Knowledge, Attitude, and Healthcare-Seeking Behavior Towards Dysmenorrhea among Female Students of a Private University in Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: Dysmenorrhea, especially when it is severe, has been associated with a restriction of activity and absence from school or work. Despite this substantial effect on their quality of life and general wellbeing, few women and adolescents with dysmenorrhea seek treatment as they believe it would not help. Aim: The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and healthcare-seeking behavior towards dysmenorrhea among female students of a Private University in Ogun State, Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: Using a descriptive study design, 315 female students were randomly selected to participate in the study. Participants were given structured questionnaire to complete. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.0 and were presented in tables reporting frequency counts and percentages. Statistical significant tests were conducted using chi-square. Result: Dysmenorrhea was reported in 78.1% (242/310) with majority ignoring the pain. Less than average 40.6% (126/310) of the participants had high knowledge about dysmenorrhea and 63.5% (197/310) had negative attitude towards dysmenorrhea. Major effects of dysmenorrhea included restriction from physical activities in 77.2% (187/242) and social withdrawal in 59.1% (143/242). Findings revealed a statistically significant relationship between the age of respondents and their healthcare-seeking behavior towards dysmenorrhea (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate the need to design regular reproductive health programs for female undergraduates including information on how to monitor and manage menstrual problems.Keywords: Adolescents, attitude, dysmenorrhea, healthcare-seeking behavior, knowl

Histological and biochemical effects of Arteethertm on the liver of wistar rats

ArteetherTM is among the recent drugs that are used to combat chloroquine-resistant malarial parasites. This study examined the effects of arteetherTM on enzyme biomarkers of the liver, serum protein concentrations, and liver morphology. Twenty (20) adult albino Wistar rats weighing 200 – 250 g were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of five animals each, and used in this study. Group A rats were given intramuscular (i. m.) arteetherTM (3 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days.Group B rats received i. m. arteetherTM (6 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days. Group C rats were given i. m. arteetherTM (3 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days. The same dose was repeated at two-weekly intervals for 4 further weeks, while group D rats which received normal saline (0.9 % w/ v, 3 ml/kg b.w.), served as controls. At the end of the experiment, the body weights of the animals were determined and recorded. Serum levels of alanine  transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (ASP), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), total protein (TP) and albumin were assayed, and histological studies were performed. Results obtained show no significant difference (P<0.05) in liver enzymes (ALT, ASP, ALP). TP and albumin were significantly reduced in group C rats. Histological studies revealed no cyto-architectural changes. It is concluded that at therapeutic doses, arteetherTM is well tolerated in Wistar rats. .Key Words: ArteetherTM; Malaria; Liver enzymes; Serum protein concentrations; Morphology; Wistar rat

Step-by-step design of proteins for small molecule interaction: a review on recent milestones

Protein design is the field of synthetic biology that aims at developing de-novo custom made proteins and peptides for specific applications. Despite exploring an ambitious goal, recent computational advances in both hardware and software technologies have paved the way to high-throughput screening and detailed design of novel folds and improved functionalities. Modern advances in the field of protein design for small molecule targeting are described in this review, organized in a step-by-step fashion: from the conception of a new or upgraded active binding site, to scaffold design, sequence optimization and experimental expression of the custom protein. In each step, contemporary examples are described, and state-of-the art software is briefly explored.publishe

Microarray analysis revealed different gene expression patterns in HepG2 cells treated with low and high concentrations of the extracts of Anacardium occidentale shoots

In this study, the effects of low and high concentrations of the Anacardium occidentale shoot extracts on gene expression in liver HepG2 cells were investigated. From MTT assays, the concentration of the shoot extracts that maintained 50% cell viability (IC50) was 1.7 mg/ml. Cell viability was kept above 90% at both 0.4 mg/ml and 0.6 mg/ml of the extracts. The three concentrations were subsequently used for the gene expression analysis using Affymetrix Human Genome 1.0 S.T arrays. The microarray data were validated using real-time qRT–PCR. A total of 246, 696 and 4503 genes were significantly regulated (P < 0.01) by at least 1.5-fold in response to 0.4, 0.6 and 1.7 mg/ml of the extracts, respectively. Mutually regulated genes in response to the three concentrations included CDKN3, LOC100289612, DHFR, VRK1, CDC6, AURKB and GABRE. Genes like CYP24A1, BRCA1, AURKA, CDC2, CDK2, CDK4 and INSR were significantly regulated at 0.6 mg/ml and 1.7 mg but not at 0.4 mg/ml. However, the expression of genes including LGR5, IGFBP3, RB1, IDE, LDLR, MTTP, APOB, MTIX, SOD2 and SOD3 were exclusively regulated at the IC50 concentration. In conclusion, low concentrations of the extracts were able to significantly regulate a sizable number of genes. The type of genes that were expressed was highly dependent on the concentration of the extracts used

ECOTOXICITY AND SOME PHARMACOPOEIAL STANDARDS OF THE MOLLUSCICIDES: TETRAPLEURA TETRAPTERA

Total, acid-insoluble, water-soluble ash, as well as water-soluble extractive values of Tetraleura tetraptera has been examined. The values were highest in the savanna zone samples. Values of the numerical standards were found to vary as follows: Savanna transitional forest (rainforest frontier) >rainforest. The rank orderof the water-soluble extractive according to location was found to be: Ilora (savanna, 14.64+0.05%), Omuo-Oke (derived savanna, 4,64+0.05%)> Owena (rainforest 5.72+0.15%). The alcohol-soluble extractive was highest (6.63+0.20%) at derived savanna zone (Omuo-Oke). The rank order of the alcoholic extractive was also found to be: Omuo-Oke (savanna, 6.63+0.20%)> Ilugun/Olokemeji (derived savanna 6.46+0.12%)>Abata Egba (rainforest, 4.45+0.06%). T. tetraptera was found to be less toxic to Thermocyclops oblongatus; earthworms and Paramecium spp. than Biomphalaria glabrata snails, but more toxic to cyprids, Clarias spp. and Epiplatys spp. Key Words: Terapleura tetraptera, molluscicide; pharmacopieal values, ecotoxicity. Nig. J. Nat Prod. And Med. Vol.5 2001: 8-1

Efficacy of Citrus reticulata and Mirazid in treatment of Schistosoma mansoni

This work has been carried out to investigate the effect of Schistosoma mansoni infection on mice livers after treatment with the ethanolic extract of Citrus reticulata root or the oleo-resin extract from Myrrh of Commiphora molmol tree (Mirazid), as a new antishistosomal drug. Marker enzymes for different cell organelles were measured; succinate dehydrogenase (SDH); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and its isoenzymes; glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase); acid phosphatase (AP) and 5'- nucleotidase. Liver function enzymes; aspartate aminotransferase (AST); alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were also estimated. Parasitological studies through ova count and worm burden will also be taken into consideration. The results showed a marked reduction in SDH, LDH, AST, and ALT enzyme activities and a significant increase in G-6-Pase, AP, 5'- nucleotidase, and ALP after S. mansoni infection. A noticeable alteration in LDH subunits were also noticed. Treatment with C. reticulata or Mirazid improved all the previous enzyme activities with a noticeable reduction in ova count and worm burden