Evaluation of physicochemical, in vivo analgesic and antiinflammatory activities of Brachystegia eurycoma gum-based naproxen loaded niosomal gels

Protracted oral Naproxen administration for acute and chronic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis treatment, may cause peptic ulcers. The topical application of Naproxen will circumvent this effect. This research aims to assess the physicochemical, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of Naproxen-loaded niosomal gels formulated using Brachystegia eurycoma gum (BEG) as the gelling polymer. BEG was isolated by acetone precipitation of filtrate produced by cold maceration of Brachystegia eurycoma seeds powder. Naproxen and BEG compatibility was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared FTIR) spectroscopy. Naproxen-loaded niosomes were produced with cholesterol, surfactant (tween 80) and water using a modified ethanol injection method. The formulated niosomes were incorporated into either BEG (5, 7.5 or 10%) or HPMC (1.5, 5%) gel base to produce the respective Naproxen-loaded niosomal gels. The niosomal gels were assessed for their physicochemical, antiinflammatory and analgesic properties using a commercially available gel as a positive control. There was no incompatibility between BEG and Naproxen. The formulated gels’ pH ranged from 6.4 to 7.3, while the viscosity ranged from 1476.2 to 2980 mPas. The formulated gels had good extrudability and spreadability compared to the commercially available gel (1%). In-vivo studies using white albino rats showed that gels from the optimized formulation (F1) had comparable anti-inflammatory (26.5% inhibition) and analgesic properties to the commercially available gel (31.3% inhibition). Naproxen-loaded niosomal gels having good physicochemical, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties were successfully formulated using BEG as a gelling agent

Administrative Accountability on Organisational Performance of Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria

The study examined the effect of administrative accountability on organisational efficiency and performance of government officials, local government employees and community representatives; identify the challenges associated with implementing administrative accountability systems and how they can be addressed; assess the impact of administrative accountability on stakeholders trust and organisational goal alignment in Ethiope East Local Government Area (EELGA), Delta State, Nigeria. The study used mixed-method research of both qualitative and quantitative data. The data were sourced from questionnaire and in-depth interview, the questionnaire were on five point Likert Scale. The study population  comprised 2000 stakeholders in EELGA, Delta State. A sample size of 350 respondents were drawn for adequate representation. Descriptive statistic and Spearman Rank Corrolation was used to analysed the data. The result showed that administrative accountability has effect on organisational efficiency and performance of government officials, local government employees and community representatives, the challenges associated with implementing administrative accountability systems showed that insufficient resources, staff resistance to accountability systems, and inadequate training cause multiple waves of policy, conflicting policies, or duplicate responsibilities hampers comprehension and lessens enforcemen; administrative accountability has impact on stakeholders trust and organisational goal alignment in EELGA, Delta State, Nigeria.  However, the study evidence that with the right measures and approaches, administrative accountability can be a useful weapon in enhancing productivity, performance and realising organisational goals in EELGA, Delta State, Nigeria. This study contributed to the existing body of knowledge by carrying out a research on administrative accountability, looking at both its effect, association and impact on organisational efficiency and performance of EELGA, Delta State, Nigeria, ultising both qualitative and quantitative techniques, while extant literatures showed that, other scholars used effects, relationships or impacts to analysed administrative accountability and organisational performance of studies in Nigeria and that of outside Nigeria

CLINICAL RESPONSE OF A BRAND OF ARTEMETHER- LUMEFANTRINE IN CHILDREN BELOW FIVE YEARS OLD

Malaria is a major health concern in children aged less than five years old, globally. In Nigeria, it was estimated that 300,000 children die annually from malaria. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the clinical response of a brand of arthemether-lumefantrine (AL) for clearing parasitaemia in children aged less than five years old. This was a prospective study of the clinical and parasitological responses to the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) malaria using a popular dispersible brand of AL 20/120 mg. A hundred participants within 6–59 months with P. falciparum malaria were enrolled in the study and participants who could not complete the follow-ups were excluded. The drug was administered to participants following same dosage regimen on days 0, 1, 2 and followed-up on days 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 in which the participants were assessed clinically and parasitologically. Data was analysed using MS-Excel 2010 and SPSS version 18. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess clinical outcomes. The study showed that 73 participants completed the 28 days follow-up while 27 participants were lost to follow-up. Clinical outcome revealed no early treatment failure (ETF), one late clinical failure (LCF), 10 parasitological failures and 62 adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPF). Clinical response was 84.9%, cumulative success and failure rate was 93.6% and 6.4%, respectively, on day 28. The clinical response of AL was efficacious. The failure rate of 6.4% could likely be as a result of reinfection within the period of follow-up.</jats:p

Histologic sequelae following exposure to turmeric extract on wistar rats ovary and uterus

The regular and single use of turmeric in reference to the reproductive system following several review is conflicting, and its effect has not been fully ascertained. The study therefore espoused the histologic sequelae following exposure to turmeric extract on wistar rats ovary and uterus. Ethical clearance was sought from the Research and Ethics Committee in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences of the Delta State University prior to the commencement of this research. 24 wistar rats divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each. Group A was the control group while groups B, C and D were the treated groups that received 500, 1000 and 1500mg/kg of turmeric extract respectively. Animals were also sub-sectioned, labeled accordingly into 7th, 14th and 21st days respectively for easy identification and treatment or administration. At the end of each experimental days, animals were weighed and euthanized by cervical dislocation. Ovaries and uterus were dissected and fixed in 10% formal saline solution, following regulated histologic procedures. Prepared Slides were viewed using a digital microscope. The micrographs obtained revealed deleterious effect on the histology and cytology of the ovary and uterus following treatment of turmeric. The observed histological distortions to the ovary and uterus have most likely arisen from repeated exposure to tumeric extract; this has proven turmeric to be an harmful substance to the female reproductive system especially women of child bearing age and the regular and continuous consumption of these agent should be regulated. Published by the International Journal of Biomolecules and Biomedicine (IJBB

