Maintenance Impact of Large Dose of Vitamin C on Proinflammatory Cytokines, Insulin, and Electrocardiographic Parameters of Wistar Rats Following Partial Pancreatectomy.

We investigated serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukins (IL-6 and IL-8) in rats undergoing pancreatic wound healing after partial pancreatectomy. In addition, we studied the effects of partial pancreatectomy on the insulin and the electrocardiography (ECG). We proposed that vitamin C (VitC) could have maintenance impact on TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, insulin, and ECG parameters of pancreatic wound healing of Wistar rats that had partial pancreatectomy surgery, if administered in large dose. Thirty-five male adult Wistar rats (180-250 g) were randomized into 7 groups, with 5 rats in each group. Group 1 was control. Groups 2, 3, and 4 (phase 1) received oral 1,000 mg/kg VitC, while groups 5, 6, and 7 (phase 2) received only water and feed ad libitum postoperatively for 14 days. One-quarter (») pancreatectomy was performed in groups 2 and 5, half (½) pancreatectomy was performed in groups 3 and 6, and three-quarter (¾) pancreatectomy was performed in groups 4 and 7. Significant (P < 0.5) decrease in IL-6 was observed in phase 1 when compared with the control. Significant increase in IL-6 was observed when compared with control. Significant increase in IL-8 was observed in phase 1 (groups 2 and 3) and phase 2 when compared with the control. Significant decrease in TNF-α was observed in phase 1 when compared with the control. Significant decrease in TNF-α was observed in phase 2 (groups 6 and 7) when compared with the control. Insulin level decreased and increased insignificantly in phase 2 and phase 1, respectively, when compared with the control. Although atrial fibrillation was recorded in phase 2 (group 7), normal ECG was seen in the control and phase 1 (group 2). Large dose vitC may be helpful in the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines as well as elevation of insulin and normalization of ECG in rats that had undergone partial pancreatectomy.

Serospatial epidemiology of zoonotic Coxiella burnetii in a cross section of cattle and small ruminants in northern Nigeria.

The persistent and highly transmissible Coxiella burnetii is a neglected infection that negatively affects reproductive parameters of livestock. It is also of zoonotic importance and has been reported to cause devastating human infections globally. Domestic ruminants represent the most frequent source of human infection. Data from Nigeria are very few and outdated. There is a significant gap in up-to-date information on the exposure, spatial distribution and risk factors of infection of this important disease. The exposure to C. burnetii was determined using sensitive serological assays in cattle and small ruminants. A total of 538 animals made up of 268 cattle and 270 small ruminants were sampled from three northern Nigerian states. The proportion of cattle sampled that were seropositive from the study locations were: Kwara 14/90 (15.6%; 95% CI: 8.8-24.7); Plateau 10/106 (9.43%; 95% CI: 4.6-16.7) and Borno 4/72 (5.56%; 95% CI: 1.5-13.6) states. Lower seroprevalence was recorded among the small ruminants sampled, with positives recorded from sheep and goat sampled from only Kwara state 6/184 (3.3%; 95% CI: 1.2-7.0); while none of the small ruminants sampled from Plateau were seropositive. The results of the bivariate analysis showed that none of the tested independent variables (village, age group, sex, breed of cattle, presence of ticks, reproductive status, and management system) were statistically significant factors associated with seropositivity of cattle for antibodies to C. burnetii. Stakeholders involved in animal husbandry should be duly educated on proper disposal of birth products as well as bodily fluids in order to reduce environmental contamination, persistence and human infection.

Anti-anaemic effect of ethanol leaf extract of Cnidosculus aconitifolius on cyclophosphomide-induced anaemia in rats.

BACKGROUND: The folkloric claim that Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Chaya) could ameliorate anaemia requires scientific revalidation in anaemic models. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-anaemic effect of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on cyclophosphamide-induced anaemia in rats. METHODS: The leaves of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius were collected, dried and extracted with ethanol. Twenty five Wistar Albino rats weighing 120-180 kg were used. Anaemia was induced in groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 with a single injection of cyclophosphamide, while group 1 served as a negative control without anemia and was treated with 0.5 mL of normal saline, Group 2 rats were treated with 100 mg/kg body weight of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius. Group 3 rats were treated with 500 mg/kg body weight of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius. Group 4 served as the positive control rats and was treated with 0.5 mL of normal saline. Group 5 which served as the standard control rats and were treated with 5 mg/kg body weight of standard drug Chemiron. The treated lasted for two weeks during which blood samples were collected from each rat for haematological analysis. RESULTS: The result shows that hematological parameters were elevated in groups 2, 3 and 5 rats treated with 100 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight of ethanol extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius and chemiron respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ethanol leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius at a graded dose of 500 mg/kg body weight had higher ameliorative effect on the haematological parameters of cyclophosphamide-induced anemia in rats.

Toxicological evaluation of the aqueous extract of Acalypha wilkesiana in Wistar albino rats.

BACKGROUND: Acalypha wilkesiana (Euphorbiaceae) is highly accepted for traditional treatment of human plasmodiasis in Africa. METHODS: The toxicological effects of the aqueous leaf extract of A. wilkesiana were studied in 45 male and female Wistar albino rats. An acute toxicity testing was done using 21 rats divided into seven groups and LD50 determined. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, the extract was administered orally over a period of 28 days to rats in three groups with doses of 400 mg kg-1, 800 mg kg-1 and 1,600 mg kg-1, respectively, and the fourth group administered with water served as control. Blood samples were collected for hematological and serum biochemical analysis; organs of the animals were harvested for histopathological examination. RESULTS: The acute toxicity testing showed that the extract was non-toxic at doses up to 3,000 mg kg-1 and the LD50 was calculated to be 2,828.34 mg kg-1. The study showed that at 1,600 mg kg-1 dose, the extract caused a decrease in the level of neutrophils (NEUT) while lymphocytes (LYMP) were statistically significantly increased. The administration of the extract also resulted in varying significant dose dependent increase in the levels of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). There were also significant increases in the level of total protein (TP), urea (URN) and albumin (GLB) especially at 1,600 mg kg-1 dosage. Histopathology showed that the extract caused mild to severe significant lesions that are dose dependent in the liver and kidney when compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged administration of high dose of A. wilkesiana extract has tendency to cause organ toxicity.