Diversity and predicted functional roles of cultivable bacteria in vermicompost: bioprospecting for potential inoculum.

Vermicompost (VC) harbours diverse microbes, including plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) that are beneficial for sustainable crop production. Hence, this study aimed to analyse bacterial diversity of VC samples as a first high-throughput screening step towards subsequent targeted isolation of potential bacterial inoculum candidates. To achieve this, bacterial communities in VC collected from five production farms were enriched in nutrient-rich media before high-throughput sequence (HTS) analysis of the partial 16S rRNA gene. HTS analysis revealed 572 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in all enriched VC samples. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes and Bacteroidetes were the most dominant phyla, while Lysinibacillus, Escherichia-Shigella, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Morganella, Vibrio and Aeromonas were the predominant genera across the enriched VC. The presence of Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Escherichia-Shigella and Vibrio genera, which are potentially pathogenic species, suggests the need to improve vermicomposting efficiency and safety. Predicted functional profiling of the bacterial communities using PICRUSt2 showed abundance profiles of nitrogenases, phosphatases and sulfatases. In addition, the potential to produce siderophore, indole acetic acids (IAA) and phytohormone regulator 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) were predicted. Lysinibacillus, Bacillus, Paenibacillus and Pseudomonas were major bacterial communities with potential plant growth-promoting traits and could serve as resources in bacterial inoculum production. The findings in this study provide insight into the community composition, abundance and the potential functional capability of cultivable bacterial species of enriched VC. This study also points to VC as a suitable source of potentially beneficial bacterial candidates for inoculum production.

The association between heavy metal and serum cholesterol levels in the US population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2012.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the relationship between heavy metal and serum cholesterol levels, and no recent study has examined this relationship in the US population. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 19,591 individuals aged 0-80 years were included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2012; the current study was composed of survey participants for whom some or all low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, blood lead (Pb), total blood mercury (Hg), and blood cadmium (Cd) levels had been measured. Three tertiles (T1-T3) of heavy metals were used to explore dose-response association between heavy metal exposure and serum cholesterol level. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between tertiles of blood heavy metal levels and serum cholesterol levels after adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. We have shown that the groups with the highest levels of Pb, Hg, and Cd had a 56%, 73%, and 41% chance, respectively, of having a high total cholesterol level. In study subjects with the highest Pb levels, there was also a 22% chance of being in the group with the highest LDL-C level. An increase in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels was observed from the first to the third tertiles of the heavy metals studied. CONCLUSION: Increasing blood Pb, Hg, and Cd levels were associated with significantly increased odds of high total cholesterol after adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic status.

Diagnostic Utility of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Evaluation of Peripheral Lymphadenopathy.

BACKGROUND: Patients are often referred for fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) on account of peripheral lymphadenopathy. Relative to the rate of referrals, very few works have been done to establish the reliability of FNAC as a first-line investigation in the evaluation of peripheral lymphadenopathy in this environment. This study aims to determine the diagnostic utility of FNAC in evaluating common causes of peripheral lymphadenopathy in a teaching hospital in North western Nigeria. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-six patients who had FNAC and histology or cell blocks preparation of the same lymph nodes were recruited over a 5-year period. Using histology and cell blocks as gold standards, the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and test accuracy were deduced. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 71.4%, 91.5%, 87.5% and 81.1% respectively. The test accuracy of FNAC was 83.7%. CONCLUSION: FNAC is reliable for screening and diagnosing peripheral lymph node lesions. However, ancillary tests such as immunocytochemistry may be necessary for improved accuracy.

Insights into the Microbiological Safety of Vermicompost and Vermicompost Tea Produced by South African Smallholder Farmers.

Feedstock used in the production of vermicompost (VC) and vermicompost tea (VCT) may harbour various pathogenic bacteria responsible for a number of animal and human diseases worldwide. The identification and characterisation of such pathogenic organisms is necessary for assessing the safety of these products. In the present study, our goal was to determine the presence of possible pathogens in VC and VCT and, if present, to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the organisms. VC and VCT samples were collected from five different farms in the Winterveldt, South Africa. Only one out of 60 VC and VCT samples was found to contain a potentially pathogenic organism. The use of phenotypic procedures aided the final identification of the isolate, which was confirmed to be Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. This isolate tested positive for species specific invA genes. Antibiotic testing using the agar diffusion technique showed that the Salmonella isolate was resistant to only kanamycin. The Salmonella counts that were observed in this study were lower than the generally accepted infective doses of these bacteria. In the light of these findings, it was concluded that VC and VCT produced by the farmers involved presented a low risk in terms of the safety of the products.

