Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and associated risk factors among university students in Zimbabwe.

Background: Dysmenorrhea is an often incapacitating condition that is characterized by painful menstruation and general body malaise. In Zimbabwe, this condition is understudied, and its associated risk factors are poorly understood.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of dysmenorrhea among female students at Midlands State University in Zimbabwe.

HIV-Related Myocardial Fibrosis: Inflammatory Hypothesis and Crucial Role of Immune Cells Dysregulation.

Although the underlying mechanisms driving human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-mediated cardiovascular diseases (CVD) onset and progression remain unclear, the role of chronic immune activation as a significant mediator is increasingly being highlighted. Chronic inflammation is a characteristic feature of CVD and considered a contributor to diastolic dysfunction, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. This can trigger downstream effects that result in the increased release of pro-coagulant, pro-fibrotic, and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

The Role of Immunometabolism in HIV-1 Pathogenicity: Links to Immune Cell Responses.

With the successful roll-out of combination antiretroviral treatment, HIV is currently managed as a chronic illness. Of note, immune activation and chronic inflammation are hallmarks of HIV-1 infection that persists even though patients are receiving treatments. Despite strong evidence linking immune activation and low-grade inflammation to HIV-1 pathogenesis, the underlying mechanisms remain less well-understood.

Medicinal Plants, Phytochemicals, and Their Impacts on the Maturation of the Gastrointestinal Tract.

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the first point of contact for ingested substances and thus represents a direct interface with the external environment. Apart from food processing, this interface plays a significant role in immunity and contributes to the wellbeing of individuals through the brain-gut-microbiota axis. The transition of life from the environment, to suckling and subsequent weaning has to be matched by phased development and maturation of the GIT; from an amniotic fluid occupancy during gestation, to the milk in the suckling state and ultimately solid food ingestion at weaning.

The potential of species for use as broad-spectrum agents in the management of metabolic syndrome: a review.

Although the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors that predispose to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, is increasing globally, there is no broad-spectrum agent for its holistic treatment. Natural plant-derived products with a wide spectrum of biological activities are currently being explored as alternatives in the management of diseases. species are a heterozygous group of plants of the family that possess several health benefits.

Administration of ursolic acid to new-born pups prevents dietary fructose-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Sprague Dawley rats.

Overconsumption of fructose time dependently induces the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated whether ursolic acid (UA) intake by new-born rats would protect against fructose-induced NAFLD. One hundred and seven male and female Sprague Dawley rat pups were randomly grouped and gavaged (10 ml/kg body weight) with either 0.