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This study identified the levels and potential risks of OCP residues in water and Oreochromis niloticus tissues from Adjohoun, Dangbo and Aguégués of the Lower Delta of Ouémé River. The presence of seventeen OCP residues was detected using gas chromatography equipped with an electron capture detector. The concentration of pesticide residues ranged from below the limit of detection (BLD) to 16.48 μg/L for water samples and BLD to 334.78 μg/kg/ww for fish. Endosulfan sulphate was the predominant residue in all the samples analyzed, at the mean concentrations of 32.2 ± 27.04, 281.91 ± 55.22 and 49.33 ± 5.33 μg/kg/ww in gills, liver and muscle samples respectively. From the health risk analyses, ΣEndosulfan and ΣBHCs were above the Maximum Residual Limit recommended by Codex Alimentarius Commission. The estimated daily intake of all detected OCP residues in fish muscles exceeded the Permissible Tolerable Daily Intake and Acceptable Dietary Intake recommended by WHO/FAO, with exception of ΣEndosulfan. The assessment of the Target Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index indicated no health risk from the consumption of the fish flesh. Routine monitoring of pesticide residues is necessary for the prevention, control and reduction of OCP pollution, and minimizes health risks to humans.

Comparative hypolipidaemic effects of aqueous seed extracts, methanolic seed extracts and crude seed powder of Buchholzia coriacea in rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride were evaluated for 56 days. A total of male albino rats (150–200 g) comprising of 12 normal and 132 CCl4-induced toxic rats were divided into 4 major groups: control groups (normal, positive and negative controls) and 3 treatment groups (B. coriacea aqueous extract (BCAE) group, B. coriacea methanolic extract (BCME) group and B. coriacea crude powder (BCCP) group) of 36 albino rats. The major group was split into three sub-groups consisting of three replicates of four rats each. The normal, negative and positive control groups were given 1 ml/kg distilled water, 150 mg/kg of CCl4 and 200 mg/kg of silymarin respectively, while each treatment group was administered 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg respectively. Serum samples were collected from selected rats in each replicate of both treatment and control groups after 7 days of intoxication and at 2 weeks interval for various lipid profile parameters using standard methods. A time-independent significant decrease (p

People living with diabetes mellitus across the world are expected to rise to 592 million by 2035 and the pandemic disease is worst in the developing countries like Nigeria, where the cost of treating/managing diabetes mellitus is relatively out of the reach of many diabetic patients. The study investigated the effect of Anogeissus leiocarpus Guill and Perr ethanolic leaf extract on blood glucose and other biochemical indices in alloxan-induced diabetic adult male Wistar albino rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in overnight-fasted rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg body weight). Diabetic rats were then treated with the extract for 14 days. Blood glucose, lipid profile and liver glycogen levels were determined. After the treatment with the extract, the fasting blood glucose levels significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in treated diabetic rats (62.2 ± 18.4 mg/dl) compared to untreated diabetic rats (73.8± 8.2 mg/dl). There was also significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the hyperlipidemic parameters. The results revealed that A. leiocarpus ethanolic extract has antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 17(1): 65-72, 2018 (June)

Gene therapy can be defined as the use of DNA as a pharmaceutical agent to treat disease. It is also an experimental medical treatment that manipulates a gene or genes within cells in order to produce proteins that change the function of those cells. The physiological applications, problems and prospects of gene therapy are reviewed in this study. The different types of gene therapy such as germline gene therapy, somatic gene therapy and chimeraplasty gene therapy are discussed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nanoparticles, sonoporation, electroporation and gene gun are the techniques used in gene therapy. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used in medical and biological research. Nanoparticles have been widely used in the field of drug and gene delivery to target cells. Sonoporation allows uptake of large molecules of DNA into the cell, in a process called cell transformation. Electroporation is highly efficient for the introduction of foreign genes in tissue culture cells, in tumor treatment and cell-based therapy. A gene gun is a device for injecting cells with genetic information to plant cells. Gene therapy is applied in medicine, agriculture, loss and gain of function, tracking and expression studies. Some problems bedeviling gene therapy include insertional mutagenesis, mutagenic disorders, problem of viral vectors, immune response etc. Gene therapy has the potential to eliminate and prevent hereditary diseases such as cystic fibrosis and is a possible cure for Alziehmer’s disease and cancer, enhance agricultural productivity of farm animals, and in the production of genetically modified animals (GMOs) which will further help in medical and biomedical research.Keywords: Gene therapy, Chimeraplasty, Nanoparticles, Sonoporation, Electroporation, Gene gun, Polymerase chain reaction

