International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (10), pp. 001-005, October, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative antimicrobial activities of some plant extracts and commercial antibiotics against some selected pathogens of food origin

Anibijuwon I. I.¹*, Abioye J. A.¹ and Onifade A. K.²

¹Department of Microbiology, Public Health Laboratory Unit, University of Ilorin, P. M. B. 1515, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

²Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 14 August, 2019

Abstract

The antimicrobial activities of three plants (Momordica charantia, Morinda lucida, and Hunteria umbellata) were investigated. These plants were extracted using methanol and ethanol as solvents. These extracts were used to evaluate the growth of five food borne bacteria namely; Bacillus sp, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus sp., Shigella sp., Lactobacillus sp., and the research revealed zones of inhibition ranging from 0 to 36 mm. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts ranged from 20 to 100 mg/ml; that of the ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia against Bacillus sp. being the lowest (20 mg/ml) and most effective and that of M. lucida being the highest (100 mg/ml) and least effective. Most of the extracts were merely inhibitory against the organisms except ethanolic extracts of H. umbellata and M. charantia against Bacillus sp., Streptococcus sp. and Lactobacillus sp. with the ethanolic extract of H. umbellata showing the lowest MBC of 40 mg/ml. The activity indices of the extracts were calculated and the highest activity index (2.818) was that of the ethanolic extract of M. charantia against co-trimazole using Bacillus sp. as the test organism. H. umbellata and M. charantia showed more promising potential as antimicrobial agents than M. lucida against foodborne pathogens and hence against enteric diseases. These effective plants should be purified and further assayed for toxicological activity and possible use as drugs or preservatives.

Key words: Antimicrobial activity, foodborne pathogens, Momordica charantia, Hunteria umbellata, Morinda lucida, commercial antibiotics, activity index.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (10), pp. 001-005, October, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Serum amyloid A protein, rheumatoid factor and lipid profile in relation to tobacco smoking in Saudi subjects

Al-Sieni A.* and Al-Abbasi F.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University P. O. Box 80203, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.

Accepted 12 July, 2019

Abstract

Tobacco smoking is a major cause of many diseases, including lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, aging and death. The associations between tobacco smoking, serum amyloid A (SAA) protein, rheumatoid factor (RF) and lipid profile were examined in 275 men that were divided into three groups according to their age (less than 20 years, 20 to 40 years and above 40 years), of which 91 were currently light cigarette smokers (less than 20 cigarettes/day), 91 were heavy smokers (20 cigarettes or more/day) and 93 had never smoked (control). As such, all men were part of a long-term survey and it was obtained that, heavy smokers had significantly higher SAA levels than light smokers or those who had never smoked at all (p < 0.01 and <0.001 respectively). Mean serum level of RF was statistically and significantly higher in heavy smokers of over 40 years age group, whereas serum glucose, triacylglycerol and total cholesterol levels were not affected by smoking in the different age groups when compared with the control group. However, serum LDL-c was significantly elevated and HDL-c level was decreased in heavy smokers (p < 0.001) and light smokers (p < 0.05) as compared to the control groups. Tobacco smoking is a risk factor for many diseases, related to SAA and RF (coronary heart diseases and Alzheimer rheumatoid arthritis), and these parameters can be used as prognostic markers in surveying the hazardous effect of tobacco smoking.

Key words: Tobacco smoking, serum amyloid A protein, lipid profile, Saudi Arabia.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (10), pp. 001-006, October, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Severity of ulcerative colitis in the study population in Iran in correlation with cigarette consumption

Heydari G.¹, Tafti S. F.²*, Alvanpour A.¹, Talischi F.², Mojhgani N.⁴, Mokri B.² and Ashagh Hosseini S. M.³

¹Tobacco Prevention and Control Research Center (TPCRC), Tehran, Iran.

²Nursing Research and Pulmonary Health Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University MC, Tehran, Iran.

³Amir Alam Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

⁴Razi Vaccine-Serum Research Institute Karaj, Iran.

