First isolation of glutinol and a bioactive fraction with good antiinflammatory activity from n-hexane fraction of Peltophorum africanum leaf

Objective: To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of different fractions and glutinol(isolated compound),using nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase(COX) inhibition as an indication of anti-inflammatory activity,Methods: Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using an in vitro assay determining the inhibition of the activity of pro-inflammatory enzyme model,Cyclooxygenases and inducible nitric oxide synthase are crucial enzymes involved in the pathogenesis of many chronic inflammatory conditions,Results: Sub-fraction F3.3 that was derived from n-hexane fraction of PA leaves significantly inhibited(P = 0.01) the catalytic activity of COX-2(IC50 = 0.67 μg/m L) better than isolated compound,glutinol(IC50 = 1.22 μg/m L),compound 2(CP2)(IC50 = 1.71 μg/m L) and sub-fraction F3.3.0(IC50 = 1.30 μg/m L),A similar trend was observed in investigation of the inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis in RAW 264.7 cells by F3.3,glutinol,CP2 and F3.3.0,Inducible COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase are among potent signalling enzymes that exacerbate inflammation,Conclusions: Bioactive sub-fractions(F3.3 and F3.3.0) derived from the n-hexane fraction of PA had good anti-inflammatory activity,and the isolated compound,and glutinol may be useful as a template for the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs.

Solvent-solvent fractionations of Combretum erythrophyllum(Burch.) leave extract: Studies of their antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and cytotoxicity potentials

Objective: To evaluate the biological activities of Combretum erythrophyllum(C. erythrophyllum) leaf extracts against infectious diseases' pathogenesis and their cytotoxicity potentials. Methods: Powdered leaf material(300 g) of C. erythrophyllum was extracted(1:10 w/v) using acetone to obtain the crude extract. Liquid-liquid fractionation was performed on the crude acetone extract(30 g) using solvents of different polarity. The bioautographic method was used to detect the inhibition of bacterial and fungal growth by active compounds present in the crude and fractions. The extracts were then tested on bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; fungal strains: Candida albicans(C. albicans), Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus, by microtitre dilution method for MIC determination. Results: The extracts MIC values ranged between 0.08–2.50 mg/m L against the tested pathogens. Water fraction had the highest activity against bacteria strains, while the fungal assay revealed crude acetone extract and ethyl acetate fraction to be active against C. albicans(1.25 mg/m L), dichloromethane extract against C. albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus(0.16 mg/m L). Extract fractions showed a good antioxidant activity via DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays, in the order: ethyl acetate > water > acetone > dichloromethane > hexane. The toxicity level of crude extract and fractions evaluated in Vero monkey kidney cells ranged from 34–223 μg/m L, while doxorubicin(IC_(50) = 7.19 μg/m L) served as the positive control. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the extracts of C. erythrophyllum are safe for medicinal use in folk medicine for treating infectious and stress related diseases.

The Epidemiology and Spatial Analysis of Stroke in Trinidad and Tobago in the First Decade of the 21^stCentury (2000-2009)

Objective: To investigate the pattern and distribution of stroke in Trinidad and Tobago from 2000-2009. To identify the prevalence of co-morbid conditions among new stroke patients during the period under surveillance. Methods: Data were collected from May 2010 to July 2010 from the clinic of 728 new persons treated stroke at one of the main treatment centers. Variables measured included age, gender ethnicity, smoking status and co-morbid conditions. SPSS (Version 17) for Windows and ARC GIS version 9.3 were used to facilitate both descriptive and inferential data analysis. Results: Of the 728 new hospital admissions for the period January 2000-December 2009 for stroke, 369 (50.7%) were males and 359 (49.3%) were females. 59.8% were South-East Asian;30.5% were African and 9.7% were mixed ethnicity. The predominant age group was 60 - 69 years (n = 215, 29.5%) while less than 1% were under 30. Ischemic stroke accounted for 352 (48.4%) of all new cases for the period;Hemorrhagic stroke accounted for 14.6% (n = 107), with 37% (n = 269) classified as other unspecified condition (including unknown). Of the 728 cases examined, 171 patients died before being discharged and 552 were treated and discharged. Information of 5 cases was not available. Using this data, the overall case fatality ratio was calculated as 23.5%, with the case fatality ratio for males being 23.2% and the equivalent ratio for females being 22.9%. Using a standard classification, the majority, (n = 389, 53.4%), of cases were classified as mild;246 (33.8%) were deemed moderate, and 93 (12.8%) were severe cases. Hypertension was clinically diagnosed in 80.9% of the cases;56.3% were diabetic, and 21.7% were classified as smokers having been either past or current smokers. Other lifestyle risk factors such as obesity and exercise were not examined due to the lack of the relevant data. The most frequent cardiovascular risk factor was chamber enlargement being present in 33.2%, while the second most frequent was left ventricular hypertrophy, 26.9%. The other cardiovascular risk factors examined included Ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation and previous myocardial infarction. All of which were present in less than 15% of the patients. Conclusion: The incidence of stroke in Trinidad and Tobago continues to be an important public health challenge as we complete the first decade of the 21 century. We provide important evidence on the changing epidemiological patterns of the disease, providing the first attempt to describe a possible stroke belt in the southern half of the island.

