Object recognition memory and anti-anxiety potentials of stem-bark extract of Nauclea latifolia (African peach), taurine and vitamin E on Albino rats exposed to water immobilisation stress

Memory loss is a typical symptom of generalized anxiety disorder, a condition that affects millions of individuals. Memory loss with anxiety can be quite distressing, but if you can find strategies to address the anxiety, your memory may improve as well. In this study, the effects of Nauclea latifolia extract, taurine and vitamin E supplementation on object identification and stress-induced anxiety in Albino rats exposed to water immobilisation stress were investigated. 24 rats weighing between 100 and 120 grams were employed. The control group (A), received 1ml/kg pure water. Vitamin E was given to Group B at a dosage of 0.2 ml/kg. Group C received 200mg/kg taurine, while Group D received 200mg/kg Nauclea latifolia extract. For three weeks, the administration was completed. The rats were famished for 24 hours before the stress process began. The rats were sedated with chloroform vapour, and then restrained using a hardwood board (25 by 18 cm) with the four limbs fixed sideways, then dipped for two hours in water up to the xiphoid level. During the training phase, the taurine group examined the novel object the most (64.9 percent), followed by the Vitamin E group (63.90 percent), when compared to the Nauclea latifolia (52.75 percent) and the control groups (54.76 percent). The consolidation phase similarly, revealed that, taurine and Vitamin E groups explored the novel object the most (71.52 percent) and (70.05 percent) accordingly. In the anxiety model, Nauclea latifolia, taurine and vitamin E groups showed significant increase in time spent on closed arms. This study has shown that, when rats are treated to water immersion restraint stress, administration of Nauclea latifolia extract, taurine, and vitamin E, may decrease stress-induced anxiety-like behaviours. The significance of this study is that, administration of taurine, vitamin E and Nauclea latifolia extract may prevent stress-induced memory impairment

Hepatic mRNA expression of SOD and CAT activities and antioxidant profile in blood of juvenile African catfish exposed to transport stress

This study was conducted to evaluate stress responses of juveniles African catfish exposed to transportation for 6hrs duration in plastic bags. The fish were separated into two groups; control and treatment. The fish in the treatment group were placed in nylon bags with 7.5 liters of oxygenated freshwater in each bag. The bags were labeled according to the duration of transport as T1, T3, and T6 and the transportation was carried out in triplicate while the control group was not transported. Blood and liver samples were collected as follows; immediately after transportation, three days after transportation and six days after transportation for biochemical and molecular assay. In African catfish juveniles, transportation showed a substantial (P <0.05) increase in SOD and CAT mRNA expression shortly after transportation and a considerable (P <0.05) decrease on the third and sixth days after transportation. The result of the antioxidant profile of SOD, CAT, and GSH indicated significant increase (P <0.05) immediately after transportation, third and sixth day after transportation. It is concluded that live transportation process is a significant stressor as it results in significant changes in biochemical parameters and liver of African catfish juveniles

Development of a Digital Body Mass Index (BMI) measuring device for low-resource settings

The global burden of nutrition-related diseases majorly: diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases have been on a geometrical increase. One way of knowing the risk factor of these is by accurately measuring the Body Mass Index (BMI) of an individual. The design  of a digital BMI device, which measures and displays a subject's BMI, was executed. Materials used include an ultrasonic sensor  for height measurement, load cells for weight measurement and an Arduino UNO microprocessor which receives the output from  measuring devices, calculates the BMI and sends it for display on a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. This device depicts a low-cost  solution for accurate measurement of a subject’s BMI. The results of the tests performed on the data obtained from the anthropometric  measurements of eight subjects using the digital BMI device, a stadiometer and a weighing scale proved the equipment is reliable in BMI  measurement, with 0.32 root mean square error (RMSE) compared to the 1.19 RMSE gotten from the BMI measurement calculated  from a wall-mounted height measurement meter rule against the stadiometer measurement

Generalized Bullous Pemphigoid and Glycaemic Control in the Geriatric age Group: A Case Report

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare autoimmunobullous disease which is seen more in the elderly. There are many factors that have been associated with BP including medications, vaccines, and different diseases including diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is known to enhance the production of autoantibodies by glycosylation of dermal proteins and increase skin fragility. This case report looks at the management of BP with consideration for glycaemic control; the accurate interpretation of the values in the older adult and emphasis on the need for multidisciplinary approach while also taking note of medication side effects

Association between relative age at school and persistence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in prospective studies: an individual participant data meta-analysis

