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This study evaluated the safety of the ethnomedicinal plant, Combretum. dolichopetalum methanol extract (CDME) in Wistar rats using the sub-acute toxicity model. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each. Group A (control) received 5% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at 5 ml/kg, while groups B -D received CDME at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. All treatments were administered orally and once daily for 28 consecutive days. The haematological profile, liver and kidney function tests, lipid profile as well as antioxidant status were evaluated. The 50 mg/kg extract significantly (P<0.05) reduced the red blood cell count, packed cell volume, haemoglobin, but had no effect on leucocytic profile of rats. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in leucocyte profile between the control and groups given the extract. At 200 mg/kg, CDME significantly (P<0.05) increased total protein, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate transaminase (AST) compared to the control group. Triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) were significantly (P<0.05) increased by the extract at both 100 and 200 mg/kg while low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) was significantly (P<0.05) decreased by the extract at those doses compared to the control. Urea level was significantly higher (P<0.05) in rats dosed at 100mg/kg while creatinine levels was not increased by the extract. The antioxidants Superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase were significantly (P<0.05) higher in rats at all doses of the extract while serum catalase level was significantly lower (P<0.05). We conclude that Combretum dolichopetalum could cause a reduction in erythrocyte parameters and should be administered with caution in anaemic conditions as well as in liver diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood is an important medium for assessing the health status of individual animals: variations in blood parameters of animals are due to several factors such as altitude, feeding level, age, sex, breed, disease, seasonal variations, temperature and physiological status. This study was designed to evaluate the serum biochemical profile and haematology of sport horses of mixed breeds to determine the effect of season, age and sex on these parameters. A total of 40 horses were assayed thrice in the year of study (2020): early rainy season (March); peak of rainy season (July) and dry season (December). Blood was collected by jugular venipuncture and all the parameters were determined using standard procedures. Serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), globulin and creatinine were significantly (P<0.05) different across all the seasons assayed, with the rainy season having the highest levels. Total protein and albumin were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the rainy season while total bilirubin and urea were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the dry season. Packed cell volume (PCV), erythrocyte and total leukocyte counts were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the dry season than rainy season. Serum AST and total protein were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the adult horse, while AP was higher (P<0.05) in the young. PCV, RBC & TWBC were higher in the young horses. Season and age affect blood profile and serum biochemistry of mixed breed sport horses and should be considered when using these parameters for clinical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gnetum africanum (Welw) leaves have been in use as herbal remedy for treatment of pile, high blood pressure, diabetes and fungal infections especially in West Africa. There is a dearth of information on their effects on body weights, relative organ weights and haematology of rats following chronic administration. The leaves of G. africanum were collected and air dried, pulverized and soaked in 80 % methanol for 48 hours. The extract was concentrated in vacuo using a rotary evaporator and stored as G. africanum extract (GAE) at 4oC. Fifty-six rats randomly divided into four groups (n=fourteen) were used in this study. The rats were fed growers ration (Vital® Feed, Nigeria) into which the extract was incorporated at various doses for ninety days. Rats in group 1 received feed without GAE, while rats in groups 2, 3 and 4 were given feed with GAE at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, respectively. Four rats from each group were weighed and humanely sacrificed at days 30, 60 and 90 for measurement of liver, kidney, lungs and spleen weights. Treated rats had significantly (p < 0.05) higher body weights and lower relative organ weights than the control. Also, rats given 20 mg/kg (group 3) and 40 mg/kg (group 4) of extract in feed at days 60 and 90, had significantly (p < 0.05) higher red blood cell count than the control. There were no significant effects on the white blood cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Knowledge and attitudes concerning eye disorders are important socio-demographic parameters critical for eye care uptake and outcomes, especially in underserved populations. Objectives. To assess knowledge and attitudes concerning common eye disorders in a rural south-eastern Nigerian population. Methods. The study was a population-based survey of knowledge and attitudes concerning common eye diseases conducted in Abagana community in September 2011. Results. The participants comprised 263 males and 238 females. Their profile of good knowledge was eye infections: 38.9%; refractive error: 28.9%; cataracts: 18.0%; diabetic retinopathy: 8.0%; glaucoma: 5.8%; and overall good knowledge: 4.0%. Prevention and treatment of eye disorders were rated as first priorities over other major disabilities by 91.4% participants. Older age and formal education were the significant predictors of good knowledge. Conclusion. In Abagana, there is poor overall and disorder-specific knowledge of eye disorders. Socio-demographic factors are important determinants of knowledge. Community-based preventive eye health education is underscored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the frequency, demography, aetiology and mechanisms of ocular injuries associated with childhood traumatic cataract in Nigeria., Methods: A retrospective multicentre study conducted across ten child eye health tertiary facilities in Nigeria between January 2017 and December 2021. Clinic records of all children aged 0-17 years who had been diagnosed with cataract at the various participating centres were reviewed. Information collected include: biodata, mechanism of injury; laterality, place of injury; object responsible; person responsible; duration before presentation and surgical intervention., Results: A total of 636 out of 1656 children (38.4%) had traumatic cataracts during the study period. Their mean age was 109.4 ± 45.2 months with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. Most injuries were unilateral, two (0.3%) children had bilateral involvement. Only 78 (15.3%) children presented within 4 weeks of the injury. Closed globe injuries were responsible for the traumatic cataract in 475 (74.7%) children, while open globe injuries were more likely to present within 24 h (P < 0.001). The commonest objects of injury were cane, sticks, plant, wood and play materials. Self-inflicted injuries occurred in about 82 (13%) children while 407 (64.0%) were caused by close relatives and contacts. The location where trauma occurred was home in 375 (59.8%) and school in 107 (16.8%) children., Conclusion: This multicentre study demonstrates that more than one-third of all childhood cataracts in Nigeria are trauma-related and majority are due to closed globe injuries. Public health interventions to reduce the occurrence of ocular trauma and to encourage early presentation after trauma are advocated., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Royal College of Ophthalmologists.)

