Microbial contribution to spoilage of African breadfruit (Artocarpus communis, Forst) during storage.

The contributions of microorganisms in the deterioration of African breadfruit during storage were investigated in this study. Matured fruits of the seedless variety of the African breadfruit (Artocarpus communis, Forst) were stored under different temperature conditions and morphological changes observed at 24-h intervals for 120 h. Spoilage of breadfruit was observed after 72 h with microbial growth. Although all the fruits in the different media deteriorated by the 72nd hour (this was revealed in morphology and confirmed by the proximate analysis which showed an increase in %crude protein in all the stored fruits), microbial growth was observed only in those fruits stored at room temperature and in water, and there was no significant microbial growth in fruits stored in refrigerator, freezer, and vinegar. A higher rate of deterioration (i.e., higher %crude protein) was observed in morphology of fruits which had microbial growth during storage (i.e., those stored in the room, under water, and refrigerator) than in those stored fruits with no significant microbial growth. The difference between the %crude protein in fruits where there is microbial growth and that of the fruits where there is no microbial growth (i.e., freezer and vinegar) proved to be significant (P ≤ 0.05). The study thus reveals that microorganisms play a substantial role in the spoilage of African breadfruit. A strain of the Aspergillus sp., two strains of the Penicillium sp., and a strain of the Molinia sp. were isolated as fungal spoilage organisms. Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. strains were isolated as bacteria spoilage organisms.

Peripheral nerve injury produces a sustained shift in the balance between glutamate release and uptake in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.

Peripheral nerve injury provokes heightened excitability of primary sensory afferents including nociceptors, and elicits ectopic activity in lesioned and neighboring intact nerve fibers. The major transmitter released by sensory afferents in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord is glutamate. Glutamate is critically involved in nociceptive signaling and the development of neuropathic pain. We recorded miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) from neurons in lamina II of the rat dorsal horn to assess spontaneous synaptic activity after spared nerve injury (SNI), a model of chronic neuropathic pain. Following SNI, the frequency of mEPSCs doubled, indicating heightened glutamate release from primary afferents or spinal interneurons. Consistent with this finding, glutamate concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid were elevated at 1 and 4 weeks after SNI. Transmitter uptake was insufficient to prevent the rise in extracellular glutamate as the expression of glutamate transporters remained unchanged or decreased. 2-Methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine hydrochloride, an antagonist of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), reduced the frequency of mEPSCs to its preinjury level, suggesting a positive feedback mechanism that involves facilitation of transmitter release by mGluR5 activation in the presence of high extracellular glutamate. Treatment with the ß-lactam antibiotic ceftriaxone increased the expression of glutamate transporter 1 (Glt1) in the dorsal horn after SNI, raised transmitter uptake, and lowered extracellular glutamate. Improving glutamate clearance prevented the facilitation of transmitter release by mGluR5 and attenuated neuropathic pain-like behavior. Balancing glutamate release and uptake after nerve injury should be an important target in the management of chronic neuropathic pain.

National EPI coverage survey report in Ethiopia, 2006

Background: Routine EPI reports have shown an upward trend in immunization coverage in recent years in Ethiopia; however; regional disparities exist. Objective: To determine regional coverage of child and TT immunization and assess reasons for not utilizing immunization services. Methods: The revised 2005 WHO-EPI regional coverage cluster survey method was used to determine the sample size for the study. Regional immunization status of 12-23 months of children and mothers with 0-11 months of infants forchild immunization and TT immunization respectively were taken as the unit of analysis. A sample of 6;903 children between 12-23 months and 6;952 mothers with infants between 0-11 months from 468 clusters in 11 regions of the country were surveyed in June 2006. Results: The weighted national immunization coverage assessed by card plus history for children aged 12-23 months vaccinated before the age of one year was BCG 83.4; DPT1 84.3; DPT3 66.0; measles 54.3; and fully immunized children 49.9. The weighted national TT2+ coverage and rate of Protection at Birth (PAB) assessed by card plus history was 75.6and 63.0respectively. Conclusion: The survey showed a 10 percentage point of increment in DPT3 coverage compared to 2001 survey coverage. However; progress was not uniform in all regions of the country. Despite the improve-ment in the access to immunization in the country; DPT3 coverage was less than 30and dropout rate remained very high in three emerging regions. Effective behavioral change communication (BCC) strategies need to be designed and implemented to tackle high dropout rate in the program. Besides; health workers training program on interpersonal communication and Reaching Every District (RED) approach should be fully implemented to increase and sustain high level of immunization coverage in Ethiopia

Intrasellar abscess simulating a pituitary tumour

A case of an abscess of the sella turcica discovered during craniotomy for pituitary tumour in a 20-year-old man is presented. The clinical features of this unusual intrasellar lesion are discussed. The importance of early diagnosis, high-dosage antibiotics and surgical intervention in reducing the high mortality associated with abscesses in this location are emphasized. It is suggested that abscess of the sella turcia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a sella mass in any patient with a recent history of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, sphenoid sinusitis or meningitis (AU)

Spinal stroke as a presentation of dissecting aneurysm of the aorta

A case of ischaemic spinal cord injury in a 70-year old patient is presented. Autopsy showed a DeBakey type 1 dissecting aneurysm of the thoraco-abdominal aorta with involvement of the intercostal and lumbar arteries on the left side. The zone of spinal cord infarction was extensive. The vascular anatomy of the spinal cord is reviewed, and its vulnerability to ischaemia is emphazied (AU)

Sporadic concurrence of von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis and marfan syndrome

A unique case of sporadic concurrence of von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis parentage and normal family background is described. The pathogenetic aspects of this rare phenomenon are discussed. It is suggested that such an unusual concurrence is the result of spontaneous genetic mutation (AU)