COLLEGE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

immune markers and antihypertensive drugs. Despite knowing the detrimental effects of salt on blood pressure, the specific molecular mechanisms connecting these factors are not fully understood and how antihypertensive drugs affect immune function markers. The aim of this study is to see how antihypertensive medications affect immune function markers in a salt-loaded animal model. Twenty-five Sprague Dawley male rats weighing between 110g-130g was purchased from Lagos and housed in the Animal Unit of the Department of Pharmacology, and allowed to acclimatize for 2 weeks thereafter were randomly divided into 5 groups of 5 rats each. Group 1; control received normal rat chow and tap water, Group 2; Received high salt diet of 8% NaC1 (HS) alone for 8 weeks as described by, Group 3; Received high salt diet + 2.3mg/kg/d Lisinopril, Group 4; Received high salt + 0.1mg/kg/d verapamil, Group 5; Received high salt + 10mg/kg/d Losartan. Feeding and drug administration was by oral gavage for 8 weeks. Blood pressure (BP) (mmHg), heart rate (bpm) and weight measurement was done before theNanimals were humanely sacrificed using chloroform anaesthesia. The result shows a significant increase in the Mean arterial blood pressure in salt-loaded rats compared with the control, while antihypertensive drugs caused attenuation in blood pressure increase when compared with the salt-loaded group. Lisinopril in particular reversed the trend; suggesting renin angiotensin-mediated primary pathway in salt-induced hypertension. There were no significant changes in the heart rate of the animals. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ration was significantly increased in salt-loaded rats compared with control and much more in Lisinopril and verapamil co-treated salt-loaded rats. The result shows a significant increase in the salt loaded group when compared with the control group, meanwhile there was no significant difference in the salt loaded group treated with different antihypertensive drugs lisinopril and losartan compared with the salt loaded while verapamil shows a significant decrease in interleukin-6 levels when compared with the high salt group. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) significantly increased in salt-loaded rats compared with the control, while in antihypertensive drugs it shows a decrease when compared with the salt-loaded group. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) significantly increased in salt-loaded rats compared with the control; in lisinopril it shows no significant difference when compared with the salt-loaded group while lorsartan and verapamil shows a decrease in ROS activities. In conclusion, this research shows that excessive high salt consumption triggers inflammatory tissue responses which could lead to hypertension and this project study is a pointer to the fact that increases activity of immune cells could pre dispose to hypertension and this effect are ameliorated by antihypertensive drugs, especially lisinopril and verapamil.

Background: Learning Management Systems (LMS) have become vital tools for enhancing teaching, learning, and communication. Their importance in medical education is particularly significant, as they provide structured, flexible, and interactive platforms for managing the vast knowledge medical students must acquire. However, in Nigeria, challenges such as limited infrastructure, low digital literacy, and poor internet access have hindered widespread LMS adoption. Understanding medical students’ knowledge, perception, and willingness to use LMS is vital to improving integration into medical training. Objective: This study assessed the knowledge, perception, and willingness to use Learning Management Systems among medical students at the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 410 medical students across levels 200-600, selected through stratified sampling. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire with sections on socio-demographics, knowledge, perception, willingness, and determinants of LMS acceptance. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Univariate analysis was performed for socio-demographics, bivariate analysis using chi-square tested associations between independent variables and outcomes, and logistic regression identified predictors of knowledge, perception, and willingness. Statistical significance was set at
p<0.05, with results presented in prose, tables, and charts. Results: Of the 410 respondents, 345 (84.1%) were aware of LMS, with Google Classroom(75.8%) and YouTube (58.4%) being the most commonly used platforms. Two-thirds of respondents demonstrated good knowledge, which was significantly associated with academic level (p<0.001). Attitudes were largely positive, with 82.4% agreeing that LMS improves academic performance and 75.1% stating that LMS creates a more interactive learning environment. Overall, 72.5% expressed willingness to adopt LMS for academic activities. Barriers identified included poor internet access (61.3%), inadequate training (48.9%), and high data costs (42.4%). Conclusion: Medical students at the University of Benin demonstrated high awareness, positive perceptions, and strong willingness to use LMS, though infrastructural and training challenges persist. Institutional support, improved internet access, and structured integration of LMSintothe medical curriculum are recommended to optimize its role in medical education. Keywords: Learning Management System; Knowledge; Perception; Willingness; Medical
Students, University of Benin, Nigeria

