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Introduction: Diabetes mellitus or diabetes is a metabolic ailment which occurs as a result of insulin insufficiency or defect in insulin function, or both that leads to ihyperglycemia. Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide disease even though its prevalence in other countries vary. Kalanchoe crenata belongs to the family crassulaceae. It is also known locally as miracle plant and often utilized in Africa for medicinal purposes. The study was designed to ascertain the antidiabetic and dyslipidemic activity and effects of the ethanolic extract of both leaves and stem of Kalanchoe crenata on istreptozotocin incite diabetic rats for three (3) weeks. Methodology: 6-8 weeks old Sprague dawley rats received multiple injection of streptozotocin intraperitoneally (40mg/kg body weight) to induce diabetes melitus. Diabetes mellitus was observed and confirmed after six days of induction. The rats were given ethanolic extract of Kalanchoe crenata remarkably (10, 30 and 100mg/kg) and 5mg/kg glibenclamide orally twice daily for three weeks. Blood glucose, lipids, creatinine, urea, were then determined. Results: After week three of treatment 5mg/kg glibenclamide, 30 and 100mg/kg ethanolic extract of Kalanchoe crenata remarkably (p

Introduction: The breakthrough in the treatment of pathogenic diseases was the unearthing of naturally occurring antipathogenic agents or antibiotics. There have been upsurges in antibiotic-resistant strains of clinically important pathogens, which made way to the emergence of new-fangled bacterial strains that are multi-resistant. The major aim of scientists is to develop new antibiotics or other therapeutic strategies at a pace greater than that at which bacteria are developing resistance. The development of resistance to first-line antimicrobial therapies made way to recommendations for combination therapies for the treatment of some infections and some of this form of chemotherapy seems to be very successful. Objectives: This research was carried out to determine the effect of Kalanchoe crenata extracts on Salmonella typhi load. Also, to assess the potency of the extract of Vernonia amygdalina on Salmonella typhi and finally to ascertain the effect of the combined extract of Kalanchoe crenata and Vernonia amygdalina on Salmonella typhi. Methods: In this research, Salmonella typhi was exposed to a crude extract of Kalanchoe crenata and Vernonia amygdalina and also the combination of the two extracts. Agar wells diffusion method was employed. Results: The combined effect was not sensitive to the Salmonella strain. The Salmonella strain was resistant to V. amygdalina than to K. crenata. K. cranata had the strongest activity against S. typhi with its highest zone of growth inhibition of 20 mm and lowest zone of inhibition of 7 mm while V. amygdalina produced a consistent zone of growth inhibition of 5-6 mm; The combined effect produced a zone inhibition diameter only at the 100 mg/ml with a zone of inhibition value of 14 mm. The subsequent lower concentrations did not show any activity against the microbes. At P-value = 0.05 two-way ANOVA statistics exhibited significant differences amongst the effects produced by the different extracts, though there were no substantial differences in the effects produced by the various concentrations. Conclusion: The Salmonella strain was resistant to V. amygdalina than to K. crenata. At P-value = 0.05 there was a substantial difference in the sensitivity of the bacteria to the different extracts.

