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

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

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

Determinants of Depression among University Students in Nigeria

الملخص: تبحث الدراسة محددات الاكتئاب بين طلاب الجامعات في نيجيريا، وقد اُستخدم المنهج الوصفي من خلال تطبيق استبيان في هذه الدراسة. شملت عيّنة الدراسة جميع طلاب الجامعات في نيجيريا، وتكونت عينة الدراسة من 1050 طالبًا جامعيًا. قام الباحثون بإعداد استبانة خاصة للدراسة، باستخدام نمط الاستجابات المغلقة. أظهرت النتائج أن العمر والدخل عوامل مهمة في مستوى الاكتئاب لدى طلاب الجامعات في نيجيريا، بينما نوع الأسرة لم يكن له تأثير، وعليه فقد جاءت التوصيات على أنه يجب على إدارة الجامعة تحسين خدمات الصحة العقلية من خلال زيادة التثقيف الصحي للكشف المبكر والسيطرة على حالات الاكتئاب بين الطلاب.Abstract: The study examined the determinants of depression among university students in Nigeria. Additionally, descriptive research design of survey type was used in this study. The population for this study comprised of all Nigeria undergraduate students. The sample for the study was 1,050 undergraduates. The instrument used for this study was a self-constructed, structured close ended questionnaire. Findings revealed that age and income were significant determinants of depression among university students in Nigeria while family type is not. It was therefore recommended that the University management should strengthen mental health services through health education to enable early detection and management of depression among students

Plasma levels of nitric oxide related amino acids in demented subjects with Down syndrome are related to neopterin concentrations

Subjects with Down syndrome (DS) have abnormalities in virtually all aspects of the immune system and almost all will be affected with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It is thought that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the pathophysiology of AD. In the present study, including a total of 401 elderly DS subjects, the spectrum of plasma amino acids and neopterin was investigated and related to development of AD. Concentrations of nearly all amino acids in DS subjects differed significantly from those of healthy controls. Neopterin was increased in DS subjects, especially in dementia. The production of NO as reflected by an increased citrulline/arginine ratio (Cit/Arg ratio) was enhanced during development of clinical dementia. Neopterin concentrations correlated to the Cit/Arg ratio only in the group of prevalent demented subjects (ρ = 0.48, P = 0.006). The results of this study are suggestive for an increase in oxidative processes in DS subjects with AD

Immunoglobulin, glucocorticoid, or combination therapy for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a propensity-weighted cohort study

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a hyperinflammatory condition associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, has emerged as a serious illness in children worldwide. Immunoglobulin or glucocorticoids, or both, are currently recommended treatments. Methods: The Best Available Treatment Study evaluated immunomodulatory treatments for MIS-C in an international observational cohort. Analysis of the first 614 patients was previously reported. In this propensity-weighted cohort study, clinical and outcome data from children with suspected or proven MIS-C were collected onto a web-based Research Electronic Data Capture database. After excluding neonates and incomplete or duplicate records, inverse probability weighting was used to compare primary treatments with intravenous immunoglobulin, intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, or glucocorticoids alone, using intravenous immunoglobulin as the reference treatment. Primary outcomes were a composite of inotropic or ventilator support from the second day after treatment initiation, or death, and time to improvement on an ordinal clinical severity scale. Secondary outcomes included treatment escalation, clinical deterioration, fever, and coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN69546370. Findings: We enrolled 2101 children (aged 0 months to 19 years) with clinically diagnosed MIS-C from 39 countries between June 14, 2020, and April 25, 2022, and, following exclusions, 2009 patients were included for analysis (median age 8·0 years [IQR 4·2–11·4], 1191 [59·3%] male and 818 [40·7%] female, and 825 [41·1%] White). 680 (33·8%) patients received primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, 698 (34·7%) with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, 487 (24·2%) with glucocorticoids alone; 59 (2·9%) patients received other combinations, including biologicals, and 85 (4·2%) patients received no immunomodulators. There were no significant differences between treatments for primary outcomes for the 1586 patients with complete baseline and outcome data that were considered for primary analysis. Adjusted odds ratios for ventilation, inotropic support, or death were 1·09 (95% CI 0·75–1·58; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids and 0·93 (0·58–1·47; corrected p value=1·00) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Adjusted average hazard ratios for time to improvement were 1·04 (95% CI 0·91–1·20; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, and 0·84 (0·70–1·00; corrected p value=0·22) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Treatment escalation was less frequent for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids (OR 0·15 [95% CI 0·11–0·20]; p<0·0001) and glucocorticoids alone (0·68 [0·50–0·93]; p=0·014) versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Persistent fever (from day 2 onward) was less common with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids compared with either intravenous immunoglobulin alone (OR 0·50 [95% CI 0·38–0·67]; p<0·0001) or glucocorticoids alone (0·63 [0·45–0·88]; p=0·0058). Coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution did not differ significantly between treatment groups. Interpretation: Recovery rates, including occurrence and resolution of coronary artery aneurysms, were similar for primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin when compared to glucocorticoids or intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids. Initial treatment with glucocorticoids appears to be a safe alternative to immunoglobulin or combined therapy, and might be advantageous in view of the cost and limited availability of intravenous immunoglobulin in many countries. Funding: Imperial College London, the European Union's Horizon 2020, Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Foundation, UK National Institute for Health and Care Research, and National Institutes of Health

Immunoglobulin, glucocorticoid, or combination therapy for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a propensity-weighted cohort study

