Public perception of deceased organ donation in Trinidad

Objective: To investigate person's knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) toward Deceased Organ Donation (DOD) in Trinidad. Design and Methodology: A cross-sectional study of patients attending four randomly selected health centres in Trinidad was conducted using a using quota sampling, to obtain equal numbers of males and females. Data was collected using a 41-item questionnaire, which was structured to test knowledge, attitude and practices. Chis-sq analysis was conducted using SPSS Version-23. Results: 273 respondents completed the questionnaire; 50.5% females; mean age 39.5 (SD15.1) years; 50.2% Indo-Caribbean and 24.5% African, 47.8% completed secondary education; and majority Christian (48.4%) or Hindu (31.5%). 81.3% had heard of the term organ donation". Respondents believed the most frequently reported organs for deceased organ transplant in Trinidad were kidney (76.1%), heart (48.2%) and liver (33.3%). When asked about their attitudes toward DOD, 52.3% of the respondents stated that they would donate their organs, 79% had not heard about the National Organ Transplant Unit (NOTU) and no respondent reported ever donating an organ, nor enquired about donor cards (80%), nor heard about support groups (68%). Conclusion: Most participants, though knowledgeable on the term DOD, were not familiar with the practice nor the major organ donation groups in Trinidad such as NOTU and the Kidney Recipients Support Group. However, participants were positive toward DOD, thus, raising greater awareness can lead to major cost-benefits for the public health system.

In vitro effects of garlic (allium sativum l.) And african basil (ocimum gratissimum l.) On pathogens isolated from rotted cassava roots / Efectos in vitro del ajo (Allium Sativum L.) Y Albahaca africana (Ocimum Gratissimum L.) Sobre patógenos aislados de raíces de yuca podrida / Efeitos in vitro do alho (Allium Sativum l.) E Alfavaca-Cravo (Ocimum Gratissimum L.) Sobre patógenos isolados de raízes de mandioca podre

Six fungal pathogens causing rot in post-harvest cassava tuberous roots were investigated in vitro for the study of the fungi toxic effects of Allium sativum (L) and Ocimum gratissimum (L.) using aqueous extraction methods. Fungi were isolated by cutting rotted tissue at the interface between healthy and infected portions of the root. Pathogenicity tests revealed that Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Macrophomina phaseolina, Penicillium oxalicum and Aspergillus niger induced rot in healthy cassava tubers after 8 days of re-inoculation, with P. oxalicum as the most virulent. Four different extract concentrations were obtained from each plant part by blending 25, 50, 75 and 100g in 100ml of sterile distilled water (SDW).The fungi toxic effect of the extracts showed that A. sativum had effective inhibition (25.2-86.9%) on mycelial growth of all tested fungi, while extracts of O. gratissimum showed slight to moderately effective inhibition (0.9 to 64.5%) on mycelial growth of all fungi, with the exception of B. theobromae and M. phaseolina, which showed the lowest percentage of inhibition with both plant extracts. The most toxic effect of the extracts was observed with A. sativum at 10%, with significant (P<0.01) inhibition on all fungi tested. The study showed the potential of crude extracts of A. sativum and O. gratissimum on fungal pathogens affecting cassava. This potential of the crude extract of these plants provides an alternative to farmers to reduce and control cassava rot, since they are inexpensive, non-phytotoxic and easy to prepare.

Seis hongos patógenos causantes de pudrición post-cosecha en raíces de yuca fueron investigados in vitro para estudiar los efectos funguitóxicos de Allium sativum (L) y Ocimum gratissimum (L) utilizando métodos de extracción acuosa. Los hongos fueron aislados cortando tejido enfermo en la interfase entre las partes sana e infectada de la raíz. Pruebas de patogenicidad mostraron que Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Macrophomina phaseolina, Penicillium oxalicum y Aspergillus niger inducen pudrición en tubérculos sanos de yuca tras 8 días de reinoculación, siendo P. oxalicum el más virulento. Cuatro concentraciones de extracto fueron obtenidas de cada planta mezclando 25, 50, 75 o 100g con 100ml de agua destilada estéril. El efecto funguitóxico de los extractos mostró que A. sativum produjo una inhibición efectiva (25,2-56,9%) del crecimiento micelial de todos los hongos ensayados, mientras que los extractos de O. gratissimum mostraron débil a moderadamente efectiva inhibición (0,9 a 64,5%) del crecimiento micelial de todos los hongos con excepción de B. theobromae y M. phaseolina, que mostraron el menor porcentaje de inhibición con ambos extractos. El efecto más tóxico de los extractos fue observado con 10% A. sativum, con inhibición significativa (P<0,01) sobre todos los hongos estudiados. El ensayo mostró el potencial de extractos crudos de A. sativum y O. gratissimum sobre hongos patógenos que afectan la yuca. Este potencial del extracto crudo de estas plantas provee una alternativa a los campesinos para el control y reducción de la pudrición de la yuca, por ser económicos, no fitotóxicos y fácil de preparar.

Seis fungos patógenos causantes de apodrecimento pos-colheita em raízes de mandioca foram investigados in vitro para estudar os efeitos fungitóxicos de Allium sativum (L) e Ocimum gratissimum (L) utilizando métodos de extração aquosa. Os fungos foram isolados cortando tecido doente na interfase entre as partes sadias e infetadas da raíz. Provas de patogenicidade mostraram que Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Macrophomina phaseolina, Penicillium oxalicum e Aspergillus niger induzem apodrecimento em tubérculos sadios de mandioca depois de 8 dias de reinoculação, sendo P. oxalicum o mais virulento. Quatro concentrações de extrato foram obtidas de cada planta misturando 25, 50, 75 ou 100g con 100ml de água destilada estéril. O efeito fungitóxico dos extratos mostrou que A. sativum produziu uma inibição efetiva (25,2-56,9%) do crescimento micelial de todos os fungos ensaiados, enquanto que os extratos de O. gratissimum mostraram fraca a moderadamente efetiva inibição (0,9 a 64,5%) do crescimento micelial de todos os fungos com exceção de B. theobromae e M. phaseolina, que mostraram a menor porcentagem de inibição com ambos extratos. O efeito mais tóxico dos extratos foi observado com 10% A. sativum, com inibição significativa (P<0,01) sobre todos os fungos estudados. O ensaio mostrou o potencial de extratos crus de A. sativum e O. gratissimum sobre fungos patógenos que afetam a mandioca. Este potencial do extrato cru destas plantas provê uma alternativa aos camponeses para o controle e redução do apodrecimento da mandioca, por ser econômicos, não fitotóxicos e fácil de preparar.