Potentiation of the in vitro cytotoxic response to syngeneic lymphoma cells by soluble products of tuberculin-sensitive lymphoid cells stimulated with PPD

Spleen cells from rats immunized with the syngeneic (C58NT)D Gross virus induced lymphoma have previously been shown to differentiate into cytotoxic effector cells following restimulation with tumor cells in vitro. Previous work has also demonstrated that the addition of PPD-primed syngeneic spleen cells and PPD to cultures of (C58NT)D-primed spleen cells will potentiate the in vitro cytotoxic response to tumor antigens. In the studies presented here, the potentiating effect was found to be mediated by a soluble factor(s) released by nonadherent cells from BCG-primed rats. The release of this immunopotentiating factor(IPF) required the presence of PPD and varied with the concentration of PPD added. IPF was produced by BCG-primed spleen, lymph node, and thymus cells. Maximal production of IPF in PPD-stimulated cultures was obtained after 6–12 hr of incubation. Supernatants obtained after 30 hr of incubation lacked apparent IPF activity when tested initially, but activity was recovered after mild heat treatment. Recovery of IPF activity after heat exposure is best explained by the presence of a heat-labile inhibitor. IPF itself is stable to heat treatment to 56 °C for 40 min. IPF was also shown to be capable of enhancing immune responses to histocompatibility antigens in vitro.     

Effect of organic fertiliser and Chromolaena odorata residue on the pathogenicity of Meloidogyne incognita on maize

Pot experiments laid out in a complete randomised design were conducted in the screen house of the Department of Crop Protection, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria to determine the effects of organic fertiliser and Chromolaena odorata residue at 1% w/w on the pathogenicity of Meloidogyne incognita infecting maize. M. incognita significantly reduced the plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, cob weight and grain yield of maize by 6.89, 15.18, 20, 63.92 and 56.16% respectively. C. odorata residue and organic fertiliser significantly suppressed M. incognita galling, inhibited the nematode fecundity and reduced the number of eggs and juveniles on maize. A remarkable increase in plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, cob weight and grain yield were observed on maize plants treated with the mixture of C. odorata and organic fertiliser despite the nematode infection. The observation from this study suggests that C. odorata in combination with organic fertiliser is a viable option for the control of M. incognita on maize.     

Serological detection of yam viruses in farmers' fields in Ogun State,Nigeria

A field survey was conducted in eight local government areas (LGA) of Ogun state, Nigeria to assess the incidence of viral diseases of yams in the areas. Leaf samples were collected from 90 yam plants which were either symptomatic or asymptomatic. These were bulked into 45 during serological tests and the viruses indexed include yam mosaic virus (YMV); Dioscorea alata bacilliform virus (DaBV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). DaBV was the most prevalent virus on the field with incidence of 48.9% (22/45) followed by YMV which occurred in 42.2% (19/45). CMV had the lowest percentage of incidence; 2.2% (1/45). Of all the LGAs visited, Abeokuta north and Abeokuta south had the highest incidence of YMV and DaBV, respectively. Mixed virus infections were also detected.     

Influence of exogenous corticosterone on testicular function and mating behavior of Nigerian indigenous cocks

