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The Effect of Atorvastatin Intensity, Obesity, Gender, and Age upon New-onset Type 2 Diabetes Incidence among Libyan Coronary Heart Disease Patients
Get PDFBackground: Atorvastatin is one of the statins family of lipid-lowering drugs. Statin has been linked to protective actions against cardiovascular disease; however, the use of statin has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes.
Aim of the study: To assess the prevalence of diabetes following the use of Atorvastatin and also to evaluate the effect of the statin intensity, BMI, age, and gender upon the glycemic control and incidence of diabetes.
Material and methods: 200 CHD patients divided into 2 groups. The atorvastatin group (using Atorvastatin (40 or 80 mg/day) for<2 months and the control group (non-atorvastatin users). FBG, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglyceride, ALT, and AST were investigated, and BMI was calculated for all participants.
Results: Generally, the NOD incidence was 17% (17 patients had NOD out of 100 Atorvastatin-consuming patients), whereas, there were no NOD cases in the non-Atorvastatin group (100 cases). The oldest age ( ≥ 70 years) Atorvastatin-using patients showed the highest incidence of NOD (43.8%). The NOD incidence was higher in the male group with 22 NOD cases (27.5%) than that of the female group which showed 3 NOD cases (15%). Regarding the effect of BMI, the obese group (BMI ≥ 30) showed a higher incidence of NOD (23 cases, 45.1%) than the non-obese group (BMI<30) which showed 13 NOD cases (26.5%) of the atorvastatin using patients. In regards to statin intensity, the 80 mg/day-Atorvastatin subgroup showed 7 NOD cases (30%) which was higher than the 40 mg/ day-Atorvastatin subgroup which showed 18 NOD cases (23%) of the atorvastatin using patients.
Conclusion: Atorvastatin treatment was significantly implicated in the development of NOD. NOD incidence increases with higher doses of statin. The risk of NOD was also affected by other factors including; obesity, gender, and old age
Microbial Carriage of Shuttle Door Handles and Campus Bank’s Automated Teller Machines
Get PDFMicroorganisms are ubiquitous organisms that can cause microbial contamination in both indoor and outdoor settings, with frequently touched surfaces acting as environmental reservoirs that increase the ability of pathogens to be transferred from host to host. This study was aimed at isolating, identifying and characterizing bacteria and fungi present on frequently used Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and campus shuttle bus handles at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State. Swab samples were obtained from the keypads of ATMs and door handles of campus shuttle buses. Enumeration of total microbial counts was carried out using the pour plating technique. The bacterial isolates were identified using Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology based on the results obtained from microscopic examination, cultural and morphological examination and biochemical tests. Meanwhile, the fungal isolates were identified using the Atlas and Compendium of Soil Fungi, based on the results obtained from cultural and morphological examination, as well as microscopic examination. The antibiotic and antifungal susceptibility pattern of the isolated microorganisms was also determined. Results showed that the ATM keypads and shuttle door handles contained Staphylococcus aureus (8.82%), Bacillus spp. (32.35%), Proteus mirabilis (8.82%), Escherichia coli (5.88), Salmonella spp. (5.88%), Enterobacter cloacae (5.88%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (2.94%), Citrobacter freundii (2.94%), Vibrio cholerae (2.94%), Serratia marcescens (2.94%), Aspergillus spp. (5.88%), Cladosporium sp. (2.94%), Geomyces sp. (2.94%), Oidiodendron griseum robak (2.94%), Penicillium paneum (2.94%) and Fusarium culmorum (2.94%). The zone of inhibition for the bacteria and fungi isolates ranged from 4mm to 36 mm, with ciprofloxacin being the most effective antibiotic. This study shows that campus shuttles and ATMs, aside from their primary functions, could also serve as a means of transmitting both pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms, which pose public health risks. Personal hygiene and sanitation, such as hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer to clean hands, could serve as a means of reducing the incidence of microbial transmission
Identification of Bacterial Endophytes Isolated from Different Medicinal Plants
