Phyllanthus amarus Aqueous Extract as Antidote to Alcoholic Liver Injury

Objective: In most human communities, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is unregulated with negative impact on health. The liver is one of the major organs that bear the brunt of regular and or heavy consumption of alcohol. This study set out to elucidate the modulation of alcohol induced liver injury in wistar rat by aqueous extract of Phyllanthus amarus plant. Methodology: Five groups of six animals each were used for the study. Group CN was the control. The alcohol only group (ALC) had 1ml / 100g body weight (b.w) of 43% ethanol. The Extract only group (EXT) had 200mg/ Kg b.w of P.amarus aqueous extract. The Low Extract plus Alcohol group (LEA) had concomitant administration of 1ml/100g b. w of 43% ethanol with 200 mg/ Kg of the extract. The High Extract plus Alcohol group (HEA) had concomitant administration of 1ml/100g b. w of 43% ethanol and the extract at 400 mg/ Kg. The alcohol and extract were administered once daily for fourteen days. Thereafter, blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses, the animals sacrificed and livers harvested for histopathological analyses. Results: Group HEA had the highest mean body weight. The mean liver weight of group EXT was significantly higher than those of other groups. Both the total protein and its globulin fraction of the ALC group were significantly lower than those of others. The liver enzymes (Alanine and Aspartate transaminases) levels were significantly low in the ALC group. However, those of the LEA and HEA groups were comparable with the EXT group. The glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities of the LEA and HEA groups were significantly higher than that of ALC. Lipid peroxidation was most severe in the ALC group as evidenced by the significantly high malondialdehyde level. Histopathological sections of the liver revealed preserved hepatic architecture with pronounced steatosis in the ALC group. Conclusion: Aqueous extract of Phyllanthus amarus considerably reduced the severity of alcohol induced liver injury.

Clinicopathological Studies on Rats Exposed to Municipal Landfill Gaseous and Particulate Emissions

The study assessed the Clinicopathological changes of Wistar rats exposed to municipal landfill gaseous particulate emissions. Four groups of Wistar rats were exposed to the different sites of landfill emission with use of filters for filtering landfill gaseous emission while the control group was not exposed. Performance of the animals was evaluated weekly, blood and lung, liver, kidney and heart tissues were taken for haematological and histopatholgical examinations. At the end of six weeks exposure, the peak weight was recorded as 108.96±0.45 of Group B as compared to 126.352±0.88 of the Control Group, as well as the decrease in the body weight of Group A-D compared to the Control Group. There was leucocytosis, lymphocytosis and neutrophilia in the rats that were exposed to landfill emission. There were pulmonary, hepatic, and renal lesions while the heart was spared. Changes were observed on the use of filters for filtering landfill gaseous emission. The 3M 6001 CN Gas Mask Carnister Cartridge which filters 50% of landfill emission together with black polythene nylon restricting external air into the filtered cage was not sufficient to reduce the effect of landfill gaseous emission at the end of the exposure period. The screening with PM2.5 material which filters 100% of PM2.5 emission was only able to screen PM2.5 emission but could not screen other landfill gaseous emission. This indicates that landfill gaseous emission is capable of inducing respiratory problems and tissue damage on dumpsite workers if there is sufficient and continuous exposure to landfill gaseous emissions. To prevent the hazard that may arose from dumpsite activities; gas nose mask respirator is recommended for an individual who works as scavengers and landfill workers before entering the dumpsite environment..

Intrascrotal anomalies related to testicular torsion in nigerians: an anatomical study

Objective: The abnormalities that predispose to torsion are often bilateral. They include horizontally lying testis; bell-clapper deformity (BCD); long mesorchium; well-developed spiral cremasteric muscle and ectopic testis. The pattern and incidence of intrascrotal anomalies that predispose to testicular anomalies in Nigerians have not been studied. Our objective was to define and document this. Material and Methods: The scrotal sacs of fifty cadaver scrotums and inguinal canals from patients aged between 35 and 57 years (mean age: 42 years) were examined. The parameters studied were the location (scrotal or canalicular); alignment (horizontal; vertical); mesorchium (height and width); cremasteric muscle development (well or poorly developed) and parietal tunica vaginalis investment of the testis (normal; intermediate or BCD). Results: Forty-nine testes had descended to the scrotal position; all were anchored by the ligamentum testis. The canalicular position was noted to be present in one cadaver. Forty-eight testes lay vertically. 16of the testes had BCD; while intermediate tunica investment was noted in 12. The most common type of epididymal and testicular relationship was Type I (84). The mesorchium was normal in all specimens examined. Conclusion: The most common anomaly in our study was that of tunica investment; and this is usually bilateral. The need for bilateral orchiopexy in cases of testicular torsion is further strengthened since the anatomic anomalies are usually bilateral