Anti hyperglycemic activities of Annona muricata (Linn)

This study was designed to determine the effects of methanolic extracts of Annona muricata (Linn) on the blood glucose level of streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups (A, B and C) of ten rats each. Group A was the control, Group B was untreated hyperglycemic group and group C was A. muricata-treated group. Hyperglycemia was induced in groups B and C by a single intraperitoneal injection of 80mg/kg streptozotocin dissolved in 0.1M citrate buffer. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with equivalent volume of citrate buffer and all the animals were monitored for four weeks. Daily intra peritoneal injection of 100mg/kg A. muricata was administered to group C rats for two weeks and the animals were monitored for another two weeks. The data obtained were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The result showed a mean body weight of 206 + 7.74g, 173.29+5.13g and 197 + 5.62g respectively for the control, untreated diabetic and A. muricata-treated diabetic group, and a mean blood glucose concentration of 3.78 + 0.190 mmol/L, 21.64 + 2.229mmol/L and 4.22 + 0.151mmol/L for the control, untreated diabetic and treated diabetic groups respectively. A significant difference exists between the blood glucose concentrations of treated and untreated hyperglycemic groups of rats. The result of this study demonstrated that A. muricata possesses anti-hyperglycemic activities.Key words: Annona muricata, Diabetes mellitus, Streptozotocin, Blood glucose level, hyperglycemi

Microanatomy and histomorphometry analysis of the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on lead-induced kidney damage in adult wistar rats

This study evaluated the effects of lead exposure on the histoarchitecture of kidney, assessed the effects of lead on the levels of creatinine, urea and albumin in the plasma and determined the effects of M. oleifera leaf extract (MOLE) on the histoarchitecture of kidney in Wistar rats after lead-induced kidney damage. This was with a view to providing information on the ameliorative effects of M. oleifera leaf extract on lead-induced kidney damage. Thirty adult male Wistar rats weighing 120 - 180 g were used for this study. Kidney damage was experimentally induced by daily administration of lead acetate (50 mg/kg/day) for a period of 14 days. The test groups were treated with the M. oleifera leaf extract (100 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. At the end of treatment period, the rats were sacrificed and their kidneys were excised for histological and histomorphometric studies. Markers of renal function were biochemically determined in the plasma using enzyme calorimetric assay kit. Histomorphological examinations of the stained kidney sections revealed that 100 mg/kg of MOLE had no adverse effects on the kidney of group C rats as the morphology of kidney of the rats in this group were normal and comparable with that of groups A and B. However, deleterious effects such as distortion of Bowman’s capsule with diminished glomerular space, structural alteration of proximal and distal convoluted tubules were observed in the kidney of group D rats following lead-induced damage. Treatment with MOLE protected the kidneys of groups E and F rats from lead-induced damage as the renal morphology appeared normal. The results of biochemical analysis revealed a significant increase in the plasma level of urea (F=203.9, p = 0.0001), and creatinine (F= 7.42, p = 0.0002), in group D rats (56.79 ± 0.06 g/l, 2.91 ± 0.07 mg/dl), respectively compared with groups A (14.02±1.53 g/l, 2.33 ± 0.06 mg/dl), B (50.44±1.75 g/l, 2.54 ± 0.06 mg/dl), C (58.91±2.95 g/ l, 2.42 ± 0.11 mg/dl), E (12.18±1.45 g/l, 2.45 ± 0.08 mg/dl) and F (7.48±1.00 g/l, 2.39 ± 0.08 mg/dl) respectively. This is an indication of impaired renal function. Also, the results of the histomorphometry analysis showed a significant decrease in the number of glomeruli present in each photomicrograph and the diameter of the urinary space in group D respectively compared with groups A, B, C, E and F. This study showed that treatment with Moringa oleifera prevented the toxicity brought about by lead exposure and this is evidenced by an enhancement in the glomerular morphology and clearly seen renal tubules. In conclusion, our findings suggest that Moringa oleifera leaf extract had ameliorative and protective properties on lead-induced kidney injury.Keywords: Nephrotoxicity, lead acetate, renal, prophylactic

