Preterm Birth Among US and Foreign-Born Non-Hispanic Black Birthing Parents in Massachusetts: Variation by Nativity,Region, and Country of Origin

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Foreign-born non-Hispanic Black (NHB) birthing parents are less likely to have a preterm birth (PTB) than US-born NHBs. There is further variation by region and...     

Comparative study on the effects of aqueous extracts of viscum album (mistletoe) from three host plants on hematological parameters in albino rats

Background

The extract of the leaves of Viscum album (mistletoe) has been used for centuries in traditional medicine in many parts of the world. However, like many medicinal plants, the belief that things of natural origin are safe may not be entirely true. The blood is a good indicator of health and pathological mirror of the entire body.

Objective

Therefore, in this study, the acute effects of extracts of mistletoe, harvested from three hosts, on haematology indices of wistar albino rats was investigated.

Methods

Graded doses (400, 800, 1600 and 3200mg/kg body weight) of aqueous extracts of mistletoe from three different host plants, coffee (Coffee arabica), kola (Kola nitida), cocoa (Theobromae cacao), were administered orally to wistar albino rats for 14 days. Full haematological parameters were evaluated on whole blood collected from rats twenty four hours after the administration of the last dose.

Results

Mistletoe from kola caused a concentration dependent and statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in platelets count in rats. Administration of mistletoe extract from cocoa and coffee led to reduction in hemoglobin concentration. Reductions in packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) and increase in white blood cells (WBC) were also observed in rats administered all the extracts.

Conclusion

Increase in the WBC count observed in rats administered mistletoe suggests that mistletoe extract contains agents that could stimulate the production of leucocytes and could serve as immune booster. However, there is need to be cautious in administration at high doses to prevent the risk of anaemia.     

Effect of kolaviron,a biflavonoid complex from Garcinia kola seeds,on the antioxidant,hormonal and spermatogenic indices of diabetic male rats

The antihyperglycaemic effect of kolaviron (KV), a biflavonoid from Garcinia kola has been established in previous studies. In this study, we investigated the effect of KV (200 mg kg^?1) on the antioxidant, hormonal and spermatogenic indices of alloxan‐diabetic male rats, and metformin hydrochloride (MET) (30 mg kg^?1) served as standard drug. The results showed that KV and MET significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the fasting blood glucose of the diabetic rats. Also, untreated and MET‐treated diabetic groups had significantly (P < 0.05) lower body‐weight gain and relative weights of testes. In addition, epididymal sperm abnormalities were increased, whereas sperm count, motility, testicular protein and sialic acid were decreased in untreated diabetic group. Also, antioxidant parameters, reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione‐S‐transferase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in the testes with a concomitant increase in lipid peroxidation in untreated diabetic group. Furthermore, untreated diabetic group had significantly (P < 0.05) lower levels of testosterone, luteinising and follicle‐stimulating hormones relative to controls. Treatment with KV restored the relative weights of testes, activities of antioxidant enzymes, sperm and hormonal indices of the diabetic animals. This study demonstrated the role of KV to promote fertility in diabetic male rats by enhancing the hormonal and antioxidant status of the rats.     

Anthelmintic activities of chloroform and methanol extracts of Buchholzia coriacea Engler seed

The anthelmintic potentials of the chloroform and methanol extracts of Buchholzia coriacea Engler seed were investigated. In folklore medicine, B. coriacea (Capparidaceae) is believed to be useful in the treatment of various kinds of ailments and diseases. At doses of 10 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, the extracts were tested against Eudrilus eugeniae (earthworm) and Bunostomum phlebotomum (cattle hookworm). The extracts exhibited dose-dependent anthelmintic effects on the earthworms and hookworms. The methanol extract at 50 mg/kg was the most active extract against the helminths, and the activity of the methanol extract was not significantly different from that of piperazine hydrate (reference drug, 10 mg/kg) against the earthworms.     

