Effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on cadmium toxicity

Thirty six Winstar rats were divided into six equal groups and investigated for induced cadmium toxicity, and the detoxicating action of ginger on liver-accumulated cadmium. Group 1, the control, werefed with normal rat chow and water for six weeks. Group 2 were fed with normal rat chow and cadmium water (200 ppm Cd in water). Group 3 were fed with rat chow-ginger concentrate (95:5, w/w ratio) andwater, while Group 4 were fed with rat chow-ginger concentrate and cadmium water, all for six weeks. Group 5 were fed with normal rat chow and cadmium water initially for one week, followed by rat chowgingerconcentrate and water for five weeks; while Group 6 were fed with rat chow-ginger concentrate for one week, followed by normal rat chow and cadmium water for five weeks. Cadmium accumulated highly in rat livers without ginger administration, and raised serum glutamate oxaloacetatetransaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), while ginger lowered these parameters. Ginger had better therapeutic than prophylactic detoxication effects on liver cadmium accumulation, especially as further cadmium intake was stopped. It was concluded that cadmium detoxication by ginger was more effective therapeutically, than prophylactically, as further cadmium intake was avoided

Studies on the Intestinal Worm (Helminthiasis) infestation in a Central Nigerian Rural Community

The prevalence of intestinal helminth of residents of Naraguta rural community in Central Nigeria is presented. Out of 700 stool specimens examined between January and July 1999, 261 (37.3%) were positive forhelminthic infections. Helminths encountered include Hookworm, Schistosoma mansoni, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Hymenolepis nana. Hookworm was the most predominant, followed by S. stercoralis, S. mansoni and A. lumbricoides with T. trichiura as the least. Intestinal helminthiasis was equally prevalent for males and females. However, infection rates were high among persons below ten years of age,in toddlers, housewives and farmers than others. Persons defecating in the bush harbored more worms (56.7%) than pit latrine users (43.3%). Free medical diagnosis in most rural communities in Nigeria are probably justifiable and should be promoted and/or sustained by government. For protective purposes, conscientious personal cleanliness, proper sanitation and controlled good water supplies would be more useful. @JASE

Studies on the Intestinal Worm (Helminthiasis) infestation in a Central Nigerian Rural Community

The prevalence of intestinal helminth of residents of Naraguta rural community in Central Nigeria is presented. Out of 700 stool specimens examined between January and July 1999, 261 (37.3%) were positive for helminthic infections. Helminths encountered include Hookworm, Schistosoma mansoni , Trichuris trichiura , Strongyloides stercoralis , Ascaris lumbricoides , and Hymenolepis nana . Hookworm was the most predominant, followed by S. stercoralis, S. mansoni and A. lumbricoides with T. trichiura as the least. Intestinal helminthiasis was equally prevalent for males and females. However, infection rates were high among persons below ten years of age, in toddlers, housewives and farmers than others. Persons defecating in the bush harbored more worms (56.7%) than pit latrine users (43.3%). Free medical diagnosis in most rural communities in Nigeria are probably justifiable and should be promoted and/or sustained by government. For protective purposes, conscientious personal cleanliness, proper sanitation and controlled good water supplies would be more useful. @JASE

Primary Motives for Demand of Ivermectin Drug in Mass Distribution Programmes to Control Onchocerciasis

Background: This report of a survey study presents findings from a sample of 594 persons out of a total of 35,763 treated individuals who voluntarily demanded Ivermectin treatment during a community-based Ivermectin distribution exercise. The distribution, which took place in 2008, was the seventh in the planned ten or more years of mass distribution of the microfilaricide to control onchocerciasis in endemic communities of Ezinihitte in the Imo River Basin of Nigeria.Methods: The subjects were selected by quota sampling procedure on the basis of community and gender, and were asked to rankorder six plausible reasons for seeking treatment in terms of their order of importance in motivating them to demand Ivermectin.Results: “To gain treatment and prevention of Skin Problems” and “Desire to be De-wormed” ranked first and second respectively. “To gain promotion of general wellbeing” and “To improve state of vision and prevent of blindness” ranked third and fourth respectively. In the fifth and sixth rank-ordered positions were “To prevent hanging groin” and “to prevent/relieve enlargement of the scrotum or clitoris” in that order. A test of hypothesis to determine if there was significant agreement among treated persons on the rank order of importance of their reasons for demanding Ivermectin gave a Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance of, W = 0.62, p < 0. 01.Conclusion: The findings are interpreted within the framework of the major postulations of the health belief model with consideration to perceptions of severity of the conditions and belief that submitting to treatment will abate the perceived risk of the conditions. The role of endemicity of specific manifestations of onchocerciasis in lay assessment of risk of this disease is also discussed.Key Words: Ivermectin, Onchocerciasis, De-worming, Onchodermatitis, perception of susceptibility, perception of severity, River blindness, healthbehaviour, muscular pains