Phylogenetic analyses of bacteria associated with the processing of iru and ogiri condiments

Analysis of the bacterial community dynamics during the production of traditional fermented condiments is important for food safety assessment, quality control and development of starter culture technology. In this study, bacteria isolated during the processing of iru and ogiri, two commonly consumed condiments in Nigeria, were characterized based on phylogenetic analyses of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. A total of 227 isolates were obtained and clustered into 12 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on 97% 16S rRNA gene similarity. The OTUs spanned three phyla (Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria), and nine genera: Acinetobacter, Aerococcus, Bacillus, Enterococcus, Enterobacter, Lysinibacillus, Micrococcus, Proteus and Staphylococcus. OTUs closely related to species of Bacillus dominated the processing stages of both condiments. Although no single OTU occurred throughout iru processing stages, an OTU (mostly related to B. safensis) dominated the ogiri processing stages indicating potentials for the development of starter culture. However, other isolates such as those of Enterococcus spp. and Lysinibacillus spp. may be potential starters for iru fermentation. Presumptive food-borne pathogens were also detected at some stages of the condiments' processing, possibly due to poor hygienic practices.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Iru and ogiri are important condiments used for flavour enhancement in foods and serve as protein substitutes in diets among rural populations across West Africa. Consumption of these condiments is growing, reinforcing the need to scale up their production. Production of these condiments includes spontaneous fermentation, which often leads to inconsistent product quality and unguaranteed safety. This study has demonstrated the bacterial succession in iru and ogiri processing and highlights species that could be selected and exploited for starter culture development. This study provides a starting point to produce quality and microbiologically safe iru and ogiri condiments.

Evaluation of the effect of lime fruit juice on the anticoagulant effect of warfarin

AIM

Citrus aurantifolia (Family Rutaceae) is commonly known as a familiar food and medicine, and s therapeutic effectiveness in a variety of diseases has been suggested in traditional medicine. Various complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) have been shown to interact with orthodox medicines. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate such a phenomenon particularly the interaction of lime fruit juice with warfarin.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Wistar strain albino rats of both sexes weighing between 190 and 230g were administered with oral doses of the respective drugs used depending on the groups of animals. Effects on the anticoagulant activity of warfarin were determined by standard laboratory methods.

RESULT

Lime fruit juice caused a reduction in the anticoagulant activity of warfarin.

CONCLUSION

This finding has shown that CAM can interact with orthodox medicines hence, warfarin prescribers need to be aware of the usage of CAM and monitor the international normalized ratio (INR) of their patients more frequently.

Evaluation of maternal high-fat diet and Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside treatment on the reproductive profile of diet naïve male offspring

BACKGROUND

Male infertility and reproductive dysfunctions have become major global health problems. Although several causative factors have been attributed to this challenge, of importance are alterations in maternal-foetal environment, diet-induced transcriptional changes and dysregulation in chemical signaling via hypothalamic-gonadal axis.

AIM

The present study investigated the impact of maternal high-fat diet (HFD) consumption and the putative role of Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside on reproductive functions of male offspring rats at critical developmental stages with a quest to unravel the underpinned molecular changes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-six pregnant rats (previously fed normal diet ND) or 45% HFD) were maintained on supplemented chow (150 mg/kg QR) - ND/QR, HFD/QR throughout gestation. Subsequently, dams (n = 7) and offspring (n = 6) were sacrificed at post-natal day (PND) 21, 28 and 35, respectively, and the blood, placenta, hypothalamus (HT), and testicular samples were processed for molecular analysis of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, chemerin, chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB).

KEY FINDINGS

We observed a significant decrease in GnRH level in the HFD group at PND21 and PND28 in male offspring and treatment with QR significantly reduced GnRH. There was a significant reduction in LH levels in the HFD group at PND 21 in the male offspring accompanied by a significant decrease in testosterone level at PND 28 and PND35 which appears to be age dependent. In the HT, Chemerin and CMKLR1 was significantly upregulated in the HFD group at PND 21 and PND 35 respectively while CMKLR1 was significantly downregulated in the HFD group of the placenta and testis at PND 21. TNF-α, IL-1β and NF-κB were also expressed in the placenta, HT and testis at PND 21.

SIGNIFICANCE

Male fertility is affected by maternal HFD consumption while chemerin, CMKLR1 and TNF-α, may play a significant role in male steroidogenesis. Treatment with QR had little or no ameliorative effect on HFD induced alterations in male reproductive functions.

The impact of playing wind musical instruments on the dental arch dimensions in a male west african population

Background

Dental arch dimensions are important considerations in orthodontic treatment planning and monitoring.

Objective

This study aimed to compare the dental arch dimensions in wind and non-wind instrument players (WIP and non-WIP).

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study which compared a group of 50 male subjects aged 18-45 years that had been playing wind instruments for a minimum of 2 years with a control group matched for age in the same environment. The arch dimensions were assessed for both groups by measuring their dental casts using a digital caliper. Data was analyzed using statistical Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL) version 17. Statistical significance level was set at P < 0.05.

