Background and Objective: The binding of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2 inhibits the action of the latter on the RAAS (Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System), which could increase blood pressure and disturbances in the hydroelectrolyte balance.The objective of this study was to determine the electrolyte profile of patients with COVID-19.Materials and Methods: Within that framework, a 3-month retrospective analytical study of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 was conducted, admitted at Dalal Jamm Hospital and Aristide Le Dantec Hospital.Data were collected from the laboratory records of the said hospitals and included age, sex, clinical information (symptoms, underlying diseases and clinical forms) and blood ionogram results (natraemia and kalaemia).Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.Results: About 745 patients were recruited.The mean age of the study population was 54.22±18.53with a sex ratio of 1.15.Ten percent of the population had a severe form.Hypertension was the most frequent comorbidity (14.53%) followed by diabetes (11.73%).The most frequent electrolyte disorders were hyponatremia (13.02%) and hyperkalemia (6.97%).They were more frequent in men, elderly subjects, those with a severe form of the disease and those with comorbidities.Conclusion: This data suggested a disturbance of the hydro electrolytic homeostasis in subjects infected by SARS-CoV-2.It appears to be associated with age, gender, disease severity and the presence of comorbidity.
Background and Objective: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic illness that is becoming more common across the world.As a result of this trend, it is rapidly becoming an epidemic in some countries around the world, with the number of people affected expected to double in the next decade due to an increase in the elderly population, adding to the already existing burden on healthcare providers, particularly in less developed countries.Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) accounts for around 90% of all diabetes cases.The present study aimed to investigate the biochemical profile of type 2 diabetes patients.Materials and Methods: Survey on diabetes prevalence and biochemical profiles like Blood Glucose, Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT), Serum Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT), serum bilirubin (total), serum bilirubin (direct), alkaline phosphatase, total serum cholesterol, High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) of selected people was done.Results: From the survey, it was found that type 2 diabetes is more prevalent among the rural population.Male with age group 50-80 is more prone to diabetes.Conclusion: Diabetes patients had higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein levels and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein than normal healthy controls.
Background and Objective: Ageratum conyzoides L. is a traditional herbaceous plant that belongs to the family Asteraceae.The folk and traditional uses of the plant include sleeping sickness, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, etc.The present study aimed at exploring the possible antidiabetic activity of A. conyzoides through its antioxidant potential in search of new hit compounds. Materials and Methods:The crude extract after maceration was subjected to solvent-solvent fractionation using chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol, in increasing order of polarity, followed by quantitative phytochemical estimation.Antioxidant activity was carried out using DPPH radical scavenging assay method.Antidiabetic activities were determined using alloxan-induced diabetic rats, 150 mg of alloxan per kg body weight was given intraperitoneally.All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package with data reported as the Mean±SEM.Results: Ethyl acetate fraction had the highest value of TPC (46066.87±1350mg GAE) and TFC (29912.50±6230mg QuE) per gram dry samples respectively.Similarly, the ethyl acetate fraction had the best relative antioxidant activity (IC 50 of 0.75 µg mLG 1 ).Both crude and the fractions given in different doses exhibited a good blood-glucose-lowering effect with statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the means of the different groups (and control).The chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions had a better anti-diabetic effect as all administered doses had their average glucose level below the diabetic index (250 mg dLG 1 ). Conclusion:This research showed that A. conyzoides methanol leaf extract has high flavonoid and phenolic contents.It equally demonstrated good antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, especially the ethyl acetate fraction.
