Climate impacts, forest-dependent rural livelihoods and adaptation strategies in Africa : a review

This article reviews and analyzes the implication of impacts of climate variability and change on African societies. It focuses on the African forest sector, especially the livelihoods of forest-dependent rural populations. Increasing Africa’s adaptive capacity urgently requires commitment at local, national and international levels. Forest-use affects sustainability of livelihoods, alleviates poverty in a variety of ways, and supports economic, social, cultural and environmental development in rural areas

Hysterosalpingography findings among women presenting for gynecological imaging in Ado-Ekiti, South western Nigeria

Background: Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is a valuable radiological procedure for imaging the female reproductive tract. This study highlights the spectrum of HSG findings among women presenting for gynaecological imaging in a tertiary health institution in Ado-Ekiti, South western Nigeria.Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was conducted between October 2014 and September 2015. The study population consisted of 134 women presenting at the Radiology department with request forms for HSG. Pelvic ultrasonography was done using a 3.5MHz transducer prior to HSG. Imaging findings were documented, results were entered into a spread sheet and analysed using SPSS version 20. Chi square was used to determine association between tubal occlusion, age, type of infertility and previous history of surgery. Statistical significance was set at p-values <0.05.Results: The age range of the study participants was between 23 to 50 years with a mean age of 34.9±5.53years. Age group 30-34 years (n=43, 32.1%) constituted a majority. Secondary infertility (n=84, 62.7%) was the most common clinical indication for HSG. The predominant relevant past surgical history was uterine evacuation (n= 41, 30.6%). Normal HSG findings were seen in 34 (25.4%) of the patients while others (n=100, 74.5%) had various abnormalities, the most common of which were tubal pathologies (n=89, 66.4%). There was a significant association between age and tubal occlusion (P=0.02).Conclusions: HSG is still a relevant gynecological imaging modality in resource limited settings. Tubal occlusion was the most common abnormal HSG finding in this study. There is a need for continuous advocacy on preventive measures targeted at reducing the incidence of tubal pathologies among women in developing countries

Methanol fraction of Calliandra portoricensis root bark activates caspases via alteration in mitochondrial viability in vivo

Introduction: Dysregulated apoptosis is associated with a number of disease conditions. Traditionally, Calliandra portoricensis is used in the management of prostate enlargement. This study investigates the in vivo effect of potent methanol fraction of C. portoricensis (MFCP) on mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) pore, an important pharmacological target in treatment of various diseases, and examines the toxicities associated with its oral administration. Methods: Forty-two male Wistar strain rats (70-80 g) were divided into 6 groups of 7 animals each. Each group was orally administered 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 mg/kg MFCP and the control group received distilled water for 21 and 30 days, respectively. mPT, assay for serum enzymes and hematological parameters were assessed spectrophotometrically while activation of caspases 3 and 9 was done by ELISA technique. Histological assessment of vital organs (liver, kidney, prostate) was carried out according to standard procedures. Results: There were no significant effects on mPT pore at all doses administered after 21 days of oral administration. However, after 30 days of administration, MFCP induced mPT pore opening at doses 100 and 200 mg/kg with induction folds of 2.6 and 3.3, respectively while there was no induction of mPT pore opening at lower doses of 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg. Furthermore, significant (P < 0.05) increases in serum enzymes (ALT, AST) were observed at all doses administered when compared with control after 30 days of oral administration. Cell counts (Hb, PCV, RBC, WBC) were adversely affected at the highest dose (200 mg/kg) compared with control and other treated groups (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) after 30 days of administration. Similarly, activation of caspases 9 and 3 were observed in rat liver homogenate at high doses of the fraction while histological evaluation showed degeneration and distortion of organs at the highest dose. Conclusion: MFCP contains phytochemicals that elicit the opening of the pore and induction of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. This would be relevant in treatment of degenerative diseases that results from down-regulation of apoptosis. However, caution should be exercised in using high doses of the plant

Effect of Crude Methanol Extract of Heliotropium indicum on Certain Biochemical Parameters in Rats with Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Fibroids

