Background: Measurement of patient health status, or quality of life, has become an important end-point in clinical studies as it represents in part the patient perception of their outcome of care. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of systemic dexmedetomidine on intraoperative hemodynamics, postoperative quality of recovery and analgesia. Materials and Methods: 90 subjects posted for elective lower abdominal surgeries under general anesthesia were randomized to receive infusion of dexmedetomidine (1 mcg/kg over 15 minutes followed by a 0.06 mcg/kg/h infusion until the end surgery) (Group 1) or Normal saline (10 ml over 15 minutes followed by infusion @1ml/kg/hr till end of surgery) (Group 2). Intraoperative hemodynamics, extubation variables, postoperative analgesic requirement and quality of recovery score were evaluated. Results: Intraoperative infusion of dexmedetomidine resulted in maintained hemodynamics, achieving early extubation parameters. Time for first postoperative analgesic requirement was increased while total analgesic requirement was decreased with use of dexmedetomidine. Median QoR-40 score was better with the use of dexmedetomidine compared to control group. Conclusion: Use of Intraoperative infusion of dexmedetomidine was associated with early recovery, decreased postoperative analgesic requirement better Quality of Recovery score signifying greater patient satisfaction. Keywords: Dexmedetomidine, Quality of recovery-40, Postoperative analgesia, hysterectomy, General anesthesia
The aim of the study is to: assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on prevention of selected postoperative complications among 300 patients undergoing abdominal surgeries in selected hospitals. A pre-experimental research design and convenient sampling technique was adopted study. Data were collected by using structured interview schedule and structured questionnaire was used to assess the existing knowledge regarding prevention of selected post operative complications. Shows that majority (42.70%) subjects had inadequate knowledge and (18.30%) had moderate knowledge in pre test. In post test majority 44 (73.3%) had adequate knowledge and 16 (26.7) had moderate knowledge. The pre test mean score was 16.15 with the standard deviation of 4.65, whereas in post test the mean score was 30.7 with the standard deviation of 5.387 which indicates that structured teaching programme is statistically significant at P<0.01 level. There was significant difference between the pre test and post test knowledge scores t=20.56, P<0.01 level. There was a significant association between pre test knowledge scores with their education and no association between age, gender, religion, occupation, marital status, type of family, place of domicile, dietary pattern, personal habits and source of health information at P<0.01 level. Author concluded that that post test knowledge scores was improved after structured teaching programme. So structured teaching programme was effective in increasing the knowledge level regarding prevention on selected post operative complications among patients undergoing abdominal surgeries.
Potassium Bromate (KBrO3) is an oxidative agent capable of causing hematological alterations and other toxic effects. Amaranthus Viridis (Inine) is a medicinal plant traditionally used for various therapeutic purposes. This study investigated the ameliorative effect of ethanol extract of Amaranthus viridis (Inine) on the haematological parameters in potassium bromate (KBrO3) intoxicated Albino Rats. Thirty (30) rats divided into six (6) groups consisting of five rats each, group one as the normal control, group two as the negative control (50 mg/kg of KBrO3 only), group three Vitamin C (100 mg/kg) + 50 mg/kg of KBrO3and group four to six (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg) respectively. KBrO3 exposure significantly altered some haematological indices in the rats indicating a haematotoxic effects. The results showed a dose-dependent improvement in several haematological parameters upon coadministration of Amaranthis viridis occurred. The red blood cell count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), and white blood cell count (WBC) exhibited notable recovery in comparison to the KBrO3-treated group. Platelet count (PLT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) also demonstrated positive alterations in response to the extract. The group receiving the highest dose of the leaf extract (800 mg/kg) alongside KBrO3 displayed the most significant improvement in the aforementioned parameters, indicating a potential dose-dependent protective effect against KBrO3-induced haematotoxicity. These findings suggest the potential therapeutic efficacy of Amaranthus viridis extract in mitigating KBrO3-induced hematological alterations.
This Experiment was conducted on 120 day old unsexed Ross broiler chicks to study the effect of added methionine to soybean meal as substitute for protein concentrate in the starter ration on some productive traits . The chicks were raised on floor were distributed to three treatments with four replicates each ( 10 birds) . The three experimental starter rations (1-28) day contained 2800 kcal/kg ME and 22% cp . The first supplemented with 5% protein concentrate , while the second and third were with out protein concentrate but supplemented with 0.1 and 0.2% methionine respectively . The Finisher ration (29-49) day contained 3047 kcal/kg ME and 19.19% cp. At 49 day of age 2 birds from each replicate were slaughtered for carcass traits . Statistic analysis of data showed a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in body weight , weight gain , feed and protein efficiency ratio for third treatment during (1-28) day , No significant difference in all studied traits during (29-49)day, and the third treatment showed best economic efficiency .
