Indigenous foot and mouth disease control methods among nomadic cattle fulanis in Adamawa state, Nigeria

This study analyzed the indigenous foot and mouth disease control methods among nomadic cattle Fulani herders in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected by the use of semi-structured questionnaire administered to randomly selected 363 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using percentages, frequency distribution and regression analysis. Result of the analysis of socio-economic characteristics of respondents showed that majority were above 40 years of age [87.9%], 94.5% were married and only 16.5% acquired formal education. On the average there were eight persons per household and about 80% of the respondents had more than 24 years of cattle herding experience. Twenty eight control methods were identified to be in practice among the respondents. Result of the regression analysis between socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and use of indigenous foot and mouth disease control methods showed that coefficient of age was positive and significant at 1% level, while household size and experience were positive and significant at 5% level. Deforestation and concealment of indigenous control methods by the custodians among others were found to be the constraints against the utilization of indigenous foot and mouth control methods. The study concluded that indigenous control methods were well established and practice among herders who are well experienced and knowledgeable. It is recommended that laws banning bush burning and indiscriminate tree felling be re- enforced in order to preserve indigenous herbs to avert possible extinction. There is a greater need for extension workers and services to be strengthened so as to incorporate the indigenous methods used by the herders

Simultaneous determination of cetirizine and pseudoephedrine combined in tablet dosage form by high performance liquid chromatography

This study develops and validates an efficient, sensitive and simple method for the simultaneous determination of cetirizine dihydrochloride and pseudoephedrine combined in tablet dosage form by high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] with an ultraviolet [UV] detector.The validation of this method was carried out according to ICH and USP guidelines. In this study, the mobile phase used was acetonitrile: water [530:470 [v/v]] with 200mg sodium heptane sulfonic acid and the pH value was adjusted to 2.5 with sulfuric acid. The limit of detection and quantification for cetirizinedihydrochloride were 0.805 and 2.685 microg/mL, respectively, and the limit of detection and quantification for pseudoephedrine were 17.976 and 59.921 microg/mL, respectively. The linearity was studied in the concentration range of 12.2 and 36.5 microg/mL forcetirizinedihydrochloride and 295.91 and 861.73 microg/mL for pseudoephedrine. The recovered amounts of cetirizinedihydrochloride and pseudoephedrine were 98.2% -102.9% and 99.5%- 102.4%, respectively.

Study of the protective effect of melatonin against chlorpromazine-induced cholestasis in rats

As the liver is the predominant site of drug clearance, biotransformation and excretion, so drugs are considered as a frequent cause of liver injury ranging from asymptomatic elevation of liver enzymes activities to fulminant hepatic failure. Among these drugs are the chronically used phenothiazines psychotropic drugs like Chlorpromazine [CPZ] which known to produce cholestatic liver disease. Melatonin [MT] has been shown to reduce the toxicity and increase the efficacy of a large number of drugs whose side effects are well documented and provide protective effects in many organs, including liver, against many types of insult. Evaluation of the possible protective effect of orally administered melatonin against CPZ-induced liver injury in rats. The hepatoprotective effect of melatonin were studied through the treatment of rats with single dose [10 mg/Kg] orally, seven days before and during the period of CPZ treatment, and seven days after the induction of suspected hepatotoxicity. The parameters of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde [MDA] and glutathione [GSH] were evaluated in liver tissue homogenate. The activities of liver enzymes alaninaminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST] in serum as indicator of liver injury, in addition to serum level of bilirubin [total and conjugated] were assessed. Analysis of data showed significant attenuation of oxidative stress parameter as evidenced by lowering MDA levels in tissue homogenate by melatonin while not affecting GSH levels. Serum activities of ALT, AST and serum bilirubin were normalized with both pre-treatment and post-treatment with melatonin. The data revealed that post-treatments with both saline and melatonin restore hepatic activity, however, melatonin showed significant reduction in ALT activity and bilirubin level than saline post-treatment. Additionally, the histologically evident damage in the liver has been improved. The presented data indicated that orally administered melatonin at pharmacological doses protects against CPZ-induced liver injury in rats

Papulonecrotic tuberculid [case report]

We present in this article a 48 years old female who suffered from papulonecrotic tuberculid for 4 years. The diagnosis is based on the clinical picture, the highly positive tuberculin test, the histopathologic findings and the history of contact with an open pulmonary tuberculosis