Characterization of Multidrug Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates Recovered from Humans and Chickens, Trinidad and Tobago

To characterize extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) associated virulence genes in E. coli isolates from chickens and humans in Trinidad and Tobago. This cross sectional study was conducted over a three-month period. A total of 471 E. coli isolates;160 from humans treated at a regional tertiary hospital and 311 from chicken caecal samples from “pluck shops” in Trinidad & Tobago were identified using both conventional and molecular microbiological methods. Phenotypic confirmation of ESBL producing E. coli isolates from humans was by Microscan system (Siemens, USA) while the double disk diffusion method was used for the chicken isolates. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was used to determine the ESBL and ExPEC-associated virulence genes in representative human isolates and all chicken isolates. From the 311 chicken E. coli isolates, 49.2% (153/311) produced ESBL, while 56.3% (90/160) from humans were ESBL positive. All human and chicken ESBL isolates were 100% susceptible to carbapenems and aminoglycosides antimicrobials. PCR detected 21.1% blaCTX-M, 13.3% blaTEM and 7.8% blaSHV genes among E coli isolates from humans compared to 0.6% blaCTX-M and 48.6% blaTEM genes in chickens. PCR analysis revealed diverse virulence profiles among the isolates. There was a high occurrence rate of ExPEC-asso- ciated virulence genes in E. coli isolates from both humans and chickens. However, the CTX-M-1 genes were most predominant in humans while TEM occurred in chic- ken isolates. The diverse ESBL and virulence associated gene profiles encountered in E. coli isolates from humans and chickens on the surface depicts no similarity or relationships despite occurrence in both cohort groups. Therefore E. coli strains from chickens and humans require further investigation to determine their clonal relatedness or transmission in the country.

Enterococcal urinary tract infections: eight years experience at a regional hospital in Trinidad, West Indies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of significant enterococcal isolates from urine and determine what factors are associated with the increased prevalence, with particular reference to antibiotic susceptibilities. METHODS: Retrospective analysis over an 8-year period of hospital laboratory records of urinary isolates of enterococci was done. Species were identified via colony morphology, growth in 6.5% sodium chloride and their ability to hydrolyze esculin in the presence of 40% bile salts. Susceptibility testing via the disc diffusion technique with 9 commonly used antibiotics was also done as defined by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. RESULTS: From 39,881 urine specimens, 9116 (22.9%) were culture positive. Of this 9116, 1001 (11.0%) were enterococci, the 4th most common urinary isolate. E. coli was the most common (36.2%). Most enterococci were from pediatric patients (28.4%) and the urology unit (24.5%). All enterococci were fully sensitive to ampicillin and augmentin (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid). Sensitivity to gentamicin decreased significantly from 79% in 1990 to 58% in 1997 (P

Body temperature,activity patterns and hunting in free-living cheetah:biologging reveals new insights

As one of the few felids that is predominantly diurnal,cheetahs(Acinonyx jubatus)can be exposed to high heat loads in their natural habitat.Little is known about long-term patterns of body temperature and activity(including hunting)in cheetahs because long-term concurrent measurements of body temperature and activity have never been reported for cheetahs,or,indeed,for any free-living felid.We report here body temperature and locomo-tor activity measured with implanted data loggers over 7 months in 5 free-living cheetahs in Namibia.Air tem-perature ranged from a maximum of 39°C in summer to−2°C in winter.Cheetahs had higher(~0.4°C)max-imum 24-h body temperatures,later acrophase(~1 h),with larger fluctuations in the range of the 24-h body temperature rhythm(approximately 0.4°C)during a hot-dry period than during a cool-dry period,but main-tained homeothermy irrespective of the climatic conditions.As ambient temperatures increased,the cheetahs shifted from a diurnal to a crepuscular activity pattern,with reduced activity between 900 and 1500 hours and increased nocturnal activity.The timing of hunts followed the general pattern of activity;the cheetahs hunted when they were on the move.Cheetahs hunted if an opportunity presented itself;on occasion they hunted in the midday heat or in total darkness(new moon).Biologging revealed insights into cheetah biology that are not ac-cessible by traditional observer-based techniques.