Larvicidal activity of crude extract of Morinda morindiodes (Jologbo)leaves on Anopheles mosquitoes larvae

Mosquitoes are known vectors for transmitting malarial parasites. To prevent proliferation of mosquito borne diseases and to improve public health, mosquito control has been employed using unfriendly syntheticinsecticides. Alternative to these synthetic agents are natural products. The present study was designed to investigate the larvicidal activity of the Pet-ether crude extract of the leaves of Morinda morindiodes (Jologbo), Rubiaceae family, against the fourth instar larvae of Anopheles mosquitoes. A quantity of the dried and powdered leaves was exhaustively extracted by the Soxhlet extraction method using petroleum ether (60-80%). Samples of larvae were transferred into the extract at the various concentrations (50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 ppm). The mortality was observed and the dead larvae counted after 15 min., 30 min, 40 min, 1 hr, 3 hrs and 5 hrs. There were progressive increases in the lethal effect on the Anopheles larvae with respect to time and concentration. Lethality was observed from 1 hr, at a concentration of 200 ppm and by the 5th hour, all the concentrations were lethal. After probit analysis, the calculated LC50 (larvae) was 55.96 ppm/5 hrs.Keywords: Morinda morindiodes, Larvicidal, Jologbo, Malaria control, herbal pesticide

Posology in children oral liquid medication studies in Liberia

The determination and implementation of appropriate dose(s) and dosing in children for effective therapeutic outcome devoid of medication errors is a concern to health practitioners and regulatory authorities. This study surveyed children oral medications on the Liberian pharmaceutical market for appropriate dose, dosing and delivery devices. In the qualitative work, caregivers were interviewed and surveys were conducted in pharmacies for oral medications and the quantitative phase involved the evaluation of the delivery devices. The result of the survey showed that 95.7% of caregivers followed instructions provided at the point of dispensing or as on label of product. Survey result showed that 56% of the oral medicinal products have specific direction for usage while 73% have the inscription “as directed by the physician”, either alone or in combination with specific direction for use. Medicines with delivery device as cup were 80.94% and those with teaspoons were 1.79%, while 17.28% do not have any form of delivery device. And 53.11% of the medicinal products provided instruction for delivery of the  medicines in “teaspoonful”, though they did not contain teaspoon neither were the cups graduated in “teaspoonful” format. Volume calibration of the various “5.0 ml” teaspoons showed statistically significant differences (P< 0.05), while the cups volume capacities at 5.0 ml was found to be 5.200 ± 0.326 ml. The large volume cups showed significant  differences (P<0.05) at the 5.0 ml graduation and only 25.5% of the mothers were able to accurately measure out 5.0 ml in the cups.Keywords: Medication error, posology, delivery devices, medical error, children oral medication

The transitioning experiences of internationally-educated nurses into a Canadian health care system: A focused ethnography

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Beyond well-documented credentialing issues, internationally-educated nurses (IENs) may need considerable support in transitioning into new social and health care environments. This study was undertaken to gain an understanding of transitioning experiences of IENs upon relocation to Canada, while creating policy and practice recommendations applicable globally for improving the quality of transitioning and the retention of IENs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A focused ethnography of newly-recruited IENs was conducted, using individual semi-structured interviews at both one-to-three months (Phase 1) and nine-to-twelve months post-relocation (Phase 2). A purposive sample of IENs was recruited during their orientation at a local college, to a health authority within western Canada which had recruited them for employment throughout the region. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and data was managed using qualitative analytical software. Data analysis was informed by Roper and Shapira's framework for focused ethnography.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty three IENs consented to participate in 31 interviews. All IENs which indicated interest during their orientation sessions consented to the interviews, yet 14 did not complete the Phase 2 interview due to reorganization of health services and relocation. The ethno-culturally diverse group had an average age of 36.4 years, were primarily educated to first degree level or higher, and were largely (under) employed as "Graduate Nurses". Many IENs reported negative experiences related to their work contract and overall support upon arrival. There were striking differences in nursing practice and some experiences of perceived discrimination. The primary area of discontentment was the apparent communication breakdown at the recruitment stage with subsequent discrepancy in expected professional role and financial reimbursement.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Explicit and clear communication is needed between employers and recruitment agencies to avoid employment contract misunderstandings and to enable clear interpretation of the credentialing processes. Pre-arrival orientation of IENs including health care communications should be encouraged and supported by the recruiting institution. Moreover, employers should provide more structured and comprehensive workplace orientation to IENs with consistent preceptorship. Similar to findings of many other studies, diversity should be valued and incorporated into the professional culture by nurse managers.</p

Design, baseline characteristics, and retention of African American light smokers into a randomized trial involving biological data