This study examined the trends of malaria infection among in children in the paediatric unit of some tertiary and secondary health outlet in Anambra State, Nigeria over a six year period. A retrospective study of malaria prevalence in children aged 0 – 14.9 years between January 2005 and December 2010 was conducted to establish the trends. There was an increase in the number of children with malaria infection from 2005 to 2010. Seasonal prevalence occurred with 52.3% malaria parasite infection during rainy season and 47.7% during the dry season. Children between the ages of 0 – 3 years had the highest malaria prevalence between 2005 – 2010. There was an overall yearly increase in the number of malaria cases which may be as a result of influx of mothers/caregivers to the hospitals for further treatment after initial home management of malaria in their children.Keywords: Trends, Malaria, Prevalence, Children, Tertiary and secondary health outlet, Anambra State, Nigeria

The study investigated the comparative efficacy of some botanicals (Aframomum melegueta (K. M. Schumann) seed, Capsicum nigrum (L.) seed, Allium sativum (Woodwill) bulb, Zingiber officinale (Roscoe) rhizome, Azadiracta indica (A. Juss) leaves and Ocimum gratissimum (L.) leaves) and pirimiphos methyl powder in the suppression of Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) damage in some stored legume (Vigna unguiculata (L.), Vigna subterranea (L.) and Cajanus cajan (L.) seeds. The botanicals were applied at the rate of 0 and 1 g. The pirimiphos methyl powder was applied at 0.1 g. The experiment was laid out in split plot design of eight treatments replicated ten times. Five pairs of one-day old adult C. maculatus were introduced into each jar. Mortality of adult C. maculatus was recorded daily. O. gratissimum was more effective in causing C. maculatus mortality. The LD50 revealed O. gratissimum powder to be the most effective biopesticide. All treatments recorded higher significant (p

There are currently two methods for the direct diagnosis of malaria: the thin blood smear and the thick smear. A third method called the Acon-Plasmodium falciparum (Acon-Pf) (a new cheap malaria rapid diagnostic test) has been developed. This was the first study comparing the three methods in rapid malaria diagnosis among school children and pregnant women in Enugu State, Nigeria, using qualitative and quantitative questionnaires that address their knowledge, attitude, behaviour and practice. In this study, 352 whole blood samples of individuals with suspected falciparum malaria were investigated among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic and school children in rural communities in Enugu State. The following parameters were determined: intrinsic validity, predictive values, species diagnostic power and logistic factors. Acon-Pf had the following characteristics: 91.5 % sensitivity, 87.2 % specificity, 64.3 % positive predictive values, 97.6 % negative predictive values, high malaria infection rate determination of 58.7%, reduced mean packed cell volume (0.25 mmol/L) in malaria patients, correct species diagnosis including both the trophozoite and gametocyte stages of Plasmodium falciparum. The Acon-Pf positive test result ranged from light to thick coloured bands and the time required for the test was 1.3 – 15 ± 5 minutes. The cost per Acon-Pf test cassette at bulk purchase was N112.50 (US$0.90) without the service charge as compared with thick smear (N 300.00, US$ 2.50) and N 350.00 (US$ 2.90) for thin smear. The study found that Acon-Pf is suitable along side microscopy in the accurate diagnosis of malaria in Enugu State. The use of Acon- Pf and thick smear tests in parallel, first collecting the Acon-Pf results, as it contributes in reading the thin smear result for confirmation of species, diagnosis and assessment of parasitaemia. Thus, Acon-Pf test device is a viable cost effective adjunct to routine microscopy and a reliable option for malaria diagnosis in remote and emergency situations.Keywords: Acon-Pf, Routine microscopy sensitivity, Specificity, Intrinsic validity, Predictive values, Parasitaemia, Trophozoite, Gametocyte, Diagnostic power, Epidemiology, Logistic factorsAnimal Research International (2012) 9(2): 1585 – 1600