Knowledge Assessment of Anti-snake Venom Among Healthcare Practitioners in Northern Nigeria

Introduction: Anti-snake venom (ASV) is the standard therapy for the management of snakebite envenoming (SBE). Therefore, the knowledge of ASV among healthcare practitioners (HCPs) is essential for achieving optimal clinical outcomes in snakebite management. This study aimed to assess knowledge of ASV among the HCPs in northern Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving eligible HCPs from different healthcare settings in northern Nigeria. The participants were recruited into the study using a combination of online (via Google Form) and face-to-face paper-based survey methods. The ASV knowledge of the respondents was measured using a validated anti-snake venom knowledge assessment tool (AKAT). Inadequate overall knowledge of ASV was defined as scores of 0-69.9%, and 70-100% were considered adequate overall knowledge scores. The predictors of ASV knowledge were determined using multiple logistic regression. Results: Three hundred and thirty-one (331) eligible HCPs were included in the study analysis (310 from online and 21 from paper-based survey). Overall, an estimated 12.7% of the participants had adequate knowledge of ASV. Adequate ASV knowledge was higher among physicians compared with other HCPs (21.7%; X-2 =8.1; p=0.04). Those without previous training on ASV (adjusted odds ratio [a0R], 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18-0.73; p= 0.004) and who have not previously administered/dispensed ASV (aOR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.15-0.63; p \u3c 0.001) were less likely to have adequate knowledge of ASV. Conclusion: The knowledge of ASV among healthcare practitioners in northern Nigeria is grossly inadequate. Experience with administering or dispensing ASV predicts ASV knowledge. Therefore, appropriate interventions are needed to improve ASV knowledge, particularly among the HCPs, for optimal healthcare outcomes

An in silico approach in predicting the possible mechanism involving restoration of wild-type p53 functions by small molecular weight compounds in tumor cells expressing R273H mutant p53

R273H mutant p53 is a DNA-contact mutant that renders p53 dysfunctional due to a single substitution of Arg273 for His273. Rescuing R273 mutant p53 implies that a competent molecule would have to bind to the site of DNA-contact hot spots to complement the loss of contact with the DNA-binding domain. Here, curcumin, flavokawain B, and alpinetin were docked against the crystal structure of R273H mutant p53 in silico. Consequently, all the compounds bind to the cavity of R273H mutant p53 with a dissociation constant estimated to have 36.57, 70.77, and 75.11 μM for curcumin, flavokawain B, and alpinetin, respectively. Subsequently, each molecule was able to bind to the R273H mutant p53 by interacting with the DNA-contact hot spot Arg248 and mutant R273H, thereby compensating for the loss of direct contact with the DNA-binding domain. Furthermore, all the molecules were able to induce a direct contact with the consensus site of the DNA binding domain, thus maintaining DNA-contact residues with the DNA. The present findings offer reliminary indirect supporting evidence that small molecular weight compounds may certainly rescue DNA-contact mutant p53, which may lay a foundation for designing a competent and effective molecule capable of rescuing mutant p53 in tumor cells expressing R273H mutant p53

In-vitro cytotoxicity effects and bioactive constituents of chloroform extract of Vernonia Glaberrima Welw. Ex o. Hoffm (Asteraceae)

Vernonia glaberrima plant is used traditionally in the treatment of cancer, diabetes and malaria in North central Nigeria. This study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of chloroform extract of Vernonia glaberrima and isolate some bioactive constituents. Neutral red cytotoxicity assay was performed using breast cancer (MCF7), cervical cancer (HeLa) and Liver cancer (HepG2) cells upon exposure to predetermined concentrations of the chloroform extract. The cell viability was determined colorimetrically after 72 hours of incubation. The extract was fractionated using silica gel column chromatography and preparative TLC. Isolated compounds were characterized using FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. The extract inhibited 50% cell proliferation of MCF7, HeLa and HepG2 cells at an IC50 value of 14.02 ± 0.03, 15.78. ± 0.04, and 16.77± 0.1 µg/mL, respectively. Two compounds namely, lupeol (1) and betulinic acid (2) were isolated from the extract. The two isolated compounds have been previously reported in literature to possess anticancer activities. Hence, the findings from this study demonstrate the potential anticancer properties of chloroform extract of Vernonia glaberrima