Correlation between primary dysmenorrhea characteristics, age at menarche, anthropometric variables, gynecological history, management attitudes, and quality of life among undergraduates in Nigeria

Context: Menstruation is a natural event that occurs throughout the reproductive years of every woman. Most women during their menstrual period experience pain and discomfort called dysmenorrhea which is the most common gynecological complaint in young women and may result in absences from school, work, and social engagement.Aims: To study the relationship between BMI, hip circumference, menarcheal age, and management on the severity of dysmenorrhea among undergraduates.Methods and Materials: A self‑administered structured questionnaire having four (4) sections including information on the sociodemographic data, data related to menstrual characteristics, information related to menstrual symptoms, and information on management attitudes of these students were used for data collection.Statistical Analysis Used: A non‑probability convenient method was used to select 400 participants. A self‑administered structured questionnaire was used for data collection and data were analyzed with SPSS software version 23.0.Results: The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 87.1%, with most commonly felt symptoms being tiredness (72.5%) and mood swings (67.8%). Symptoms lead to decreased social activities (55.8%), low confidence (55.5%), and increased absenteeism (49.5%) from lectures. Although dysmenorrhea has no significant relationship with BMI, it was significantly (P < 0.05) higher (197) in participants with smaller hip circumference (0.80–1.00 m) and late (13–14 years) menarche (47.8%). There was a low rate (4.2%) of consultation with the majority (63%) opting for self‑medication as previouslyadvised by a relative (23.4%), self (21.1%), and friends (18.9%).Conclusions: Smaller hip circumference, late age at menarche, and increased BMI can increase the severity of dysmenorrhea which can further affect the quality of life. Key words: Anthropometric variables; dysmenorrhea; hip circumference; menarche; self‑medication; undergraduates

THE EFFECT OF NEWBOULDIA LAEVIS ON WISTAR RAT’S TESTIS AND LIVER HISTOMORPHOLOGY IN CADMIUM-INDUCED TESTICULAR TOXICITY AND HEPATOTOXICITY

Newbouldia laevis is a plant known for its great nutritional and medicinal importance with antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, anti-coagulant, anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties. Cadmium is globally acknowledged as an environmental intoxicant with widespread toxicity on the biological system. Thus this work was carried out to evaluate the protective role of Newbouldia laevis aqueous leaf extract on the wistar rat testis and liver histomorphology in cadmium-induced testicular toxicity and hepatotoxicity. Methodology: This experimental study was carried out on 25 male adult wistar rats. The animals were divided into 5 groups of 5 animals each – Control, Cadmium, Newbouldia laevis, Coadministration and Pre/Post Treatment Groups. The Treatment Groups received 1.2mg/kg body weight of cadmium, 200mg/kg body weight of Newbouldia laevis, 1.2mg/kg body weight of cadmium + 200mg/kg body weight of Newbouldia laevis simultaneously and 1.2mg/kg body weight of cadmium for two weeks and 200mg/kg body weight of Newbouldia laevis for two weeks. Results: The exposure of experimental animals to cadmium showed deleterious effects on the organs of study (testes and liver). Treatment with aqueous extract of Newbouldia laevis revealed varying degrees of restoration after hepatotoxicity by cadmium. However, Newbouldia laevis was unable to ameliorate the testicular damage occasioned by cadmium as cellular disruptions were still evident even with its administration. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the oral administration of aqueous leaf extracts of Newbouldia laevis can be used to manage hepatotoxicity but not testicular toxicit

Spatial Memory, Motor Coordination, Cerebellar and Hippocampal Histoarchitectural Changes following Atropine Administration to Adult Mice

Atropine is a non-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist. In overdoses, atropine is poisonous. It is sometimes added to potentially addictive drugs, particularly anti-diarrhoea opioid drugs such as diphenoxylate or difenoxin. The aim of this study was to investigate spatial memory and motor changes associated with varying doses (5 and 10 mg/kg body weight) ingestion of atropine, as well as its impact on the hippocampal and cerebellar histoarchitecture in mice.Fifteen BALB/c mice were divided into three groups of 5 serving as control, low dosage, and high dosage groups. Atropine at 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight was administered into low and high dosage groups, respectively. Administration of atropine in both groups showed significant histological tissue damage in the hippocampus which includes neurodegeneration of neurons and distortion of the granular layer, while no evident histomorphological change to the cerebellum was observed. Low dosage mice showed memory and motor deficit, whereas the high dosage group showed no statistically significant memory function difference with the control group. Further research is necessary to find the cause of these motor deficits

THE IMPACT OF MIMOSA PUDICA ON THE HISTOARCHITECTURE OF HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-TESTICULAR AXIS IN CADMIUM TREATED RATS

