Evaluation of some selected haemorrheological profile during different phases of menstrual cycle: A study on apparently healthy females in Ekpoma, Edo - Nigeria

Various changes during pregnancy and lactation have been extensively documented. However, there is still a need for more extensive studies on menstruation -an important reproductive phenomenon. Considering the clinical relevance of hematological parameters, this study therefore, investigates some selected haemorrheological parameters at different phases of menstrual cycle. Involved in the study are 50 apparently healthy female subjects who met the inclusion criteria and resident in Ekpoma, Edo State- Nigeria. The parameters in focus were analysed using standard laboratory procedures and the data obtained, were subjected to statistical analysis. Results showed variations in the studied parameters before, during and after menses. Specifically, whole blood and plasma viscosity were significantly reduced during menses when compared to the values before and after menses. Erythrocytes sedimentation rate was significantly higher after menses than the values obtained before and during menses. Also, the changes observed for pack-cell volume remained statistically insignificant at the different phases of menstrual cycle with age having no significant influence on the parameters before, during and after menses. Thus, in reproductive females, there are fluctuations in haemorrheological parameters before, during and after menses and this is of clinical relevance to physicians and medical laboratory scientists.Keywords: Menstrual cycle, Reproductive life, Female, Haemorrheological parameters

Effect of Modified Diets Pancreatic Oxidative Markers in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Wistar rats Following the Administration of Alpha Lipoic Acid

Despite the availability of various anti-diabetic drugs, diabetes mellitus (DM) remains one of the world’s most prevalent chronic diseases leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), triggering oxidative stress as well as numerous cellular and molecular modifications such as mitochondrial dysfunction affecting normal physiological functions in the body. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of modified diets on pancreatic oxidative markers in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats following the administration of Alpha lipoic acid, using standard appropriate techniques. Result established that High protein diet (HPD), and with combined administration with alpha lipoic acid in this research resulted in an increased pancreatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels respectively while decreasing pancreatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, hence is affirmed as a beneficial strategy in the management of oxidative stress in diabetes. The present study concludes that high protein diets alone and in combination with ALA decreases pancreatic oxidative stress damage caused by streptozotocin toxicity, hence, has the potential to manage diabetes by reducing Reactice oxygen species (ROS) mediated oxidative stress

Effect of pre-treatment with methanol leaf extract of Commelina diffusa on paracetamol-induced liver damage

The present study investigated the effect of pre-treatment with methanol extract of the leaves of Commelina diffusa on paracetamol-induced liver damage on experimental rats. Wistar rats were used and grouped; groups 1 and 2 as controls, groups 3 and 4 were administered 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of Commelina diffusa leaves extract, and group 5 received silymarin 100 mg/kg (standard drug). Hepatotoxicity was induced with 3 g/kg of paracetamol (PCM) on the 7th day in all the animal groups except the positive control group (Group 1). At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected from the anaesthetized rats for biochemical indices (liver enzymes and antioxidants). Both doses (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) of Commelina diffusa leaves extract significantly reduced the liver enzymes level, and also increased antioxidant enzymes level when compared with the PCM-treated (negative) control group. The methanol leaf extract of Commelina diffusa possesses preventive effect on liver damage evident via its antioxidative and hepatoprotective actions.Keywords: Commelina diffusa, antioxidant, hepatotoxicity, paracetamol, silymari