The present study was designed to evaluate the In vitro anti-oxidant cardio-protective activity of Hydro alcoholic bark extract of Terminalia paniculata Roxb on Isoproterenol induced Myocardial Infarction in Rat. Wistar albino rats used in this experiment were pretreated with vehicle, HAETP (200,400 and 600 mg/kg, p.o), Vit-C (20 mg/kg, p.o) for 14 days, on 14th and 15th day, Isoproterenol (85 mg/kg, s.c) was injected. After 24 h of last dose of ISO administration, ECG was recorded and serum biomarkers CK-MB, LDH, SGOT and SGPT were estimated. Further antioxidant levels were estimated from the tissue homogenates. Finally histopathological examination of heart was performed. HAETP have shown significant antioxidant activity in DPPH and reducing power methods. Moreover pretreatment with HAETP and Vit C improved ECG pattern and histopathology of heart.
Bacteria that colonize plant roots and enhance the plant growth are denoted as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR). The objective of this study is to isolate and identify Oryza sativa indigenous rhizobacteria and test for its, bio-control and various plant growth promoting traits under in-vitro condition. Nine rhizobacterial colonies isolated from healthy rice rhizosphere soil were screened for bio-control activity against rice pathogen Helminthosporium oryzae (rice brown spot) and Rhizoctonia solani (sheath blight) by performing dual culture method. The isolate B9 showed maximum antagonism against R. solani (73.7%) followed by isolate B2 (51.2%), isolate B1 (47.5%) and isolate B5 (42.5%) with different range of mycelial inhibition. Among nine rhizobacterial isolates tested, the growth of pathogenic fungi H. oryzae was only inhibited by the isolate B9 (20.5%). The isolates B1, B2, B5 and B9 exhibited maximum bio-control activities were further screened for different PGP traits, such as Phosphate (P) solubilization, Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) production, Hydrogen Cyanide production (HCN) and extracellular enzyme production under in-vitro condition. The isolate B9 revealed the maximum P solubilization efficiency (99 SE), 45 μg/ml of IAA, HCN, amylase and cellulase production in maximum amount. The isolate B9 exhibited maximum bio-control, and PGP traits were identified by morphological and biochemical characterization and it was identified as Bacillus subtilis. In pot experiment, the rice seeds treated with B. subtilis exhibited significant shoot and root biomass when compared with un-inoculated rice and fungus-infected rice. This study highlighted the beneficial properties of native PGPR’s on growth promotion of rice and it could be formulated as bio-control as well as plant growth promoting agent, to reduce the application of chemical fertilizers in agricultural lands.
Urolithiasis is a common worldwide problem with high recurrence. This review covers the forty-one (41) antiurolithiatic plants of the Rosaceae family that are used in 14 countries. Hopefully, this review will be helpful for the general public and attract the scientific world for antiurolithiatic drug discovery.
Background: Hyoscine N-butylbromide (HBB; Buscopan) is commonly used in obstetric practice to accelerate labor and facilitate cervical dilation, yet variability in knowledge, attitude, and clinical usage persists among practitioners. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and usage patterns of HBB among medical practitioners at Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted between August 2024 and April 2025 among 102 medical practitioners directly involved in labor care at ABSUTH. A structured, self-administered questionnaire, validated through expert review and pilot testing (Cronbach’s α = 0.78), was used to collect data on demographics, knowledge, attitude, and usage patterns. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi-square tests and Pearson correlations, were performed using SPSS v. 25.0. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Among 102 respondents, 93.1% had heard of HBB, and 70.6% correctly identified it as an antispasmodic. While 69.6% recognized its primary mechanism as cervical relaxation, 48% were aware of contraindications. The majority agreed that it is effective (mean = 4.12) and improves maternal outcomes (mean = 4.01). About 85.3% had administered it during labor, mostly in the active phase (64.7%), with the intravenous route being most preferred (56.9%). Statistically significant associations were observed between knowledge and attitude (χ² = 18.442, p = 0.001), specialty and frequency of use (χ² = 12.695, p = 0.048), and formal training with dosage knowledge (χ² = 15.210, p = 0.002). Knowledge, attitude, and usage scores were significantly correlated (p < 0.01). Conclusions: While the majority of practitioners at ABSUTH are familiar with and frequently use HBB in labor management, knowledge gaps and variations in practice remain. Strengthening formal training and incorporating standardized protocols could improve evidence-based usage and maternal outcomes.