Background: Cadmium is a known environmental and industrial pollutant with an enormous neuroendocrine disrupting potential. Mimosa pudica Linn is a creeping annual or perennial herb known to possess antiasthmatic, antiepileptic, antitumour, aphrodisiac, analgesic, antidepressant properties and a strong radical scavenging activity. This research was aimed at investigating the impact of Mimosa pudica on the histoarchitectural integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in cadmium-treated rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty five mature wistar rats (Rattus rattus norvegicus) were employed in the study. These animals were divided into five groups - 5 Rats/Group; Control, Cadmium Toxicity, Mimosa pudica Extract, Protection and Therapeutic Groups. The Control Group was orally administrated with distilled water. Result: Toxicity was achieved with 1.2mg/kg body weight for forty days with apparent histological abnormalities and alterations to the axis components. Administration of Mimosa pudica (200mg/kg) body weight with cadmium in both the Protection and Therapeutic Groups showed remarkable histological improvements and markedly reduced tissue damage when compared with Cadmium Toxicity Group. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate that Mimosa pudica possesses protective, therapeutic as well as restorative capacity on the histoarchitecture of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis components in cadmium-treated rats

Light microscopic detection of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro through Pf histidine rich protein 2 (HRP 2) gold conjugate labeling: Rapid diagnosis of cerebral malaria in humans

Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) has been found to be the deadliest of all the known species of the parasite capable of infecting humans; this is because it is capable of causing severe cerebral tissue damage. This study was carried out to demonstrate the parasite in the host blood in vitro through immunogold labeling using antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein 2 (HRP 2); a major metabolite released during the cause of the parasite infection and feeding in the erythrocyte. 12 known Pf positive samples were obtained from across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and were further characterized by Geimsa thick and thin film for parasite identification parasite count expressed as parasites/l of blood. An average of 400 parasites/l of blood was obtained in each of the samples used for this study. Pf-HRP 2 antibody was conjugated to freshly prepared colloidal gold of particle size 40nm. The conjugation process was blocked with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the conjugate itself preserved by 1% glycerol and 0.01% sodium azide. The parasite count was titrated against the Pf-HRP 2gold conjugate and was analyzed under the light microscope with a fluorescent filter. Reactivity and specificity of Pf-HRP 2 gold conjugate was found to be highly specific and gave direct identification of the erythrocytes infected with the parasite. A good contrast was also obtained between uninfected erythrocytes, parasite and the infected erythrocytes

P53, Bax and Cathepsin D Dysregulation in Neurons Subjected to Cyanide Toxicity and Oxygen Deprivation

Cyanide is a potent neurotoxin capable of potentiation NMDA R1 (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1) a form of glutamate receptor that is calcium gated, thus causing excitotoxicity. It is also well established that the glutamate-glucose exchange is dependent on the activity of the Na + /K + ATPase pump, thus we examine the role of the Na + /K + pump in the metabolism of the neuron during cyanide toxicity. Six separate perfusion set up of the rat brain cortical tissues were made with ACSF (ACSF, ACSF+KCN, ACSF+KCN + pump blocker, ACSF + pump blocker). The tissues were perfused for duration of 180 minutes. The tissues were processed immunohistochemically using antibodies against p53,Bax and Cathepsin D (CD) to demonstrate disregulation of cell cycle proteins associated with the induced DNAbreakage as a result of cyanide toxicity. The pumpblockers (methyldigoxin and promethazine) induced excitotoxicity when used in culture, and amplified cyanide toxicity when combined with KCN. Cell death induced by toxicity of cyanide and the blockade of the Na/K ATPasepump has been seen to be complimentary in driving the toxicity effects that drives the cell into apoptosis.The tumor suppressor/apoptosis inducing factors p53 and Bax were over expressed while cathepsin was suppressed to show that the cells are apoptotic as against an increased cathepsin D level that would have implied senescence

Basic Principles of Fluorescence Microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy is a basic requirement in cell biology , molecular biology and biotechnology . Advancements over the years has helped scientist to trace molecules in live cells and understand the basis of cell metabolism, exchange, mutation and to xicity. In this short communication we seek to explain in simple terms the basic principles of how a fluorescence microscope works. The principles o f excitation and emission focuses on the ability of f luorophores to absorb energy from photons and to emit such absorbed energy. The difference between t he chemical structures of these fluorephores determines how much energy that is required to exci te them and how long a fluorescence signal from a fluorophore will last. The principles of epi-illumi nation on the other hand describe the arrangement a nd function of the various components of a fluorescenc e microscope

NMDA R/+VDR pharmacological phenotype as a novel therapeutic target in relieving motor–cognitive impairments in Parkinsonism