Accepted 15 July, 2019

Abstract

Despite many studies correlating smoking with later onset of ulcerative colitis and probable decreased severity of disease, controversies still exist. This study evaluates correlation between smoking status and severity of ulcerative colitis among Iranian patients. This was a cross-sectional retrospective study. Patients with ulcerative colitis attending the Amir Alam Hospital gasteroenterology clinics in 2009 to 2010 were included. Smoking habits and severity of ulcerative colitis were evaluated depending on number of visits required to the clinic and related hospitalization in the past year, radiology results and pathology of patients. A total of 674 newly diagnosed and follow-up patients were included of which 304 (45.1%) individuals were men. Of these patients, 160 (23.7%) individuals were cigarette smokers. Nonsmokers on the average had 3.6 ± 1.8 and smokers 4.0 ± 1.4 visits per year (p = 0.02). Average number of hospitalizations per patient per year was 1.4 ± 1.1 for nonsmokers and 2.6 ± 0.7 for smokers (p < 0.000). Severity of illness in respect to pathology was stage 0 to 2 (mild) in 272 (40.4%) individuals and stages 3 and 4 (severe) in the remaining 402 (59.6%) individuals. Radiology showed mild disease in 270 (40.1%) and severe ulcerative colitis in 404 (59.9%) patients and the frequency was unrelated to gender or cigarette consumption. Unlike many studies from other countries severity of ulcerative colitis was not found to be correlated with smoking or nonsmoking status and average number of visits to physician or need for hospitalization were found to be higher in smokers which needs further studies for conclusions to be made.

Key words: Colitis, ulcerative, cigarette smoking, smoking cessation, severity of illness index.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (9), pp. 001-007, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determination of carnivores prey base by scat analysis in Samburu community group ranches in Kenya

William O. Ogara^1*, Nduhiu J. Gitahi¹ Samuel A. Andanje², Nicolas Oguge³, Dorcas W. Nduati¹ and Alfred O. Mainga¹

¹Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Kenya.

²Kenya Wildlife Services, Nairobi, Kenya.

³Earthwatch Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.

Accepted 08 May, 2019

Abstract

This study determined the prey base for four main carnivores found in Samburu community group ranches and grazing area, Lion (Panthera leo), Leopard ( Panthera pardus), Wild dog ( Lycaon pictus) and Hyaena ( Crocuta crocuta, and Hyaena hyaena). A total of 96 scat samples including, 8 from Lion, 16 Leopards’, 2 Wild dogs’, and 70 Hyaenas’ were collected, identified and microscopically analyzed for prey hair characterisation. At least 50 different hairs from every scat sample were mounted on slides and microscopically characterized using details from reference hairs. Hairs from 18 depredated species both domestic and wild ungulates were recovered from the scat samples. Predated species were identified, as either domestic (Cow, Sheep, Goat, Donkey, and Camel) or wild ungulate prey (Grant’s gazelle, plain Zebra, Grevy’s Zebra, Impala, Waterbuck, Dikdik, Eland, lesser Kudu, greater Kudu, Baboon, rock Hyraxes, Elephant and Oryx). The carnivores showed a relatively high kill of wild ungulate prey compared to domestic prey. Camel was the most preferred domestic animal by both the Lion and the leopard, while wild Dog and Hyaena preferred cow and donkey respectively. Grevy’s zebra contributed highest to the lion’s diet while the Plain zebra was most preferred by the leopard. Both the hyaena and the Wild dog had a preference for the waterbuck. The Hyaena had the highest domestic depredation, while all the other big cats depredated more on wild ungulates

Key words: Scat, group ranch, domestic, wild ungulate, prey, depredation.

Key words: Disasters, Kenya.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (9), pp. 001-004, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of health status of pre-menarcheal and post-menarcheal girls by Rohrer index in Purulia, West Bengal

Sudip Datta Banik

Departamento de Ecología Humana Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (Cinvestav), Unidad Mérida, Carretera antigua a Progreso km 6, 97310 Mérida, Yucatán, México. Department of Anthropology Vidyasagar University Midnapore, West Bengal, India. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]. Tel: +52999 942-94-09. Fax: +52999 981-46-70.

Accepted 07 July, 2019

Abstract

Undernutrition in children and adolescents is a major problem in India. Age at menarche is a significant indicator of growth in girls. The present study records age at menarche, prevalence of under nutrition measured by Rohrer Index in both pre-menarcheal (n=107) as well as post-menarcheal (n = 131) girls (n = 238) aged 6.01 to 14.63 years. In this cross-sectional study, mean age at menarche is estimated to be 12.60 years. The comparative statements between these two sections indicate significant difference in height, weight and Rohrer Index. This Index indicates very high prevalence of low health profiles of the girls.

Key words: Menarcheal age, undernutrition, Rohrer Index.