Administrative Accountability on Organisational Performance of Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria

The study examined the effect of administrative accountability on organisational efficiency and performance of government officials, local government employees and community representatives; identify the challenges associated with implementing administrative accountability systems and how they can be addressed; assess the impact of administrative accountability on stakeholders trust and organisational goal alignment in Ethiope East Local Government Area (EELGA), Delta State, Nigeria. The study used mixed-method research of both qualitative and quantitative data. The data were sourced from questionnaire and in-depth interview, the questionnaire were on five point Likert Scale. The study population  comprised 2000 stakeholders in EELGA, Delta State. A sample size of 350 respondents were drawn for adequate representation. Descriptive statistic and Spearman Rank Corrolation was used to analysed the data. The result showed that administrative accountability has effect on organisational efficiency and performance of government officials, local government employees and community representatives, the challenges associated with implementing administrative accountability systems showed that insufficient resources, staff resistance to accountability systems, and inadequate training cause multiple waves of policy, conflicting policies, or duplicate responsibilities hampers comprehension and lessens enforcemen; administrative accountability has impact on stakeholders trust and organisational goal alignment in EELGA, Delta State, Nigeria.  However, the study evidence that with the right measures and approaches, administrative accountability can be a useful weapon in enhancing productivity, performance and realising organisational goals in EELGA, Delta State, Nigeria. This study contributed to the existing body of knowledge by carrying out a research on administrative accountability, looking at both its effect, association and impact on organisational efficiency and performance of EELGA, Delta State, Nigeria, ultising both qualitative and quantitative techniques, while extant literatures showed that, other scholars used effects, relationships or impacts to analysed administrative accountability and organisational performance of studies in Nigeria and that of outside Nigeria

Zinc Shield: Efficacy in Mitigating Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy and Chemoradiotherapy:A Systematic Review

Background &amp; Aims: Head and Neck Cancers (HNCs) pose a significant global health burden, with increasing incidence projected by 2030. Treatment typically involves radiotherapy (RT) and chemoradiotherapy (CMRT), often leading to debilitating oral mucositis (OM) causing impaired quality of life and sometimes inability to continue treatment. Currently, there are no established preventive and therapeutic measures for OM in HNC patients. This systematic review aims to consolidate available evidence on the efficacy of zinc supplementation in mitigating the onset, duration, and severity of OM during RT and CMRT in HNC patients.  Methods: We searched the Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases for all records of HNC patients who were getting RT or CMRT and different kinds of zinc supplements from January 2013 to July 2023. Search terms included various HNC, RT, chemoradiotherapy, and zinc supplementation permutations. Only interventional studies were included, with quality assessment conducted using the JBI risk of bias tools. Findings were synthesized narratively. Results: Eight studies involving 651 HNC patients, comprising six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two non-randomized controlled trials, were included. Various radiotherapy techniques and concurrent chemotherapy were utilized across studies, with zinc administered in multiple forms including syrup, tablets, suspension, topical application, and mouthwashes. Overall, six studies reported a beneficial effect of zinc supplementation in reducing the incidence, onset, duration, and severity of OM, while two studies reported no significant impact. Conclusion: Zinc supplementation shows promise in ameliorating OM in HNC patients undergoing RT and chemoradiotherapy, likely due to its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties. Further research is warranted to elucidate optimal dosage and regimen for zinc supplementation in this context

Evaluation of the Binding Property of Irvingia Gabonesis Gum in Paracetamol Tablet Formulations Produced using Two Different Disintegrants

Paracetamol is mainly used as analgesic and antipyretic drug. This study was conducted to evaluate the binding property of Irvingia gabonensis gum (IGG) in paracetamol tablet formulations in the presence of either maize starch or microcrystalline cellulose as disintegrant. IGG was isolated by acetone precipitation of the filtrate from the maceration of the powdered seeds of Irvingia gabonensis (Irvingiaceae) in distilled water for 24 h. Paracetamol granules were prepared using the wet granulation method. They were produced by using various concentration of IGG as binder, maize starch or microcrystalline cellulose as disintegrants and lactose as filler. The different formulations of paracetamol granules were mixed with magnesium stearate and talc and compressed into the respective tablets. The tablets were evaluated based on uniformity of weight, tablet hardness, friability, disintegration time and in vitro drug release. The tablet hardness for the paracetamol tablet formulations ranged from 2.27±0.09 to 8.00±0.54 Kgf. The friability values ranged from 0.21 ± 0.04 to 3.40±0.10%. The disintegration time ranged from 3.00±0.10 to 23±0.50 min. Tablets from all the formulations released up to 70% of their paracetamol contents within 25 min. For all the formulations, as the binder concentration increased the rate of drug release decreased. For tablets prepared using IGG as binder; formulations that contain microcrystalline cellulose as disintegrant had better release profile than those prepared using maize starch as disintegrant. The study shows that IGG have good binding property. Paracetamol tablets formulated using IGG as binder have comparable hardness value but lower disintegration time than those formulated using maize starch mucilage as binder.</jats:p