African journal of medicine and medical sciences
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Multicenter Study
Efficacy of herbal remedies used by herbalists in Oyo State Nigeria for treatment of Plasmodium falciparum infections--a survey and an observation.
In the course of evaluating the contribution of phytomedicine to possible drug discovery of antimalarial drugs, an ethnomedical survey of specialized children traditional clinics was done. In the observational multi center study, efficacy of eight different herbal remedies, each consisting of 3-8 ingredients and administered by herbalists were investigated in clients enrolled in the six traditional clinics in Oyo (urban center) and Otu (rural center) of Oyo State, Nigeria. The clients, aged between six months and fifteen years with clinical symptoms of malaria were enrolled in the clinics of the herbalists, as their usual practice. ⋯ The herbalists administered the remedies and Gossypium arboreum, Anarcadium occidentalis, Citrus medica, Phyllanthus amarus and Lippia multiflora were the main ingredients in the efficacious remedies. The herbalists gave detailed descriptions of each of the 8 herbal remedies proffered. The results confirm the efficacy of two of the eight herbal remedies, thereby validating the role of ethnomedicine as a possible source for the discovery of new chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of P. falciparum malaria.
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The high mortality and morbidity associated with intra-cranial subdural hematoma (SDH), has declined significantly with the introduction of Computerised Tomography (CT) for the evaluation of the brain in suspected cases. One hundred patients with CT-diagnosed SDH at the Radiology department of the University College Hospital, Ibadan between January 1999 and December 2000 were reviewed. The mean age was 47.4 years. ⋯ The lesions were right-sided in 45 (45%) cases and left-sided in 38 (38%). A total of 169 lesions were detected as some patients had multiple sites, however, the parietal 78 (46.2%) and frontal 64 (37.9%) lobes were mostly affected. We conclude that brain CT scan offers the advantage of prompt determination and precise anatomical localization of SDH, which significantly aids management.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A comparative study of the wound healing properties of honey and Ageratum conyzoides.
The present study investigates the wound healing properties of methanolic extracts of Ageratum conyzoides leaves compared with those of honey. Thirty Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups of 10 animals each. They were fed with standard rat cubes and Tap water weighed and acclimatized to laboratory conditions for one week. ⋯ Also, healed scar sections of wounds dressed with the herb extract showed more fibrosis. Honey and Ageratum caused significant greater wound contraction than controls (p = 0.001 and 0.005 respectively). Healed wounds from the Ageratum group had significantly fewer fibroblasts than honey and controls (p = 0.012 and 0.036 respectively).
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Records of 15 patients presenting with pressurised bottled drinks related eye injuries between January 1996 and 2001 were reviewed to identify factors contributing to accidental eye injuries from pressurised bottled drinks, reason for poor outcome and to make recommendations. In all, 16 eyes of 15 patients were studied out of which 7 were males (M:F, ratio 1:1.1). Age range, 3 years-49 years, mean 23.6 years. ⋯ Greater care should be taken with the handling of bottled drinks by the sellers, factory workers and consumers. High risk occupations such as bottled drink sellers and factory workers may need to wear protective goggles during handling. Public health education on need to seek prompt and proper treatment as well as need for Government to institute the National health insurance scheme to cater for indigent patients.
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A retrospective study was conducted at the cardiothoracic surgical unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan on all consecutive, blunt chest injury patients treated between May 1975 and April 1999. The period of study was divided into 2 periods: May 1975-April 1987, May 1987-April 1999. The aim was to determine the pattern of injury, the management and complications of the injury among the treated. ⋯ Overall mortality was 36.2% (154 patients) among 426 patients. We conclude that majority of blunt chest trauma can be managed by simple procedures with minimal complications. Severe soft tissue chest injuries can occur without bony chest wall fractures.