COLLEGE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

Hypertension, a major global health issue, affects a large portion of the adult population and is a key contributor to cardiovascular diseases. Although commonly associated with older adults, its prevalence is increasing among younger people, including university students. Modifiable risk factors like poor diet, insufficient physical activity, and stress significantly contribute to hypertension development. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of University of Benin students regarding hypertension prevention.
METHODOLOGY
The study was conducted at the University of Benin, Nigeria, using a descriptive cross-sectional design with a sample of 424 undergraduate students. The study was conducted from July 2023 to September 2024. Participants were selected through stratified random sampling from various faculties. Data were collected via a pre-tested, adapted questionnaire distributed through Google
Forms. The analysis was performed using IBM SPSS, incorporating both descriptive and inferential statistics with level of significance set at p = < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained, and confidentiality was ensured by omitting personal identifiers. RESULTS
The study found that nearly half of the participants (49.3%) were between 16 and 20 years old, with an average age of 21.42 years. Most participants (86.6%) demonstrated good knowledge of hypertension and its preventive strategies, with a significant correlation between knowledge and both their academic faculty and year of study. A strong positive attitude towards hypertension prevention was observed in 421 (99.3%) of respondents, and a significant link was found xiii between attitude and marital status (p = 0.029). Additionally, 409 (95.5%) of respondents practiced effective hypertension prevention, and all those with poor practices expressed willingness to change their behavior.
CONCLUSION
Most University of Benin students demonstrated good knowledge of hypertension and its prevention, correlated with their year of study and faculty. The majority had a positive attitude towards prevention, linked to marital status. Most practiced effective prevention strategies, and those with poor practices were eager to improve.

Giardiasis is a disease of public health importance, a common cause of acute and chronic human diarrheal. In some developing countries, infection and mortality rates among young children can be quite high. This study was carried out to determine Giardia lamblia infection among children in rural and urban areas in Benin City, Edo State, A comparative study was done, using the microscopy method and ELISA technique, 288 primary school children consisted of (194) males and (94) females were enrolled in this study, Stool specimen was collected from each participant into a sterile universal bottle and sent for analysis to the laboratory department of City of Hope Medical Centre, Benin city. The age of participants ranged from 6-14years. A well-structured questionnaire bothering on the bio-data and socio-demographic characteristics was administered on each participant prior to the collection of Specimen. Informed consent was obtained from the parent or guardian of each participant. The stool specimens were analyzed using microscopy and ELISA technique. A prevalence of 5.6% of Giardia lamblia infection was observed among children in the Study Areas. Comparative studies of the microscopy method and ELISA techniques showed a p-value of < 0.05 (0.001) which was significant. There was a significant difference in the age group 10-11 years old presenting with the highest prevalence of 13.7% in comparison to other age groups with p-value < 0.05 (0.014). Hand hygiene was highly prevalent (12.5%) with p-value <0.05(0.000) which was significant, which showed that those who observed poor hand hygiene are with the high odds of being infected than those who practice good hand hygiene. Epidemiological factors such as Residential locations, settlement type, type of toilet, proximity of kitchen to toilet facility, diarrhoea, and Food source significantly affected the prevalence of G. lamblia infection. Increased Awareness, personal hygiene and good sanitary practices, particularly among mothers and children, should be encouraged as this would curb the spread of giardiasis. ELISA with sensitivity of 95% to 100% and specificity over 90% when compared withdirect microscopy provides a relevant alternative method to the routine ova and parasite examination in diagnosing giardiasis. Based on this, detection of giardiasis should not solely be based on microscopy; more effective methods such as ELISA could be employed.

Hypertension, a major global health issue, affects a large portion of the adult population and is a key contributor to cardiovascular diseases. Although commonly associated with older adults, its prevalence is increasing among younger people, including university students. Modifiable risk factors like poor diet, insufficient physical activity, and stress significantly contribute to hypertension development. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of University of Benin students regarding hypertension prevention.

BACKGROUND: Globally, COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a major public health concern and has had severe, wide-reaching effects on the functioning of societies, economies, social and healthcare systems worldwide. In addition to the ongoing health crisis, mental health crisis has been unfolding. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers had high workload and exposure to multiple psychosocial stressors. The psychological impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers has been assessed worldwide, but there are limited data on how health care workers have been affected in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs).
OBJECTIVES: The objectives ofthis study were to assess and compare the knowledge, attitude,prevalence and effect of COVID-19 on the mental health status of Frontline and Non-Frontline Health Workers of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and also to identify their coping strategies.
METHODOLOGY: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2021 through June 2023 among Frontline Health Workers and Non-Frontline Health Workers of University ofBenin Teaching Hospital, Benin-City using a systemic random sampling technique.The sample size was calculated using the formula for estimating two proportions for a comparative cross-sectional study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics and Research Committee, University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire adapted and modified from the World Health Organization (WHO)Interim Guidance document on the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Brief-COPE Strategy scale. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS version 25.0 and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Data presentation was done using graphs, frequency tables and prose.

