10.18639/RABM.2019.869984
Agriculture and Allied Sciences
May 23, 2019
The contamination of soil by anthropogenic activities is of great concern in recent times. There is an urgent demand of reliable and eco-friendly approaches for remediation of this concern. The current techniques for heavy metal remediation from contaminated soil are costly, time consuming, and harmful for the environment. Toxicity of heavy metals can reduce plant growth, and a high level of presence of these heavy metals is a risk factor to human and plant health. Heavy metals neither biodegradable materials nor are created. They occur naturally in the earth crust, and they reach the environment by human activities. Organic compounds can be degraded, but metals cannot degrade, and therefore effective cleanup requires its immobilization to reduce or remove toxicity. Recently, research focuses on cost-effective technologies to clean polluted areas. Vermiremediation and phytoremediation are two such useful techniques. In these eco-friendly techniques of remediation, the target plants accumulate, volatilize the contaminants, or convert them into some nontoxic forms, thus remediating the soil.
10.18639/RABM.2019.858317
Original Research Article
Apr 03, 2019
The use of air conditioners (ACs) in homes has become a necessity in urban cities such as Lagos State. The rapid growth in the use of AC has been attributed majorly to protection from high thermal exposures. However, there have been controversies regarding physiological discomforts attributed to AC use. This study therefore seeks to elucidate the associations between AC use and some selected physical ailments using random samples from Lagos State. A structured questionnaire was administered to 200 randomly selected participants. The responses were scored, and the data were analyzed accordingly. The study showed that AC devices were mostly used in sitting room bedroom offices vehicles. The frequency of cold, fever, headache, and chest pain significantly (p 0.01) associate with the use of AC in both sitting room and bedroom. The prevalence of the associated ailments increased with increase in the AC contact duration (6 h) among AC users evaluated in the study. Most of the participants (70%) agreed that AC use brings thermal comfort and therefore is good to health. However, prolonged exposure in indoor AC environments increased the risk of physiological discomfort for the AC users in this study. The authors therefore suggest health workers to create awareness to educate AC users of the likely dangers with prolonged exposure.
10.18639/RABM.2019.770620
Original Research Article
Feb 20, 2019
Long-term/chronic insomnia occurs in patients for over one month; it can affect the functions of the immune system and responses, which may involve cytokines. The aim was to determine alterations of Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-10 cytokines in long-term insomnia. Thirty-three long-term/chronic insomnia patients (male, 22; female, 11) aged 47-61 years were initially recruited. Seven of them who were infected with microbial agents were excluded from the study. Of the 26 free of infectious agents only 21 (female, 5; male, 16) were successfully monitored. Age-matched apparently healthy non-insomnia subjects (male, 25; female, 25) free of the infectious agents were recruited as control. Plasma TNF-alpha, IL-10, HBsAg, anti-HCV, and HIVp24 antigen were assayed by ELISA method while determination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was by Ziehl–Neelsen staining of sputum and Plasmodium spp. by thick blood Giemsa staining. Of the 33 insomnia patients initially recruited, 21.2% (7) were infected with microbial agents (Plasmodium spp., 6.1% (2); HCV, 3.0% (1); HBV, 6.1% (2); Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 3.0% (1); Plasmodium spp. + HBV, 3.0% (1); and HIVp24, 0). Twenty-one chronic insomnia patients were finally investigated on cytokines. There were significantly higher mean plasma values of TNF-alpha and IL-10 cytokines in chronic insomnia patients before treatment than the values obtained in the control subjects (p 0.05). The results also showed a significantly lower mean plasma value of TNF-alpha cytokine in chronic insomnia patients after treatment than the values obtained in the patients before treatment. There were no significant differences in the mean plasma values of IL-10 cytokines in chronic insomnia patients before and after treatment (p 0.05). There was a significant increase in plasma TNF-alpha and IL-10 cytokines in long-term insomnia patients before treatment while plasma TNF-alpha significantly decreased after treatment, and no significant difference was obtained in the plasma IL-10 before and after treatment. TNF-alpha could be a good investigative index of insomnia.
10.18639/RABM.2019.743583
Microbiology and Immunology
Feb 19, 2019
Diabetes Mellitus.
