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Background: Cosmetics are ornamental products used in the improvement of the physical outlook of either the face or skin. These may be synthetic or natural depending on the source of production. Herbal cosmetics have gained prominence in our daily lives due to the belief that they are natural. Evidence has shown that they contain heavy metals which may alter biochemical parameters in the cause of usage. This study aims to evaluate the effects of heavy metals on the serum lipid profile and cardiovascular risk indices of rabbits. Materials and Methods: Three herbal oil namely All things natural (Emi herbal oil), Kakiva (Kakiva herbal oil), and Amal (botanical herbal oil) as well as forty–eight rabbits were purchased from a market in an animal house in Port Harcourt respectively. The rabbits were exposed to the oil for 30, 60, and 90 days and sacrificed for blood samples. The lipid profile and cardiovascular risk indices were evaluated using standard methods. Data were analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) to compare means. Results: There were no significant differences in the lipid profile and cardiovascular risk indices in 30 days. However, there was significantly higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein but lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after exposure in 60 days and 90 days. Conclusion: It is, therefore, pertinent to conclude that herbal cosmetics contain heavy metals which may alter the lipid profile and expose users to cardiovascular risk.

Diabetes Mellitus is a disease of public health concern which is caused by pancreatic defect in insulin secretion or failure of the receptor cells to effectively utilize secreted insulin. Diabetes account for 2-3% death in the poorest countries hence the need for alternative control measure. This stud evaluated the hypoglycemic and hepatorenal effect of Ocimium gratissimium and glibenclamide in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Twenty- four rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 4 animals in each group (1,2,3,4,5 & 6), groups 2,3,4,5 & 6 were induced diabetes intraperitoneally with 150 mg\kg alloxan (Sigma Ltd), diabetes was confirmed by fasting blood glucose of >10.0mmol/L. Groups 3,4,5 & 6 were subsequently treated with 400 mg/kg of extract, 5mg glibenclamide, 800 mg/kg of extract, 400 mg/kg extract combined with 5mg glibenclamide respectively. Blood glucose, hepatic function variables (Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase(ALT), Total bilirubin (TB) and renal parameters Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Urea were analyzed. The result shows an increase in glucose, hepatic and renal parameters in diabetic induced groups which was significantly reduced in a dose dependent manner in the diabetic treated groups, the high dose of the extract (800mg/kg) was more effective in blood glucose reduction than the standard antidiabetic drug, (5mg glibenclamide). However, 5mg glibenclamide was found to be more effective in blood glucose reduction than the low dose (400mg/kg) extract, the combination of 5mg glibenclamide and 400mg/kg was found to be more effective in blood glucose reduction than the low dose extract. A significant increase was observed in the Total bilirubin and urea parameters of the high dose (800mg/kg) of the extract treated groups and in the combined group (400 mg/kg+5 mg glibenclamide). When compared to the low dose extract group(400mg/kg). Low dose ocimium gratissimium potentiates 5mg glibenclamide in blood glucose reduction. Ocimium gratissimium and glibenclamide decreased blood glucose and ameliorates alloxan induced hepatic and renal damage. The use of the high dose of the extract and the use of the combination of the drug (5mg glibenclamide) and the low dose of the extract in diabetes management may be detrimental to the liver and kidney according to this study.

Paracetamol, a widely available analgesic and antipyretic drug has been reported to cause toxicity when taken in overdose. This study investigated the protective effects of almond seeds and vitamin E on liver and kidney of rats exposed to paracetamol toxicity. Fifty- one (51) male albino rats grouped into nine (9) groups (A-I) were used for this study. Groups A, B and C served as normal control, post-treatment control and pre-treatment control respectively. Groups D, E and F are the post-treatment test groups while groups G, H and I are the pre-treatment test groups. The various test groups in both the post-treatment and the pre-treatment groups were given almond seeds, vitamin E and combined treatment by oral gavage for 14 days. Three kilogram (3g/kg) body weight (b.w) of paracetamol were used to induce hepatorenal toxicity in the paracetamol control and test groups of the post-treatment groups on day 1 before commencement of treatment while paracetamol control and test groups of the pre-treatment groups were induced on day 14 after treatment. The animals were sacrificed on day 15. Renal and liver indices investigated were Laboratory (Urea and Creatinine) and (AST, ALT and ALP). The result showed that oral administration of 3g/kg b.w paracetamol caused a significant increase in renal indices and liver enzymes in rats. Post-treatment result showed that almond group (group D) significantly reduced LDL and increased SOD level. Vitamin E (group E) showed no significant difference in all parameters. The combined treatment (group F) significantly reduced ALT levels. Pre-treatment results revealed that almond (group F) significantly reduced Ureaand ALP. Vitamin E (group H) significantly reduced Urea, Creatinine, AST, ALT and ALP. Combined treatment (group I) significantly reduced Urea, Creatinine, AST, ALT and ALP. Hence from the results, it is concluded that pre-treatment with almond, vitamin E and their combination have potentials in preventing hepaticand nephrotoxic damage induced by paracetamol overdose.