Possible anti-atherogenic effect of kolaviron (a Garcinia kola seed extract) in hypercholesterolaemic rats

1. The hypolipidaemic effect of kolaviron, a mixture of Garcinia biflavonoid 1 (GB1), Garcinia biflavonoid 2 (GB2) and kolaflavanone, used in the treatment of various ailments in southern Nigeria, was investigated in rats. The ability of Questran (Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hounslow, UK), a hypolipidaemic therapeutic drug, to attenuate hypercholesterolaemia in rats was also examined. 2. In order to assess the hypolipidaemic effect of this extract in experimental animals, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), cholesterol, phospholipid, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were determined in the plasma and liver. 3. Cholesterol administered orally to rats at a dose of 30 mg/0.3 mL five times a week for 8 consecutive weeks resulted in a significant increase (P<0.001) in the relative weight of the heart of hypercholesterolaemic animals compared with control. However, cotreatment with kolaviron and Questran ameliorated the cholesterol-induced enlargement of the heart. Kolaviron (100 and 200 mg/kg) elicited 88.5 and 87.4% reductions, respectively, in plasma cholesterol levels of pretreated animals compared with the cholesterol-fed group. In addition, kolaviron produced a significant decrease (P<0.05) in post-mitochondrial fraction (PMF) cholesterol levels in treated animals compared with untreated hypercholesterolaemic animals. Similarly, Questran significantly decreased (P<0.05) the cholesterol-induced increase in plasma cholesterol levels compared with untreated hypercholesterolaemic animals. In addition, (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05) decreased plasma LDL-C levels by over 70% in treated animals compared with untreated hypercholesterolaemic animals. Similarly, kolaviron significantly decreased (P<0.05) PMF LDL-C levels by over 60% in treated animals compared with untreated hypercholesterolaemic animals. 4. The significantly (P<0.05) higher values of plasma and PMF triglycerides obtained in cholesterol-fed animals compared with control animals were unaltered following cotreatment with kolaviron and Questran. In the present study, there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in plasma formation of malondialdehyde in kolaviron- and Questran-treated animals compared with untreated hypercholesterolaemic animals. 5. The results of the present study demonstrate that kolaviron exerts a hypocholesterolaemic effect and reduces the relative weight of the heart in cholesterol-fed animals. This reduction and the favourable lipid profile indicate a possible anti-atherogenic property of the extract.     

Antidiabetic effect of kolaviron,a biflavonoid complex isolated from Garcinia kola seeds,in Wistar rats

Background

Hypoglycaemic effect of kolaviron (KV), (biflavonoid from Garcinia kola) in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats has been established.

Objectives

To evaluate the possible protective effects of KV on cardiac, renal and hepatic tissues of STZ-diabetic rats.

Methods

This study consists of four groups of 6 rats each. Groups one and two contained non-diabetic and untreated-diabetic rats, respectively. Groups three and four were made up of KV- and glibenclamide (GB) - treated diabetic rats, respectively.

Results

STZ-intoxication caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in the relative weight of liver in diabetic rats. STZ-diabetic rats had significant increase (p<0.05) in the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), á-amylase and HbA_1c. A marked and significant (p<0.05) increase in the levels of cardiac, renal and liver marker indices such as serum creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, urea and alanine aminotransferase were observed in untreated diabetic rats. Also, untreated diabetic rats had significantly (p<0.05) elevated urinary glucose and protein and, lowered creatinine clearance. In KV- and GB- treated groups, the levels of FBG, á-amylase and HbA_1c were significantly (p<0.05) reduced, while treatment with KV significantly (p<0.05) attenuated the cardiac, renal and liver marker indices.

Conclusion

KV offered significant antidiabetic and tissues protective effects in the rats.     

Recommendations and rationale for the treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is one of the most common serious infections of nonpregnant women of reproductive age. Management of PID is directed at containment of infection. Goals of therapy include the resolution of clinical symptoms and signs, the eradication of pathogens from the genital tract and the prevention of sequelae including infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain. The choice of an antibiotic regimen used to treat PID relies upon the appreciation of the polymicrobial etiology of this ascending infection including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium and other lower genital tract endogenous anaerobic and facultative bacteria, many of which are associated with bacterial vaginosis. Currently available evidence and the CDC treatment recommendations support the use of broad-spectrum antibiotic regimens that adequately cover the above named microorganisms. The outpatient treatment of mild-to-moderate PID should include tolerated antibiotic regimens consisting of an extended-spectrum cephalosporin in conjunction with either azithromycin or doxycycline. Clinically severe PID should prompt hospitalization and imaging to rule out a tubo-ovarian abscess. Parenteral broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy with activity against a polymicrobial flora, particularly Gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes, should be implemented.