Background: Health beliefs and health-seeking behaviours are major determinants of women’s health outcomes, particularly in reproductive health. In Nigeria, women of reproductive age face multiple challenges, including cultural and religious norms, socioeconomic constraints, and limited access to quality healthcare, all of which delay or prevent timely care-seeking. These barriers contribute significantly to the country’s high maternal morbidity and mortality rates. Understanding how health beliefs shape health-seeking behaviour is therefore essential for improving women’s engagement
with formal healthcare services and reducing preventable complications. Objective: This study aimed to assess health beliefs, health-seeking behaviours and the influence of these health beliefs on the health-seeking behaviour of women of reproductive age in Oredo
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 2024 to 2025among 590 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Participants were selected using a multi-stage sampling method, and data were collected through a pre-tested, structured, interviewer- administered questionnaire that covered socio-demographic characteristics, health beliefs, and health-seeking behaviours. Data was analysed using IBMSPSS version26. Descriptive statistics summarised respondents’ characteristics, Chi-square tests assessed associations between variables, and multivariate logistic regression identified predictors of health beliefs and health-seeking behaviour. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A majority of respondents 304 (51.5%) demonstrated positive health beliefs, with many perceiving their health as good or excellent. Educational status and
15 socioeconomic level were significantly associated with positive health beliefs (p<0.05). Overall, health-seeking behaviour was good, as most respondents, 398 (67.5) reported willingness to seek formal healthcare services. However, barriers such as Distance 94 (32.8%), financial constraints 86 (30.0%), long waiting time 109 (38.1), Religious factors 108 (37.8%) and lack of trust in healthcare systems 106 (37.1%) were noted. Health beliefs strongly shaped care-seeking behaviour, with some respondents substituting or delaying formal healthcare in favour of herbal remedies, cultural traditions, or religious practices. Conclusion: A majority of respondents demonstrated positive health beliefs, with good health-seeking behaviour. Most respondents preferred formal healthcare services;
however, barriers to proper healthcare utilization, such as cost, distance, poor staff
attitude, and long waiting times, were reported. Health beliefs strongly shaped care- seeking behaviour, with some respondents delaying or substituting formal healthcare in favour of alternative practices such as herbal medicines, faith-based healings and cultural practices. Keywords: Health beliefs, Health-seeking behaviour, Cultural practices, Women of reproductive age, Nigeria

Moringa oleifera is lauded for its nutritional benefits, but localized data on its composition is essential for effective application. This study determined the proximate composition of dried Moringa oleifera leaves sourced from Benin City, Nigeria. Using standard Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) methods, the dried leaf powder was analyzed in triplicate for its moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, and carbohydrate content. The results revealed a composition dominated by carbohydrates (66.45 ± 1.83%) and a high ash content (10.43 ± 0.88%), indicating significant energy potential and mineral density. Moderate levels of crude protein (7.88 ± 0.08%) and crude fibre (7.13 ± 0.47%) were found, while crude fat was low (0.54 ± 0.01%). The low moisture content (6.80 ± 0.40%) suggests good storage stability. This profile confirms Moringa oleifera as a potent source of energy and essential minerals, validating its traditional use against malnutrition. The findings provide a scientific basis for its targeted utilization as a low-cost, sustainable ingredient for food fortification and nutraceutical products aimed at enhancing energy intake and addressing micronutrient deficiencies in local communities.