Background and Objective: Oxidative stress, co-regulated by Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) with its cofactors (Zn and Mg), could be synergistic when its respective Mediators Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and Artemether-Lumefantrine (AL) are co-taken.Thus, the study estimated SOD activity, zinc and magnesium concentration variations in artemether-lumefantrine co-treated monosodium glutamateassaulted ratsʼ serum and liver homogenate.Materials and Methods: Thirty rats acclimatized for two weeks were randomly grouped into six (n = 5) and for seven days exposed to feed and water (Group A, control).In addition, rats in Groups B, C, D, E and F, respectively received AL therapeutic dose, AL overdose (therapeutic dose ×5), MSG, 8000 mg kgG 1 b.wt., AL therapeutic dose plus MSG and AL overdose plus MSG.Data obtained from spectrophotometric the estimation of the studied parameters were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) set at 95% confidence level.Results: The higher serum and liver homogenate zinc concentration (µg dLG 1 ) in all groups relative to MSG was particularly marked (264.91±1.89,174.04±1.33;p<0.05) in AL overdose plus MSG-intoxicated rats.Similarly, AL overdose plus MSG-assaulted rats had a markedly higher (p<0.05)serum (6.88±0.10)Mg concentration (Mg dLG 1 ) compared to others, including control and MSG-intoxicated rats.Amid an unclear-cut change, SOD activity (IU LG 1 ) in the ratsʼ liver homogenate was highest (1.14±0.00,p<0.05) in MSG-treated rats relative to control.Conclusion: The study confirmed oxidative stress that overwhelmed the SOD-related antioxidant defense in MSG-assaulted rats unlike in rats exposed to AL irrespective of dose or co-MSG-intoxication.This perhaps implicated SOD as reserved antioxidant defense arsenal in possible AL or AL with co-MSG-intoxication adversity in ratsʼ serum and liver, provoking further studies.
Background and Objective: Most chemical pesticides used in agriculture are endocrine disruptors.Several studies report the adverse effect of endocrine disruptors on male sex hormones.This study aimed to investigate the profile of male sex hormones of cotton growers directly exposed to chemical synthetic pesticides in the North-East of Benin.Materials and Methods: This study was an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study carried out from May 6 to August 30, 2016 in the North-East of the Republic of Benin.Study sample consisted of 95 cotton growers exposed to pesticides (mean age: 33.54±9.43years) and 95 non-exposed subjects (mean age: 30.97±5.22 years).The level of male hormones: Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and total testosterone was determined in subjectsʼ serum using radioimmunoassay.Results: The mean values of LH, FSH and testosterone levels were respectively 7.10±4.73and 5.31±3.14UI LG 1 and 7.03±3.33ng mLG 1 in exposed cotton growers versus 7.31±4.20 and 4.95±3.00UI LG 1 and 10.23±3.60 ng mLG 1 in non-exposed subjects.The mean testosterone level of exposed cotton farmers was significantly lower than the one of non-exposed subjects (p<0.0001).The prevalences of abnormal concentration of LH, FSH and testosterone in cotton producers were respectively 13.70, 7.37 and 18.94%.Conclusion: There are abnormalities in the male hormonal profile of cotton farmers exposed to chemical synthetic pesticides in the North-East of Benin.Among those abnormalities, the one of testosterone level is predominant.
Background and Objectives:The need for natural alternatives to the toxic synthetic chemicals currently used for the control of insect pests and vectors inspired this research.This study analyzed the effect of insecticidal oils obtained from the leaves of Cassia occidentalis and Euphorbia milii on some reproductive hormones in rats.Materials and Methods: Oils were extracted from both plants via soxhlet extraction and administered to rats orally once a week, for 2 weeks.Twenty-eight rats were divided into 7 groups of 4 rats each.The control group (A) received feed and water only, Groups; B 1 , B 2 and B 3 received 1500, 3000 and 5000 mg kgG 1 b.wt., of C. occidentalis oil, while groups C 1 , C 2 and C 3 received 1500, 3000 and 5000 mg kgG 1 b.wt., of E. milii oil.Rats were thereafter sacrificed under light ether anaesthesia.Results: Euphorbia milii oils caused a significant (p<0.05)increase in the concentrations of testosterone, estradiol and luteinizing hormone at 3000 and 5000 mg kgG 1 b.wt., relative to the control.There was also a significant increase (p<0.05) in luteinizing hormone and testosterone concentrations in rats administered C. occidentalis oil at 3000 and 5000 mg kgG 1 b.wt., relative to the control.However, no significant (p>0.05)change in estradiol concentration was observed with C. occidentalis oil extract.There was no significant change (p>0.05) in the concentration of most hormones at 1500 mg kgG 1 b.wt.. Conclusion: Since insecticides are usually applied at much lower concentrations, the plant oils may be considered safe to reproductive hormones in animals.
