Plasma glucose, creatinine and urea levels in type 2 diabetic patients attending a Nigerian teaching hospital

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by some specific complications including diabetic nephropathy. Plasma creatinine and urea are useful clinical tools in assessing renal function, despite some limitations. In the present study, plasma glucose, creatinine and urea concentrations were determined in type 2 diabetic patients attending Irrua Specialist Hospital, Ekpoma, Edo state, Nigeria. About 80 (35 males and 45 females) diabetic patients aged between 30-70 years serving as tests and 50 (30 males and 20 females) age apparently healthy individuals of similar age bracket serving as controls were used for the study

A study on knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception among secondary school students in Ekpoma, Nigeria

Background: Adolescent sexual activity, early pregnancy, induced abortion and increased HIV/AIDS infection have become a major concern in Nigeria. Teenage pregnancy is a risk factor for disruption of education, future unemployment and poor mental health. The aim of this study was to assess the level of awareness, attitude and practice of contraception among male and female secondary school students in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria, a fast developing village with increased cases of teenage abortion. Methods: A descriptive study, using a pre-tested, self administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception among male and female public secondary school students in Ekpoma. The study population consisted of male and female junior secondary III (JS III) and senior secondary III (SS III) school students in Ekpoma aged 12-24 years. In all 1000 male and 1000 female students were recruited for the study. Data obtained were analyzed by sex and age. Results: A total of 690 and 814 questionnaires were returned in good order for males and females respectively. Analysis of data obtained showed that 398 (57.7%) and 216 (26.5%) male and female students respectively were sexually active as at the time of this study. 68 (17.0%) of the male population had their first sexual intercourse at 9 years. Analysis also showed that 292 (42.3%) and 492 (60%) males and females respectively had good knowledge of contraception while 206 (29.9%) and 122 (15%) males and females had no knowledge of contraception. Parents (25.5%), friends (17%), books and magazines (16.2%) and internet (10.7%) were the main sources of information about sex and contraception. Condom was the major available contraceptive for the males while Andrew liver salt (29%), oral pills (10.3%), 7 Up (7.4%) were the used by the females. About 40% of the total sampled population believed contraception is not safe. Conclusion: Awareness and use of contraception among secondary school students in Ekpoma was low. There is a need to educate adolescents about the use of contraception with emphasis on available methods and correct timing of usage. Key words: Contraception, adolescent, knowledge, attitude, safety, practice

Effect of Egusi Melon Oil on Lecithin: Cholesterol Acyltransferase Activity in Rats Fed a Cholesterol Diet

The effect of feeding egusi melon oil as a supplement to a cholesterol-based diet on serum lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase activity of rats was evaluated. The rats were divided into two groups designated: control and test respectively. Rats in the test group were fed 5% cholesterol diet supplemented with 5% egusi melon oil while the control rats received 5% cholesterol diet without egusi melon oil. After 6 weeks of diet feeding, the enzyme activity was decreased significantly (p<.05) in the egusi melon oil-fed rats compared with the control. The test group also showed relative significant decreases in the serum levels cholesteryl ester and lysolecithin (p<.05) and increase levels of lecithin (p<.05). Significant decreases (p<.05) were also observed in serum total and free cholesterol in the egusi melon oil treated group compared to the control group. The implications of these results are discussed with respect to hypercholesterolemia

Plasma concentrations of kidney function indicators in malaria patients in Ekpoma, South-South Nigeria

Malaria has protean clinical manifestations and Acute Renal Failure (ARF) is one of its serious complications and could be life threatening. Information on kidney involvement in malaria in Africa is still scanty and Nigeria is no exception. Kidney function was assessed in 60 (28 males and 32 females) malaria positive patients (as test subjects) and 40 (16 males and 24 females) malaria negative individuals (as controls) using plasma creatinine, urea and uric acid as test indicators. Descriptive analysis of results obtained showed that plasma creatinine level was significantly (p0.05) was observed in plasma uric acid between female test subjects and female control subjects. Similarly, plasma urea and uric acid levels were not significantly altered in male test subjects compared to male control subjects. Males test subjects were observed to have higher plasma levels of the test parameters compared to female test subjects. Comparative study between male and female test subjects showed significantly higher concentrations in plasma creatinine and uric acid in male test subjects compared to female test subjects. From these results, it is concluded that renal impairment is a clinical feature of malaria in Ekpoma, South-South Nigeria

Archachatina marginata Haemolymph Potentiates Hypoglycemic Effect by Mimicking Insulin in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rat

