Management of Unilateral Suppurative Mastitis in A Four-year-old Red

Nigerian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 32(3): 2011; 246 - 24

PHYTOCHEMICALS AND HYPOGLYCEMIC PROPERTIES OF METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF PHYLLANTHUS AMARUS

Plants and plant products are continuously being explored in medicine against diabetics. In the present study, phytochemical screening and hypoglycemic properties of methanol leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus against alloxan-induced diabetic rats were conducted. A total of fifteen (15) albino rats were randomly selected into 5 groups of 3 rats per group. Groups 1-3 rats were treated with   250 and 500 mg/kg methanol extract of Phyllanthus amarus and 5 mg/kg of glibenclamide respectively, while groups 4 and 5 served as diabetic and normal controls respectively. All treatments were administered orally, once daily for fifteen days. Results revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, total phenols and tannins. A significant (P<0.05) and a progressive increase in blood glucose level were observed in diabetic untreated rats throughout the experimental periods. At the end of the treatment period rat treated with 250 & 500 mg/kg, P. amarus had final glucose level of 117.00±5.43 mg/dl & 106.00±4.56 mg/kg. Rats treated with 2.5mg/kg glibenclamide had final glucose level of 117.33±5.43 while the untreated rat had final glucose level of 562.50±15.45 mg/dl. The extract of phyllanthus amarus at 250 and 500 mg/kg also cause a significant improvement in body weight gain of the rat. It is concluded that phyllanthus amarus contains some useful phytochemicals with potential hypoglycemic reputations. Thus, it may be considered as a natural source of the drug for therapeutic purposes

Oxidative stress and outcome of antioxidant supplementation in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

Background: PCOS is a condition with significant decrease in antioxidant with an increased risk of oxidative stress. Antioxidant supplementation has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity in PCOS and may improve outcome of management of PCOS. Objectives of this study were to determine the oxidative stress level of PCOS patients, to assess the effect of antioxidant supplementation on the outcome of management of PCOS and to compare with a control group.Methods: The study was a single blind randomised control trial involving 200 patients with PCOS. The study was conducted at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto. They were randomly divided into intervention and control groups and base line serum levels of oxidative stress marker, antioxidant enzymes, vitamins and minerals were determined. Antioxidant supplementation and placebo were given to the intervention and control groups respectively. All the patients had ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate and were followed up for 6 months. Outcome measures were clinical pregnancy or menstrual regularisation. Level of significance was <0.05.Results: There was statistical significance in the serum levels of oxidative stress marker, antioxidant enzymes, vitamins and minerals between the two groups (post intervention). Glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.001), superoxide dismutase (p = 0.0001), catalase (p= 0.0369), melondialdehyde (p= 0.007), Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (p = 0.0001), zinc and copper (p = 0.0001). The clinical pregnancy outcomes were 22 (22%) versus 2 (2%); live births 18 (18%) versus 2 (2%) and menstrual regularisation 48 (48%) versus 46 (46%) in the intervention and control groups respectively.Conclusions: Antioxidant supplementation in this study significantly affected pregnancy rate in patients with PCOS. Larger studies are suggested to revisit the conclusion of the Cochrane review that antioxidants supplementation had no significant role in female infertility

Livestock herding and Fulani ethnicity are a combined risk factor for development of early adverse reactions to antivenom treatment: Findings from a cross-sectional study in Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Adverse reactions to antivenom considerably complicate the clinical management of snakebite envenomed patients because it necessitates a temporary suspension of life-saving antivenom, increases costs and can compromise patient outcomes. This study sought to explore the association between cattle-herding occupation and ethnic group and the occurrence of early adverse reactions to antivenom. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between the 25th April and 11th July 2011 at the Kaltungo General Hospital in north east Nigeria. The exposure variable of cattle-herding occupation showed a strong correlation with the ethnic group variable, thus these were combined into a new variable with three categories (Fulani and herder, either Fulani or herder, and neither Fulani nor herder). The outcome variable was the occurrence of early adverse reactions, defined as any new symptoms occurring within 6 hours of antivenom administration. Odds Ratios were estimated using multivariable logistic regression models controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: Among 231 envenomed snakebite victims, the overall incidence of early adverse reactions was 11.9% (95% confidence intervals: 8.0–16.9%). Patients who were Fulani and herders had a higher incidence of early adverse reactions compared to patients who were neither Fulani nor herders (20% vs 5.7%). After adjusting for age and gender, victims who were Fulani and herders were 5.9 times more likely to have an early adverse reaction, compared to victims who were neither Fulani nor herders (95% CI: 1.88–18.59; p = 0.002). INTERPRETATION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to provide evidence of higher odds of early adverse reactions among patients from a particular occupation and/or ethnic group. We recommend that snake envenomed patients of Fulani origin be especially closely monitored for adverse reactions, that hospitals receiving these patients be appropriately resourced to manage both envenoming and adverse reactions and that premedication with adrenaline should be considered. Our findings provide an argument for speculation on the influence of immunological or lifestyle-related differences on the occurrence of early adverse reactions to antivenom

