Effect of aqueous extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Zingiber Officinale on blood cholesterol and glucose levels of rats

The effect of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Zingiber officinale on plasma cholesterol and glucose concentration in albino rats was determined. Thirty albino rats weighing between 225 – 270 gwere divided into six groups of five rats each. Group 1 (control 1) rats were fed 100% growers mash whereas group 2 (control 2) rats and other groups were fed 99% growers mash and 1% cholesterol.Subsequently, group 3 rats were given 0.8 ml/kg body weight of H. sabdarffa extract, while those in group 4 were given 0.2 ml Z. officinale extract/kg body weight. Rats in group 5 were given 1 ml of H.sabdariffa and Z. officinale mixture (17.2 mg/400 ml+ 8.6 mg/200 ml). Rats in group 6 were given the same treatment as those in group 5 but different concentration of the mixture (17.2 mg/200 ml+8.6mg/100 ml) respectively. The rats were treated with the extracts once a day, 7 days a week for 6 weeks. Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 revealed a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in plasma cholesterol. Also,plasma glucose was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in groups 3, 4, 5 and 6. Group 6 had the greatest reduction in plasma glucose, test value (group 6) 0.60 ± 0.28 when compared with control value 5.14 ±0.89. Therefore, the plants H. sabdariffa and Z. officinale apart from being hypocholesterolemic are also hypoglycemic

Assessment of speed of writing among left-handed and righthanded undergraduate students of University of Benin

The term handedness describes a characteristic form of specialization whereby a person by preference uses  one hand for clearly identified activities, such as writing. In most manual tasks usually, the preferred hand is  used more than the unpreferred hand. The aim of this study was to compare the speed in writing of left-handed  and right-handed undergraduates at University of Benin. One hundred (100) undergraduate students  irrespective of gender were used. Fifty of the students were males while the remaining fifty were females. Fifty  (50) were left-handed and fifty (50) were right –handed. The students were made to undergo a speed test  in writing and the time taken to complete the test was recorded in seconds. Result was expressed as Mean  ±SEM. Difference between means were assessed using students t-test and p value less than 0.05 (p&lt;0.05) was chosen for significance. Results showed no significant difference in the speed of writing between  left-handed users and right-handed users, though the right-handers were slightly faster. When the right-handers and left-handers used their non dominant hand, left-handers were faster. In the change from dominant hand to non-dominant hand, left-handers were faster. This can be applied in post traumatic rehabilitation involving damage to the dominant hand.Keywords: Dominant hand, Left-handed, Right-handed, Speed, Writin

Estrogen Levels in the Three Trimesters of Pregnancy in Albino Rat.

An experimental investigation using DRG Estradiol ELISA Kit to determine the levels of estrogen in the serum of the first, second and third trimesters of pregnant and non-pregnant albino rats were undertaken.Twenty rats were divided into four groups of five rats each. Group one was the control group (non-pregnant rats); group two to four were pregnant rats in the first, second and third trimesters which were days 7, 14 and 21 respectively.Results from this study showed that the mean estrogen levels in albino rats were significantly increased (p&lt;0.001) in first (14.681.36pg), second (16.26) and third (23.601.82pg) trimesters of pregnancy when compared to non pregnant control albino rats (9.740.50pg). This study confirmed that estrogen level increased in all stages of pregnancy with the highest level recorded in the third trimester.Analysis of variance indicated that there was significant difference (p&lt;0.001) in estrogen levels across all the trimesters of pregnancy

Effects of Halofantrine Hydrochloride (Halfan) on the Histology of the Ovary of Mature Female Wistar Rats