The effect of intraperitonal exposure of dichlorvos an organophosphate (OP) pesticide, on haematology parameters and liver pathology of Wister rats was investigated. Thirty male albino rats grouped into six (6) of five rats each were injected with 0, 3.7, 7.4, 11.1, 14.8 and 18.5mg/kg of dichlorvos (DDVP) (1 ml/kg) respectively. The haematological parameters measured were red blood cells, haemoglobin; packed cell volume, total white blood cells count and platelet levels. Histological examination of liver tissue was investigated as well. The result of the haematological parameters of the dichlorvos treated rats showed a significant decrease (p

Whole blood or any of its components is stored for the purpose of future transfusion. To ensure therapeutic relevance of the product, strict adherence to instructions and procedures on the operation of a blood bank is crucial. Storage outside the stipulated temperatures could lead to biochemical changes that may reduce the therapeutic value. This study aims at evaluating the in vitro effect of storage on selected biochemical parameters (Na + , K + , Cl - , HCO3 - , Total protein, Albumin, Ca 2+ , pH, Glucose and Hemoglobin concentration) in citrate phosphate dextrose adenine (CPDA-1) whole blood stored in a Standard Blood Bank (SBB) and compare values with those stored in a Traditional Refrigerator (TR). A total of 37 apparently healthy volunteer donor subjects were used for the study. Twenty donors donated 450mL of whole blood each into CPDA-1 blood bags and were stored in a standard blood bank, while 17 units were collected from 17 donors into the same type of anticoagulant/preservatives but instead stored in a traditional refrigerator. Both refrigerators and standard blood bank were allowed the same relatively stable power supply for 35 days. Five milliliters of blood was taken at intervals of 7 days (1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35) from each of the bags for both SBB and TR methods of refrigeration and analyzed for ten parameters. It was observed that for both SBB and TR, K + levels increased from the 1 st to the 35 th day. K + levels for TR were significantly higher than those of SBB for days 7 (F=17.256, p= 0.000), 14 (F= 10.358, p= 0.000), 21 (F= 14.381, p= 0.000), 28 (F= 4.810, p= 0.000) and 35 (F=0.499, p=0.000). This statistically shows that the rise in K + level was more in TR refrigeration. Plasma Na + levels generally decreased for both groups. Comparison showed that Na + values for SBB were significantly higher than those of TR refrigeration for Days 7 (F= 1.684, p= 0.027) and 14 (F= 1.623, p= 0.009). Bicarbonate, albumin, pH, chloride and glucose levels for both groups were observed to decrease with storage time. Significant decreases were observed for Cl - and HCO3 - for Day 7 (F= 17.019, p= 0.000 and F= 0.404, p= 0.035 respectively), Cl - only for Day 14 and 21 (F= 3.253, p= 0.000 and F= 2.112, p= 0.000 respectively), albumin and glucose for Day 35 (F= 2.541, p= 0.036 and F= 1.272, p= 0.039 respectively) when mean values for SBB and TR were compared. Other parameters for the different days were not significant. Mean total protein levels for SBB and TR were significant for Days 7 (F= 13.136, p= 0.011); 14 (F= 9.842, p= 0.011); 21 (F= 6.344, p= 0.015) and 28 (F= 8.137, p= 0.035), while no significant difference was observed on the last day. The results show that there were significant changes in the levels of almost all ten parameters at different weeks of storage and the changes were more in the units stored in the traditional refrigerator and this could pose a very high health risk to the recipient on transfusion.

Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem; it is synchronized with the development of many complications of which cardiovascular disease is the most prevalent and detrimental. This study aimed at comparing the strength of various cardiovascular risk indices among diabetes type 2 patients. The risk indices evaluated were: Apoprotein A1, Apoprotein B1, lipoprotein (a), total cholesterol, (TCHOL), Triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (HDL), TC/HDL, pentad and tetrad. Two hundred and four (204) subjects were studied comprising of 152 diabetes subjects and 52 non-diabetics as control. The result shows significantly higher values in the mean blood pressure of diabetic subjects when compared with the control at (p < 0.05. Mean HbA1C and total cholesterol values for diabetes subjects were significantly higher when compared with the control. However, the HDL-cholesterol of the diabetes subjects was significantly lower when compared to the control subjects. There was no significant difference in triglyceride level of both groups. The mean values of Apo A, Apo B and lipoprotein a, were higher in diabetic subjects compared to the control subjects at (p < 0.05). Comparison of the liporprotein induces in terms of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, Lpa had a sensitivity of 97.3%, specificity of 100% and accuracy of 95.7%, next was pentad with sensitivity of 91.45%, specificity of 100% and accuracy of 95.73%. Tetrad had a sensitivity of 81.05%, specificity of 100% and accuracy of 90.5%, the TC/HDL ratio and the least accuracy of 75.76%. Based on the overall accuracy Lpa tend to display highest accuracy followed by PENTAD and TETARD.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by hyperglycaemia and glycosuria due to defects in insulin secretion from the Islets of Langerhans and associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The imperativeness to assess effectiveness of various cardiovascular risk tools is critical with increasing rate of people with diabetes type 2. Study was aimed at the assessment and evaluation of the diagnostic relevance of homocysteine, Cystatin C, cardiovascular risk indices in the risk profile of cardiovascular diseases in Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. A total of 165 patients were involved in the study, of which 100 were diabetic (test) and 65 non-diabetics (control). The diabetic subjects were those whose glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) levels were ≥ 6.5%. HbA1C was estimated quantitatively by immunochemical method, Homocysteine (Hcy), Cystatin C, Lipoprotein (a) (Lp (a) were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method; Glucose oxidase method was used for the determination of fasting plasma glucose (FBS). The results showed elevated serum homocysteine (Hcy), Lp (a) among the diabetics as compared to the non-diabetic subjects (p

This study evaluated the effect of methanolic, ethanolic, aqueous and crude extracts of Gongronema latifolium leaves on some nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic parameters in streptozocin induced diabetic rats. Thirty albino rats divided into six experimental groups were used. Two groups served as control were fed normal saline and glibenclamide. Four groups were fed methanolic, ethanolic, crude and aqueous extracts of Gongronema latifolium leaves respectively. Treatment lasted four 14 days after which the rats were sacrificed and blood collected for biochemical evaluation. The results showed that treatment with all the various extracts of Gongronema latifolium leave did not cause any significant increase in the nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic parameters. Treatment with methanolic extract caused a significant decrease in the serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase activity (P