The effect of the aqueous extract of Kohautia grandiflora on paracetamol-induced liver damage in albino rats.

This study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of the aqueous extract of Kohautia grandiflora on paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. A total of 20 albino rats of the Wister strain weighing 120-180 g were used for the study. The animals were divided into 4 groups of 5-rats each [I-IV]. Groups I, II and III served as the normal, paracetamol and plant extract controls and were administered with normal saline, 500 mg/kg of paracetamol and 300 mg/kg of the plant extract respectively for 7 days while rats in group IV served as the treatment group and were pre-treated with 300 mg/kg of the plant extract respectively for 7 days before 500 mg/kg of paracetamol was administered on the 8th day. At the end of the experimental period, blood was obtained from each rat for the determination of serum levels of aspartate transaminase [AST], alanine transaminase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], albumin and bilirubin. Biochemical analysis of the serum obtained showed a significant increase [P<0.05] in the levels of AST, ALT, ALP and albumin in rats administered with 500 mg/kg of paracetamol and 300 mg/kg of the extract respectively. Pre-treatment of the animals with the extract caused a decrease in the levels of these enzymes. Histopathological assessments of the liver sections of rats administered with 500 mg/kg of paracetamol and 300 mg/kg of the extract showed congestion of the venous sinusoids, necrosis, edema, mononuclear infiltration and cloudy swellings with the severity higher in the paracetamol treated group. Pre-treatment with 300 mg/kg of the extract revealed a slight hepatoprotection compared with the rats that were administered with paracetamol alone. This study has shown that the aqueous extract of Kohautia grandiflora possesses slight hepatoprotective property.

Effect of the aqueous extract of Psidium guajava on erythromycin-induced liver damage in rats.

The effect of Psidium guajava extract on erythromycin-induced liver damage in albino rats was investigated using 30 normal rats grouped into six. Group I and II served as the normal and treatment controls that were administered with normal saline and 100 mg/kg body weight of erythromycin stearate daily for 14 days respectively. Rats in group III were administered 450 mg/kg body weight of Psidium guajava only for 7 days while rats in groups IV, V and VI were administered Psidium guajava extract for 7 days and 100mg/kg body weight of erythromycin for 14 days. Histopathological investigation of the liver tissues revealed striking oedema and mild periportal mononuclear cell infiltration of hepatic cords in the liver of rats administered 100 mg/kg of erythromycin stearate and 300/450 mg/kg of Psidium guajava extract. Pretreatment with 150 mg/kg of Psidium guajava extract showed a slight degree of protection against the induced hepatic injury caused by 100 mg/kg of erythromycin stearate. Biochemical analysis of the serum obtained revealed a significant increase in serum levels of hepatic enzymes measured in the groups administered with 100 mg/kg of erythromycin stearate and 300/450 mg/kg of Psidium guajava extract compared to the control groups and those pretreated with 150 mg/kg of Psidium guajava extract. This study has shown that the aqueous extract of psidium guajava leaf possesses hepatoprotective property at lower dose and a hepatotoxic property at higher dose but further studies with prolonged duration is recommended.

Craniofacial classification of normal newborns in Maiduguri metropolis, Nigeria / Clasificación craneafacial de los recién nacidos normales en Maiduguri, Nigeria

Anthropometric measurements, such as craniofacial forms especially in the first days after birth are important for the assessment of neonatal health status and results obtained from such measurements are used in pediatrics, orofacial surgery and diagnostic comprehension between patient and normal populations. There is no published literature about the types of head and face shapes in the Kanuri and Babur/Bura newborns of Maiduguri metropolis. Henee, this study was undertaken to document the various craniofacial forms of newborns of Maiduguri metropolis. Head length, head width, head circumference, face length, face width, prosopic and cephalic indices were measured in 120 newborns of the Maiduguri metropolis. The mean cephalic index in Kanuri male and female newborns were 70.03 percent and 77.15 percent respectively while that of the Babur/Bura males and females newborns were 73.60 percent and 77.23 percent, respectively. The mean prosopic index in Kanuri male and female newborns were 83.77 percent and 82.84 percent, respectively, while that of the Babur/Bura males and females newborns were 80.74 percent and 81.03 percent, respectively. On comparison with existing literature the Kanuri males and females are dolicocephalic, Babur/Bura males and females are mesocephalic, while both the Kanuri and Babur/Bura newborns have the hypereuryprosopic type of face shape thus the data obtained from this study can be used as local standards for diagnostic and anthropometric evaluation.

Las medidas antropométricas, tales como las formas craneofaciales especialmente en los primeros días después del nacimiento, son importantes para la evaluación del estado de salud neonatal y los resultados obtenidos a partir de estas mediciones se utilizan en pediatría, cirugía orofacial y la comprensión diagnóstica entre el paciente y la población normal. No hay literatura publicada sobre los tipos de formas de cabeza y rostro en los los Kanuri y Babur/Bura recién nacidos de Maiduguri. Este estudio se llevó a cabo para documentar las diversas formas craneofaciales de los recién nacidos de Maiduguri. Fueron medidos la longitud, ancho y circunferencia de la cabeza, altura facial, ancho de la cara, índice prosopo y cefálico en 120 recién nacidos de Maiduguri. La media del índice cefálico en hombres y mujeres Kanuri recién nacidos fueron 70,03 por ciento y 77,15 por ciento, respectivamente; mientras que la de hombres y mujeres Babur / Bura recién nacidos fueron de 73,60 por ciento y 77,23 por ciento respectivamente. La media del índice prosop en hombres y mujeres kanuri recién nacidos fueron 83,77 por ciento y 82,84 por ciento, respectivamente, mientras que la de la hombres y mujeres Babur / Bura recién nacidos fueron 80,74 por ciento y 81,03 por ciento, respectivamente. En comparación con la literatura existente, los hombres y mujeres Kanuri son dolicocéfalos, hombres y mujeres Babur / Bura son mesocéfalos, mientras que los hombres y mujeres Kanuri y Babur / Bura recién nacidos tienen tienen la cara hipereuriprosopo. Los datos obtenidos de este estudio pueden ser utilizados como las normas locales para el diagnóstico y evaluación antropométrica.