DUODENAL LEIOMYOMA AS A RARE CAUSE OF GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING IN A NIGERIAN- CASE REPORT WITH PRESENTATION OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION.

Findings from Nigerian pathological series have supported international reports about the rarity of the occurrence of duodenal leiomyomas. More recently, case reports from the country have detailed interventional radiological techniques being deployed successfully in the control of massive bleeding from the gastrointestinal system. The article seeks to document these rare elements coming together in a Lagos, Nigeria-based center in the case of bleeding duodenal leiomyoma in an elderly gentleman which was successfully controlled by selective transcatheter arterial embolization.

Acute toxicity of crude extracts of Aspergillus quadrilineatus isolated from acha (Digitaria exilis Stapf).

In a survey of fungi and mycotoxin conterminating acha (Digitaria exilis Stapf) in Plateau State of Nigeria, 96 fungal isolates were made. Screening of the fungi isolates for their mycotoxin-producing potentials showed that Aspergillus quadrilineatus (Thom and Raper) produced some of the most toxic mycotoxins. Two extracts of the Aspergillus quadrilineatus (the petroleum ether soluble extracts [PER] and the petroleum ether defatted crude extract [PEDCR]) were tested for acute toxicity in mice, chicks and cattle. The ip LD50 of PER in mice was 1148 mg/kg, and the oral LD50 of PEDCR was 566 mg/kg in mice and 556 mg/kg in chicks. The ip LD50 of PEDCR in mice was 21 mg/kg. The toxic signs of PER and PEDCR in mice and chicks included tachypnea, tachycardia, anorexia, somnolence, diarrhea, coma and death. The main postmortem findings were congestion of heart, liver, kidney and lungs and sloughing of the wall of stomach and hemorrhagic enteritis. The histopathologic findings in dead animals included edema and mild degeneration of the myocardium and necrosis of kidney tubular epithelial cells, hepatocytes and bronchioles. The only clinical observation in 1 calf orally dosed with a culture of Aspergillus quadrilineatus of maize was transient whole body tremors which occurred 1 h after dosing, tachycardia and profuse salivation. No significant histopathologic changes were found in the organs of the sacrificed calf.

Susceptibility of two-week old Lymnaea natalensis to some plant extracts.

The molluscacidal potency of 17 Nigerian plants extracted by the unevaporated crude water (UECW) method was evaluated on two-week old Lymnaea natalensis Krauss. Five extracts were not active but extracts of Balanites aegytiaca, Blighia sapida, Boswellia dalzielii, Cissampelos mucronata, Detarium microcarpum, Kigelia africana, Opilia celtidifolia, Parkia clappertoniana, Polygonum limbatum, Pseudocedrela kotschyi, Nauclea latifolia and Securidaca longipedunculata were molluscacidal. There is potential for their future use in the integrated control of Lymnaea natalensis, as well as other snails. Mortality data for lethal concentration values for all extracts were analysed by use of probit transformation. The upper and lower fiducial limits of the LC50 (P = 0.05) were also determined.

Screening of some Nigerian plants for molluscicidal activity.

Methanolic (MEOH), evaporated crude water (ECW) and unevaporated crude water (UECW) extracts of 25 Nigerian plants, used for different medicinal and domestic purposes were screened for molluscacidal activity on laboratory-reared Lymnaea natalensis Krauss. Seven of the plants were not active; extracts from 18 (72 per cent) of the plants, some of which are renowned fish poisons, had molluscicidal activity. These were Acacia nilotica, Aristolochia albida, Balanites aegyptiaca, Blighia sapida, Boswellia dalzielii, Detarium microcarpum, Gnidia kraussiana, Kigelia africana, Nauclea latifolia, Opilia celtidefolia, Parkia clappertoniana, Polygonum limbatum, Pseudocedrela kotschyi, Sclerocarya birrea, Securidaca longipedunculata, Ximenia americana, Vetiveria nigritana and Ziziphus abyssinica. The LC50 of these extracts were determined. It is strongly recommended that the toxic effects of these extracts against fish, cercariae, snail eggs and mammals be further investigated so as to determine the right concentration, especially for use in fish ponds.