Aims: This study investigates the hypoglycemic potential of Archachatina marginata haemolymph and its mechanism in streptozotocin -induced diabetic rats. Study Design: One factor experimental design. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemical Sciences, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State, Nigeria between January to June, 2015. Methodology: The rats were set into four groups (n=5). Group 1 - Non-diabetic control (NDC), Group 2 - Diabetic Control (DC), Group 3 - Diabetic rats with 1 mL administration of snail Original Research Article Adeboye et al.; JPRI, 18(1): 1-8, 2017; Article no.JPRI.33786 2 haemolymph (DSS1), Group 4 - Diabetic rats with 2 mL snail haemolymph administration (DSS2). The blood glucose concentration of each rat was taken and thereafter, they were weighed and then administered with 55 mg/kg STZ in citrate buffer (pH 4.5) peritoneally non-diabetic control group (NDC). Rats with blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL and above were considered diabetic. Haemolymph of 1 mL and 2 mL were administered to rats in DSS1 and DSS2 respectively while DC received 2 mL distilled water for 14 consecutive days. Physiological orangs and blood samples were harvested for various analysis. Results: The A. marginata haemolymph significantly improved the plasma concentration of insulin and reduced plasma glucose level in a dose dependent manner P=.05. Conclusion: The A. marginata haemolymph has potential to exact hypoglycemic effect and improve the insulin concentration in streptozotocin induced diabetic rat. Keywords: Archachatina marginata; haemolymph; streptozocin diabetes rats

Palm and Egusi melon oils lower serum and liver lipid profile and improve antioxidant activity in rats fed a high fat diet

Many studies have suggested that oils high in saturated fatty acids are responsible for the cholesterolraising effect of saturated fat. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of palm oil (rich in saturated fatty acid) and egusi melon oil (rich in unsaturated fatty acids) on serum and liver lipids and their antioxidant status. Lipid profiles, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GSSG-Rx) were determined in serum and liver of rats fed a high cholesterol diet for six weeks. Palm oil- and egusi melon-fed rats exhibited improved serum and liver lipid profiles and had a more significant reduction in serum and liver MDA levels as compared to control rats. Similarly, GSH-Px and GSSG-Rx activities were significantly higher in rats fed palm and egusi melon oils compared to the control. It could thus be concluded based on these findings, that palm oil and egusi melon improve serum and liver lipid profile in rats fed a high fat diet and their consumption could thus offer protection against lipid-related disorders. Key words: Palm oil, egusi melon oil, saturated fatty acids, antioxidant

Modulation of Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Plasmodium berghei Malarial Infection by Crude Aqueous Extract of Ganoderma lucidum

In this study, attempt is made to establish changes in serum and liver lipoprotein cholesterols accompanying Plasmodium berghei malarial infection in mice treated with aqueous extract of Ganoderma lucidum at 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg body weight in comparison with 15 mg/kg chloroquine (CQ). Significant increases in all the lipoprotein fractions were observed in infected untreated mice compared with normal control mice. Treatment with 100 and 250 mg/kg G. lucidum extract produced significant reduction in serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density cholesterol (LDL-C) contents compared with 500 mg/kg G. lucidum and CQ. Treatment with CQ, however, produced significant reduction in hepatic TC and LDL-C compared with the extract. A dosedependent significant increase in serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was observed in the G. lucidum treated mice compared with normal control but significantly lower compared with CQ-treated mice. Liver HDL-C level was significantly higher in CQ-treated mice compared with normal control and significantly lower compared with G. lucidum-treated and infected untreated mice. A dose-dependent effect of the extract was observed in both serum and liver very-low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C). The implication of these results is discussed with respect to the parasite survival and proliferation in the serum and liver

Disease-age Correlated Study of Some Patients with Solitary Hypertension Attending Central Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

The study was aimed at verifying how oxidative status varies with age of diabetes mellitus (DM) in sufferers with adequate blood sugar control. Forty-one diabetic otherwise healthy (DOH) volunteers and 57 apparently healthy controls were used and plasma levels of two endogenous antioxidant enzymes (Superoxide dismutase, SOD, and catalase, CAT) as well as two markers of oxidative damage (Malondialdehyde, MDA and erythrocyte osmotic fragility, EOF) were determined. Results obtained showed significant decreases in plasma SOD and CAT activities, and significant increases in plasma levels of MDA and EOF as age of disease increases. In addition, there were clear significant differences between the oxidative status of DOH and apparently healthy control subjects of similar chronological (birth) age group. Plasma MDA and EOF as markers of oxidative damage were significantly higher in DOH subjects compared with healthy control subjects of similar age. However, plasma SOD and CAT activities were observed to be significantly lower in DOH subjects compared with healthy control subject of comparable age. It could thus be concluded that diabetes is associated with progressive increase in tissue oxidative damage. Keywords Solitary Hypertension, Reactive Oxygen Species, Disease – Age, Hypertensive Otherwise Health