ABSTRACT
Aim: Artesunate (artemisinin derivative) prophylaxis is one of the preferred treatments for malaria including Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Nigeria as well as other tropical and subtropical countries. Also widely consumed in the tropics for its taste and alcohol content is palm wine. It is not uncommon to find some individuals on artesunate medication consuming palm wine with the belief that such a combination makes malaria treatment more effective. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing the effects of artesunate intake and palm wine consumption on renal function. Study Design: Thirty participants aged 18 to 35 years were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 10 persons per group namely; palm wine and artesunate, palm wine only and artesunate only groups. Each group received their treatments for 7 days. Methodology: This study employs the use of pre-treatment and post-treatment design, with each subject serving as its control. Serum levels of electrolytes, urea, creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were assessed before and after 7 days of treatment. Participants were all Africans (n=30) and were the staff of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar. Results: Significant increase (p<0.05) in serum Na+ and a decrease in K+ levels above pretreatment values were observed in the palm wine and artesunate group. Creatinine concentrations of both palm wine and artesunate, as well as artesunate only groups, were significantly increased above control values. Creatinine clearance rate was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in the palm wine and artesunate group. Conclusion: Combined consumption of fresh palm wine and artesunate decreased creatinine clearance rate as well as eGFR. This decrease may be followed by a decline in the other renal function indices.
ABSTRACT
Palm oil is one of the most widely employed cooking oils in Nigeria today. This study compares the effects of long term consumption of the two forms of palm oil – fresh palm oil (FPO) and thermally oxidized palm oil (TPO) on serum electrolytes, creatinine and urea, which gives vital information on the state of the renal system. Eighteen male New Zealand rabbits weighing 750 – 1000 g were used for this study. They animals were randomly assigned one of three groups (n = 6) thus; control group, FPO fed group and TPO fed group. The control group received animal feed and clean water only. Fresh palm oil group received animal feed mixed with fresh palm oil in the ratio 85:15g respectively, TPO fed group received animal feed mixed with thermoxidised palm oil in the ratio 85:15g respectively. The feeding lasted for 6 months. Food intake, water intake and body weight were measured daily. At the end of the feeding period, the animals were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia and blood was collected for assessment of serum electrolytes, creatinine and urea. Results obtained showed that serum concentration of sodium was significantly (p<0.001) lower in FPO fed group, compared with control, but significantly (p<0.05) higher in TPO fed group, compared with control. Serum concentration of sodium was also significantly (p<0.001) higher in TPO fed group, compared with FPO fed group. Serum concentration of chloride was significantly lower in FPO fed group compared with control (p<0.05) and TPO fed group (p<0.001). Bicarbonate concentration was significantly (p<0.05) lower in FPO fed group, compared with control. Creatinine concentration was significantly higher (p<0.05) in TPO fed group, compared with control and FPO fed group. The observed changes in serum electrolyte and creatinine concentrations following 6 months of feeding was more in TPO fed group than FPO fed group, and is possibly detrimental to electrolyte balance.
ABSTRACT
Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with many cardiovascular dysfunction and impairment of potassium channel function. Aim: We compared the vascular reactivity in aorta from streptozotocin-induced and Goto-Kakizaki (GK) diabetic rats to potassium channel openers. Methodology: Diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at 65 mg/kg body weight. After four weeks of DM, vascular reactivity of the aortic rings from STZ-induced Sprague Dawley and age-matched GK and control rats to phenylephrine, acetylcholine, levcromakalim and naringenin was studied using standard organ bath procedure. Results: The phenylephrine-induced contraction was significantly (P<0.05) increased in STZ-diabetic aortic rings [2.03 ±0.07 g] when compared with GK rats [1.47±0.14 g] and STZ-control [1.42±0.21 g]. Maximal relaxation and potency to acetylcholine, levcromakalim and (+/-)-naringenin were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in STZdiabetic aorta when compared with GK-diabetic and control groups. Conclusion: The phenylephrine-induced contraction, endothelium-dependent relaxation, KATP - and (+/-)-naringenin-induced vasorelaxation are not altered in the early stages of Type 2 diabetes whereas there is exaggerated contractile response and a relaxant dysfunction involving the endothelium, KATP in Type 1 diabetes mellitus.