Serum total protein, albumin and globulin levels in Trypanosoma brucei-infected rabbits: Effect of orally administered Scoparia dulcis

The effect of orally administered Scoparia dulcis on Trypanosoma brucei-induced changes in serum total protein, albumin and globulin were investigated in rabbits over a period of twenty eight days. Results obtained show that infection resulted in hyperproteinaemia, hyperglobulinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia. However these lesions were less severe (p<0.05) in the infected and treated group relative to their untreated counterparts. We speculate that the herb may be involved in modulating the severity of these trypanosome associated lesions by some yet undefined mechanisms

Implications of oral administration of extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana leaves on serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine in normal experimental rabbits

The leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana are eaten as vegetables as part of the traditional management of hypertension in Nigeria. This study was therefore conducted to evaluate the implications of oral administration of extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana leaves, on serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine, in normal experimental rabbits. A total of eighteen (18) rabbits were randomized into three groups (A, B and C) of six animals each and treated with aqueous (A) and ethanol (B) extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana leaves. The extracts were administered orally at a dose of 300mg/kg body weight for a period of twenty one (21) days. Group C animals served as control. Administration of the aqueous or ethanol extract, at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight, to normal rabbits resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) lower serum creatinine. Treatment with the aqueous or ethanol extract also resulted in a non-significantly (P > 0.05) lower serum urea, chloride, sodium and potassium, as compared with the control, in normal rabbits. Also, treatment with the aqueous extract resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) higher, while administration of the ethanol extract resulted in lower (P > 0.05) serum calcium levels of the normal rabbits, as compared with the control.Keywords: Acalypha wilkesiana, Ethanol extract, Aqueous extract, Electrolytes, Urea, Normal Rabbit

Prevention of Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatic Steatosis and Cellular Damage by Aqueous Extract of Dacryodes edulis Seeds in Wistar Rats

The protective effect of the aqueous extract of Dacryodes edulis seeds on the liver of rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride was investigated. Thirty female albino rats of Wistar strain were randomly allocated to six groups consisting of five rats each. Group A served as control. Groups B-D were given increasing oral doses (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight respectively) of Dacryodes edulis extract daily for two weeks prior to the administration of a single dose of CCl4 (3 ml/kg body weight) on the fourteenth day. Group E was given only Dacryodes edulis extract (1000 mg/kg body weight) daily for two weeks, while group F received only a single dose of CCl4 on day 14. The extract was found to possess hepatoprotective properties as seen in the significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the activities of the enzymes alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase in the plasma of the animals treated with the plant extract when compared to the group administered CCl4 only. The extract also inhibited cholesterol and triacylglycerol accumulation in the liver. The hepatoprotective properties of Dacryodes edulis observed in this study may be related to its high content of antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids and alkaloids previously reported. The study represents a novel attempt at exploring the medicinal potential of the seeds of D. edulis which are typically discarded after eating the fleshy pulp.Key words: Dacryodes edulis, CCl4, Triacylglycerols, Hepatotoxicity, Steatosis

Biophysical Properties of Selected Areas of Delta State and Their Suitability Assessment for Coconut, Raphia and Oil Palms Cultivation

This study was conducted to provide information on the biophysical properties and Soil Suitability Assessment (SSA) of seven (Abbi, Agbor, Asaba, Bomadi, Ughelli, Sapele and Warri) locations in Delta state, Nigeria. Composite top and subsurface soil samples were obtained from 0-45 cm and 45-90 cm depths, air dried, sieved through a 2 mm sieve and analyzed for physical and chemical properties using standard laboratory methods. Mean values of the physical and chemical properties of the seven locations were compared and marched with the guidelines provided by FAO framework for rainfed agricultural crops and manual for land suitability evaluation of agricultural crops. The suitability class (aggregate suitability) was determined by most limiting characteristics of that parameter. Results indicated that three (3) out of the seven locations of Delta state are not suitable (N) for the cultivation of Oil palm with limitation being the sandy texture of sub soils. The locations are all however suitable for the cultivation of Coconut and Raphia palms. On aggregate basis, the locations are classified as N (not suitable) for the cultivation of the palms with limitation being the fertility status of the soils but can be corrected. Fertility measures to improve the soils of these locations in Delta state for the cultivation of these economic palms have been suggested. Keywords: Biophysical properties, Coconut Palm, Oil Palm, Raphia palm, Soil Suitability Assessment (SSA).

