3 Department of Phamacognosy & Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo.

The leaves of Combretum micranthum and C. racemosum are used as herbal remedy to treat diarrhoea and various skin diseases. The ethanol extract, n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions of C. micranthum and C. racemosum leaves were evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activities by agar-diffusion and tube-dilution methods to validate the ethnobotanical uses of the two species and to compare activities. The ethanol extract and ethylacetate fraction showing milder activity. The chloroform, n-butanol and aqueous fractions also showed significant activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum. They showed more potent activity against S.aureus and P. aeruginosa than did the standard drug. N. hexane fraction yielded the least activity. Conversely, the ethanol extract of Combretum racemosum showed no activity against any of the test organisms. However, all the fractions exhibited some fairly reasonable activity, with n-hexane fractions yielding the broadest spectrum of activity and ethylacetate fraction the least. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the ethanol extract and the fractions of Combretum micranthum ranged from 0.62-15mg/ml, while fractions of C. racemosum yielded values from 2.5 — 10mg/ml. Combretum micranthum afforded far greater antimicrobial activity than C. racemosum.

KeyWords: Combretum micranthum, C.racemosum, antimicrobial activity.

John D. Umoh

The Department Of Pathology,College Of Medicine,

University Of Ibadan, Ibadan. Nigeria.

The present study compares twelve different histochemical methods of demonstrating mucopolysaccharides in normal and diseased tissues. The metachromatic dyes (Azur A and Thionin B) were the most useful stains for distinguishing epithelial mucopolysaccharides, which were orthochromatic, from connective tissue mucopolysaccharides, which were metachromatic. Periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian blue, Southgate rnucicarmine, and Hale colloidal iron stains were useful for the demonstration of mucopolysaccharides in general. However, these stains did not aid in the discrimination of epithelial from connective tissue mucopolysaccharides. Hexamine silver, Acridine orage and blocking of reactive groups by methyl esteriflcation, and saponification are technically inferior and not useful for demonstration of mucopolysaccharides.

Keywords: Metachromatic dyes, Mucopolysaccharides, Tissue processing.

Ching, F, P, Akpan, J. O And Ahiwe, N. J.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo Nigeria.

Department of Pharmacology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar. Calabar, Nigeria.

The acute in-vivo effect of oral administration of the drug colourant, Bright Red was investigated. Three groups of rats were administered 500mg, 1000mg and 2000mg per Kg body weight of the colourant daily consecutive for three days. The control group was given sham treatment with equivalent volume of distilled water. The effects of the colourant on serum-liver levels of aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) and alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) were compared with the control group, which received only the diluent for the administration of the test colourant solution. The serum and liver levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increased in a dose related manner. The serum-liver enzymes showed significant elevations (P< 0.05) in the three test groups compared to the control group. The results indicate that acute oral administration of Bright Red colourant could be injurious to liver cell integrity.

Key words: Drug colourant, Bright Red, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, Liver.

E. O. Ayalogu, A. A. Uwakwe and U. Ibiam.

Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

The effects of the antimalarials : fansidar (Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine) and chloroquine on rat and human serum α-amylase (EC. 3.2.1.1) activity were investigated in vivo and in vitro, at an optimum temperature of 37^oC and an optimum pH of 7.0. In vivo, fansidar significantly (P<0.001) increased serum α-amylase activity in a concentration dependent manner. At a maximum fansidar dose of 7.20 mg/g body weight α-amylase activity was increased by 28.83 ± 1.60% within 96 hours of the drug administration. In vitro, at fansidar concentration of 26.24mg per 100ml, serum α- amylase activity increased significantly by 5.90 x 10²%.

Similarly, in vivo, chloroquine was found to increase α-amylase activity. At an optimal chloroquine dose of 2.88mg per 100g body weight, the activity of the enzyme increased by 6.88 +1.21% within 96 hours of the drug administration. In vitro at optimal chloroquine concentration of 41.65mg per 100ml, α-amylase activity increased by 7.51 x 10²%.

These findings could hold some significance in relation to the biological function of the enzyme as well as clinical diagnosis involving the enzyme especially in subjects/ patients who are placed on these drugs therapeutically or otherwise.

Key Words: Chloroquine, Fansidar, Serum α-amylase, Rat, Humans.