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>African Americans experience significant tobacco-related health disparities despite the fact that over half of African American smokers are light smokers (use ≤10 cigarettes per day). African Americans have been under-represented in smoking cessation research, and few studies have evaluated treatment for light smokers. This paper describes the study design, measures, and baseline characteristics from <it>Kick It at Swope III </it>(KIS-III), the first treatment study of bupropion for African American light smokers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Five hundred forty African American light smokers were randomly assigned to receive bupropion (150mg bid) (n = 270) or placebo (n = 270) for 7 weeks. All participants received written materials and health education counseling. Participants responded to survey items and provided blood samples for evaluation of phenotype and genotype of CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 enzymes involved in nicotine and bupropion metabolism. Primary outcome was cotinine-verified 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence at Week 26 follow-up.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 2,628 individuals screened, 540 were eligible, consented, and randomized to treatment. Participants had a mean age of 46.5 years and 66.1% were women. Participants smoked an average of 8.0 cigarettes per day, had a mean exhaled carbon monoxide of 16.4ppm (range 1-55) and a mean serum cotinine of 275.8ng/ml. The mean Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence was 3.2, and 72.2% of participants smoked within 30 minutes of waking. The average number of quit attempts in the past year was 3.7 and 24.2% reported using pharmacotherapy in their most recent quit attempt. Motivation and confidence to quit were high.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>KIS-III is the first study designed to examine both nicotine and bupropion metabolism, evaluating CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 phenotype and genotype in conjunction with psychosocial factors, in the context of treatment of African American light smokers. Of 1629 smokers screened for study participation, only 18 (1.1%) were ineligible to participate in the study because they refused blood draws, demonstrating the feasibility of recruiting and enrolling African American light smokers into a clinical treatment trial involving biological data collection and genetic analyses. Future evaluation of individual factors associated with treatment outcome will contribute to advancing tailored tobacco use treatment with the goal of enhancing treatment and reducing health disparities for African American light smokers.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov: <a href="URL">NCT00666978</a></p

The effect of Yoyo bitters on the pharmacokinetics of single oral dose paracetamol tablet in human volunteers

Paracetamol (Tylenol, acetaminophen) and Yoyo bitters (a liquid oral herbal preparation) are known prescriptive drugs and widely available to &iexcl;&sect;patients&iexcl;&uml;. They are taken individually or as combination therapy atslightest signs/symptoms of fever in Nigeria. The pharmacokinetics of oral single dose paracetamol (1000 mg tablet), was evaluated in eight healthy male volunteers. Experiment was carried out in three phases. In the 1stphase, only oral paracetamol tablet was administered to subjects, while in the 2nd phase, subjects were administered paracetamol at the same time with Yoyo bitters and in the 3rd phase, (delayed protocol) the subjects were administered paracetamol after taking Yoyo bitters for 3 days. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for paracetamol using&nbsp; spectrophotometric method. The values obtained for the pharmacokineticsparameters when paracetamol was administered alone falls within previously reported values. Yoyo bitters did not statistically (P&gt;0.05) affect the pharmacokinetics of paracetamol when administered concurrently withYoyo bitters. However when administered after three days of Yoyo bitters administration, there was statistically significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in AUC0-&iexcl;&Ucirc; and t1/2&pound;] while there was significant (P&lt;0.05) decrease inK&pound;] &fnof;nand Cl/F

Single dose pharmacokinetics of mefloquine in healthy Nigerian male subjects

Single dose pharmacokinetics of mefloquine was determined in SJ ic healthy Nigerian male subjects. Mefloquine 500mg single dose was administered and blood sa  mples were collected 11t intervals. Plasma concentrations were determined by RP-HPLC method after sample pretreated step by solid phase extraction technique. Analytical characteristics of the HPLC system showed a plasma recovery of between 82.3 and 93% with an intra-day precision of 9.83% and 6.1 % inter-day  precision. Absorption was rapid with a t1/2a, of 4.2h and a Tmax of 10h. The corresponding Cmax was l.77ug/ml and an AUCo-x of 19.05mg/L. day. The volume of distribution Vd/f was small, 9.43L/kg with a corresponding total plasma clearance of 0.453L/day/kg. The elimination was slow with a t1/28 of 18. 60 days

Spectrophotometeric determination of metoprolol in tablet dosage form

Metoprolol, a beta-1 selective adrenegic receptor blocker antihypertensive agent is fairly new in Nigeria. In view of the endemic faking and adulterating of drugs in Nigeria, a simple, quick, and accurate method was developed for its assay. Metoprolol was coupled with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1, 3 diazole (NBD-Cl) in borate buffer (pH 9) and at a temperature of 100oC. An orange coloured metoprolol-NBD-Cl complex was formed within 10 minutes and the complex was stable for another 20 minutes. The reaction product had a ëmax of 460 nm. The absorbance-concentration plot was rectilinear (0.998) over the concentration range of 5 40 ìg/ml and with a detection limit of 2 ìg/ml. Recovery was 96.3% with RSD of 6.5%

Pharmacopoeial quality of drugs supplied by Nigerian pharmacies.

BACKGROUND: The quality of medicines available in some less-developed countries is inadequate in terms of content of active ingredient. Reasons for the poor quality of drugs include widespread counterfeiting of medicines in less-developed countries, excessive decomposition of active ingredient as a result of high temperature and humidity, and poor quality assurance during the manufacture of medicinal products. Our aim was to investigate the quality of different drugs obtained from retail pharmacies in two urban areas of Nigeria, and, in instances of poor quality, to ascertain the reason why. METHODS: We randomly collected 581 samples of 27 different drugs from 35 pharmacies in Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria. We analysed the medicines for drug content by validated chromatographic methods, and compared our results with pharmacopoeial requirements. FINDINGS: 279 (48%) samples did not comply with set pharmacopoeial limits, and this proportion was uniform for the various types of drugs tested. Although some preparations contained no active ingredient, most had amounts just outside the pharmacopoeial limits. We identified samples with both too much and too little active drug content. INTERPRETATION: The most probable cause of the poor quality of drugs is absence of adequate quality assurance during manufacture. Substandard drugs sold in the pharmacies of less-developed countries could contribute to global microbial resistance and therapeutic failure of infectious diseases