Arthroscopic knee anatomy in young achondroplasia patients.

PURPOSE: Achondroplasia is the most common form of skeletal dysplasia, affecting more than 250 000 individuals worldwide. In these patients, the developing knee undergoes multiple anatomical changes. The purpose of this study was to characterise the intra-articular knee anatomy in children with achondroplasia who underwent knee arthroscopy. METHODS: Records of achondroplasia patients who underwent knee arthroscopy between 2009 and 2014 were reviewed. Demographic data, operative reports, follow-up notes, MRI and arthroscopy images were reviewed. Bony, cartilaginous and ligamentous changes were noted. The trochlea sulcus angle was measured from intra-operative arthroscopic images. RESULTS: A total of 12 knee arthroscopies in nine patients were performed. The mean age at surgery was 16.9 years (12 to 22). In all patients, the indication for surgery was knee pain and/or mechanical symptoms that were refractory to non-operative treatment. Three anatomical variations involving the distal femur were found in all knees: a deep femoral trochlea; a high A-shaped intercondylar notch; and a vertically oriented anterior cruciate ligament. The average trochlea sulcus angle measured 123°. Pathology included: synovial plica (one knee); chondral lesions (three knees); discoid lateral meniscus (11 knees); and meniscal tears (six knees). All patients were pain-free and returned to normal activity at final follow-up. CONCLUSION: Children with achondroplasia have characteristic distal femur anatomy noted during knee arthroscopy. These variations should be considered normal during knee arthroscopy in these patients. Arthroscopic findings confirmed previous MRI findings within this specific population with the addition of a deep trochlear groove which was not previously reported.

Pattern of childhood malignant tumors at a teaching hospital in Kano, Northern Nigeria: A prospective study.

Background: Childhood cancers represent an important global public health problem. Survival is still dismal in most low income countries. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of childhood cancers diagnosed at AKTH, Kano was undertaken from January 2003 to December 2009 to determine the pattern, socio-economic and geographical features. Results: Malignant lymphomas constituted 46.5% of all cases, of which 30.1% were Burkitt's lymphoma, 9.8% were Non-Hodgkin (non Burkitt's) lymphoma and 6.6% were Hodgkin lymphoma. Retinoblastoma was the second most common malignancy constituting 15.2% of all cases, followed by Nephroblastoma 12.5% and acute leukemia's accounted for 14.1% of all cases. Others were Neuroblastoma 5.5%, Rhabdomyosarcoma 1.9% and CNS and Hepatissc tumors 4.3%. About 80% of parents of these children are very poor and could not afford the cost of treatment. Fifty one percent of the patients were alive at 12 months and the mortality was 24%. Conclusion: Childhood cancer is common in Kano. Free treatment is what is required since majority of the parents could not afford the cost of treatment.

Nephrotic syndrome among children in Kano: a clinicopathological study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinicopathological features of children with nephrotic syndrome seen in a pediatric nephrology unit in northern Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All children less than 15 years of age who had nephrotic syndrome and who had been subjected to renal biopsy at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, were studied. Their histologic diagnoses were evaluated alongside clinical and other laboratory parameters. RESULTS: Twenty children, 17 males and three females, were studied. These represented 55% of all children with nephrotic syndrome seen in the pediatric nephrology unit during the study period, the rest of which have never had renal biopsies. Peak age was 7-8 years (range 2.5-13 years). Fourteen of the 20 children (70%) had previously been on steroid treatment. Of these, 11 (55%) were classified to be steroid resistant and three (15%) were frequent relapsers. Six (30%) children were newly diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome and had not commenced steroid treatment. Hypertension was found in seven (35%) children. Sixteen children (80%) had microscopic hematuria on presentation. The most common histopathological diagnosis was focal glomerulosclerosis in nine (45%) children (segmental = 8; global = 1). Minimal change disease was found in four children (20%), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in three children (15%), membranous nephropathy in three children (15%), and diffuse mesangial hypercellularity in one child (5%). Of the six children who had renal biopsy before commencement of steroid treatment, three (50%) were found to have glomerulosclerosis. CONCLUSION: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was the most common histological subtype diagnosed in Kano among children with nephrotic syndrome in this study.

