The Effect of Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oil-Water Emulsion on Some Blood Parameters and Histopathology of Liver and Kidney in Mice

This study was aimed to assess the possible toxic effects o

Teratogenic Effect of High Dose of Syzygium guineense (Myrtaceae) Leaves on Wistar Albino Rat Embryos and Fetuses

Syzygium guineense is an important medicinal plant effective against hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cancer but with no evidence of its teratogenicity. This study was planned to investigate the teratogenic potential of S. guineense leaves on rat embryos and fetuses. Five groups of Wistar albino rats, each consisting of ten pregnant rats, were used as experimental animals. Groups I-III rats were treated with 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of hydroethanolic extract of S. guineense leaves, and groups IV and V were control and ad libitum control, respectively. Rats were treated during day 6–12 of gestation. Embryos and fetuses were retrieved at day 12 and day 20 of gestation, respectively. The embryos were assessed for developmental delays and growth retardation. The fetuses were examined for gross external, skeletal, and visceral anomalies. In 12-day old rat embryos, crown-rump length, number of somites, and morphological scores were significantly reduced by the treatment of 1000 mg/kg of the extract. The external morphological and visceral examinations of rat fetuses did not reveal any detectable structural malformations in the cranial, nasal, oral cavities, and visceral organs. The ossification centers of fetal skull, vertebrae, hyoid, forelimb, and hindlimb bones were not significantly varied across all groups. However, even if not statistically significant, high-dose treated rat fetuses had a reduced number of ossification centers in the sternum, caudal vertebrae, metatarsal, metacarpal, and phalanges. Treatment with the hydroethanolic extract of S. guineense leaves produced no significant skeletal and soft tissue malformations. The plant extract did not produce significant teratogenic effects on rat embryos/fetuses up to 500 mg/kg doses but retarded the growth of embryos at high dose (1000 mg/kg) as evidenced by decreased crown-rump length, number of somites, and morphological scores. Therefore, it is not advisable to take large doses of the plant during pregnancy

Endometrial tuberculosis among patients undergoing endometrial biopsy at Tikur Anbesa specialized hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract Background Female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) is known to cause severe tubal disease leading to infertility and its incidence closely parallels with the overall prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in a community. Its magnitude is underreported because diagnosis is difficult and requires invasive techniques. In this study we determined the prevalence of endometrial tuberculosis and characterized isolates among women who underwent endometrial biopsy for evaluation of various conditions at a Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TAHS), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted on 152 consecutive gynecologic patients who underwent endometrial biopsy for different gynecologic diseases. Endometrial tissue taken for routine histopathology examination was shared after informed consent was obtained from the patient and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Results The prevalence of endometrial TB in this study by IS1081PCR was 4.6% (7/152) while culture proven endometrial TB was 2.6% (4/152). However, histological examination identified only 2/152 (1.3%) endometrial tuberculosis. While all culture proven TB samples were also PCR positive for Mtb, only one histologic proven endometrial TB was culture and PCR positive. All of the four isolates by culture were M. tuberculosis. Conclusion This study has shown that the magnitude of endometrial TB is fairly high in gynecologic patients visiting outpatient departments for various complaints and PCR detects more cases than culture or Histopathology

Major causes of death in preterm infants in selected hospitals in Ethiopia (SIP): a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study

Neonatal deaths now account for 47% of all deaths in children younger than 5 years globally. More than a third of newborn deaths are due to preterm birth complications, which is the leading cause of death. Understanding the causes and factors contributing to neonatal deaths is needed to identify interventions that will reduce mortality. We aimed to establish the major causes of preterm mortality in preterm infants in the first 28 days of life in Ethiopia