Analgesic and anti—inflammatory activities of the ethanol extract of the leaves of Helianthus Annus in Wistar rats

ObjectiveTo investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the ethanol extract of leaves of Helianthus annus L. (H. annus) in acclimatized Wistar rats.MethodsIt was undertaken using the albumin induced paw edema model of inflammation as well as both the hotplate and tail immersion analgesic test methods. Doses of the extract tested in experimental rats were 0.5 g/kg, 2 g/kg and 4 g/kg while negative and positive control rats received distilled water and indomethacin respectively.ResultsIt was shown that treatment with the tested doses of the extract effectively inhibited paw edema induced by egg albumin. This effect was comparable if not better than the observations made in rats treated with 10 mg/kg of indomethacin orally. Treatment with the extract was also observed to have significantly increased the mean tolerance time of rats to thermal noxious stimuli compared to control animals that had distilled water and appeared to be more effective than 10 mg/kg of indomethacin treatment.ConclusionsThese observations confirmed the presence of a strong anti-inflammatory and anti-noiciceptive activity in the ethanol extract of the leaves of H. annus and therefore validated the folkloric use of the leaves of this plant in treatment of pro-inflammatory, post traumatic situations.     

Pattern and antibiogram of urinary tract infection at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

ObjectiveTo explore the prevalence, pathogenicity, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of urinary tract infections at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.MethodsSamples from 400 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of urinary tract infection including 250 non pregnant females and 150 males were used for this study. They were distributed into two groups: children aged 2 to 17 (Group A) and adults aged 18 to 75 (Group B). The standard wire loop and agar diffusion technique were employed for culture and susceptibility testing, respectively. Data obtained were analysed using SPSS, version 14.Results30.0% of Group A and 41.0% of Group B had significant bacteriuria with 66.7% and 79.3% as females, respectively. The commonest isolates cultured were Escherichia coli (32.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (17.2%), and Klebsiella spp. (16.4%). About 76.6% of isolates were sensitive to the fluorinated quinolones, 31.2% to the aminoglycosides, and 22.7% to the urinary antiseptic, nitrofurantoin. The isolates were non-sensitive to tetracycline (93.8%), cotrimoxazole (92.2%), and nalidixic acid (86.7%). Most isolates showed non-uniform sensitivity patterns to the cephaloporins (cefuroxime and ceftazidime). Pseudomonas spp. isolates were generally resistant to the fluorinated quinolones.ConclusionThough the fluorinated quinolones are still largely effective for empirical therapy in urinary tract infections, the importance of prior sensitivity testing in checking the emergence of bacterial antibiotic resistance can not be overemphasized.     

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in adults with metabolic syndrome

The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other non- communicable diseases continues to rise globally, and recent studies suggest that metabolic syndrome (MS) may add to this burden by contributing to the development of CKD. Given that reports on the prevalence of CKD in patients with MS in this environment are scanty, this study was undertaken with the sole aim of determining the prevalence of CKD in subjects with MS as defined by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the National Cholesterol Education Project Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III). A total of 240 consenting adults (18-70 years) attending the general out- patient clinic of the General Hospital Okrika for various ailments were studied. Subjects were screened for MS as per the above- mentioned criteria. Estimated GFR (eGFR) was determined with Modification of Diet for Renal Disease (MDRD) formula and CKD was defined as eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 . Data was analyzed using SPSS version 12.0 and Epi info version 4.06d; P <0.05 was considered as significant. A total of 88 males and 152 females were screened for MS by both criteria. Eighty- four (35.0%) of 240 subjects had MS as defined by NCEP ATP III, while 85 (35.4%) had MS as defined by the IDF. The subjects were predominantly females, and mean age was between 54.74 ± 15.30 and 55.60 ± 14.81 years. Four of the 84 (4.8%) subjects with MS by NCEP ATP III definition had CKD while three of the 85 (3.5%) subjects with MS by IDF definition had CKD. Among subjects without MS by either definition, the prevalence of CKD was four of 140 (2.9%). Although the prevalence of CKD was higher among subjects with MS by ATP III compared with those with MS as defined by IDF and subjects without MS, the differences were not statistically significant (X2 = 0.14; P = 0.710). A comparison of MS subjects without CKD and those with CKD did not show any significant difference in age, waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and lipid profile (P > 0.05). CKD was more common in subjects with MS compared with those without, although the difference was not statistically significant. The prevalence of CKD in subjects with MS in our study population did not differ significantly when the different MS definitions were employed.     