Abstract Cigarette smoking has been linked to health challenges of global concern. This study determined Body Mass Index (BMI), serum cotinine and C-reactive protein levels of smokers. Forty-five smokers and forty-five aged-matched non-smokers were recruited into the study. Informed consents were obtained from the participants. Ethical consideration was granted by Cross River State Ministry of Health. Blood samples were collected by standard phlebotomy. Smokers were categorized based on Smoking Pack Years (SPY) into light, moderate and heavy smokers. Serum cotinine and C-reactive protein levels were determined by spectrophotometry. Height and weights were measured and BMI calculated. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Student’s t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation were utilized for comparison, results were considered significant at p<0.05. There was no significant difference (p=0.103) between the mean age of smokers and non-smokers. Mean BMI of smokers was significantly lower (p=0.015) than that of non-smokers. Mean Serum cotinine and C-reactive protein of smokers were significantly higher (p=0.001) than those of non-smokers. Mean age, serum cotinine and C-reactive protein levels vary significantly (p<0.05) among the smokers categorized based on SPY. BMI did not vary significantly (p=0.269) among the groups. A correlation between age and serum cotinine was negative (r=-0.359, p=0.016), and that between age and SPY was negative (r=-0.348, p=0.019). Correlations between cotinine and C-reactive protein and between cotinine and SPY were positive (r=0.928, p=0.001) and (r=0.947, p=0.001) respectively. A correlation between C-reactive protein and SPY was positive (r=0.957, p=0.001). The study had shown that C-reactive protein increases with cotinine levels and smoking pack years in smokers.
Adenoid Facies and its Management: An Orthodontic Perspective Adenoid facies is a disorder which refers to the open-mouthed face of children who have long faces with adenoid hypertrophy. Hypertrophy of the lymphoid tissues in the throat (the adenoids) is the most common cause of nasal obstruction in children. The mouth is always open because upper airway congestion/narrowing has made patients obligatory mouth breathers. Persistent mouth breathing is seen due to nasal obstruction in children and it may be associated with the development of craniofacial anomalies such as the adenoid facies (also called the “long face syndrome”). The most common symptoms are habitual mouth breathing and snoring. The most dangerous symptom is sleep apnea due to obstruction. This article discusses the orthodontic aspects of diagnosis and treatment of adenoid facies.
Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technologies are well-known tools for microbial prevention in indoor public places which are frequently employed for disinfecting air, surfaces, and water. Such technologies have drawn a great deal of interest due to its potential application, especially in the domain of healthcare. This article discusses the shortcomings of chemical disinfectants and analyzes the current research standing on the development of various types of UV disinfection technologies for their prospective usage in the healthcare industry. Furthermore, the article provides a thorough analysis and in-depth evaluation of the current antibacterial studies using UV lamps and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for the treatment of frequently encountered pathogens associated with healthcare. According to the systematic review, UV-LEDs have shown to be a potential source for delivering disinfection which is equally efficient or more effective than traditionally used UV lamps. The findings also provide valuable considerations for potentially substituting conventional lamps with LEDs that would be less expensive, more efficient, more robust, non-fragile and safer. With greater effectiveness and advantages, UV-LEDs have shown to be the potential UV source that could fundamentally be able to transform the disinfection industry. Therefore, the study supports the employment of UV-LED technology as a better and workable approach for effective disinfection applications. The study also offers insightful information that will help to direct future studies in the domain of hygienic practices used in healthcare facilities.
Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common genetic diseases worldwide, with very high prevalence rates in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria. Given the importanceand benefits of newborn screening (NBS), it is essential to assess awareness and acceptance of NBS for SCD and the factors influencing its acceptance in this region. Methods: This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study that examined pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic for their first visit between August 1 and October 31, 2023. This antenatal clinic has an average annual attendance of 1,521 pregnant women who come for their first visit. The data obtained were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 20), and the results were presented in prose, tables, and figures as appropriate. A level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Three hundred and two (302) pregnant women were recruited for the study. Though there was low awareness (13.2%), there was a high acceptance rate (96.7%) of NBS for SCD amongst the women studied. However, the type of marriage (monogamous marriage, p = 0.029) was the only factor found to have a significant relationship with the respondents’ willingness to accept NBS for SCD. Conclusions: Community education, with an emphasis on married couples, women of reproductive age, and religious leaders, should be intensified. The monogamous marriage setting may reflect marital stability, social support, or correlated socioeconomic factors on health decision-making. However, this may have different implications in different societies.
