The prevalence of obesity, cardiovascular diseases and pulmonary dysfunction is increasing the world over. Some reports have demonstrated the interplay between these three factors. This study therefore assessed the relationship between body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP) and some respiratory indices among the younger population of a Nigerian University community. A total of 382 male students of the University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria were assessed in this study. Body weight, height, BMI, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), rate of respiration (RR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were assessed using standard methods. Three hundred and fifty students met the inclusion criteria. Individuals aged 26 - 30 years had significantly higher (p<0.05) BMI, compared with the group aged 18 - 21 years. Respiratory rate was significantly lower (p<0.01) in the group aged 22 - 25 years, compared with the group aged 18 - 21 years. Diastolic pressure was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the group aged 26 - 30 years, compared with those aged 18 - 21 years. Body mass index had a significant positive correlation with PEFR (p<0.001), SBP (p<0.001), MAP (p<0.001) and age (p<0.01), but correlated negatively with respiratory rate (p<0.05). There was no incident of obesity within the population studied, while MAP increased with increasing age; a physiological variation. The results obtained from our study have also demonstrated the fact that there exists a relationship between BMI, cardiovascular and respiratory indices.
The effects of cataflam, aspirin and the ethanolic extract of Cannabis sativa on nociception was studied in albino mice of both sexes.Forty (40) albino mice were divided into four (4) groups of ten ( 10) each.The control group was given normal saline (p.o).Test group one (1) was given (p.o) cataflam at a dose of 1.5mg/kg.Test group two (2) was given (p.o) aspirin at a dose of 13.5mg/kg.Test group three ( 3) was given the ethanolic extract of Cannabis sativa at a dose of 10mg/kg.All four (4) groups were given access to normal mice chow and water ad libitum.The hot plate test was used to assess the effects of the test substances on sensitivity to acute thermal pain while the formalin test was used to assess the sensitivity to persistent pain due to peripheral tissue injury and inflammation.The result shows that Cannabis, Cataflam and Aspirin all reduce sensitivity to pain.This is indicated by the reduction in frequency and duration of hind paw licking in both phases of the formalin test (p<0.05).Cataflam and Cannabis may not have any effect on sensitivity to acute thermal pain.There was no significant difference in the latency of jump in the groups treated with Cataflam and Cannabis during the hot plate test compared to control (p<0.05).But they all reduce sensitivity to persistent inflammatory pain.
The effect of oral administration of ethanolic extract of Dennettia tripetala fruits on haematological parameters in albino Wistar rats was investigated. Lethality studies revealed that the extract had an LD50 value of 251.19mg/kg mice intraperitoneal. Fifteen (15) male albino wistar rats weighing between 150 – 200g were used for the study and randomly assigned into three study groups of five animals each. The group 1 control received via oral route a placebo (4ml of normal saline),while test groups 2 and 3 received 85mg/kg body weight and 170mg/kg body weight of D. tripetala extract in 2.0ml and 4.0ml of the vehicle (normal saline) via oral route respectively. The administrationof ethanolic extract of D. tripetala for 14 days produced a significant (P
Background: Aloe vera is a succulent perennial plant that belongs to the liliaceae family and to a large family called xeroids. It is a magical plant with vast healing properties, but there is paucity in scientific literature on it effects on haematological parameters. The effect of persistent consumption of crude aqueous extract of Aloe vera on haematological indices of albino Wistar rats was investigated in this study.Methods: Twenty four rats were randomly assigned into three groups of eight rats each. Group 1 (control) received 0.26mL of normal saline o.p. Group 2 received 0.26mL of aloe vera extract for 2 weeks while group 3 received 0.26mL of aloe vera extract for 4 weeks p.o. once daily. All animals received drinking water and normal rat chow ad libitum.Results: Results revealed that the control group had a mean PCV of 37.50 ±0.98%; Hb, 11.40 ±0.39g/dL; RBC, 6.91 ±0.35 x106 cells/µL; WBC, 4.36 ±0.54 x103 cells/µL and platelet count, 670.13 ±41.01 x103 cells/µL. These blood parameters were not significantly different in group 2 animals compared with controls, but were significantly higher in group 3 rats compared with controls. Differential WBC counts were as follows for control values: neutrophils, 23.25 ±2.39%; lymphocytes, 72.88 ± 2.55%; monocytes, 0.13 ±0.13%; eosinophils, 3.00 ±0.71% and basophils, 0.13 ±0.12%. Lymphocytes were significantly (p<0.05) higher in group 3 compared with control group.Conclusion: Aloe vera extract contains phytochemicals that boost blood parameters and immunity on prolong consumption. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i2.11106Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(2) 2015 58-61
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.
The effect of P-alaxin on some neurobehavioural parameters was studied in Swiss white mice. 21 mice were randomly assigned to three groups (n=7) namely; control group, clinical dose group and high dose group. Animals in control group received normal rat chow and standard feed ad libitum. Animals in the clinical dose group were given P-alaxin at a dose of 0.01mg/kg body weight while animals in the high dose group were given P-alaxin at a dose of 0.02mg/kg body weight. The results obtained showed that, in the open field maze test, the clinical dose and high dose groups showed significant increase (P<0.05) in stretch attend posture compared to control. Conversely, there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in line crossings of high and clinical dose groups when compared to control. In the light/dark transition box test, the clinical and high dose groups showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the frequency of line crossings when compared to control. In the morris water maze test, the high and clinical dose groups showed a significant inncrease in frequency of swimming latency when compared to control group. From the total analysis obtained, P-alaxin decreases locomotion and exploratory activities, it impairs motivation and the tendency to investigate the environment as well as reduction in visuospartial learning and memory.
Abstract Background Gongronema latifolium Benth. (family Apocynaceae ) leaves ( GL ) has interesting medicinal properties. The effects of extracts from G. latifolium on blood pressure (BP) and the possible mechanisms of action were also investigated. Methods The ultrahigh resolution liquid chromatography orbitrap MS analysis was used to identify the phytochemicals present. Normotensive Wistar rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone (40 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, and the jugular vein was cannulated for infusion of drugs while the carotid artery was cannulated for direct BP measurement. GL extract (5–20 mg) alone or with nifedipine (10 mg/kg), atropine (2 mg/kg), L-NAME (5 mg/kg), methyl blue (3 mg/kg) and propranolol (1 mg/kg) were administered intravenously to Wistar rats and direct BP measurements were carried out. Results Systolic and diastolic BP levels (128/90 mm Hg; MAP 103 ± 3 mm Hg) and heart rates were all significantly (p < 0.01) decreased after GL administration. Raised mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate by atropine, L-NAME and methyl blue were significantly (p < 0.01) reduced after GL administration, while propranolol significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited hypotension caused by GL. Infusion of GL reduced MAP (95 ± 3 mm Hg) comparable with nifedipine (93 ± 2 mm Hg), a calcium channel blocker. The phytochemicals identified were 34 compounds, including oleanolic acid derivatives, flavonoids, antioxidant fatty acids, 2 coumarins and 2 iridoids. Conclusions These results suggest that G. latifolium has hypotensive properties mediated by the synergistic activity of the compounds, probably via the β-adrenergic blockade mechanism.
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