Caregivers' Perceptions of Burden and Health- Promoting Behaviours among Informal Caregivers of Cancer and Stroke Patients Attending Tertiary Care Facilities in South- South Nigeria

Family caregivers' role in cancer and stroke care is overly burdensome. Studies have considered burden and predictors of burden but the influence of caregiving burden on health - promoting behaviours among cancer and stroke family caregivers in Nigeria is scarce. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of caregivers' perceptions of burden and health-promoting behaviours on informal caregivers of cancer/ stroke patients attending tertiary care facilities in South- South Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was employed among 410 purposively selected cancer/ stroke patients' family caregivers in tertiary care facilities, South- South Nigeria. A standardized Zarit burden interview scale and structured questionnaire were used to measure burden and determine health-promoting behaviours respectively. Descriptive (means, standard deviation and percentages) and inferential (ANOVA) statistics with a Fisher's protected t- test at 0.05 level of significance were used for data analysis. The respondents experienced severe (F= 14.02; P= 0.810) burden in caregiving to cancer/ stroke patients. The influence of health- promoting behaviours (primary, secondary and tertiary preventions) among caregivers of cancer/ stroke is significantly high in the tertiary care facilities, South-South, Nigeria. Caregivers of cancer and stroke patients experienced severe levels of burden and health-promoting-behaviours in terms of prevention at the primary, secondary and tertiary activities were significantly high among respondents. This calls for knowledge mobilization and dissemination in Nigeria and beyond.

Prolonged Effect of Niger Delta Honey on Blood Glucose and Haematological Parameters in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic condition that develops when the body fails to produce enough insulin or when insulin fails to work properly, is a global health problem. This study was conducted to evaluate the metabolic effect of eight-week administration of Niger Delta honey on the blood glucose, haematological parameters, body weight and glycosylated haemoglobin in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Six groups of 8 rats each were used. Group I served as control; Group II was given 10ml/kg/day of the honey solution;Group III served as diabetic control; Group IV diabetic rats received 10ml/kg/day of the honey solution. Group V diabetic rats were givena single daily dose of 0.6 mg/kg glibenclamide. Group VI were treated with both glibenclamideand honey concurrently.The present study showed that honey significantly (p<0.05) improved blood cells and indices, body weight but caused marked decrease in blood glucose levels as well asglycosylated haemoglobinin alloxan diabetic rats. Furthermore, honey caused a further reduction in blood glucose levels when used in combination with glibenclamide. In conclusion, the result of the present study suggests that honey might prevent alloxan-induced anaemia, immune-disturbances,thrombocytopenia, weight loss and hyperglycaemia. These effects are probably due to its additive mechanisms on the haematopoietic systems and on glucose metabolism. Therefore honey might be a cost-effective aspect of dietary management of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Additionally, honey and glibenclamide combined may offer additional beneficial effects in alloxan –induced diabetes by synergic mechanisms on glucose metabolism and by further improvement in the vascular integrity

Proteins and liver function changes in rats following cumulative total body irradiations / Proteínas y cambios de función hepática en ratas tras irradiación corporal total cumulativa

OBJECTIVE: Total body irradiation (TBI) is a choice therapy for the management of some malignancies; it is also a major cause of oxidative stress. The aim of this research is to sequentially document the effect of total body radiation on body function utilizing the sequential changes in liver function enzymes and proteins in rats. METHODS: Serum protein and liver enzymes were assessed using kits in rats exposed to total body radiations of 1.27 Gy/minute in cumulative doses to the fourth radiation at five-day intervals. RESULTS: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and serum protein were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated with increasing radiation. No significant differences between experimental and control groups for bilirubin concentrations were noted at any time. Serum levels of albumin were significantly (p < 0.05) increased with the first to third radiation exposures but reduced at the fourth cumulative dose exposure. CONCLUSION: Variations are associated with acute stress, inflammation which could be due to non-specific stress reaction, while fluctuations could arise as a result of tolerance and repair within the liver. These tests are significant for diagnosis of radiation-induced injury and can be important for evaluation of its severity and correct management.

OBJETIVO: La irradiación corporal total (ICT) es una terapia de elección para el tratamiento de algunos tumores malignos. También es una de las causas principales del estrés oxidativo. El objetivo de esta investigación es documentar el efecto de la radiación corporal total sobre las funciones corporales utilizando los cambios secuenciales en las enzimas de la función hepática y las proteínas en las ratas. MÉTODOS: Se evaluaron las proteínas séricas así como las enzimas hepáticas mediante el uso de kits en ratas expuestas a radiaciones corporales totales de 1.27 Gy/minuto en dosis cumulativas hasta la cuarta radiación con cinco días de intervalo. RESULTADOS: La aspartato transaminasa (AST), la alanina aminotransferasa (ALT) y la proteína sérica fueron elevadas significativamente (p < 0.05) con el aumento creciente de la radiación. No hubo diferencias significativas entre el grupo experimental y el grupo control, observándose concentraciones de bilirrubina todo el tiempo. Los niveles séricos de albúmina aumentaron significativamente (p < 0.05) con la primera de tres exposiciones a la radiación, pero experimentaron una reducción a partir de la cuarta exposición de dosis cumulativa. CONCLUSIÓN: Las variaciones están asociadas con estrés agudo e inflamación que podría deberse a una reacción a estrés no específico, mientras que las fluctuaciones podrían surgir como resultado de la tolerancia y la regeneración dentro del hígado. Estas pruebas son importantes para el diagnóstico de lesiones inducidas por radiación, así como para la evaluación de la severidad y el tratamiento correcto de las mismas.

