Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the antimicrobial activity and mechanism of silver, platinum, palladium and copper nanoparticles on Proteus sp. and Klebsiella Sp. isolated from polluted water samples. This study investigated the growth of the two tested bacterial cells in order to observe the action of different concentrations of nanoparticles in addition to the effects on the morphological structure and nucleic acid of these bacteria, It showed AgNPs exhibited a potentially antibacterial effects at most investigated concentrations, While, no detection for the antibacterial activity of PtNPs, PdNPs or CuNPs against both bacterial isolates at all tested concentrations was investigated. The cell morphology of normal and AgNPs-treated bacteria cells was assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), there were investigated a randomly distributed nuclear area and obvious bright electron areas in the center of bacterial cells, it was also noticed that, a rupture in the cell wall of both treated bacterial cells. The effects of silver nanoparticles on genome of bacterial cells revealed that there was a destructive effect on Proteus and Klebsiella genome.

Abstract: The exponentially rising cases of Leishmaniasis over the past decades, has attracted scientists and clinicians to mitigate the contagious infection by modern treatments and new generation vaccinations. Leishmania, the causative pathogen of this infection predominantly expresses its diseased condition in form of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Although systemic leishmaniasis, is a more deadly form, but cases of its manifestation are limited; thereby staging the focus onto more intricate study of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Designing a vaccine against Leishmania has witnessed more than two generations of vaccine, but each attempt has failed more than it’s cases of success. The proposed drawbacks root to the difficulty in ensuring an efficient transition of research from simple laboratory experiments carried out in-vitro/in-vivo in small animals to that of the humans. There have been extensive case studies of this disease and thus every immunological aspect has been our focus. This paper is an attempt to decipher the ideas and methodologies adopted till date and further target the genetic spans and molecular moieties, for crafting an alternative vaccine based on efforts to mock the pathogenic pathways.

Abstract: Genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) is the second most common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, with more than 90% of cases occurring in developing countries. In GUTB, the kidneys are the most common sites of infection and are infected through hematogenous spread of the bacilli, which then spread through the renal and genital tract. Diagnosis of TB is often delayed owing to the nonspecific nature of its presentation; therefore, a high degree of suspicion should be exercised and a systematic approach should be taken during investigation. The aim of this study was to apply bleach concentration method for detection of AFB in 5-day morning urine samples obtained from the suspects of urinary tuberculosis and to correlate the results with conventional Zeihl Neelsen (ZN) staining, TB culture and TB-PCR. A total of 46 samples were studied from clinically suspected cases of urinary tuberculosis. All the samples were processed for conventional ZN staining, Bleach concentration followed by ZN staining, TB culture on LJ media and TB-PCR (IS 6110) by standard protocols. Out of the 46 samples evaluated all were negative (0%) by conventional ZN staining, while the positivity increased to 7(15.22%) by bleach concentration method, the gold standard i.e. TB culture had 9(19.56%) positive and the TB-PCR gave 4(8.69%) positive. The results revealed that bleach concentration method was superior to conventional ZN staining method and TB-PCR. Though TB culture was found to be the best method, but it takes a long time for the diagnosis.

Abstract: Female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) is a symptomless disease that evidences itself only when it is investigated for infertility. Demonstration of the etiologic agent by H & E staining or Z-N staining for acid fast bacilli, smear microscopy, culture of sputum and other body fluids were often less specific. We therefore, proposed to use the endo-ovarian tissue biopsies and pelvic aspirated fluids for the detection of FGTB among infertile women by conventional versus genotypic methods. A prospective case-control study was undertaken. A total of 302 specimens were collected from 202 infertile women highly suspected of having FGTB on laparoscopic examination and from 100 control women of reproductive age. Out of these 302 specimens, 150 (49.67%) were premenstrual endometrial tissue biopsies (ETBs), 95 (31.46%) were ovarian tissue biopsies (OTBs) and 57 (18.87%) were pelvic aspirated fluids (PAFs). All specimens tested by conventional/ phenotypic methods were later compared with multi-gene/ multi-primer PCR (multi-gene PCR) method using four sets of primers for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) DNA in a single tube-single step reaction and correlated with laparoscopic findings. The presence of MTB DNA was observed in 49.5% of ETBs, 33.17% of OTBs and 5.44% of PAF specimens collected from highly suspected FGTB patients. All control women were confirmed as negative for tuberculosis. The conventional methods showed 99% to 100% specificity with a low sensitivity, ranging from 21.78% to 42.08% while H & E staining showed a sensitivity of 51.48%. Multi-gene PCR method was found to have a much higher sensitivity of 70.29% with MTB64 gene, 86.63% with 19kDa antigen gene at species and TRC4 element at regional MTB complex level and 88.12% with 32kDa protein gene at genus level (Pearson χ2 = 214.612, 1df, McNemar’s test value = 0.000). The specificity of multi-gene PCR was 100%. We suggest site specific sampling, irrespective of sample type and amplification of the 19kDa antigen gene in combination with TRC4 element as a successful multi-gene PCR method for the diagnosis of FGTB and differentiation of mycobacterial infection among endo-ovarian tissue biopsies and PAFs taken from infertile women.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine the bacteriological aetiology and incidence of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and antibacterial susceptibility patterns among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger-State, using the gold standard of culture. STUDY DESIGN: Data were obtained from the Medical Microbiology Department Registry from Ante-natal women coming for routine ante natal clinic between January 2010 and December 2012. Mid-stream urine samples were collected from a total of 1242 pregnant women between the ages of 15 and 54 years. Samples were collected inside sterile disposable universal bottles from pregnant women suspected to have UTIs at first antenatal booking. Data was coded, computed and analysed using SPSS version 16.0 and p values ≤0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. RESULT: Out of 1242 pregnant women with in the age bracket 15 and 54years in this study, our research showed that the incidence of UTI in this population was 46.1%, statistically significant (p = 0.046, with mean age of 30.92 years and standard deviation of ± 5.46). Escherichia coli were the most prevalence uropathogen (60%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (28.3%). Escherichia coli was susceptible to Nitrofurantoin and Gentamycin (61.4%) and (51.5%) respectfully. CONCLUSION: The incidence of urinary tract infection of 46.1% uropathogen in this study is of public concern. Therefore, periodic screening should be carried out on pregnant women during antenatal clinics for symptomatic or asymptomatic UTIs.

