Background: Although many drugs exist for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) today, it remains the... more Background: Although many drugs exist for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) today, it remains the most common prostatic disease affecting older men. Herbal medicine has become more common as an affordable alternative therapy for curing and preventing tissue-related pathologies in hopes of overcoming the side effects of existing synthetic pharmaceutical products and surgical procedures. This study evaluated the effects of single and combined ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa and Moringa oleifera on testosterone-induced BPH, urothelial, and testicular toxicity in albino rats. Method: In this experimental study BHP was induced in albino rats and treated with C. longa, M. oleifera, C. longa/M. oleifera, and Tamsulosin hydrochloride. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and tissue p63 expression were estimated by the ELISA and Avidin-Biotin Complex (immunohistochemistry) methods. Differences in PSA levels among the Groups were assessed using ANOVA and significance set at p< 0.05. Result: Biochemical findings showed significantly increased serum PSA levels in BPH induced group (0.59 ± 0.07 nmol/L) without treatment compared with BPH-induced group treated with a single extract of C. longa, M. oleifera, combined extracts of C. longa and M. oleifera and standard drug (0.12 ± 0.06 nmol/L, 0.16 ± 0.04 nmol/L, 0.11 ± 0.02 nmol/L, and 0.20 ± 0.04 nmol/L, respectively) at p< 0.05. Histology revealed giant cell formation in the BPH-induced group without treatment. Combined administration of a mixture of C. longa and M. oleifera with the single use of either of the plants. Conclusion: This study revealed that combining both C. longa root and M. oleifera seed extracts has curative potential on experimentally induced BPH. It suggests that standardized herbal medicine could be used as an alternative to orthodox medicine, especially in low-resource settings.
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 2023
Introduction: There is mounting evidence indicating that the co-existence of Human papillomavirus... more Introduction: There is mounting evidence indicating that the co-existence of Human papillomavirus (HPV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with aggressive and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) phenotype. However, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence of EBV in cases of cervical cancer in Southern Nigeria or the effect of both viruses on p53 gene expression among patients diagnosed with cervical cancer. Therefore, this study investigated the prevalence of mutant p53 (mtp53) in single and co-presence of HPV and EBV-LMP1 in invasive and non-invasive cases of cervical cancer in order to determine the role of EBV in cervical carcinogenesis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 105 viable archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of cervical cancer, diagnosed between 2016 and 2019 in two tertiary health care facilities in Southern Nigeria. Tissue sections were stained for mtp53, EBV-LMP1, and HPV using the immunohistochemical technique and scored based on staining intensity and documented as 0, +1, +2, and +3. Tissues with scores of 0 and +1 were considered negative whereas those with scores of +2 and +3 were considered positive. Descriptive, Chi-square test and Pearson’s correlation were carried out and statistical significance was set at ≤0.05. Result: The mean age of participants with cervical cancer was 53.32 ± 12.54 years. The prevalence of invasive and non-invasive cases of cervical cancer were 62.9% and 37.1%, respectively. The prevalence of well, moderately, and poorly differentiated cervical cancer were 54.3%, 34.3%, and 11.4%, respectively. The prevalence of single EBV-LMP1, and HPV antigen were 21.0% (n= 21) and 14.2% (n= 15), respectively whereas the prevalence of EBV-LMP1/HPV co-infection was 42.9% (n= 45). The prevalence of HPV/EBV-LMP1 co=presence was high in invasive cervical cancer compared with non-invasive cervical cancer cases (45.5% versus 30.8%) at p= 0.154. The prevalence of mtp53 was higher in EBV-LMP1/HPV co-presence compared with HPV, and EBV-LMP1 mono-presence (80.0%, 60.0%, and 14.3%, respectively) at p= 0.001. Conclusion: This study suggests that EBV increases the risk of cervical carcinogenesis in HPV-infected individuals in Southern Nigeria. Thus, EBV DNA should equally be investigated during HPV testing of suspected cervical cancer cases to identify individuals with poorer prognoses. Citation Format: Jude Okoye, Anthony Ajuluchukwu Ngokere, Charles Chinedum Onyenekwe, Ukpai Eze, Okechi Obioma. The pattern of mutant p53 protein expression in cervical cancer-associated single and co-infection with human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr C029.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with immune system activation and chronic inflam... more Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with immune system activation and chronic inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of HIV infection on Albumin and Globulin fractions as a possible marker of inflammation in HIV infected subjects. This is a case controlled study involving one hundred (100) HIV sero-positive subjects made up of male and female aged 20-50years which consist of 50 sero-positive subjects on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for a minimum of 6 months and 50 sero-positive subjects not on ART yet all of which attend HIV clinic at Nnamdi Azikiwe University University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), and 50 apparently healthy, age sex matched HIV sero-negative as control subjects. CD4 + T- cell count was estimated by Cyflow SLGreen. Alpha1microglobulin (α1M) and Beta2 microglobulin (β2M) were estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Albumin and total protein were estimated by colometric method, while globulin and albumin/globulin ratio were de...
