Chronic Allium sativum administration alters spontaneous alternation and cyto-architecture of medial prefrontal cortex of adult Wistar rats

Intake of herbs and some of their constituents is reported to reduce risks of some diseases, with Allium sativum being one of such. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Allium sativum extract on the medial prefrontal cortex and neurobehaviour of adult Wistar rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 6). Group 1 was the control and received distilled water placebo orally, while groups 2-4 received oral doses of 78 mg/kg, 156 mg/kg and 312 mg/kg Allium sativum extract for 28 days. On day 29, spontaneous alternation behavioural test was carried out, and immediately the rats were anaesthetized (50 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride IP.) and perfusion-fixed with 10% buffered formalin. The whole brains were removed and the medial prefrontal cortex excised and processed for histomorphologic studies by haematoxylin and eosin, and cresyl fast violet techniques. Neurobehavioural test revealed less spontaneous alternation in 156 mg/kg Allium sativum group, while the prefrontal cortices of the test groups showed hypertrophy, hyperplasia, pyknosis, karyorrhexis, chromatolysis, loss of brain cellular membranes and Nissl substance. The 156 mg/kg Allium sativum group showed altered spontaneous alternation, while cellular pathologic changes were observed in the medial prefrontal cortex of these test groups in a dose dependent sequence.Keywords: Allium sativum; Medial prefrontal cortex; Neurobehaviour; Histomorphology; Wistar ra

Prevalence of Hypertension in Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria: Rural versus Urban Communities Study

Recent studies have shown an increasing trend in the prevalence of hypertension in rural communities compared to that of the urban communities. This study was therefore carried out to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its predictors (if any) in both urban and rural communities of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. Subjects and Method. This was a cross-sectional study of urban and rural communities of Akwa Ibom State for the prevalence of hypertension and its predictors. Two urban cities and two rural communities were randomly selected from the three senatorial districts of the state. Hypertension was defined based on the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of Hypertension. Results. Nine hundred and seventy-eight (978) participants were recruited from rural areas and five hundred and ninety (590) from urban centers. The rural populace had higher systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure than the urban populace (P<0.001, < 0.002, < 0.001, resp.). The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in the rural populace than in the urban populace [44.3% (95% CI 41.1–47.4%) versus 28.6% (95% CI 24.9–32.3%)]. Age, BMI, and proteinuria were independent predictors of hypertension occurrence. Conclusion. There is an epidemiologic change in the prevalence of hypertension in the rural communities of Nigeria

Prevalence of Hypertension in Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria: Rural versus Urban Communities Study

Recent studies have shown an increasing trend in the prevalence of hypertension in rural communities compared to that of the urban communities. This study was therefore carried out to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its predictors (if any) in both urban and rural communities of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. Subjects and Method. This was a cross-sectional study of urban and rural communities of Akwa Ibom State for the prevalence of hypertension and its predictors. Two urban cities and two rural communities were randomly selected from the three senatorial districts of the state. Hypertension was defined based on the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of Hypertension. Results. Nine hundred and seventy-eight (978) participants were recruited from rural areas and five hundred and ninety (590) from urban centers. The rural populace had higher systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure than the urban populace ( &lt; 0.001, &lt; 0.002, &lt; 0.001, resp.). The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in the rural populace than in the urban populace [44.3% (95% CI 41.1-47.4%) versus 28.6% (95% CI 24.9-32.3%)]. Age, BMI, and proteinuria were independent predictors of hypertension occurrence. Conclusion. There is an epidemiologic change in the prevalence of hypertension in the rural communities of Nigeria