Background Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a hyperinflammatory condition associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, has emerged as a serious illness in children worldwide. Immunoglobulin or glucocorticoids, or both, are currently recommended treatments. Methods The Best Available Treatment Study evaluated immunomodulatory treatments for MIS-C in an international observational cohort. Analysis of the first 614 patients was previously reported. In this propensity-weighted cohort study, clinical and outcome data from children with suspected or proven MIS-C were collected onto a web-based Research Electronic Data Capture database. After excluding neonates and incomplete or duplicate records, inverse probability weighting was used to compare primary treatments with intravenous immunoglobulin, intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, or glucocorticoids alone, using intravenous immunoglobulin as the reference treatment. Primary outcomes were a composite of inotropic or ventilator support from the second day after treatment initiation, or death, and time to improvement on an ordinal clinical severity scale. Secondary outcomes included treatment escalation, clinical deterioration, fever, and coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN69546370. Findings We enrolled 2101 children (aged 0 months to 19 years) with clinically diagnosed MIS-C from 39 countries between June 14, 2020, and April 25, 2022, and, following exclusions, 2009 patients were included for analysis (median age 8·0 years [IQR 4·2–11·4], 1191 [59·3%] male and 818 [40·7%] female, and 825 [41·1%] White). 680 (33·8%) patients received primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, 698 (34·7%) with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, 487 (24·2%) with glucocorticoids alone; 59 (2·9%) patients received other combinations, including biologicals, and 85 (4·2%) patients received no immunomodulators. There were no significant differences between treatments for primary outcomes for the 1586 patients with complete baseline and outcome data that were considered for primary analysis. Adjusted odds ratios for ventilation, inotropic support, or death were 1·09 (95% CI 0·75–1·58; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids and 0·93 (0·58–1·47; corrected p value=1·00) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Adjusted average hazard ratios for time to improvement were 1·04 (95% CI 0·91–1·20; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, and 0·84 (0·70–1·00; corrected p value=0·22) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Treatment escalation was less frequent for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids (OR 0·15 [95% CI 0·11–0·20]; p<0·0001) and glucocorticoids alone (0·68 [0·50–0·93]; p=0·014) versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Persistent fever (from day 2 onward) was less common with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids compared with either intravenous immunoglobulin alone (OR 0·50 [95% CI 0·38–0·67]; p<0·0001) or glucocorticoids alone (0·63 [0·45–0·88]; p=0·0058). Coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution did not differ significantly between treatment groups. Interpretation Recovery rates, including occurrence and resolution of coronary artery aneurysms, were similar for primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin when compared to glucocorticoids or intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids. Initial treatment with glucocorticoids appears to be a safe alternative to immunoglobulin or combined therapy, and might be advantageous in view of the cost and limited availability of intravenous immunoglobulin in many countries. Funding Imperial College London, the European Union's Horizon 2020, Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Foundation, UK National Institute for Health and Care Research, and National Institutes of Health

Research Paper - STUDIES ON THE ANXIOLYTIC EFFECT OF SPONDIAS MOMBIN L. (ANACARDIACEAE) EXTRACTS

Spondias mombin   L [Anacardiaceae] is a plant used by traditional medical practitioners in Nigeria in the treatment of various nervous disorders. In this study, the anxiolytic properties of the aqueous, methanol and ethanol extracts of the leaves were examined using aggressive-behaviour response and depression-related swimming behaviour activities. All the extracts administered orally were not toxic to mice up to a dose of 5 g/kg. On intraperitoneal injection, however, the LD50 values [mice/rats] were calculated to be 0.48 g/kg / 0.62 g/kg for ethanol extract, 1.10 g/kg / 1.08 g/kg for methanol extract and 1.36 g/kg / 1.42 g/kg for aqueous extract respectively. All residues from different extractions were dissolved in normal saline and administered intraperitoneally. It was found that the three extracts abolished the aggressive attacks by rats, and reduced swimming time in mice. These effects were found to be most potent with the administration of the ethanol extract. These effects of the extracts were blocked by flumazenil, an antagonist of GABAA receptor. The results suggest that the extracts of Spondias mombin possess anxiolytic effect mediated by GABAergic transmission

STUDIES ON THE ANXIOLYTIC EFFECT OF SPONDIAS MOMBIN L. (ANACARDIACEAE) EXTRACTS

Spondias mombin L [Anacardiaceae] is a plant used by traditional medical practitioners in Nigeria in the treatment of various nervous disorders. In this study, the anxiolytic properties of the aqueous, methanol and ethanol extracts of the leaves were examined using aggressive-behaviour response and depression-related swimming behaviour activities. All the extracts administered orally were not toxic to mice up to a dose of 5 g/kg. On intraperitoneal injection, however, the LD50 values [mice/rats] were calculated to be 0.48 g/kg / 0.62 g/kg for ethanol extract, 1.10 g/kg / 1.08 g/kg for methanol extract and 1.36 g/kg / 1.42 g/kg for aqueous extract respectively. All residues from different extractions were dissolved in normal saline and administered intraperitoneally. It was found that the three extracts abolished the aggressive attacks by rats, and reduced swimming time in mice. These effects were found to be most potent with the administration of the ethanol extract. These effects of the extracts were blocked by flumazenil, an antagonist of GABAA receptor. The results suggest that the extracts of Spondias mombin possess anxiolytic effect mediated by GABAergic transmission