Due to its secretory epithelial cells, the pancreas is plagued by several diseases ranging from p... more Due to its secretory epithelial cells, the pancreas is plagued by several diseases ranging from pancreatitis to pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer (PC) is rarely diagnosed early due to late onset of symptoms and its rapid progression. This challenge is further compounded by symptoms and biomarker expression overlap between PC and other co-founders such as diabetes mellitus, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). Hence, the need for less invasive but highly discriminatory biomarkers so as to pre-empt PC. Despite being the most commonly investigated biomarker in cases of PC, the low sensitivity of CA19-9 in identifying PC among groups negative for Lewis antigen and its low specificity in differentiating PC from pancreatitis, acute cholangitis, liver cirrhosis and obstructive jaundice have limited its use in diagnosis. Reports suggest that the accuracy of differentiating PC from other pancreatic diseases is dependent on the nature of sample being inves...
Identifying immunocompromised women who are at risk of developing cervical cancer remains a chall... more Identifying immunocompromised women who are at risk of developing cervical cancer remains a challenge for clinicians. In an effort to identify the role of HIV in cervical carcinogenesis, this study evaluated the levels of normally downregulated oncomirs (miR-21, miR-146a, miR-155, miR-182, and miR-200c) and normally upregulated tumor suppressors (miR-let-7b, miR-125b, miR-143, miR-145, and p53 expression) associated with cervical cancer in the serum of women living with HIV (HIV+) and without HIV (HIV. Method: This case-control study included 173 women; confirmed HIV+ (n = 103) and HIV− (n = 70). Serum levels of miRNAs and p53 were determined using reverse transcriptase PCR. t-test and Pearson’s correlation analyses were carried out on the generated data. Result: A higher level of miR-21 was observed among HIV+ women compared with their HIV− counterpart (p = 0.028), whereas lower levels of miR-125, and p53 gene were observed among HIV+ women compared with HIV− women at p = 0.050 and...
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health, 2020
Background: Livestock farming, especially cattle rearing, remains a major source of income for lo... more Background: Livestock farming, especially cattle rearing, remains a major source of income for local farmers. However, the health status of cattle and the standard of veterinary services determine the quality of animal meat and the risk of zoonotic transmission. Thus, this study determined the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori, parasitic infection, and gastric and hepatocellular diseases in cows slaughtered in two selected government approved abattoirs. Methods: Following the systematic random selection of cows, liver and gastric tissues were taken from the slaughtered cows (n = 99, each), fixed in 10% neutral-buffered for-malin, processed and stained accordingly, and microscopically examined for the presence of H. pylori, parasites, hepatocellular, and gastric diseases. Results: Approximately, 66% and 34% of the liver and gastric tissues had pathological changes, respectively. The pathologies observed in the liver were cirrhosis (12.1%), fibrosis (8.1%), hepatitis (28%), and necrosis (17%), whereas tumors (6.1%), dysplasia (10.1%), and gastritis (18%) were observed in gastric tissues. The prevalence of parasitic infections and H. pylori in the liver and gastric tissues were 4% and 26%, respectively. The prevalence of the bacteria was higher in pathologic gastric tissues (44.1%) than in normal gastric tissues (16%). There was a significant association between gastric diseases and H. pylori (p = 0.007). Only 20.2% of the investigated animals were without any obvious gastric and hepatocellular diseases. Conclusion: The study revealed that H. pylori infection is associated with gastric diseases in cows. It suggests that some cow meat from some abattoir may be unsafe for human consumption.
Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, 2015
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methanol extract ofThe modified International... more The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methanol extract ofThe modified International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) method was used to estimate the serum concentration of creatine kinase (CK (-MB)) while the haematology auto-analyser was used to estimate the total WBC count and lymphocyte count. The estimated values were subjected to analysis of variance using the SPSS software application (version 16) and expressed as mean±standard deviation. Tissue sections were stained by phosphotungstic acid haematoxylin and haematoxylin and eosin staining techniques.The result showed significant increases in serum concentrations of CK (-MB) (12.05±3.11–21.55±9.93 U/L) and total WBC count (5.33±0.66–6.51±0.38 103/μL) when the control group was compared with the treated groups (p<0.05). A significant dose-dependent decrease in the weight of the heart (0.053±0.00–0.041±0.003 kg) was also observed (p<0.05). An insignificant increase was observed in the lymphocyte count (...
Objectives Inhibition of HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A) reductase, the rate rate... more Objectives Inhibition of HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A) reductase, the rate rate-determining enzyme for the biogenesis of cholesterol is known to show antineoplastic effects. Therefore, this study investigates the in-silico HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR)-inhibitory and in-vivo anti-lipidaemic/anticancer effects of carotenoids from Spondias mombin. Methods Carotenoids from S. mombin leaves were characterized with the aid of liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The characterized phytochemicals were obtained from PubChem. They were docked into the orthosteric site of human HMGCR (Protein Data Bank code 1HW8) using AutoDock 4.0 suites. DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene) model of breast cancer was treated with the carotenoids extract from S. mombin (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses) to assess its anti-lipidaemic cum anticancer effects. Key findings Carotenoids from S. mombin; beta-carotene-15,15′-epoxide, astaxanthin and 7,7′,8,8′-tetra...
Human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in about 20% of breast cancer and is asso... more Human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in about 20% of breast cancer and is associated with a poor prognosis. We report in this study that carotenoid-enriched fractions from Spondias mombin demonstrate HER2 ATP kinase domain inhibition. HER2 breast carcinoma was modeled in female Wistar rats and authenticated via immunohistochemical studies. Inhibition of HER2 ATP kinase domain by the carotenoid-enriched fractions was investigated by molecular docking, atomistic simulation, and the expression of HER2 mRNA in HER2-positive breast carcinoma model in female Wistar rats. The therapeutic efficacy of the treatments (carotenoid-rich fractions) was determined by biochemical, tumor volume, and histopathological analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced HER2-positive breast carcinoma. Phytoconstituents of the carotenoid-enriched fractions astaxanthin, 7,7′,8,8′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene, beta-carotene-15,15′-epoxide, and lapat...
IntroductionIn the last decade, there is an increasing mortality rate among patients diagnosed wi... more IntroductionIn the last decade, there is an increasing mortality rate among patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) in West Africa. To identify the causes of the high mortality rate, this study analyzed the occurrence of high-grade tumours and the presence of BRCA2 mutation. It also assessed the systemic inflammatory indices as prognostic tools in low-resource settings.MethodsThis study included 72 cases of PCa diagnosed from Jan. 2017 to Dec. 2020. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), platelets-neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (PNLR), and neutrophils-to-lymphocytes platelets ratio (NLPR) were assessed and analyzed accordingly. Significance was set at p< 0.05.ResultsThe prevalence of Gleason grades (G) 1 to 5 was 9.3%, 16.3%, 16.3%, 25.6, and 32.6%, respectively. There was a high frequency of BRCA2 mutation (58.3%) and the frequency was higher among patients with G4/5 tumours (59.5%) than in patients with G1-G3 tumours (46.7%) at p= ...
