Hepatoprotective activity of n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions of Sida acuta on thioacetamide induced liver injury in rats

This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of n-hexane and ethylacetate fractions of Sida acuta against thioacetamide (TAA) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Thirty-five adult male albino wistar rats, grouped into seven groups (n=5 each) were used. Groups A-D served as the tests, while E-G served as control. The rats were fed as discussed in the methodology. Phyto-chemical analysis of Sida acuta was done using standard methods. Acute toxicity test revealed an oral LD50 of >3000 mg/kg. Test administration was oral for 7 days prior to TAA intoxication. On the 8th day, after an 18-hour fast, TAA (200mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously to all the groups except group G (normal control). Blood samples were collected 24hrs after TAA administration to assess the liver function of the rats (ALT, AST, ALP and Albumin levels). Results revealed a significant increase in the serum levels of ALP, AST and ALT, as well as a significant decrease in the serum Albumin levels due to TAA induced liver damage. Pre-treatment with both n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions of Sida acuta reduced the toxic effect of TAA as indicated by a decrease in the levels of previously elevated liver parameters and an increase in the level of Albumin.Keyswords: Hepatoprotective, n-Hexane, Ethyl acetate, Sida acuta, Thioacetamide, liver functio

Health policy and systems research and analysis in Nigeria: examining health policymakers' and researchers' capacity assets, needs and perspectives in south-east Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Health policy and systems research and analysis (HPSR+A) has been noted as central to health systems strengthening, yet the capacity for HPSR+A is limited in low- and middle-income countries. Building the capacity of African institutions, rather than relying on training provided in northern countries, is a more sustainable way of building the field in the continent. Recognising that there is insufficient information on African capacity to produce and use HPSR+A to inform interventions in capacity development, the Consortium for Health Policy and Systems Analysis in Africa (2011-2015) conducted a study with the aim to assess the capacity needs of its African partner institutions, including Nigeria, for HPSR+A. This paper provides new knowledge on health policy and systems research assets and needs of different stakeholders, and their perspectives on HPSR+A in Nigeria. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Enugu state, south-east Nigeria. It involved reviews and content analysis of relevant documents and interviews with organizations' academic staff, policymakers and HPSR+A practitioners. The College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu campus (COMUNEC), was used as the case study and the HPSR+A capacity needs were assessed at the individual, unit and organizational levels. The HPSR+A capacity needs of the policy and research networks were also assessed. RESULTS: For academicians, lack of awareness of the HPSR+A field and funding were identified as barriers to strengthening HPSR+A in Nigeria. Policymakers were not aware of the availability of research findings that could inform the policies they make nor where they could find them; they also appeared unwilling to go through the rigors of reading extensive research reports. CONCLUSION: There is a growing interest in HPSR+A as well as a demand for its teaching and, indeed, opportunities for building the field through research and teaching abound. However, there is a need to incorporate HPSR+A teaching and research at an early stage in student training. The need for capacity building for HPSR+A and teaching includes capacity building for human resources, provision and availability of academic materials and skills development on HPSR+A as well as for teaching. Suggested development concerns course accreditation, development of short courses, development and inclusion of HPSR+A teaching and research-specific training modules in school curricula for young researchers, training of young researchers and improving competence of existing researchers. Finally, we could leverage on existing administrative and financial governance mechanisms when establishing HPSR+A field building initiatives, including staff and organizational capacity developments and course development in HPSR+A

Ameloblastoma of the jaws in children: an evaluation of cases seen in a tertiary hospital in South-Eastern Nigeria

Background: Ameloblastoma is one of the most common benign odontogenic tumours in Nigeria. It is considered uncommon in children. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study of pediatric patients with histopathological diagnosis of ameloblastoma seen over seven years at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. Relevant information was retrieved from patients’ records and data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 23, the chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables, a p-value of <0.05 was considered as significant. Results: One hundred and thirty-six cases of ameloblastoma in all age groups were seen within the period. Thirty of the cases met the requirement. The mean age of the patients was 14.4 STD 2.03 (range from 10-17) years. Fourteen (46.7%) patients were male while 16 (53.3%) were female giving a ratio of 1:1.1. The duration of the lesion ranged from 3 months to 72 months (mean 15.07 months). Histologically, the follicular type (n=20, 66.7%) constitute the majority, while the clinical types were solid-multicystic (n=18, 60%) and unicystic (n=12, 40%). Enucleation was the treatment of choice in most (n=18, (60%)) of the patients. Conclusion: Ameloblastoma is relatively uncommon in children, especially those less than ten years of age. The solidmulticystic variety was the predominant type in the children studied. Most patients presented long after the onset of the tumour and enucleation with mechanical curettage produced satisfactory results in these patients. Keywords: Ameloblastoma, odontogenic tumour, children, resection, enucleation. Funding: None declare

