Amelioration of lead induced changes in the testes of sprague-dawley rats, by methanol extract of Telfaria occidentalis

The prevalence of infertility due to industrial, environmental and pharmaceutical toxins induced by lead in Nigeria and in developing countries is alarming. The use of medicinal plants as fertility enhancer in human is now in the increase because of the shifting of attention from synthetic drugs to natural plants. Thus, this study investigated the effect of methanolic extract of Telfairia occidentalis on (Pb) lead-induced testicular damage in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Twenty-four (24) Sprague dawley (SD) rats with average weight of 130g were randomly divided into four groups of six animals each. Group A served as the control group administered normal saline. Group B received 75mg/kg body weight of lead (Pb) as Lead nitrate only. Group C received 75mg/kg body weight of lead (Pb) and 300mg/kg body weight of methanolic extract of Telfairia Occidentalis, while Group D receive 300mg/kg body weight of methanolic extract of Telfairia Occidentalis only. Administration was via oral canula and the animals were sacrificed on 15th day. Blood samples were obtained via the left ocular sinus for haematological and hormonal studies while the testes and epididymis were removed and fixed in Bouin’s fluid for histological analysis. Administration of Telfairia Occidentalis improves testicular testosterone and PCV levels and also restored the histoarchitecture of the testes in SD rats. It is therefore suggested that the antioxidant potential of this wonder plant may have beneficial effects in treating male factor infertility as shown in this present study.Keywords: Male infertility, Telfairia occidentalis, Lead (Pb), Antioxidant

Plastination: a novel approach to cadavar scarcity in Nigeria

Cadaveric dissection has always been an integral part of medical education being used for teaching Anatomy, Surgery, Pathology, Radiology, Medical and Biomedical Research in Nigeria higher institutions of learning. However, it is undeniable that Nigeria Universities had been facing a lot of challenges in acquiring cadavers. In view of this scarcity of bodies, organs and tissues for studies, teaching and research, newer techniques of preserving biological tissues for long duration such as plastination is important. Thus, this review elaborates and identifies problems in cadaver acquisition in Nigeria, suggests better preservative technique of cadaver and identifies possible limitations to the practice of the suggested technique and proper possible solutions to the limitations.Keywords: Plastination, Cadaver, Anatomy, Preservativ

Assessment of fishing gear and crafts utilized by fishermen in Eleyele Lake, Ibadan, Oyo State

The study was conducted to assess the evolution of fishing gears and crafts utilized by fishermen in Eleyele lake reservoir in lbadan Nigeria. Data were collected from thirty fishermen using a structured questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using counts and chi-square. Majority (56.7%) of the respondents were married, more of respondents were male (56.7%). Fish and fishing gear construction activities in the study area is dominated by youth. More of the respondents were Christians and few were Muslims (36.7%). There was significant relationship between the type of fishing gear use (modern and traditionl) and the time spent to catch fish as well as the quantity of fish caught. The result also revealed that traditional fishing gears such as bamboo trap, hook and line and cast net were been used by the fisher folks but were later changed to modern fishing gear. However, the effectiveness and efficiency of the modern fishing gear is being hampered by aquatic weed covering the surface of the water

Survey of the present and fast disappearing fish species along two rivers in the Niger Delta

Fisheries resources are on the decline in Nigeria due to over exploitation and inadequate management of her coastal waters. For sustainability of these resources, an adequate knowledge of species composition, diversity and relative abundance of her water bodies must be understood and vigorously pursued. A survey was conducted to determine fish species diversity in Brass and Nun River, Niger Delta, Nigeria and the socioeconomic studies carried out to determine the status of endanger or level of disappearance of fish species study area. The survey identified 53 species from 18 families caught from Brass and Nun stations respectively. The fish diversity from typically freshwater fishes such as Tilapia and Clarias to brackish species such as Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus and Penaeus species. The most abundant family within catch were the Scianidae, Cichlidae and Clariidae. A checklist of economically important fast disappearing fish species along the two water bodies was generated. Oil spillage, discharges from industries (industrialization) and the domestic wastes from boundaries settlements (urbanization) and farming activities along the tributaries were among the factors identified to have contributed to low species diversity and fast disappearance of certain species. Data generated from this study would serve as baseline information for fisheries resource management