African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology, 2024
Background: In Nigeria, immunocompromised persons, particularly those living with HIV, are at an ... more Background: In Nigeria, immunocompromised persons, particularly those living with HIV, are at an increased risk of developing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. Interestingly, this condition produces symptoms that can be easily mistaken for those of COVID-19. This misdiagnosis results in their treatment with zinc and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). To better understand the pathophysiology of aspergillosis and determine the therapeutic and toxic effects of zinc and HCQ, this study examined liver and renal functions in experimental rat models. Methodology: Twenty-eight Albino rats, randomised into 7 groups (n=4 each) designated A to G, were used for this study. Group A rats received standardized rat chow and distilled water only. Group B rats received moderate dose of HCQ only. Group C to G rats received immunosuppressive agents (an alkylating agent: cyclophosphamide and a steroid: hydrocortisone) to simulate an immunocompromised state before being infected with A. fumigatus suspension (AFS). Group C rats received AFS without treatment. Group D rats simultaneously received AFS and low dose of HCQ. Group E rats simultaneously received AFS and moderate dose of HCQ. Group F rats simultaneously received AFS and high dose of HCQ, and Group G rats simultaneously received AFS and moderate dose of HCQ and zinc. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10, liver enzymes, and renal parameters were measured using standard methods. The weights of the lungs, liver, and kidneys of each rat were measured after being sacrificed. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means (±SD) of the biochemical variables and relative weight of the organs, while Post Hoc test was used for group comparison. Pearson's correlation was used to determine relationship between parameters, with significant levels established at p<0.05. Results: Higher levels of serum alanine transaminase, creatinine, and urea and lower relative lung weight were observed in group C rats (infected but untreated) compared to rats in other groups (p<0.001). Higher IL-6 levels and IL-6/IL-10 ratio were also observed in group C rats compared to rats in other groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed that HCQ and zinc ameliorate oxidative stress and hepato-renal damage induced by A. fumigatus in Albino rats.
Background: Although many drugs exist for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) today, it remains the... more Background: Although many drugs exist for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) today, it remains the most common prostatic disease affecting older men. Herbal medicine has become more common as an affordable alternative therapy for curing and preventing tissue-related pathologies in hopes of overcoming the side effects of existing synthetic pharmaceutical products and surgical procedures. This study evaluated the effects of single and combined ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa and Moringa oleifera on testosterone-induced BPH, urothelial, and testicular toxicity in albino rats. Method: In this experimental study BHP was induced in albino rats and treated with C. longa, M. oleifera, C. longa/M. oleifera, and Tamsulosin hydrochloride. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and tissue p63 expression were estimated by the ELISA and Avidin-Biotin Complex (immunohistochemistry) methods. Differences in PSA levels among the Groups were assessed using ANOVA and significance set at p< 0.05. Result: Biochemical findings showed significantly increased serum PSA levels in BPH induced group (0.59 ± 0.07 nmol/L) without treatment compared with BPH-induced group treated with a single extract of C. longa, M. oleifera, combined extracts of C. longa and M. oleifera and standard drug (0.12 ± 0.06 nmol/L, 0.16 ± 0.04 nmol/L, 0.11 ± 0.02 nmol/L, and 0.20 ± 0.04 nmol/L, respectively) at p< 0.05. Histology revealed giant cell formation in the BPH-induced group without treatment. Combined administration of a mixture of C. longa and M. oleifera with the single use of either of the plants. Conclusion: This study revealed that combining both C. longa root and M. oleifera seed extracts has curative potential on experimentally induced BPH. It suggests that standardized herbal medicine could be used as an alternative to orthodox medicine, especially in low-resource settings.