No full textPlants have very potential compounds to live on earth as they supply 90% of human calorie intake, 80% of protein intake directly, and perhaps the most vital sources of medicine with a vast diversity of microorganisms. As such it’s important to know those microorganisms, their kinds, the features they possess, and the significant compounds/metabolites they can produce. So, this study is based on identifying such microorganisms. To achieve this aim, isolation of endophytes has been done to know their biochemical activities and properties. Various identification procedures have been followed to get pure endophytic strains without any contamination. Surface sterilization of the plant tissue is a must in this progress, various surface sterilization techniques have been tried and finally, for 4/5 plant tissues, sodium hypochlorite and ethanol were given the best result and for 1/5 with the addition of mercuric chloride were the standardized method for surface sterilization. About 30 different bacterial endophytes have been isolated from five kinds of medicinal plants. 4% sodium hypochlorite and 75% ethanol were found effective in sterilizing the surface of Psidium guajava, Cassia occidentalis, Calotropis procera, and Hibiscus rosa-sinensa. While Mangifera indica required an addition of 0.1% mercuric chloride. 19 strains isolated were Gram-positive, 11 Gram-negative (5 were Lactose fermenters and 6 were not), and most of which were bacilli. All isolates have shown different biochemical results, 25 showed a positive result for oxidase, and 28 gave a positive result for catalase. Most of the endophytes identified in this work are Bacillus spp. However, this study highlighted the significance of surface sterilisation and most importantly the presence of potential endophytes capable of producing novel bioactive compounds usable in pharmaceutical/medicinal application
Prevalence of Bacterial Pathogens and Antibiotic Susceptibility in Wound Infections: A Microbiological Study
Get PDFInfections due to antibiotic resistant bacteria have increased alarmingly in both developed and developing countries. Unrestrained and rapidly spreading bacterial growth has turned the management of wound infection into a serious challenge. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of different bacterial pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility in various types of samples sent to the microbiology laboratory.
A study was conducted on 110 samples collected in forms of swabs and culture. All isolated bacteria were identified based on colony characteristics, Gram staining and standard biochemical tests and antibiotic susceptibility testing with the Kirby- Bauer test, known as the disc diffusion method. This method relies on the inhibition of bacterial growth measured under standard conditions. Several statistics and pie charts are used to present observation of the study.
The rate of isolation of bacteria was 100% from the samples collected from different sites of different patients. Staphylococcus aureus (50.91%) was found to be the most frequent isolate, followed by Escherichia coli (24.55%), Pseudomonas species (10.91%), klebsiella species (5.45%), Streptococcus pyogenes (5.45%), Proteus species (2.73%).
Gram-positive where mostly found sensitive to antibiotics imipenem, gentamycin, ceftriaxone vancomycin, Azithromycin in the study. Gram-negative where mostly found sensitive to ceftazidime, Ceftriaxone, gentamicin.
The diversity of isolated bacteria and their susceptibility patterns signify a need to implement a proper infection control strategy which can be achieved by carrying out antibiotic sensitivity test of the isolates
Computation Investigation on Doped Graphene for Advanced Electronic Structure: A First-Principles Investigation with Indium and Antimony
Get PDFThis study investigates the impact of Indium (In) and Antimony (Sb) doping on the electronic properties of graphene using Density Functional Theory (DFT) for structure optimization calculations. The doping effect was analyzed with dopant concentrations of 0.72% (two dopant atoms) and 2.88% (eight dopant atoms). The results show that doping graphene with In and Sb produces p-type and n-type semiconductors, respectively. As the quantity of dopants increases, graphene transitions from a semimetal to a semiconductor. Specifically, the band gaps for graphene doped with two and eight atoms of In are 0.5451 eV and 0.1443 eV, while those doped with two and eight atoms of Sb are 1.5684 eV and 0.5726 eV, respectively. These findings highlight the potential for customizing the electronic properties of graphene through doping, making it suitable for various electronic applications
Diagnostic Challenges in Donor Studies: A Case of Buried Penis Secondary to Giant Inguinoscrotal Hernia and Scrotal Lymphedema
Get PDFBuried or hidden penis, also known as buried or hidden penis syndrome, is a condition where the penis is normal in size, but concealed beneath the abdomen, thigh, or scrotum. Seen in children due to congenital abnormalities, post-circumcision scarring, or obesity, buried penis in adults is less well-defined and often linked to obesity, prior surgical history, or lymphedema. Diagnosis is primarily clinical and relies heavily on detailed patient history and thorough physical examination, which is unattainable when studying a donor.
