Kinesiophobia, self-efficacy and pain-related disability in patients with non-specific low back pain

Psychological factors like kinesiophobia and self-efficacy have been shown to be associated with pain and disability perception in patients with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). The association among extent of kinesiophobia, self efficacy, pain intensity and disability in patients presenting with NSLBP and the predictor of disability among pain intensity, self-efficacy and kinesiophobia in these patients were investigated in this study.The research design was an analytical cross sectional survey involving 275 consecutively selected individuals diagnosed with NSLBP at a tertiary hospital in southwestern Nigeria. The main outcome measures used were: Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale (QVAS), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Revised Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (RODQ) and Self-Efficacy in Rehabilitation Scale (SER).The mean age of the participants was 51.62±13.4 years. The extent of kinesiophobia and measure of selfefficacy were high and above average as seen in 71.7% and 94.3% of the participants respectively. The mean scores on TSK, RODQ, SER and pain intensity were 39.45±5.91, 36.98±15.97, 98.68±21.4 and 7.35±1.94 respectively. Participants with high scores on TSK had significantly high scores on RODQ and low scores on SER. There was a significant positive association between extent of kinesiophobia, disability and selfefficacy (p<0.05). Self-efficacy, pain intensity and kinesiophobia significantly predicted extent of disability (p<0.05).Patients with NSLBP exhibited fear of re-injury (kinesiophobia). Patients with high level of kinesiophobia had increased pain intensity and reduced self-efficacy. High levels of kinesiophobia accompanied by increased pain intensity and decreased self-efficacy were significant predictors of pain related disability in patients with NSLBP.Keywords: Non-specific low back pain, self-efficacy, kinesiophobia, perceived disabilit

Effects of combinations of ethanolic extracts of Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica on progesterone, estradiol and lipid profile levels in pregnant rabbits

The effects of ethanolic extracts of Xylopia aethiopica fruits and Blighia sapida roots, used by some rural dwellers in western part of Nigeria for arbortifacient purposes, were investigated using pregnant rabbits. A combination of X. aethiopica and B. sapida in a ratio 1:1 at concentrations of 10.0 mg/ kg body weight (group B) and 50.0 mg/ kg body weight (group C), and X. aethiopica alone at 50.0 mg/kg of body weight (group D) were administered by gastric intubations for a period of 14 days from the 12th to 25th day of gestation after which they were fasted for 18 h. Serum levels of reproductive hormones (progesterone and estradiol) and lipids (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL- cholesterol) were determined at the end of the treatment. Results showed significant reductions (p < 0.05) in progesterone and estradiol levels, significant elevations of triglycerides (p < 0.05) and no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the levels of total cholesterol in all the treated groups compared with the control (group A). There was a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the levels of HDL-cholesterol in Group B, a significant increase in group C and no significant reduction in group D compared with the control (group A). The levels of LDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups did not differ significantly (p < 0.05) from the control (group A). The results suggest that ethanolic extracts of X. aethiopica alone or in combination with B. sapida may actually lead to termination of pregnancy due to reduction of progesterone and estradiol. The results also suggest that there is increased risk of hypertriglyceridemia in the users of these plants but this may not predispose them to arteriosclerosis because of the insignificant differences in the levels of LDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups compared with the control

Effects of combinations of ethanolic extracts of Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica on progesterone, estradiol and lipid profile levels in pregnant rabbits

The effects of ethanolic extracts of Xylopia aethiopica fruits and Blighia sapida roots, used by some rural dwellers in western part of Nigeria for arbortifacient purposes, were investigated using pregnant rabbits. A combination of X. aethiopica and B. sapida in a ratio 1:1 at concentrations of 10.0 mg/ kg body weight (group B) and 50.0 mg/ kg body weight (group C), and X. aethiopica alone at 50.0 mg/kg of body weight (group D) were administered by gastric intubations for a period of 14 days from the 12th to 25th day of gestation after which they were fasted for 18 h. Serum levels of reproductive hormones (progesterone and estradiol) and lipids (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDLcholesterol) were determined at the end of the treatment. Results showed significant reductions (p < 0.05) in progesterone and estradiol levels, significant elevations of triglycerides (p < 0.05) and no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the levels of total cholesterol in all the treated groups compared with the control (group A). There was a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the levels of HDL-cholesterol in Group B, a significant increase in group C and no significant reduction in group D compared with the control (group A). The levels of LDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups did not differ significantly (p < 0.05) from the control (group A). The results suggest that ethanolic extracts of X. aethiopica alone or in combination with B. sapida may actually lead to termination of pregnancy due to reduction of progesterone and estradiol. The results also suggest that there is increased risk of hypertriglyceridemia in the users of these plants but this may not predispose them to arteriosclerosis because of the insignificant differences in the levels of LDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups compared with the control

Comunicación corta. Incidencia del virus del mosaico del kimbombó en el norte de Nigeria y evidencias de su transmisión por escarabajos

A two year survey was conducted in 2003 and 2004 in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) plants for Okra mosaic virus (OkMV; genus Tymovirus) symptoms at three locations in northern Nigeria. It showed that the highest incidence of OkMV occurred at Samaru (16.50 and 17.10% in 2003 and 2004, respectively), followed by Shika (13.02 and 14.82%) and Bomo (12.31 and 8.10%). Disease severity followed the same trend. Beetles of Podagrica spp. naturally infected were efficient vectors in the transmission of OkMV.En 2003 y 2004 se llevó a cabo una prospección de síntomas del virus del mosaico del kimbombó (OkMV, género Tymovirus) en plantas de kimbombó (Abelmoschus esculentus) en tres localidades del norte de Nigeria. La incidencia de OkMV más alta se detectó en Samaru (16,50 y 17,10% en 2003 y 2004, respectivamente), seguido de Shika (13,02 y 14,82%) y Bomo (12,31 y 8,10%). En las tres localidades la severidad de la enfermedad siguió la misma tendencia. Escarabajos de Podagrica spp. naturalmente infectados fueron vectores eficientes en la transmisión de OkMV

Quality Assessment of Vended ‘Pito’ and Safety Practices of Vendors in Different Markets in Ibadan

This study was mainly carried out to assess the quality of street vended ‘Pito’ in some selected markets in Ibadan, Oyo State. The safety of street vending practices was also assessed. The chemical (proximate and physicochemical composition), microbiological and observational check list of eight street vended ‘Pito’ samples collected from four markets (Agbeni, Ogunpa, Beere and Bodija) in Ibadan, Oyo state were investigated. The result showed that street vended ‘Pito’ is significantly (p&lt;0.05) high in moisture, low in protein, ash, fat and carbohydrate. Total coliform, Salmonella spp and Shigella spp were within specification limits of microbiological quality while total viable count (TVC) and total fungi were above the limits. Significant (p&lt;0.05) differences exist among the samples in their chemical composition, microbiological and colour parameters. Keywords: Microbial quality, street vended, ‘pito’ , sorghum based beverage, hygiene practice