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 2023
Introduction: There is mounting evidence indicating that the co-existence of Human papillomavirus... more Introduction: There is mounting evidence indicating that the co-existence of Human papillomavirus (HPV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with aggressive and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) phenotype. However, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence of EBV in cases of cervical cancer in Southern Nigeria or the effect of both viruses on p53 gene expression among patients diagnosed with cervical cancer. Therefore, this study investigated the prevalence of mutant p53 (mtp53) in single and co-presence of HPV and EBV-LMP1 in invasive and non-invasive cases of cervical cancer in order to determine the role of EBV in cervical carcinogenesis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 105 viable archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of cervical cancer, diagnosed between 2016 and 2019 in two tertiary health care facilities in Southern Nigeria. Tissue sections were stained for mtp53, EBV-LMP1, and HPV using the immunohistochemical technique and scored based on staining intensity and documented as 0, +1, +2, and +3. Tissues with scores of 0 and +1 were considered negative whereas those with scores of +2 and +3 were considered positive. Descriptive, Chi-square test and Pearson’s correlation were carried out and statistical significance was set at ≤0.05. Result: The mean age of participants with cervical cancer was 53.32 ± 12.54 years. The prevalence of invasive and non-invasive cases of cervical cancer were 62.9% and 37.1%, respectively. The prevalence of well, moderately, and poorly differentiated cervical cancer were 54.3%, 34.3%, and 11.4%, respectively. The prevalence of single EBV-LMP1, and HPV antigen were 21.0% (n= 21) and 14.2% (n= 15), respectively whereas the prevalence of EBV-LMP1/HPV co-infection was 42.9% (n= 45). The prevalence of HPV/EBV-LMP1 co=presence was high in invasive cervical cancer compared with non-invasive cervical cancer cases (45.5% versus 30.8%) at p= 0.154. The prevalence of mtp53 was higher in EBV-LMP1/HPV co-presence compared with HPV, and EBV-LMP1 mono-presence (80.0%, 60.0%, and 14.3%, respectively) at p= 0.001. Conclusion: This study suggests that EBV increases the risk of cervical carcinogenesis in HPV-infected individuals in Southern Nigeria. Thus, EBV DNA should equally be investigated during HPV testing of suspected cervical cancer cases to identify individuals with poorer prognoses. Citation Format: Jude Okoye, Anthony Ajuluchukwu Ngokere, Charles Chinedum Onyenekwe, Ukpai Eze, Okechi Obioma. The pattern of mutant p53 protein expression in cervical cancer-associated single and co-infection with human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr C029.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with immune system activation and chronic inflam... more Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with immune system activation and chronic inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of HIV infection on Albumin and Globulin fractions as a possible marker of inflammation in HIV infected subjects. This is a case controlled study involving one hundred (100) HIV sero-positive subjects made up of male and female aged 20-50years which consist of 50 sero-positive subjects on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for a minimum of 6 months and 50 sero-positive subjects not on ART yet all of which attend HIV clinic at Nnamdi Azikiwe University University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), and 50 apparently healthy, age sex matched HIV sero-negative as control subjects. CD4 + T- cell count was estimated by Cyflow SLGreen. Alpha1microglobulin (α1M) and Beta2 microglobulin (β2M) were estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Albumin and total protein were estimated by colometric method, while globulin and albumin/globulin ratio were de...
Due to its secretory epithelial cells, the pancreas is plagued by several diseases ranging from p... more Due to its secretory epithelial cells, the pancreas is plagued by several diseases ranging from pancreatitis to pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer (PC) is rarely diagnosed early due to late onset of symptoms and its rapid progression. This challenge is further compounded by symptoms and biomarker expression overlap between PC and other co-founders such as diabetes mellitus, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). Hence, the need for less invasive but highly discriminatory biomarkers so as to pre-empt PC. Despite being the most commonly investigated biomarker in cases of PC, the low sensitivity of CA19-9 in identifying PC among groups negative for Lewis antigen and its low specificity in differentiating PC from pancreatitis, acute cholangitis, liver cirrhosis and obstructive jaundice have limited its use in diagnosis. Reports suggest that the accuracy of differentiating PC from other pancreatic diseases is dependent on the nature of sample being inves...
