Comparative study of the hypoglycemic and biochemical effects of Catharanthus roseus (Linn) g. apocynaceae (Madagascar periwinkle) and chlorpropamide (diabenese) on alloxan-induced diabetic rats

The effect of the aqueous extracts of Catharanthus roseus and chlorpropamide (Diabenese) on the levels of serum cholesterol, total protein, lipid peroxidation, blood glucose and liver enzymes were compared in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Four groups namely A, B, C and D comprising of nine rats each were used. A and B were administered with chlorpropamide and C. roseus extracts respectively, while C and D served as diabetic and non-diabetic controls respectively. The results showed comparatively significant reductions (P�0.05) in the levels of glucose, protein, cholesterol, lipid peroxidation and liver enzymes in the groups administered C. roseus extracts and chlorpropamide relative to the controls. The reductions were higher in the groups treated with C. roseus extract than in the groups treated with diabenese

A Culture of Stigma: Black Women and Mental Health

For Black women, the issue of stereotype has been a factor affecting use of medical care and support, especially for mental illness. Black women with mental illness may not be treating their mental issues, but instead masking them. Historical medical experimentation, distrust of medical institutions, the trope of the “strong Black woman,” which operate uniquely to Black communities, stresses the need for culturally inclusive mental healthcare. This research also has implications for mental health initiatives and public policy imperatives in other communities of color. This project explores the history of medical experimentation on African Americans, the resulting distrust of medical institutions, and the stereotypes of Black women that may affect cultural views of mental illness

Methylnitrosourea (MNU)–induced carcinogenesis and inflammation in some selected organs of female albino rats

Methylnitrosourea (MNU) is an alkylating agent which exhibits its toxicity by transferring its methyl group to nucleobases in nucleic acids, causing AT:GC transition mutations. It was originally designed as a chemotherapeutic alkylating compound, but later proven to exert direct carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic potential. The carcinogenic effect of methylnitrosourea in some selected organs of female albino rats was evaluated using a modified protocol. Histopathological assessment of breast, liver, lungs and skin tissues of experimental animals was carried out using H and E staining procedure. Tumour markers, cancer antigen 15.3, 27.29 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the blood of experimental animals were evaluated using an automated procedure. Histopathological examination revealed severe panniculitis in skin tissues, sinusoidal congestion in liver tissues, severe pulmonary inflammation in lung tissues, and stromal fibrosis in breast tissues. There was an increase in tumour marker levels in the blood of MNU induced rats compared to the controls group of rats. There was a significant difference between the values of CA 15.3 (p < 0.01) and CEA (p < 0.05) in rats induced with MNU when compared with the control. Cancer antigen 27.29 values showed no significant difference between the rats induced with MNU and control. Different forms of early stages of carcinogenesis were induced in female Albino rats using a novel and modified cancer induction protocol. Knowledge from this study did not only provide insight into possible harmful effects of MNU which could be obtained from foods containing nitrosamines, but it also provided the opportunity to test and prove a modified protocol of cancer induction which could be used to evaluate the preventive and therapeutic effect of different agents for human breast cancer within a short period of time

Chemo-preventive Activity of Ethanolic Extracts of Newbouldia laevis and Olax subscorpioidea Leaves on Methylnitrosourea–induced Stroma Fibrosis in Breast Tissues of Female Albino Rats

Breast cancer represents the most common neoplastic disease in females, accounting for up to one third of new diagnoses of women’s cancer in certain regions of the world. The chemo-preventive activity of ethanolic extracts of Newbouldia laevis and Olax subscorpioidea leaves on methylnitrosourea (MNU)–induced stroma fibrosis in female albino rats was evaluated. Quantitative and qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out to identify and determine the quantity of bioactive compounds. Haematoxylin and Eosin staining procedure was used to assess breast tissues of experimental animals. Cancer antigen (CA) markers 15-3, 27-29 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the blood of experimental animals were evaluated using an automated procedure. Quantitative phytochemical screening showed that Olax subscorpioidea and Newbouldia laevis contained alkaloid in the highest amount. Histopathological assay revealed the presence of stromal fibrosis in the breast tissues of 8 out of 10 rats administered with NMU. Levels of CA 15-3, CA 27-29, CEA were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in MNU administered group in comparison to the negative control. Treatment with Olax subscorpioidea leave extract significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated CA 15-3, CA 27-29 and CEA levels. However, treatment with Newbouldia laevis leave extract significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated CA 15-3 and CEA levels only. Findings from this study showed that ethanolic extracts of Olax subscorpioidea and Newbouldia laevis leaves have chemo-preventive activity in NMU-induced stroma fibrosis in the breast tissue of female albino rats. However more studies on the discovery and validation of bioactive components of the plants are needed