A comparative laboratory diagnosis of malaria: microscopy versus rapid diagnostic test kits

Objective

To compare the two methods of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and microscopy in the diagnosis of malaria.

Methods

RDTs and microscopy were carried out to diagnose malaria. Percentage malaria parasitaemia was calculated on thin films and all non-acute cases of plasmodiasis with less than 0.001% malaria parasitaemia were regarded as negative. Results were simply presented as percentage positive of the total number of patients under study. The results of RDTs were compared to those of microscopy while those of RDTs based on antigen were compared to those of RDTs based on antibody. Patients'' follow-up was made for all cases.

Results

All the 200 patients under present study tested positive to RDTs based on malaria antibodies (serum) method (100%). 128 out of 200 tested positive to RDTs based on malaria antigen (whole blood) method (64%), while 118 out of 200 patients under present study tested positive to visual microscopy of Lieshman and diluted Giemsa (59%). All patients that tested positive to microscopy also tested positive to RDTs based on antigen. All patients on the second day of follow-up were non-febrile and had antimalaria drugs.

Conclusions

We conclude based on the present study that the RDTs based on malaria antigen (whole blood) method is as specific as the traditional microscopy and even appears more sensitive than microscopy. The RDTs based on antibody (serum) method is unspecific thus it should not be encouraged. It is most likely that Africa being an endemic region, formation of certain levels of malaria antibody may not be uncommon. The present study also supports the opinion that a good number of febrile cases is not due to malaria. We support WHO''s report on cost effectiveness of RDTs but, recommend that only the antigen based method should possibly, be adopted in Africa and other malaria endemic regions of the world.     

Effects of ethanol extract of leaves of Helianthus annus on the fecundity of Wistar rats

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of ethanol extract of leaves of Helianthus annus (H. annus) on the fecundity of Wistar rats.MethodsForty (20 male and 20 female) Wistar rats, grouped into control, ethanol extract treated rats and untreated, were used for the study. Treated rats had 0.5 g/kg of ethanol extract orally for 2 weeks; control rats had 5% alcoholic water (solvent); and untreated rats had their normal feed and clean drinking water. Following treatment, the animals were sub-grouped into 5 mating groups to observe the coital frequency, pregnancy rate and average number of pups per group in pairs.ResultsThe results showed that coital frequency was unaffected by the extract treatment but pregnancy rate and number of pups per rat and per group were reduced significantly in groups II, III and IV compared to those of group I and V rats which were not treated with the ethanol extract of leaves of H. annus.ConclusionsThe histo-degenerative in the gonads reportedly induced by this ethanol extract in previous studies may be responsible for the reduced fecundity observed in treated adult rats.     

Anticonvulsant activity of the fractionated extract of Crinum jagus bulbs in experimental animals

ObjectiveTo investigate the anticonvulsant activity of the bulbs of Crinum jagus in experimental animals.MethodsThe uprooted bulbs were air dried for a week and ground into creamy-paste. 200g of paste was macerated each in 2 litres of water, ethanol and petroleum ether and filtered after 48 h. The obtained filtrates were each evaporated at the appropriate temperature to solid residue. The residues were further fractionated with successive changes of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol into a pooled filtrate which was further evaporated to dry solid brown-paste. Phytochemistry was carried out based on Treas and Evans method of 1987. The acute toxicity study (LD50) was carried based on Lorke's 1983 method. Convulsion was induced using maximum electric shock (MEST), pentylenetetrazole(PTZ), strychnine and Picrotoxin in the appropriate animal models. Seizures onset time and death time were used as successful induction of convulsion while prolongations of these features were taken as anticonvulsant activity. Results where possible, were statistically analyzed using SPSS-16.0 version.ResultsThe LD₅₀was got at 1118.003mg/kg (IP) in mice using Lorke's 1983 method. Fractionated extract of Crinum jagus exhibited dose dependent antiseizure against MEST induced seizure (P<0.001) and comparable to that of phenytoin, a standard anti generalized tonic-clonic seizure. There were also observable antiseizure activity of the fractionated extracts against PTZ, strychnine and Picrotoxin induced seizure and comparable to their standard corresponding antiseizures.ConclusionsWe conclude that the bulbs of Crinum jagus possess proven broad spectrum antiseizure and perhaps antiepileptogenic activity thus justifies its use in traditional medicine. Clinical trial in man is recommended.