Anti-nociceptive and antioxidant activities of an aqueous leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius L. (Tiliaceae)

A preliminary study had shown that C. olitorius has analgesic activity possibly mediated through opioidergic pathway. The study was a follow up work to evaluate the anti-nociceptive effects and other possible mechanisms of action of an aqueous leaf extract of C. olitorius (COE) using formalin-induced nociception test. COE was screened for its analgesic, and antioxidant activities. The anti-nociceptive effect of COE (3x10-2, 1x10-1 and 3x10-1 g kg-1, p.o), and morphine (1x10-3, 3x10-3 and 1x10-2 gkg-1, i.p.) were evaluated using the formalin-induced nociception test. The study showed that C. olitorius has analgesic activity possibly mediated through opioidergic pathway. COE produced significant (P ˂ 0.05) dose-dependent antinociceptive effects similar to morphine in both phases of formalin-induced nociception. The extract showed free radical scavenging properties and different phyto-constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, tannins, anthraquinones and terpenoids were identified. COE has both central and peripheral anti-nociceptive effects mediated through opioidergic receptor activation and also partly through ATP-sensitive K+ channel activation systems. The findings confirms earlier reports, and further shows that C. olitorius produces anti-nociception by interrupting many pain processing pathways. Results further suggest that the extract (COE) might possess some chemical constituents that are responsible for the analgesic and the antioxidant activities.Keywords: Naloxone, glibenclamide, morphine, nociception, DPPH, formalin test

ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-PROLIFERATIVE EFFECTS OF AN ETHYL ACETATE FRACTION OF THE HYDRO-ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SYNEDRELLA NODIFLORA (L) GAERTN

Objective: Synedrella nodiflora is traditionally used in the treatment of several ailments. Pharmacologically, this plant has anticonvulsant, sedative, anti-nociceptive and anti-proliferative effects. This study further investigated S. nodiflora for its antioxidant and in vitro inhibition of cancerous cell lines. Methods: Phytochemical assays, and the DPPH radical scavenging method were employed in preliminary screening for antioxidant activities of the crude hydro-ethanolic extract (SNE) and resulting fractions. The potent ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), was further investigated for total phenol and flavonoid contents, reducing power, lipid peroxidation potential, and cytotoxic effects on human breast cancer (MCF-7), leukemic (Jurkat), and normal liver (Chang’s liver) cell lines. Results: The extract contained phenols, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, sterols, terpenoids, and alkaloids. It scavenged for DPPH with an IC50 of 114 µg/ml, whereas that of EAF was 8.9 µg/ml. EAF prevented peroxidation of egg lecithin at an IC50 of 24.01±0.08 µg/ml. These IC50s are four and three times lower than the reference standards. EAF produced anti-proliferative effects against MCF-7, and Jurkat cell lines with IC50s of 205.2 and 170.9 µg/ml, respectively. EAF had a high IC50 of 252.2 µg/ml against Chang’s liver cells. At 0.1 mg/ml EAF had similar total flavonoid content to SNE, but a significantly higher total phenol content. Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of S. nodiflora, exhibited the most potent antioxidant activity. It inhibited the proliferation of breast and leukemic cancer cell lines, whiles having weak cytotoxic effect on normal liver cells. These can be explored for further drug development

Emergency and critical care services in Tanzania: a survey of ten hospitals.

While there is a need for good quality care for patients with serious reversible disease in all countries in the world, Emergency and Critical Care tends to be one of the weakest parts of health systems in low-income countries. We assessed the structure and availability of resources for Emergency and Critical Care in Tanzania in order to identify the priorities for improving care in this neglected specialty. Ten hospitals in four regions of Tanzania were assessed using a structured data collection tool. Quality was evaluated with standards developed from the literature and expert opinion. Important deficits were identified in infrastructure, routines and training. Only 30% of the hospitals had an emergency room for adult and paediatric patients. None of the seven district and regional hospitals had a triage area or intensive care unit for adults. Only 40% of the hospitals had formal systems for adult triage and in less than one third were critically ill patients seen by clinicians more than once daily. In 80% of the hospitals there were no staff trained in adult triage or critical care. In contrast, a majority of equipment and drugs necessary for emergency and critical care were available in the hospitals (median 90% and 100% respectively. The referral/private hospitals tended to have a greater overall availability of resources (median 89.7%) than district/regional hospitals (median 70.6). Many of the structures necessary for Emergency and Critical Care are lacking in hospitals in Tanzania. Particular weaknesses are infrastructure, routines and training, whereas the availability of drugs and equipment is generally good. Policies to improve hospital systems for the care of emergency and critically ill patients should be prioritised