In bridging the knowledge gap on stress physiology of Nigerian indigenous chickens, this study investigated the effect of exogenous corticosterone (eCORT) as stress inducing agent on the testicular function and mating behavior of Nigerian indigenous cocks. Twenty-four (24) cocks and one hundred and forty four (144) hens (mating ratio of 1 cock: 6 hens) were grouped into four and assigned to each of the four eCORT treatments (0, 2, 4 and 6 mgeCORT/KgBW) daily for 14 days. Semen samples were collected on days 0, 7 and 14 and analyzed for semen volume (SV), progressive sperm motility (PSM), membrane integrity (MI) and sperm abnormality (SA). Mating behaviors were monitored on days 3, 5 and 8. Blood samples, for hormonal (Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Testosterone (TEST) and stress analysis (heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, H/L) were collected from brachial vein on days 7 and 14. On day 15, cocks were euthanized and testes harvested for histomorphometry. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis, one–way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests all in SPSS 23. Administration of 4 mgeCORT/KgBW declined (P<0.05) PSM while 4 mgeCORT/KgBW and 6 mgeCORT/KgBW cocks had reduced (P<0.05) SV and MI with increased SA. Compared to baseline values, progressive sperm motility of cocks administered 6 mgeCORT for 7 and 14 days decreased (P<0.05) by 57.5% and 52.4%, respectively. Exogenous CORT had no significant (P>0.05) influence on the mating behaviors, H/L ratio, FSH and TEST. However, 2 mgeCORT/KgBW enhanced LH levels. Administration of eCORT did not affect the testicular epithelial height and seminiferous tubular diameter. In conclusion, optimal stress induced by eCORT impaired semen quality but with less impact on reproductive hormones, H/L and mating behaviors of intensively raised Nigerian indigenous cocks.     

Doing No Harm? Adverse Events in a Nation-Wide Cohort of Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Nigeria

Background

Adverse events (AEs) of second line anti-tuberculosis drugs (SLDs) are relatively well documented. However, the actual burden has rarely been described in detail in programmatic settings. We investigated the occurrence of these events in the national cohort of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients in Nigeria.

Method

This was a retrospective, observational cohort study, using pharmacovigilance data systematically collected at all MDR-TB treatment centers in Nigeria. Characteristics of AEs during the intensive phase treatment were documented, and risk factors for development of AEs were assessed.

Results

Four hundred and sixty patients were included in the analysis: 62% were male; median age was 33 years [Interquartile Range (IQR):28–42] and median weight was 51 kg (IQR: 45–59). Two hundred and three (44%) patients experienced AEs; four died of conditions associated with SLD AEs. Gastro-intestinal (n = 100), neurological (n = 75), ototoxic (n = 72) and psychiatric (n = 60) AEs were the most commonly reported, whereas ototoxic and psychiatric AEs were the most debilitating. Majority of AEs developed after 1–2 months of therapy, and resolved in less than a month after treatment. Some treatment centers were twice as likely to report AEs compared with others, highlighting significant inconsistencies in reporting at different treatment centers. Patients with a higher body weight had an increased risk of experiencing AEs. No differences were observed in risk of AEs between HIV-infected and uninfected patients. Similarly, age was not significantly associated with AEs.

Conclusion

Patients in the Nigerian MDR-TB cohort experienced a wide range of AEs, some of which were disabling and fatal. Early identification and prompt management as well as standardized reporting of AEs at all levels of healthcare, including the community is urgently needed. Safer regimens for drug-resistant TB with the shortest duration are advocated.     

Solid-state fermentation production of tetracycline by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces</Emphasis> strains using some agricultural wastes as substrate

The ability of Streptomyces sp. OXCI, S. rimosus NRRL B2659, S. rimosus NRRL B2234, S. alboflavus NRRL B1273 S. aureofaciens NRRL B2183 and S. vendagensis ATCC 25507 to produce tetracycline using some local agricultural wastes as solid state media, were assessed. The wastes employed include peanut (groundnut) shells, corncob, corn pomace and cassava peels. Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 was used to assay antimicrobial activity. All the strains produced tetracycline in a solid-state fermentation process containing peanut (groundnut) as the carbohydrate source. Streptomyces sp. OXC1 had the highest ability for tetracycline production with peanut shells as the substrate in solid fermentation (13.18 mg/g), followed by S. vendagensis ATCC 25507 (11.08 mg/g), S.rimosus NRRL B1679 (8.46 mg/g), S. alboflavus NRRL B1273 (7.59 mg/g), S. rimosus NRRL B2234 (6.37 mg/g), S. aureofaciens NRRL B2183 (4.27 mg/g). Peanut (groundnut) shells were the most effective substrate (4.36 mg/g) followed by corncob (2.64 mg/g), cassava peels (2.16 mg/g) and corn pomace (1.99 mg/g). The composition of the peanut (groundnut) shell medium optimal for tetracycline production were peanut shells 100 g, organic nitrogen (peanut meal) 10 g, (NH ₄)₂ SO₄ 1 g, KH₂ PO ₄ 0.5 g, CaCO₃ > 0.5 g, NaCl 0.5 g, MgSO₄ · 7H₂ O 0.5 g, soluble starch 10 g, peanut oil 0.25 ml with initial moisture content of 65–68%, and initial pH 5.3–6.3. Substrate (1 g dry weight) was inoculated with 1.0 × 10 ⁸ conidia per ml and incubated at 28–31 °C for 5–7 days, producing 13.18 mg/g of total tetracycline. Tetracycline detection started on day 3 and attained its maximum level on day 5.     