Background: The users of mobile phones often contaminate them with several microflorae including viruses, fungi, and bacteria via unhygienic conditions and habits making phones a breeding ground and a tool for the transmission of infections. This study examined microbial contamination of mobile phones of health care workers (HCWs) and the risk of nosocomial infections at the Mampong Municipal Government Hospital (MMGH), Ghana. Methods: We employed a cross-sectional study design to characterize bacterial microflora on mobile phones of HCWs at the MMGH. A random sample of thirty-five [1] mobile phones of HCWs was swabbed for microbiological analysis from the Dental, Children, Male, Theatre and Laboratory departments. A 0.1 ml sterile buffered peptone water was used to make a uniform suspension of each sample and streaked on blood agar and MacConkey agar and incubated at 37℃ for 48 hours. Bacteria were isolated and identified using suitable laboratory and biochemical methods. Analysis of data was done using SPSS-IBM version 16. Results: All cell phones were contaminated with one or more species of bacteria. Cell phones from Male, Dental and Laboratory departments had 85.7%, 71.4% and 57.1% prevalence of bacterial contamination respectively while Children’s and Theatre departments each recorded 28.6%. Bacterial contaminants identified were Staphylococcus epidermidis (G+) (37%), Staphylococcus aureus (G+) (26%), E. coli (G-) (20%), Bacillus spp. (G+) (11%) and Klebsiella spp. (G-) (6%.). Apart from the Children’s Ward, E. coli was isolated at all study sites and the most prevalent (42.9%) at the Dental Unit. Klebsiella spp (G-) (28.6%) was isolated only at the Children’s ward. Conclusion: Mobile phones of HCWs harboured possible pathogens that could cause nosocomial infections among patients. Therefore, strict handwashing practices should be adhered to by HCWs before and after phone use before contact with the patient to reduce the risk of nosocomial infections. This has become even more relevant in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

This study investigated Bacillus subtilis ATCC13952 as an adsorbent for arsenic in groundwater. Batch experiments were used to determine the effect of contact time, adsorbent dose, arsenic (III) concentration, pH, and temperature on the process. The percentage of arsenic (III) removed was high at a contact time of four days, 3.0 mL of Bacillus subtilis ATCC13952, pH 8 and temperature of 35°C. The kinetics of the process showed the Elovich kinetics model as the best fit for the process. This indicates that arsenic removal was by chemisorption. The analysis of the nonlinear equilibrium isotherms and the error functions showed the Langmuir isotherm as best fit for the process. Mechanistic study of the process indicated bulk diffusion to be the rate-determining step. Thermodynamically, the process was favourable, spontaneous and feasible. When the community water samples were treated with the Bacillus subtilis ATCC13952 at the optimum contact time, adsorbent dose, pH and temperature, 99.96% - 99.97% of arsenic was removed across all sampling points within the studied communities. Hence, the results show that Bacillus subtilis ATCC13952 is an efficient adsorbent for arsenic in aqueous systems and the organism appears to hold the key to purging the environment of arsenic contamination.

Worldwide, breast cancer is one of the most common causes of death among women. Undoubtedly, early detection of breast cancer is one of the best ways to manage and treat the disease. According to literature, Mammography and Clinical breast exams are known to be some of the best methods in early detection of breast cancer. Hence information on these two detection methods is very important for planning health policies. This study therefore aimed at reviewing the literature on breast cancer as well as examining the literature on two breast cancer detection methods and their effectiveness. Statistics show that early detection is a primary necessity in the treatment of breast cancer among women. It was also found out that mammography as being the most recommended form of detection, is mostly not available at remote areas in developing countries leading to the increased risk of deaths and hence the greater mortality in these areas. Inexperience and luck of professional know-how have been found to also contribute to the upsurge of cases at developing regions. The review recommends that stakeholders and governmental bodies should help equip such areas with mammography equipment, professional knowledge on its usage. The study also, recommends that further studies be conducted to find out the relationship between various screening methods and age groups to clarify the issue of false positives and false negatives. Also, studies should be conducted on the knowledge and usage of mammographic screening in rural areas of developing centuries.