We report a case of an 86-year-old male donor whose penis was not externally visible as it was buried inside dilated scrotal sac secondary to lymphedema in the setting of a giant indirect inguinoscrotal hernia. Given our findings, we hypothesize that tension created by the hernia pulling on the skin, as demonstrated by scrotal sac dilation combined with subsequent/concurrent lymphedema, likely contributed to what appeared to be a buried penis. However, the lack of accessible information on this cadaver, including a detailed past medical and surgical history, limits the certainty of a buried penis diagnosis in this context.
This case is unique in exploring the possible relationship between a giant inguinoscrotal hernia and a buried penis but without the detailed patient history typically required for a definitive buried penis diagnosis. Our findings highlight the limitations of diagnosing a buried penis in donor studies and suggest that anatomical changes other than the previously well-defined historical criteria should be considered as likely contributors to adult-acquired buried penis
A Comparative Genomic Analysis of Georgenia sps. for Mining of LysR Transcriptional Regulator Sequences
Get PDFGeorgenia is a genus belonging to the actinomycetes group. The genera comprise only 33 poorly characterized species with reference genomes of 10 distinct species. However, none of the species is well characterized for their genome characteristics. Our laboratory isolate from tomato plant leaf was identified and sequenced for identification and found to be Georgenia sp. Later genomic analysis revealed many functional genes having characteristic functions to be analysed. The source of isolation raised the possibility of having functional genes to enhance senescence or having plant pathogenic activity by Georgenia sp. SUBG003. To explore in silico presence of these genes or gene pools genomic islands were identified and analysed for our isolate and other 10 reference genomes of the Georgenia genus. Genomic islands were further explored for transcription regulators and finally, LysR transcriptional regulator sequences were extracted and a phylogeny among sequences was built from multiple sequence alignment
The The Frigging Kinship Between Prostate Carcinogenesis and the Genomic Landscape of Indian Males
No full textProstate Cancer (PCa) is a major global health issue in men over 50 years of age, arising due to complex and often population-specific interactions between genes, environment, and lifestyle. According to GLOBOCAN, PCa incidence in India is on the rise, albeit at a slower rate than that of the global average. This review delves deep into the nuanced relationship between PCa and the genomic landscape of Indian males. The study thoroughly reviews the epidemiology of PCa and examines the contribution of the genetic determinants like polymorphisms, mutations, and methylation patterns; microbial infections as well as the influence of lifestyle habits like diet, smoking, and drinking on the progress and manifestation of cancer among Indian males, thus intending to provide a holistic understanding of the complex interplay driving the malady. This knowledge would not only help us understand the disease mechanisms but also provide a basis for personalized diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive strategies tailored to India's unique genetic and environmental landscape
Elucidating the Association of Key Socio-demographic Factors Underlying Happiness and Well-being in the Eastern Indian Bengali Population
Get PDFBackground: Subjective happiness or well-being is an important aspect of positive psychology and is determined by several external factors, based on several of which, the World Happiness Report ranks the countries annually. India’s happiness ranking has consistently declined over the years compared to the neighboring countries.
Methods: The present study considered relevant socio-demographic factors and assessed their association, if any, in subjective happiness using multiple linear regression analysis among the eastern Indian Bengali population. A total of 191 participants were recruited for the study and their subjective happiness scores were measured using a well validated Subjective Happiness Scale.
Results: The result showed a significant association of 3 factors viz. individual’s ‘choice to stay or work in a group or alone’ (p ≤ 0.0001); ‘frequency of feeling sad in daily life (p ≤ 0.0001); and ‘personal relationship satisfaction’ (p ≤ 0.0001) with subjective happiness scores in both males and females. Eight other variables showed a gender-specific association with happiness (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion: These three socio-demographic factors might thus be the key determinants in regulating subjective well-being in this section of the world population. This information might thus be helpful in future counselling of individuals suffering from distress or severe depression and keep their better mental health
A Case Report of a Rare Subset of Meningiomas: Intraosseous Meningioma
Get PDFMeningiomas are the most common central nervous system neoplasms and occur most frequently along the dural folds and cerebral convexities. While meningiomas are slow growing and typically do not invade brain parenchyma they are of clinical importance as they can impinge surrounding structure causing a variety of signs and symptoms depending on size and location. We report here a rare subgroup of extradural meningiomas that emerge from the calvaria, a primary intraosseous meningioma, found during cadaveric dissection in a graduate anatomy course in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at Samford University.