Lycopene suppresses palmitic acid-induced brain oxidative stress, hyperactivity of some neuro-signalling enzymes, and inflammation in female Wistar rat.

Neuroinflammation can be triggered by certain high caloric nutrients such as palmitic acid (PA). The effect of lycopene against PA-induced neuroinflammation in female rats has not been as explored. In the present study, thirty rats (weighing 150-200) g were randomly allotted into six groups (n = 5) comprising normal control, PA control, PA + lycopene (0.

Lycopene abrogates obesity-provoked hyperactivity of neurosignalling enzymes, oxidative stress and hypothalamic inflammation in female Wistar rats.

Obesity, a global epidemic, has been strongly associated with impairment of brain function. Lycopene has several therapeutic properties and can cross the blood-brain barrier. However, its effects on obesity-provoked brain dysfunction remain unexplored.

Contributions of malaria, helminths, HIV and iron deficiency to anaemia in pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in SouthWest Nigeria.

Background: Iron deficiency is a dominant source of anaemia in many settings. To evaluate the key cause of anaemia in the study area, the prevalence of anaemia due to major public health diseases was compared with anaemia due to iron deficiency.

Methods: Pregnant women were recruited from ante-natal (n=490) and HIV clinics (n=217) with their personal data documented using a questionnaire.

Induction of Neuroinflammation and Neurotoxicity by Synthetic Hemozoin.

Hemozoin produced by Plasmodium falciparum during malaria infection has been linked to the neurological dysfunction in cerebral malaria. In this study, we determined whether a synthetic form of hemozoin (sHZ) produces neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity in cellular models. Incubation of BV-2 microglia with sHZ (200 and 400 µg/ml) induced significant elevation in the levels of TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β, NO/iNOS, phospho-p65, accompanied by an increase in DNA binding of NF-κB.

Potential antimalarial activity of Methyl Jasmonate and its effect on lipid profiles in Plasmodium Berghei infected mice.

Background: The antimalarial activity and lipid profiles of Methyl Jasmonate (MJ) were investigated against established malaria infection in vivo using BALB/c mice.

Methods: Arteether (AE) and chloroquine (CQ) were used as reference drugs while ethanol was used as the vehicle for drug delivery for MJ.

Results: Mice treated with 10 and 25 mg/kg MJ showed a remarkable reduction in percentage parasitemia by 68.

Evaluation of the performances of two rapid diagnostic tests (Cyscope®mini and Paracheck-Pf®) in the diagnosis of malaria among febrile children in southwest Nigeria.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic performances of Cyscope®mini and Paracheck-Pf® for Plasmodium falciparum relative to microscopy.

Subjects And Methods: 209 children aged 6 months to 12 years presenting with symptoms suggestive of malaria were enrolled at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, within a period of 6 months. Malaria parasites were identified in capillary blood samples using Cyscope®mini (parasite DNA-based fluorescence microscope) and Paracheck-Pf® (an HRP-II-based test) with microscopy of Giemsa-stained thick blood films as reference gold standard.