Nigerian nationalism: a case study in southern Nigeria, 1885-1939

Modern Nigeria is a creation of the British who because of economic interest, ignored the existing political, racial, historical, religious and language differences. The task of developing a concept of nationalism from among such diverse elements who inhabit Nigeria and speak about 280 tribal languages was immense if not impossible. The traditionalists did their best in opposing the British who took away their privileges and traditional rights, but their policy did not countenance nationalism. The rise and growth of nationalism was only possible through educated Africans. Colonialism brought Nigeria in contact with the West and western culture, but the impact of it was felt differently in different parts of Nigeria. By debarring Christian Missions, lawyers and merchants the North, the British deliberately allowed Northern Nigeria to retain its customs and social structure. This further increased and complicated the problems of modernization, nationalism and unity, as Nigerians were influenced by two opposing outside cultures, .one Western, the other Oriental. The basic problems: social, racial and political were the result of the superstructure creation of Nigeria and they unmistakingly affect nationalism, as some of the ethnic groupings which make up Nigeria were large enough to constitute nations in themselves. Because of strong ethnocentrism existing in Nigeria, it has sometimes been argued that Nigeria bas not one nationalism but many nationalisms. The educated elite have succeeded in winning statehood for Nigeria, but they have yet to succeed in bringing about cultural and political nationalism in Nigeria

Effect of Calabash Chalk on the Histomorphology of the Gastro-Oesophageal Tract of Growing Wistar Rats

Background: Calabash chalk is a naturally occurring mineral consumed by members of some Nigerian communities for pleasure and by pregnant women as a remedy for morning sickness. The consumption of this geophagic material motivated our interest on the effect of the chalk on the histomorphology of the gastro-oesophageal tract. Methods: Twenty-eight young Wistar rats, 4 weeks old, were divided into 4 groups of equal size. Group 1 animals served as controls and received 1 mL of distilled water. Groups 2, 3, and 4 received orally 1 mL of a Calabash chalk suspension containing 40 mg/mL for 14, 21, and 28 days, respectively. Upon completion of the treatments, the animals in groups 2, 3, and 4 were sacrificed on days 15, 22, and 29, respectively, and the control group animals were sacrificed on day 29. All animals were euthanised using chloroform anaesthesia. The oesophagus and the stomach of each animal were dissected out and routinely processed for histological studies. Results: There was oedema with haemorrhages in the mucosa of the stomach, and acanthosis, hyperkeratosis, and koilocytic changes were observed in the mucosa of the oesophagus of the groups treated with 40 mg/mL of Calabash chalk suspension. Conclusion: Calabash chalk caused histological changes to the stomach and the oesophagus that may lead to other pathophysiological conditions

Assessment of radioactivity and heavy metals in water sources from Artisanal mining areas of Anka, Northwest Nigeria

This study assessed the health risk associated with water sources in the artisanal and local mining areas of Anka, Northwest Nigeria. The evaluation of radioactivity concentration was carried out using a gas flow proportional counter while the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of heavy metals exposure were also evaluated. The concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured using the microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometer. The mean annual effective dose for α- and β- emitters for children were 10.12 and 14.63 µSvy−1, respectively and those of adults were 22.94 and 30.51 µSvy−1 for α- and β- emitters, respectively. The mean values of lifetime cancer risk for children and adults were 2.73 × 10−4 and 1.26 × 10−4, respectively. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in descending order show the trend as Pb > Fe > Zn > Hg > Cu > Ni > Co > Cd > Cr. The mean concentrations of Fe, Hg, and Cd were above the WHO permissible limits of 0.200, 0.100 and 0.003 mgL−1, respectively. The hazard index of heavy metal evaluated in this study for children was 7.43 while that of adults was 1.27, which are higher than the limit of 1. The cancer risk due to heavy metal was 1.55 × 10−3 for children and 2.65 × 10−4 for adults; these values are higher than USEPA safe limits. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from heavy metal are of concern and should be considered for continuous monitoring and remediation

National surveillance and control costs for highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry : a benefit-cost assessment for a developing economy, Nigeria

