Theses and Dissertation (Medical Lab.)

Morphological Effect of Crude Extract of Viscum Album Linnaeus on Some Selected Visceral Organs of Albino Rat

2021-11-11T08:28:03Z

Morphological Effect of Crude Extract of Viscum Album Linnaeus on Some Selected Visceral Organs of Albino Rat Uwuseba, Judith Uzoezi The morphological effects of crude extract of Viscum album Linnaeus called “Anwusi” in Ika dialect on some selected visceral organs of albino rat was investigated for this study. Seventy (70) male and female adult albino rats of about 2 - 4 months old and 180 - 200g body weight were used for the study. Forty (40) rats were used for acute toxicity testing and thirty (30) for this study. The albino rat where randomly selected into Six (6) groups of 5 rats per cage and labeled as cages 1, 2, 3 and 4 and cages 5 and 6 severed as control groups. Tap water and standard pellet (Guinea Feed) were given to animals throughout the duration of the study. Cage 1, 2, 3, and 4 were treated with the leaf extract in order 100, 150, 200 and 300mg/kg body weight with regards to the LD50. Cages 5 and 6 were without experiment dose. The doses were orally administered for 28 days. At the end of 28 days, the selected visceral organs such as; oesophagus, duodenum, pancreas, gall bladder, liver and kidney were taken, processed and stained histologically. The tissue were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, photomicrograph was done. Histology of the liver and kidney, the extract induced mild periportal inflammation with haemorrhagic necrosis in the liver and tubular necrosis in the kidney. In the G.I.T, it induced mild mucosal inflammation, with increase dose it induced mild glandular hyperplasia. In conclusion, Viscum album leave extract was not well tolerated. Prolonged administration of leave extract will cause serious life threatening undersirable effect. Particularly, in the liver and kidney, it may lead to destruction of the tissue as well as loss of renal mass.

Assessment of Biochemical Markers of Iron and Some Haematological Parameters on Blood Donors in Enugu State

2021-11-11T08:23:43Z

Assessment of Biochemical Markers of Iron and Some Haematological Parameters on Blood Donors in Enugu State Ozochukwu, Ogoamaka Chinyere Iron deficiency is one of the most common of the nutritional deficiencies. The eventual consequence of iron deficiency is iron deficiency anemia; where the body stores of iron have been depleted and the body is unable to maintain level of hemoglobin in the blood. Blood donation leads to a substantial iron loss, as about 0.5mg iron is lost per each milliliter of blood donated. It is evident that haemoglobin level alone is inadequate for detecting blood donors with iron deficiency without anaemia. Studies have also shown that hemoglobin level may not correlate with iron status. The aim of this study, however was to assess the biochemical indices of iron and some haematological parameters amongst donors in Enugu State. Two hundred apparently healthy male blood donors from National blood Transfusion centre Enugu, University of Nigeria Teaching hospital and two private blood banks were used for the study. Forty apparently healthy non-donors were used as controls. Before starting the study, approval of the institutional ethical committee was obtained and informed consent was also obtained from the donors and controls to enable them participate effectively in the study. The donors were divided into 6 groups according to number of previous donations within last 3 years. The age range was between 19-50 years. Results showed that level of Hb, PCV, and iron status parameters were significantly decreased among the regular donors compared to controls. The mean ±2SD in ferritin level showed a significant decrease across the groups (P<0.0001) with 21.46±6.76ng/ml, 16.11±16.06ng/ml, 6.76± 5.54ng/ml for subjects in groups iv, v, and vi in 3yrs respectively compared to 52.67±40.47ng/ml, and 51.20±23.25ng/ml for subjects in group ii and iii in 3yrs. The serum iron concentration was significantly higher with group i (control), group ii and group iii donors: 94.17±27.66µg/ml, 113.8±71.20µg/ml, 83.71±10.84µg/ml respectively compared to donors in groups iv, v, and vi: 72.73± 10.98µg/ml, 70.00± 11.62µg/ml, 65.83± 15.57µg/ml respectively . The TIBC increased significantly (P<0.000) across the groups with mean values: 371.2±76.14µg/ml, 455.4±11.9µg/ml and 481.0± 98.62µg/ml for donors in group iv, v and group vi respectively in 3yrs. The mean ± 2SD for transferrin saturation showed a significant decrease (P<0.0001) with donors in group iv, v and vi having 20.50± 5.66%, 23.60± 10.74%, and 20.64± 8.22% respectively compared to group i(control), group ii and iii donors: 31.38± 10.47%, 33.47±15.4%, 34.47± 12.8% respectively. The Hb and PCV of the subjects were significantly reduced (P<0.0001) with the donors in group iv, v and vi having 14.73g/dl± 3.28, 13.64g/dl±0.76, 13.78g/dl± 0.63 respectively in 3yrs compared to group i(control), group ii and group iii donors. There was no significant difference in the MCHC, WBC Total, differentials and across the groups. Also there was no significant difference in the iron and haematological parameters of group i(controls) compared to the donors in group ii and group iii in 3 years. The study observed that Haemoglobin, Packed cell volume, Serum iron, Serum ferritin, Transferrin saturation, TIBC, were significantly affected in the regular blood donors especially those who have had more than six donations in 3 years when compared with apparently healthy controls.

