Aqueous leaf extract of Rothmannia longiflora improves basal metabolic rate and electrolyte parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

This study evaluated the action of aqueous leaf extract of Rothmannia longiflora on basal metabolic rate and electrolyte profile of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Fifteen male Wistar rats weighing 135-140 g were assigned to 3 groups of 5 rats each. Group 1 which served as control received placebo treatment, group 2 namely the diabetic [untreated] group also received placebo treatment whereas group 3-the extract treated diabetic group was administered extract [15 g/kg body weight] by oral administration for 14 days. Results of BMR measurement showed a significant increase [P<0.01] in BMR level of Diabetic untreated group [1.03+/-0.02 ml/hr/g] compared to the control group [0.79+/-0.07 ml/hr/g]. Extract treatment significantly [P<0.05] decreased BMR in the diabetic rats. Results of analyses of serum electrolytes and glucose showed significant decreases [P<0.01] in sodium and chloride concentrations in the diabetic untreated group when compared to the control. However, sodium and chloride concentrations in the extract treated diabetic were not significantly different from that of their control values. There was no significant difference in potassium and urea concentrations in the extract-treated diabetic rats with respect to their control values. Extract treatment significantly [P<0.05] reduced serum glucose level of the extract treated group when compared to the diabetic untreated group. This suggests that oral administration of Rothmannia longiflora might be beneficial for the restoration of basal metabolic rate and improvement of electrolyte profile in diabetes mellitus.

Stimulation of insulin secretion by Viscum album (mistletoe) leaf extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Twenty male white rats (250-300 g) of Wistar strain were randomly divided into two batches, the normoglycaemic batch and the streptozotocin-induced diabetic batch often rats each. Animals in each batch were further divided into two groups of five rats per group. After an overnight fast (12 hrs), animals in each group received D-glucose load (2.0 g/kg.i.v) under pentobarbital anaesthesia, with or without the crude extract (100 mg/kg/iv). Blood samples were collected intravenously at 15 min intervals for 3 hrs. for analysis of glucose, insulin and glucagon levels. From the results, the extract (100 mg/kg) did not appear to have any significant effect on the blood glucose level of normal rats, but produced about 35.3% decrease in the diabetic rats. Despite the apparent lack of action on glucose level of normal rats, the extract stimulated insulin secretion by about 92.9% (% control) in this group, and about 81.5% in the diabetic group (% control). The glucagon level was not altered by the extract in the normal rats. In the diabetic group, there was mild but significant suppression ofglucagon level after the first 1 hr. which lasted for about 50 min. We suggest that this extract from V. album leaves may possess antihyperglycaemic, insulinotropic, and possibly, mild glucagonostatic agent(s) and may therefore be a candidate for the anti-diabetic drugs.

Effect of chronic exposure to welding light on Calabar welders.

It was generally observed that welders in Calabar, Nigeria did not always wear their protective goggles during welding. Since chronic exposure to welding light can impair vision this study was done to assess the effect of exposure to welding light on ocular function of welders in Calabar, Nigeria. There were 195 subjects comprising 110 welders (test) and 85 control subjects. Both groups were all male and had similar age range. The tests employed were clinical examination for ocular disorders, assessment of visual acuity, and opthalmoscopy. Test questionnaire was also used to record information on length of service, precautionary measures at work place, age and past ocular illnesses. The study also compared incidence of ocular disorders between the two groups of welders (arc and carbide welders). The mean ages of the welders and their control were not significantly different (27.53 +/- 10.0 vs 27.78 +/- 8.5 yrs respectively). There was a significantly [P < 0.01] higher incidence of pingueculum, cataract, allergic conjunctivitis, corneal opacity, and keratoconjunctivitis (arc eye) in welders than in their control subjects. However, visual acuity, incidence of pterygium and glaucoma were similar. Between the two groups of welders, the incidence of pterygium, corneal opacity and keratoconjunctivitis was significantly [P < 0.01] higher in arc welders than carbide welders. The incidence of pingueculum and glaucoma were however, similar. In conclusion, chronic exposure to welding light without adequate precaution may cause ocular disorders. Arc welding is more dangerous to ocular function than carbide welding. Length of service and age are predisposing factors to ocular disorders in the welding business.

Prediction formulae for lung function parameters in females of south eastern Nigeria.