Features of home and neighbourhood and the liveability of older South Africans

While older people live in developing countries, little is known about the relative importance of features of their communities in influencing their liveability. We examinecomponents of home and neighbourhood among older South Africans. Linear regression analyses revealed that features of home (basic amenities, household composition, financial status and safety) and neighbourhood (ability to shop for groceries, participate in organizations and feel safe from crime) are significantly associated with life satisfaction. Approaches to liveability that are person-centred and also set within contexts beyond home and neighbourhood are needed to addressboundaries between home and neighbourhood; incorporate personal resources into liveability models and import broader environmental contexts such as health and social policy

Project Masihambisane: a cluster randomised controlled trial with peer mentors to improve outcomes for pregnant mothers living with HIV

Abstract Background Pregnant women living with HIV (WLH) face daily challenges maintaining their own and their babies' health and mental health. Standard Prevention of Maternal to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs are not designed to address these challenges. Methods/Design As part of a cluster randomized controlled trial, WLH are invited to attend four antenatal and four postnatal small group sessions led by a peer WLH (a Peer Mentor). The WLH and their babies are assessed during pregnancy and at one week, six months, and twelve months post-birth. Mobile phones are used to collect routine information, complete questionnaires and remain in contact with participants over time. Pregnant WLH (N = 1200) are randomly assigned by clinic (N = 8 clinics) to an intervention program, called Masihambisane (n = 4 clinics, n = 600 WLH) or a standard care PMTCT control condition (n = 4 clinics; n = 600 WLH). Discussion Data collection with cellular phones are innovative and effective in low-resource settings. Standard PMTCT programs are not designed to address the daily challenges faced by WLH; Peer Mentors may be useful in supporting WLH to cope with these challenges. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov registration # NCT0097269

The prevalence of benign oral ulceration among patients attending a dental clinic in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

No Abstract. Ghana Medical Journal Vol. 38(3) 2004: 101-10

Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Properties of an Aqueous ripe Fruit Extract of Borassus aethiopum (M.) FWTA.

The palmyra palm, sometimes called the African fan palm, Borassus aethiopum, is an important food source in Ghana and other African countries. The present study was aimed at investigating the possible antioxidant properties of the aqueous fruit extract of this plant. The total phenolic content was assessed by the Folin-Ciocalteau assay, the antioxidant capacity assayed by the phosphomolydbenum method whereas the antioxidant activity was measured by the ability of the extract to scavenge DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) radicals. Also, the ability of the extract to inhibit lipid peroxidation was established using the linoleic acid autoxidation assay. The results indicate that the extract (0.1-10 mg/ml) contains phenolic compounds which may be responsible for the antioxidant properties since the coefficient of correlation between the total phenolic content and the total antioxidant capacity was high (r2 =0.9912). The n-propyl gallate (0.001-0.03 mg/ml), a reference antioxidant and the extract exhibited concentration-dependent free radical scavenging activity. The extract also inhibited concentration dependently the lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid. These findings suggest that the fruit extract of Borassus aethiopum contains antioxidant principles and its use as health supplement in alleviating oxidative stress can be exploited.Key words: Borassus aethiopum, Folin-Ciocalteau, phosphomolydbenum, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, n-propyl gallate

Substance use and sexual behaviour among African adolescents in the North West province of South Africa

The relationship between substance use and sexual behaviour is examined using a sample of African high school students in the North West Province of South Africa. Even though the rate of substance use was generally low compared to other groups that have been studied elsewhere in the country, male and older adolescents were much more likely than female and younger adolescents to use alcohol and marijuana. While alcohol and marijuana use were positively and strongly associated with lifetime sexual activity, only alcohol positively associated with condom use. Finally, even though parental employment status did not affect lifetime sexual activity, when a mother was employed, the adolescent child was more likely to use a condom, while perceived higher socioeconomic status is positively associated with lifetime sexual activity.

Analysing cross-sectional data with time-dependent covariates: the case of age at first birth in South Africa

Analysing time-dependent independent variables requires the use of process-oriented statistical models. Yet social scientists, especially those in poor countries, have often had to use data collected at a single point in time, making their task difficult. Making several assumptions about the covariates, the present study uses survival analysis and other statistical techniques to analyse the 1996 South African population census data and examine the effects of selected independent variables on the timing of parenthood in the country. It was found that the onset of parenthood occurs late in South Africa compared with the pattern in most other African societies. While education plays a role in the postponement of parenthood within racial groups, it fails to explain the differences between African and coloured women on the one hand, and white and Asian women on the other had, a finding that suggests the existence of two regimes of family formation in the South African society.