8 research outputs found

    Comparative distribution of bacterial contaminants of packaged and unpackaged polyherbal products sold in Nnewi, Nigeria

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    Background: The use of herbal medicine continues to remain popular despite advances in orthodox medicine largely as a result of affordability and availability. However, contaminated and potentially toxic polyherbal preparations remain a public health challenge despite regulations instituted by concerned agencies in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the bacterial contaminants of different polyherbal products sold in Nnewi, NigeriaMethodology: This study evaluated the bacteriological profile of 22 packaged and 22 unpackaged polyherbal preparations sold in Nnewi, Nigeria. The samples were collected from different herbal medicine shops in Nnewi by simple random sampling and were assayed for comparative bacterial loads with chromogenic media and their total viable counts evaluated following standard method for microbial load analysis.Results: Bacterial contaminants were isolated from 9 of 22 (40.9%) packaged polyherbal samples while 13 of 22 (59.1%) samples were bacteriologically sterile. For the unpackaged polyherbal, bacterial contaminants were isolated from 18 of 22 (81.8%) samples while 4 of 22 (18.2%) were bacteriologically sterile (OR 0.1538, p=0.0122). The most frequently isolated bacterial contaminant in the packaged polyherbal samples was Enterococcus faecalis with 33.3% (6/18) while Salmonella sp was the least frequently isolated with 5.6% (1/18). For the unpackaged polyherbals, the most frequently isolated bacterial contaminant was Staphylococcus aureus with 25% (7/28) while Salmonella sp and E. faecalis were the least frequently isolated with 10.7% (3/28) each. The median total viable count of the packaged group of the polyherbal products was 1.48x106 CFU/ml, while the median total viable count for unpackaged group of polyherbals was 1.95x106 CFU/ml.Conclusion: This study shows that many polyherbal products sold in Nnewi are potentially contaminated with bacterial agents. It is therefore imperative that herbal medicine practitioners be enlightened on hygienic ways of preventing microbial contamination during polyherbal production. Keywords: Bacterial contaminants, herbal products, Nnewi, Nigeri

    Molecular genetics of cleft lip and palate: A review

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    Histopathological Effects of Maternal Alcohol Consumption in the Pups of Albino Rats

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    Alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lactation periods may result to some physical and histopathological changes in offsprings. This study was undertaken to investigate the possible effects of maternal alcohol intake on the testes and accessory sex organs of male pups of albino rats. Three groups of female albino rats; A, B and C were used for this study. Group A was the control group while groups B & C served as test groups. Eight male pups were randomly selected weekly (for five weeks) from each group and were sacrificed. The individual weights of the testes and accessory sex organs were determined and thereafter fixed in formol saline. Histopathological investigation was done and photomicrographs were taken. There was a significant reduction (P<0.05) in the mean weights of the testes in the test groups compared with control in all weeks under study. In contrast a significant reduction (P<0.05) in the mean values of the weights of ventral lobes of prostate and epididymis were only noticed in weeks 5 and 6 while the mean value of weights of the vas deferens showed significant reduction (P<0.05) in week 5 of the test groups compared with control group. The histopathological results revealed that exposure to alcohol caused focal coagulative necrosis of testicular seminiferous tubules in pre-natal alcohol exposed group B and a more diffuse coagulative necrosis of testicular seminiferous tubules in pre-and post- natal alcohol exposed group C. Therefore, there is the need for controlled alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lactation periods

    TOTAL LYMPHOCYTE COUNT AS A PROGNOSTIC MARKER FOR CD4 COUNT IN RESOURCE LIMITED SETTINGS

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    Understanding the Total lymphocyte count (TLC) and CD4 relationship could aid design predictive instruments for making clinical decisions during antiretroviral therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive ability of TLC for CD4 count less than or equal to 350cells/mm3.A cross sectional study involving 432 HIV-I infected persons randomly recruited from the HIV Clinics of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi, NAUTH Oba and St Charles Borromeo Hospital Onitsha was conducted. Ethical approval was obtained and blood samples were collected. The following were determined; HIV- screening and confirmation using serial testing algorithm with ELISA rapid test kits, CD4 count using Cyflow partec machine and Haematological profile using Sysmex KX21N. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 17.Out of the 432 HIV patients involved in this study, females dominated with a population of 274(63.4%) against the males numbering 158(36.6%). The relationship between the TLC cut offs and CD4 count ≤350 cells/mm3 were all statistically significant (P<0.05) except for a TLC value of 2600cells per mm3. At a value of 1200 cells/mm3, TLC had a sensitivity of 25% and specificity of 96% while at 2400 cells/mm3, TLC had a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 39% for CD4 count of ≤350cells/mm3.TLC was found to have the most significant relationship with CD4 count of all parameters tested using regression analysis. Finally, TLC could serve as a surrogate for CD4 count for monitoring treatment in resource poor areas where facilities for CD4 count may not be available

    PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B AND C VIRAL INFECTIONS IN PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC IN NNEWI, NIGERIA

