Alterations in plasma and erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition following exposure to toxic copper level affect membrane deformability and fluidity in female wistar rats.

Background: Deformability and fluidity function of the red blood cell membrane are properties defined by the lipid composition. Toxic copper level induces membrane lipid peroxidation which could cause membrane instability. This study therefore investigated the effect of exposure to toxic copper level for 30 days on red blood cell membrane deformability and fluidity in female Wistar rats.

Oral iron supplementation ameliorated alterations in iron uptake and utilization in copper-toxic female Wistar rats.

Objective: Women are more susceptible to both iron deficiency and copper toxicity due to monthly flow and estrogen action, respectively. Oral iron is beneficial for menstruating women and enhances erythropoiesis, but both deficiency and excess of copper impact iron absorption and mobilization. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of mitigating copper toxicity in female Wistar rats while supplementing with iron.

Comparative study of piroxicam and nitroglycerin on prostaglandin-modulated blood and electrolyte indices during di-estrous in female Wistar Rats.

Objective: Endogenous prostaglandins are involved in hemostasis, renal excretion of electrolytes, and implicated in dysmenorrhea. Piroxicam and Nitroglycerin are common drugs used in treating dysmenorrhea by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase pathway involved in prostaglandin production. However, studies comparing the effects of these drugs on prostaglandin-modulated hemostasis and renal function are lacking.

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation during pregnancy influences offspring immune and inflammatory responses in Wistar-strain rats.

Objective: During pregnancy, maternal exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has been linked to altered offspring immune and health status. This study was therefore designed to investigate some markers of immune response in the offspring of pregnant Wistar rats exposed to UVR at various points of gestation.

Methods: Thirty pregnant rats were divided into 6 groups (n=5) as follows; group I, control, consisting of pregnant rats unexposed to UVR.

Intermittent exposure to green and white light-at-night activates hepatic glycogenolytic and gluconeogenetic activities in male Wistar rats.

Objectives: Exposure to light-at-night (LAN) has been reported to impair blood glucose regulation. The liver modulates blood glucose through mechanisms influenced by several factors that include peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase). This study investigated the effect of intermittent exposure to green and white LAN on some hepatic glucose regulatory factors in male Wistar rats.

Selenium Supplementation Increases Hepatic Glucose-6-Phosphatase and Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator-1α Activity in Male Wistar Rats.

Increased selenium supplementation has been implicated in diabetes mellitus via peroxisome-proliferator-activated-receptor-gamma-coactivator-1-alpha (PGC-1α) associated pathways. This study was designed to investigate the effect of selenium supplementation on PGC-1α and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) as well its likely hepato toxicity in male Wistar rats. Animals were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10/group) and treated orally with water (0.

Declining responsiveness of childhood Plasmodium falciparum infections to artemisinin-based combination treatments ten years following deployment as first-line antimalarials in Nigeria.

Background: The development and spread of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Greater Mekong Subregion has created impetus for continuing global monitoring of efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). This post analyses is aimed to evaluate changes in early treatment response markers 10 years after the adoption of ACTs as first-line treatments of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Nigeria.

Methods: At 14 sentinel sites in six geographical areas of Nigeria, we evaluated treatment responses in 1341 children under 5 years and in additional 360 children under 16 years with uncomplicated malaria enrolled in randomized trials of artemether-lumefantrine versus artesunate-amodiaquine at 5-year interval in 2009-2010 and 2014-2015 and at 2-year interval in 2009-2010 and 2012-2015, respectively after deployment in 2005.

Amelioration of thyroid dysfunction by magnesium in experimental diabetes may also prevent diabetes-induced renal impairment.

Background: Diabetes mellitus has been reported to cause thyroid dysfunction, which may also impair renal function. Magnesium has been reported to exert ameliorative effects in diabetes mellitus. This study investigated thyroid and renal functions in experimental type-2-diabetic Wistar rats.

Pathophysiology of iron overload-induced renal injury and dysfunction: Roles of renal oxidative stress and systemic inflammatory mediators.

Iron-overload has been recognized as a risk factor for organ dysfunction and damage resulting in diseases such as liver and heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigated renal function and some systemic inflammatory indices in iron-overloaded male Wistar rats. Thirty animals were equally distributed into 3groups and treated daily i.

