Biochemical Changes Associated with Protein Energy Malnutrition among Pregnant Women in Enugu Metropolis of Nigeria

Serum total protein, albumin, urea, total cholesterol, creatinine and calcium were evaluated in three groups of female subjects as part of an investigation on the biochemical changes associated with protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in pregnant women. The first group were 52 pregnant women with low total protein (<52g/l), the second group were 50 pregnant women with normal total protein (>52g/l) while the third group were 50 non-pregnant, non-lactating, apparently healthy women with normal total protein (>63kg). All the subjects were resident in Enugu metropolis and aged between 20 to 40 years. The pregnant subjects were in different gestational stages of pregnancy, having different parity and attending the antenatal clinic of Parklane Specialist Hospital, Enugu. The results show that there was no significant difference between the mean serum total protein of the different age groups (p>0.05). Parity (ie the number of children had by mother) correlated negatively (p<0.05) with serum total protein, urea, total cholesterol, creatinine and calcium. Gestational stage of pregnancy in trimesters correlated negatively and significantly with serum total protein and serum calcium (p<0.05). The results also revealed that serum total cholesterol did not correlate significantly with serum total protein, urea, total cholesterol, creatinine and calcium (p>0.05 in each case). Urea levels correlated significantly and positively with serum total protein (r = + 0.246, p<0.05), and creatinine (r = +0.275, p<0.05). creatinine correlated positively with serum total protein (r = +0.497,p<0.05), urea (r = +0. 275, p<0.05) and calcium ( r = + 0.356, p<0.05). Calcium negatively and significantly correlated with gestational stage of pregnancy in trimesters (r = -0.288, p<0.05) and correlated positively and significantly with serum total protein (r = + 0.681, p<0.05) and creatinine (r = + 0.0356, p<0.05). Keywords: Protein energy malnutrition (PEM), Pregnancy, Biochemical, Gestation

Evaluation of toxicological implications of ingestion exposure to gasoline in mammals

Epidemiologic and experimental data suggest that exposure to petroleum hydrocarbon exert toxicities on variety of organs of living system such as the lungs, liver and kidney. Because increased LDL cholesterol, decreased HDL cholesterol and alteration in the level of total serum cholesterol have all been implicated as risk factors for atherosclerosis, this present study was designed to determine whether very low percentages of gasoline per kilogramme body weight could cause toxicity in rats. Female albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The control group was fed with normal rat diet. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed with diet contaminated with 0.10%, 0.50% and 1.00% gasoline respectively for a total of 14 days. Total serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were used as diagnostic markers to assess liver dysfunction. The mean levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the experimental groups when compared to the control and the mean level of HDL- cholesterol was significantly (p<0.05) lower when higher percentage of gasoline was administered. These results showed that frequent exposure to gasoline fuel may be highly deleterious to the liver cells

Vitex doniana, In-Vitro Antioxidant, Membrane Stabilization Potential and Protective Impact Against Plasmodium berghei-Passaged Mice

Background and objectives: Vitex doniana Sweet (Lamiaceae) is used to treat various ailments, including respiratory infections, liver diseases, anaemia and jaundice. This study assessed the in vitro antioxidant and membrane stabilization potential, as well as the protective impact of semi-purified solvent fractions of V. doniana leaves against Plasmodium berghei-passaged mice. Methods: Dried leaves were extracted with ethanol, followed by fractionation using a solvent-gradient system of increasing polarity (hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol), and the concentrated fractions were obtained. Forty-two mice were randomly divided into seven groups as: group 1 (normal control), group 2 (disease control, untreated), while groups 3 to 7 received the standard drugs (artequick and chloroquine) and combined V. doniana fraction (VDF, 100 mg/kg) at varying ratios. Results: Comparatively to V. doniana extract, the fractions (F6, F8) displayed considerable antioxidant activity by scavenging O2•–, OH• and DPPH radicals, and effectively reduced Fe3+ to Fe2+. VDF (1:1) at different concentrations (200, 400, 600 µg/mL) inhibited erythrocyte haemolysis by 91.29±3.61%, 80.52±0.13%, 75.68±1.45% and 80.57±0.94%, respectively. Also, the VDF in synergy with artequick and chloroquine decreased parasitaemia levels by 4.25±0.25% and 4.65±0.28% compared to the disease control (7.93±1.61%). The combined fractions significantly normalized the plasma calcium concentration (1.85±0.17 mg/dL, 1.65±0.21 mg/dL, 1.72±0.23 mg/dL, 1.65±0.22 mg/dL) for groups 3 to 6 compared to the disease control (1.30±0.09 mg/dL), while the bodyweights presented no significant change in all experimental groups. Conclusion: The results indicate the promising potential of V. doniana as a drug candidate in managing malarial infection