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    Infections due to Hepatitis B and C viruses are significant health problems around the globe, Nigeria inclusive. This study was conducted among 100 pregnant women attending ante natal clinic at NnamdiAzikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria to determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and to determine whether liver amino transferases can be affected. The blood samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Anti-HCV using HBsAg and Anti-HCV one step rapid test strip and furthermore using ELISA technique. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were also estimated in all the subjects using Reitman - Frankel method. The results showed that six percent(6%) and one percent (1%) of the 100 blood samples tested positive for HBV and HCV respectively. The mean AST levels for HBsAg negative and positive subjects were 10.55±2.36 and 12.17±2.23 respectively while the mean ALT levels were 5.54±1.94and 8.00±3.10 respectively. The mean AST for anti-HCV negative and positive subjects were 10.67±2.38 and 9.00±0.00 respectively while the ALT were 5.71±2.09 and 4.00±0.00 respectively There was significant increase in the levels of ALT between the HBsAg positive and negative pregnant subjects (P<0.05). HBV and HCV infection can be present in pregnant women and can alter liver amino transferases. Therefore testing for HBsAg and Anti-HCV is recommended for all pregnant women at first prenatal and postnatal visit so that HBsAg and HCV positive mothers will receive prompt intervention

    COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF LIPID PROFILE IN PRE-MENOPAUSAL AND MENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN NNEWI NIGERIA

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    The study was aimed at determining the effect of menopause on lipid profile. A total of 100 apparently healthy subjects who comprised 50 menopausal women aged 45 – 77 years and 50 pre-menopausal women between the aged between 20-52 years were recruited. Ethical approval was obtained from the Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University ethics committee and informed consent of each participant was obtained prior to recruitment. We estimated serum levels of total cholesterol using the enzymatic end point method as described by Roeschlau et al., (1974), HDL was performed using the combination of phosphotungstate precipitation and enzymatic method as described by Burstein et al., (1980), LDL by the combination of polyvinyl sulphate precipitation and enzymatic method of Assman et al., (1984), VLDL was estimated using the method as described by Friedwald et al., (1972) and triglycerides by the enzymatic method as described by Tietz (1990). The results shows that the mean levels of serum triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) showed a statistically significant increase in menopausal women compared with the premenopausal subjects (P<0.05) while there was no significant difference in the mean values of serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL cholesterol) and total cholesterol (P>0.05). There was a progressive increase in the mean levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and VLDLcholesterol with duration of menopause while the levels of HDL-cholesterol decreased with duration of menopause. There were no significant variations among the various age categories of the menopausal subjects and the levels of the lipid parameters studied (p>0.05). The findings suggest that premenopausal women have less proatherogenic lipid profile than their menopausal counterparts

    COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF LIPID PROFILE IN PRE-MENOPAUSAL AND MENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN NNEWI NIGERIA

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    The study was aimed at determining the effect of menopause on lipid profile. A total of 100 apparently healthy subjects who comprised 50 menopausal women aged 45 – 77 years and 50 pre-menopausal women between the aged between 20-52 years were recruited. Ethical approval was obtained from the Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University ethics committee and informed consent of each participant was obtained prior to recruitment. We estimated serum levels of total cholesterol using the enzymatic end point method as described by Roeschlau et al., (1974), HDL was performed using the combination of phosphotungstate precipitation and enzymatic method as described by Burstein et al., (1980), LDL by the combination of polyvinyl sulphate precipitation and enzymatic method of Assman et al., (1984), VLDL was estimated using the method as described by Friedwald et al., (1972) and triglycerides by the enzymatic method as described by Tietz (1990). The results shows that the mean levels of serum triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) showed a statistically significant increase in menopausal women compared with the premenopausal subjects (P<0.05) while there was no significant difference in the mean values of serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL cholesterol) and total cholesterol (P>0.05). There was a progressive increase in the mean levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and VLDLcholesterol with duration of menopause while the levels of HDL-cholesterol decreased with duration of menopause. There were no significant variations among the various age categories of the menopausal subjects and the levels of the lipid parameters studied (p>0.05). The findings suggest that premenopausal women have less proatherogenic lipid profile than their menopausal counterparts

    Assessment Of Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha (Tnf- Α) And Creatinine Levels In Echis Ocellatus Bite Victims In Jos Metropolis, Nigeria

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    This study was designed to assess tumour necrosis factor-alpha and creatinine levels in Echis ocellatus bite victims. A total of 50 subjects were recruited. Out of this number, 40 were victims of E. ocellatus bite and the remaining 10 were non-victims of snake bite who served as the control group. Blood samples were collected from the victims within 24 hours of the snake bite and EchiTAb-G antivenom administered within the same period. Another batch of blood sample was collected 48 hours post-administration of the anti-venom. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were estimated by the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay technique while creatinine levels were determined using kinetic-spectrophotometric procedure. The mean serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and creatinine were significantly increased in E. ocellatus bite victims compared with the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the mean serum level of TNFalpha was significantly lower in E. ocellatus bite victims, post-administration of anti-venom, compared with the pre-administration of anti-venom (P<0.05). In contrast, no significant difference was observed in the mean serum level of creatinine in E. ocellatus bite victims, post-administration of anti-venom, compared with the pre-administration of anti-venom (P>0.05). Moreover, the mean serum level of creatinine was found to be significantly increased in E. ocellatus bite victims, post-administration of anti-venom, compared with the control group (P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed in the mean serum level of tumour necrosis factor-alpha in E. ocellatus bite victims, post-administration of anti-venom, compared with the control group(P>0.05). A positive correlation existed between tumour necrosis factor-alpha and creatinine levels in E. ocellatus bite subjects (r= 0.782). Echis ocellatus bite is a risk factor for renal damage indicated by an elevated serum creatinine, thus health authorities should make EchiTAb-G anti-venom freely available in health facilities and administered as quickly as possible to reduce the risk of renal damage in Echis ocellatus bite-prone areas
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