Abstract Higher education in India is always a socio-political way and a powerful engine of social mobility. It adds to the benefits to society as more people earning Higher Education credentials. It is proven that college graduates earn more. They are less likely to be unemployed. They are more likely to vote, more likely to volunteer, and more likely to maintain good health. India as a Globalised and developing nation has been little systematically progressing on the educational front since its independence. The government is making progress in reaching out to all the classes of its society. The improvement in the country’s economic front has resulted in the upscaling of communication technology. The advent of the internet, have vastly leveraged the promotion of education across all verticals. But at the same time, the idea of Equity and Equality needs to be redefined in the present context of the newly established notion of ‘Inclusivity’. This paper deliberates on the various ideas and approaches of Higher Education in India on ‘Inclusivity’ in general and Equity and Equality in particular.
Background: Non-syndromic combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) occurs due to defects in transcription factors that govern early pituitary development and the specification of hormone-producing cells. The most common mutations are in the Prophet of Pit-1 (ProP1) gene. This work aims to (1) report findings of genetic analyses of Tunisian patients with non-syndromic CPHD and (2) describe their phenotype patterns and their evolution through life. Methods: Fifteen patients from twelve unrelated families with variable clinical phenotypes were included after excluding autoimmune and acquired forms of non-syndromic CPHD. Detailed pedigree charts and auxological, hormonal, radiological, and therapeutic details were recorded. Sanger sequencing was performed, and sequences were analyzed with a specific focus on coding and splice site regions of the ProP1 gene. Retained variants were classified using several in silico pathogenicity prediction tools and the VarSome platform. Results: We identified the common p.Arg73Cys mutation in seven patients from four unrelated pedigrees. We found a novel homozygous mutation (c.340C>T) in one sporadic case. This mutation generates a truncated ProP1 protein, predicted to be non-functional, lacking the last 112 codons (p.(Gln114Ter)). We confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) the absence of large exon deletions or insertions in the remaining sporadic patients (7/8). Conclusions: We report two mutations {one newly identified [p.(Gln114Ter)] and one previously reported (p.Arg73Cys)} in five unrelated Tunisian families with non-syndromic CPHD. This work is of clinical importance as it reports the high frequency of the p.Arg73Cys mutation in Tunisian CPHD families. Our study also illuminated the involvement of novel gene(s) in the emergence of non-syndromic CPHD.
The global endeavor to develop and deploy COVID-19 vaccines has underscored both significant scientific progress and enduring disparities in worldwide access. This analysis examines regional vaccine distribution patterns across World Health Organization (WHO) regions—Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, and Western Pacific—revealing substantial variations in vaccine types and manufacturer contributions. Data indicate that the Americas and Europe demonstrate a broad vaccine portfolio, with prominent contributions from major international pharmaceutical companies alongside regionally developed vaccines. Conversely, African, Eastern Mediterranean, and Western Pacific regions show considerable reliance on vaccines from Asian (notably China and India) and Russian manufacturers, in addition to Western products. This distribution highlights the influence of geographical proximity to manufacturing centers, regional alliances, and local production capabilities (e.g., CIGB and Finlay in the Americas, COVIran Barakat in the Eastern Mediterranean, and various Chinese products in the Western Pacific) on vaccine availability. Predominant vaccines by country count include Pfizer-BioNTech's Comirnaty, AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria, Janssen's Ad26.COV2-S, Moderna's Spikevax, Beijing CNBG's BBIBP-CorV, and SII's Covishield. The observed regional variations in vaccine types and supply chains carry implications for comparative effectiveness research, the understanding of differential immune responses, and the evaluation of pandemic control strategies. Furthermore, inconsistencies in global data reporting and product nomenclature present challenges for comprehensive analysis. The findings emphasize the importance of diversified supply chains, the growing role of regional manufacturing in enhancing global health security, and the need for standardized global data for a more profound understanding of vaccine equity and efficacy to inform future pandemic responses.
