In silico predictions on the possible mechanism of action of selected bioactive compounds against breast cancer.

Abstract: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women. We employed in silico model to predict the mechanism of actions of selected novel compounds reported against breast cancer using ADMET profiling, drug likeness and molecular docking analyses. The selected compounds were andrographolide (AGP), dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid (DPA), 3-(4-Bromo phenylazo)-2,4-pentanedione (BPP), atorvastatin (ATS), benzylserine (BZS) and 3β,7β,25-trihydroxycucurbita-5,23()-dien-19-al (TCD).

Dihydroartemisinin as a potential drug candidate for cancer therapy: a structural-based virtual screening for multitarget profiling.

Cancer is a rapidly growing non-communicable disease worldwide that is responsible for high mortality rates, which account for 9.6 million death in 2018. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is an active metabolite of artemisinin, an active principle present in the Chinese medicinal plant used for malaria treatment.

Integration of medicinal plants into the traditional system of medicine for the treatment of cancer in Sokoto State, Nigeria.

This study was designed to explore and record various medicinal plants integrated into the traditional system of medicine for the treatment of cancer. The traditional system of medicine is a routine practiced among the indigenous ethnic groups of Sokoto state. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed and used for data collection around the selected Local Government Areas.

Allosteric inhibition of human exonuclease1 (hExo1) through a novel extended β-sheet conformation.

Background: Human Exonuclease1 (hExo1) participates in the resection of DNA double-strand breaks by generating long 3'-single-stranded DNA overhangs, critical for homology-based DNA repair and activation of the ATR-dependent checkpoint. The C-terminal region is essential for modulating the activity of hExo1, containing numerous sites of post-translational modification and binding sites for partner proteins.

Methods: Analytical Ultracentrifugation (AUC), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and enzymatic assays.

Fluoroquinolone resistant bacterial isolates from the urinary tract among patients attending hospitals in Bushenyi District, Uganda.

Introduction: bacterial resistance to fluoroquinolones is on the rise globally, bacteria causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) are no exception to this fact. Judicious use of the current antibiotics by clinicians is therefore deemed necessary to combat development of resistance. This study determined fluoroquinolone resistant profiles, multiple antibiotic resistance indices (MARI), factors associated with fluoroquinolone resistance and their strength among patients attending hospitals in Bushenyi District, Uganda.

MHD radiative nanofluid flow induced by a nonlinear stretching sheet in a porous medium.

In this article, we numerically investigate the influence of thermal radiation and heat generation on the flow of an electrically conducting nanofluid past a nonlinear stretching sheet through a porous medium with frictional heating. The partial differential equations governing the flow problems are reduced to ordinary differential equations via similarity variables. The reduced equations are then solved numerically with the aid of Keller box method.

Sickling-suppressive effects of chrysin may be associated with sequestration of deoxy-haemoglobin, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate mutase, alteration of redox homeostasis and functional chemistry of sickle erythrocytes.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a medical condition caused by mutation in a single nucleotide in the β-globin gene. It is a health problem for people in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and India. Orthodox drugs developed so far for SCD focus largely on symptomatic respite of pain and crisis mitigation.

Daily exposure to toxic metals through urban road dust from industrial, commercial, heavy traffic, and residential areas in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: a health risk assessment.

Human health is threatened by significant emissions of heavy metals into the urban environment due to various activities. Various studies describing health risk analyses on soil and dust have been conducted previously. However, there are limited studies that have been carried out regarding the potential health risk assessment of heavy metals in urban road dust of < 63-μm diameter, via incidental ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation exposure routes by children and adults in developing countries.

New effective 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane functionalized magnetic sporopollenin-based silica coated graphene oxide adsorbent for removal of Pb(II) from aqueous environment.

A new effective adsorbent, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane functionalized magnetic sporopollenin (MSp@SiONH) based silica-coated graphene oxide (GO), (GO@SiO-MSp@SiONH) was successfully synthesized and applied for the first time in the removal of hazardous Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution. The properties of the composite were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and vibrating-sample magnetometery (VSM). Evaluation of GO@SiO-MSp@SiONH adsorption performance at optimum conditions revealed that the adsorbent has a maximum adsorption capacity of 323.

Tree Lab: Portable genomics for Early Detection of Plant Viruses and Pests in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In this case study we successfully teamed the PDQeX DNA purification technology developed by MicroGEM, New Zealand, with the MinION and MinIT mobile sequencing devices developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies to produce an effective point-of-need field diagnostic system. The PDQeX extracts DNA using a cocktail of thermophilic proteinases and cell wall-degrading enzymes, thermo-responsive extractor cartridges and a temperature control unit. This closed system delivers purified DNA with no cross-contamination.

Superbugs-related prolonged admissions in three tertiary hospitals, Kano State, Nigeria.

Introduction: Superbugs are pathogenic micro-organism and especially a bacterium that has developed resistance to the medications normally used against it. As the superbug family increases, the need for appropriate diagnostic, treatment, prevention and control strategies cannot be over emphasized. Therefore, this work determined the distribution of superbug bacteria among patients on prolonged hospital admissions in three tertiary hospitals of Kano state, Nigeria.

Sickling-preventive effects of rutin is associated with modulation of deoxygenated haemoglobin, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate mutase, redox status and alteration of functional chemistry in sickle erythrocytes.

Sickle cell anaemia is a hereditary disease branded by an upsurge in generation of ROS, irregular iron release and little or no antioxidant activity which can lead to cellular injuries due to oxidative stress resulting in severe symptoms including anaemia and pain. The disease is caused by a mutated version of the gene that helps make haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells. We used and experiments to examine the antisickling effects of rutin for the first time by means of before and after induction approaches in sickle erythrocytes.