Implications of oral administration of extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana leaves on serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine in normal experimental rabbits

The leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana are eaten as vegetables as part of the traditional management of hypertension in Nigeria. This study was therefore conducted to evaluate the implications of oral administration of extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana leaves, on serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine, in normal experimental rabbits. A total of eighteen (18) rabbits were randomized into three groups (A, B and C) of six animals each and treated with aqueous (A) and ethanol (B) extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana leaves. The extracts were administered orally at a dose of 300mg/kg body weight for a period of twenty-one (21) days. Group C animals served as control. Administration of the aqueous or ethanol extract, at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight, to normal rabbits resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) lower serum creatinine. Treatment with the aqueous or ethanol extract also resulted in a non-significantly (P > 0.05) lower serum urea, chloride, sodium and potassium, as compared with the control, in normal rabbits. Also, treatment with the aqueous extract resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) higher, while administration of the ethanol extract resulted in lower (P > 0.05) serum calcium levels of the normal rabbits, as compared with the control

Manpower capacity and reasons for staff shortage in primary health care maternity centres in Nigeria: A mixed-methods study

The heart-breaking maternal and neonatal health indicators in Nigeria are not improving despite previous interventions, such as ‘Health for all’ and ‘Millennium Development Goals. The unattained health-related goals/targets of previous interventions put the success of the new Sustainable Development Goals in doubt if the existing paradigm remains unchanged. Thus, mere branding of health policies without improving what constitutes the health system such as manpower capacity and quality as well as staff-patients ratio will be wasteful efforts. This issue of global public health concern provided an indication for describing the capacity of manpower and reasons for staff shortage in primary level of health that are providing maternity services to women and their new-borns in Nigeria

Which method is best for the induction of labour?: A systematic review, network meta-analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis

Background: More than 150,000 pregnant women in England and Wales have their labour induced each year. Multiple pharmacological, mechanical and complementary methods are available to induce labour. Objective: To assess the relative effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of labour induction methods and, data permitting, effects in different clinical subgroups. Methods: We carried out a systematic review using Cochrane methods. The Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group’s Trials Register was searched (March 2014). This contains over 22,000 reports of controlled trials (published from 1923 onwards) retrieved from weekly searches of OVID MEDLINE (1966 to current); Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library); EMBASE (1982 to current); Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (1984 to current); ClinicalTrials.gov; the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Portal; and hand-searching of relevant conference proceedings and journals. We included randomised controlled trials examining interventions to induce labour compared with placebo, no treatment or other interventions in women eligible for third-trimester induction. We included outcomes relating to efficacy, safety and acceptability to women. In addition, for the economic analysis we searched the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, and Economic Evaluations Databases, NHS Economic Evaluation Database and the Health Technology Assessment database. We carried out a network meta-analysis (NMA) using all of the available evidence, both direct and indirect, to produce estimates of the relative effects of each treatment compared with others in a network. We developed a de novo decision tree model to estimate the cost-effectiveness of various methods. The costs included were the intervention and other hospital costs incurred (price year 2012–13). We reviewed the literature to identify preference-based utilities for the health-related outcomes in the model. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios, expected costs, utilities and net benefit. We represent uncertainty in the optimal intervention using cost-effectiveness acceptability curves. Results: We identified 1190 studies; 611 were eligible for inclusion. The interventions most likely to achieve vaginal delivery (VD) within 24 hours were intravenous oxytocin with amniotomy [posterior rank 2; 95% credible intervals (CrIs) 1 to 9] and higher-dose (≥ 50 μg) vaginal misoprostol (rank 3; 95% CrI 1 to 6). Compared with placebo, several treatments reduced the odds of caesarean section, but we observed considerable uncertainty in treatment rankings. For uterine hyperstimulation, double-balloon catheter had the highest probability of being among the best three treatments, whereas vaginal misoprostol (≥ 50 μg) was most likely to increase the odds of excessive uterine activity. For other safety outcomes there were insufficient data or there was too much uncertainty to identify which treatments performed ‘best’. Few studies collected information on women’s views. Owing to incomplete reporting of the VD within 24 hours outcome, the cost-effectiveness analysis could compare only 20 interventions. The analysis suggested that most interventions have similar utility and differ mainly in cost. With a caveat of considerable uncertainty, titrated (low-dose) misoprostol solution and buccal/sublingual misoprostol had the highest likelihood of being cost-effective. Limitations: There was considerable uncertainty in findings and there were insufficient data for some planned subgroup analyses. Conclusions: Overall, misoprostol and oxytocin with amniotomy (for women with favourable cervix) is more successful than other agents in achieving VD within 24 hours. The ranking according to safety of different methods was less clear. The cost-effectiveness analysis suggested that titrated (low-dose) oral misoprostol solution resulted in the highest utility, whereas buccal/sublingual misoprostol had the lowest cost. There was a high degree of uncertainty as to the most cost-effective intervention

