SCHOOL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCE COLLEGE OF MEDICAL SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

Icacina trichantha is a medicinal plant traditionally used in West Africa for its hematinic and immunomodulatory properties. The study is aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Icacina trichantha on the expression of the High-Mobility Group Box-1 (HMGB-1) gene in Wistar rats with aluminum chloride–induced anaemia. Sixty (60) adult male Wistar rats were divided into six (6) groups: Group A (Control), Group B (AlCl₃ only), Group C (AlCl₃ + 40 mg/kg ferrous sulphate), and Groups D, E, and F (AlCl₃ + 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg I. trichantha extract, respectively). Blood samples were analyzed for white blood cell parameters using an ERMA haematology autoanalyzer, and HMGB1 mRNA expression was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with GAPDH as the internal control. Total WBC count was highest in Group B (7.5 ± 0.91) and lowest in Group C (4.92 ± 0.51), with extract-treated groups showing intermediate values (6.28 ± 0.46, 5.88 ± 1.17, and 5.98 ± 0.57 for Groups D, E, and F, respectively), though differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Lymphocyte, MID, and granulocyte percentages showed mild variations across groups but without statistical significance. Significant weight gain was observed in Groups D, E, and F at day 28 compared to day 0 (p < 0.05). HMGB1 mRNA expression was significantly elevated in Groups C, D, and E compared to Groups A and B (p < 0.05), indicating activation of immune-related molecular pathways. In conclusion, while I. trichantha did not significantly alter WBC indices in AlCl₃-induced anaemia, its administration was associated with notable upregulation of HMGB1 expression and improved body weight, suggesting potential modulatory and restorative effects that warrant further mechanistic studies.

Background/Purpose of Study:
Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, often resulting in upper extremity dysfunction that limits independence. Rehabilitation strategies such as Mental Imagery (MI) and the Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP) have been developed to enhance motor recovery. This study evaluated the comparative and combined effectiveness of MI and GRASP on upper extremity function in stroke survivors. Methods:
A total of forty-eight (48) stroke survivors were randomly assigned into four groups of twelve participants each: Mental Imagery (MI), GRASP, combined MI + GRASP, and a control group. The intervention lasted for eight weeks and was conducted at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) was used to assess upper extremity function pre- and post-intervention. Data were analysed using one-way Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), and post-hoc comparisons were performed with Bonferroni correction at a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results: The results revealed that the MI group showed no significant improvement in upper extremity function compared to the control. However, participants in the GRASP and MI + GRASP groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in grasp, grip, pinch, and gross movement components of the ARAT. The GRASP group showed the most notable gains, followed by the combined intervention group.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that GRASP, alone or in combination with Mental Imagery, enhances upper extremity function in stroke survivors, while Mental Imagery alone may not produce measurable benefits within an eight-week period. These results support the inclusion of structured GRASP protocols, with or without imagery practice, in stroke rehabilitation to improve upper limb recovery

BACKGROUND: Patent medicine stores and vendors frequently serve as the first point of care for many individuals across Nigeria, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas. Although measures exist to regulate their practices, their widespread utilisation for primary health services remains a major public health consideration. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the utilisation of patent medicine stores and vendors
(PMVs) for health services among residents of Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State.
METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 550 residents of Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State. Respondents were selected using a multi-sampling method. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS version 27.0. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULT: The mean age of respondents was 29.0±13.5 years, with 304 (55.3%) females and 392 (71.3%) single. Regarding types of health services utilised, malaria treatment was the most frequently sought service 507 (92.2%), followed by headache or pain relief 463 (84.2%) and fever management 441 (80.2%). In contrast, services such as family planning 111 (20.2%), reproductive health advice 111 (20.2%), and treatment of sexually transmitted infections 63 (11.5%) were markedly underutilised. Perceived benefits of PMV patronage included shorter waiting times 407 (74.0%), closer proximity 394 (71.6%), and extended operating hours 339 (61.6%), while major perceived risks were delay in proper medical care 277 (50.4%), sale of medicines without prescription 257 (46.7%), and insufficient vendor training 249 (45.3%). Factors significantly associated with utilisation were proximity to home 385 (70.0%), extended operating hours 341 (62.0%), previous positive experience 338 (61.5%), and cost of services 324 (58.9%). Overall, 364 (66.2%) respondents were satisfied with PMV services, with male residents demonstrating significantly higher satisfaction 180 (73.2%) and willingness to recommend 194 (78.9%) than females with 184 (60.5%) and 193 (63.5%,) respectively.
CONCLUSION: Majority of the respondents utilised patent medicine stores for health services, with malaria treatment being the most sought-after care. Accessibility and convenience were the primary drivers of this health-seeking behaviour, despite a clear awareness of clinical risks. Satisfaction remained high, especially among male residents. Formal integration, targeted training, and strengthened regulatory oversight are urgently needed to improve the safety and quality of care provided by PMVs.