The mycoflora and some mycotoxins found in acha (Digitaria exilis Stapf) in Plateau State, Nigeria.

Mouldy acha (Digitaria exilis) samples were collected at three different periods of the year from some local government areas of Plateau State and were screened for their mycoflora and for seven mycotoxins. Phoma sorghina was the most common contaminant during the cold dry harmattan period (November-February) and during the humid and wet period (June-October). This was followed by Fusarium moniliforme and then by Aspergillus spp. During the hot and dry period (March-May), Aspergillus spp. were the most prevalent fungi, followed by Fusarium spp. and Phoma sorghina in that order. Zearalenone was the most prevalent mycotoxin in mouldy acha samples collected during the cold and dry period, while aflatoxins were the most prevalent in samples collected during the hot and dry period. Zearalenone was only detected in one of the samples collected during the hot, humid and wet period.

The mycoflora and some mycotoxins found in maize (Zea mays) in the Plateau State of Nigeria.

Mouldy maize samples were collected at three periods of the year (Dry harmattan period, November-February; hot and dry period, March-May; and hot humid and wet period, June-September) from local government areas of Plateau State of Nigeria. They were screened for their mycoflora, aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and zearalenone contents. Fusarium spp were the commonest fungi found in maize during the dry harmattan and hot and dry periods and Neurospora spp were the commonest fungi found during the hot, humid and wet period. The highest level of aflatoxin was found in samples from Langtang (B1 = 960, B2 = 544 micrograms/kg) and the highest level of zearalenone was found in samples from Jos and Langtang areas (17,500 micrograms/kg). The highest level of ochratoxin was found in the field samples from the Jos area (150 micrograms/kg).

Plants poisonous to man in Nigeria.

Forty species of plants potentially poisonous to man in Nigeria are presented. They include medicinal, food and ornamental plants. The vernacular names, uses, and toxic effects are given. The conditions under which poisonings occur are discussed.

Investigations into the toxicity of the leaves of Erythrophleum guineense Don. in sheep.

An investigation was carried out on the toxicity of the leaves of Erythrophleum guineense Don. in sheep. Four groups of two animals each were fed 8, 2, 0.5 and 0.25 g/kg/day, respectively, of dried ground leaves of E guineense through a stomach tube. Two animals served as controls and received 8 g/kg/day of ground grass hay through a stomach tube. Animals which received 8 g/kg of E guineense died within 3 h; those which received 2 g/kg died within 18 h, while those which received 0.5 and 0.25 g/kg developed clinical signs after being fed for two to four days and died between two and 14 days. Clinical signs observed were coma and convulsions in animals which died within 18 h. Animals which died after several days of sickness had signs of depression, dyspnoea, groaning, trembling of hind limbs, strong heart beat and severe dysentery. Pathological changes observed post mortem were varied and occurred in a number of organs.

Acute toxicity of the leaves and extracts of Dichapetalum barteri (Engl.) in mice, rabbits and goats.

Acute toxicity of the leaves and extracts of Dichapetalum barteri for mice, rabbits and goats was investigated. Consumption of 0.5 g/kg and 2.2 g/kg body weight of dried leaves was lethal to rabbits and goats, respectively, within 4 h. Plants collected in the dry season were more toxic than those collected during the wet season. Clinical signs observed were initial depression followed by restlessness, convulsions, and death. The main lesions observed were acute vasculitis and congestion of the liver, lung, kidney, spleen as well as extensive oedema and congestion of the myocardium. The water extract of the leaves was lethal to mice at 2.0 g/kg, to rabbits at 0.1 g/kg and toxic to isolated rabbit heart at 2 mg/ml of Locke's solution. Monofluoroacetate was detected in the plant material and is probably the toxic principle of D. barteri.