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This article explores the challenges faced by international mental health and learning disability student nurses studying in the UK and provides guidelines to address some of the issues raised. The definition of an international student is broadened to include culturally and linguistically diverse student nurses who encounter similar dynamics as traditional international students. The article highlights challenges faced by culturally and linguistically diverse students in university and practice settings, such as language proficiency, cultural barriers, limited learning opportunities and inadequate support. The article proposes practical interventions and pedagogical innovations to support culturally and linguistically diverse students in their nursing studies, aiming to enhance their academic success and transition into the nursing workforce.

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted by the sand fly. It is caused by over 20 different species of Leishmaniaand has affected over 14 million people worldwide. One of the main forms of control of leishmaniasis is chemotherapy, but this is limited by the high cost and/or toxicity of available drugs. We previously found three novel compounds with an iridoid tetracyclic skeleton to have activity against trypanosome parasites. In this study, we determined the activity of the three anti-trypanosome compounds against Leishmaniausing field strain, 010, and the lab strain Leishmania hertigi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the compounds against 010 was determined by microscopy while the IC50of compounds against L. hertigiwas determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting with Guava viacount analysis. We found two of the three compounds, molucidinand ML-F52, to have anti-Leishmaniaactivity against both strains. The fluor-microscope observation with DAPI stain revealed that both Molucidin and ML-F52 induced abnormal parasites with two sets of nucleus and kinetoplast in a cell, suggesting that compounds might inhibit cytokinesis in Leishmaniaparasites. Molucidin and ML-F52 might be good lead compounds for the development of new anti-Leishmaniachemotherapy.

ABSTRACTTrypanosoma bruceiparasites are kinetoplastid protozoa that devastate the health and economic well-being of millions of people in Africa through the disease human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). New chemotherapy has been eagerly awaited due to severe side effects and the drug resistance issues plaguing current drugs. Recently, there has been an emphasis on the use of medicinal plants worldwide. Morinda lucidaBenth. is a popular medicinal plant widely distributed in Africa, and several research groups have reported on the antiprotozoal activities of this plant. In this study, we identified three novel tetracyclic iridoids, molucidin, ML-2-3, and ML-F52, from the CHCl3fraction of M. lucidaleaves, which possess activity against the GUTat 3.1 strain of T. brucei brucei. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of molucidin, ML-2-3, and ML-F52 were 1.27 μM, 3.75 μM, and 0.43 μM, respectively. ML-2-3 and ML-F52 suppressed the expression of paraflagellum rod protein subunit 2, PFR-2, and caused cell cycle alteration, which preceded apoptosis induction in the bloodstream form of Trypanosomaparasites. Novel tetracyclic iridoids may be promising lead compounds for the development of new chemotherapies for African trypanosomal infections in humans and animals.

The concentration of seven heavy metals in water samples was analyzed along the southwest coast of Ghana in the wet and dry seasons using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Some physicochemical properties of the water samples were also determined to assess the quality of the water. The ranges of metal concentration in water in the wet season were; As (1.23–7.84 µg/L), Cu (4.10–24.09 µg/L), Pb (4.08–57.98 µg/L), Se (BDL-0.38 µg/L), Zn (2.86–17.75 µg/L) and Hg (0.023–0.068 µg/L), whereas the ranges of metal concentration in the dry season were; As (2.30–5.78 µg/L), Pb (25.47–70.73 µg/L), Se (0.081–0.158 µg/L), Zn (0.79–22.80 µg/L) and Hg (0.004–0.047 µg/L). The results of physicochemical properties of water in the wet season were pH (6.83 to 7.52), EC (291.15–780.64 µS/cm), TDS (195.07–523.02 mg/L), DO (2.98–4.39 mg/L), BOD (3.33 to 6.84 mg/L), salinity (0.01 to 0.30 ppt) and temperature (27.06–30.94 °C), whereas the dry season recorded the ranges of pH (6.84–6.95), EC (516.83 to 660.67 µS/cm), TDS (307.07–442.65 mg/L), DO (1.71–3.04 mg/L), BOD (4.25–13.38 mg/L), salinity (0.22–0.28ppt) and temperature (28.46–30.44 °C). The results showed that the concentration of heavy metals in water was below the WHO standard except Pb which exceeded the limit. The mean heavy metal pollution index (HPI) were 130 and 143 for wet and dry seasons, respectively, indicating that the water HPI was above the critical limit (HPI > 100), hence unfit for drinking. All the physicochemical properties analyzed were within the WHO permissible limits except BOD.