Asthma is a serious health and socioeconomic issue, affecting more than 300 million persons, with approximately 250,000 annual deaths. Asthma treatment has been based only on beta-2 agonists and corticosteroids, with a minimal role for other older drugs such as theophylline and chromosomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the
effects of montelukast and hydrocortisone on some inflammatory markers in asthma induced Sprague-Dawley rats. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 180-250 g were divided into two (2) main groups; the Control group (rat feed with chow and water) and Test group (rat exposed to Ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide to induce asthma and treated with Montelukast and Hydrocortisone). Inflammatory markers such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6), High Sensitivity C- Reactive Protein (Hs-CRP) and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were assayed in blood plasma. The result showed that Interleukin 6 of asthma induced Sprague Dawley rats was significantly (p<0.05) higher after treatment with Hydrocortisone (2.6293pg/ml) compared to montelukast (2.4983pg/ml) treatment, control (2.0588 p g/ml) and negative control (2.2173 p g/ml), A significant (P<0.05) difference in high sensitivity C-reactive protein was observed between hydrocortisone, control, negative control and montelukast while neutrophil to lymphocytes ratio of negative control was significantly different from control, montelukast and hydrocortisone treatments. A synergic effect of anti inflammatory activity of Montelukast and hydrocortisone on asthma might exist.

Herbal extracts which can serve as medicinal plants have been used since ancient times and even considered the source of modern medicine. Bry Hullum pinetum extracts have been shown to possess neuroprotective properties potentially useful in treating neurodegenerative diseases. Podophyllum pinetum is a plant used to treat inflammations, infections, and also have anti cancer properties. This study was carried out to explore the effects of Podophyllum pinetum extract on the cerebrum of Adult Wistar rats. A total of thirty (30) rats weighing between 140g-200g were randomly assigned into six (6) groups (A,B,C,D,E and F),with five rats per group. Group A was control group while Group B,C,D,E and F were administered with Podophyllum pinetum extract in doses of 200,400,600,800 and 1000mg/kg respectively. The rats were acclimatized for a period of two weeks and administered for a period of four weeks using oral route by the use of orogastric tube. The rats were
anesthetized with chloroform and then sacrificed. The cerebrum was harvested and immediately fixed for antioxidant stress test and for tissue processing. H&E stains were use for histological test. The result of the study shows that there was no statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in the final body weight of rats in entire group compared to it's initial body weigh except group B where there is a significant change in weight .There was no statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in cerebrum weight and organo-somatic index. In the chart showing the antioxidant results, it shows that it is not statistically significant. Histological slides in control group show: molecular, external granular, external pyramidal, internal granular, internal pyramidal and multi-form layers. Group B show: vasodilatation normal pyramidal neurons with conspicuous nucleoles oligodendrocytes and neuropil. Group C show: normal neurons with conspicuous nucleoles, oligodendrocytes, neuropil cerebral vasodilatation. Group D show: normal granular cell neurons with conspicuous nucleoli, normal oligodendrocytes and marked vasodilatation and active congestion. Group E and F marked show vasodilatation and active congestion, normal granular cells with conspicuous nucleolus and oligodendrocytes. In conclusion, graded concentration of Podophyllum pinetum induced vasogenic effects and increased protein synthesis in a dose dependent fashion and it had no adverse effect on it

Inflammation is a reaction of a living vascularized tissue to an injury. Conventional or synthetic drugs used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases are available. However, there is paucity of information on the use of herbal medicine in the treatment of inflammation. The present study is aimed at evaluating the effects of aqueous extract of Altona Boonie on formalin-induced hepatic necrosis in male Wistar rats, using liver enzyme parameters. This study was done using 90 male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into 6 groups and 12 subgroups each comprising of 5 animals for the various plant extracts; leaf, stem bark and root bark, and treated accordingly: Normal control, formalin with A. Boonie extract (150mg/kg b w), formalin with A. Boonie extract (300mg/kg b w), formalin with A. Boonie extract (600mg/kg b w); group 5 (test group) received 5mg/kg, p. o of indomethacin and 300mg/kg b w extract only. After the experimental period of 10 days, the animals were sacrificed and the blood samples were collected and the biochemical analyses were carried out. The activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase-5 were measured using standard colorimetric methods. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and a P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. It was observed that there was a significant increase (p<0.05) in serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase 5 in the leaf, stem bark and root bark extract compared with the control group. Serum alkaline 12 phosphatase had no significant increase in the root bark extract compared to the control. In this study, it was observed that the aqueous extract of A. Boonie is effective against chronic inflammation in a dose-related manner. However, the present study suggests that the extract is toxic in high doses and longer dosage regimen. To minimize the toxicity, more toxicity studies should be carried out to understand more about the toxic effects of the plant on the live

Sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity are among the leading modifiable
risk factors worldwide for cardiopulmonary disease and all-cause mortality
while physically active persons reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes
mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Evidence is accumulating
that sedentary behaviour might be associated with increased cardiopulmonary- specific and overall mortality. Insufficient physical activity predicts premature
cardiopulmonary disease mortality and disease burden. This study is aimed at
investigating the cardiopulmonary function in athletes and sedentary workers
using a range of indices including Blood Pressure (BP), Forced Vital Capacity
(FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume₁ (FEV₁), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Body Mass Index (BMI) and Pulse Rate (PR). 100 apparently normal healthy
adult males were recruited for this study. They were selected into 5 groups with
10 subjects per range (range = 10) of athletes and sedentary workers. The result
VIII
revealed that there were significant differences in the cardiopulmonary
parameters and BMI across all groups. At the end of this study, the
cardiopulmonary parameters showed significant differences in athletes than in
sedentary workers mostly due to their physical condition, hence, sedentary
workers are recommended to alternate their lifestyle to live a healthier life.