Ethnobotanical investigation on medicinal plants used against human ailments in Erkowit and Sinkat areas, Eastern Sudan

Adam M, Ahmed AA, Yagi A, Yagi S. 2020. Ethnobotanical investigation on medicinal plants used against human ailments in Erkowit and Sinkat areas, Eastern Sudan. Biodiversitas 21: 3255-3262. The present study provides ethnobotanical data for the traditionally used medicinal plants of Erkowit and Sinkat, Eastern Sudan. The survey data were collected from 53 traditional healers through a survey carried out in February-December 2018. Fifty-eight plant species represent 34 flowering families and one Parmeliaceae lichen that are used for therapeutic purposes in the selected area. The families of highest prevalence were Euphorbiaceae (8 species) followed by Leguminosae (7 species). To validate information on the use of plants,: Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), and Informants’ Consensus Factor (ICF) were applied. The most commonly used species was Adansonia digitata with a UV of 0.89. The majority of the informants agreed on the use of Oxalis anthelmintica to treat anemia and Psidium guajava in the treatment of tuberculosis and cough, with a very high FL (92% and 91% respectively). All informants agreed on the effectiveness of Withania somnifera in treating breast inflammation and cancer, with top ICF of 1. These medicinal plants play an important role in the available healthcare provision in the study area. This preliminary study should be further continued into scientific assessment of their therapeutic use and safety through different biological activity tests and toxicological properties.

Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis Presenting in a Patient With Hypothyroidism and Recent Hospitalization for Myxedema Coma: A Rare Case Report and Review of Literature

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare, benign inflammatory disorder of the breast. Clinical features may include painful breasts, erythema, subcutaneous nodules, and ulcerative lesions. It can mimic various other breast pathologies, and it is a diagnosis of exclusion after infection, malignancy, and other inflammatory conditions have been ruled out. In this article, we present a case of IGM developing in a 40-year-old female 3 months after hospitalization for myxedema coma. A contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the breasts showed bilateral edema, and a biopsy was negative for malignancy or infection. She was started on prednisone and had noticeable improvement of ulcerations within several weeks. IGM is a rare condition that requires a multimodal treatment approach. Often recalcitrant disease is encountered and requires surgical intervention, immunosuppression, and antimicrobial therapy. The diagnosis should be entertained in patients with bilateral breast inflammation to avoid unnecessary surgical resection early on.

Distribution, etiology and prevention of subclinical mastitis in cows

According to the results of the diagnostic stage of obstetric examination in 2016–2018, the etiology and pathogenesis of mastitis in 90 cows of FG “Mriia” of Rivne region were analyzed. During the research, 83.3 % of the cows were diagnosed with breast inflammation. Subclinical form of udder inflammation was found in 51.1 %, clinical in 32.2 %, and at the same time hidden and clinical, in the same proportion – in 12.2 % of animals. In the farm, the cause of mastitis, were violations of sanitary and hygienic conditions of keeping cows and systematic technological underdevelopment of specialists in zootechnical and veterinary services. Frequent postpartum pathologies, including postpartum paresis and ketosis, contributed to the development of the disease. The experimental data for the study of the prophylactic and therapeutic effect of “Forticept” udder hygiene products on the condition of the breast, milk quality and cow productivity are presented. The “Forticept Udder Wash” antiseptic is used to prepare the udder for milking, and the “Forticept Udder Forte” film-forming agent is used to preserve udder nipples after milking is completed. It is established that the treatment, before and after milking, of the udder of cows by means of the “Forticept” complex, after 15 days allows to reduce significantly (by 55 %) the number of animals with subclinical mastitis (SFM). Within 30 days of “Forticept Udder Wash” and “Forticept Udder Forte”, the incidence of SFM in the cows of the experimental group decreased from the starting 41.7 % to 19.0–23.0 %. Hygienic treatment of the cows udder with the drugs “Kenopur” and “Kenocidin” did not give the desired effect of reducing the manifestations of SFM: on the 30th day of the experiment, the number of positive milk samples in the control group increased by 4.0 % (up to 54 %). Оn the thirty-day “Forticept” series, only one new case of subclinical mastitis was diagnosed in the experimental group. The preventive effect of “Forticept Udder Wash” and “Forticept Udder Forte” on SFM is 96.0 %, in the preparations “Kenopur” and “Kenocidin” – 70.0 %. Reducing the incidence rate naturally contributed to the increase in daily milk yields, the improvement of milk quality indicators for fats, protein, casein and a decrease in the content of SC, KMAFanM1 and microorganisms. In the animals of the experimental group, the level of somatic cells was 339.14 ± 21.22 thousand/ml by the end of the observation period and was 26.7 % lower than the control group. At that, the number of quarters of the breast with somatic cell content more than 400 thousand/ml of milk decreased in both groups, namely: in the experimental group – by 19.0 %, in the control group – by 15.1 %.

KNOWLEDGE OF BREASTFEEDING TECHNIQUE AMONG POSTPARTUM WOMEN

Problems in breastfeeding are caused by several causes including nipples issues (flat or injury), swollen breasts, and breast inflammation. These problems may occur due to improper breastfeeding techniques. The purpose of the research was to obtain an overview of mother's knowledge about the correct technique of breastfeeding. The research method uses descriptive approach, there were 20 women involved in this study. The results showed that 5 respondents (25%) had good knowledge, 3 (15%) had moderate knowledge, 12 (60%) had insufficient knowledge. This study also examined knowledge based on age, results showed that the majority of respondents aged 20-35 years (64.28%) had a lack of knowledge. Based on the background of formal education, the study revealed that most elementary school graduates were less knowledgeable about breastfeeding techniques (70%). Knowledge about breastfeeding techniques was also lacking in prim gravida respondents (100%). It can be concluded that respondents' knowledge is still lacking in breastfeeding techniques. Increasing women’s knowledge about breastfeeding techniques is needed because a good nutrition from breast milk will improve and support baby’s health.Keywords: breastfeeding techniques, knowledge, postpartum