Background The youngest children in a school class are more likely than the oldest to be diagnosed with ADHD, but this relative age effect is less frequent in older than in younger school-grade children. However, no study has explored the association between relative age and the persistence of ADHD diagnosis at older ages. We aimed to quantify the association between relative age and persistence of ADHD at older ages. Methods For this meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PubPsych up to April 1, 2022, with terms related to “cohort” and “ADHD” with no date, publication type, or language restrictions. We gathered individual participant data from prospective cohorts that included at least ten children identified with ADHD before age 10 years. ADHD was defined by either a clinical diagnosis or symptoms exceeding clinical cutoffs. Relative age was recorded as the month of birth in relation to the school-entry cutoff date. Study authors were invited to share raw data or to apply a script to analyse data locally and generate anonymised results. Our outcome was ADHD status at a diagnostic reassessment, conducted at least 4 years after the initial assessment and after age 10 years. No information on sex, gender, or ethnicity was collected. We did a two-stage random-effects individual participant data meta-analysis to assess the association of relative age with persistence of ADHD at follow-up. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020212650. Findings Of 33 119 studies generated by our search, we identified 130 eligible unique studies and were able to gather individual participant data from 57 prospective studies following up 6504 children with ADHD. After exclusion of 16 studies in regions with a flexible school entry system that did not allow confident linkage of birthdate to relative age, the primary analysis included 41 studies in 15 countries following up 4708 children for a period of 4 to 33 years. We found that younger relative age was not statistically significantly associated with ADHD persistence at follow-up (odds ratio 1·02, 95% CI 0·99–1·06; p=0·19). We observed statistically significant heterogeneity in our model (Q=75·82, p=0·0011, I2=45%). Participant-level sensitivity analyses showed similar results in cohorts with a robust relative age effect at baseline and when restricting to cohorts involving children with a clinical diagnosis of ADHD or with a follow-up duration of more than 10 years. Interpretation The diagnosis of ADHD in younger children in a class is no more likely to be disconfirmed over time than that of older children in the class. One interpretation is that the relative age effect decreases the likelihood of children of older relative age receiving a diagnosis of ADHD, and another is that assigning a diagnostic label of ADHD leads to unexplored carryover effects of the initial diagnosis that persist over time. Future studies should be conducted to explore these interpretations further

Association between relative age at school and persistence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in prospective studies: an individual participant data meta-analysis

Background: the youngest children in a school class are more likely than the oldest to be diagnosed with ADHD, but this relative age effect is less frequent in older than in younger school-grade children. However, no study has explored the association between relative age and the persistence of ADHD diagnosis at older ages. We aimed to quantify the association between relative age and persistence of ADHD at older ages.Methods: for this meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PubPsych up to April 1, 2022, with terms related to “cohort” and “ADHD” with no date, publication type, or language restrictions. We gathered individual participant data from prospective cohorts that included at least ten children identified with ADHD before age 10 years. ADHD was defined by either a clinical diagnosis or symptoms exceeding clinical cutoffs. Relative age was recorded as the month of birth in relation to the school-entry cutoff date. Study authors were invited to share raw data or to apply a script to analyse data locally and generate anonymised results. Our outcome was ADHD status at a diagnostic reassessment, conducted at least 4 years after the initial assessment and after age 10 years. No information on sex, gender, or ethnicity was collected. We did a two-stage random-effects individual participant data meta-analysis to assess the association of relative age with persistence of ADHD at follow-up. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020212650.Findings: of 33 119 studies generated by our search, we identified 130 eligible unique studies and were able to gather individual participant data from 57 prospective studies following up 6504 children with ADHD. After exclusion of 16 studies in regions with a flexible school entry system that did not allow confident linkage of birthdate to relative age, the primary analysis included 41 studies in 15 countries following up 4708 children for a period of 4 to 33 years. We found that younger relative age was not statistically significantly associated with ADHD persistence at follow-up (odds ratio 1·02, 95% CI 0·99–1·06; p=0·19). We observed statistically significant heterogeneity in our model (Q=75·82, p=0·0011, I2=45%). Participant-level sensitivity analyses showed similar results in cohorts with a robust relative age effect at baseline and when restricting to cohorts involving children with a clinical diagnosis of ADHD or with a follow-up duration of more than 10 years.Interpretation: the diagnosis of ADHD in younger children in a class is no more likely to be disconfirmed over time than that of older children in the class. One interpretation is that the relative age effect decreases the likelihood of children of older relative age receiving a diagnosis of ADHD, and another is that assigning a diagnostic label of ADHD leads to unexplored carryover effects of the initial diagnosis that persist over time. Future studies should be conducted to explore these interpretations further