Factors contributing to anaemia after uncomplicated falciparum malaria in under five year-old Nigerian children ten years following adoption of artemisinin-based combination therapies as first-line antimalarials.

Background: Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have remained efficacious treatments of acute falciparum malaria in many endemic areas but there is little evaluation of factors contributing to the anaemia of acute falciparum malaria following long term adoption of ACTs as first-line antimalarials in African children.

Methods: Malarious <5 year-olds randomized to artemether-lumefantrine, artesunate-amodiaquine or dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine treatments were followed up clinically for 6 weeks. Anaemia was defined as haematocrit <30%; Malaria-attributable fall in haematocrit (MAFH) as the difference between haematocrit 28-42 days post- and pre-treatment; Total MAFH (TMAFH) as the difference between days 28-42 haematocrit and the lowest haematocrit recorded in the first week post-treatment initiation; Drug-attributable fall in haematocrit (DAFH) as the difference between MAFH and TMAFH; Early appearing anaemia (EAA) as haematocrit <30% occurring within 1 week in children with normal haematocrit pre-treatment.

Metformin Effects are Augmented by Chronic Intermittent Cold Stress in High Fat Diet Fed Male Wistar Rats.

This study investigated the effects of metformin on some glucose regulatory indices in high fat diet (HFD) fedmale Wistar rats exposed to room temperature and chronic intermittent cold stress (CICS). Thirty rats were randomly dividedinto 5 groups. Group 1(control) was maintained on standard rat chow while groups 2-5 were maintained on HFD for 8weeksrespectively prior to experimental procedures.

Therapeutic efficacy and effects of artemisinin-based combination treatments on uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria -associated anaemia in Nigerian children during seven years of adoption as first-line treatments.

Background: Artemisinin-based combination treatments (ACTs) are the first-line treatments of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in many endemic areas but there are few evaluation of their efficacy in anaemic malarious children.

Methods: Therapeutic efficacy of 3-day regimens of artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine was evaluated in 437 anaemic and 909 non-anaemic malarious children following treatment during a seven-year period (2008-2014). Patterns of temporal changes in haematocrit were classified based on haematocrit values <30% and ≥30%.

Early rising asexual parasitaemia in Nigerian children following a first dose of artemisinin-based combination treatments of falciparum malaria.

Background: Early rising asexual parasitaemia (ERAP), initially defined as 'an increase in the parasite count over the baseline pre-treatment level during the first 24 h of treatment' of falciparum malaria with artemisinin derivatives is well documented, but there is no characterization of its risk factors, kinetics, molecular features or relationship to late-appearing anaemia (LAA) in acute falciparum malaria in African children following oral artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).

Methods: ERAP was defined as ≥5% increase in pre-treatment parasitaemia within 8 h of initiating treatment. Parasitaemia was quantified pre-treatment and 1-2 hourly for 8 h, and less frequently thereafter for 6 weeks following randomized treatment of acutely malarious children with artesunate-amodiaquine, artemether-lumefantrine or dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine.

Effects of quail egg on kidney functions in alloxan induced diabetic Wistar rats.

Unlabelled: Abstract

Introduction: Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus has been reported to lead to renal dysfunction. Quail egg consumption has been reported to exert curative effects in some disease conditions like diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, and asthma. This study investigated the effects of quail egg consumption on some kidney functions in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

Oral Magnesium Treatment Reduces Anemia and Levels of Inflammatory Markers in Experimental Diabetes.

Magnesium has been reported to improve glucose utilization in diabetes mellitus. However, information on its effects on anemic and inflammatory markers in diabetes mellitus is limited. This study investigated the effect of oral magnesium (Mg) treatment on some markers of anemia and inflammation in 25 male Wistar rats.

Therapeutic efficacy and effects of artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine on malaria-associated anaemia in Nigerian children aged two years and under.

Background: Artemisinin-based combination therapies are recommended as first-line treatments for uncomplicated falciparum malaria, but there is little evaluation of their efficacy and effects on uncomplicated malaria-associated anaemia in children aged 2 years and under.

Methods: Parasitological efficacy and effects on malaria-associated anaemia were evaluated in 250 malarious children aged 2 years and under, and efficacy was evaluated in 603 malarious children older than two but younger than 5 years of age following treatment with artesunate-amodiaquine (AA) or artemether-lumefantrine (AL). Kinetics of the disposition of parasitaemia following treatment were evaluated using a non-compartment model.