Halofantrine hydrochloride (halfan) was administered via oral route to matured female wistar rats weighing 180–200g. The wistar rats were randomly selected and divided into six groups of four rats each making a total of twenty four rats and coded A1, A2, A3, B1, B2 and B3. Groups A3 and B3 were used as controls. Three consecutive doses of 1mg/100g halfan each were administered to group A1 at six hourly intervals while three doses of 2mg/100g halfan each were administered to group A2 at six hourly intervals. The animals were sacrificed on the 5th day after drug administration by cervical dislocation. Animals in groups B1 and B2 were given doses corresponding to A1 and A2 respectively, but in addition drug administration was repeated the fifth day following the day of first administration. The animals in this group were sacrificed on the tenth day by cervical dislocation, the ovaries were removed, blotted dry, fixed in 10% formal saline for histological processing and studies. Histological changes observed in the ovary include retarded growth of follicles, reduction in size and number of follicles, increase in cytoplasmic vacuolation, constriction of blood vessels, absence of corpora lutae and cases of cellular necrosis. These alterations were more pronounced in those groups sacrificed on the tenth day. (Afr J Reprod Health 2003; 7[1]: 113–120) Résumé Effets du chlorhydrate halofantrine (halfan) sur l\'histologie de l\'ovaire des rats de wistar femelles mûres.Le chlorhydrate halofantrine (halfan) a été administé par voie orale aux rats de wistar femelles mûres qui pesaient 180–200g. Les rats de wistar ont été selectionnés au hasard et divisés en six groupes, quatre rats dans un groupe. Il y avait au total vingt-quatre rats codés A1 A2 A3, B1 B2 et B3. Les groupes A3 et B2 servaient de groupes témoin. On a administré trios doses consécutives de 1mg/100g de halfan au groupe A toutes les six heures alors qu\'on a administré trios doses de 2mg/100g de halfan au groupe A2 toutes les six heures. Le cinquième jour après l\'administration, les animaux ont été sacrifiés par la luxation du rachi cervical. Les animaux des groupes B1 et B2 ont reçu les mêmes doses que ceux des groupes A1 et A2 respectivement, mais en plus, on a répété l\'administration des médicaments le cinquième jour après la première administration. Les animaux de ce groupe ont été sacrifiés le dixième jour par une luxation du rachis cervical; on a levé les ovaires, les a séchés et fixés dans 10% de solution salée pour contrôler le procès histologique et pour les étudier. Les modifications histologiques observées dans l\'ovaire comprenment le retard de croissance du follicule, la réduction dans la taille et dans le nombre des follicules, l\'augmentation de la vacuolisation cytoplasmique, la constriction des vaisseaux sanguins, l\'absence de copora lutae et des cas de nécroses cellulaires. Ces modifications étaient plus marquées chez les groupes qui ont été sacrifiés le dixième jour. (Rev Afr Santé Reprod 2003; 7[1]: 113–120) Key Words: Halofantrine hydrochloride, ovarian follicles, wistar rat

Quantitative evaluation of Serum Progesterone levels in the three trimesters of pregnancy in Albino rat

Progesterone is a major hormone of pregnancy. Evidence suggests that without luteinizing signal, the corpus luteum may be dysfunctional and subsequent progesterone secretion may be abnormal which could lead to decrease in implantation and thus decrease in viability of pregnancy. The aim of the study was to determine if there was an increase in progesterone level at different trimesters of pregnancy in wistar rats. Twenty female albino rats were categorized into four different groups of five rats each. Group one (non-pregnant rats) served as the control. Groups two, three and four were pregnant rats in days 5, 12 and 19 corresponding to first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy respectively. Blood samplescollected from the four groups were subjected to ELISA method for the assay of serum progesterone levels. There were statistically significant increases in the second (25.62±3.74pg) and third (36.36±1.17pg) trimesters when compared with non pregnant wistar rats (5.70±1.35pg). The increase observed in the first trimester was not statistically significant. © JASE

Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Secondary School Teachers On Hiv/Aids: Implications For Sexuality Education

This study examined the knowledge and practices of 209 public secondary school teachers in Onitsha metropolis, Anambra State, Nigeria towards HIV/AIDS in order to assess their level of preparedness to deliver qualitative HIV/AIDS education within the context of a comprehensive sexuality education program. This has become necessary in view of the significant morbidity and mortality rates of HIV/AIDS among the Nigerian populace. Our findings show that although 100% of the teachers have heard about HIV/AIDS, more than 30% of them did not know that a virus caused the disease. Nearly 10% of the teachers thought that the disease could be transmitted through handshakes, sharing cutlery and clothes. There were significant gender differences in the sexual behavior of the teachers as well as their comfort level to discuss issues surrounding sexuality and HIV/AIDS. Only 2.5% of the teachers had ever talked about HIV/AIDS during routine classes and less than 3% of the teachers had ever attended a formal workshop or seminar on HIV/AIDS. In conclusion, this study highlights the poor state of preparedness of teachers in the public secondary school system in Onitsha metropolis to provide qualitative HIV/AIDS education within the context of the approved comprehensive sexuality education program in Nigeria and the absence of any capacity building programs in place to support them. Keywords: Sexuality Education; HIV/AIDS, Teachers, Secondary Schools, Onitsha Metropolis.Annals of Biomedical Sciences Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 13-2

The effect of Jatrptha Tanjorensis on hemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume of wistar rats

BACKGROUND: Jatropha tanjorensis is commonly addressed as hospital is too far due to its use in addressing medical challenges in the local communities where standard health care facilities are lacking. METHODS: 0.5g/kg body weight of the extract of Jatropha tanjorensis was administered on twenty wistar rats divided into two groups; ten males and ten females for a period of twenty eight (28) days and blood was collected for hemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume. RESULTS: Result shows statistically significant increases in the hemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Extracts of Jatropha tanjorensis can therefore be used in building up the blood level in Physiological conditions like pregnancy and during menstruation when there is drop in hemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume. This becomes of great use in rural communities where there are inadequate health care