Traumatic Brain Injury and Metabolic Dysfunction Among Head Injured Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in North-Central Nigeria

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a common health problem which is one of the main causes of chronic disability and it is associated with hormonal and metabolic disorders. This work was carried out to investigate the relationship between some stress hormones (i.e. prolactin and cortisol) and plasma glucose level in TBI patients. Twenty-five TBI patients were included in the study consecutively. All patients underwent basal hormonal and plasma glucose evaluation within 24 hours of admission. One of the patients died during the acute phase. The results of the study show that prolactin and glucose levels were positively correlated with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC). Cortisol levels were observed to be highest in the moderate TBI group with GSC score of 9-13. The results also showed that 80% (20 patients) of the patients were age 40 years and below and 84% (21 patients) were males. In conclusion, present data show that prolactin, cortisol and plasma glucose are disturbed in TBI. The disturbances in the levels of prolactin and glucose are related to the severity of TBI. However, there is no direct relationship between cortisol and severity of TBI. Our results also show that TBI is more common in males and young people

Enhancing mental health with Artificial Intelligence: Current trends and future prospects

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in various fields, and its application in mental healthcare is no exception. Hence, this review explores the integration of AI into mental healthcare, elucidating current trends, ethical considerations, and future directions in this dynamic field. This review encompassed recent studies, examples of AI applications, and ethical considerations shaping the field. Additionally, regulatory frameworks and trends in research and development were analyzed. We comprehensively searched four databases (PubMed, IEEE Xplore, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar). The inclusion criteria were papers published in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, or reputable online databases, papers that specifically focus on the application of AI in the field of mental healthcare, and review papers that offer a comprehensive overview, analysis, or integration of existing literature published in the English language. Current trends reveal AI's transformative potential, with applications such as the early detection of mental health disorders, personalized treatment plans, and AI-driven virtual therapists. However, these advancements are accompanied by ethical challenges concerning privacy, bias mitigation, and the preservation of the human element in therapy. Future directions emphasize the need for clear regulatory frameworks, transparent validation of AI models, and continuous research and development efforts. Integrating AI into mental healthcare and mental health therapy represents a promising frontier in healthcare. While AI holds the potential to revolutionize mental healthcare, responsible and ethical implementation is essential. By addressing current challenges and shaping future directions thoughtfully, we may effectively utilize the potential of AI to enhance the accessibility, efficacy, and ethicality of mental healthcare, thereby helping both individuals and communities

Zinc improves sexual and erectile function in HAART-treated rats via the upregulation of erectogenic enzymes and maintenance of redox balance

AbstractPurpose HAART has been shown to impair sexual function and penile erection via perturbation of penile redox balance, while zinc has been established to exert antioxidant activity. Therefore, this study focused on the role and associated molecular mechanism of zinc in HAART-induced sexual and erectile dysfunction.Materials and methods Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly grouped into four (n = 5 rats per group); the control, zinc-treated, HAART-treated, and HAART + zinc-treated groups. Treatments were per os daily for eight weeks.Results Zinc co-administration significantly improved HAART-induced increase in the latencies of mount, intromission, and ejaculations. Zinc also attenuated HAART-induced reduction in the motivation to mate, penile reflex/erection, and frequencies of mount, intromission, and ejaculations. In addition, zinc co-treatment improved HAART-induced decline in penile NO and cGMP, dopamine, and serum testosterone. More so, zinc prevented HAART-induced rise in penile activities of monoamine oxidase, acetylcholinesterase, phosphodiesterase-5, and arginase. Furthermore, concomitant treatment with zinc ameliorated HAART-induced penile oxidative stress and inflammation.Conclusion In conclusion, our present findings show that zinc improves sexual and erectile function in HAART-treated rats by upregulating erectogenic enzymes via the maintenance of penile redox balance