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Blighia sapida(B.sapida)K.D.Koenig(Family Sapindaceae)is a branchless straight bole approximately 15 m in length.The study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extract and fractions of B.sapida stem-bark using in vitro methods.Ethanol extract and its fractions were investigated for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)radical scavenging activity,ferric reducing anti-oxidant power(FRAP),total antioxidant capacity(TAC),and quantitative phenolic and flavonoid contents.Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using albumin denaturation and membrane stabilization as-says.The extract and its fractions exhibited radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties.The ethyl acetate fraction possessed maximum phenolic and flavonoid contents(136.67±1.55 gallic acid equivalent mg/g and 75.76±4.03 quercetin equivalent mg/g,respectively).Antioxidant studies revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction displayed superior activity with an IC50=0.09±0.03 mg/mL DPPH,and values of 146.96±3.81 ascorbic acid equivalent(AAE)mg/g and 359.20±4.98 AAE mg/g for FRAP and TAC,respectively.Furthermore,the anti-inflammatory activity was revealed by inhibition of heat-induced albumin denaturation and red blood cell membrane stabilization at concentrations of 200-1000 μg/mL and 50-250 μg/mL,respectively.The ethanol extract and fractions exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities,with ethyl acetate fraction showing superior activity,which could be attributed to secondary metabolites,mainly phenolic compounds.Overall,the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of B.sapida can be exploited by ethnomedicinal users.
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RESUMO Objetivo analisar o itinerário terapêutico de sobreviventes de acidente vascular cerebral, desde sua ocorrência até a reabilitação. Métodos itinerário terapêutico percorrido por 12 sobreviventes de acidente vascular cerebral para resolver seus problemas de saúde foi explorado usando entrevistas em profundidade e análise temática. Resultados as rotas dos sobreviventes foram influenciadas pelo tipo e estado do paciente no início do acidente vascular cerebral. A falta de capacidade contribuiu para indecisão entre buscar atendimento em hospitais privados ou públicos. A entrada na fisioterapia dependeu da demanda espontânea e de encaminhamentos realizados por médicos que atuam como sentinelas dos pacientes. O acidente vascular cerebral afetou significativamente a vida social dos sobreviventes. A extensão do comprometimento do acidente vascular cerebral e expectativas não atendidas promovem o pluralismo médico entre os sobreviventes. Conclusão sobreviventes de acidente vascular cerebral estão envolvidos em itinerários terapêuticos complexos e extensos, caracterizados pela prática de busca de múltiplos cuidados.
ABSTRACT Objective to analyze the therapeutic itinerary of stroke survivors from stroke occurrence to rehabilitation. Methods therapeutic itinerary - route taken by individuals to solve their health problems, of 12 stroke survivors was explored using in-depth interviews and was thematically analyzed. Results stroke survivors' routes were influenced by type of stroke and the state of the patient at onset of stroke. Lack of capacity facilitates vacillation from private to the public hospital settings. Entry into physiotherapy was dependent on self-referrals and referrals from physicians who often serve as gatekeeper of patients. Stroke significantly affected social life of stroke survivors, and the extent of stroke impairment and unmet expectations promotes medical pluralism among the survivors. Conclusion stroke survivors are involved in intricate and lengthy therapeutic itineraries that are characterized by multiple care seeking practice.
Subject(s)
Rehabilitation , Complementary Therapies , Physical Therapy SpecialtyABSTRACT
Background: Many doctors who trained in developing countries always travelled to developed countries for specialization. After specialization, many of them do not return to their countries of origin but stay put in the host countries, and get absorbed into the health delivery system of the host countries. To stop this exodus of much needed man-power in the developing countries, many of these developing countries devised their own postgraduate programs so that there will be no need for doctors that aspire to specialize to leave the country any more. This review article is to assess the quality of the various postgraduate programs in the Third World countries. Study design: The postgraduate programs in some developing countries like Nigeria, Ghana and some countries in the South Pacific were studied and compared with some programs in the developed countries like the United States of America and Canada. There are differences in these programs. We therefore attempt to identify the weaknesses of the programs in the developing countries and make suggestions in some aspects of the programs so as to produce Residency training programs that will satisfy the needs and the peculiarities of the developing countries, and yet measure up to international standards. Results and findings: Many of the postgraduate programs in the developing countries, as they are now, fall far short of international acceptable standard. There are essentially two main reasons for this: some of the programs are directly under the control of the Governments in those countries, where the priorities are more economic than quality. Also, there is this notion among the doctors in the developing countries that surgical postgraduate training must be treated like preparation for a university PhD degree, even though university Senate has no in-put in awarding fellowship certificate. In the Third World countries, it is felt that “special breed” of surgeons must work in the university environment because it is considered “prestigious” to work in the universities. Conclusion:Even though the aim to retain doctors in their countries can be said to have been achieved, it came at a great price because the programs are very different from the well established residency training program as introduced by William Halsted and Churchill. This gives rise to a program comparative to residency training in the specialty of General Medical Practice, which is very different and of lower standard than internationally accepted surgical residency training program. It also equates the training, in some aspects, to that of a university Master's and PhD degrees. Abbreviations: RTP, Residency Training Program; LSP, Local Specialist Program; GCPS, Ghana College of Physician and Surgeons; NPGMC, National Post Graduate Medical College; WACS, West African College of Surgeons; LST, Local Surgical Training; MCQ, Multiple Choice Questions; OSCE, Objective Structured Clinical Examination; SRTP, Surgical Residency Training Program; MMed, Master's degree in Medicine.