Background: Uterine fibroids or uterine leiomyoma are the commonest non-cancerous tumor affecting mostly women of age between 30-45 years. Hormones such as estrogen and progesterone produced by the ovaries cause the regeneration of the uterine lining which may stimulate the growth of fibroids. It has been established that monosodium glutamate (MSG) (a commonly used food seasoning) induces fibroids by increasing the levels of cholesterol, estradiol and total protein. Heliotropium indicum has been indicated in folkloric medicine to be anti-tumoric. The effect of crude Methanol Extract of Heliotropium indicum (MEHI) on some biochemical parameters in MSG-induced fibroid was studied. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five female Wistar rats were divided into five study groups; A(Control), B(MEHI – 50mg/kg bdwt), C(MSG – 50mg/kg bdwt), D(MSG - 50mg/kg bdwt + MEHI - 50mg/kg bdwt) and E(MSG - 50mg/kg bdwt + MEHI - 100mg/kg bdwt). The administration was carried out through intraperitoneal injection for 10days. The animals were fasted for 24hours before sacrifice after which the blood was collected into appropriate sample bottles. The levels of progesterone, estradiol, cholesterol, liver enzymes, antioxidant and hematological parameters were estimated using standard procedures. Results: The results showed that the MEHI has an ameliorative effect on MSG-induced fibroid as seen in its ability to reduce elevated levels of cholesterol, progesterone and estradiol. Also the extract elevated the levels of liver enzymes and antioxidants. Although there was insignificant decrease in the levels of antioxidants, this might be because the extract competes with the antioxidants for active site. Also, the plant extract improved packed cell volume and thus, elicits its ability as co-treatment for anaemia. Lesions at histopathology of uterus exposed to MSG alone revealed striking lesions ranging from moderate diffuse cellular infiltrates and hyperplastic endometrial glands in uterine mucosa to degenerate and necrotizing endometrial mucosa with atrophy of glands, while the ovaries exhibited lesions ranging from obliteration of ovarian follicles to attenuation of germinal epithelium (diffuse oophoritis). On the other hand the inclusion of MEHI in MSG- fibroid induced rat led to acute endometritis, moderate diffuse endometritis and glandular hyperplasia (uterus), while lesions in the ovaries ranged slightly from follicular atresia, atrophy of the gonads to normal ovaries in a dose dependent manner.Conclusion: These findings showed that the plant extract can be used for the treatment of uterine fibroid and its use could lead to improved packed cell volume of the patient, antioxidants activities and regulation of female reproductive hormones. Also, MSG has high fibroid generation tendencies which could lead to destruction of ovaries and uterus when consumed incessantly, while MEHI, showed a great potential in ameliorating the effect of MSG on ovaries and uterus, hence, MEHI is ovariohysteric protective. Keywords: Uterine Fibroids, MSG, Heliotropiumindicum, PCV, Antioxidant

Closing the prevention of mother-to-child transmission gap in Nigeria: an evaluation of service improvement intervention in Nigeria

Objectives: The objective was to assess improvement, or lack thereof, in the uptake of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) services at selected sites supported sites by the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria (GHAIN). Design: The study used aggregated monthly service statistics to evaluate service improvement efforts that were conducted before and after these were undertaken between July 2007-June 2008. Settings and subjects: The service improvement efforts took place in 60 public healthcare facilities. Outcome measures: The study measured changes in the number of pregnant women who attended antenatal clinics for the first time, the number of pregnant women tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the number of HIV-positive women receiving antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis, and the service ratio, an indicator of the relative uptake of ARV prophylaxis. An estimate of MTCT events that were averted through ARV prophylaxis taken by the pregnant women was also calculated. Results: One hundred and twenty thousand, five hundred and thirty-seven women attended an antenatal clinic (ANC) for the first time. There was an average of 167.4 monthly attendances per facility. ANC attendance increased per facility by 11.1 women monthly post-intervention (p-value &lt; 0.01). The uptake of HIV testing was 87%, with a monthly average increase of 17.8 women tested per facility (p-value &lt; 0.01). ARV prophylaxis uptake rose from 3.3-5.4 women per facility per month (p-value &lt; 0.01). The service ratio per facility improved from 5.3 women receiving ARVs to 6.5 for every 10 women who tested positive for HIV (p-value &lt; 0.01). Applying risk reduction estimates of different ARV  regimens, it was estimated that between 88-169 MTCT events were averted pre-intervention, and 143-276 events, post-intervention. Conclusion: Service improvement intervention improved the utilisation of PMTCT services. It should be a key intervention that is used to close the PMTCT gap in Nigeria.Keywords: HIV, PMTCT, evaluation, Nigeria, service improvement, effectivenes

Perception and Resistance Mechanism of some Metal-drug Complexes and Their Roles as Antibacterial