Diabetes mellitus can induce release of free radicals and oxidative stress, which can trigger production of cytokines. Vernonia amygdalina has antidiabetic activity due to its phytochemical constituents. This work was designed to determine possible immunological alterations in the plasma levels of TNF-α and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the traditional application of V. amygdalina (Ewuro) leaves in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The study populations include all 33 diabetes mellitus patients (51-67 years; male, 21; female, 12) who had not commenced any form of medication or treatment and received herbal treatment in 10 herbal homes of Saki West, a local government area in Nigeria. Twenty-seven agematched volunteers who were treated on insulin medication in the hospital almost within the same period were also investigated. Patients who were positive to acid-fast bacilli sputum test, Plasmodium spp., identification, HBsAg, anti-HCV, and HIV-1 p24 assays were not included. Plasma TNF-α, IL-10, HBsAg, anti-HCV, and HIV-1 p24 were determined in the patients by ELISA while identification of acid-fast bacilli and Plasmodium spp. were carried out by Ziehl-Neelsen and Giemsa thick blood-film staining, respectively. There was a significant decrease in the plasma levels of TNF-α, IL-10, and glucose in diabetes mellitus patients after the administration of raw liquid extract of V. amygdalina and insulin compared to their basal samples before the commencement of the treatment (p 0.05). The work revealed a significant increase in plasma TNF-α, IL-10, and glucose in diabetes patients, which returned to normal plasma values after treatment using raw liquid extract of V. amygdalina leaves and insulin.
10.18639/RABM.2019.739740
Review Article
Feb 17, 2019
Hypopituitarism.
Traumatic brain injury often causes disability and death among adults and children. The injury may have a significant long-lasting effect to the neuroendocrine system. One of the most common effects is hypopituitarism. It can affect the quality of life and increase healthcare burden. This review is made to understand the hypopituitarism post-traumatic brain injury. The review was done by searching journal literature published in the last 10 years. Hypopituitarism can be found in the acute or chronic phase. Sometimes patients come with specific symptoms such as amenorrhea, infertility, precocious puberty, or even diabetes insipidus. A severe case of Addisonian crisis patient may end in an intensive care unit. Hypopituitarism post-traumatic brain injury will impair rehabilitation. Therefore, traumatic brain injury patient should be assessed for pituitary function examination in 6-12 months post injury to prevent further deterioration and improve the quality of life.
10.18639/RABM.2019.739577
Review Article
Jan 26, 2019
Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a single spectrum disorder. It is characterized by marked social deficit, stereotype behavior, flexibility, sensory sensitivity, and language impairment. However, ASD can also be accompanied by neuropathology and neuroendocrine dysfunction. Higher testosterone level intrauterine is assumed to increase ASD risk in early childhood. There is limited research about the correlation between ASD and neuroendocrine dysfunction.
10.18639/RABM.2018.04.735155
Original Research Article
Nov 30, 2018
Histopathological studies of the effects of chloroform and methanolic leaf extracts of Ilex kudingcha in Trypanosoma brucei infected albino wistar rats were investigated. The toxicity and phytochemical study were also carried out using standard protocol. T. brucei infected animals were administered orally with 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. of the extracts and 3.5 mg/kg b.w. of the standard drug (diminazene aceturate). Results on acute toxicity studies (LD50) revealed no sign of lethality up to the dose of 5,000 mg/kg body weight but the liver and kidney histology of infected animals treated with 5,000 mg/kg b.w. of I. kudingcha extracts were observed to be hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic. The methanol extracts showed appreciably high in vivo anti-trypanosomal activities compared to the reference drug. Histological examination of the organs revealed serious pathological lesions in the liver of the infected animals without treatment (negative control). In the positive control animals (infected animals administered standard drug), mild multifocal aggregate of inflammatory leucocytes was observed. In the other experimental animals, no pathological lesion was observed in the liver, kidney, brain, and heart of infected animals treated with the methanolic extract and combined methanol and chloroform extracts. The effectiveness of the methanolic extract at reducing the lesions caused by the parasite is the same compared with the standard drug. Phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts showed that methanol extract contained appreciable high levels of alkaloids, saponin, tannins, phenol, and glycoside while flavonoid was not detected. Hence, the curative properties of methanolic extract of I. kudingcha as observed in the organs indicate its anti-trypanosomal properties but it should be consumed at minimal doses.
10.18639/RABM.2018.04.735010
Agriculture and Allied Sciences
Nov 20, 2018
This article displays the status of phytoremediation innovations with specific accentuation on phytoextraction of soil, overwhelming metal sullying. The different procedures to improve phytoextraction and the use of the results have been expounded. Since part of biomass is delivered during this process, it needs appropriate transfer and administration. It likewise gives an understanding into the work done by creators, which centers around high biomass extractor plants. High biomass weeds were chosen to limit the entry of contaminants into the evolved way of life by choosing non-consumable, ailment safe and tolerant plants, which can be a sustainable power source, hence making phytoextraction more suitable for present usage.