Diagnostic characteristics of the 20-minute whole blood clotting test in detecting venom-induced consumptive coagulopathy following carpet viper envenoming

Introduction Envenoming by Echis spp. (carpet or saw-scaled vipers) causes haemorrhage and coagulopathy and represents a significant proportion of snakebites in the savannah regions of West Africa. Early diagnosis of envenoming is crucial in the management of these patients and there is limited evidence on the utility of the 20-minute whole blood clotting test (20WBCT) in diagnosing venom-induced consumptive coagulopathy (VICC) following envenoming by Echis ocellatus. Methods A prospective observational cohort study was conducted at the Kaltungo General Hospital in North-eastern Nigeria from September 2019 to September 2021. Standardised 20WBCTs were conducted by trained hospital staff and citrated plasma samples were collected at numerous timepoints. Prothrombin time (PT) and international normalised ratio (INR) were determined using a semi-automated analyser and INR values were calculated using international sensitivity indices (ISI). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV), negative predictive values (NPV), and likelihood ratios of the 20WBCT compared to an INR ≥ 1.4 were calculated, alongside 95% confidence intervals. Results We enrolled 121 patients into our study, with a median age of 26 (18.0–35.0) years and a male predominance (75.2%). The 20WBCT was positive (abnormal) in 101 out of 121 patients at timepoint 0h, of which 95 had an INR ≥ 1.4, giving a sensitivity of 87.2% (95%CI 79.4–92.8). Among patients with a negative 20WBCT (normal), six had an INR < 1.4 giving a specificity of 50% (95%CI 21.1–78.9%). The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 1.7 (95%CI 1.6–1.9) and 0.3 (95%CI 0.1–0.4) respectively. Conclusion The 20WBCT is a simple, cheap, and easily accessible bedside test with a high sensitivity for the detection of patients with venom induced consumptive coagulopathy (VICC) following envenoming by E. ocellatus, although false positives do occur. Repeated 20WBCTs can identify patients with new, persistent, and rebound coagulopathy

Investigation of livestock for presence of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria

The study investigated the presence of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in livestock to ascertain their reservoir role and also screened for other pathogenic trypanosomes of animals in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger state, Nigeria. A total of 460 livestock comprising (cattle, sheep, goats, and dogs) selected at random were bled, examined using the buffy coat and Giemsa stained thin film and packed cell volume estimated. Questionnaire was filled for each animal on demography, awareness and management practices. An overall prevalence of 2.17% with Trypanosoma brucei, T. congolense, T. vivax and a mixed infection of T. brucei and T. congolense observed microscopically awaiting characterization. Interviews revealed high awareness (82.8%) of tsetse and trypanosomiasis described as bush disease and abortion in four cows. The PCV values were within the normal range, however, a significant decrease (P&lt;0.05) was observed in sheep aged 7months to 4years in two communities. Therefore, the study indicated the presence of T. brucei and other trypanosomes suggesting that animal trypanosomiasis is still a problem to animal health and wellbeing in the study area. The study recommends effective integrated chemotherapy and vector control including livestock rearing under intensive management system to boost livestock production and productivity

Randomised Controlled Double-Blind Non-Inferiority Trial of Two Antivenoms for Saw-Scaled or Carpet Viper (Echis ocellatus) Envenoming in Nigeria