Metal-based drugs have undergone much development and application for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes for many decades since the huge success of cisplatin and other successful metal-drug complexes in the clinical stages. Furthermore, this metal-based drug has come up with a lot of signs of resistance and side-effects in their uses. This review points to some of the resistance natures and mechanisms of previously synthesized complexes in the field of chemistry

Closing the prevention of mother-to-child transmission gap in Nigeria: an evaluation of service improvement intervention in Nigeria

Daniel Reidpath - ORCID: 0000-0002-8796-0420 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8796-0420Objectives: The objective was to assess improvement, or lack thereof, in the uptake of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) services at selected sites supported sites by the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria (GHAIN). Design: The study used aggregated monthly service statistics to evaluate service improvement efforts that were conducted before and after these were undertaken between July 2007-June 2008. Settings and subjects: The service improvement efforts took place in 60 public healthcare facilities. Outcome measures: The study measured changes in the number of pregnant women who attended antenatal clinics for the first time, the number of pregnant women tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the number of HIV-positive women receiving antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis, and the service ratio, an indicator of the relative uptake of ARV prophylaxis. An estimate of MTCT events that were averted through ARV prophylaxis taken by the pregnant women was also calculated. Results: One hundred and twenty thousand, five hundred and thirty-seven women attended an antenatal clinic (ANC) for the first time. There was an average of 167.4 monthly attendances per facility. ANC attendance increased per facility by 11.1 women monthly post-intervention (p-value < 0.01). The uptake of HIV testing was 87%, with a monthly average increase of 17.8 women tested per facility (p-value < 0.01). ARV prophylaxis uptake rose from 3.3–5.4 women per facility per month (p-value < 0.01). The service ratio per facility improved from 5.3 women receiving ARVs to 6.5 for every 10 women who tested positive for HIV (p-value < 0.01). Applying risk reduction estimates of different ARV regimens, it was estimated that between 88–169 MTCT events were averted pre-intervention, and 143–276 events, post-intervention. Conclusion: Service improvement intervention improved the utilisation of PMTCT services. It should be a key intervention that is used to close the PMTCT gap in Nigeria.https://doi.org/10.1080/20786204.2013.1087431055pubpub

Shaping forest safety nets with markets : adaptation to climate change under changing roles of tropical forests in Congo Basin

This study examined the roles of markets in non-timber forest products and services that usually serve as safety nets for forest communities. Forests are considered ‘‘safety nets’’ in that people draw on available natural resources to meet emergency shortfalls and to keep them from being worse off in times of need. Markets should complement rather than substitute forests’ roles for adaptation to climate change: although markets may increase the value of a commodity, wholesalers and retailers reap most of the benefits, and the distribution of market revenue leaves local people with returns much lower than the worth of the commodity

Sensory Evaluation of Meat of Broiler Poultry Birds Fed with Tomato-supplemented Feed

Tomato is often used as a convenient feed alternative because of its high protein, mineral and vitamin content and also because of its relative low cost. With a steady increase in the demand for poultry products in Nigeria due to increase in population, urbanization, export drive and improved standard of living, it is important that serious attention with regard to the quality of chicken meat available to the Nigeria population be paid. The higher demand for poultry meat has necessitated the need for higher production, and with tomato as a more financially viable alternative in feedstuff for chickens with no adverse effect, there is need to test the general acceptability of broiler chicken meat produced through the replacement in diets of tomato as feed ingredients. This study aims to assess the effect of the use of alternate feeding material (tomato) on the sensory attribute of poultry meat. The experiment was carried out in Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo Ogun State, Nigeria using nine (9) different varieties of tomatoes: dried and blended together to make dried tomato powder. One hundred and fifty (150) broiler chickens were allocated into five (5) feeding groups of 30 birds each. Tomato powder was used as a replacement for premix in the following variations Diet A (40%tomato, 60% premix), Diet B (60% tomato, 40% premix), Diet C (80% tomato, 20% premix) and Diet D (100% tomato, 0% premix). There were significant (p&gt;0.05) differences in colour, texture, taste and odour of broiler meat.The overall acceptability showed significant (p&lt;0.05) differences, with diet C having the highest value which might be attributed to the lycopene and other bioactive components in the tomato powder. Findings revealed that the texture of the meat was the most significantly affected followed by taste and colour, indicating that tomato as alternate feedstuff material may produce more palatable poultry meat with increased texture, richer colour and improved taste