Antioxidant Activity of Solenostemon monostachyus (P. Beauv.) Briq. in Induced Rats

Solenostemon monostachyus (P.Beauv.) Briq.(SE) is the object of our investigation test the mechanism of its anti-oxidative action to further establish its anti-sickling properties.. Sample: To correlate hematological parameters and antioxidant activities with the presence induced hemolytic anemia in female rats to validate other screening parameters. Place and Duration of Study: The study as carried out in the covenant university animal house and biochemistry laboratory, department of biological sciences, covenant university. sample: the animals were obtained from the Institute for advanced medical research and training (IMRAT), college of medicine, UCH, Orita-mefa, Ibadan, Oyo state and allowed to acclimatize under a 12-hour light/dark cycle for 3 weeks prior to the commencement of the study between January 2015 and February 2015. Methodology: 2-Butoxyethanol was used to induce hemolytic anemia resembling that of sickle cell disease. The methanolic extract of the leaves was orally administered for 5 days at 150 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg of body weight doses to determine the antioxidant activities and some hematological indices of plasma in the kidney, spleen and liver of 2-butoxyethanol hemolyticinduced rats. Sample: we used 49 Wistar albino rats (49 female; weight: 95-120 g). Hematological examination (PCV, MCV, RBCs, and hemoglobin [Hb] count) and sICAM levels was done besides antioxidant activities (bilirubin, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, TBARS and peroxidase). Weight of the animals was also calculated. Results: The results were analyzed using ANOVA. The result of the oxidative stress markers showed that SOD, TBARS and peroxidase were insignificant (P>0.05) in the kidney, liver and spleen of all the rats while GSH in the kidney and liver insignificantly high in the SM-treated rats while GSH in the spleen was significantly increased in SM-150 (7.67±2.19) compared to control. Conclusion: These doses have shown that they can be used alongside other drugs to alleviate oxidative stress in hemolytic anemic related diseases such as sickle cell disease. These predictors, however, need further work to validate reliability

Phytotherapy and the Relevance of Some Endogenous Antioxidant Enzymes in Management of Sickle Cell Diseases

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most devastating diseases ravaging most populations

Acceptance of malaria vaccine by a rural community in Nigeria

Background: Introduction of malaria vaccine is imminent. This study evaluated the prevalence of malaria among a non-febrile population and their willingness to accept a malaria vaccine.Methods: This was a cross-sectional, community-based study done in a rural community in south east Nigeria. A total of 156 household heads were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was pre-tested before commencement of the study to correct ambiguity.Results: Majority (78.2%) acknowledged that malaria is the commonest illness in the community, while 55.1% believed that presumptive treatment is the best malaria preventive measure. Most (98.7%) of the study participants immunized their children against childhood vaccine preventable diseases, while 91.6% would be willing to accept a malaria vaccine. The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among non-febrile respondents was 35.4% and the use of mosquito nets was 17.9%.Conclusion: The high prevalence of malaria among non-febrile populations, the practice of presumptive treatment of unconfirmed fever as malaria preventive measure and the low use of bed nets, points that it is time to introduce malaria vaccine. The high willingness to receive the vaccine is positive to the introduction of the vaccine.Keywords; Acceptance; Malaria, Vaccine, Nigeria

Solenostemon monostachyus Modulates Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and mRNA Expression in Hemolytic-Induced Rats

Background and Objective: The 2-Butoxyethanol (2BE) rat model of human hemolytic disorders has been used widely to evaluate hemolysis and thromboembolic manifestations of different organs associated with sickle cell disease and $-thalassemia, however, studies on nitric oxide metabolism are far more scarce. This study investigated the effects of Solenostemon monostachyus leaf extract supplementation on 2BE-induced changes of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels and mRNA expression in female rats. Materials and Methods: Young female rats were divided into seven groups (Group A-G). All groups, except for group A, were exposed to 2BE. The treatments assignments were as follows, group C: Caffeic acid, group D: Ciklavit (herbal formulation of Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill sp.), group E-G: S. monostachyus (150, 200 and 250 mg kgG1 b.wt.), respectively. Liver and plasma iNOS levels, as well as mRNA expression of liver arginase-1 and iNOS, were assessed. Histopathological evaluation of the liver was also performed. The results were statistically analyzed for significant effects at p<0.05 using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Liver and plasma iNOS were significantly reduced (p<0.05) in group G, whereas liver iNOS was significantly increased (p<0.05) in group D-F compared with group B, iNOS mRNA expression was reduced, while arginase-1 mRNA expression was increased in group E-G compared with group B. Conclusion: Administration of S. monostachyus (250 mg kgG1 b.wt.) in the 2BE hemolytic rat model modulated plasma and liver iNOS levels and iNOS mRNA expression

Correlation between Body Mass Index and Hematological Indices in Young Adult Nigerians with Different Hemoglobin Genotypes