Public Relation Skills of University Librarians in South-East Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria.

This study investigates the Public Relation Skills of University Librarians in South-East geo-political zone of Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study. Questionnaire with 19 items and interviews method were used for the study. Descriptive survey design was used. The population sample constitutes (13) Federal and State Universities with one hundred and seventy-four librarians and library officers in University Libraries South-East geopolitical zone-Nigeria. Sample used are five (5) University Librarians and thirty-seven (37) practising librarians, all totally 42. Data were collected, tabulated and analyzed using simple percentage method. The major findings of the study show that the public relation skills of university librarians are poor and this effects the overall library administration. The major recommendation is that the University should as a management matter of urgencies organize in-service-training on public relation skills for university librarian and library schools to include in their curriculum public relation courses in order to strengthen the leadership quality of future librarians. Keywords: Librarians, Public Relations Skills, Library services, and managemen

Fighting cervical cancer in Africa: Taking a closer look at human papillomavirus 35

No abstract available

Interpreting the Roles, Competencies and Challenges of the Library and Information Science Professional in Knowledge Management.

Knowledge Management (KM) is an ubiquitous phenomenon that manifests in different branches of learning and fields of human activity. This multi-disciplinary attribute is party, responsible for the claims to its ownership by various professional groups. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there is no gainsaying the fact that the Library and Information Practitioners (LIP) are major players in KM.  This desk research clarifies the major roles of the Library and Information Science (LIS) professional in KM and highlights some of the emerging changes which its introduction has brought on job titles in Librarianship. The paper also identifies the aspects of the competencies expected of the LIS professionals and pin-points some of the challenges which must be overcome to sustain the relevance of the LIS professional in the emergent KM era. Practical recommendations were advanced to enable the LIS professional overcome the challenges associated with KM

An in-depth study of patent medicine sellers' perspectives on malaria in a rural Nigerian community

BACKGROUND: Malaria remains a major cause of mortality among under five children in Nigeria. Most of the early treatments for fever and malaria occur through self-medication with antimalarial drugs bought from medicine sellers. These have led to increasing calls for interventions to improve treatment obtained in these outlets. However, information about the current practices of these medicine sellers is needed before such interventions. This study aims to determine the medicine sellers' perspectives on malaria and the determinants that underlie their dispensing patterns of antimalarial drugs. METHODS: The study was conducted in Ugwugo-Nike, a rural community in south-east Nigeria. It involved in-depth interviews with 13 patent medicine sellers. RESULTS: A majority of the medicine sellers were not trained health professionals and malaria is recognized as a major health problem by them. There is poor knowledge and poor dispensing behaviour in relation to childhood malaria episodes. Although referral of severe malaria is common, there are those who will not refer. Verbal advice is rarely given to the care-givers. CONCLUSION: More action research and interventions to improve prescription and referral practices and giving verbal advice to care-givers is recommended. Ways to integrate the drug sellers in the health system are also recommended

Palatal Impalement Injury With Retained Foreign Body in a Child: Case Report and Literature Review

Impalement injuries are uncommon in the head and neck region, and when associated with the retained foreign body present a challenge to the clinician with regards to management. This type of injury may occasionally be associated with life-threatening complications or permanent disability. Therefore, clinicians involved in the management of head and neck trauma need to be constantly reminded of this uncommon type of injury and the different treatment options.This is a case report of impalement injury to the palate of a child by a hair weaving instrument. Clinical and plain radiographic examination was sufficient for foreign body localization. The foreign body was successfully extricated under local anaesthesia and conscious sedation using a simple conservative technique with no complications