Bioactive Compounds in Herbal Bitter Drinks and Effects on selected Hepatic Biomarkers in Albino Wister Rats in Lagos, Nigeria

Recently in Nigeria, the use of natural products described as herbal bitter drinks presumed to cure all except death has been on the increase. This paper therefore evaluates the bioactive compounds of three herbal drinks and their concomitant effects on selected hepatic biomarkers in albino Wister rats in Lagos, Nigeria using standard methods. A total of 31 bioactive compounds were positively identified in the three bitter drinks analyzed, Out of which are: Yoyo (5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (6.8%), Coumaran (1.7%), Octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane ( 4.5%), Squalene(3.2%) - 2,4-Dihydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furan-3-one(1.7%),3,3-Dimethyl-2butanol(1.1%),2-Hydroxy-2- cyclopenten-1-one (0.7%)). Swedish (Camphor (82.9%), Cinnamic acid (0.2%)). Living (5-Hydroxymethylfurfural 57.4%), Coumaran (1.6%), 3, 4-dihydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1, 2-dione (0.3%). The three bitters had no common bioactive compound betweenthem. Five common bioactive compounds were detected present in both Living and Yoyo bitters. Only 11 (about 35%) of the 31 compounds  identified have established and documented pharmacological use. Some of the bioactive components in each of the bitters support the advertised usage of the formulations. The three bitters orally administered to rats from data gathered were not dangerous to the liver over the 40day period of the experiment.Keywords: Yoyo, Swedish, living, hepatic biomarker

Bioactive Compounds in Herbal Bitter Drinks and Effects on selected Hepatic Biomarkers in Albino Wister Rats in Lagos, Nigeria

Recently in Nigeria, the use of natural products described as herbal bitter drinks presumed to cure all except death has been on the increase. This paper therefore evaluates the bioactive compounds of three herbal drinks and their concomitant effects on selected hepatic biomarkers in albino Wister rats in Lagos, Nigeria using standard methods. A total of 31 bioactive compounds were positively identified in the three bitter drinks analyzed, Out of which are: Yoyo (5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (6.8%), Coumaran (1.7%), Octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane ( 4.5%), Squalene(3.2%) - 2,4-Dihydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furan-3-one(1.7%),3,3-Dimethyl-2butanol(1.1%),2-Hydroxy-2- cyclopenten-1-one (0.7%)). Swedish (Camphor (82.9%), Cinnamic acid (0.2%)). Living (5-Hydroxymethylfurfural 57.4%), Coumaran (1.6%), 3, 4-dihydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1, 2-dione (0.3%). The three bitters had no common bioactive compound between them. Five common bioactive compounds were detected present in both Living and Yoyo bitters. Only 11 (about 35%) of the 31 compounds  identified have established and documented pharmacological use. Some of the bioactive components in each of the bitters support the advertised usage of the formulations. The three bitters orally administered to rats from data gathered were not dangerous to the liver over the 40day period of the experiment. Keywords: Yoyo, Swedish, living, hepatic biomarker

Impact of Agricultural Insurance on the Productivity of the Agricultural Sector In Nigeria

This study examines the impact of agricultural insurance on the productivity of agricultural sector in Nigeria. Agricultural Insurance is a valuable business risk management tool that provides farmers with financial protection against production losses caused by natural perils, such as drought, excessive moisture, hail, frost, wind and wildlife. The study used a survey research approach and simple random sampling to choose 100 farmers from Orelope Local Government, Oyo State. The findings revealed a positive significant correlation (r = .381, p &lt;.01) between Agricultural insurance scheme and Agricultural sector productivity. Also, the level of awareness of Agricultural Insurance scheme among respondents is still low as several of them claimed that they are not aware of the Insurance scheme. It is recommended that more awareness and enlightenment of the Agricultural insurance scheme should be made to famers especially those in rural areas. Keywords: Agriculture, Insurance, Agricultural Insurance, Crop Production</jats:p

Critical care usage after major gastrointestinal and liver surgery: a prospective, multicentre observational study

