Acute, sub-acute, sub-chronic and chronic toxicity studies of four important Nigerian ethnomedicinal plants in rats

Abstract Background Azadirachta indica, Khaya senegalensis, Anogeissus leiocarpus and Tamarindus indica are important ethnomedicinal plants used for health mitigation since the history of mankind. They are used discretionarily in folkloric medicine on the premise that they are natural products devoid of synthetic preservatives. However, nature endows plants with metabolites for warding off potential attacks from animals and the environment. Some of these metabolites are responsible for toxicity of some plants. Furthermore, drug-induced liver injuries and nephrotoxicity are the leading causes of pharmaceutical attrition of promising drug candidates in clinical trials. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the safety of four ethnomedicinal plants in short-, medium- and long-term usage. Methods Rats dosed once with 5000 mg/kg extracts of each of these plants served as acute study (AS) while rats dosed daily with 2000 mg/kg for 2, 12 and 14 weeks served as sub-acute (SAS), sub-chronic (SCS) and chronic (CS) studies, respectively. Rats administered distilled water served as the negative control (NC). Results A. leiocarpus and T. indica significantly reduced percentage weight gain in the SCS compared to the NC. A. leiocarpus significantly (P< 0.05) increased transaminases and alkaline phosphatase in the AS only; and total protein (TP) in the AS, SAS, SCS and CS compared to the NC. K. senegalensis significantly (P< 0.05) increased alanine aminotransferase but significantly (P< 0.05) decreased TP in the AS only compared to the NC. However, A. indica and T. indica significantly (P< 0.05) increased globulin and aspartate transaminase in the CS only. Whereas A. leiocarpus and K. senegalensis significantly (P< 0.05) increased urea and creatinine in the AS than SAS, SCS and CS; Na+ and K+ were significantly higher in the SCS and CS studies compared to the NC. The histological lesions seen ranged from cellular degeneration, congestion, fibrosis to necrosis. Conclusion Thus, nonlethal, reversible toxic insults occur in short-term usage (AS); while, insidious lethal toxic effects occur in medium-term (SAS) and long-term usage (SCS and CS). The ability of these plant to maintain adequate hematological parameters, bodyweight and absence of mortality may explain free usage of preparations made from these plants in folkloric medicine.

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Effect of police training during the confinement period on some cardiopulmonary and hematological parameters in Khartoum, Sudan

International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences ◽

10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20181751 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (5) ◽

pp. 1639

Author(s):

Ahmed O. Ahmed ◽

Isam M. Abdallah ◽

Ibrahim A. Ali ◽

Omer A. Musa

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Pulmonary Function ◽

Police Officers ◽

Pulmonary Function Tests ◽

Hematological Parameters ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Police Training ◽

Function Tests ◽

History Of

Background: Pulmonary function tests (PFT) serve as a tool of health assessment and as a predictor of occupational fitness. Police officers must develop and maintain high levels of physical fitness for physical demanding tasks they perform. The training program starts with confinement of five to eight weeks according to the trainee. Previously it has been shown that the police students have better lung functions values compared to their civilian colleagues. In this study the effect of the confinement training on pulmonary function tests was investigated.Methods: Eighty one policemen trainee were randomly selected from a new batch in the faculty of police sciences and Law, the National Ribat University, Khartoum, Sudan at their starting confinement period. Subjects were medically fit with no history of Diabetes, Hypertension, Asthma or use of any long term medications. Pulmonary function tests (FVC, FEV1 and PEFR) were performed using a micro-plus spirometer. Blood pressure, pulse rate, and hemoglobin were measured. All these were repeated at the end of the confinement.Results: The age of participants ranged from 24 to 26 years. FVC, FEV1 and PEFR significantly increased after the confinement period. The blood pressure and the pulse significantly decreased. The weight of the participants decreased after the confinement but Hb significantly slightly increased.Conclusions: Regular police training during the confinement improved the pulmonary and cardiovascular reserve function.

