African health sciences
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African health sciences · Sep 2019
Serum levels of copper, zinc and disease severity scores in sickle cell disease patients in Benin City, Nigeria.
Micronutrient deficiency is recognized in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) but it is not known for certain whether changes in zinc, copper and copper-to-zinc ratio are associated with Sickle cell disease severity scores. ⋯ Copper-to-zinc ratio may be an indicator of disease severity in SCA patients.
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African health sciences · Sep 2019
Approach to stress endocrine response: somatization in the context of gastroenterological symptoms: a systematic review.
Stress can be defined as an acute threat to the homeostasis of an organism, and in order to manage stress, and maintain stability, the allostatic systems activate an adaptive response. Stress has been shown to have both short - and long-term effects on the function of the gastrointestinal tract, but long-term exposure to stress is more likely to cause endocrine disorders. ⋯ This study examined how the endocrine system responds to stress, and the effect this has in causing stress-related gastrointestinal distresses. Our findings indicate that stress-related psychological disorders are strongly associated with the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms.
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African health sciences · Sep 2019
Behavioral factors contributing to the transmission of HIV and AIDS amongst young women of Mbabane in Swaziland.
HIV and AIDS remains a pandemic that has greatly affected many regions and countries in the world. Africa is the hardest hit region by tthis disease while southern Africa appears to be the melting pot for HIV and AIDS. The HIV and AIDS pandemic remains the greatest sustainable human development and public health challenge for Swaziland. Swaziland is the world's worst affected country with the youth the most vulnerable group to HIV and AIDS due to many factors. ⋯ The findings indicated that though the majority of the respondents had knowledge of HIV and AIDS, positive behavior change remained a challenge. Most respondents (88%) had one sexual partner with 38% reporting condom use during their last sexual encounter. HIV/AIDS awareness was widespread. However, there were still characteristics of resistance to behavior change, because there was evidence of underestimation of HIV risk through engagement in behavior, which contributed to HIV infection and spread. Behavioral change measures using the BCC model is proposed.
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African health sciences · Sep 2019
Comparative effects of glibenclamide, metformin and insulin on fetal pancreatic histology and maternal blood glucose in pregnant streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Oral hypoglycemic agents use during pregnancy was assumed to cause fetal macrosomia and skeletal deformities, and maternal complications due to significant transfer across placenta or ineffective control of blood glucose. ⋯ At the doses used in this research, metformin and glibenclamide showed no adverse effects on maternal and fetal features in the treatment of GDM. Thus, they can be used as safe and inexpensive alternatives to insulin.
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African health sciences · Sep 2019
Anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects of hydroalcoholic extract from Erythrina variegata and its possible mechanism of action.
Erythrina variegata has been widely used as a traditional medicine. ⋯ These findings suggest that Erythrina variegata presents potential anxiolytic and anti-depressant activity, and the mechanism may be related to the alteration of neurotransmitter levels.