeared to have the least number 2 (2.5%) of oocysts, and there was a statistically significant association (χ2= 10.4, P = 0.034) between the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and the sources of vegetables and fruits. The study concludes that the raw-eaten vegetables sampled from Maiduguri Metropolis were contaminated with Cryptosporidium oocysts. The study recommends that all raw-eaten vegetables should be from cleaned sources and washed before consumption. Consumers should be enlightened on the hygienic measures in the food chain in line with the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles.

Anti-Inflammatory Action and Mechanisms of Resveratrol

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihy- droxystilbene), a natural phytoalexin polyphenol, exhibits anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties. This phytoalexin is well-absorbed and rapidly and extensively metabolized in the body. Inflammation is an adaptive response, which could be triggered by various danger signals, such as invasion by microorganisms or tissue injury. In this review, the anti-inflammatory activity and the mechanism of resveratrol modulates the inflammatory response are examined. Multiple experimental studies that illustrate regulatory mechanisms and the immunomodulatory function of resveratrol both in vivo and in vitro. The data acquired from those studies are discussed.

Protective Effects of Magnesium Chloride on Liver Enzymes and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in high fat diet fed Rats

The excessive consumption of high cholesterol diet has been associated with an increased incidence of obesity. This is because obesity induced pathologies with high mortality, such as complications of dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the associated, disease are enhanced by formation of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and hypercholesterolaemia. Magnesium chloride is found to be beneficial in a wide range of diseases. Magnesium is one of the most neglected mineral in human body. It is crucial for a healthy and lasting life. Magnesium is responsible for the activation of more than 300 enzymes in the body. The present study intends to determine the protective effect of magnesium chloride on liver enzyme and biomarker of oxidative stress in high fat diet fed rats. Twenty (20) adult Male Wistar rats weighing (100 - 150) grams randomly divided into three treatments and one control groups of five rats each (n = 5). Group I Normal control receive normal feed only for 6weeks, Group II received high fat diet only for 6weeks, Group III received high fat diet with 250 mg/kg for 6weeks of mgcl2 and Group IV received 500 mg/kg for 6weeks of MgCl2 respectively all treatments were administered via oral route, at the end of the sixth week rats were euthanized and blood samples were drawn from the heart by cardiac puncture and used to estimate oxidative stress biomarkers (Superoxide dismutase, Catalase and Glutathione peroxidase), lipid peroxidation biomarkers (Malondialdehyde) and liver enzymes. Analysis of variance and Turkey's post hoc test were used to analyze the data obtained. In relation to the liver enzyme, the showed that there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in value of AST, ALT and ALP in the group co-administered with the doses of the Magnesium chloride to compared to the control. For the oxidative stress biomarkers assessed, the results showed that there was significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the SOD, CAT and GPx level of the high fat diet fed groups, co-administered with   250 and 500 MgCl2, when compared with the high fat diet fed group only. Also, the lipid peroxidation shows significant (p<0.05) decrease in the groups administered the two doses of Magnesium chloride (250 and 500 mg/kg) respectively as compared to control. In relation to the liver enzyme, the showed that there were significant (p<0.05) changes in value of AST, ALT and ALP in the group co-administered with the two doses of the Magnesium chloride compared to the control. The result showed that high-fat diet induces ROS, dyslipidaemia and release of biological metabolite, as evidenced by the rise in oxidative stress and activities of liver enzymes. MgCl2 administration also protected the body against rise in the metabolites despite consumption of high-fat diet by the Wistar Rats.

Molecular hydrogen produced by elemental magnesium inhibits rumen fermentation and enhances methanogenesis in dairy cows

Hydrogen is a key metabolite that connects microbial fermentation and methanogenesis in the rumen. This study was to investigate the effects of elevated H₂ produced by elemental Mg on rumen fermentation and methanogenesis in dairy cows. Four nonlactating Chinese Holstein dairy cows were employed for this experiment in a replicated crossover design. The 2 dietary treatments included a basal diet supplemented with Mg(OH)₂ (14.5 g/kg of feed dry matter) or elemental Mg (6.00 g/kg of feed dry matter). When compared with Mg(OH)₂ treatment, cows fed diet with elemental Mg had similar rumen Mg²⁺ concentration, but higher rumen dissolved H₂ and methane concentrations at 2.5 h after morning feeding. Also, elemental Mg supplementation decreased feed digestibility, rumen volatile fatty acid concentration, and relative abundance of group Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, genus Bifidobacterium, and group Mollicutes_RF9, increased acetate to propionate ratio, succinate concentration, and abundance of family Christensenellaceae. Elemental Mg supplementation increased enteric CH₄ emission, altered methanogen community with increased abundance of order Methanomassiliicoccales, 16S ribosomal RNA gene copies of methanogens, and order Methanobacteriales. In summary, the pulse of elevated dissolved H₂ after feeding produced by elemental Mg inhibited rumen fermentation and feed digestibility by decreasing the abundance of carbohydrate-degrading bacteria, promoted H₂ incorporation into succinate by increasing family Christensenellaceae and genus Bacteroidales_BS11, and increased H₂ utilization for methanogenesis by favoring growth of methanogens.