Gamete donation: Knowledge, attitude and perception of infertile couple in a public hospital in Nigeria

Aim: To assess the knowledge and attitude of infertile couples towards gamete donation.Method: A descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted at the Human Reproduction Research Programme/Invitro Fertilization Clinic, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). Infertile couples on followed up at thegynaecologic clinic of the Hospital had orally administered questionnaire by one of the authors. The questionnaire included questions on their biodata, awareness of ART and knowledge and perception of gamete donation. Thestudy involved the female and male partners and findings were compared.Result: A total of 114 females and 39 males participated in this study. Awareness of gamete donation was more amongst female respondents (67.5%) compared to the male respondents (53.8%). Majority of female respondents were willing to receive and donate gametes (62.3% and 85.1%). In contrast most male respondents were averred towards receiving donated gametes (59%). Overall, majority of study participants' wanted anonymity of donor and recipient. However in contrast to the male respondents, a significant majority (60.5%) of female respondentswould like to know the physical attributes of the donor. The older females accepted treatment with gamete donation more than the younger ones.Conclusion: Awareness of gamete donation as treatment option for infertile couples is fairly high in our setting. However, acceptance of gamete donation may be influenced by age, religion and concerns of anonymity and disclosure. Public enlightenment programme to educate and correct false perceptions about gamete donation is desirable to address these concerns. Running head: gamete donation; developing nationKeywords: Gamete Donation, Awareness, Perception, Infertility, IVF, AR

Increases In Plasma Urea And Creatinine In Experimental Trypanosoma Brucei Infection Is Influenced By Scoparia Dulcis

Alterations in both plasma urea and creatinine levels were monitored over a period of twenty eight (28) days in experimentally infected rabbits. A total of 15 animals were randomly divided into three groups of n=5. The groups were control (group I), infected and treated (group II) and infected but untreated (group III) Administration of Scoparia dulcis at a daily oral dose of 25mg/kg body weight resulted in significant reduction (

The Effect of Female Age on the Outcome of Intrauterine Insemination Treatment in a Public Hospital‑Assisted Reproduction Technology Unit

Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of female age on the outcome of ovarian stimulation (OS) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment. Methodology: This was a 36 months’ retrospective analysis of all IUI treatment cycles with prior OS. Based on the age of the women, 4 groups were identified for comparative analysis, namely women below 30 years, between 30 and 34; 35–39 years, and women aged 40 years and beyond. Results: Two hundred and seventeen IUI procedures were conducted during the study and 39 had a positive pregnancy test outcome (a pregnancy rate of 18%). Majority of the women were 35–39 years (41.5%), while 12% were 40 years and above. The pattern showed that the pregnancy rate was highest in the younger age group who were below 30 years, 6/18 (33.3%) and 30–34 years, 19/83 (22.9%) compared with women 35–39 years, 12/90 (13.3%) and ≥40 years, 2/26 (7.7%). The difference in the linear association of each age class compared to the next was significant (P = 0.06 and P = 0.007, respectively). The trend revealed that baseline follicle stimulating hormone increased with age and the youngest age group required significantly fewer units of human menopausal gonadotropin to achieve adequate response to OS compared to the oldest age group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Advanced age negatively affects OS and IUI outcome. Treatment is associated with better pregnancy outcome in women under 35 years compared to women who were 40 years and beyond. This fact should be clearly emphasized at counseling of the 40‑year‑old that may opt for IUI treatment.Keywords: Age, assisted reproduction, infertility, intrauterine insemination, ovarian stimulatio