Assessment of changes in cardiovascular parameters among petrol pump attendants in Ughelli, Delta State Nigeria

Petrol pump attendants are group of workers that are daily exposed to petrol fumes across petrol filling stations in major cities within Nigeria and sub-Sahara Africa. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of petrol fumes on changes in some cardiovascular parameters among petrol pump attendants in Ughelli, Delta State Nigeria by measuring arterial blood pressure and calculating pulse and mean arterial pressure of 150 petrol attendants with age, sex matched control within Ughelli metropolis and its environs. Data obtained show that the arterial blood pressure, pulse and mean arterial pressure ranged from 108/60 - 140/92, 48 - 80 and 76 - 126 mmHg respectively. The result also revealed that mean arterial pressure significantly (p<0.05) increase in the petrol pump attendant. More so, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased in a duration of exposure dependent manner with significance (p<0.05) in petrol pump attendants working for more than five years. The mean arterial pressure was significantly (p<0.05) increased in subjects working as petrol pump attendants for less than five years and five years or more. Data also showed that the pulse pressure was not adversely affected in the petrol pump attendants. In conclusion, this study has established that there are changes in cardiovascular parameters of petrol pump attendants as shown with an increase in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure.Keywords: Assessment, Cardiovascular Parameters, Petrol pump attendant

Assessment of Cardiovascular Changes among Indoor and Outdoor Cleaners in a Tertiary Institution in Delta State, South-South Nigeria

This study is aimed at assessing cardiovascular changes amongst indoor and outdoor cleaners in Delta State University, Abraka. A total of one hundred (100) cleaners were randomly selected for the study, comprising of fifty (50) indoor and fifty (50) outdoor cleaners. Data were collected and the digital sphygmomanometerwas used to measure blood pressure and pulse rate of subjects. Results obtained ranged from 93/73mmHg – 177/102mmHg, 62 – 102beats/min and 85/50- 139/90mmHg, 60- 107beats/min for indoor and outdoor cleaners respectively. The result showed that the mean blood pressure was higher in indoor cleaner than outdoor cleaners and the mean pulse rate of outdoor cleaners was higher than that of indoor. Also, age was positively correlated with pulse rate and systolic blood pressure while the duration of work per day was correlated negatively with blood pressure and pulse rate. The study has established that blood pressure was higher among indoor cleaner than outdoor cleaner, while pulse rate was higher among outdoor cleaner than indoor cleaners. The study has also strengthened the need for cleaners to put on protective devices to reduce exposure to air pollution and encourage cleaners to undergo regular medical check. Keywords: Assessment, cardiovascular changes, indoor and outdoor cleaner

The reversal effects of Irvingia gabonensis seed extract on ethanol-induced hypertension in male Wistar rats

Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill is a tropical African tree widely used for the treatment of deranged body weight, blood sugar, and blood cholesterol in China, India, and Africa. Despite its medicinal uses, there is no documented report on its role and mechanism of action in the management of hypertension. In this study, we investigated the reversal effects of n-hexane extract (oil) of Irvingia gabonensis seed on ethanol-induced hypertension in male Wistar rats. Twenty-five (25) male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups. Group A (control) received normal saline (10 mL/kg) orally, while groups B to E received 5% ethanol (10 mL/kg) alone daily for 14 consecutive days to induce hypertension. Thereafter, oral administration of Irvingia gabonensis at 250 mg/kg/day, 500 mg/kg/day, and enalapril at 0.1 mg/kg was introduced from day 15 to 35 in groups C to E, respectively. The results showed that ethanol caused a significant increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), heart rate (HR), and a reduction in mean weight gain in normotensive rats. However, treatment with n-hexane extract (oil) of the seed of Irvingia gabonensis or enalapril showed a significant (P=0.001) reversal in SBP, DBP, MABP, HR, and body weight gain compared to the ethanol-induced hypertensive rats. The study showed that Irvingia gabonensis seed oil administered at 250 mg/kg has a potency similar to enalapril in reducing blood pressure and heart rate and reversing weight loss in ethanol-induced hypertension. Also, it reversed the deleterious effects of ethanol on the architecture of the cardiac and renal tissues. The reversal effect of Irvingia gabonensis oil on hypertension was attributed to its antihypertensive and cytoprotective effects, resulting from the potent oil fingerprint of the extract

Effects of anti-malarial alkaloids on the sperm properties and blood levels of reproductive hormones of adult men