Histological and biochemical effects of Arteethertm on the liver of wistar rats

ArteetherTM is among the recent drugs that are used to combat chloroquine-resistant malarial parasites. This study examined the effects of arteetherTM on enzyme biomarkers of the liver, serum protein concentrations, and liver morphology. Twenty (20) adult albino Wistar rats weighing 200 – 250 g were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of five animals each, and used in this study. Group A rats were given intramuscular (i. m.) arteetherTM (3 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days.Group B rats received i. m. arteetherTM (6 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days. Group C rats were given i. m. arteetherTM (3 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days. The same dose was repeated at two-weekly intervals for 4 further weeks, while group D rats which received normal saline (0.9 % w/ v, 3 ml/kg b.w.), served as controls. At the end of the experiment, the body weights of the animals were determined and recorded. Serum levels of alanine  transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (ASP), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), total protein (TP) and albumin were assayed, and histological studies were performed. Results obtained show no significant difference (P<0.05) in liver enzymes (ALT, ASP, ALP). TP and albumin were significantly reduced in group C rats. Histological studies revealed no cyto-architectural changes. It is concluded that at therapeutic doses, arteetherTM is well tolerated in Wistar rats. .Key Words: ArteetherTM; Malaria; Liver enzymes; Serum protein concentrations; Morphology; Wistar rat

Obstetric and newborn outcomes and risk factors for low birth weight and preterm delivery among HIV-infected pregnant women at the university college hospital Ibadan

There remains uncertainty about the impact of HIV on pregnancy outcomes and effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy on fetal development. This study describes obstetric outcomes among HIV positive parturients at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. HIV positive parturients were identified in the birth register. During the 30-month period, 318 of 6203 deliveries were HIV positive (5.1%) with 97.6% record retrieval. The mean age of the HIV positive parturients was 31.66 years (± 4.66); the mean gestational age at delivery was 38.02 weeks (± 2.75) and the mean birth weight 2.85kg (±0.59). There were 35.8% (109) preterm births, 2.9% stillbirths and 21.5% low birth weights. The regimen most commonly (198, 64.5%) used was a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (NNRTI) based HAART. Preterm births were similar following spontaneous vaginal delivery (31.5%) and elective section (31%) but higher (41.3%) with emergency section (ñ=0.4).On univariate analysis, the preterm infants had lower mean birth weights (2.46±0.61 vs 2.96±0.44; ñ=0.000). The proportion of preterm births was higher among Low birth weight infants (71.9% vs 28.1%; ñ=0.00). Variables with more preterm births were age >35 years (51.6%), ≤6years of schooling (51.5% vs 48.4%) and being on combination ARV (PI, 37.5% or non-PI, 36.2%). However, these differences did not attain statistical significance. Low birth weight infants had mothers who had higher mean ages (33.28 years ± 4.59 vs 31.28 years ± 4.59, ñ= 0.02), lower mean gestational age at delivery (35.72 weeks ± 3.16 vs 38.49 weeks ± 2.1, ñ= 0.00). Variables with more low birth weight include <12years of schooling and being on mono/ dual therapy (31.8%). These differences were not statistically significant. On logistic regression, factors that retained an association with low birth weight were mean maternal age at delivery (ñ= 0.002; â= 0.904; 95% CI, 0.848 – 0.966) and being on mono/ dual therapy (ñ= 0.039; â= 3.042; 95% CI, 1.055 – 8.768). The only factor that retained an association with preterm birth was mean maternal age at delivery (ñ= 0.015; â= 0.935; 95% CI, 0.886 – 0.987). HIV positive (especially older) women, have high rates of preterm deliveries and low birth weights. The beneficial effects of HAART on mother-to-child transmission are indisputable but monitoring antiretroviral therapy in pregnancy remains a priority and antenatal surveillance should include fetal growth assessment.