10.18639/RABM.2018.04.729264
Original Research Article
Oct 15, 2018
The aim of this paper was to study the indications and patterns of limb amputations in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, a retrospective study of 142 limb amputations performed in patients admitted to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, South-South, Nigeria. Data was obtained from theater records and the medical record department of the hospital after due ethical approval. The data spanned a period of 10 years (from January 2004 to December 2014). A total of 142 patients were seen. The age ranged from 8 to 87 years with a mean age of 46 years SD 17.9 years and a male to female ratio of 2.3:1. Adults accounted for 95.8% while 4.2% were children. Emergency procedures accounted for 47.9% of the amputations. Diabetic foot gangrene was the major cause of lower limb amputation 91 (64.1%), trauma accounted for 27 (19%) of these, 15.5% were due to road traffic accidents, and 3.5% were cases of gunshot injuries. Tumors and limb ischemia accounted for 9.2 and 2.8%, respectively. Electrical injury, industrial accidents, and ischemic limbs from tight tourniquet splints by traditional bonesetters were the common causes of upper limb amputations. Most of the amputations were on the lower limb (83.7%) with the left lower limb accounting for 47.8% and the right lower limb accounting for 35.9% .Upper limb amputations accounted for 15.4% with right and left upper limbs being 8.4 and 7.0%, respectively .Only one patient had bilateral lower limb amputation(0.7%). For the levels of amputation, the majority were below knee 54 (38%) followed by above elbow 38 (26.8%) amputations (Figure 1); others were ray amputation of the foot and hand as 28 (19.7%) and 8 (5.6%), respectively. The least was below elbow amputation 6 (4.2%). The study showed that 96% of the causes were potentially preventable, and that establishment of a prosthetic-orthotic center is needed in this part of the country.
10.18639/RABM.2018.04.654377
HIV and AIDS
Sep 28, 2018
Testing for HIV is an essential component of the diagnosis and treatment of persons infected with the virus, and antenatal care provides a golden opportunity for detection of HIV infection in women of childbearing age. The use of blood sample to test for HIV has been the gold standard in clinical practice. However other body fluids such as urine, cervical secretion, tears, and saliva have potential as alternative media for HIV testing. This was a comparative noninferiority experimental study, comparing rapid diagnostic HIV testing using urine and blood samples. Two hundred and fifty new antenatal care clients and laboring women of unknown HIV status, were randomly recruited from antenatal care and delivery units. The seroprevalence of HIV was 6.31 and 5.86%, with use of urine and blood samples, respectively. The use of both urine and blood samples yielded a sensitivity of 100%. However, specificity was 99.05 and 99.52% for urine and blood samples, respectively. Area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.995 and 0.998 for urine and blood samples, respectively. There was no significant difference in subjects’ perception toward the use of blood or urine for HIV testing (p > 0.05). More subjects however preferred the use of blood rather than urine for HIV testing. In keeping with previous studies, the use of urine or blood for HIV testing in this study yielded similar results, with comparable sensitivities and specificities. Urine samples may therefore well be considered as alternative to blood samples for HIV testing. The use of urine should be considered by health-care providers as suitable alternative to blood for HIV testing. Pregnant women should be educated on the benefits and accuracy of using urine for HIV testing, for improvement in the perception toward its usage and its acceptability and preference.
10.18639/RABM.2018.04.656131
Original Research Article
Aug 21, 2018
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hyponatremia among psychiatric patients taking antipsychotics, to determine the correlation between serum sodium levels and dosage of medications as well as to determine the association between class of antipsychotic medication and serum sodium levels among patients taking antipsychotic medications. This is a longitudinal study. From 92 consenting antipsychotic naïve patients who met the inclusion criteria, sociodermographic interview schedule was administered. Thereafter, a single venous blood sample was obtained for serum electrolyte analysis and repeated after 6 weeks. Prevalence of hyponatremia was 19.4%, there was a correlation between hyponatremia and dose of antipsychotic in chlorpromazine equivalent (r 5 20.354; p 5 0.01), and there is an association between typical antipsychotic use and hyponatremia. The use of both typical and atypical antipsychotic medications can lead to hyponatremia. This is in keeping with previous reports.
10.18639/RABM.2018.04.634845
Original Research Article
May 12, 2018
The purpose of this study was to investigate the synergistic effects of calcium ion-protein energy malnutrition (Ca2-PEM) and methanolic extract of Plumbago zeylanica (Pz) root on mitochondria permeability transition pore (MPTP). Twenty-four male Wistar rats were studied. The Wistar rats were divided into two groups (experimental and control) of 12 each. The experimental rats were fed with protein-deficient diet, and the control rats were fed with normal rat chow and water ad libitum for 42 days. To monitor MPTP induction and inhibition in both experimental and control Wistar rats, 3 mM Ca2, 1 mM Mg2, 120, 160, and 200 μg/ml of Pz extract were used. The rats were sacrificed, and mitochondria were isolated from the livers to monitor MPTP. Our study showed that Ca2 and Mg2 induced and inhibited MPTP, respectively. However, PEM drastically increased Ca2 and Mg2 MPTP induction and inhibition, respectively, when compared to control. At varying dose and timing, Pz extracts steadily induce MPTP in both experimental and control Wistar rats. Taken together, the results suggest that Ca2-PEM increased the MPTP induction, while PEM decreased the MPTP induction of Pz extract in dose- and time-dependent pattern when compared to the control that plausibly suggests that PEM may increase Ca2 induction of MPTP as well mitigate therapeutic effects of Pz extract in diseases related to mitochondria targeting.