In view of the association of various haemoglobin electrophoretic patterns with different pathological conditions and obesity with its attendant risk factors for cardiac and pulmonary disorders, the present study evaluated the relationship between body mass index and haematological indices by randomly selecting young adult Nigerians with different haemoglobin electrophoretic patterns within the age group of 17-45 years and mean age of ±31 years old. 215 participants were enlisted for this study with their BMI and other anthropometric indices measured and grouped into different BMI categories as recommended by the World Health Organization. Haematological indices such as packed cell volume, total and differential white blood cell count, and platelets as well as haemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis were assessed in relation to their anthropometric measurements using standard methods. We observed a significantly increased neutrophil and platelet counts in the subjects with BMI > 25 kg/m2. BMI was also observed to be positively correlated with the neutrophil, monocyte counts and MCV of haemoglobin AS and SS genotype groups in this study. This study showed a higher percentage of overweight and obesity among females, and haematological dyscrasias in mostly the HbSS subjects. Knowledge of the relationship between BMI and hematological indices of apparently healthy individuals within any population is therefore essential in healthcare planning, as a justification for early prognosis and genetic counselling policy strategically reducing the incidence of obesity, its attendant conditions and haemoglobinopathies in Nigeria

Prenatal Alcohol Intake and Knowledge of its Effect: A Survey of Pregnant Women Attending a General Hospital in South East, Nigeria

Background: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is a major public health concern due to its noxious effect on both the mother and fetus. Aim: The study aim was to determine the prevalence of prenatal alcohol intake, knowledge of its effects, and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic, Poly General Hospital, Enugu. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross‑sectional survey was adopted and simple random sampling was employed to select 248 pregnant women from the total population. Data were obtained using structured questionnaires, summarized using descriptive statistics, and presented in tables. Statistical analysis for associations between level of educational attainment, occupation of the pregnant woman, and knowledge of the effects of alcohol consumption was performed using Chi‑square tests. Results: The prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy was 40.3% with beer (48.8%) and palm wine (48.8%) being the major alcoholic beverages taken. Majority (59.7%) of the participants had good knowledge of the effects of alcohol consumption in pregnancy while less than half (33.9%) had good knowledge of the effect on the unborn baby. Previous drinking habits before pregnancy (3.48 ± 0.84) and unwanted pregnancy (3.17 ± 0.93) were the major perceived factor influencing their alcohol intake. Educational level was not significantly related to knowledge of alcohol effects on pregnancy. Conclusion: Regardless of the knowledge of the harmful effect of alcohol on the fetus and maternal health, a significant proportion of mothers continue to consume alcohol during pregnancy. Therefore, there is a need for widespread education of women of childbearing age focused on driving behavioural change with regards to alcohol intake in pregnancy

Effects of Ginger Juice Aflatoxin-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rats

This study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant properties of the fresh juice of ginger against aflatoxin-exposure in rats. The preventive potential and antioxidant capacity of the juice was evaluated by assaying the activities of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation content in some organs and erythrocytes of rats. Twenty rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups thus: group 1 served as control, group 2 received ginger juice (2mL/Kg of 10% juice)alone, group 3 received aflatoxins (3.65mg/kg body weight) alone while group 4 was pre-treated with ginger juice for 7days prior to aflatoxin administration. In the erythrocytes, aflatoxin treatment resulted in significant (p<0.05) increase in erythrocyte osmotic fragility and lipid peroxidation with a concomitant significant (p<0.05) decrease in the level of reduced glutathione. Pre-treatment of rats with ginger juice significantly (p<0.05) prevent these changes by maintaining the activity of superoxide dismutase and preventing the increase in lipid peroxidation in the organs. Ginger juice pre-treatment also significantly (p<0.05) increased the activities of hepatic glutathione-S-transferase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. It is concluded that ginger juice has preventive effect in rats with aflatoxicosis by promoting the antioxidant defense systems

Development of Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Genomics Research:

Although pockets of bioinformatics excellence have developed in Africa, generally, large-scale genomic data analysis has been limited by the availability of expertise and infrastructure. H3ABioNet, a pan-African bioinformatics network, was established to build capacity specifically to enable H3Africa (Human Heredity and Health in Africa) researchers to analyze their data in Africa. Since the inception of the H3Africa initiative, H3ABioNet's role has evolved in response to changing needs from the consortium and the African bioinformatics community

Association between serum vitamin D status and uterine leiomyomas: a case-control study

Objective Uterine leiomyoma is a common gynecological condition that negatively affects women’s quality of life. Vitamin D plays an important role in tumor development and progression. However, clinical studies comparing serum vitamin D levels between women with and without uterine leiomyomas are limited and inconclusive. This study aimed to compare serum vitamin D levels in women with and without uterine leiomyomas. Methods This hospital-based case-control study included 150 women who visited a gynecological clinic. The cases included 75 women with uterine leiomyoma, whereas the controls included 75 age-and parity-matched participants without uterine leiomyoma. Serum vitamin D levels were measured in each participant and volumes of the uterine leiomyomas were determined using the water displacement method following myomectomy. The statistical significance was inferred at P<0.05. Results The mean serum vitamin D level was 15.26±4.96 ng/mL and 22.45±6.93 ng/mL for the case and control groups, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (t-value −7.302 and P<0.001). Within the fibroid group, nine (12.0%), 49 (65.33%), and 17 (22.67%) participants had vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency, respectively; and in the control group, two (2.67%), 24 (45.33%), and 39 (52.0%) participants had vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency, respectively. There was significant negative correlation between the fibroid volume and the serum vitamin D level (r=−0.591, P<0.001). Conclusion Women with uterine leiomyoma had lower vitamin D levels than women in the control group. Lower vitamin D levels were associated with larger fibroid masses. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation may reduce fibroid growth and development