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A total of 230 Nera birds were studied in an open and close-ended layer house for 6 weeks to determine the effect of cage location, tier level, and exposure of bird on egg production. Birds were supplied ad Libitumwith feed and water. Eggs were collected twice daily at 11.00 am, and 4.00 p.m. counted, weighed and classified into sizes. The production of the egg was found to be significantly influenced by the location of laying hen. The upper tier recorded 29.17% superiority over the lower tier. This showed that birds laid more eggs in the upper tier. Besides, tier did not significantly (P < 0.05) affect the sizes of the egg laid. In this study, the birds used were exposed to light and dark conditions. The result obtained showed that more eggs were produced at the better lit area than the more shaded area. It is therefore economically viable to have more light in the laying house for increased egg production. Furthermore, it was observed from the result of the experiment that more medium-sized eggs were produced in the better lit area than the darker parts of the house.
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The present study was designed to develop the prediction equations for 305 days fat corrected milk yield on the basis of part periods milk yield, milk component and conformation traits of multi-genotype cows. Artificial Neural Network model had the best prediction accuracy across varying environments, though Genetic Function Algorithm had the overall best adequacy for fat corrected milk yield predictions (FCM305d=1036.1-98.3RP+22FY+15.92UC-0.07RUH; Adj R2=0.997; RMSE=30.07; BIC=1997.28).
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Occupational exposure to mixed chemicals generates free radicals with inadequate antioxidants resulting in oxidative stress. Recently, hypogonadism in male auto-mechanics was associated with oxidative stress. Studies show that testosterone, a male hormone increases the activities of antioxidant enzymes. This study is aimed at evaluating the oxidative stress biomarkers and their relationship with testosterone in auto mechanics in Ibadan, Nigeria. Eighty-three males participated in this prospective cross sectional study after informed consent. Forty-three were male auto-mechanics, occupationally exposed to mixed chemicals in the mechanic community, Bodija, Ibadan (cases). Their mean (SEM) age and body mass index (BMI) were 42.5 (1.7) years and 23.8 (0.5) Kg/m2 respectively. They were age and BMI matched with 40 unexposed, apparently healthy males from the University College Hospital and environs (controls). Demography, social habits, anthropometry and gonadal status were obtained by standard methods. Serum obtained from blood (10 ml) collected from the participants was used for biochemical analyses. Testosterone levels were determined by enzyme immunoassay method (Immunometrics UK Ltd). Levels of total antioxidant capacity, total plasma peroxide (TPP), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were determined using spectrophotometric methods while oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. P<0.05 was regarded as significant. TPP, MDA, OSI, H2O2 and GST `levels were significantly higher (P<0.001) in eugonadal cases compared with controls. All these biomarkers levels were similar in hypogonadal compared with eugonadal cases. (P>0.05) Testosterone related negatively with SOD in the controls only but positively with MDA and negatively with GST in cases only (P<0.05). Occupationally exposed auto mechanics appear to have oxidative stress and may benefit improvement in antioxidant status. Testosterone may contribute to and enhance total antioxidant status, which may be important in gonadal function.
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Background: Tuberculosis (TB), one of the most important contagious diseases, is a leading cause of death due to a single pathogen worldwide. Co-infection of people living with HIV with M. tuberculosis has been shown to increase the mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: This present study was carried out to establish the rifampicin resistant profiles among the patients attending chest clinic, state specialist hospital, Akure. We enrolled clinical samples submitted between January 2013 and December 2013 for this study. The sputum samples were analyzed using GeneXpert. Results: Of the 135 sputum processed by GeneXpert, 48 (35.6%) contained Mycobacteria tuberculosis (MTB) and 9 (18.8%) were rifampicin resistant Mycobacteria tuberculosis. Patients within the age group of 24-32 years showed the highest resistant to RIF 6 (12.5%). Conclusion: This study has helped to establish that there is presence of rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria and most of them were observed among patients who default treatment. This is considered as a threat to TB control programme in Akure, Nigeria and it is recommended that strategies should be put in place in order to ensure patients’ compliance and monitoring of patients’ response to TB treatment.
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The experiment was conducted to study the growth and development of pepper [Capsicum annum] grown on soil enriched with foliages from Leueaena Ieucocepha la, Ginelina arborea, Prosopis mimosa, Tectona grandis, Azadiracta indica and Damiella olverii. Top soil sample used for the experiment was collected from the University of Ilorin premises. Foliage from the selected tree species were collected, air dried and pulverized to a fine texture before mixing with soil. Dry pepper seeds were sown in the different soil mixture. The experiment was laid out as a Complete Randomized Design [CRD] with six treatments replicated thrice. Parameters evaluated include: Mean leaf area, Mean plant height and Mean leaf number. Samples of the air dried soil were taken before and after planting and used to determine total nitrogen, available phosphorus, organic matter content, potassium and soil pH. Results showed that the soil enriched with pruning from Azadiracta indica had the best performance in terms of the growth of pepper [Capsicum annum] as shown by the leaf area [2443.3 cm[2]], leaf number [55.0] and plant height [30.3cm] at 8 weeks after planting [SWAP], lire chemical composition of the soil also varied significantly among the treatments [P< 0.05] Prosopis mimosa had the best performance in terms of the pH amendment [6.6] and potassium content [2.8%] while Leucaena leucocephala had the best performance in term of nitrogen content [6.7%] and Organic matter content [5.4%]. Lastly, Daniella oliverii had the best performance in term of Phosphorus content [8.0]. In conclusion, pruning from Azcidiracta indica had the best performance in terms of the growth of Pepper