There are numerous herbal products on the Ghanaian market that are purported to cure various ailments, including cancer. However, scientific investigations on efficacy and toxicity of most of these products are not done. The aim of the study was to assess the anticancer potentials of herbal products on the Ghanaian market. Antiproliferative effects of Kantinka BA (K-BA), Kantinka Herbaltics (K-HER), Centre of Awareness (COA), a stomach (STO) and multicancer (MUT) product were evaluated in vitro using liver (Hep G2), breast (MCF-7), prostate (PC-3 and LNCaP), and blood (Jurkat) cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity of the medicinal products was assessed using tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay, and total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the products were determined using Folin-Ciocalteau and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, respectively. Phytochemical screening resulted in the detection of terpenoids and flavonoids in most of the products, and alkaloids were detected in only MUT. Tannins were absent from all the products. The highest and lowest concentrations of phenolics were recorded for MUT and K-BA, respectively. The highest and lowest antioxidant activities were measured for MUT and K-HER, respectively. Only 2 products (STO and MUT) were cytotoxic to Hep G2 cells; with MUT being the only product that was cytotoxic to MCF-7 cells. All but K-BA were cytotoxic to PC-3 cells, while all products except K-HER were cytotoxic to LNCaP and Jurkat cells. The study thus confirms that the herbal products have selective cytotoxic activities against the tested cancer cell lines. However, comprehensive toxicity studies must be conducted to establish their safety.

Drug interactions are key reasons for adverse drug reactions and attrition from market. Major infectious diseases causing morbidity/mortality in Ghana are malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. In this study, plant medicines commonly used to treat/manage these diseases in Ghana were investigated for their potential to modulate rat cytochrome P450 enzyme activities. Fluorescence and high-performance liquid chromatography–based assays were used to assess effects of antimalarial plant medicines, Fever (FEV), Mal-TF (MAL), and Kantinka terric (KT); anti-TB medicines, Chestico (CHES), CA + ST Pains + HWNT (TF), and Kantinka herbatic (KHB); and anti-HIV/AIDS medicines, Wabco (WAB), AD + T/AD (LIV) and Kantinka BA (KBA) on rat liver microsomal cytochrome P450 enzyme activities. Effects of medicines on rat biochemical and hematological parameters were also assessed. Generally, the medicines altered microsomal CYP1A1/1A2, CYP2B1/2B2, CYP2C9, and CYP2D6 activities. Only KBA elicited an increase (80%) in CYP1A1/1A2 activity. FEV, MAL, CHES, WAB, and LIV strongly inhibited the enzyme activity. All the medicines significantly inhibited CYP2C9 (24%-80%) activity. CYP2D6 activity increased after treatment with MAL, KBA, LIV, and TF. Also, MAL, WAB, LIV, KHB, and CHES increased CYP2B1/2B2 activity, while KT decrease the activity. Generally, the medicines altered liver function in the rats. Cholesterol levels declined after KBA treatment only. White and red blood cell counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly reduced in KT- and KBA-treated rats. Our results suggest that use of the medicines could have implications for drug interactions and safety, particularly if the medicines are administered over prolonged periods. Further investigations are imperative to establish clinical relevance of these results.

Mixed-ligand palladium(II) chloride complexes bearing the nucleobases, adenine (Ad), cytosine (Cyt), and guanine (Gua), have been synthesized and characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometric methods, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductivity, elemental analysis, FTIR, and 1H-NMR. The complexes were found to have the composition cis-[PdCl2(Gua)(Cyt)], cis-[PdCl2(Ad)(Cyt)], and cis-[PdCl2(Ad)(Gua)]. A four-coordinated square-planar geometry is proposed for these Pd(II) complexes based on magnetic evidence and electronic spectra. The complexes as well as the free nucleobase ligands were tested for their in vitro cytotoxicity on human promyelocytic leukemia (HL60) and human histiocytic leukemia (U937) cell lines. cis-[PdCl2(Ad)(Gua)] showed IC50 values of 11.29?±?2.91 and 8.31?±?1.44?µM against HL60 and U937, respectively, which was higher than that of the positive control (curcumin) against U937. The complexes also showed significant antioxidant activity when tested against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazylradical (DPPH).