Toxicity of Mangifera Indica aqueous stem bark extract evaluated in drosophila melanogaster used as model organism.

BACKGROUND: Mangifera indica has been used for treating health complications with little data on its toxicological impact on survival, geotaxis, reproduction, and the antioxidant system. METHODS: Total phenol and flavonoid contents were estimated. The ingestion method of exposure (extract was mixed in flies' food) was used. Each concentration was administered per 10g fruit flies diet. 7-day LC50 was determined by exposing 50 flies for 7 days to Mangifera indica concentration ranging from 100mg extract/10g diet to 2000mg extract/10g diet. 28 days survival assay was performed by exposing 50 fruit flies each to 25mg extract/10g diet, 50mg extract/10 diet g, and 100mg extract/10g diet for 28 days. A 6-day short term exposure was also conducted to assess Mangifera indica toxic effect on climbing activity, survival, reproduction, and antioxidant system in Drosophila melanogaster. RESULTS: Total phenol and flavonoid content were 0.226±0.02 and 0.027±0.05mg/g dry weight of the extract, respectively. There was a significant mortality rate (P<0.05), and the 7-day LC50 was 353mg extract/10g diet. At 25mg extract/10g diet 50mg extract/10g diet and 100mg extract/10g diet, the survival-rate of fruit flies significantly dropped (P<0.05) with arise in Mangifera indica concentration. Short-term exposure also showed a significant reduction (P<0.05) in GST-activity, survival-rate, and emergence of young fruit flies with an increase in concentration. Total thiol, locomotor, AChE, and CAT activities decreased non-significantly (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The significant adverse effect of Mangifera indica extract as seen in the decrease in survival rate, the emergence of young flies, climbing, and antioxidant activities of fruit flies suggests its cautious application and use in herbal medicine.

The place of cadaveric dissection in post-COVID-19 anatomy education.

From time immemorial, cadaveric dissection has been commonly employed as a method of practical teaching and learning for anatomical education globally. Conventionally, cadaveric dissection has been embraced and widely accepted as the best fit for comprehensive and gross teaching in anatomy education, thus placing an undue rise in cadavers' demands. The emergence of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed significant effects on medical education with substantial impacts on anatomy education, as seen in the shift from classroom to virtual learning. An essential area of anatomy education and training requiring immediate consideration is the position of cadaveric dissection in a post-COVID-19 era, which entails the safety of cadavers from possible SARS-CoV-2 infection before their use. This article explores the place of cadaveric dissection in post-COVID-19 anatomy education.

Post-COVID-19 pandemic: Standard operating procedures for gross anatomy laboratory in the new standard.

The culture of cadaver dissection remains the most commonly used method of practical teaching and learning of human anatomy. Anatomist and medical professionals considered cadaver dissection as the gold standard for teaching and learning anatomy in detail. The increase seen in the establishment of new medical training institutions globally has consequently led to a proportionate increase in the sourcing for cadavers. Moreover, the surge in mortality rates following the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with no cure or approved vaccine has been a source of concern for academia, especially on the safety in the usage of cadavers for dissection. Notwithstanding, several countries continue to depend on unclaimed bodies as the primary source for cadavers, regardless of the cause of death. Besides, body donation is also usually reported to be strained during disease outbreaks thereby putting countries that depend solely on it in a dilemma. This study highlighted the recommended standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be imbibed in gross anatomy dissection halls during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Fighting the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic: Employing lessons from the Ebola virus disease response.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by a beta-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that affects the lower respiratory tract and appears as pneumonia in humans. COVID-19 became apparent in December 2019 in Wuhan City of China, and has propagated profusely globally. Despite stringent global quarantine and containment drives, the incidence of COVID-19 keeps soaring high. Measures to minimize human-to-human transmission have been implemented to control the pandemic. However, special efforts to reduce transmission via efficient public health communications and dissemination of risks should be applied in susceptible populations including children, health care providers, and the elderly. In response to this global pandemic, this article summarizes proven strategies that could be employed to combat the COVID-19 disease outbreak, taking a cue from lessons learned from the Ebola virus disease response.

La maladie à coronavirus (COVID-19) est causée par un bêta-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) qui affecte les voies respiratoires inférieures et se présente sous forme de pneumonie chez l'homme. La COVID-19 est apparue en décembre 2019 dans la ville chinoise de Wuhan, et s'est propagée à grande échelle dans le monde entier. Malgré des mesures de quarantaine et de confinement rigoureuses, l'incidence de COVID-19 continue de grimper en flèche. Des mesures visant à minimiser la transmission interhumaine ont été mises en œuvre pour contrôler la pandémie. Toutefois, des efforts particuliers pour réduire la transmission par le biais de communications efficaces en matière de santé publique et de diffusion des risques doivent être déployés dans les populations sensibles, notamment les enfants, les prestataires de soins de santé et les personnes âgées. En réponse à cette pandémie mondiale, cet article résume les stratégies éprouvées qui pourraient être employées pour combattre l'épidémie de maladie COVID-19, en s'inspirant des leçons tirées de la réponse à la maladie du virus Ebola.

Bombax Costatum extract abrogates piroxicam-mediated hepatic and gastric toxicities in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Concurrent administration of orthodox drugs and herbs is common in tropical Africa. This study investigates the effect of co-administration of piroxicam and Bombax costatum on hepatic and gastric toxicities and levels of oxidative stress markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty male wistar rats were grouped into four. Rats in group one were administered 1mL/kg distilled water as normal control; group two were treated with 400mg/kg of extract; group three were treated with 20mg/kg of piroxicam; while those in group four were treated with both extract and piroxicam at 400mg/kg and 20mg/kg, respectively. All treatments were given orally for 14 days. At the end of the treatment period, the rats were euthanised; blood samples and stomach were collected for determination of hepatic and gastro-toxicity alongside with oxidative stress markers. RESULTS: Treatment with piroxicam alone shows the presence of oxidative stress with marked hepatic and gastric toxicities. Oxidative stress markers, hepatic and gastric toxicity indices after treatment with extract alone and in combination with piroxicam appear like that of the control group. CONCLUSION: Concurrent administration of piroxicam and Bombax costatum prevents piroxicam-induced hepatic and gastric toxicities with a positive effect on antioxidant levels. This may indicate important health benefits of this drug-herb combination.