We conducted benefit-cost analysis of outbreak and surveillance costs for HPAI H5N1in poultry in Nigeria. Poultry's death directly cost US$939,734.0 due to outbreaks. The integrated disease surveillance and response originally created for comprehensive surveillance and laboratory investigation of human diseases was adapted for HPAI H5N1 in poultry. Input data were obtained from the field, government documents and repositories and peer-reviewed publications. Actual/forecasted bird numbers lost were integrated into a financial model and estimates of losses were calculated. Costs of surveillance as alternative intervention were determined based on previous outbreak control costs and outputs were generated in SurvCost® with sensitivity analyses for different scenarios. Uncontrolled outbreaks will lead to loss of over US$ 2.2 billion annually in Nigeria with 47.8% of the losses coming from eggs. The annual cost of all animal related health activities was <US$ 99.0 million, only one-third of this amount was linked with H5N1 surveillance and response activities. Recurrent cost was 96.2% of the total surveillance and response costs, and 31.0% of the HPAI surveillance cost was spent on personnel with 3.8% as capital cost. Cost-wisely, routine monitoring and surveillance for HPAI are 68 times more cost effective than to do nothing. Assuming that successful control and eradication of HPAI H5N1 is partially attributable to H5N1 surveillance and response, a quarter or half of the success will result in 17 or 34 times more benefits. Although animal surveillance and response activities for avian influenza appeared expensive, their implementation are economically cost beneficial for developing countries.Supplementary material 1, Surveillance benefits and costs for HPAI H5N1, Nigeria, 2016Supplementary material 2, Surveillance benefits and costs for HPAI H5N1, Nigeria, 2016http://www.elsevier.com/locate/rvsc2019-08-01hj2018Production Animal StudiesVeterinary Tropical Disease

Effectiveness and tolerability of standardized milk based, standardized non-milk based and hospital-based formulations in the management of moderate acute malnutrition in under-five children: A randomized clinical trial

Introduction : Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) is a leading cause of under-five morbidity and mortality globally. Supplementary feeding is a strategy recommended by WHO for managing the condition.Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of standardized milk-based formulation (SMBF), standardized non-milk based formulation (SNMBF) and hospital-based formulation (HBF) in under-fives with MAM.Method: This was an open label randomized clinical trial in which eligible children aged 6 – 59 months with MAM were assigned to receive the SMBF, SNMBF or HBF at 50% of their daily caloric requirement with their regular family diet for four months. Their baseline characteristics and anthropometric indices were noted. They were followed up on two weekly basis during which further assessments were performed. The analysis for effectiveness and tolerability of the formulations were based on “per protocol”.Results: A total of 687 children were screened and 188 enrolled. Seventy children received SMBF, 63 received SNMBF while 55 received HBF. There were 54/70 (77.1%), 57/64 (89.1%) and 46/55 (83.6%) evaluable participants in the SMBF, SNMBF and HBF group respectively. Recovery from MAM was 43/54 (79.6%), 40/57 (70.2%) and 32/46 (69.6%) in the SMBF, SNMBF and HBF group respectively. Normal nutritional status was attained by 13 (24.0%), 10 (17.6%) and 5 (10.9%) children in the SMBF, SNMBF and HBF group respectively. Diarrhea and skin rashes were the main features of poor tolerability.Conclusions: The formulations were effective in managing MAM in childhood but the SMBF was the most effective. Diarrhea and skin rashes were the main features of poor tolerability

Priority setting for systematic review of health care interventions in Nigeria

Objectives In an era of evidence based medicine and systematic review, this study seeks to identify priority systematic review topics that address common health problems in Nigeria.Methods Firstly, a primary list of health problems was compiled from the National Health Management Information Systems and information from key informants (health professionals, researchers and NGOs) drawn from the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. Key steps included compilation and ranking of a comprehensive list of health problems into 4 categories: adult communicable, non-communicable, maternal and child health; searching the Cochrane Library and electronic databases for systematic reviews on identified priority problems, analysis of search outputs to identify gaps; listing and ranking of new priority systematic review topics using pre-determined criteria.Results Eighteen questions made the final list of priorities systematic reviews and 9 of them were related to malaria. There were 7 additional issues that the panelists identified as crucial cross-cutting issues that need to be addressed in systematic reviews.Conclusion Identification and prioritization of systematic reviews relevant to health care in Nigeria will improve the opportunity to deliver evidence-based and equitable health care to the people. These topics are likely to be also important for health care decision in other resource-poor settings.Priority setting Evidence based medicine Systematic review Healthcare practice Nigeria