Diversification : a safety net for Kenya's dryland farmers in the face of climate change

Crop diversification supports income, food, and nutrition security under climate change. By allocating 10% more of their arable land to food crop production, research findings showed that households improved their food security by 18%. Supplementing animal feeds with crops and crop residues increased feed supplies by 8%. On average, due to the program successes, 40% of the farmers sought climate information in order to make decisions on food production. To enhance income and food security, county governments should invest in competent extension services, farmer field schools and demonstration centers, and as well, support seed multiplication and distribution of improved, climate-resilient crop varieties

The challenge of bridging the gap between researchers and policy makers: experiences of a Health Policy Research Group in engaging policy makers to support evidence informed policy making in Nigeria

Background: Getting research into policy and practice (GRIPP) is a process of going from research evidence to decisions and action. To integrate research findings into the policy making process and to communicate research findings to policymakers is a key challenge world-wide. This paper reports the experiences of a research group in a Nigerian university when seeking to ‘do’ GRIPP, and the important features and challenges of this process within the African context. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with nine purposively selected policy makers in various organizations and six researchers from the universities and research institute in a Nigerian who had been involved in 15 selected joint studies/projects with Health Policy Research Group (HPRG). The interviews explored their understanding and experience of the methods and processes used by the HPRG to generate research questions and research results; their involvement in the process and whether the methods were perceived as effective in relation to influencing policy and practice and factors that influenced the uptake of research results. Results: The results are represented in a model with the four GRIPP strategies found: i) stakeholders’ request for evidence to support the use of certain strategies or to scale up health interventions; ii) policymakers and stakeholders seeking evidence from researchers; iii) involving stakeholders in designing research objectives and throughout the research process; and iv) facilitating policy maker-researcher engagement in finding best ways of using research findings to influence policy and practice and to actively disseminate research findings to relevant stakeholders and policymakers. The challenges to research utilization in health policy found were to address the capacity of policy makers to demand and to uptake research, the communication gap between researchers, donors and policymakers, the management of the political process of GRIPP, the lack of willingness of some policy makers to use research, the limited research funding and the resistance to change. Conclusions: Country based Health Policy and Systems Research groups can influence domestic policy makers if appropriate strategies are employed. The model presented gives some direction to potential strategies for getting research into policy and practice in the health care sector in Nigeria and elsewhere

American Society of Clinical Oncology Summit on Addressing Obesity Through Multidisciplinary Provider Collaboration: Key Findings and Recommendations for Action

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/139117/1/oby21987.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/139117/2/oby21987_am.pd

The anti-ulcer activities of leaf extracts of combretum racemosum (Family: combracaceae)

The Leaf extracts of Combretum racemosum has a high folkloric reputation as an ant-ulcer agent. We investigated the effects of the aqueous and hexane extracts of the leaf of the plant on three ulcer models induced in albino rats (wistar) and compared the protective value of the extracts given at a dose of 400mg/kg body weight of the animal with that produced by 100mg/kg (BW) of cimetidine. 3% Tween-85 served as the positive control drug. Hospital strains of 7 micro-organisms consisting of gram positive bacteria and fungi were challenged with 10mg/ml of the extracts. The zones of inhibition produced were compared with those produced by 5mg of Ciprofloxacin and Gentamicin. The result showed high protective values against peptic ulcer by both extracts ranging from 47-64% using standardized ulcer index. This protection compared favourably with the protection produced by Cimetidine on the different ulcer models. The results of the antimicrobial activity investigation showed that the extracts have significant but varied levels of inhibition of the growth of cultures of S.aureus, S.typhi, B. subtilis and Pseudomonas aeroginosa. The potential anti-ulcer value of the extracts is enhanced by their antimicrobial activity on both gram negative and positive bacterial cultures. The results of the acute toxicity test indicate a potentially safe agent of a natural origin. The water and Hexane extracts of C. racemosum may yield a double action anti-ulcer ingredient(s). Keywords: Extracts, Combretum racemosum, antiulcer, antimicrobial activities Journal of Biomedical Investigation Vol. 4 (1) 2006: pp. 9-1

Communication and Policy Influence Strategy - Agricultural Productivity and Climate Change in Arid and Semi-Arid Kenya [Annex 3]

This three-year project (2011-2014) aims at building capacity for Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) to undertake climate change adaptation studies within the agricultural context. The research results will be utilized in developing adaptation strategies in the three ASAL districts of Kenya; Transmara, Ijara and Tana Delta. The Annex includes a detailed implementation plan