Abstract: Background: There has been a recent increase in the number of human Onchocerciasis cases in hospitals in Ebonyi Central. This study therefore sets out to determine the prevalence of the disease in Ebonyi North and Central Senatorial Zones of Ebonyi State as well as determine the age groups and sex most affected. Methods: This study was carried out in Ebonyi North and Central Senatorial Zones of Ebonyi State between January 2011 and April 2012, among subjects of 20-59 years. Diagnosis was by skin examination for onchocercal lesions, ocular examination for ocular lesion and parasitological examination for the presence of microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus in skin biopsies and adult filariae in excised nodules. Results: Out of the 250 persons randomly examined in each zone, 82 (32.8%) persons in Ebonyi Central zone comprising of 60 (38.7%) males and 22 (23.1%) females were found positive for Onchocerca volvulus while 73 (29.2%) persons in Ebonyi North Zone comprising 48 (32.0%) males and 25 (25.0%) females. Chi-square test shows that male subjects had significantly higher diseases prevalence (p < 0.05) than their female counterparts in the two zones but combined prevalence among male and female do not differ significantly in the two zones. The age group most affected was 50-59 years with the prevalence of 40.0% in Ebonyi Central and 38.6% in Ebonyi North Zones. Out of the 155 (30.8%) persons infected in the two zones, 28 (5.6%) males and 14 (2.8%) females had Onchocercal skin lesions, 57 (11.4%) males and 22 (4.4%) females had low vision. Partial blindness was observed in 16 (3.2%) males and 8 (1.6%) females. However, 7 (1.4%) males and 3 (0.6%) females had complete blindness. Farmers were mostly affected than any other occupational group. Conclusion: The findings obtained from this work suggested that Ebonyi Central and North Senatorial Zones are Onchocerciasis hypo-endemic Zones having the prevalence rate of 32.8% and 29.2% respectively. Sex, age and occupation are related to Onchocerciasis infections in both Zones. Males are more infected than females. Massive distribution of insecticides to destroy the vector Simulium damnosum (black fly), provision of adequate antiflarial drugs - ivermectin and mass health education targeted on preventive measures are highly recommended.

Abstract: We report a rare case of tuberculosis of oral cavity in a 3.5 year-old male who was referred to oral medicine department with a chief complaint of a painless lesion in the oral cavity. Incisional biopsy from the lesion margin depicted histological features of necrotizing granulomatous lesion. Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid fast bacilli, interestingly, was negative.

Abstract: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis was discovered by Robert Koch in 1882. It has been observed that 30% of the world population harbours Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Spread of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, malignancies, globalization and malnutrition are some of the major contributing factors for increase in the global burden of tuberculosis (pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB). Dissemination/spread of tubercle bacilli from the lungs to other organs of the body either through blood or lymphatic circulation results in extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Immunodeficiency, either due to HIV infection or malignancies, malnutrition and inadequate treatment for pulmonary TB may be considered as some of the predisposing factors for disseminated/miliary TB. It has also been noted that most cases of extra-pulmonary TB are diagnosed accidentally and after a long period of time (months to years) since recovering from pulmonary TB. In the era of Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), extremely drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) and increase in the incidences of disseminated/extra-pulmonary tuberculosis poses a challenge to the medical personnel. Among the extra-pulmonary cases of tuberculosis genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) appears to be most frequent as evidenced by the available literature.

Abstract: Mucormycosis is known to be fatal, and the diagnosis is difficult to be made. Gastrointestinal mucormycosis is rarely complicated with gastrointestinal infarction. We report a rare case of mucormycosis complicated with large intestine infarction. An 82-year-old man was admitted to our hospital, because of blastosis. A diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia prior myelodysplastic syndrome was made. On the twentieth day of admission, bleeding developed in the airway secondary to thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation. He died due to respiratory failure and autopsy was carried out. The novel finding of the autopsy was large intestine infarction due to mucormycosis, although the clinical course did not show features suggesting gastrointestinal mucormycosis. A diagnosis of mucormycosis was made by autopsy. In the patients with risk factors including hematologic malignancies, we should pay attention to gastrointestinal mucormycosis.

Abstract: Objectives: Previous studies on the covariates of sexually transmitted diseases have concentrated on absolute deprivation, often measured by poverty. The aim of this study was to examine the association between relative deprivation (income inequality) and sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV and AIDS mortality. Method: Ecological data based on 3080 counties were obtained from the Area Resource File. State level data on the 50 states and the District of Columbia were derived from the Statistical Abstract of the United States. Multilevel generalized linear models were fitted to the data. Results: State level relative deprivation (measured as the Gini coefficient of income inequality) was strongly and significantly associated with both sexually transmitted diseases (b=12.96, t=4.27, p=.000), and HIV and AIDS mortality (b=20.41, t=5.58, p=.000). Absolute deprivation (poverty) was also associated with sexually transmitted diseases, but the association was not as strong as that of relative deprivation. Furthermore, poverty was not significantly associated with HIV and AIDS mortality at the county level. Conclusion: It was concluded that to reduce sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, attention should be placed on combating economic inequality and poverty. One tack is to reduce social marginalization of segments of the population.