The effects of treatment with the anti-malarial alkaloids quinine and chloroquine on sperm properties and blood levels of selected reproductive hormones (testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone andluteinizing hormones) of adult men were determined. Informed consents were obtained from twenty healthy adult volunteers who were subsequently allotted to groups A and B with 5 subjects each .Whilegroup C had 10 subjects. Group A received 600 mg of quinine 8 hourly for 5 days; group B subjects had 4 tablets of chloroquine (250 mg each) daily for 2 days then 2 tablets for one day. Group C subjects hadneither of these drugs in the study period of 65 days. Venous blood and masturbation specimens of semen were obtained from the subjects before treatment, immediately post-treatment and by the 65thday from commencement of treatment. Blood levels of follicle stimulating hormones, leutinizing hormone and testosterone were determined by Enzyme Linked Imuno Assay. Seminal Fluid Analysiswas carried out on the semen specimens to determine sperm count, percentage forward motility and percentage abnormal sperm morphology. The means of all the variables assessed were within the limits of normal for their respective method of analysis. No statistical significant effect of these drugs on sperm count, percentage sperm forward motility and blood levels of testosterone were observed whenpre-treatment results were compared with post-treatment and 65th day results as well as when results of quinine and chloroquine treated groups were compared with those of control group. The suggestion bydisparate in vivo animal and in vitro studies that the short term use of these drugs to treat malaria may be associated with fertility changes as a result of their inherent anti-spermatogenic effects have notbeen collaborated by this study in adult men

Effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Tridax procumbens leaves on gastrointestinal motility and castor oil-induced diarrhoea in wistar rats

The antidiarrheal as well as the phytochemical properties of the aqueous and ethanolic leave extract of Tridax procumbens was carried out in this study. Forty (40) albino Wistar rats weighing between 150 and 200 g were purchased for used. The 40 rats were divided into two sets for the different experiments. The animals were acclimatized to room temperature (28\ub15 \ub0C) in a standard wire meshed plastic cages for 7 days prior to commencement of the experiment. During the entire period of study the animals were supplied with standard pellet diet and water ad libitum. Phytochemical studies carried out on aqueous and ethanol extract of Tridax procumbens leaves revealed the presence of twelve bioactive compounds which are alkaloid, saponin, phenol, tannin, flavonoid, cardiac glycoside, steroid, phytosterol, triterpenoid and phlobatannin. Tannins, phenols, phytosterol, triterpenoids and phlobatannins were detected in trace amount for the aqueous extract compared to the ethanol extract. Both aqueous and ethanol leave extracts of Tridax procumbens showed significant (p<0.05) antidiarrheal activity on gastrointestinal motility with barium sulfate milk model, while with the castor oil-induced diarrheal model, the aqueous extract showed no significant reduction (p>0.05) in the number of stool (wet feces) for 2h when compared with Lomotil drug (standard group). However, there was statistical significant difference (p<0.05) in wet stool for the ethanol extract. These result obtained revealed that the leaf extract might possess some pharmacological antidiarrheal activity and this may possibly explain the use of the plant in traditional medicine

Health risks from environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

© The Author(s) 2016. Local communities within oil producing countries in Africa often face formidable environmental challenges that generate conflicts and concerns around exploitation, environmental impact, and health risks. A key feature of these concerns has been the paucity of effective risk communication mechanisms and the impact this has on the public understanding of risk. Risk communication has been identified as a significant factor in explaining why the health consequences of environmental degradation remain unabated in oil producing communities. This paper evaluates health risk communication in the oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The study is based on 69 interviews conducted in the Niger Delta region. The paper argues that the health of the local population is being impaired by risk incidences relating to oil and gas exploration activities, the effects of which are amplified by inadequate communication of health risks to the public. The study argues for and suggests ways in which health risk communication processes can be improved in the Niger Delta. A multi-dimensional framework for public health risk communication is developed as a means of advancing understanding, practice, and policy

Arjunolic acid counteracts fluoxetine-induced reproductive neuroendocrine dysfunction through inhibition of chromosomal derangements and hypercortisolism