Background Patient selection for critical care admission must balance patient safety with optimal resource allocation. This study aimed to determine the relationship between critical care admission, and postoperative mortality after abdominal surgery. Methods This prespecified secondary analysis of a multicentre, prospective, observational study included consecutive patients enrolled in the DISCOVER study from UK and Republic of Ireland undergoing major gastrointestinal and liver surgery between October and December 2014. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore associations between critical care admission (planned and unplanned) and mortality, and inter-centre variation in critical care admission after emergency laparotomy. Results Of 4529 patients included, 37.8% (n=1713) underwent planned critical care admissions from theatre. Some 3.1% (n=86/2816) admitted to ward-level care subsequently underwent unplanned critical care admission. Overall 30-day mortality was 2.9% (n=133/4519), and the risk-adjusted association between 30-day mortality and critical care admission was higher in unplanned [odds ratio (OR): 8.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.51–19.97) than planned admissions (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.43–3.85). Some 26.7% of patients (n=1210/4529) underwent emergency laparotomies. After adjustment, 49.3% (95% CI: 46.8–51.9%, P<0.001) were predicted to have planned critical care admissions, with 7% (n=10/145) of centres outside the 95% CI. Conclusions After risk adjustment, no 30-day survival benefit was identified for either planned or unplanned postoperative admissions to critical care within this cohort. This likely represents appropriate admission of the highest-risk patients. Planned admissions in selected, intermediate-risk patients may present a strategy to mitigate the risk of unplanned admission. Substantial inter-centre variation exists in planned critical care admissions after emergency laparotomies

Body mass index and complications following major gastrointestinal surgery: A prospective, international cohort study and meta-analysis

Aim Previous studies reported conflicting evidence on the effects of obesity on outcomes after gastrointestinal surgery. The aims of this study were to explore the relationship of obesity with major postoperative complications in an international cohort and to present a metaanalysis of all available prospective data. Methods This prospective, multicentre study included adults undergoing both elective and emergency gastrointestinal resection, reversal of stoma or formation of stoma. The primary end-point was 30-day major complications (Clavien–Dindo Grades III–V). A systematic search was undertaken for studies assessing the relationship between obesity and major complications after gastrointestinal surgery. Individual patient meta-analysis was used to analyse pooled results. Results This study included 2519 patients across 127 centres, of whom 560 (22.2%) were obese. Unadjusted major complication rates were lower in obese vs normal weight patients (13.0% vs 16.2%, respectively), but this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.863) on multivariate analysis for patients having surgery for either malignant or benign conditions. Individual patient meta-analysis demonstrated that obese patients undergoing surgery formalignancy were at increased risk of major complications (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.49–2.96, P < 0.001), whereas obese patients undergoing surgery for benign indications were at decreased risk (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46–0.75, P < 0.001) compared to normal weight patients. Conclusions In our international data, obesity was not found to be associated with major complications following gastrointestinal surgery. Meta-analysis of available prospective data made a novel finding of obesity being associated with different outcomes depending on whether patients were undergoing surgery for benign or malignant disease

Body mass index and complications following major gastrointestinal surgery: a prospective, international cohort study and meta-analysis

Aim: Previous studies reported conflicting evidence on the effects of obesity on outcomes after gastrointestinal surgery. The aims of this study were to explore the relationship of obesity with major postoperative complications in an international cohort and to present a meta-analysis of all available prospective data. Methods: This prospective, multicentre study included adults undergoing both elective and emergency gastrointestinal resection, reversal of stoma or formation of stoma. The primary end-point was 30-day major complications (Clavien-Dindo Grades III-V). A systematic search was undertaken for studies assessing the relationship between obesity and major complications after gastrointestinal surgery. Individual patient meta-analysis was used to analyse pooled results. Results: This study included 2519 patients across 127 centres, of whom 560 (22.2%) were obese. Unadjusted major complication rates were lower in obese vs normal weight patients (13.0% vs 16.2%, respectively), but this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.863) on multivariate analysis for patients having surgery for either malignant or benign conditions. Individual patient meta-analysis demonstrated that obese patients undergoing surgery for malignancy were at increased risk of major complications (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.49-2.96, P < 0.001), whereas obese patients undergoing surgery for benign indications were at decreased risk (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46-0.75, P < 0.001) compared to normal weight patients. Conclusions: In our international data, obesity was not found to be associated with major complications following gastrointestinal surgery. Meta-analysis of available prospective data made a novel finding of obesity being associated with different outcomes depending on whether patients were undergoing surgery for benign or malignant disease