This study was carried out to obtain normal lung function values for women in south eastern Nigeria with a view to establishing prediction equations for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV(1)) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Lung function values were measured in 600 apparently healthy Nigerian women aged between 18 and 57 years. FVC and FEV1 were significantly related to height [P < 0.001] and [P < 0.01] respectively) and body weight [P < 0.01], PEFR was also related to age [P < 0.01] and height [P < 0.001]. Prediction equations for the various lung function indices were as follows: FVC = 0.145 + (1.390Ht) - (0.0076age) + (0.0089wt); FEV1 = 0.240 + (1.045Ht) - (0.0055age) + (0.0064wt); PEFR = -38.80 + (210.83Ht) + (1.650age) + (0.252wt). Ht is height in meters, wt. is body weight in kilograms and age is age in years. The ventilatory function indices were directly proportional to weight, height and to age. All the observed or measured lung function indices were not significantly different from their predicted values using the above prediction equations. Therefore, we conclude that lung function indices are influenced by the anthropometric parameters viz: age, body weight and height, and the prediction equations stated for FVC, FEV1 and PEFR for Nigerian women between the ages 18 and 57 years are reliable.

Lung function, oxygen saturation and symptoms among street sweepers in calabar-Nigeria.

Chronic inhalation of dust impairs lung function and may cause respiratory symptoms. However, knowledge about the type of dust that can cause these problems is uncertain. Very little attention has been paid to the health of workers chronically exposed to dust raised by street sweeping without precautionary measures. Therefore, a study of lung function, oxygen saturation and symptoms among female street sweepers and their control groups in Calabar, Nigeria was carried out. Ventilatory function tests were done using 200 female street sweepers whose length of service was less than two years and 200 sex, age, weight, and height - matched external controls who were not exposed to any known air pollutant. The percentage of oxygen saturation (SPO((2)) of both the subjects and their control population was determined using a pulse oximeter. Respirable dust level in the test sites was 0.194 +/- 0.002 mu g/m3 and it was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in control sites, which was 0.015 +/- 0.003 mu g/m3.There was no significant difference in the mean values of SPO((2))between the test and control subjects. However, there was also a significantly higher [P < 0.001] prevalence of back pain, cough, chest pain , catarrh and sneezing among the street sweepers compared to control. Lung function values, namely; FVC, FEV((1)), FEV((1)) % and PEFR were not significantly different in the two groups. Street sweeping; without precautionary measures may predispose to respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms.

Preliminary studies on effect of chloroquine phosphate on gastric acid secretion in rats.

It is not certain whether chloroquine-induced pruritus is mainly attributable to the liberation of histamine, a powerful gastric acid secretagogue from mast cells, which may not be beneficial in peptic ulceration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to find out whether chloroquine (CQ) can stimulate gastric acid secretion in the rat. Gastric acid output was measured by the continuous perfusion of rats stomachs under anaesthesia with normal saline at the rate of 1ml per minutes. Thirty albino rats were divided into five groups of six rats each. Three groups had intraperitoneal administration of the following; normal saline (1 ml/kg control), CQ (3 microgram/kg; test) and Histamine H2 receptor antagonist, Ranitidine [4 microgram/kg] following CQ administration respectively. The other two groups had subcutaneous administration of histamine (100 microgram/kg) alone and histamine following CQ administration respectively. The basal acid secretion, (4.71+/- +/- 0.05 mMol/10mins) in a group of rats was not significantly increased in comparison with the peak acid output [P < 0.05] following normal saline administration (1 ml; ml/kg; i.p.). Administration of CQ in a second group;significantly increased acid secretion to a peak of 7.2 +/- 1.7 mMol/10mins [P < 0.05]. Ranitidine blocked CQ -induced acid secretion in a third group. Histamine significantly increased acid secretion from control level of 4.85 +/- 0.14 mMol/10mins to 51.67 +/- 5.07 mMol/10mins [P < 0.001] in a fourth group, while CQ administered 2mins after histamine administration significantly increased acid level from 4.72 +/- 0.12 mMol/10mins to peak at 20.63 +/- 3.28 mMol/10mins [P< 0.001] in a fifth group of rats. The peak acid output in the fifth group was significantly lower than that obtained with histamine alone. In conclusion, chloroquine is a weak stimulant of gastric acid secretion rats. It inhibits histamine-stimulated acid secretion probably by occupying histamine H (2) receptors in rats.