African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (9), pp. 001-004, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full length Research paper

A clinical-controlled trial compared carom caraway (black cumin, Niggella sativa) and metoclopramide in functional dyspepsia

A. Fani¹*, I. Fani¹, P. Fani¹, B. Alizade¹, M. Rafei¹ and A. A. Malekirad²

¹Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.

²Payame Noor University, Iran.

Accepted 09 March, 2019

Abstract

The treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia remains unsatisfactory. We assessed the efficacy of carom caraway (black cumin) in comparison with metoclopramide, in patients with functional dyspepsia. Outpatients who were considered functional dyspepsia (Rom II criteria) were eligible for the trial. Dyspeptic symptoms had to be present for at least 12 weeks within the preceding 12 months, without any identifiable structural disease and GERD on endoscopy. The Helicobacter pylori infection had been ruled out by ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) antibody and urea breath test (UBT). Patients were randomly separated into two groups with block design. The study medication was packaged identically. We used 10 grades visual analog scale to assess the severity of dyspeptic symptoms before and after a two-week treatment. We used SPSS 13 software for analyzing the data, estimated odds ratio and its 95% CI, the P value (<0.05) were statistically estimated significant. 160 eligible patients were recruited, 80 in each group, 36 (45%) males in cumin and 33 (41.25%) males in metoclopramide group respectively. the mean age in the cumin group was 38.56 (SD=13.65) and in metoclopramide group, it was 36.41 (SD=12.15). The visual analog scale assessment of symptoms in pre and post treatment is shown in given. Dyspeptic symptoms in two groups after dichotomous variable changes were compared. We conclude that carom caraway has effects of similar magnitude on metoclopramide to control the symptoms of functional dyspepsia, and encourages safety profiles.

Key words: Functional dyspepsia, Nigella sativa, carom caraway, black cumin, metoclopramide.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Pharmacogenomics: Benefits of personalized medicines

Avinash Puri

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 16 February, 2019

Abstract

Pharmacogenomics is a science that examines the inherited variations in genes that dictate drug response and explores the ways these variations can be used to predict whether a patient will have a good, bad, or no response at all to a drug. It refers to the general study of all of the many different genes that determine drug behavior. It could also guide companies in designing clinical trials that would more definitively prove drug efficacy, in turn decreasing the time, costs, and risks of drug development. In the clinical setting, pharmacogenomics will help physicians to better define the long-term health risks that patients face, diagnose the stage of patient’s diseases more precisely and predict patients’ responsiveness to specific drugs more accurately or the likelihood for adverse events.

Key words: Pharmacogenomics, biomarkers, gene variations.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (8), pp. 001-012, August, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Awareness of breast cancer and practice of breast self examination among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in selected health centres, Benin City, Edo State

*Ehwarieme  T.A¹, Amiegheme F.E², Unigwe J.K³ and Ugwueze J.O⁴

¹Department of Nursing Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State.

²Department of Nursing Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State.

³Continue Education and research Unit, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Utuku-Ozala, Enugu, Enugu State.

⁴Department of Nursing Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State.

Accepted 18 July, 2019

Abstract

Worldwide, breast cancer is the second most frequent cancer and the fifth cause of cancer-related mortality. This study was conducted to assess the level of awareness of breast cancer and practice of breast self examination among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in some selected health centres in Benin City, Edo state. A descriptive cross sectional survey design was adopted. Pregnant women were recruited using convenient sampling technique. The research instrument used was questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Result shows that 133 (61.3%) had good awareness and 84 (38.7%) had poor awareness of breast cancer. 101 (46.5%) exhibited poor awareness of breast self-examination, while only 56 (25.8%) had good awareness of breast self-examination. 183 (84.3%) exhibited poor practice of breast self-examination. Perceived hindrance to practice of breast self-examination were lack of time (3.20±1.115), Negligence (3.12±1.025), lack of breast cancer symptom (3.28±0.966) and fear of the unknown (3.22±0.956). A statistically significant relationship (p<0.001) between awareness of breast cancer and awareness of breast self-examination was found. Marital status of the respondents showed a statistically significant relationship (p<0.000, OR = -0.230, CI 95% = -0.343 – -0.117) and education of the respondents showed a statistically significant association (p<0.000, OR = 0.135, CI 95% = 0.064 – 0.205). Regular health education for pregnant women especially during their antennal clinic should be intensified to increase the practice of breast self examination.

Key words: Breast cancer, awareness, practice, self examination, hindrance.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Evaluation of immunohistochemistry with a panel of antibodies against recombinant mycobacterial antigens for the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis

S. Sumi and V. V. Radhakrishnan*

Department of Pathology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 011, Kerala, India.