Epidemiology and Pathophysiological Determinants of Staphylococcal Urinary Tract Infections in Enugu State

2021-11-11T08:18:29Z

Epidemiology and Pathophysiological Determinants of Staphylococcal Urinary Tract Infections in Enugu State Onyebueke, Ebere Adaeze In a study to investigate the epidemiology and pathophysiological determinants of staphylococcal urinary tract infection (UTI) in Enugu state, a total of 818 participants (290 males and 528 females) randomly selected, submitted freshly voided urine samples for laboratory investigation between 2013-2015. Candidates aged between 3-87 years comprised of apparently healthy individual (558) were selected from schools and various occupational groups and classes, while 119 pregnant women and 141 candidates with various medical conditions seen in the two tertiary hospitals serving the area of study were included. Samples were processed using standard microbiological techniques and confirmed with API identification systems (Biomerieux France). The major staphylococcal isolates were investigated for any pathological effects using albino Wistar rats. Results showed that 307 urine samples (37.5%) yielded significant bacterial growth of which 89 (10.9%) yielded staphylococcal species with Staph aureus 40 (44.9%) ranking highest, followed by S. xylosus 25 (28.1%), S. lentus 9 (10.1%), with S. capre, S. sciuri, S. heamolyticus and S. epidermidis yielding 3 (3.4%) each while S. hominis, S. capitis and S. saprophyticus ranked least with 1(1.1%) isolate each which difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Sex-wise distribution showed a female preponderance 69 (77.5%) as against their male counter parts 20 (22.5%) which difference was also statistically significant (P < 0.05) using fishers exact test for contingency. Age-wise distribution showed no statistically significant difference in the distribution of positive cases (P > 0.05) though the age group 22-32 years recorded the highest with 37 (41.6%) positives. These also apply to each of the different staphylococcal species except S. heamolyticus for which all 3 isolates were from males. According to occupational grouping of the study population, traders ranked highest in prevalence for staphylococcal spp UTI 18.7% followed by house wives 15.6%, tertiary students 11.5%, secondary students 9.2%, pupils 8.0%, civil servants 6.7%, with artisans 5.4% being the least which difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Of the 558 apparently healthy candidates, 60 (10.8%) were positive for staph spp UTI, pregnant women 24 (20.2%) of the 119 candidates while for candidate with different medical conditions (141), only 5 (3.5%) yielded staphylococcal organisms. Age and sex distribution for the positive staphylococcal UTI cases among the apparently healthy individuals showed a higher female positive group (40) as against their male counter parts (20) which was statistically significant (P-< 0.05), with the age group 22-32 recording the highest. For the 24 positive pregnant women, the age group 22-32 recorded the highest positive cases for staphylococcal UTI with 19 (79.2%) followed by the age group 33-43 with 4 (16.7%) while the age group 11-21 recorded only 1 (4.7%), which difference was also statistically significant (P < 0.05). Of the 141 cases sampled with different medical conditions, only 5 (3.5%) were positive for staphylococcal UTI (3.S. aureus and 2. S. sciuri) while for the apparently healthy and pregnant groups, S.aureus S. xylosus and S. lentus ranked highest. Antibiogram results showed a range of sensitivity (47.5 -72.5%) for S. aureus, (44 -72%) for S. xylosus, (44.4 -77.8%) for S. lentus while S. saprophyticus was generally resistant apart from levoflaxacin. Pathological studies using the 3 commonest Staph species revealed varying degree of toxicity effects for the kidney, liver and bladder with S. aureus showing a higher degree of toxicity especially with the kidney and effects were more significant than when compared with S. xylosus and S. lentus with effects generally increasing with increased dosing.

