Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies among Adults with Asthma in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Asthma is one of the common chronic diseases globally. There is paucity of data on perceived stress among patients with asthma in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the extent of perceived stress and its association with coping strategies among adults with asthma. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study in which 100 adults with asthma were consecutively recruited from the Respiratory Clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. They completed a questionnaire containing demographic details, Perceived Stress Scale(PSS), Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE) Scale and Asthma Specific Coping Scale(ASCS). RESULTS: Most of the respondents were female (56%, n = 56) with mean age of 38.8 (±16.5), and FEV1% predicted was 78.9%±24.5. Sixty-three (63%) participants had high levels of perceived stress. Patients with asthma who had high perceived stress were significantly younger than those with low perceived stress (χ2 = 2.66; p=0.01). The mean scores of coping strategies for asthma patients with high stress level was generally higher compared with those with low stress level, and was significantly higher in the adaptive coping strategy (t=-3.36; p=0.01) and its subscales. For asthma specific coping scale, there was significant difference between those with high perceived stress and low perceived stress in the positive appraisal (t=-2.95, p=0.004) and ignoring asthma (t=-2.09, p=0.040) subscales. CONCLUSION: The level of perceived stress is high among Nigerian patients with asthma. This study showed that the more stressed they are, the more they are likely to use coping strategies.

CONTEXTE ET OBJECTIFS: L'asthme est l'un des maladies chroniques courantes dans le monde. Il y a peu de données sur stress perçu chez les patients asthmatiques au Nigeria. Ceci étude visant à déterminer l'étendue du stress perçu et son association avec des stratégies d'adaptation chez les adultes asthmatiques. MÉTHODES: Il s'agit d'une étude descriptive transversale dans laquelle100 adultes asthmatiques ont été recrutés consécutivement parmi les clinique respiratoire de l'Université Obafemi Awolowo Enseignement Complexe hospitalier, Ile-Ife, Nigéria. Ils ont complété un questionnaire contenant des détails démographiques, Stress perçu Échelle (PSS), Brève orientation d'adaptation aux problèmes rencontrés(Brief-COPE) Échelle et échelle d'adaptation spécifique à l'asthme (ASCS). RÉSULTATS: La plupart des répondants étaient des femmes (56 %, n = 56)avec un âge moyen de 38,8 ans (±16,5 ans) et un VEMS 1 % prédit était78,9 %±24,5. Soixante-trois (63 %) participants avaient des niveaux élevés destress perçu. Patients asthmatiques qui avaient une perception élevée le stress était significativement plus jeune que celui des personnes ayant une faible perceptioncontrainte (χ2 = 2,66; p = 0,01). Les scores moyens des stratégies d'adaptation pour les patients asthmatiques avec un niveau de stress élevé était généralement plus élevé par rapport à ceux ayant un faible niveau de stress, et était significativement plus élevé dans la stratégie d'adaptation adaptative (t =-3,36; p = 0,01) et sessous-échelles. Pour l'échelle d'adaptation spécifique à l'asthme, il y avait une différence entre ceux qui ont un stress perçu élevé et un stress faiblele stress perçu dans l'évaluation positive (t=-2,95, p=0,004) et ignorer les sous-échelles de l'asthme (t = -2,09, p = 0,040). CONCLUSION: Le niveau de stress perçu est élevé chez patients nigérians souffrant d'asthme. Cette étude a montré que leplus ils sont stressés, plus ils sont susceptibles d'utiliser l'adaptation stratégies. Mots-clés: Stress perçu, Stratégie d'adaptation, Asthme, Adaptatif adaptation.

Acute Exacerbation of COPD: Clinical Perspectives and Literature Review.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) COPD is a significant cause of morbidity and the third leading cause of death worldwide. COPD is a chronic progressive disease which may be interspersed by periods of acute worsening of respiratory symptoms beyond normal day-to-day variations, called exacerbations, which substantially impact health status and has cumulative effects on lung function. Acute exacerbation of COPD negatively affects disease progression, facilitating decline in pulmonary function and resulting in impaired quality of life and increased mortality risk. Therefore, early introduction of preventive measures in patients at risk of COPD remains the cornerstone of management. This article summarizes clinical perspectives and current knowledge on COPD exacerbations, with insights into practices in low- and middle-income countries.

La bronchopneumopathie chronique obstructive (BPCO) est une cause importante de morbidité et la troisième cause de décès dans le monde. La BPCO est une maladie chronique évolutive qui peut être entrecoupée de périodes d'aggravation aiguë des symptômes respiratoires au-delà des variations quotidiennes normales, appelées exacerbations, qui ont un impact considérable sur l'état de santé et des effets cumulatifs sur la fonction pulmonaire. L'exacerbation aiguë de la BPCO a un effet négatif sur la progression de la maladie, facilitant le déclin de la fonction pulmonaire et entraînant une dégradation de la qualité de vie et un risque accru de mortalité. Par conséquent, l'introduction précoce de mesures préventives chez les patients à risque de BPCO reste la pierre angulaire de la prise en charge. Cet article résume les perspectives cliniques et les connaissances actuelles sur les exacerbations de la BPCO, avec un aperçu des pratiques dans les pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire. Mots clés: Maladie pulmonaire obstructive chronique, exacerbations, progression.

