Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Coinfection with Malaria in Selected States in Nigeria

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Plasmodium species are the causative agents of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and malaria respectively with similar clinical presentations. The objective of this study is to determine the burden of co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and malaria in the general population. Five (5 mLs) of blood samples were collected for SARS-CoV-2 and malaria parasite test. The malaria test was performed using a commercially available one-step malaria antigen Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (Pf HRP-II) rapid test kit. The results of the study showed that the participants that were coinfected with SARS-CoV-2 IgG and malaria were 13 (2.5%) in Lagos, 1114 (39.1%) in Delta and 49 (2.3%) in Sokoto States. The prevalence of coinfection of SARS-CoV-2 and malaria in urban areas in Lagos, Delta and Sokoto States were 7 (2.2%), 1373 (48.1%), and 5 (0.2%) respectively. In rural areas, the prevalence of coinfection of SARS-CoV-2 and malaria in Lagos, Delta and Sokoto States were 6 (0.3%), 365 (12.8%), and 44 (2.1%) respectively in this study. This suggests that participants in the urban areas were more prone to co-infections than the rural areas in Lagos and Delta states, while it was otherwise in Sokoto State. In conclusion, the co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and malaria was very high in Delta State compared to the other States. It is important for clinics to screen for both diseases when patients present with symptoms of malaria. This is because the infections have similar symptoms and the public is quick to assume malaria infection without diagnosing for COVID-19 and vice versa.

Effect of Fenugreek Seed Husk on the Rheology and Quality Characteristics of Muffins

The effect of incorporation of fenugreek seed husk (FSH) in muffins at different levels of 5%, 10% and 15% was investigated. Muffins were prepared with FSH at different levels and batter flow properties were studied. The muffin batter viscosity increased from 32,500 to 38,000 cps when the FSH content increased from 0 to 15%. While the muffin vol-umes increased upto 10% addition of FSH and further FSH increase did not result beneficially. Supplementation with FSH resulted in softer crumb texture indicated by the hardness which decreases in hardness 4.20 to 3.19 N. Inclusion of FSH addition in muffins found acceptance by panelists with a rating better than the control. The optimal level of incorporation of FSH flour, based on sensory quality in muffins was found to be 10% and use of Polysorbate-60 at 0.5% level in these muffins further improved the overall quality characteristics. These muffins had double the amount of dietary fiber.

Effect of Added Arabinoxylans Isolated from Good and Poor Chapati Making Wheat Varieties on Rheological Properties of Dough and Chapati Making Quality

Arabinoxylans are the major non-starch polysaccharides in wheat and are reported to influence quality of bakery products. Arabinoxylans were isolated from good and poor chapati making varieties, added them at different levels (0.25 and 0.5 g/100g) to the same flour, interchanged with other varieties and determined the effect of arabinoxylans on rheological properties of dough and chapati making quality. Rheological properties were improved upon adding isolated arabinoxylans of good chapati making varieties to flours. Interestingly, addition of isolated arabinoxylans of good chapati making varieties to poor chapati making varieties had significantly improved the chapati quality. Sensory studies showed that chapatis prepared from flour added with arabinoxylans of good chapati varieties had soft texture and high overall quality scores. These changes are attributed to differences in their arabinose/xylose ratio. Thus, results indicated that addition of isolated arabinoxylans of good chapati making flour improved the chapati quality of poor chapati making flour.

<i>Schistosoma mansoni</i>and Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) Infections among Pregnant Women Attending Primary Health Care Facilities in Lagos Mainland, Nigeria

In a cross-sectional survey among consented pregnant women, rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for malaria was carried out and stool examination was done to detect the presence of Schistosoma mansoni and soil transmitted helminthes using Kato-Katz technique. Intensity of infection was expressed as the number of eggs per gram (epg) of faeces. Prevalence of soil transmitted helminthes was 8.3% and 0.83% for Schistosoma mansoni while none was positive for malaria infection. Lack of co-infection with malaria could be connected with the intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP). Public health impact of soil transmitted helminthes and schistosomiasis infections in pregnancy may necessitate initiation of preventive treatment of helminth infections during pregnancy.

Effect of Vitex agnus-castus plant extract on polycystic ovary syndrome complications in experimental rat model

Objective: To investigate ameliorative effects of Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) and VAC containing pharmaceutical supplement (VPS) against polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: PCOS in the rats was induced by daily administration of letrozole at 1 mg/kg body weight concentration for 21 d. PCOS rats were then treated daily either with metformin, VAC plant extract or VPS at 70, 8 or 8 mg/kg body weight concentration for 15 d. Rats that received none of these treatments were considered as control. Blood and ovaries were collected from all the rats. Serum glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol were measured spectrophotometrically. Serum insulin, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulation hormone, catalase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehide and reduced glutathione were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Rats treated with letrozole demonstrated a significant increase in serum testosterone, estrogen, cholesterol, luteinizing hormone, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, and malondialdehide levels, and a significant decline in progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, catalase and reduced glutathione levels compared to control. Contrarily, no significant change in superoxide dismutase was noted in response to letrozole treatment. Rats treated with metformin, VAC or VPS showed a remarkable reversal in the levels of parameters affected by letrozole treatment. Conclusions: Data indicate that VAC and VPS exert potential ameliorative effects against PCOS through the modulation of hormonal and lipid profile as well as oxidative stress. Moreover, the favorable effects of these compounds are comparable to that of metformin.