*1 Jude E. Okokon And 2 E. N. U. Ezedinachi

1 Department Of Pharmacology & Toxicology

Faculty Of Pharmacy, University Of Uyo, Uyo.

2 Department Of Medicine, College Of Medical Sciences,

University Of Calabar, Calabar.

* All Correspondence To The Author

Quantification of plasma total chloroquine level was carried out in relation to Plasmodium falciparum density in 80 adult malaria patients in Calabar. The WHO in Vivo seven-day test was used with follow-up on days 1, 2, 3 and 7 after treatment with 25mg chloroquine base per kilogram body weight. Clinical and parasitological evaluations were performed. Detectable residual plasma total chloroquine level was found in the blood of 32 percent of the patients. There was no significant difference in the means of total chloroquine levels in plasma for both sensitive and resistant infections on days 3 and 7. Clinical successes of 94 percent was recorded in the study. Chloroquine treatment in vivo resulted in 90 percent parasite clearance within 7 days (sensitive responses). Seven cases of early recrudescence (R1) and one case of R11 were recorded in the study. On the basis of our findings Chloroquine is recommended for the treatment of malaria in Calabar if taken in prescribed dosages.

Key Words: Plasma, Total chloroquine, Malaria, Plasmodium Falciparum.

Hyacinth E. Onah & Hyginus U. Ezegwui

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital,
Enugu, Nigeria.

Correspondence: Dr. H. E . Onah

P O Box 3709 General Post Office, Enugu

E-mail: [email protected]

A six-year review of hysterectomies at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, was undertaken to determine the rate, indications and complications of the operation. There were 14 hysterectomies per 100 gynaecological in-patients. In a decreasing order of frequency, the main indications for the 199 elective abdominal hysterectomies during the study period were: uterine fibroids (66.7%), ovarian tumour (12.1%) and cervical malignancy (11.6%). The sub-umbilical midline incision was used in 166 (83.4%) of the cases. Moderate to severe intra-pelvic adhesions were found in 59 (29.6%) of the patients. The uterine size was greater than 12 weeks gestation in 133 (66.8%) of the women. Appendicectomy was the most frequent incidental operation; it was performed on 56 (28.1%) of the subjects. Complications were recorded in 55 women, a complication rate of 27.6%. Approximately two-thirds of the complications involved the urinary tract or the abdominal incision wound. We conclude that although the hysterectomy rate in Enugu, Nigeria, is lower than in advanced countries, the indications and complications of the operation are similar to those from the latter countries. Suggestions are offered on how to minimise complications during hysterectomies.

Key words: Abdominal hysterectomy, indications, complications, Enugu.

ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE SORE THROAT WITH GROUP A BETA HEAMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCI CARRIAGE AMONG CHILDRED IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN CALABAR-IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CONTROL OF RHEUMATIC FEVER/RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE (RH/RHD) IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

C. O. Odigwe*, Sunde M. Udo, M, M. Meremikwu And Ngozi Ohia

College Of Medical Sciences University Of Calabar Teaching Hospital Pmb 1278, Calabar, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Dr. C. O. Odigwe

Two Hundred and Seventeen (217) throat swabs were obtained from apparently healthy children aged 4-13 years attending a public primary school in Calabar, South Eastern Nigeria. The swabs were transported in Staurt’s transport medium to the Microbiology Laboratory of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar Nigeria and examined bacteriologically using 7% sheep blood agar incubated in 5% carbondioxide environment at 37^oC for 48 hours. Seventy one (32.7%) were found positive for Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (GABHS). Children aged 4-5 years had the highest carriage rate, (45.0%). Carriage rate decreased with age but did not vary significantly with sex. The rate of detection of GABHS was highest among children with current sore throat, (76.9%). Relative risk ratio associating GABHS with acute sore throat was 7.2 (95% C.I, 2.23-0.71). This high odds ratio provides a strong positive predictive index for the diagnosis of GABHS in cases of acute sore throat. These findings further re-enforce the view that the target group for primary prevention of RF/RHD is young school-aged children. We suggest that all cases of acute sore throat in children be treated for GABHS. Control efforts should include improvement in overall living standards, nutrition and integration of primary preventive strategies for RF/RHD into Primary Health Care (PHC) / School Heath programmes.

Key Words: Streptococcal throat carriage among Nigerian children.