Identifying immunocompromised women who are at risk of developing cervical cancer remains a chall... more Identifying immunocompromised women who are at risk of developing cervical cancer remains a challenge for clinicians. In an effort to identify the role of HIV in cervical carcinogenesis, this study evaluated the levels of normally downregulated oncomirs (miR-21, miR-146a, miR-155, miR-182, and miR-200c) and normally upregulated tumor suppressors (miR-let-7b, miR-125b, miR-143, miR-145, and p53 expression) associated with cervical cancer in the serum of women living with HIV (HIV+) and without HIV (HIV. Method: This case-control study included 173 women; confirmed HIV+ (n = 103) and HIV− (n = 70). Serum levels of miRNAs and p53 were determined using reverse transcriptase PCR. t-test and Pearson’s correlation analyses were carried out on the generated data. Result: A higher level of miR-21 was observed among HIV+ women compared with their HIV− counterpart (p = 0.028), whereas lower levels of miR-125, and p53 gene were observed among HIV+ women compared with HIV− women at p = 0.050 and...
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health, 2020
Background: Livestock farming, especially cattle rearing, remains a major source of income for lo... more Background: Livestock farming, especially cattle rearing, remains a major source of income for local farmers. However, the health status of cattle and the standard of veterinary services determine the quality of animal meat and the risk of zoonotic transmission. Thus, this study determined the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori, parasitic infection, and gastric and hepatocellular diseases in cows slaughtered in two selected government approved abattoirs. Methods: Following the systematic random selection of cows, liver and gastric tissues were taken from the slaughtered cows (n = 99, each), fixed in 10% neutral-buffered for-malin, processed and stained accordingly, and microscopically examined for the presence of H. pylori, parasites, hepatocellular, and gastric diseases. Results: Approximately, 66% and 34% of the liver and gastric tissues had pathological changes, respectively. The pathologies observed in the liver were cirrhosis (12.1%), fibrosis (8.1%), hepatitis (28%), and necrosis (17%), whereas tumors (6.1%), dysplasia (10.1%), and gastritis (18%) were observed in gastric tissues. The prevalence of parasitic infections and H. pylori in the liver and gastric tissues were 4% and 26%, respectively. The prevalence of the bacteria was higher in pathologic gastric tissues (44.1%) than in normal gastric tissues (16%). There was a significant association between gastric diseases and H. pylori (p = 0.007). Only 20.2% of the investigated animals were without any obvious gastric and hepatocellular diseases. Conclusion: The study revealed that H. pylori infection is associated with gastric diseases in cows. It suggests that some cow meat from some abattoir may be unsafe for human consumption.
Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, 2015
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methanol extract ofThe modified International... more The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methanol extract ofThe modified International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) method was used to estimate the serum concentration of creatine kinase (CK (-MB)) while the haematology auto-analyser was used to estimate the total WBC count and lymphocyte count. The estimated values were subjected to analysis of variance using the SPSS software application (version 16) and expressed as mean±standard deviation. Tissue sections were stained by phosphotungstic acid haematoxylin and haematoxylin and eosin staining techniques.The result showed significant increases in serum concentrations of CK (-MB) (12.05±3.11–21.55±9.93 U/L) and total WBC count (5.33±0.66–6.51±0.38 103/μL) when the control group was compared with the treated groups (p<0.05). A significant dose-dependent decrease in the weight of the heart (0.053±0.00–0.041±0.003 kg) was also observed (p<0.05). An insignificant increase was observed in the lymphocyte count (...
Objectives Inhibition of HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A) reductase, the rate rate... more Objectives Inhibition of HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A) reductase, the rate rate-determining enzyme for the biogenesis of cholesterol is known to show antineoplastic effects. Therefore, this study investigates the in-silico HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR)-inhibitory and in-vivo anti-lipidaemic/anticancer effects of carotenoids from Spondias mombin. Methods Carotenoids from S. mombin leaves were characterized with the aid of liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The characterized phytochemicals were obtained from PubChem. They were docked into the orthosteric site of human HMGCR (Protein Data Bank code 1HW8) using AutoDock 4.0 suites. DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene) model of breast cancer was treated with the carotenoids extract from S. mombin (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses) to assess its anti-lipidaemic cum anticancer effects. Key findings Carotenoids from S. mombin; beta-carotene-15,15′-epoxide, astaxanthin and 7,7′,8,8′-tetra...