Background: Parkinsonism describes Parkinson’s disease and other associated degenerative changes in the brain resulting in movement disorders. The motor cortex, extrapyramidal tracts and nigrostriatal tract are brain regions forming part of the motor neural system and are primary targets for drug or chemotoxins induced Parkinsonism. The cause of Parkinsonism has been described as wide and elusive, however, environmental toxins and drugs accounts for large percentage of spontaneous cases in humans. A common mechanism in the cause and progression of drug/chemotoxin induced Parkinsonism involves calcium signalling in; oxidative stress, autophagy, cytoskeletal instability and excitotoxicity .Aim: This study sets to investigate the effect of targeting calcium controlling receptors, specifically activation of Vitamin D3 receptor (VDR) and inhibition of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (NMDAR) in the motor cortex of mice model of drug induced Parkinsonism. Also we demonstrated how these interventions improved neural activity, cytoskeleton, glia/neuron count and motor–cognitive functionsin vivo. Methods: Adult mice were separated into six groups of n¼5 animals each. Body weight (5 mg/kg) of haloperidol was administered intraperitoneally for 7 days to block dopaminergic D2receptors and induce degeneration in the motor cortex following which an intervention of VDR agonist (VDRA), and (or) NMDAR inhibitor was administered for 7 days. A set of control animals received normal saline while a separate group of control animals received the combined intervention of VDRA and NMDAR inhibitor without prior treatment with haloperidol. Behavioral tests for motor and cognitive functions were carried out at the end of the treatment and intervention periods. Subsequently, neural activity in the motor cortex was recordedin vivo using unilateral wire electrodes. We also employed immunohistochemistry to demonstrate neuron, glia, neurofilament and proliferation in the motor cortex after haloperidol treatment and the intervention. Result/Discussion: We observed a decline in motor function and memory index in the haloperidol treatment group when compared with the control. Similarly, there was a decline in neural activity in the motor cortex (a reduced depolarization peak frequency). General cell loss (neuron and glia) and depletion of neurofilament were characteristic anatomical changes seen in the motor cortex of this group. However, Vitamin D3intervention facilitated an improvement in motor–cognitive function, neural activity, glia/neuron survival and neurofilament expression. NMDAR inhibition and the combined intervention improved motor–cognitive functions but not as significant as values observed in VDRA intervention. Interestingly, animals treated with the combined intervention without prior haloperidol treatment showed a decline in motor function and neural activity. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that calcium mediated toxicity is primary to the cause and progression of Parkinsonism and targeting receptors that primarily modulates calcium reduces the morphological and behavioral deficits in drug induced Parkinsonism. VDR activation was more effective than NMDAR inhibition and a combined intervention. We conclude that targeting VDR is key for controlling calcium toxicity in drug/chemotoxin induced Parkinsonism

Counteractive effects of extracts of Mangifera indica on testes of Wistar Rat exposed to cyclophosphamide

Introduction: Infertility may have a variety of causes that can affect both the male and female reproductive systems. Cyclophosphamide is a drug used in chemotherapy and immune system suppression. Leaf extracts of Mangifera indica exhibit a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties which have been shown in studies, including antioxidant and protective advantages. This study evaluate the antagonistic implications of leaf extracts of Mangifera indica on the testis following the exposure to cyclophosphamide. Methods: 25 male Wistar rats were assigned to five groups with five rats in each. Group A (Control), Group B (administered 150 mg of cyclophosphamide only), Group C (administered 50 mg of extracts of leaf extracts of Mangifera indica only), Group D (administered 150 mg of cyclophosphamide and 50 mg of leaf extracts of Mangifera indica) and Group E (administered 150 mg of cyclophosphamide and 100 mg of leaf extracts of Mangifera indica) for two weeks. The rats were euthanized under the anesthetic of ketamine (30 mg/kg IP). Blood was taken by cardiac puncture for biochemical examination. Testes were excised, preserved in 10% Neutral Buffered Formalin for histological investigation. One-way analysis of variance was used to examine the data, and then the Student Newman-Keul post-hoc analysis was performed. The significance of the result was assessed using p < 0.05. Results: The study showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the hormonal assay, including LH, FSH, and testosterone across all test groups, with group B (cyclophosphamide only) having significantly lower levels. Cyclophosphamide administration was observed to have a negative effect on the testicular histology and immunohistochemical results and leaf extracts of Mangifera indica attenuated the damage induced by cyclophosphamide in groups D and E. Conclusion: Leaf Extracts of Mangifera indica considerably reduced the effects of cyclophosphamide-induced changes in testis

Histological and Biochemical Study on Mitigation of Dichlorvos-Induced Hepatotoxicity by Mimosa Pudica in Mice

Objective Exposure of dichlorvos-contaminated foods, water and environment can lead to decrease in proper liver function. Thus, Mimosa pudica(MP)is being investigated in the present study to determine its protective effect on dichlorvos induced hepatotoxity in Mice. Methods Fifty adult male BALB/c mice weighing between 20-30g were randomly assigned into 5 groups of 10 animals each (Groups A, B, C, D, and E). Group A as the control Group received normal feed, group B received 0.1 ml of MP, group C was given 40 g of 2.5% Dichlorvos (DDVP) for 28 days. While, group D were given 40 g of 2.5% DDVP with 0.1ml of MP and group E animals were given DDVP for half the period of administration, normal feed and 0.1ml MP for 14 days. Histological and biochemical preparations of the liver were processed and data were expressed as mean± SEM. Significant difference was set at p<0.05. Results ALT activity and the total protein level of the liver show no significant increase (P < 0.005) when compared with the control. AST and ALP activities were significantly increased in animals given DDVP with subsequent MP treatment when compared with the controls. Histological studies revealed distortion of normal hepatic histoarchitecture in DDVP group B and MP groups mitigated these changes in the treated groups. Conclusion Dichlorvos caused tissue distortion in the mice with prominent toxic effects on the liver while MP extract showed ameliorative effects on the liver that was exposed t