Neurogenesis in the brains of subadult and adult South African ground squirrels (Xerus inauris)

Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Medicine School of Anatomical Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences University of the WitwatersrandNeurogenesis is the ability of the brain to generate new neurons. Neurogenic sites and rates of neuronal proliferation were investigated in the brains of subadult and adult South African ground squirrels. Seven female ground squirrels were trapped; euthanised and their ages determined using body masses and paired dry lens masses. Their brains were perfusion fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde before sectioning at 50 μm in a sagittal plane from which every fifth section was stained with cresyl violet to determine the architecture of the brain. Immunolocalisation of Ki-67 for neuronal cell proliferation and doublecortin (DCX) for immature neurons was also carried out on adjacent sections to those stained for cresyl violet. Ki-67 immunopositive neurons were counted in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus to determine the changes in the rate of cell proliferation with age. Proliferating and immature neurons, DCX immunopositive, were observed in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles, the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus, the rostral migratory stream (RMS), olfactory bulb, piriform cortex and neocortex of both age groups. Adult squirrel brains were heavier than the subadult brains, but showed significantly lower numbers of proliferating neurons in the dentate gyrus when compared to subadult brains

The prevalence of pulmonary complications after thoracic and abdominal surgery and associated risk factors in patients admitted at a government hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe-a retrospective study

Background: The burden of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa has presented unusual and challenging acute surgical problems across all specialties. Thoraco-abdominal surgery cuts through muscle and thereby disrupts the normal anatomy and activity of the respiratory muscles leading to reduced lung volumes and putting the patients at greater risk of developing post-operative pulmonary complications (PPCs). PPCs remain an important cause of post-operative morbidity, mortality, and impacts on the long-term outcomes of patients post hospital discharge. The objective of the study was to determine the pulmonary complications developing after abdominal and thoracic surgery and the associated risks factors. Methods: A retrospective records review of all abdominal and thoracic surgery patients admitted at a central hospital from January 2014 to October 2014 was done. Data collected included demographic data, surgical history, comorbidities and the PPCs present. Results: Out of the 92 patients whose records were reviewed, 55 (59.8%) were males and 84 (91.3%) had abdominal surgery. The mean age of the patients was 42.6 years (SD = 18.4). The common comorbidities were HIV infection noted in 14(15.2%) of the patients and hypertension in 10 (13.0%). Thirty nine (42.4%) developed PPCs and the most common complications were nosocomial pneumonia in 21 (22.8%) patients, ventilator associated pneumonia in 11 (12.0%), and atelectasis in 6 (6.5%) patients. Logistic regression showed that a history of alcohol consumption, prolonged surgery, prolonged stay in hospital or critical care unit, incision type, and comorbidities were significant risk factors for PPCs (p < 0.05). The mortality rate was 10.9%. Conclusion: PPCs like nosocomial and ventilator associated pneumonia were common and were associated with increased morbidity and adversely affected clinical outcomes of patients. HIV and hypertension presented significant comorbidities which the health team needed to recognize and address. Strategies to reduce the occurrence of PPCs have to be implemented through coordinated efforts by the health practitioners as a team during the entire perioperative period

First aid practices, beliefs, and sources of information among caregivers regarding paediatric burn injuries in Harare, Zimbabwe: A cross-sectional study

Background: While burns take seconds to occur, injuries incurred result in pain and undesirable long term effects that might take a lifetime to overcome. The study was carried out to determine the measures of first aid delivered by caregivers after a burn injury and sources of the information.Methods: A cross- sectional study was carried out over a period of 3 months at two central hospitals in Harare. A questionnaire was administered to the caregivers of children within the age group of 0-60 months admitted in burns wards to elicit information on the circumstances of the burn injury and the first aid methods which were administered.Results: Out of the 50 children who were recruited, 54.0% were females and the mean age was 29.5 months (SD= 15.5). After the burn injury 30(60.0%) of the caregivers, cooled the burn injury with cold running water whilst some caregivers also applied eggs, margarine and some traditional herbs as first aid. The other practices reported by the caregivers included use of urine and crushed cockroaches after burn injury in 40 (80.0%) whilst 20 (40.0%) reported used aloe vera gel after a burn injury. About half of the caregivers got first aid information mainly from family members and very few indicated that the information was obtained from mass media, 3 (6.0%).Conclusions: The first aid measures used by the majority of caregivers were either incomplete or inadequate. Although some caregivers had adequate knowledge of what to do after an injury, there still was widespread use of alternatives therapies in burn management

First aid practices, beliefs, and sources of information among caregivers regarding paediatric burn injuries in Harare, Zimbabwe: A cross-sectional study

Background: While burns take seconds to occur, injuries incurred result in pain and undesirable long term effects that might take a lifetime to overcome. The study was carried out to determine the measures of first aid delivered by caregivers after a burn injury and sources of the information.Methods: A cross- sectional study was carried out over a period of 3 months at two central hospitals in Harare. A questionnaire was administered to the caregivers of children within the age group of 0-60 months admitted in burns wards to elicit information on the circumstances of the burn injury and the first aid methods which were administered.Results: Out of the 50 children who were recruited, 54.0% were females and the mean age was 29.5 months (SD= 15.5). After the burn injury 30(60.0%) of the caregivers, cooled the burn injury with cold running water whilst some caregivers also applied eggs, margarine and some traditional herbs as first aid. The other practices reported by the caregivers included use of urine and crushed cockroaches after burn injury in 40 (80.0%) whilst 20 (40.0%) reported used aloe vera gel after a burn injury. About half of the caregivers got first aid information mainly from family members and very few indicated that the information was obtained from mass media, 3 (6.0%).Conclusions: The first aid measures used by the majority of caregivers were either incomplete or inadequate. Although some caregivers had adequate knowledge of what to do after an injury, there still was widespread use of alternatives therapies in burn management

Additional file 1: of Utilisation of research evidence in clinical practice to improve health care delivery- practices, attitudes and challenges faced by physiotherapists in Zimbabwe: a descriptive cross sectional study

Modified expanded EBP attitude scale. (DOC 88 kb

Nigella sativa conserved hippocampal oxidative and neurogenic activities to salvage neuro-cognitive integrities in chlorpyrifos insult

Chlopyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate, implicated in brain damage and cognitive deficits, whose consistence deposit in the environment has contributed to the toxicity burdens of xenobiotics. This study investigated the efficacy of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) against CPF insults on the hippocampus. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups of eight rats each, exposed to 1 ml/kg of Normal saline, 14.9 mg/kg of CPF, 14.9 mg/kg of CPF plus 1 ml/kg of NSO and 1 ml/kg of NSO respectively for 14 consecutive days. The rats were exposed to 3 trials each on the 11–13 days in the Morris water maze, and subsequently latency to hidden platform and time in the platform quadrant were recorded as measures of long term memory (LTM), short term memory (STM) and reference memory (RM) on the 14th day. The rats were euthanized on day 15, the brains excised, and the hippocampus of five brains removed, homogenized to analyze for total reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) levels and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, while the other three were processed for histology and Ki67 immunohistochemistry. CPF caused a marked increase in hippocampal NO and ROS activities, depleted AChE activities and Ki67 expressions, delayed escape latency and reduced visit to the platform quadrant. Intervention with NSO depleted ROS/NO levels, improved neurogenic proteins, AChE activities and neuro-cognitive markers depletions in CPF exposure. Altogether, our findings showed that NSO is a potential therapeutic drug for the treatment of CPF-induced cognitive deficit through its antioxidant property and adult neurogenesis in rats. Keywords: Nigella sativa oil, Organophosphates, Oxidative damage, Acetylcholinesterase, Cognitio