Antidepression-related HPA-HPG alteration is gaining more attention in stress research on humans and animals with depression. Therefore, the search for therapeutic drugs such as Arjunolic acid (AA) might be a core value in the management of reproductive neuro-endocrine dysfuction in rats treated with FXT. In this context, this study aimed to determine the effects of AA on reproductive neuro-endocrine functions in fluoxetine (FXT)-induced HPA-HPG axis dysfunction in rats. The subjects were randomly divided into 6 groups with six (6) rats each after 14 days of acclimatization. Rats in group 1 received normal saline (10 mL/kg); groups 2 & 3 were respectively given AA (1.0 mg/100gm body weight) and AA (2.0 mg/100gm body weight), whereas rats in group 4 were given FXT (10 mg/kg/p.o./day), and groups 5 & 6 were respectively given a combination of FXT (10 mg/kg) + AA (1.0 mg/100g body weight) and of FXT (10 mg/kg) + AA (2.0 mg/100g body weight). The results revealed that FXT altered reproductive neuro-endocrine function as evidenced by increased corticosterone, tDFI, tCSA, and abnormal sperm morphology; with corresponding decreases in Kisspeptin, GnRH, LH, FSH, testosterone, HOST value, TP, Sialic acid, Johnson score, sperm count, motility, and viability. However, AA dose dependently significantly counteracted the FXT-elicited changes in corticosterone, tDFI, tCSA and abnormal sperm morphology as well as Kisspeptin, GnRH, LH, FSH, testosterone, HOST value, TP, Sialic acid, Johnson score, sperm count, motility, and viability; and improved the body and testicular weight in rats. In conclusion, AA attenuates fluoxetine-induced reproductive neuroendocrine dysfunction through inhibition of chromosomal derangements and hypercortisolism. However, co-administration of FXT with AA could be a better therapeutic option in the management of FXT-induced altered HPA-HPG-axis

Testosterone: The Male Sex Hormone

Males primarily use testosterone as a sex hormone. Through its effects on the androgen receptor, it is released by the interstitial cells of the testes and is in charge of the male external genitalia development as well as the internal reproductive glands and ducts during adolescence and maturity. Additionally, testosterone is required for the descent of testes via the inguinal canal in the last 2 months of fetal development. When a Y chromosome and consequently the SRY gene are missing from an embryo, ovaries form. The Wolffian ducts do not mature because the fetal ovaries do not release enough testosterone. It is mostly used to treat male hypogonadism. Notably, this chapter addresses the following context: historical view of testosterone research, biosynthesis, secretion, metabolism, transport mechanism, biological actions, health benefit of testosterone, factors that promote and inhibit testosterone secretion, therapeutic implication as well as pathophysiology of testosterone secretion

The Impact, Comparison and Usefulness of Digital Marketing Communications Tools on Organizational Profit Maximization Using Facebook

The importance of Chatbots in marketing, particularly in employment or training progressions and maintenance for definite promotional goals, tools as well as approaches was examined in this study. The study seeks to ascertain the opportunities associated with the usage of chatbots in marketing, with specific emphasis on its influence in the process of Human-to-Machine communications, and find out the extent to which Chatbots could be effectively use to examine competitive companies or brands. The researcher explores how chatbot can interact with users using Facebook messenger and investigate the impact and usefulness of digital marketing communications tools on organizational profit maximization, using a real estate business. The study focuses on three sub-processes in the chatbot design, which includes writing handling, language acceptance, as well as reaction generation. Additionally, the survey was piloted with arrangement of chatbot assessment methods and their examination in relation to chatbot categories as well as three central appraisal schemes, which include content estimation, user gratification, and chat function. Findings of the study established that Chatbots could be effectively used to enable companies or brands intensify organizational profit maximization and proved that the limitations of the human agents have been taken over by this automatic Bot, which have been trained to act like human, give responses to customers’ requests and even suggest responses to users. It recommends that every organization marketing teams should acquire innovative communication approaches about how to preserve and advance enduring relations with standing consumers as well as how to get the attention of potential consumers

An improved technique for oral administration of solutions of test substances to experimental rats using Mediflon/Medicut intravenous cannula

The oral administration of solution of drugs or test substances to experimental rats is often necessary in various pharmacological, toxicological and other biomedical researches. It is scientifically sound and preferable to administer test substances to experimental animals by the same route(s) by which it is taken or meant to be taken by humans as systemic bioavailability; pharmacokinetics and toxicologicalparameters obtained for the substance will depend markedly on the route used to administer it. The non-ready availability of the standard oral cannula designed for varieties of animals and widespreaddearth of technical skills to properly use available improvised techniques in this part of the world has made this route somewhat unpopular among biomedical scientists. In several instances it is abandoned even though initially opted for. This paper narrates and illustrates the technique of using a size 18G Mediflon/Medicut intravenous cannula as an improvised oral cannula to administer solutions of drugs and test substances to experimental rats. Techniques of handling and manipulating the rat with the goalof having the eosophagus as straight as possible and of the oral introduction of the Mediflon/Medicut cannula attached to a syringe containing the solution of test substance are narrated and then illustrated by pictures. The usual problems and difficulties encountered with the oral administration of solutions of test substances using either the syringe alone or introducing it into the feeds or drinking water of therats were avoided. And the intended doses were accurately delivered at every instance this improvised oral cannula was used