Effect of methanol extract of musa sapientum leaves on protein glycation and erythrocyte antioxidant status in alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats.

Background: Increased generation of free radicals from protein glycation has been associated with compromised integrity of erythrocytes in diabetes. Musa sapientum has been reported to possess anti-diabetic properties and this study investigated the effect of methanol extract of Musa sapientum on protein glycation and erythrocyte integrity.

Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats (180-200g) were randomly grouped into seven: 1 (control), 2 (diabetic untreated), 3 (normal extract-treated (250 mg/kg)), 4 (normal metformin-treated (150 mg/kg)), 5 (diabetic extract-treated (250 mg/kg)), 6 (diabetic metformin-treated (150 mg/kg)), 7 (diabetic insulin-treated (1 IU/kg)).

Clinical illness and outcomes in Nigerian children with late-appearing anaemia after artemisinin-based combination treatments of uncomplicated falciparum malaria.

Background: Late-appearing anaemia (LAA) following treatment with artemisinins for severe malaria has been reported and well described, but there are limited clinical and parasitological data on LAA in African children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria following oral artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).

Methods: This was an open label study with the main objectives of evaluating the clinical features, the risk factors for, the temporal changes in haematocrit and the outcomes of a LAA in malarious children treated with artesunate-amodiaquine (AA), artemether-lumefantrine (AL) or dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHP). The diagnosis of LAA was made using the criteria: clearance of parasitaemia, fever and other symptoms within 1 week of commencing treatment; adequate clinical and parasitological response at 4-6 weeks after treatment began; haematocrit ≥30 % 1 and/or 2 weeks after treatment began; and haematocrit <30 %, parasite negativity by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction and absence of concomitant illness 3-6 weeks after treatment began.

Oral magnesium reduces gastric mucosa susceptibility to injury in experimental diabetes mellitus.

This study investigated the effect of magnesium on the gastric defence mechanism in alloxan-diabetic male Wistar rats. Sixty rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, A (n=40) and B (n=20). Each group was subdivided into control, diabetic untreated (DU), diabetic magnesium (250mg/kg) treated (DMg250) and diabetic insulin (3IU/kgs.

Anti-oxidative and reno-restorative effects of physalis angulata (whole plant extract) in alloxan-induced diabetic male Wistar rats.

Unlabelled: Backgroiound: Hyperglycemia has been reported to increase protein glycation and generation of free radicals which predispose to diabetic renal dysfunction. Physalis ahgulata has been shown to have hypoglycacmic and anti-lipidemic properties but there is dearth of information regarding its effect on kidney functions in diabetes. This study investigated the anti-oxidative and reno-restorative effects of methanol extract of whole plant of Physalis angulata (MEPA) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Temporal changes in haematocrit following artemisinin-based combination treatments of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in children.

Background: Artemisinin-based combination treatments (ACTs) or intravenous artesunate are used in over 100 countries for uncomplicated or severe falciparum malaria. Although intravenous artesunate may cause delayed haemolytic anaemia, there is little evaluation of the temporal changes in haematocrit following ACTs.

Methods: Clinical and parasitological parameters were measured before and following treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in children with artesunate-amodiaquine (AA) or artemether-lumefantrine (AL) over 6-weeks.

Lipid Profile and Electrolyte Composition in Diabetic Rats Treated With Leaf Extract of Musa sapientum.

Diabetes mellitus affects lipid levels resulting in diabetic dyslipidemia as well as electrolyte loss from the body. Musa sapientum has been reported to possess antidiabetic properties. This study assessed the lipid profile and electrolyte composition in alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with methanol leaf extract of M.

Anti-diabetic property of Methanol extract of Musa sapientum leaves and its fractions in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder resulting from necrosis of β-cell and insulin resistance at the cellular level. Musa sapientum has been shown to possess anti-diabetic properties, however, the mechanism of its action is unknown. The effect of Methanolic extract of Musa sapientum leaves (MEMSL) and its fractions were assessed for in vitro inhibitory activity of α-amylase enzyme, in vivo hypoglycemic properties and liver glycogen content in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.