Serum lipids, proteins and electrolyte profiles in rats following total body irradiation / Perfiles de lípidos, proteínas y electrolitos plasmáticos en ratas tras irradiación corporal total

OBJECTIVE: Serum lipid and electrolyte imbalances are common in critically ill patients undergoing radiation therapy. Although multiple disease states and medication may be responsible for the development of these disorders, the aim of this research is to sequentially document the effect of total body radiation on body function utilizing the sequential changes in the serum lipids, electrolytes and protein in rats. METHODS: Serum protein and lipids contents were assessed using kits while electrolytes were assessed with flame photometry in rats exposed to total body irradiations of 1.27 Gy/min in cumulative doses to the fourth irradiation at five-day intervals. RESULTS: Total cholesterol and triacylglycerols serum levels were significantly reduced by irradiation (p < 0.05). No significant differences between experimental and control groups for HDL-C serum levels were detected. Serum electrolyte concentration remained within the normal range after each total body irradiation. Sodium, bicarbonate and chloride were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than control while potassium and creatinine were significantly reduced after the first irradiation only. Sodium/potassium ratio was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated. Serum protein was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated with increasing radiation. CONCLUSION: There are subtle but significant changes in serum lipids, electrolytes and protein after total body irradiation of normal rats. These variations could be due to non-specific stress reactions; as such, they are important markers in radiation induced injury diagnosis.

OBJETIVO: Los desequilibrios de lípido y electrolito plasmáticos son comunes en los pacientes críticos sometidos a terapia radioactiva. Aunque los múltiples estados de la enfermedad y la medicación pueden ser responsables del surgimiento de estos trastornos, el objetivo de esta investigación es documentar de manera secuencial el efecto de la radiación corporal total sobre la función corporal, utilizando los cambios secuenciales en los lípidos, electrolitos y proteínas plasmáticos en las ratas. MÉTODOS: Los contenidos de lípidos y proteínas plasmáticos fueron evaluados utilizando kits, en tanto que los electrolitos fueron evaluados mediante fotometría de llama en ratas expuestas a irradiaciones corporales totales de rayos X de 1.27 Gy/min, en dosis cumulativas hasta la cuarta irradiación en intervalos de cinco días. RESULTADOS: El colesterol total y los niveles plasmáticos de triacilgliceroles fueron reducidos significativamente por la irradiación (p < 0.05). No se detectaron diferencias significativas entre; os grupos experimentales y de control en relación con los niveles plasmáticos de colesterol HDL. La concen-tración de electrolito plasmático se mantuvo dentro de los límites normales luego de cada irradiación corporal total de rayos X. La relación sodio/potasio fue significativamente elevada (p < 0.05). La proteína plasmática se elevaba significativamente (p < 0.05) al aumentar la radiación. CONCLUSIÓN: Tras la irradiación corporal total de las ratas normales, seproducen cambios sutiles pero significativos en los lípidos, electrolitos y proteínas del plasma. Estas variaciones podrían ser debidas a reacciones de estrés no específicas, y como tal, son marcadores importantes en el diagnóstico de las lesiones inducidas por la radiación.

Awareness and Practice of Health Promotion for Women in Calabar; Cross River Sate; Nigeria

Aim: A descriptive survey was undertaken to ascertain nurses' awareness and level of practice of health promotion among women in Calabar. Background: Women's health is affected by array of factors; nurses could have a major impact in increasing women's capacity to exercise increased control over their lives and determinants of health. Method: One hundred and thirty six nurses drawn from the ante-natal clinics of primary; secondary and tertiary health facilities in Calabar participated in the study. A questionnaire with a content validity index of 0.91 was used for data collection. The test-retest reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was (r) 0.79. Ethical issues were addressed. Data were analyzed with statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 15. Findings: Majority 110 (80.9) of the participants were highly experienced; 96 (70.6) were managers while only 52 (38.2) had 1st degree and above. Health education was the most mentioned strategy of health promotion by participants 136 (100.0) while specific protection was the least mentioned 3(2.2). Only about half of the respondents 68 (50.0) practiced health promotion appropriately. Nurses' rank and years of working experience were significantly associated with appropriate practice. Conclusion: Nurses averagely practice health promotion. It was therefore recommended that Nurse Managers should provide learning opportunities to fill observe gaps in knowledge and motivate junior nurses to engage in women's health promotion at every opportunity