Antioxidant Potential of the Methanol Extract of Parquetina nigrescens Mediates Protection Against Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

Parquetina nigrescens is a medicinal herb with recognized antioxidant properties and potential to alleviate conditions associated with oxidative stress, including gastric ulcers. We investigated the protective potential of methanol extract of Parquetina nigrescens (MEPN) against ischemia-reperfusion injury in the intestine of rats. Thirty (30) male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned into five groups with Group I made up of control rats and Group II consisting of rats experimentally subjected to ischemia and reperfusion (IR) by clamping of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for 30 minutes and 45 minutes, respectively.

Characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease in three tertiary health centers in southern Nigeria.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to two chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract which is generally believed to be rare in most African countries. The objectives of the current study were to present the experience of three tertiary gastroenterology centers in southern part of Nigeria on IBD, highlighting the age distribution of the patients seen, management and the impact on the quality of their life in university-based community-type practices in Nigeria.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of charts of inflammatory bowel disease seen between January 2007 and June 2010 at three teaching hospitals in Southern Nigeria.

Comparative diagnostic efficacy of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common liver malignancy in Nigeria. Hepatitis B and C viruses, alcohol and Aflatoxin B are among the various aetiologies. More work needs to be done in the search for markers that will aid early detection of this condition as it is uniformly fatal once advanced.

Autoimmune liver disease in a Nigerian woman.

Autoimmune liver diseases are chronic liver disease with similar clinical features to viral and non-autoimmune liver disorders but with distinct sero-autoimmunologic features. In developed countries, it accounts for about 20% of all liver transplantations in the USA. Most studies on liver disease in Nigeria centred on viral or alcohol aetiology with complete absence of data on autoimmune liver disease.