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

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

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