Automated Teller Machines (ATM) are visited everyday by millions of people. This machine is accessible to the general public irrespective of class, age or race. The contact point of all ATM machines is the hand which on their own are ‘vaults’ of microorganisms. An elaborate survey was taken for complete assessment of possible microbial contamination in the Federal Polytechnic Ede campus. Selected ATM machines on campus were used as case study to characterize, identify and determine the degree of bacterial contamination of microorganisms and their potential as reservoir of microbes. Swabs were collected from each ATM screen, buttons, floor, user’s hand, and exposure of plates. After collection of the samples, they were plated in nutrient agar. The results showed the presence of increased bacterial count subsequently, most pathogens on characterization revealed the genus of the particular organisms E. coli, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, Micrococcus, Salmonella and Serratia. The study showed the potential hazard inherent in ATM machine usage and draws attention to our level of hand hygiene compliance.

This study was done to determine the level of iron in selected indigenous vegetables (grown in Ede, Osun State, Nigeria) using colorimetric method. The six indigenous and  three common ones selected for the study are; Basella alba (Amunututu), Ocimum gratissium (Efirin), Talinum fruticosum (Gbure), Amaranthus hybridus (Tete adayeba), Amaranthus hybridus (Tete olowojeja), Corchorus olitorius (Ewedu), Telfairia occidentalis (Ugwu), Celosia argentea (Soko) and finally Amaranthus hybridus (Tete). The vegetables were ashed and iron content of the vegetables was determined colorimetrically at 470 nm. The results showed that, amongst the indigenous vegetables the iron concentration ranged from 0.094 to 0.66 ppm with Amaranthus hybridus (Tete adayeba) and the Basella alba (Amunututu) recording the highest and lowest levels respectively. The common vegetables had iron levels ranging from 0.0304 to 0.703 ppm with Amaranthus hybridus (Tete) recording the lowest level and Telfairia occidentalis (Ugwu) recording the highest level respectively. The findings showed that the sampled indigenous vegetables are a good source of iron in diet.

Animal model development of alcohol administration in rats is of crucial importance as it gives indirect information to effects of alcohol in humans. An indirect assessment of this would be the biochemical and histological data that could arise from such experiments. 20 Male Wistar rats weighing (63.50±3.79 g), were divided into four groups (consisting 15 treated animals and 5 control animals) and administered with varying concentrations of ethanol (5% 15% and 40%) via intragastric intubation for a period of 28 days. Probic evaluations, liver biochemical enzymes and alteration in histology profile of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and viscera organs (namely the liver, kidney, heart and lungs) were determined after experimental duration. At 40% ethanol administration, the rats showed biochemically significant decrease in serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), serum aspartate (AST) and Alanine amino transferase (ALT) when compared to normal study while 5% and 15% ethanol administered rats were comparable with control values i.e. normal study. Probic evaluations such as body weight, water intake and food intake showed percentage decrease in 40% ethanol administrated rat when compared with controls. The photomicrographs of the 5% and 15% ethanol administered rats indicated mild damage in their histological profiles when compared to the normal study while there was more adverse damage occurring in the 40% ethanol administrated rats. Conclusion: From this study, serum aspartate (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and Alanine amino transferase (ALT), probic evaluation (body weight, food intake and water intake) coupled with histopathological investigation may be used as biomarker for the early diagnosis of ethanol toxicity in human beings.

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