Curing HIV-1 Infection via in vitro Ultra-Sensitive Modification of HIV-1 Uninfected CD4+ Cells using Antiviral Agents

Curing HIV-1 Infection via in vitro ultra-sensitive modification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) uninfected CD4+ cells is a promising hypothetical procedure that links different established clinical/laboratory tools (methods) and channeling them towards a clinical trial to achieve the ultimate goal of curing HIV-1 infection. The In vitro ultra-sensitive chemical modification of HIV-1 uninfected CD4+ cells using selected anti-viral agents towards curing HIV-1 infection entails a six step clinical/laboratory procedure. Isolation/purification of HIV-free CD4+ cells is the first step of this therapeutic procedure. In vitro CD4+ cell expansion/culture, ultra-sensitive chemical modification, inhibition/suppression of CD4+ cell proliferation, administration of chemically modulated cells to HIV-infected patient, monitoring/maintaining the physiological/biochemical processes under intensive care make up the other steps of this procedure consecutively. The milestones in this therapeutic method include increased bioavailability, minimum dosage, minimal or no side effects, shorter duration of treatment, mop-up of free plasma virions. The principal reason for this adopted method is that, the therapy overcomes the limitations posed by the current methods of managing HIV-1 infection using anti-retrovirals. Keywords: Curing, CD4+ cells, HIV-1 infection, antiviral, side effect, modificatio

Assessment of the effects of Cucumis metuliferus fruits alkaloids against Newcastle disease virus-LaSota

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the antiviral activity of the Cucumis metuliferus alkaloids against Newcastle disease virus-LaSota (NDV-L). Methods: Hemagglutination (HA) test method using embryonated eggs for study. Results: The result showed "nonlethality" of the alkaloids in 10 days old embryonated eggs. Exposure of the alkaloids to NDV-L infected embryonated eggs showed negative HA test result from varying 2-fold diluted concentration between 50 and 3.125 mg/ml of the alkaloid, while the concentration between 1.563 and 0.195 mg/ml gave positive HA test. Negative HA response means the alkaloids at that concentration have antiviral activities while positive HA test implies the presence of antibodies production in response to an antigen as seen with the control, meaning that viral replication was not inhibited when the embryonated eggs were exposed to lower doses of the alkaloids. Conclusion: The study showed that the alkaloids of C. metuliferus fruit pulp extract have good margin of safety with a high level of antiviral properties as confirmed by the result of the HA test

Evaluation of anti-snake venom activity of the aqueous root extract of Securidaca longipedunculata in rats

The anti-snake venom properties of Securidaca longipedunculata Frens root extract have been evaluated in rats by monitoring the levels of the liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine kinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and amylase. The extract produced a significant (P < 0.05) dose-dependent alteration in the serum enzymes and urea analyzed. The alterations in these parameters may be responsible for pharmacologic activity of the plant extract. Keywords: Securidaca longipedunculata, serum enzymes, anti-snake venom activity Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources Vol. 2(2) 2005: 80-8

Some in vivo and in vitro studies of the aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus (Euphorbiaceae) in laboratory animals

The aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus (5–30 mg/kg, ip) was found to induce behavioural sedation/sleep in young chicks (2-day old) resulting in decreased locomotor activity as well as pecking behaviour. The extract (0.16-1.4 mg/ml) relaxed the rabbit and rat ilea with the rabbit ileum being more responsive. The effect of the extract on rat ileum was antagonized mainly by propranolol and to a lesser extent by phenoxybenzamine (0.16 &#956;g/ml). At doses ranging from 5–30 mg/kg, the extract produced a rise in cat blood pressure (BP) which increased with increase in dose. The rise in BP was also blocked by (2 &#956;g/kg) phenoxybenzamine and propranolol. The extract (5-30 mg/kg) produced a significant (

Anti-seizure activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Solanum nigrum linn (solanaceae) in experimental animals

Background: Solanum nigrum is claimed in traditional medical practice, to be useful in the treatment of epilepsy in some parts of Nigeria. Objectives: To study the anti-convulsant property of the aqueous extract of the leaves of S. nigrum in chicks, mice and rats. Method: Aqueous extracts were administered intraperitoneally, at a pre-treatment time of 30 minutes, at graded doses and animals were challenged with different types of proconvulsants. Results: The aqueous leaf extract produced a significantly (P <0.05) dose dependent protection against electrically-induced seizure in chicks and rats, pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure in mice and rats and picrotoxin-induced seizure in mice and rats. The anti-seizure property of the extract was potentiated by amphetamine. Conclusion: The result obtained in this study suggests that the leaves of this plant may possess anti-convulsant property in chicks, mice and rats

*Corresponding World Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Peptic ulcer treatment evaluation in tertiary and secondary hospitals in north central Nigeria

ABSTRACT Despite the availability of evidence-based treatment guidelines for treating peptic ulcer disease with the possibility of complete resolution of the disease, the treatment of the ulcer disease is still plagued with suboptimal outcomes with non-adherence to treatment guidelines being highlighted as part of the reasons for suboptimal peptic ulcer disease outcomes. This study sought to assess peptic ulcer treatment patterns at one tertiary (Jos University Teaching Hospital) and one secondary (Plateau State Specialist Hospital) healthcare facilities in Jos, Plateau State North-Central Nigeria, and compared their adherence to WHO/local peptic ulcer treatment guidelines. The study employed a retrospective study design utilizing a designed study pro-forma used in extracting data relevant to the study objectives from the patients&apos; medical records. The data were analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for windows version 16.0. Descriptive statistics were generated for treatment patterns while Chi-Square test set at 95% confidence interval was run for comparison of patterns between the two healthcare facilities. The results showed that females suffer more from PUD than males in both hospitals (75.8%/ 73.7% tertiary/ secondary healthcare facility respectively). Those 21-30 years of age had the highest percentage of PUD. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were the most prescribed category of peptic ulcer medications in both facilities (79.2%/ 92.3% tertiary/ secondary healthcare facility respectively). One-quarter of prescriptions compared to one-third of prescriptions in tertiary/secondary healthcare facilities respectively had prescriptions for H. pylori eradication. The mean cost per prescription of ulcer drugs in tertiary and secondary was NGN1512±957.035 and NGN2241±1607.789 respectively, and the difference was statistically significantly (P&lt;0.05). Peptic ulcer treatment in both health care facilities did not adhere strictly to Standard Treatment Guidelines