Curing HIV-1 Infection via in vitro Ultra-Sensitive Modification of HIV-1 Uninfected CD4+ Cells using Antiviral Agents

Curing HIV-1 Infection via in vitro ultra-sensitive modification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) uninfected CD4+ cells is a promising hypothetical procedure that links different established clinical/laboratory tools (methods) and channeling them towards a clinical trial to achieve the ultimate goal of curing HIV-1 infection. The In vitro ultra-sensitive chemical modification of HIV-1 uninfected CD4+ cells using selected anti-viral agents towards curing HIV-1 infection entails a six step clinical/laboratory procedure. Isolation/purification of HIV-free CD4+ cells is the first step of this therapeutic procedure. In vitro CD4+ cell expansion/culture, ultra-sensitive chemical modification, inhibition/suppression of CD4+ cell proliferation, administration of chemically modulated cells to HIV-infected patient, monitoring/maintaining the physiological/biochemical processes under intensive care make up the other steps of this procedure consecutively. The milestones in this therapeutic method include increased bioavailability, minimum dosage, minimal or no side effects, shorter duration of treatment, mop-up of free plasma virions. The principal reason for this adopted method is that, the therapy overcomes the limitations posed by the current methods of managing HIV-1 infection using anti-retrovirals. Keywords: Curing, CD4+ cells, HIV-1 infection, antiviral, side effect, modificatio

Modulatory effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii on experimentally induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related non-neoplastic disease of the prostate gland in men that has become a global health issue in recent years. Due to the side effects of conventional treatment options, attention is now focused on phytotherapeutics for its management. We investigated the possible protective effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii in a rat model of testosterone propionate (TP) induced BPH. Rats were divided into five groups: Gr. I, untreated control group; Gr. II, TP group; Gr. III, TP + finasteride; Gr. IV, TP + S. cerevisiae var. boulardii; and Gr. V, S. cerevisiae var. boulardii group. Treatments were given daily for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, all rats were weighed and the prostatic indices, prostate specific antigen, serum testosterone concentration as well as the histological and histomorphometric changes were evaluated. Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii significantly (P <0.05) reduced prostate weight, prostatic index, serum prostate specific antigen, prostatic epithelial thickness and increased luminal diameter. Thus, the results of this study suggest that S. cerevisiae var. boulardii is a potential pharmacological candidate for management of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Challenges and ways forward for sustainable weather and climate services in Africa

Sustainability of African weather and climate information can only be ensured by investing in improved scientific understanding, observational data, and model capability. These requirements must be underpinned by capacity development, knowledge management and partnerships of co-production, communication and coordination

Nowcasting for Africa: advances, potential and value

The high frequency of intense convective storms means there is a great demand to improve predictions of high-impact weather across Africa. The low skill of numerical weather prediction over Africa, even for short lead times highlights the need to deliver nowcasting based on satellite data. The Global Challenges Research Fund African SWIFT (Science for Weather Information and Forecasting Techniques) project is working to improve the nowcasting of African convective systems and so the ability to provide timely warnings

Antioxidant Properties of Polyalthia longifolia

ABSTRACT: Polyalthia longifolia is a plant found in the tropical areas of the world. The plant is used as an ornamental tree. The seeds of the plant were investigated for its toxicity, phytochemicals and antioxidant activities. The acute toxicity studies of the plant revealed LD 50 of 400mg/kg which indicates that the seeds of the plant are non-toxic and save for human consumption. The plant was found to contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, fats and oils, tannins, steroids and terpenoids. The antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract of the seeds were assayed using rat liver homogenate. Nitric oxide, ferrous sulphate and carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid scavenging activities carried out showed that there were inhibition in the formation of free radicals; indicating a possible antioxidant property. The use of the plant on humans can alleviate the incidence of oxidative stress