Ethanolic extract of Jatropha gossypifolia exacerbates Potassium Bromate-induced clastogenicity, hepatotoxicity, and lipid peroxidation in rats

Extracts of J. gossypifolia L. have been reported to have several medicinal values, including potential anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the anti-clastogenic and hepatoprotective, effects of the ethanolic leaf extract of J. gossypifolia L. in potassium bromate (KBrO3)-induced toxicity in rats. The general trend of the results indicates significant increases (p < 0.05) in mean values when toxicant (KBrO3) only group is compared with normal control group, except for catalase where a significant decrease (p < 0.05) was recorded. Surprisingly, treatment of the toxic effects of KBrO3 by J. gossypifolia did not lower the mean values of any of these parameters investigated. Instead, there were significant increases (p < 0.05) in the mean number of bone marrow micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (mPCEs), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma glutamyl transferase activities, and sodium, while the increases in mean concentrations of creatinine, urea, and potassium were not significant (p > 0.05). Also, there was a further reduction in the activity of catalase by J. gossypifolia treatment, and was also not significant (p > 0.05). We therefore concluded that the ethanolic leaf extract of J. gossypifolia may not have a protective role against chromosomal and liver damage in KBrO3-induced toxicity, but complicating effects.Keywords: Jatropha gossypifolia, KBrO3, ethanolic extract, toxicity, rat

Ethanolic extract of Jatropha gossypifolia exacerbates Potassium Bromate-induced clastogenicity, hepatotoxicity, and lipid peroxidation in rats

Extracts of J. gossypifolia L. have been reported to have several medicinal values, including potential anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the anti-clastogenic and hepatoprotective, effects of the ethanolic leaf extract of J. gossypifolia L. in potassium bromate (KBrO3)-induced toxicity in rats. The general trend of the results indicates significant increases (p < 0.05) in mean values when toxicant (KBrO3) only group is compared with normal control group, except for catalase where a significant decrease (p < 0.05) was recorded. Surprisingly, treatment of the toxic effects of KBrO3 by J. gossypifolia did not lower the mean values of any of these parameters investigated. Instead, there were significant increases (p < 0.05) in the mean number of bone marrow micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (mPCEs), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma glutamyl transferase activities, and sodium, while the increases in mean concentrations of creatinine, urea, and potassium were not significant (p > 0.05). Also, there was a further reduction in the activity of catalase by J. gossypifolia treatment, and was also not significant (p > 0.05). We therefore concluded that the ethanolic leaf extract of J. gossypifolia may not have a protective role against chromosomal and liver damage in KBrO3-induced toxicity, but complicating effects

Prevalence and Determinants of Sickness Absenteeism among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Hospital in Southwestern Nigeria

Introduction: Sickness absenteeism is a global problem that affects almost all forms of workers, especially healthcare workers. This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of sickness absenteeism among healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital in Southwest, Nigeria. Methods: An institutional-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 healthcare workers in a Tertiary Hospital in Southwest, Nigeria from October to December 2022. A pre-tested interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents who were selected using a stratified sampling technique. Bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the predictors of sickness absenteeism using SPSS version 25.0. The significance of associations was determined at p-value < 0.05. Results: The mean age ± SD of the respondents was 34 ± 7.15 years. The prevalence of sickness absenteeism among the health workers was 21.0%, while the causes of sickness absenteeism were malaria (51%), body pain (18%), and diarrhea (5%). Family obligation (AOR: 2.1, 95% CI: (1.20, 3.53), P=0.009) and the job type (AOR: 2.7, 95% CI: (1.05, 6.83), P=0.038) were the only predictors of sickness absenteeism. Conclusion: About one-fifth of the respondents had one spell of sickness keeping them away from work due to illnesses such as malaria, diarrhea, and body pain. Preventive interventions should be instituted by stakeholders based on the identified factors to reduce the prevalence of sickness absenteeism among these populations

Emergence and spread of two SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest in Nigeria.

Identifying the dissemination patterns and impacts of a virus of economic or health importance during a pandemic is crucial, as it informs the public on policies for containment in order to reduce the spread of the virus. In this study, we integrated genomic and travel data to investigate the emergence and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.318 and B.1.525 (Eta) variants of interest in Nigeria and the wider Africa region. By integrating travel data and phylogeographic reconstructions, we find that these two variants that arose during the second wave in Nigeria emerged from within Africa, with the B.1.525 from Nigeria, and then spread to other parts of the world. Data from this study show how regional connectivity of Nigeria drove the spread of these variants of interest to surrounding countries and those connected by air-traffic. Our findings demonstrate the power of genomic analysis when combined with mobility and epidemiological data to identify the drivers of transmission, as bidirectional transmission within and between African nations are grossly underestimated as seen in our import risk index estimates

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Meeting Minutes

Meeting regarding course catalog, tenure, library roof, distance education funds, honorary doctorate and scholarships