Clinical and histological features of melanoma in adult Nigerians.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma known to be common among Caucasians is increasingly getting more common among blacks in the tropics. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical and histological features of these tumours in adult Nigerians. METHODS: All cases of melanoma diagnosed between 2006 and 2010 in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria were retrieved and their clinical and pathological features reviewed. RESULTS: Eighty five cases comprising 41 males and 44 females were diagnosed with mean age of 56 ± 14.6 years. Mean duration before presentation was 2.3 ± 0.8 years. Eighty five percent of cases were located in the foot, 8% with lymph node involvement and seventy eight of the 85 cases were of Breslow thickness > 4 mm. Fifty five cases were of Clark level V and 78% of Nodular variant. Prognostic features including ulceration, lymphocytic infiltration, significant mitotic activity, satellitosis and lymphovascular infiltration were present in 69%, 38%, 16%, 45% and 17% of cases respectively. Only three cases were amelanotic. CONCLUSION: Melanoma in the Nigerians is predominantly of the nodular variant and located in the foot, is characterized by late presentation and is generally associated with adverse prognostic features.

Audit of histopathology reports for breast cancer in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of histopathology reports is a function of the quality of information contained therein. Thus there is need to establish minimum criteria to be met in reporting cases as a quality control mechanism. OBJECTIVE: To audit the quality of histopathology reports of mastectomy specimens received in the pathology laboratory of a Teaching Hospital. METHODS: Laboratory numbers of all cancer bearing mastectomy cases received in 10 years (1999-2008) were extracted from pathology reception registers and their accompanying original request cards were retrieved from archives. From these cards relevant information meeting six set audit criteria and average turn around times were determined and analysed. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-five mastectomy cases were received but archival retrieval was possible for only 134 (81.2%) cases. The reports documented tumour size, macroscopic resection margin, histological tumour type, histological grading, lymphatic/vascular invasion characterized by invasion of tumour cells into lymphatic vessels, arteries or more importantly veins, and microscopic resection margin. These were documented in 50%, 62%, 92%, 40%, 12% and 64% of cases respectively. Average turn around time was 15.8 days. Only three (2.2%) of the reports met all the six criteria. CONCLUSION: This 10-year audit shows the lapses in our histopathology reports and the need for establishment of standard report formats as tools for quality assurance.

Audit of Histopathology Reports for Breast Cancer in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of histopathology reports is a function of the quality of information contained therein. Thus there is need to establish minimum criteria to be met in reporting cases as a quality control mechanism. OBJECTIVE: To audit the quality of histopathology reports of mastectomy specimens received in the pathology laboratory of a Teaching Hospital. METHODS: Laboratory numbers of all cancer bearing mastectomy cases received in 10 years (1999-2008) were extracted from pathology reception registers and their accompanying original request cards were retrieved from archives. From these cards relevant information meeting six set audit criteria and average turn around times were determined and analysed. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-five mastectomy cases were received but archival retrieval was possible for only 134 (81.2) cases. The reports documented tumour size; macroscopic resection margin; histological tumour type; histological grading; lymphatic/vascular invasion characterized by invasion of tumour cells into lymphatic vessels; arteries or more importantly veins; and microscopic resection margin. These were documented in 50; 62; 92; 40; 12and 64of cases respectively. Average turn around time was 15.8 days. Only three (2.2) of the reports met all the six criteria. CONCLUSION: This 10-year audit shows the lapses in our histopathology reports and the need for establishment of standard report formats as tools for quality assurance

Pathology of peripheral lymph node biopsies in Kane, Northern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Lymphadenopathy is a common clinical problem here in Kano, Northern Nigeria but there has been no formal study. We therefore undertook this review to evaluate the pattern in our locality. METHOD: This is a seven-year (1998-2004) retrospective review of all histologically diagnosed lymph node biopsies received at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. RESULTS: Cervical, axillary and inguinal nodes were the most frequently biopsied accounting for 46%, 23% and 13%, while tuberculosis, lymphomas and metastases were the most commonly diagnosed lesions comprising 30%, 24% and 19% respectively. In general, benign lesions were more common constituting 57% of nodal biopsies. Lymphadenopathy was observed to be most prevalent in the first three decades. CONCLUSION: Our findings were broadly similar to most other Nigerian studies and slightly at variance with other African countries but significantly different from the Western World. The limitations of lymph node histopathology in the absence of modern molecular diagnostic techniques are highlighted.