Parental influence on substance use among young people in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria

The aim of this study was to assess the pattern and compare the rates of substance use in parents of children with substance use disorders in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Between January 2009 and December 2011, a total of 528 participants, comprising 255 fathers of children with substance use-related problems (study group) and 273 fathers of children without problems (comparison group) attending the Psychiatric Unit of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, were assessed, using a modified form of a 117-item self-report instrument based on the World Health Organization’s guidelines for students’ substance use surveys. The demographic characteristics of the respondents were similar. Locally available substances including alcohol were used more frequently than illicit substances by both groups. Possible reasons for using these substances included ready availability, unidentified personal problems, performance enhancement and unemployment. Substance use ison the increase in our environment and this may be attributable to environmental pressures and weak parental discipline.Key Words: Parental influence, children, substance use, Niger Delta regio

Gastric Ulcerogenic Activities Of Piper guineense Extract In Rats

Administration of Piper guineense fruit extract caused a dose – dependent mortality rate in rats. Doses of 200 mgkg-1 intravenously, (i.v); 300 mgkg-1 intraperitoneally, (i.p) and 3200 mgkg-1 orally( p.o) produced 100% mortality rate – giving LD50 of 85.1 mgkg-1 i.v ; 224 mgkg i.p and 1122 mgkg-1 p.o respectively. Piper extract significantly stimulated gastric ulceration, total gastric acidity and in situ gastric acid secretion in rats. Piper-induced gastric ulceration appears to be similar to that induced by indomethacin (40 mgkg-1 b.w). Atropine produced no effect on the stimulatory action of piper on gastric acid secretion. However, gastric acid secretion in the presence of histamine, and cimetidine appears to be augmented by piper extract (25 mgkg-1 b.w). The results suggest that piper could stimulate gastric acid secretion (and probably gastric ulceration) via the H2 – receptor potentiation. Key words: Piper guineense, ulceration, rats Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences Vol.18(1-2) 2003: 27-3

The formalin test: effects of different injection sites on the pattern of nociceptive responses

The formalin test is widely believed to provide a more valid model for clinical pain than tests with phasic mechanical or thermal stimuli. However, the different implementations of the test in use pose the possibility of confounding results. This study evaluated the effects of different injection sites on the pattern of nociceptive responses. The responses to forepaw injection was found to be significantly higher than that of hind paw injection in the first phase while the response to plantar injection was found to be significantly higher than that of dorsal injection. We conclude that the choice of injection site has some effects on the pattern of nociceptive responses. Keywords: formalin test, injection sites, nociception, pain measurement Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 5(1) 2006: 48-5

Chronic vitamin C administration induces thermal hyperalgesia in male rats

Against a backdrop of neurological effects, the effects of acute and chronic administration of vitamin C (600mg/kg) on pain processing were investigated in male rats. Chronic administration of vitamin C induced significant thermal hyperalgesia while acute administration had no effect. In addition, the intraperitoneal administration of vitamin C produced observable abdominal writtings similar to what has been observed with acetic acid. We conclude that chronic vitamin C exerts facilitatory central nervous system effects and a possibility of using intraperitoneal injection of vitamin C as an animal model of pain is suggested. Keywords: vitamin C, pain, hyperalgesia, nociception, ascorbic acidNigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 4(2) 2005: 153-15