Human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in about 20% of breast cancer and is asso... more Human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in about 20% of breast cancer and is associated with a poor prognosis. We report in this study that carotenoid-enriched fractions from Spondias mombin demonstrate HER2 ATP kinase domain inhibition. HER2 breast carcinoma was modeled in female Wistar rats and authenticated via immunohistochemical studies. Inhibition of HER2 ATP kinase domain by the carotenoid-enriched fractions was investigated by molecular docking, atomistic simulation, and the expression of HER2 mRNA in HER2-positive breast carcinoma model in female Wistar rats. The therapeutic efficacy of the treatments (carotenoid-rich fractions) was determined by biochemical, tumor volume, and histopathological analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced HER2-positive breast carcinoma. Phytoconstituents of the carotenoid-enriched fractions astaxanthin, 7,7′,8,8′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene, beta-carotene-15,15′-epoxide, and lapat...
IntroductionIn the last decade, there is an increasing mortality rate among patients diagnosed wi... more IntroductionIn the last decade, there is an increasing mortality rate among patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) in West Africa. To identify the causes of the high mortality rate, this study analyzed the occurrence of high-grade tumours and the presence of BRCA2 mutation. It also assessed the systemic inflammatory indices as prognostic tools in low-resource settings.MethodsThis study included 72 cases of PCa diagnosed from Jan. 2017 to Dec. 2020. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), platelets-neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (PNLR), and neutrophils-to-lymphocytes platelets ratio (NLPR) were assessed and analyzed accordingly. Significance was set at p< 0.05.ResultsThe prevalence of Gleason grades (G) 1 to 5 was 9.3%, 16.3%, 16.3%, 25.6, and 32.6%, respectively. There was a high frequency of BRCA2 mutation (58.3%) and the frequency was higher among patients with G4/5 tumours (59.5%) than in patients with G1-G3 tumours (46.7%) at p= ...
African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology, 2024
Background: In Nigeria, immunocompromised persons, particularly those living with HIV, are at an ... more Background: In Nigeria, immunocompromised persons, particularly those living with HIV, are at an increased risk of developing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. Interestingly, this condition produces symptoms that can be easily mistaken for those of COVID-19. This misdiagnosis results in their treatment with zinc and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). To better understand the pathophysiology of aspergillosis and determine the therapeutic and toxic effects of zinc and HCQ, this study examined liver and renal functions in experimental rat models. Methodology: Twenty-eight Albino rats, randomised into 7 groups (n=4 each) designated A to G, were used for this study. Group A rats received standardized rat chow and distilled water only. Group B rats received moderate dose of HCQ only. Group C to G rats received immunosuppressive agents (an alkylating agent: cyclophosphamide and a steroid: hydrocortisone) to simulate an immunocompromised state before being infected with A. fumigatus suspension (AFS). Group C rats received AFS without treatment. Group D rats simultaneously received AFS and low dose of HCQ. Group E rats simultaneously received AFS and moderate dose of HCQ. Group F rats simultaneously received AFS and high dose of HCQ, and Group G rats simultaneously received AFS and moderate dose of HCQ and zinc. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10, liver enzymes, and renal parameters were measured using standard methods. The weights of the lungs, liver, and kidneys of each rat were measured after being sacrificed. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means (±SD) of the biochemical variables and relative weight of the organs, while Post Hoc test was used for group comparison. Pearson's correlation was used to determine relationship between parameters, with significant levels established at p<0.05. Results: Higher levels of serum alanine transaminase, creatinine, and urea and lower relative lung weight were observed in group C rats (infected but untreated) compared to rats in other groups (p<0.001). Higher IL-6 levels and IL-6/IL-10 ratio were also observed in group C rats compared to rats in other groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed that HCQ and zinc ameliorate oxidative stress and hepato-renal damage induced by A. fumigatus in Albino rats.
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