The prevalence of Antithyroglobulin and Antithyroid Microsomal Autoantibodies in Euthyroid Fertile and Infertile Nigerian Women with recurrent spontaneous Abortion and Unexplained Infertility

Plasma levels of antithyroglobulin {TG} and microsomal thyroid peroxidase {TPO} autoantibodies were determined using the ELISA methods, in 87 euthyroid women. These were made up of 44 control women which included 8{18%} nulligravidae, 18{41%} non pregnant multiparous and 18{41%}, pregnant subjects. The infertile groups were made up of 43 women which included 18{42%} with secondary infertility, 17{39%} recurrent spontaneous aborters {RSA} and 8{19%} unexplained {Primary} infertility subjects. The microsomal antithyroid peroxidase and the anti-thyroglobulin auto-antibodies, micro titer mean values, in the infertility subjects were 347.55 units/ml and 35.23 units/ml respectively. These values were higher compared with the micro titer mean values of the control subjects with 284.40 units/ml and 32.51 units/ml respectively. The Micro titer mean value levels of the microsomal antithyroid peroxidase auto-antibodies in the primary infertility group was 437.19 units/ml and in the secondary infertility group was 362.50 units/ml compared with the micro titer mean value of control groups of 284.40 units/ml at

Adolescent transport and unintentional injuries: a systematic analysis using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Globally, transport and unintentional injuries persist as leading preventable causes of mortality and morbidity for adolescents. We sought to report comprehensive trends in injury-related mortality and morbidity for adolescents aged 10-24 years during the past three decades. METHODS: Using the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors 2019 Study, we analysed mortality and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributed to transport and unintentional injuries for adolescents in 204 countries. Burden is reported in absolute numbers and age-standardised rates per 100 000 population by sex, age group (10-14, 15-19, and 20-24 years), and sociodemographic index (SDI) with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). We report percentage changes in deaths and DALYs between 1990 and 2019. FINDINGS: In 2019, 369 061 deaths (of which 214 337 [58%] were transport related) and 31·1 million DALYs (of which 16·2 million [52%] were transport related) among adolescents aged 10-24 years were caused by transport and unintentional injuries combined. If compared with other causes, transport and unintentional injuries combined accounted for 25% of deaths and 14% of DALYs in 2019, and showed little improvement from 1990 when such injuries accounted for 26% of adolescent deaths and 17% of adolescent DALYs. Throughout adolescence, transport and unintentional injury fatality rates increased by age group. The unintentional injury burden was higher among males than females for all injury types, except for injuries related to fire, heat, and hot substances, or to adverse effects of medical treatment. From 1990 to 2019, global mortality rates declined by 34·4% (from 17·5 to 11·5 per 100 000) for transport injuries, and by 47·7% (from 15·9 to 8·3 per 100 000) for unintentional injuries. However, in low-SDI nations the absolute number of deaths increased (by 80·5% to 42 774 for transport injuries and by 39·4% to 31 961 for unintentional injuries). In the high-SDI quintile in 2010-19, the rate per 100 000 of transport injury DALYs was reduced by 16·7%, from 838 in 2010 to 699 in 2019. This was a substantially slower pace of reduction compared with the 48·5% reduction between 1990 and 2010, from 1626 per 100 000 in 1990 to 838 per 100 000 in 2010. Between 2010 and 2019, the rate of unintentional injury DALYs per 100 000 also remained largely unchanged in high-SDI countries (555 in 2010 vs 554 in 2019; 0·2% reduction). The number and rate of adolescent deaths and DALYs owing to environmental heat and cold exposure increased for the high-SDI quintile during 2010-19. INTERPRETATION: As other causes of mortality are addressed, inadequate progress in reducing transport and unintentional injury mortality as a proportion of adolescent deaths becomes apparent. The relative shift in the burden of injury from high-SDI countries to low and low-middle-SDI countries necessitates focused action, including global donor, government, and industry investment in injury prevention. The persisting burden of DALYs related to transport and unintentional injuries indicates a need to prioritise innovative measures for the primary prevention of adolescent injury. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation