Inhibitory effects of phylligenin and quebrachitol isolated from Mitrephora vulpina on platelet activating factor receptor binding and platelet agregation.

Phylligenine, together with quebrachitol, stigmasterol and two aporphine alkaloids—oxoputerine and liriodenine—were isolated from the twigs of Mitrephora vulpina C.E.C. Fisch. They were evaluated for their ability to inhibit platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor binding to rabbit platelets using 3H-PAF as a ligand and their antiplatelet aggregation effect in human whole blood induced by arachidonic acid (AA), collagen and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Of all the compounds tested, phylligenin and quebrachitol exhibited potent and concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on PAF receptor binding, with IC50 values of 13.1 and 42.2 µM, respectively. The IC50 value of phylligenin was comparable to that of cedrol (10.2 µM), a potent PAF antagonist. Phylligenin also showed strong dose-dependent inhibitory activity on platelet aggregation induced by AA and ADP

Antiplatelet Aggregation and Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) Receptor Antagonistic Activities of the Essential Oils of Five Goniothalamus Species

Nine essential oils, hydrodistilled from different parts of five Goniothalamus species (G. velutinus Airy-Shaw, G. woodii Merr., G. clemensii Ban, G. tapis Miq. and G. tapisoides Mat Salleh) were evaluated for their ability to inhibit platelet aggregation in human whole blood using an electrical impedance method and their inhibitory effects on platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor binding with rabbit platelets using 3H-PAF as a ligand. The chemical composition of the oils was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The bark oil of G. velutinus was the most effective sample as it inhibited both arachidonic acid (AA) and ADP-induced platelet aggregation with IC50 values of 93.6 and 87.7 µg/mL, respectively. Among the studied oils, the bark oils of G. clemensii, G. woodii, G. velutinus and the root oil of G. tapis showed significant inhibitory effects on PAF receptor binding, with IC50 values ranging from 3.5 to 10.5 µg/mL. The strong PAF antagonistic activity of the active oils is related to their high contents of sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoids, and the individual components in the oils could possibly produce a synergistic effect in the overall antiplatelet activity of the oils

The gender-based violence and recovery centre at Coast Provincial General Hospital, Mombasa, Kenya: An integrated care model for survivors of sexual violence

Sexual violence (SV) is highly prevalent and a major public health problem globally. In Kenya, an estimated 32% of females and 18% of males were reported to have experienced SV before the age of 18 years. This paper presents a data set collected between 2007 and 2018 and describes the gender-based violence and recovery centre (GBVRC) model under which survivors of SV were cared for at a 24-hour public hospital in Mombasa, Kenya—including its development, implementation, achievements, and challenges. The GBVRC model is a partnership that provides (in addition to emergency healthcare) mental health support, paralegal services, and integrated cooperation with police, judiciary, local leaders, and the wider community. The Mombasa GBVRC has provided post-SV care to 6,575 people reporting SV, of whom 88% were female and over 50% were younger than 16 years. Over 90% of the perpetrators were family, neighbours, community members, or in some other way known to the survivors. The low rate (19%) of attendance by survivors for the second counselling visit suggests a more robust strategy is needed for follow-up—for example, by referring people back to smaller, closer health facilities. A second limitation was a lack of trained staff, although this is an expected issue in sub-Saharan Africa. There was also a low rate of legal resolution to the cases. This may be due to the need for education about the standard of evidence required by courts. The experiences of successful and sustainable implementation of the GBVRC model should strengthen arguments for service delivery for people experiencing SV in this and similar settings