Background: Adolescents constitutes a significant portion of any population and frequentlyexperience underservice of their sexual and reproductive health needs in various societies dueto lack of sexual health information and services which place them at risk. This study was conducted with a view to raising awareness of RHS available and ensuring better access andutilization in the community. Aim: To assess the knowledge, access and utilization of reproductive health services (RHS)by female adolescents residing in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria Methods: The research employed a quantitative design. A total of 592 female adolescentsparticipated in the study, and an assessment was conducted on six health facilities, evenlydistributed between private and government sectors. Data collection utilized interviewer-administered structured questionnaires in English, adapted from existing literature, andhealthpersonnel were interviewed through recorded phone conversations. Significant associationsbetween utilization and categorical variables were assessed using the Chi-squaretest. Knowledge scores were determined using a composite scoring system, and a multivariablelogistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associatedwithutilization. A statistical significance level of p-value below 5% was set for declaring statistical significance. Results: The study involved adolescents aged 11-18 years, predominantly of Beninorigin(50.7%), Christians (94.1%) who mostly lived with both parents (74.3%) and the majorityofparents fell into the middle-income class (83.3%). The average age at menarche was 12.4years, with 18.9% not having experienced first menstruation. About 11%reported their first sexual experience, and 3% were currently sexually active, with 38.9%using contraceptives, primarily oral contraceptive pills.

BACKGROUND: Hemoglobinopathies are the commonest inherited genetic disorders worldwide. Sickle cell disorders were discovered by Dr J.B Herrick in 1904. There are some hopes for a definitive cure for sickle cell disorders in the form of stem cell transplantation. However premarital screening for intending couples seem to be an important primary preventive method. Pre-marital medical screening is a panel of tests that couples preparing to get married undertake so as to detect any genetic or infectious disease that may be transmitted to each other of their offspring. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to add to the existing body of knowledge on sickle cell disorder and to access the knowledge, attitude and practice of premarital screening for sickle cell disorder among students of University of Benin. METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 393 students using multi- stage sampling technique from six selected faculties (Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Education, Management Sciences, Law, Pharmacy.) from the 13 faculties in the University. The time duration of this study spanned from August 2019 to June 2021. Data was collected using an self-administered questionnaire. Data was obtained and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.0. Analysis employed descriptive and inferential statistics. Level of significance was set at 5%.

Background: Stroke is a major public health problem and a leading cause of adult disability. The incidence, prevalence, and mortality rate of stroke have been increased worldwide, with most of the burden being in low and middle-income countries. A global survey reported that only 18% of low-income countries had stroke units, compared to 91% of high-income countries. Given the importance of stroke unit care to the prognosis of the disease in stroke patients, it is necessary to describe the current state of stroke units in the country, focusing on availability, capacity, and capability. Methods: This research involved a mixed study design of a Cross-sectional and In-Depth interview. The instruments used were questionnaire administered to 45 stroke MDTs. The In- depth interview involved 10 selected stroke MDTs. The quantitative analysis data was summarized using descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. For the qualitative analysis, thematic analysis and visualization were carried out with the aid of Nvivo 14 Software. Result: Participants (26 males and 19 females) in this study were aged 21-56 years. Referral rate for physiotherapy was relatively high. There was a good utilization of physiotherapy. There was a significant association between referral rate, utilization and relevance of physiotherapy among stroke multidisciplinary team. Conclusion: Stroke care has advanced and more patients are surviving the acute-stage. In stroke care model, rehabilitation is now considered an integral component of all levels of stroke care.This research has identified a good utilization of physiotherapy and itsrelevance among multidisciplinary team.However,there is a need to improve the knowledge,awareness andeducation regarding physiotherapy and rehabilitation for all cadres of health care workers. Physiotherapist need to be proactive in this area and need the support of health services, training institutions and the government.