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The use of tetrabenazine for the treatment of drug-induced tardive dyskinesia – report of four cases

Aktualności Neurologiczne ◽

10.15557/an.2016.0025 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 194-200

Author(s):

Ewa Szczepocka ◽

◽

Radosław Magierski ◽

Tomasz Sobów ◽

Adam Wysokiński ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Movement Disorders ◽

Mental Condition ◽

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

Drug Induced ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

The Face ◽

History Of ◽

Chronic Neuroleptic ◽

Written Informed Consent

Tardive dyskinesias are defined as a syndrome of involuntary, irregular, hyperkinetic movement disorders, including mixed movement disorders of the face and the mouth as well as choreoathetoid movements of the trunk and limbs. They are a serious and usually irreversible side effect of chronic neuroleptic treatment and affect approximately 15–20% of patients. Treatment attempts using amantadine, levetiracetam, piracetam, clonazepam, propranolol, vitamin B6, vitamin E, ondansetron, botulinum toxin and Ginkgo biloba were made. However, in many cases the treatment efficacy has not been confirmed in long-term studies in larger groups of patients. Tetrabenazine, registered in Poland for the treatment of hyperkinetic motor disorders in the Huntington’s disease, is one of the available therapeutic options. We present the course and the effects of tetrabenazine therapy in four patients with antipsychotic-induced tardive dyskinesias. Based on the experience gained during the research program using tetrabenazine, we believe that the use of this agent should be limited to patients in a stable mental condition, with no current symptoms of depression or active psychotic symptoms. In our opinion, suicidal tendencies or thoughts and a history of neuroleptic malignant syndrome are absolute contraindications. The off-label use of tetrabenazine requires a written informed consent of the patient and careful monitoring of their mental and neurological condition.

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Atypical Femoral Fracture in McCune-Albright Syndrome

Journal of Research in Orthopedic Science ◽

10.32598/jrosj.7.3.711.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 147-152

Author(s):

Salman Ghaffari ◽

◽

Mehran Razavipour ◽

Parastoo Mohammad Amini ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Femoral Fracture ◽

Dynamic Compression ◽

Plate Fixation ◽

Medullary Canal ◽

Mccune Albright Syndrome ◽

Café Au Lait Spots ◽

History Of ◽

Albright Syndrome ◽

Mccune Albright

McCune-Albright Syndrome (MAS) is characterized by endocrinopathies, café-au-lait spots, and fibrous dysplasia. Bisphosphonates are the most prescribed treatment for reducing the pain but their long-term use has been associated with atypical fractures of cortical bones like femur in patients. We present a 23-year-old girl diagnosed with MAS. She had an atypical mid-shaft left femoral fracture that happened during simple walking. She also had a history of long-term use of alendronate. Because of the narrow medullary canal, we used 14 holes hybrid locking plate for the lateral aspect of the thigh to fix the fracture and 5 holes dynamic compression plate (instead of the intramedullary nail) in the anterior surface to double fix it, reducing the probability of device failure. With double plate fixation and discontinuation of alendronate, the complete union was achieved five months after surgery

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European Integration

10.3366/edinburgh/9781474455893.001.0001 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Johann P. Arnason

Keyword(s):

European Integration ◽

Eastern European ◽

The European Union ◽

Historical Processes ◽

History Of ◽

External Conditions ◽

Eastern European Countries ◽

Totalitarian Regimes ◽

The Eu

Different understandings of European integration, its background and present problems are represented in this book, but they share an emphasis on historical processes, geopolitical dynamics and regional diversity. The introduction surveys approaches to the question of European continuities and discontinuities, before going on to an overview of chapters. The following three contributions deal with long-term perspectives, including the question of Europe as a civilisational entity, the civilisational crisis of the twentieth century, marked by wars and totalitarian regimes, and a comparison of the European Union with the Habsburg Empire, with particular emphasis on similar crisis symptoms. The next three chapters discuss various aspects and contexts of the present crisis. Reflections on the Brexit controversy throw light on a longer history of intra-Union rivalry, enduring disputes and changing external conditions. An analysis of efforts to strengthen the EU’s legal and constitutional framework, and of resistances to them, highlights the unfinished agenda of integration. A closer look at the much-disputed Islamic presence in Europe suggests that an interdependent radicalization of Islamism and the European extreme right is a major factor in current political developments. Three concluding chapters adopt specific regional perspectives. Central and Eastern European countries, especially Poland, are following a path that leads to conflicts with dominant orientations of the EU, but this also raises questions about Europe’s future. The record of Scandinavian policies in relation to Europe exemplifies more general problems faced by peripheral regions. Finally, growing dissonances and divergences within the EU may strengthen the case for Eurasian perspectives.

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