Communication for the development of pastoralism

Communication is vital for the socio-economic and cultural development of pastoralists. If used constructively, communication can help to create a favourable environment for change and modernisation. This paper tries to uncover trends in communication as part of pastoral development, emphasising both indigenous and current methods of communication and prevailing constraints. This study reveals that pastoral development interventions in the past have often failed to achieve their goals, due to the centralised, 'top-down' approaches adopted and to reliance on external strategies and channels which ignored the indigenous knowledge and communications systems of pastoralists. Pastoralists have their own well-established communications systems for sharing information on climatic conditions and ecology, as well as economic, social and political issues. Modern communication technologies, especially radio and mobile telephones, are increasingly being used by pastoralists to access current regional information. However, pastoral development in the communications area is currently constrained by the failure of various development agencies and stakeholders to use participatory approaches, and by poor infrastructure and weak capacity. The authors therefore call for the adoption of more participatory and integrated approaches towards communication, the expansion of infrastructure and building of capacity.

Aetiology and Precipitants of Epileptic Seizures among Nigerians Treated at Two Tertiary Hospitals in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is a common neurological illness in Nigeria with a prevalence of 5-37 per 1000 in a rural population. Several studies suggest that the prevalence of epilepsy is higher in developing than developed countries due to the preponderance of more risk factors in the former. This study investigated the aetiological factors and precipitants of epileptic seizures among patients attending outpatient clinics of two tertiary hospitals in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria from October 2008 to April 2013.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred and forty two consecutive adult patients with history of at least 2 unprovoked afebrile seizures were investigated for seizure patterns, aetiological and precipitating factors through history, physical examinations, laboratory tests and electroencephalography.

RESULTS

The male to female ratio of study population was 3 (69%): 1(31%), with respective mean ages of 29.5±12.4and 30.7 ± 16.0years. Their respective mean ages of onset of first seizures were 18.6 ±14.0and 20.9 ±17.4 years. 88% of seizures were of focal origin (complex partial, 80%; simple partial, 8%). Although the causes and precipitants were unknown in 41% and 68% of cases respectively; head injury, neonatal asphyxia and psychoactive substance abuse were prominent aetiological factors.

CONCLUSION

Although majority of epileptic seizures in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria were of focal origin, majority of causes and precipitants remained largely unknown.

Effects of six-month afterload reduction therapy with hydralazine in chronic aortic regurgitation

Seventeen patients with chronic asymptomatic aortic regurgitation (AR) were studied to determine whether 6 months of hydralazine therapy can reduce the severity of AR or reverse left ventricular (LV) enlargement and hypertrophy. Echocardiography, radionuclide angiography at rest and during exercise, and maximal treadmill exercise with respiratory gas analysis were performed at intake and after a 6-month double-blind treatment period. After dose titration with hydralazine, patients were randomized to their maximal tolerated hydralazine dose or to placebo. At intake, hydralazine and placebo groups were similar. Six patients taking hydralazine and 8 taking placebo completed the study protocol. One patient taking placebo died and 2 patients taking hydralazine withdrew with drug-related adverse effects. The mean titrated dose of hydralazine was 96 +/- 9 mg, but the mean treatment dose was 63 +/- 21 mg administered 3 times daily because of drug intolerance. After 6 months, mean systolic blood pressure with hydralazine therapy decreased from 136 to 125 mm Hg (p less than 0.02), and end-systolic posterior wall thickness increased from 1.58 to 1.70 cm (p less than 0.05), resulting in a significant reduction in M-mode meridional end-systolic stress (from 104 to 80 kdynes/cm2) (p less than 0.05). M-mode fractional shortening increased from 0.28 to 0.31 (p less than 0.05) with hydralazine, but mean LV echocardiographic dimensions were unchanged. LV mass increased from 383 to 434 g (p less than 0.05) with hydralazine primarily because of an increase in end-diastolic wall thickness. In the placebo group, there was no change in any of the hemodynamic or echocardiographic parameters at 6 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Integration and repair of ultraviolet-irradiated transforming deoxyribonucleic acid in Haemophilus influenzae

The extent of association between donor transforming deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and recipient DNA in Haemophilus influenzae as a function of ultraviolet (UV) dose to the transforming DNA has been measured by isopycnic analysis of lysates of (3)H-labeled recipient cells exposed to DNA labeled with (32)P and heavy isotopes. Except for doses above 15,000 ergs/mm(2), the results of these measurements are in good agreement with previous estimates made by another technique. Experiments with a mutant temperature sensitive for DNA synthesis and another mutant defective in excision of pyrimidine dimers suggest that the discrepancy between the methods of high doses results from DNA synthesis, in which portions of the associated donor DNA containing pyrimidine dimers are excised and broken down, and the components are reutilized for synthesis. Repair of UV-irradiated, transforming DNA during incubation of recipient cells is observed as an increase in transforming ability when fractions from CsCl gradients of cell lysates are assayed on excision-deficient cells. When transforming DNA containing markers of different UV sensitivities is used, repair of the UV-resistant nov marker by excision proficient cells takes place exclusively in the donor DNA that is associated with recipient DNA, and this repair is observed even in the absence of DNA synthesis. However, no repair is observed in the case of the more UV-sensitive str marker, possibly because excision events may remove a large fraction of the integrated str markers in addition to repairing a small fraction of the integrated DNA containing this marker.

Ultraviolet-induced decrease in integration of Haemophilus influenzae transforming deoxyribonucleic acid in sensitive and resistant cells

The decrease in integration of transforming deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) caused by ultraviolet irradiation of the DNA was found to be independent of the presence or absence of excision repair in the recipient cell. Much of the ultraviolet-induced inhibition of integration resulted from the presence in the transforming DNA of pyrimidine dimers, as judged by the photoreactivability of the inhibition with yeast photoreactivating enzyme. The inhibition of integration made only a small contribution to the inactivation of transforming ability of the DNA by ultraviolet radiation.