Screening Of Ten Indian Medicinal Plants For Their Antibacterial Activity Against Shigella sSpecies And Escherichia coli

Ethanol and Aqueous extracts of ten Indian medicinal plants were tested for their antibacterial properties against Shigella sonei; S. boydi; S. flexeneri; S. dysenteriae and Escherechia coli with disc diffusion; well diffusion; and minimum inhibitory concentration methods. The results showed that the aqueous extract of the bulb of Alium sativum was effective against S. dysenteriae; S. boydi; and E. coli. The Ethanol extract of the rind of Garcinia mangostana showed activity against S. sonei. The results were compared with results obtained using standard antibiotic disc (Chloramphenicol 30 ug/disc and Ciprofloxacin 5 ug/disc). Spectral analysis of the crude aqueous extract of A. sativum and the crude ethanol extract of G. mangostana were carried out

Immunocytochemistry in the diagnosis of small blue cell tumours of childhood

Objective: This study attempts to define a limited; cost effective; reliable primary panel of antibodies for immunohistology; as an adjunct to morphological features; for the diagnosis of Small Blue Cell Tumors (SBCT) which would be convenient for use in low resource settings to improve their diagnostic accuracy. The choice of antibodies is based on the common childhood tumors in Ibadan and limited by financial constraints and availability of antibodies. Materials et methods: Twenty-five representative cases of previously diagnosed small blue cell tumours of childhood were selected from the file of the Department of Pathology; University College Hospital; Ibadan. The retrieved blocks were cut and stained with antibodies to desmin; leucocyte common antigen; cytokeratin; chromogranin; neuron-specific-enolase; vimentin and neurofilament using the avidin-biotin technique as previously described. Results: Of the 25 cases studied 24 (96) gave interpretable immunostaining reaction and the immunophenotype of these were defined. The staining quality equaled that produced on the control well-fixed positive control sections. The final diagnosis of six of the 25 cases changed based on immunostaining. Four cases previously diagnosed as lymphoma were confirmed to be rhabdomyosarcoma (3 cases) and neuroblastoma; one case each of rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma were both reclassified as lymphoma. Conclusion: Based on our findings; the use of a small first-line panel of antibodies to leucocyte common antigen; desmin and neuron-specific-enolase are ideal for immunohistochemical discrimination of SBCT; as an adjunct to morphology; in low-resource settings

Relationship between bladder cancer incidence; schistosoma haematobium infection; and geographical region in Zimbabwe

Bladder cancer is common in Zimbabwe; possibly due to the high prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection in some areas. We undertook a correlational study based on retrospective medical record review to see whether the number of bladder cancers could be related to geographical region and prevalence of S. haematobium infection. We also determined patient demographic characteristics and tumour histology. Of 483 patients indentified (1984-1987); 69 with available histology had squamous cell carcinomas. The remainder had transitional cell carcinomas. Patients with squamous cell carcinoma were younger than patients with transitional cell carcinomas (50 vs 20 under 50 years old; P less than 0.05) and had a sex ration of one. [abstract terminated]