Background and Objective: Carbohydrate Binding Module (CBMs), a non catalytic carbohydrate binding modules present in glycosyl hydrolases, are playing substantial role in localizing the enzyme to the target substrate, disrupting the structure of robust polymers and their presence in pectate lyase is rare.Deduced gene sequence of pectate lyase 1B (pelB) from Bacillus licheniformis (Bli PelB) shows unique structural features containing N-terminal signal peptide following with ricin super family CBM13 and C-terminal catalytic domain.The objective of the study was to characterize Bli PelB and evaluation of role of CBN13 present in Bli PelB sequence.Methodology: Full length and catalytic domain part of pelB was cloned and expressed.Protein was purified through Ni-NTA his tag affinity chromatography and characterized.Results: Biochemical characterization of Bli PelB revealed maximal activity at 50EC with pH 8.0.Enzyme retained more than 80% activity between pH 7.5-9.0.Bli PelB found to be thermostable at 50EC by maintaining more than 60% activity for 4 days.Bli PelB was 100% active on methylated (70-75%) apple pectin as compared to non methylated polygalacturonic acid (PGA) with which it was 29%.Specific activity was found to be 1451±2.0and 423±3.5 U mgG 1 for methylated pectin and PGA, respectively.k cat and k cat /K m is markedly higher for methylated pectin than PGA.In comparison with Bli PelB, C-terminal catalytic domain of Bli PelB (CD Bli PelB) showed 60% decrease in specific activity while 70% decrease in thermal stability and kinetic efficiency. Conclusion:The characterized properties of Bli PelB are suitable for its industrial applications.The reduction in catalytic activity and thermal stability of Bli PelB without CBM13 could explain the role of CBM in enzyme efficiency.
Background and Objective: Translocation of cytochrome c into the cytosol is a main mechanism of gentamicin induced renal apoptosis even through its direct or indirect effects on mitochondrial membrane.The current study aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of pumpkin in relation to vitamin E as a common natural antioxidant on a nephrotoxic model induced by gentamicin.Materials and Methods: About 40 male rats were divided into four groups, of 10 each: Control group, G-treated group (120 mg kgG 1 /day i.p., for 15 days), G+Vit.E-treated group (200 mg kgG 1 orally for 45 days) and G+PK-treated group (20% of the diet for 45 days).Gentamicin injection was started on the 30th day for both last groups.All data were statistically evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS software, version 15 (Chicago, USA) followed by the Tukeyʼs post hoc test for comparisons.Results: This study revealed that pumpkin significantly decreased BAX/BCL-2 ratio and attenuated gentamicin induced apoptosis.It also exhibited powerful antioxidant effects as indicated by a significant decrement in MDA level and a significant increment in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level and catalase (CAT) activity.Furthermore, pumpkin successfully improved the kidney function of rats which was manifested by amelioration of deteriorated serum creatinine, urea, sodium and potassium levels and this effect is thought to be as a result of the anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidant properties of pumpkin.Conclusion: The performance of pumpkin as anti-apoptotic and antioxidant was to some extent similar to that of vitamin E and it successfully protected against the toxic direct and indirect effects of gentamicin on kidney through down regulation of BAX and up regulation of BCL-2 gene expression and further inhibition of mitochondrial cytochrome c translocation into cytosol.
Background and Objective: Research on liver diseases have been on increase and have become a global concern.Cucumis sativus has been reported to have anti-oxidant activity, high flavonoid content, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity and may likely of help in the management of liver disease.The hepatoprotective effect of the homogenate of Cucumis sativus fruit were therefore studied and histopathological assessment of the liver damage was done.Materials and Methods: The fresh fruit of Cucumis sativus was homogenized and used for all experimental analysis.The effects of the fruit homogenate on liver function biomarkers and lipid profile in rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) were evaluated using standard biochemical methods.Data were analyzed using SPSS and two-way ANOVA; the acceptance level of significance was p<0.05.Results: Treatment of rats with the homogenate of Cucumis sativus fruits significantly (p<0.05)decreased CCl 4 -induced elevated levels of the liver enzymes and total bilirubin in the serum when compared to positive control.The homogenate also attenuated the CCl 4 -induced elevation of LDL, total cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentration and ameliorated the induced depletion of HDL.Pre-treatment with Cucumis sativus fruit homogenate significantly improved the structure of hepatic cells.The homogenate showed a sign of liver cell protection comparable to that of the standard drug-silymarin.Conclusion:The results of this study demonstrated that the homogenate was effective in the prevention of CCl 4 -induced hepatic damage in rats and may improve the liver integrity of consumers.