Ethnopharmacological importance and medical applications of Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw. (Myrothamnaceae)-A review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw. (resurrection plant) is a desiccant-tolerant, woody, and shrubby plant. It is popularly used as a local medicinal herbal tea in South Africa, other Southern Africa nations, and Central Africa. M. flabellifolius is used in treating several ailments including epilepsy, mental disorder, cough, pain, stroke, shingles, diabetes, hypertension, wounds, asthma, kidneys and chest ailments. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This review focuses on the botanical description, distribution, conservation status, ethnobotany, chemistry and pharmacological properties of M. flabellifolius to spur further research that will promote its sustainable harvesting and commercialization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A literature search on diverse scientific databases, including Google, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, theses, dissertations and ethnobotanical textbooks, were conducted. RESULTS: The conducted search reveals that M. flabellifolius has many traditional uses that can be categorized into infectious diseases, Well-being, respiratory, inflammation, wound and kidney ailments. M. flabellifolius is a natural caffeine-free medicinal herbal tea reported to have antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, antidiabetic and antimicrobial properties. Toxicological tests on M. flabellifolius were found scarce with gaps in genotoxicological and in vivo studies. Essential oils and isolated compounds were identified from M. flabellifolius with biological activities such as anticancer, antiinflammation, antimicrobial, antiarthritic, antiulcer, antioxidant and antiviral properties. CONCLUSION: It is envisaged that the current review will add value to more scientific research on M. flabellifolius and enhance/promote the increased interest in the sustainable commercialization of M. flabellifolius herbal tea as well as lead to the validation of unverified ethnobotanical claims.

Ethnomedicinal survey of medicinal plants used in the management of sickle cell disorder in Southern Nigeria.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The present study entails the medicinal plant species used to manage sickle cell disorder in Southern States of Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethnomedicinal information was gathered through multistage approach from three geopolitical zones of Southern Nigeria, which were purposively selected. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered on 500 respondents in 125 locations. The ethnomedicinal data collected were analyzed using quantitative value indices such as fidelity level (percentage) and use value. The information got was cross checked using literature search and other related materials. RESULT: Five hundred respondents comprising 53.12% females and 46.88% males were observed. It was noted that 26.70% were illiterate while 73.30% had formal education. Seventy-nine percent is traditional healers, 27% herb traders and the other 4% are those who have awareness of sickle cell disease . One hundred and seventy five plant species belonging to 70 families, of which Fabaceae made up 26.76% and Euphorbiaceae 16.90% forming the highest occurrence. It was observed that leaves were the most common plant part used (69.10%) followed by root (15%) and stem bark (14%) in the preparation for sickle cell management. Majority (48.57%) of these plants were harvested from wild with 38.86% being trees. Citrus aurantifolia and Newbouldia laevis had highest use values of 0.69 and 0.64 respectively. Plants with the least use value (0.001) include Abrus canescens, Acacia xanthophloea, Aerva lanata and Axonopus compressus. The result of fidelity level values of the plant species for the management of Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) revealed that Citrus aurantifolia had the highest value of 70.2% while Angraecum distichum and Axonopus compressus had the lowest Fidelity Level value of 0.18%. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that people in the studied areas were well grounded in the medicinal plants used to manage sickle cell disease. This study reported for the first time 102 plant species having anti-sickling potentials with Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae as the most dominant plant families. Many of the claimed plants were harvested from the wild showing threat thus providing needs for conservation of plants. The documented plants had high use value and fidelity level that provided quantitative and qualitative ethnomedicinal evaluation within and across the plant families. These give room for further scientific investigations in pharmacological profiles.

Documentation on Medicinal Plants Sold in Markets in Publications; Nigeria

Purpose: To document the medicinal values; local names; method of preparation; dosage forms and parts of common medicinal plants sold in some markets in Abeokuta; Nigeria. Methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected by oral interview and with the aid of a structured questionnaire administered to men; women and young girls. The data from respondents from the five local markets surveyed were documented. Results: The results show that a total of 60 medicinal plant species are commonly used by the people of Abeokuta in their traditional health care system. Most of the plant materials were in dried form and sold singly or in combination with other plants and are used in the treatment of various ailments such as malaria; hypertension; typhoid; jaundice; hyperthermia; skin irritations; dysentery; anaemia; gonorrhea; cough; measles and fibroid. A majority of the plants were trees. The respondents were women (64.3); young girls (28.5) and men (7.14). Conclusion: The findings support the need to encourage domestication and cultivation of medicinal plants as well as put in place conservation measures to ensure sustainable source of medicinal plants