Snake bite threatens millions of poor rural folk throughout Africa. In Nigeria, as in many countries of sub-Saharan Africa, it takes a terrible toll on human life and limb. Over the years, the news for those exposed to snake bite has been generally bad: withdrawal of antivenom manufacturers, increasing cost and, most recently, the marketing of ineffective or fake antivenoms in the region. Our paper reports encouraging results achieved by two antivenoms created as a direct consequence of the present crisis in antivenom supply for Africa. They have been assessed in the most powerful trial ever attempted in this field. The trial showed that in people with non-clotting blood following carpet viper bite, the commonest cause of snake bite morbidity and mortality in the West African savannah, administration of the antivenoms- EchiTAb G and EchiTAb Plus-ICP led to permanent restoration of blood clotting in 76% and 83% of the patients within 6 hours, respectively. Generally mild early adverse reactions were recorded in 19% and 26%, respectively. Both antivenoms proved effective and acceptably safe and can be recommended for treating carpet viper envenoming in Nigeria

Serum cortisol of Sahel goats following rumenotomy with assorted anaesthetics and sutures

The utmost need for pragmatic combination of surgical sutures and local anaesthetic that would evoke minimal post-surgical stress response and allow uncomplicated healing is essential for successful surgeries. Fifteen Sahel goats were randomly allocated into three groups A, B and C to quantitatively assay (ELISA) serum cortisol profiles following rumenotomy, as markers of surgical stress. Diazepam at 0.2 mg/kg was administered intravenously to groups A and B with subsequent lidocaine HCl and bupivacaine inverted-L block respectively. Group C did not receive any treatment. Chromic catgut (CCG) and polyglycolic acid (PGA) sutures were used for rumen and abdominal muscles closure for groups A and B respectively and nylon for skin closure. Blood samples were taken at post anaesthetic induction (PAI) and post-surgery at 0, 5, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h. The Group A goats expressed serum cortisol that was significantly high 52.76 ± 6.12 ng/mL at 5 h post-surgery. At 8 h post-surgery serum cortisol for both groups A (72.53 ± 3.79 ng/mL) and B (61.59 ± 3.90 ng/mL) were at their peak. Serum cortisol levels compared to the baseline data were significantly different (P  0.05). Cortisol responses unambiguously indicate that diazepam-bupivacaine induce less stress than Diazepam-lidocaine, hence a preferred anesthesia. Moreover, polyglycolic acid sutures are associated with less inflammatory reaction than chromic catgut

Investigating the flow behaviour of CO2 and N2 in porous medium using core flooding experiment

Several researchers employed N2 to augment CH4 recovery efficiency and CO2 sequestration during the Enhanced Gas Recovery (EGR) process in consolidated rocks. To our knowledge, there has been limited data backing the reason why CO2 experienced a more extended breakthrough during the EGR process in the presence of N2 gas. This study inves-tigated CO2 and N2 behaviour during the core flooding experiment by CO2 injection in Bentheimer core plug. N2 was used as the continuous phase during the core flooding process, while CO2 was the dispersed phase. The experiment was designed with varying injection rates at 30 and 40 0C temperature points. The experimental findings showed that the dispersion and diffusion coefficient, CO2 storage, concentration profile and breakthroughs were highly influenced by temperature change, especially at lower injection rates. However, at high injections, those properties are less sensitive to change in temperature, with most of the curves overlapping in the concentration profile. The highest and most negligible dispersion and diffusion coefficients were recorded at the highest and lowest injection rates respec-tively. These results agree with those reported by several researchers for sandstone rocks. Thus, higher temperatures have a more substantial effect on dispersion and diffusion coefficient, which eventually led to higher mixing between CO2 and N2. The breakthrough time decreases with an increase in reservoir temperature, confirming the diffusion and dispersion coefficients are temperature dependent. The experiment at 30 0C recorded an extended breakthrough time over that at 40 0C. The maximum breakthrough time at 0.52 PV was recorded at 30 0C at the lowest injection rate. The concentration profile highlighted the trend between the displacing and displaced gas during the core flooding experiment. From the range of injections and temperatures tested, the CO2 PV stored decreases as the rate of injection increases from 0.4 – 1.2 ml/min. However, the CO2 stored was more promising at higher rates, corresponding with high differential pressure, due to flow resistance within the tortuous flow channels in the porous medium

Demographic and clinical data of snakebite victims in Gombe State, Nigeria

Cross-sectional, observational study of snakebite victims in north east Nigeria to determine associations between cattle-herding occupation and ethnic group with the occurrence of early adverse reactions to antivenom treatment