Background: This study investigated the utilization of consumer health informatics in health promotion among the staff of tertiary institutions in Rivers state. Subjects & Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive research design was used. Two research questions guided this paper. The population of this paper comprised all the 13,046 staff of tertiary institutions in Rivers state. A sample of 1226 staff was drawn using multi-stage sampling techniques. An instrument titled, “Utilization of Consumer Health Informatics in Health Promotion Questionnaire” (UCHIHPQ) was adopted for data collection. The instrument was validated and reliability yielded an index of 0.80. Mean and Standard Deviation statistics were used to answer the research questions. The statistical analysis was performed with the use of SPSS v23. Results: The result revealed among others that to a very large extent, the respondents accepted that consumer health informatics was used to improve their nutritional and physical health status. Conclusion: It was therefore concluded and recommended among others that staff of tertiary institutions in Rivers state should regularly use intelligent informatics applications to attain a healthy balance between self-reliance and seeking professional help concerning nutritional and physical health matter
Background: Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatments for other conditions. Studies have shown that stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers can act as potential sources of these infections in patients accessing treatment in healthcare facilities. This study aimed to increase awareness among health workers in Nigeria of the potentials of stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers to transmit HAIs. Methods: Moist swab sticks were used to collect samples from 38 randomly selected stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers from some departments of four district hospitals. Collected samples were cultured using standard microbiological techniques. In addition, self-designed questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and practice of doctors and nurses on the roles of stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers in HAIs. Results: About 83.8% of the health workers demonstrated some awareness of the roles of stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers in HAIs. 42.5% cleaned their stethoscopes, while 5% their sphygmomanometers. Staphylococcus aureus, (65.9% of stethoscopes), proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (67.6% of sphygmomanometers), Streptococcus and Coliform species were isolated. There was no significant difference between the contamination of stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers by the isolates, except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (t=3.49, p=0.04). Conclusions: Awareness did not match practice in cleaning the stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers in the four facilities. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the two most common organisms isolated with a significant difference (t=3.49, p=0.04) between stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers in isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To curb HAIs, health workers need to improve on their practice of cleaning stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers.
The research paper has addressed the issues related to the usage patterns of the social media by the college students. The demographic profile of the students is also been studied in order to identify the relationships. The most used social media, duration of the use of social media, time spent on the social media, the reliability of the information shared on the social media, number of friends and the groups students have on social media their preferred time of using social media are the major issues discussed in the paper. Primary data is used for the calculations and analysis which is collected through the questionnaire circulated among 500 students studying in graduate level pharmaceutical science course. The study is descriptive in nature and qualitative as well as quantitative research methods are used to study the objectives. The study presents new data on Internet use among male and female college students, as well as trends in use of social media. The findings of the paper indicate that there exists a strong link between the gender of the respondents and most used social media. The data analysis gives a clear picture about the typical pattern of using social media in terms of the time, occasion, number of friends and groups they belong to on social media.
Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder resulting from deficiency of thyroid hormone or its effects on peripheral tissues. Previous hospital based study have revealed high prevalence of hypothyroidism in pregnant women. Also, studies with small sample size indicated a rising trend of prevalence of hypothyroidism during pregnancy. Moreover, pregnancy is seen as a risk factor in the occurrence of thyroid dysfunctions. Thus, the aim of was to assess and analyze prevalence of hypothyroidism among Libyan pregnant women in Benghazi city in to study its relation and risk in pregnancy. The study was conducted on a sample size of 177 Libyan pregnant women in Benghazi city in Libya during 2018. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in clinics located in Benghazi city. Responses to the question was coded and analyzed. The prevalence of hypothyroidism among the pregnant women was found to be 10.2% (n = 18) and no significant relation between age and hypothyroidism among women. Only nine percent of the pregnant women had medical conditions (as diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure). 28% of the hypothyroidism pregnant women are of the first gestation and 72% are of the second or more. 83% of the hypothyroidism pregnant women had no thyroidectomy. Thus, this study concludes that there is a high prevalence of hypothyroidism during pregnancy period in Benghazi and a national screening is necessary for hypothyroidism in Libya.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
The increasing prevalence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in creating content signifies a notable change in the digital communication landscape. While the broader effects on widespread media platforms have been extensively discussed, the specific consequences within specialized online communities remain less explored. These communities, frequently founded and established on shared interests, mutual confidence, and perceived genuineness, are particularly susceptible to alterations in the origin and trustworthiness of content. This paper challenges three questions: (1) How AI content affects credibility perceptions, (2) Verification methods used by communities, (3) Consequences for trust dynamics. A hypothetical framework would be used to investigate the potential impact of AI-produced content on the dynamics of trust and credibility within these focused digital environments. By drawing upon existing academic work in media studies, the behavior of online communities, and the concept of source credibility, a theoretical model and outline a potential research strategy were encouraged to examine how the presence, identification, and interpretation of content authored by AI might modify member interactions, processes for verifying information, and the overall unity of the community. The hypothetical outcome suggests that the subtle integration of AI content could diminish perceived authenticity, complicate established indicators of trust, and potentially lead to the fragmentation or decline of communities that depend on authentic human connection and collective expertise. The article concludes by considering the ramifications for those who manage communities, design platforms, and participate as members, stressing the importance of greater openness and digital literacy in navigating the evolving digital media landscape.