Changes in the visceral functions of Plasmodium berghei-infected and-uninfected rats following administration of artemether.

The effects of artemether (12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg per day, i.m.), administered to different groups of Plasmodium berghei‐infected and ‐uninfected adult Wistar rats for 1 week, were investigated. The parameters evaluated were the feeding, drinking and urinating patterns of the rats and these were compared with those of rats that received normal saline. Artemether caused a significant dose‐dependent reduction in food consumption of both P. berghei‐infected and ‐uninfected rats (P < 0.05). Food intake in infected rats was reduced by approximately 7 g/24 h. This reduction in food intake was further reduced during drug treatment with artemether. Artermether also reduced food intake in uninfected rats. The food consumption of rats that received 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg artemether was restored after stopping treatment, in contrast with rats that received 50.0 mg/kg, in which the significant reduction in food consumption persisted 1 week after drug administration. During treatment with artemether, the water intake of infected rats was significantly lower than that of uninfected rats in the 12.5 mg/kg artemether‐treated group, but was significantly higher in infected rats than in uninfected rats dosed with 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg artemether. For all doses of artemether tested, a significant increase in urine output was observed in infected rats during treatment and 1 week after treatment, whereas in uninfected rats a significant increase in urine output was observed only following 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg artemether 1 week after drug administration. The present study confirms the anorexic activity of a high dose of artemether in both P. berghei‐infected and ‐uninfected rats. It also indicates that high doses of the drug could cause impaired renal function in rats and that the significant increase in urine output could also be due to other effects of artemether, namely those on thirst, anti‐diuretic hormone output and the osmotic pressure of the blood

Changes in some biochemical parameters of kidney functions of Plasmodium berghei infected rats administered with some doses of artemether

This study aimed at determining changes in urine concentrations of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) of Plasmodium berghei infected rats during a week of intramuscular administration of artemether (12.5 to 50.0 mg/kg/day) and one week thereafter. Their concentrations and that of creatinine and urea in the plasma were also determined at the end of the study. The observed changes were related to the effects of artemether on the kidneys of the rats. The urine levels of the two electrolytes decreased significantly during treatment (P< 0.05). One week post-treatment with 12.5 mg/kg of artemether, the urine concentrations of the electrolytes increased to values that were not significantly different from that of day 0. At 25 and 50 mg/kg, their urine concentrations still remained significantly lower than day 0 values (P< 0.05). Plasma concentrations of the electrolytes one week post-treatment increased, but they were only significant at 25 mg/kg for K+. A significant increase in the plasma level of creatinine was observed at all the doses of the drug at one week post-treatment. A dose-dependent degeneration of the renal tissue of all the experimental rats was also observed. We concluded that high doses of artemether caused progressive degeneration of the renal tissue of P. berghei infected rats

Effects of artemether on biochemical markers of liver function in Plasmodium berghei-infected and non-infected rats

This study aimed at determining changes in plasma activities of some enzymes and concentrations of plasma organic constituents which are often used in the assessment of liver functions in uninfected rats (UNR) and Plasmodium berghei infected rats (INR), following a week of intramuscular administration of artemether (12.5 to 50.0 mg/kg/day). The observed changes were related to the effects of artemether on the liver of the rats. At all the doses tested, the plasma concentrations of total and conjugated bilirubin increased significantly in both INR and UNR. A significant decrease in the plasma concentrations of glucose was also observed in UNR. The levels of cholesterol were significantly higher in INR than UNR. Plasma glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activity was significantly increased in both categories of rats, but more significantly in INR. The activity of plasma glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) increased significantly at 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg only in UNR, while a significant increase was observed at 50.0 mg/kg in the INR. Photomicrograph of the liver revealed progressive tissue damage which was more pronounced in INR than UNR. We concluded that high doses of artemether are toxic to the liver of both infected and uninfected rats

Effects of artemether on the plasma and urine concentrations of some electrolytes in rats