Background: Promoting health literacy (HL) at an early age is a key intervention strategy to reduce disease burden and health disparities. Active transport on the other hand involves a form of physical activity for everyday transportation either by walking or cycling. With the benefits of physical activity, leading a physically active life and avoiding long episodes of sedentary behavior, can help prevent non-specific health complaints and improve overall well-being among adolescents. Both HL and active transport are important determinants of health however studies on their relationship are limited. Aim: This study aimed to influence of health literacy on active transport among secondary school students in Benin City, Edo State. Method: This study utilized a cross-sectional study design. A total of 354 students were recruited from 11 secondary schools across Egor local government area, Benin City. The association between health literacy and active transport was determined by linear or logistics regression models. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. All analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for windows version 24. Results: 331 (93.5%) of the respondents had inadequate level of health literacy. A total of 153 (43.2%) of the respondents engage in active transport with 86 (24.3%) commuting on foot and 67 (18.9%) on bicycle. There was no significant influence of health literacy on active transport. Conclusion: This study found that secondary school students in Benin City spend little time on active transportation and possess an inadequate level of health literacy, but has a high frequency of active transportation. Health literacy does not influence time spent using active transport among secondary school students in Benin-City. Keywords: Health literacy, active transport, secondary school, students

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the most common musculoskeletal (MSK) ailment inthegeneral population. Weightlifting is a popular activity that puts so much strain on the body'smuscles and predisposes athletes to LBP. The lower back is the most often damaged bodypart inweightlifting and weightlifting is the one that increases the risk of LBP in all sports. Thereisadearth of knowledge regarding the association between LBP and weightlifting among universitystudents. Aim: The study aims to investigate the prevalence of low back pain and determine it's potential risk factors among weightlifting and non-weightlifting undergraduate students of the Universityof Benin. Methods: A total of 104 students comprising of 52 weightlifters and 52 non-weightlifters wereselected across the university with the use of snowball and convenience sampling. Anadaptedversion of the Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to obtain information onsocio-demographic data, weight-lifting characteristics and occurrence of LBP. Descriptive statisticssuch as percentage and inferential statistics such as Chi-square were used to summarise thedata. Alpha level was 0.05. Results: Weightlifters (WLFs) have a higher lifetime prevalence of LBP 82.69(%) comparedtonon-weightlifters (NWLFs) 71.15(%). The difference in between lifetime and 7 days prevalenceamong both weightlifters and non-weightlifters was statistically significant (p=0.000). Frequency of weightlifting was significantly associated with LBP (p= 0.019). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of low back pain among weightlifting andnon-weightlifting undergraduate students in University of Benin. Significant association were foundbetween frequency of weightlifting with the occurrence of LBP. Keywords: Low back pain, weightlifters , non-weightlifters, prevalence

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone with potential therapeutic applications in metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes mellitus. While its pharmacological effects have been extensively studied, data on its acute toxicity profile remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the acute oral toxicity of a MaxGLP-1 supplement in male Wistar rats using the Lorke method. Experimental animals were administered single oral doses of 10, 100, 1000, 1600, 2900, and 5000 mg/kg and monitored continuously for 24 hours and subsequently for 14 days to detect immediate, persistent, or delayed toxic effects. Observations included clinical signs, mortality, feed and water consumption, body weight changes, and external and internal organ examinations, supplemented by histopathological evaluation of the liver and spleen. No mortality occurred at any dose, establishing an LD₅₀ greater than 5000 mg/kg. Immediate effects were mild and transient, including slight restlessness at 1000 mg/kg and mild sedation at higher doses, which resolved within hours. Delayed adverse effects were limited to intermittent mild irritation or itching in animals exposed to doses ≥1000 mg/kg. Feed and water intake, relative weight gain, feed efficiency, and body weight progression were not significantly altered (p>0.05) across all groups. External and internal examinations revealed no gross pathological changes, and histopathological analysis of liver and spleen at 1600 mg/kg showed no lesions. These findings indicate that MaxGLP-1 possesses low acute oral toxicity, with a conservative No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) of 100 mg/kg in male Wistar rats. This study provides foundational safety data supporting the further preclinical development of MaxGLP-1 and shows the need for subsequent subacute and chronic toxicity evaluations to establish long-term safety profiles.