Microbiological quality of local soymilk: A public health appraisal

The ubiquity in the hawking of locally produced soymilk, packaged in different forms, was considered a public health concern. The attendant increase in the rate of soymilk consumption has encouraged low scale production of the milk under household condition with little or no regard to quality control measures. Accordingly, branded and unbranded soymilk samples were subjected to microbiological analyses to ascertain their hygienic standard of production. The soymilk samples were found to have pH in the range of pH 7.2 to 7.5. Screening for microbial contaminants revealed generally high bacterial and fungal counts of 2.9 x 107 cells/ml. to 1.02 x 108 cells/ml. and 3.5 x 107 to 2.13 x 108 cells/ml. respectively as well as high Most Probable Number (180+) of coliform bacilli per 100ml of each sample. Regular contamination with Escherichia coli , other faecal coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus was detected in all the samples. In addition, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , other Gram-negative bacilli and streptobacilli were detected in most of the nylon packed (unbranded) samples. The fungal isolates were mainly Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp and Fusarium . The microbial population detected in terms of number and types reflected poor hygienic standard of production, constituting a public health hazard among the populace. There is a need to streamline soymilk production for proper monitoring and quality assurance

Naringen Ameliorates Cyanide-induced Testicular and Epididymal Changes in Swiss Albino Mice (Mus musculus)

Cyanide is one of the toxic, hazardous metals widely dispersed in the environment at high levels. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ameliorative role of Naringenin on male reproductive parameters in cyanide exposed mice.A total number of 28 Albino mice were divided into four groups, each group comprises of 7 mice (n= 7). The animals were housed in a well-lighted and ventilated plastic cages at a controlled temperature with 12h light/dark cycle maintained throughout the experimental period. All the Mice were acclimatized for 2 weeks before commencement of the study. Group 1 were control mice, group 2 received cyanide (1.2mg/kg bw) only, group 3 received Cyanide (1.2mg/kg bw) and Naringenin (50mg/kg bw) daily and group 4 received a daily administration of Naringenin (50mg/kg bw). All the treatments were done at 7:00 am every morning and the experiment lasted for 14 days. Twenty-four hours after 14th day of treatment, animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Blood samples were collected via Ocular sinus into lithium-heparin bottles for haematological and hormonal assay. The right testis was excised and quickly placed in Bouin's fluid and processed for histological examination while the left testis was placed in sucrose and processed for antioxidant assay.Results from this study showed significant reduction in serum testosterone levels, oxidative damage, reduced packed cell volume (PVC), reduced body weight gain and degenerative testicular microarchitecture in mice exposed to cyanide compared to control. Administration of Naringenin  reversed almost all the abnormalities in the parameters investigated showing significant protection against cyanide induced toxicity in mice. It is concluded that Naringenin showed affordable protection against cyanide induced toxicity on male reproductive profile. Keywords: Naringenin, cyanide, oxidative damage, testis

The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator: development and validation of a tool for identifying African surgical patients at risk of severe postoperative complications

Background: The African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS) showed that surgical patients in Africa have a mortality twice the global average. Existing risk assessment tools are not valid for use in this population because the pattern of risk for poor outcomes differs from high-income countries. The objective of this study was to derive and validate a simple, preoperative risk stratification tool to identify African surgical patients at risk for in-hospital postoperative mortality and severe complications. Methods: ASOS was a 7-day prospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing surgery in Africa. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator was constructed with a multivariable logistic regression model for the outcome of in-hospital mortality and severe postoperative complications. The following preoperative risk factors were entered into the model; age, sex, smoking status, ASA physical status, preoperative chronic comorbid conditions, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. Results: The model was derived from 8799 patients from 168 African hospitals. The composite outcome of severe postoperative complications and death occurred in 423/8799 (4.8%) patients. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator includes the following risk factors: age, ASA physical status, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. The model showed good discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.805 and good calibration with c-statistic corrected for optimism of 0.784. Conclusions: This simple preoperative risk calculator could be used to identify high-risk surgical patients in African hospitals and facilitate increased postoperative surveillance. © 2018 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Medical Research Council of South Africa gran