10.18639/RABM.2018.04.643518
Diabetes
May 10, 2018
Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia, which induces oxidative stress and inflammation. The role of Phytol in oxidative stress and inflammation was investigated in diabetic rats. Fifteen Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n 5). Groups 1, 2, and 3 served as normal control, diabetic untreated, and diabetic treated with 250 mg/kg Phytol, respectively. Rats were treated for 28 days with Phytol, and then blood samples were collected under sodium thiopental (30 mg/kg i.p) anesthesia for assay. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were determined using commercially available Randox kits. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions in kidney samples were determined using immunostaining procedure. Statistical analysis was done using one-way analysis of variance and level of statistical significance taken at p 0.05. Results showed a significant increase (p 0.05) in CAT and GPx activities in diabetic treated with 250 mg/kg Phytol when compared with diabetic untreated with Phytol. SOD activity significantly decreased in diabetic untreated and diabetic treated with 250 mg/kg Phytol when compared with normal control. COX-2 was significantly expressed in diabetic untreated when compared with normal control and diabetic treated with 250 mg/kg Phytol. Oral administration of Phytol reduces oxidative stress damage and inflammation of kidney tissue caused by hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus.
10.18639/RABM.2018.04.565816
Original Research Article
Feb 27, 2018
Methotrexate (MTX), a chemotherapeutic agent, is used to treat various types of cancers. MTX was known for its toxic effects, particularly in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Consequently, the objective of this present research was to investigate the GI disorders during oxidative stress in rats subjected to oral dose of MTX (100 mg kg21). Thirty male Wistar rats were equally divided at random into three groups (10 animals in each group): the unexposed group and two groups treated with a single dose of MTX. Acute diarrhea was assessed in rats using the defecation and enteropooling methods. Electrolyte levels in intraluminal fluid were analyzed by flame photometry. Oxidative stress indicators and intracellular mediators were determined in mucosal intestine by colorimetric methods. The MTX treatment of rats caused critical changes in the gastrointestinal functions. Mainly, intensification of the liquid stools and intestinal fluid accumulation as well as perturbation in the electrolyte transport was observed. In addition, MTX has a prooxidant effect, which was indicated by an augmentation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 generation and a decrease of the enzymatic antioxidants such as SOD, CAT, and GPx. These effects were accompanied with hispathological injury and alteration of lipid metabolism and intracellular mediators such as free iron and calcium. In summary, we found a close association between the gastrointestinal disruptions and the oxidative stress intensity induced by MTX in rats.
10.18639/RABM.2018.04.458101
Original Research Article
Jan 15, 2018
To document the outcome of treatment in the first six months for open tibial shaft fractures managed with external fixators in resource-poor economy and the pattern of presentation of open tibial shaft fractures, a 12-month prospective observational study was conducted from January 2010 to December 2010. All the patients were recruited from the accident and emergency department of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. The demographic data of each patient, the type of injury, the mechanism of injury, and the outcomes were assessed. Moreover, 42 patients with open tibial shaft fracture were recruited for this study with forty (95.2%) patients successfully followed up for six months while two patients (4.8%) were lost to follow-up. Their ages ranged from 18 to 65 years with a mean age 6 standard deviation of 33.5 6 12.8 years. Majority of the patients (77.5%) were aged 20-50 years. There was a male to female ratio of 3:1. A total of 7 (17.5%) fractures healed after 20 weeks, Type IIIB fractures were 3 (7.5%), Type IIIA fractures were 4 (10%), but all Type II fractures had united between 12 and 15 weeks. The middle third fractures 9 (22.5%) had the highest number of fracture union within 16-20 weeks. The major cause of the injuries was from motorcycle accidents, which were 30 (75%), and others were from cars 7 (17.5%) and buses 3 (7.5%). This was largely due to the utilization of motorcycles as the major means of commercial transportation in the city until it was banned recently. However, they are still in use in the suburbs. The higher the Gustillo and Anderson grading of the open fracture of tibia, the more severe the wound and bone infection that occurred, and a significant interval between the injury time, wound debridement, and the time the external fixator was applied showed poor outcome for those who presented late (after two weeks of injury).