IntroductionThe major breakthrough in the treatment of pathogenic diseases was the unearthing of naturally occurring antipathogenic agents or antibiotics. There have been upsurges in antibiotic-resistant strains of clinically important pathogens, which made way to the emergence of new-fangled bacterial strains that are multi-resistant. The major aim of scientists is to develop new antibiotics or other therapeutic strategies at a pace greater than that at which bacteria are developing resistance. Development of resistance to first-line antimicrobial therapies made way to recommendations for combination therapies for the treatment of some infections and some of this form of chemotherapy seems to be very successful.ObjectivesThis research was carried out the determine the effect of Kalanchoe crenata extract on salmonella Tyhi load. It was carried out to also assess the potency of the extract of Vernonia amygdalina on Salmonella typhi and also to ascertain the effect of the combined extract of Kalanchoe crenata and Vernonia amygdalina on salmonella typhi.MethodIn this research, Salmonella typhi was exposed to a crude extract of Kalanchoe crenata and Vernonia amygdalina and also the combination of the two extracts. Agar wells diffusion method was employed.ResultsThe combined effect was not sensitive to the Salmonella strain. The Salmonella strain was resistant to V. amygdalina than to K. crenata. K. cranata had the strongest activity against S. typhi with its highest zone of growth inhibition of 20 mm and lowest zone of inhibition of 7 mm while V. amygdalina produced consistent zone of growth inhibition of 5–6 mm; The combined effect produced a zone inhibition diameter only at the 100 mg/ml with zone of inhibition value of 14 mm. The subsequent lower concentrations did not show any activity against the microbes. At P-value = 0.05 two-way ANOVA statistics exhibited significant difference amongst the effects produced by the different extracts, though there were no substantial differences in the effects produced by the various concentrations.ConclusionThe salmonella strain was resistant to V. amygdalina than to K. crenata. At P-value = 0.05 there was a substantial difference in the sensitivity of the bacteria to the different extracts.

The young leaves of Vernonia amygdalina are often utilized as vegetable and for medicinal purpose compared to the old leaves. This study was designed to evaluate and compare the antidiabetic effects between ethanolic leaf extracts of old and young V. amygdalina on streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rat for four weeks. Preliminary screening of both young and old ethanolic extracts revealed the presence of the same phytochemicals except flavonoids which was only present in the old V. amygdalina. Difference in antioxidant power between the young and old leaf extracts was statistically significant (p0.05). Both leaf extracts produced a significant (p0.05) antihyperglycaemic effect. Also results from treated rats revealed increasing effect in some haematological parameters. Similarly, the higher dose (300 mg/kg) of both extracts significantly (p0.05) reduced serum ALT, AST, and ALP levels as compared to the diabetic control rats. Results also showed significant (p0.05) decrease in LDL-C and VLDL-C in the extract-treated rats with a corresponding increase in HDL-C, as compared to the diabetic control rats. Moreover histopathological analysis revealed ameliorative effect of pathological insults induced by the STZ in the pancreas, liver, and spleen, most significantly the regeneration of the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in treated rats.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of complex group of cardiovascular risk factors, which include central adiposity, high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia and elevated fasting blood glucose. Generally, the prevalence of MetS in diabetes patients is high and the syndrome tends to promote the development of diabetes and other chronic diseases. Diabetes is characterised by high random plasma glucose as well as polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss etc. Aim: This study aims to determine the prevalence of MetS in diabetics’ patients using the National Cholesterol Education Programme (NCEP) ATP III criteria, World Health Organisation and International Diabetes Federation definitions in quantifying the syndrome. Method: This cross-sectional study involved 103 diabetes patients in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Central Region. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples for blood sugar and lipids were taken. Blood pressures were recorded from their personal health record files. The NCEP ATP III, WHO and IDF criteria were used to define diabetes patients with the metabolic syndrome. Results: A total of 42 (40.8%), 31(30.1%), 81 (78.6%) were obese, overweight and have high waist circumference (IDF) respectively. Also all the participants had a low high density lipoprotein (HDL) level with 42(95.5%) having high triglycerides (TG). Significant associations were found for age range of 66-75(OR= 16.00, CI= 1.32-194.62), women (OR= 14.06; CI= 2.50-79.05) and high blood pressure (OR= 5.83, CI= 1.22-39.93). Prevalence of MetS was 38.60%, 59.09% and 75.00% using WHO, NCEP ATP III and IDF criteria respectively. Conclusion: A high prevalence of MetS was observed among the diabetes patients. The prevalence among the females was higher than that of the males.