This study was carried out to determine the changes in the urine levels of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and calcium (Ca 2+) of rats during a week of intramuscular administration of artemether (12.5 to 50.0 mg/kg/day), another one week thereafter and their concentrations in the plasma at the end of the study. At 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg of artemether, urine Na+ concentration was significantly increased throughout the study (p< 0.05), except on Day 7 (at 12.5 mg/kg) and Day 11 (at 25.0 mg/kg), when it was not significantly different from the control. At 12.5 mg/kg of the drug, urine K+ concentration was significantly increased throughout the study (p< 0.05). Artemether caused no significant changes in urine Ca 2+ concentration in the control rats as well as those that received 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg of artemether. Progressive and significant reductions in the urine concentrations of all the electrolytes at 50.0 mg/kg of artemether were observed. Their concentrations in the plasma were also significantly reduced at this dose of the drug. A dose-dependent degeneration of the renal tissue of all the experimental rats was also observed. We concluded that high doses of artemether caused progressive degeneration of the renal tissue of rats, inability of the damaged kidneys to concentrate urine, which manifested as excessive water loss and electrolyte depletion

A Constrained Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Model for Upscaling Permeability

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Temiloluwa A. Onimisi would like to acknowledge Petroleum Development Trust Fund Nigeria, for funding this PhD research project. Research Funding Petroleum Development Trust Fund NigeriaPeer reviewedPublisher PD

The impact of COVID-19 on the work–life balance of working mothers: evidence from Nigerian academics

Purpose: Given the limiting gender role conditions arising from the prevalence of patriarchy in Nigeria and the shift to workers staying at home due to the deadly spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), this article aims to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work–life balance of professional mothers using the work–home resources model as a conceptual lens. Design/methodology/approach: The qualitative data is based on telephone interviews with 28 married female university academics with children. Findings: The findings reveal that the confinement policies enforced due to the need to combat the spread of COVID-19 and patriarchal norms deeply embedded in the Nigerian culture have exacerbated stress amongst women, who have needed to perform significantly more housework and childcare demands alongside working remotely than they did prior to the pandemic. The thematic analysis showed a loss of personal resources (e.g. time, energy, and income) resulting in career stagnation, health concerns, and increased male chauvinism due to the abrupt and drastic changes shaping the “new normal” lifestyle. Research limitations/implications: The study relies on a limited qualitative sample size, which makes the generalisation of findings difficult. However, the study contributes to the emerging global discourse on the profound negative consequences of COVID-19 on the lives and livelihoods of millions, with a focus on the stress and work–family challenges confronting women in a society that is not particularly egalitarian – unlike Western cultures. Originality/value: The article provides valuable insights on how the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected professional working mothers in the sub-Saharan African context, where literature is scarce

Stimulus responsive graphene scaffolds for tissue engineering

Tissue engineering (TE) is an emerging area that aims to repair damaged tissues and organs by combining different scaffold materials with living cells. Recently, scientists started to engineer a new generation of nanocomposite scaffolds able to mimic biochemical and biophysical mechanisms to modulate the cellular responses promoting the restoration of tissue structure or function. Due to its unique electrical, topographical and chemical properties, graphene is a material that holds a great potential for TE, being already considered as one of the best candidates for accelerating and guiding stem cell differentiations. Although this is a promising field there are still some challenges to overcome, such as the efficient control of the differentiation of the stem cells, especially in graphene-based microenvironments. Hence, this chapter will review the existing research related to the ability of graphene and its derivatives (graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide) to induce stem cell differentiation into diverse lineages when under the influence of electrical, mechanical, optical and topographic stimulations

Assessment of Erythrocytes as a Model for In Vitro Drug Toxicity

Mitochondria and lysosome have been used to study drug-cell interactions both in vitro and in vivo. However, their preparations to free them from other sub-cellular organelles are tedious and cumbersome. Erythrocytes (being a simple type of cells without sub-cellular organelles and very easy to obtain in pure form) was assessed for in-vitro toxicity testing of selected chemical compounds by monitoring the release of its hemoglobin content as an index of damage to cell membrane. Washed erythrocytes from male wistar rats were prepared in sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) incubated with and without acetylsalicylic acid (a membrane stabilizer) and chloroquine (a membrane labilizer). The light scattering properties of the suspensions and the hemoglobin released were determined using standard methods. Acetylsalicylic acid did not significantly alter the degree of hemolysis (P > 0.05) whereas the chloroquine alone as well as the mixture of acetylsalicylic acid and chloroquine significantly increased (P < 0.05) it. Acetylsalicylic acid stabilized the erythrocytes membrane while chloroquine destroys it causing lysis of the cell membrane. Results obtained in this study suggest that the drugs have interacted with the erythrocytes in a manner that corresponds to their mode of action. Erythrocytes can therefore be used to study interactions between drug molecules and cell membrane. Keywords: Acetylsalicylic acid; Cell membrane; Chloroquine; Erythrocytes; Hemoglobi