七种糕点对赤拟谷盗(鞘翅目：拟步甲科)感染的抗性（英文）

Biscuits are flour-based products,which areconsumed by majority of people,both old and young,throughout the world and most especially by children,teenagers and mid-adults(Majumder,1970).It can beserved as a desert or snacks and as a breakfast foodwhentaken with beverages.Its ready-to-serve state andlong shelf life contribute to its acceptability by themasses.Wheat as humanfoodis used principallyintheformof flour for baked products such as bread,bis-cuits,pastries and crackers(Kent,1983).In th…     

Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage, emergence, clearance and population sex ratios in anaemic and non-anaemic malarious children

Anaemia in falciparum malaria is associated with an increased risk of gametocyte carriage, but its effects on transmission have not been extensively evaluated in malarious children. Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage, emergence, clearance, population sex ratios (SR) (defined as the proportion of gametocytes that are male), inbreeding rates and temporal changes in SR were evaluated in 840 malarious children. Gametocyte carriage pre-treatment was at a level of 8.1%. Anaemia at enrolment was an independent risk factor for gametocyte carriage post-treatment. The emergence of gametocytes seven days post-treatment was significantly more frequent in anaemic children (7/106 vs. 10/696, p = 0.002). In the initially detected gametocytes, the proportion of children with a male-biased SR (MBSR) (> 0.5) was significantly higher in anaemic children (6/7 vs. 3/10, p = 0.027). Pre-treatment SR and estimated inbreeding rates (proportion of a mother's daughters fertilised by her sons) were similar in anaemic and non-anaemic children. Pre-treatment SR became more female-biased in non-anaemic children following treatment. However, in anaemic children, SR became male-biased. Anaemia was shown to significantly increase gametocyte emergence and may significantly alter the SR of emerging gametocytes. If MBSR is more infective to mosquitoes at low gametocytaemia, then these findings may have significant implications for malaria control efforts in endemic settings where malaria-associated anaemia is common.     

Saponin as regulator of biofuel: implication for ethnobotanical management of diabetes

There has been a sharp rise in the global prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and their comorbid conditions within the last decade prompting significant research into possible causes and cure via therapeutic intervention and lifestyle adjustments. Here, the molecular bases of antidiabetic plants used in the prehistorical treatment of diabetes and obesity are reviewed with particular focus on saponin as the phytotherapeutic principle. Until recently, the phytotherapeutic potentials of saponins have been masked in the heterogeneity of phytochemicals co-extractable during traditional preparations. With improved technique of purification and cutting edge biological assay methods, saponins have emerged as a regulator of primary biofuel availability through direct interaction with energy metabolism, cell signaling, and gene expression. Specific cases of lipoprotein lipase/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma/phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI-3-K)/protein kinase B (Akt) activation, adiponectin gene upregulation, fatty acid binding protein 4 repression (FABP4), and glucose transporter type 4 (Glut4) membrane exocytosis have been documented which provide molecular basis for hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, and anti-obesity manifestations observed in experimental animals following saponin treatment. Although intensified research is required to characterize the pharmacophoric features in saponins exhibiting these interactions, however, this preliminary lead is valuable if the world will be free of diabetes, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerosis in no distant future.