Results

The mean number of years of playing wind instrument among the WIP was 9.26 ± 6.21 years. All the maxillary arch dimensions were larger in the WIP group except for the palatal depth while the mandibular arch parameters in the non-WIP group were larger than the WIP group except the mandibular arch length. The differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The mean maxillary inter-canine width (37.48 ± 1.12 mm), inter-molar width (57.27 ± 1.99 mm), arch length (29.80 ± 2.2.09 mm), and palatal depth (22.21 ± 2.33 mm) for class B instrument (Saxophone and clarinet) players were larger than either the class A instrument (Trumpet and trombone) players or the non-WIP group. These differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Playing a wind instrument as well as the type of instrument played, duration, and frequency of play did not significantly affect dental arch dimensions.

Variation of Permanent Teeth Crowns in Three Nigerian Ethnic Populations

BACKGROUND

Tooth variation within populations is important for anthropologists and dentists. The objective was to compare crown dimensions among three Nigerian ethnic populations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An electronic caliper was used to measure mesiodistal and buccolingual tooth width of maxillary and mandibular permanent teeth except third molars from study casts of 132 Nigerian subjects with a mean age of 19.03 ± 4.27 years. The Hausa sample was 50 (37.9%) subjects (25 males and 25 females); the Yoruba population was 50 (37.9%) subjects (15 males and 35 females) and the Igbo sample was 32 (24.2%) subjects (16 males and 16 females). Single teeth and sums of groups of teeth were compared between males and females within and among the three populations using analysis of variance.

RESULTS

The findings indicated that (1) differences between antimeres are of small magnitude and of no statistical significance; (2) Significant gender differences in tooth dimension was observed with Yoruba and Hausa males having significantly larger teeth but a significant gender difference was only observed for mesiodistal width of the maxillary second molars in the Igbo population; (3) there is a greater similarity among Yoruba and Igbo subjects with differences from their Hausa counterparts with a magnitude considered statistically and clinically significant.

CONCLUSION

The crown dimensions of Hausa males and females were significantly smaller than their Yoruba and Igbo counterparts. There were similarities in crown dimensions between Yoruba males and females and their Igbo counterparts. Sexual dimorphism of crown size was observed in the three ethnic groups.

Relationship between Playing of Wind Musical Instruments and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders in a Male Nigerian Adult Population

BACKGROUND

Concern over the impact of playing wind instruments on the stomatognathic system has increased in the last few decades with many health practitioners attending to an increasing number of musical instrument players.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the effects of playing wind musical instruments on the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) of male Nigerian adults.

METHODS

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study which was conducted in the Dental clinic of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Fifty male Wind Instrument Players (WIPs) were recruited for the study and compared with fifty non-Wind Instrument Players (non-WIPs) of the same age, gender and environment. The temporomandibular dysfunction was assessed in both groups using Helkimo index. Reliability test demonstrated an excellent intra-rater correlation (Cronbach's Alpha; 0.98). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 17 and statistical significance set at p<0.05.

RESULTS

The majority of participants in the WIP group (32, 64%) had mild to severe anamnestic dysfunction score compared with (20, 40.0%) in the non-WIP group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). The class of instruments played, number of years and frequency of play had a significant negative impact on the anamnestic dysfunction of the TMJ with statistically significant difference (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences in clinical dysfunction scores were observed in the two groups (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Playing wind instruments including the class of instrument, number of years and frequency of playing affected the TMJ function, especially anamnesis. Clinical dysfunction was not affected by playing wind instruments.

Prevalence of Malocclusion in Children between the Age of 10-15 Years in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE

Malocclusion has previously been reported by some Nigerian authors with different prevalence values, but not one can be found about population from Calabar area of the country. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malocclusion amongst school children who are between the ages of 10-15 years in Calabar metropolis.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among school children aged 10-15 years in four secondary schools in Calabar metropolis, Cross River state, Nigeria. A total of 437 children satisfied the inclusion criteria. They were examined and their occlusal variations such as crossbite, open bite, deep bite, scissors bite, spacing/midline diastema, and molar relationship were recorded. Data was tabulated and analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Analysis of Variance.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the overall prevalence of malocclusion was 65%. A total of 84.4% of the children had Angle's class I malocclusion, classes II and III malocclusions were observed in 11.5% and 4.1% of the children respectively; 16.5% showed deep bite, 5.0% had reduced overbite and 7.6% had anterior open bite. About 5.5% (five point five percent) had anterior crossbite, while 3.7% (three point seven percent) had posterior crossbite, 0.5% (zero point five percent) had scissors bite; generalized spacing was observed in 7.4%, (seven point four), while 32.7%, (thirty two point seven percent) had upper and lower midline diastema and 14.2% had crowding. There was no significant difference in gender distributions of malocclusions in this population.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed a high prevalence of malocclusion in Calabar with a significant percentage of them showing class I malocclusion.