Accepted 23 April, 2019

Abstract

Diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis can be an enigma owing to its varied clinical manifestation and also due to the low sensitivity of conventional bacteriological methods to confirm the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The present study was precisely designed to evaluate the potential diagnostic application of immunohistochemistry using a panel of antibodies against mycobacterial antigens for the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis. Immunohistochemistry was performed on the formalin-fixed paraffin sections of lymph node biopsies using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against four recombinant mycobacterial proteins, that is, ESAT-6, HspX, Tb8.4 and PlcA. The results of immunohistochemistry were correlated with Zeihl-Neelsen staining method. Immunohistochemistry using anti-ESAT-6 antibody was found to be highly sensitive (88.6%). Anti-ESAT-6 and anti-PlcA antibodies were found to be highly specific. Results of the study suggest that immunohistochemistry using anti- ESAT-6 antibody has potential application for the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis, in patients in whom conventional diagnostic methods did not confirm the presence of acid-fast bacilli.

Key words: Immunohistochemistry, tuberculous lymphadenitis, recombinant mycobacterial antigens.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (8), pp. 001-008, August, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Antimicrobial compounds from marine halophytes for silkworm disease treatment

S. Ravi Kumar¹*, G. Ramanathan², M. Subhakaran³ and S. Jacob Inbaneson¹

¹School of Marine Sciences, Centre for Marine Pharmacology, Alagappa University, Thondi Campus 623 409, Tamil Nadu, India.

²Department of Microbiology, V. H. S. N. College, Virudhunagar, Tamilnadu, India.

³Department of Zoology, Arignar Anna College, Aralvaimozhi, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India.

Accepted 22 April, 2019

Abstract

Forty-five crude methanolic extracts from 23 marine halophytes were screened against five bacterial and two fungal saprophytic pathogens of diseased silkworm Bombyx mori. Among thirty-four mangrove samples screened for antibacterial activity, the leaf extract of Rhizophora mucronata showed maximum inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus (20 mm dia.). The seaweed species of Padina tetrostomatica showed maximum inhibitory activity against Proteus vulgaris (11 mm dia) and the seagrass species of Syringodium isoetifolium showed maximum inhibition against P. vulgaris (9 dia). The solar saltern cyanobacterium Phormidium fragile exhibits higher inhibitory activity against P. vulgaris (17 mm dia). The growth of fungal pathogens of Aspergillus niger was highly inhibited by S. isoetifolium (15 mm dia) and Padina tetrostomatica (13 mm dia) respectively compared with the other extracts. It is also noted that 16x concentration of the leaf extract of R. mucronata and S. isoetifolium showed complete reduction in the bacterial and fungal viable counts within 3 h of exposure.

Key words: Mangroves, Bombyx mori, seaweed, sea grass, time kill assay herbal disinfectants, cyanobacteria.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Prolonged administration of high doses of copper nicotinate to rats: Effect on biochemical and cellular constituents of blood and on copper level in serum, liver and muscle

Attia H. Atta¹*, Salah Fathy², Gohar, M.², Reem Jan³, Gihan Kamel¹, Samar M. Mouneir¹ and Soad M. Nasr⁴

¹Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University Egypt.

²Callcure Center for Drug Research, Egypt.

³Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.

⁴National Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

Accepted 22, April, 2019

Abstract

The effect of prolonged administration of high doses of copper nicotinate on biochemical and cellular constituents of blood and on copper level in serum, liver and muscle was studied in rats. Oral administration of copper nicotinate at doses of 0.8 or 4.0 mg/kg body weight (b. wt.) for 6 weeks did not affect GOT, creatinine or cholesterol in serum of rats. When given at 4.0 mg/kg b. wt. for 8 weeks copper nicotinate significantly (P <0.05) increased GOT, GPT, urea, creatinine and cholesterol in serum of rats. Minimal hematological changes were observed particularly when copper nicotinate was given at the high dose for 8 weeks. After administration of copper nicotinate at a dose of 0.8 and 4.0 mg/kg b. wt. copper level increased in the serum. The concentrat of copper in liver and muscle tissue initially increased through the first 2 weeks, but its level decreased within the next 2 weeks and remained almost at this level up to the 10^th week. The present data indicate the safety of copper nicotinate complex when given at a high dose for 6-8 weeks. This was also confirmed by the high LD₅₀ in mice (1104.17 and 128.33 mg/kg b. wt. after oral and intraperitoneal route respectively.

Key words: Copper nicotinate, copper complex, copper high doses, copper concentration, serum biochemical changes, hematological changes.