Purpose: To determine the prevalence refractive errors and causes of visual impairment in school children in the south-eastern region of Nigeria., Methods: School-based cross-sectional samples of children 5 to 15 of age in both urban and rural areas were profiled through cluster sampling. The main outcome measures were presenting, uncorrected, and best-corrected visual acuity using the Refractive Error in School-age Children (RESC) protocol., Results: A total of 5723 children were examined during the study period comprising 2686 (46.9%) males and 3037 (53.1%) females; (M:F ratio 0.9:1) and aged 10.49±2.74SD of mean (range, 5 to 15 years). The age group 12 to <13 accounted for the highest 776 (13.6%) number of the study participants. The uncorrected visual acuity (VA) of <20/40 (6/12) was seen in 188 (3.4%) of the study participants while the presenting and best-corrected visual acuity of <20/40 (6/12) were noted in 182 (3.4%) children and 14 (0.2%) children, respectively. Refractive error was the principal cause of visual impairment., Conclusion: Prevalence of refractive error is low. Myopia is the principal cause of refractive error occurring more in females and in urban schools. The main cause of visual impairment is refractive error, and most children that need spectacle correction did not have them. Program to identify children with refractive error in addition to providing free or affordable optical services remains the key to preventing visual impairment from refractive error particularly in resource-poor settings., Competing Interests: This research was funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) an initiative of the Ministry of Education of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The authors reported no other potential conflicts of interest for this work., (© 2021 Maduka-Okafor et al.)

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the course and prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) across different trimesters among pregnant women in Enugu, South East, Nigeria., Methods: A prospective longitudinal study design was used. Pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, were consecutively recruited in their second trimester for the study. DED was assessed subjectively using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and objectively using Tear Break-up Time (TBUT) and Schirmer's test. These tests were performed during the second and third trimesters and six weeks post-partum. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means of the different parameters., Results: A total of 134 pregnant women participated in the study. The mean age of the women was 30.8 (±5.5) years. There were significant decreases (p < 0.05) in TBUT and Schirmer's values in the third trimester compared to the second trimester and the post-partum period. The highest score on the OSDI (18.6 ± 6.8) was obtained in the third trimester. The presence of DED was determined using cut-offs for TBUT <10 s or Schirmer's test <10 mm and the OSDI ≥13. Both symptoms of OSDI and prevalence of DED increased significantly (p < 0.05) from the second to the third trimester but returned to their lowest values 6 weeks post-partum., Conclusion: The prevalence of DED was highest in the third trimester and lowest 6 weeks post-partum., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Inhibition of the sodium-glucose co-transporter type 2 (SGLT2) has received growing acceptance as a novel, safe and effective means to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Inhibition of SGLT2 lowers the renal glucose threshold and reduces plasma glucose by promoting glucose excretion in urine. Both animal studies and clinical trials in man suggest that SGLT2 inhibition has the potential to improve pancreatic β-cell function by reducing glucose toxicity. However, there is limited data exploring how reducing glucotoxicity via SGLT2 inhibition affects rates of β-cell proliferation and death throughout life in the context of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. SGLT2 -/- mice were backcrossed to the db/db strain to produce littermate control db/db-SGLT2 +/+ and experimental db/db-SGLT2 -/- mice. Mice were euthanized at 5, 12 and 20 weeks of age to collect plasma for glucose, insulin, lipid and cytokine measures, and pancreata for histological analysis including determination of β-cell mass and rates of proliferation and death. SGLT2 deletion in db/db mice reduced plasma glucose as early as 5 weeks of age and continued throughout life without changes in plasma lipids or cytokines. Reduced plasma glucose levels occurred in parallel with an increase in the relative β-cell volume and reduced frequency of β-cell death, and no apparent change in rates of β-cell proliferation. These data add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating that improved glycemic control achieved through SGLT2 inhibition can preserve β-cell function and endogenous insulin secretion by reducing glucose toxicity and rates of β-cell death.

Objective: To evaluate the antidiarrhoeal property of methanol extract of the leaves of Rauwolfia serpentina (R. serpentina) in experimental diarrhoea induced by castor oil in mice., Methods: Doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg R. serpentina leaf methanol extracts were administered to castor oil induced diarrhoea mice to determine its antidiarrhoeal activity., Results: All doses of the extract and the reference drug atropine sulphate (3 mg/kg, i.p.) produced a dose-dependent reduction in intestinal weight and fluid volume. The extracts also significantly reduced the intestinal transit in charcoal meal test when compared to diphenoxylate Hcl (5 mg/kg, p.o.)., Conclusions: The results show that the extract of R. serpentina leaves has a significant antidiarrhoeal activity and supports its traditional uses in herbal medicine.