Effects of Oral and Subcutaneous Administration of Acalypha Wilkesiana Macafeeana Leaf Extract on Histopathological Pattern of Selected Organs of Male Albino Rats

2021-07-26T12:53:17Z

Effects of Oral and Subcutaneous Administration of Acalypha Wilkesiana Macafeeana Leaf Extract on Histopathological Pattern of Selected Organs of Male Albino Rats Odigie, Bolaji Efosa Acalypha wilkesiana belongs to the family of Euphobiaceae with common names as copperleaf and fire dragon. The juice of the leaf can be robbed on fungal skin infections and oral consumption has been reported to be antimycotic and antibacterial in action. Therefore, the general objective for this study was to investigate the histological effects of oral and subcutaneous administration of Acalypha wilkesiana leaf extract on organs of white rats. The specific objectives were to: (i) investigate possible histo-morphological alteration of selected organs of white rats exposed to Acalypha wilkesiana leaf extract, (ii) examine the integumentary system for possible deleterious effects and (iii) critically evaluate the histological indices of the Liver and Kidney of the test animals. Sixty (60) albino male rats, with average mean weight of 199.34g were randomly selected into ten (10) groups of 6 rats per cage and was labeled as cages A1, B1, C1, D1 E1 and A2, B2, C2, D2, E2 respectively. They were housed in wire gauze cages with saw dust as beddings to acclimatize under standard condition of temperature (25 ± 5oC) and a light/dark periodicity of 12:12hrs. Commercially purchased drinking water, standard Top feed(R) was given ad libitum. The plant was authenticated at the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State. Preparation and extraction of plant extract as well as the phytochemical analysis of the leaf was done in line with conventional protocols. Cages A1, B1, C1 and D1 were treated orally, cages A2, B2, C2, and D2 subcutaneously both in order of 200, 400, 600 and 800mg/kg body weight with regards to the L.D50 ≥ 6, 344mg/kg (oral) and ≥ 5, 766mg/kg (subcutaneous). In addition, cages E1 and E2 serves as the untreated control group without extract administration. Empirical and physical measurements were carried out before and after commencement of extract administration. At the end of the experiment, all animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Grossing was done, while cut tissues at 3-5mm were processed in an automatic tissue processor. Sections were obtained at 3-5microns using the hertz digital rotary microtome (Hestion ERM 4000 Germany). Furthermore, staining of the sections was according to haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) method and the Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) for specific organs. Sections were examined using Swift(R) Binocular microscope with an in built lighting system. Data was presented in Means ± SD and analyzed using one way ANOVA and Duncan post hoc test. Animal acclimatization, test administration, grossing, tissue processing, microtomy, staining and microscopic examination of histology sections lasted for 6 months. The results showed that all treated animals showed varying degree of weight loss which was marked in the animals treated subcutaneously (C2 and D2 respectively). Difference in weight of the test animals were statistically significant (p <0.05). Phytochemical analysis revealed presence of alkaloids, terpenes, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, anthraquinones and cardiac glycosides. Grossly, all organs both test and control showed no variation in colour, size and consistency. Grossing revealed a stable architecture while histological findings were normal. There was no evidence of necrosis and no histo-morphological changing pattern. Therefore, this study showed that oral and subcutaneous administration of Acalypha wilkesiana boiled decoction in rats may have effect on body weight without deleterious / cellular degeneration on human organs in a similar circumstances.