Storm time IRI-Plas model forecast for an African equatorial station.

The limitation of ionospheric models in describing short-term ionospheric events has led to the development of data assimilative models e.g. the International Reference Ionosphere extended to Plasmasphere (IRI-Plas) model This paper compares the IRI-Plas derived total electron content (TEC), the peak height (hmF2) and critical frequency (foF2) of the F2-layer with those obtained from Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver's and Digisonde Precision Sounder (DPS-4) measurements over Ilorin (Geog.

Induction of apoptosis by chalepin through phosphatidylserine externalisations and DNA fragmentation in breast cancer cells (MCF7).

Aims: Chalepin, a naturally occurring compound isolated from Ruta angustifolia have been shown to exert a promising anticancer activity through various mechanisms. Hence, the need to investigate the apoptotic inducing ability of chalepin in MCF7 cells by various detection assays.

Materials And Methods: Cytotoxicity screening of chalepin against MCF7 cells was conducted using SRB assay.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis and breast cancer: The biochemical links and beneficial effects of functional foods.

Breast cancer as a multifactorial disease has been classified among the major causes of morbidity and mortality in women across the world, with a higher prevalence among post-menopausal women. Osteoporosis, a condition characterized by altered bone mineralization is also commonly found among post-menopausal women. Consequently, post-menopausal women are at risk of morbidity and mortality associated with breast cancer and postmenopausal osteoporosis.

A review on the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Alpinia officinarum Hance.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Alpinia officinarum Hance is a perennial plant that has been traditionally used for many decades to treat several ailments including inflammation, pain, stomach-ache, cold, amongst others. Pharmacological studies over the years have demonstrated remarkable bioactivities that could be further explored for development of new therapeutic agents against various ailments.

Aim Of The Study: The paper critically reviewed the ethno-medicinal uses, pharmacology, and phytochemistry of A.

Rolling Circle Amplification to Screen Yam Germplasm for Badnavirus Infections and to Amplify and Characterise Novel Badnavirus Genomes.

Since the first discovery of badnaviruses (family , genus ) in yam ( spp.) germplasm in the 1970s (Harrison and Roberts, 1973), several hundred partial badnavirus reverse transcriptase (RT)-ribonuclease H (RNaseH) sequences have been characterised ( Kenyon , 2008 ; Bousalem , 2009 ), but only a few complete bacilliform virus (DBV) genome sequences have been reported ( Phillips , 1999 ; Seal and Muller, 2007; Bömer , 2016 and 2017; Sukal , 2017 ; Umber , 2017 ). We have optimised a workflow involving total nucleic acid extractions and rolling circle amplification (RCA) combined with restriction enzyme analysis for the detection and amplification of DBVs present in yam germplasm.

PCR-DGGE Analysis: Unravelling Complex Mixtures of Badnavirus Sequences Present in Yam Germplasm.

Badnaviruses (family , genus ) have emerged as serious pathogens especially affecting the cultivation of tropical crops. Badnavirus sequences can be integrated in host genomes, complicating the detection of episomal infections and the assessment of viral genetic diversity in samples containing a complex mixture of sequences. Yam ( spp.

Enhancement of apoptotic activities on brain cancer cells via the combination of γ-tocotrienol and jerantinine A.

Background: γ-Tocotrienol, a vitamin E isomer possesses pronounced in vitro anticancer activities. However, the in vivo potency has been limited by hardly achievable therapeutic levels owing to inefficient high-dose oral delivery which leads to subsequent metabolic degradation. Jerantinine A, an Aspidosperma alkaloid, originally isolated from Tabernaemontana corymbosa, has proved to possess interesting anticancer activities.

Effect of Maleic Anhydride-Modified Poly(lactic acid) on the Properties of Its Hybrid Fiber Biocomposites.

This work investigated the effect of maleic anhydride (MA)-modified poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which is melt-blended with different untreated and aqueous borax (BR)-treated hybrid oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers (EFBF)/Kenaf core fibers (KCF), and compression-molded into corresponding hybrid biocomposites. These hybrid systems includes BR-treated EFBF/BR-treated KCF reinforced MA-modified PLA i.e.

Predictors of malaria in febrile children in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Background: Presumptive diagnosis of malaria is widespread, even where microscopy is available. As fever is very nonspecific, this often leads to over diagnosis, drug wastage and loss of opportunity to consider alternative causes of fever, hence the need to improve on the clinical diagnosis of malaria.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective cross-sectional comparative study, we examined 45 potential predictors of uncomplicated malaria in 800 febrile children (0-12 years) in Sokoto, Nigeria.

High prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in apparently healthy schoolchildren in Aliero, Kebbi state, Nigeria.

Background & Objectives: In malaria endemic areas, continuous exposure to Plasmodium parasites leads to asymptomatic carriers that provide a reservoir, contributing to the persistence of malaria transmission. Thus, a study of the degree of prevalence of asymptomatic parasitaemias will help in assessing the level of reservoir of infection.

Methods: All the consented participants without any signs and symptoms, suggestive of malaria were interviewed and thick blood smears were made to detect malaria parasites.

Knowledge, attitude and practices on malaria among the rural communities in aliero, northern Nigeria.

Objective: Families' perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes about malaria causation, symptom identification, treatment of malaria, and prevention are often overlooked in malaria control efforts. This study was conducted to understand these issues, which can be an important step towards developing strategies, aimed at controlling malaria.

Materials And Methods: A community based descriptive cross-sectional study in four villages: Danwarai, Gehuru, Jiga, and Kashin Zama of Aliero local government area in Kebbi Sate, in northern Nigeria.