Background: Academic-related stress has become a growing concern among university students, particularly those in medical and allied health disciplines. Previous studies have established that medical and health science students experience higher stress levels than their counterparts in other fields, yet limited data exist for students of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Benin. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, patterns, and determinants of academic-related stress among students of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Benin, as well as to identify their coping strategies. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed using stratified random, sampling. Data were collected from 300 undergraduate students across departments such as Nursing, Physiology, and Anatomy through a structured questionnaire incorporating the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and academic stress indicators. Descriptive and inferential statistics including Chi- square, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation were used to analyze relationships between demographic variables, departmental differences, and stress levels at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Findings revealed that 86% of respondents experienced moderate stress, while 13.3% reported high stress levels. No significant gender differences were observed (p = 0.412), but significant variations existed across departments (p < 0.001), with Nursing students showing the highest stress levels. A positive correlation (r = 0.411, p < 0.001) was found between academic related stress and overall perceived stress. The most common coping strategies included talking with friends (24.7%), engaging in physical activities (24.7%), and religious practices (23%), while only 17% sought professional counseling. Conclusion: The study concludes that academic-related stress is highly prevalent among Basic Medical Science students at the University of Benin. Academic workload, frequent assessments, and clinical exposure were major stressors. Institutional interventions such as counseling services, stress management workshops, and curriculum review are recommended to enhance students’ psychological well-being and academic performance.

BACKGROUND
Childhood diarrhoea remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among under-five children, especially in low-resource settings where poor sanitation, limited access to safe water, and inappropriate home care practices persist.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed household management of childhood diarrhoea in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Benin City, in order to provide evidence for interventions that will improve home-based care and reduce complications among under-five children.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 436 caregivers of under-five children residing in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Benin City, Edo State. Data were collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires adapted from United Nations Children's Fund and World Health Organization tools on childhood diarrhoea management. Data collected were entered and analysed using IBM SPSS version 25.0, with statistical significance set at p < 0.050 and 95% confidence interval.
RESULTS
Mean age of respondents studied was 39.2 ± 10.6 years, and the majority were females 371 (85.1%). More than half of caregivers 232 (53.2%) correctly defined diarrhoea as passage of three or more loose or watery stools in 24 hours, while 228 (52.3%) identified danger signs of dehydration. Almost half of the under-five children 212 (48.6%) had experienced diarrhoea in the two weeks preceding the survey, and 101 (47.6%) of these passed stool three times or more in 24 hours. Blood in stool was reported in 56 (26.4%) of diarrhoeal episodes. In the six months preceding the study, 143 (32.8%) had experienced two episodes of diarrhoea, while 104 (23.9%) had experienced three or more episodes. Utilization of recommended management options was poor, with only about one-quarter of caregivers giving oral rehydration solution during diarrhoeal episodes and an even smaller proportion giving zinc. Feeding practices were also suboptimal, as slightly more than half of caregivers had poor feeding practices during diarrhoea. Furthermore, family type (χ² = 14.685; p < 0.001), monthly income (χ² = 7.430; p = 0.024), household size (χ² = 6.867; p = 0.009), and spouse occupation skill level (χ² = 4.844; p = 0.028) were identified as significant factors associated with household management of childhood diarrhoea.
CONCLUSION
Childhood diarrhoea was common among under-five children in Ovia North East LGA, with many children experiencing recent and recurrent episodes. Care-seeking practices among caregivers were suboptimal, as delays in seeking appropriate healthcare and reliance on non recommended treatment sources were observed. Utilization of recommended home
management options, particularly Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and zinc supplementation, was poor, while feeding and fluid practices during diarrhoeal episodes were inadequate among many caregivers. Household management of childhood diarrhoea was significantly influenced by socioeconomic and family-related factors such as family type, monthly income, household size, and spouse occupation skill level. These findings highlight the need for targeted health education, improved access to ORS and zinc, promotion of appropriate feeding practices, and strengthened water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions to reduce the burden of childhood diarrhoea among under-five children.

Hematological indices are essential for evaluation of blood composition and overall health.
They are a set of measurements and values obtained from a complete blood count (CBC) test. They include: Red blood cell count, total and differential white blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelets count etc. This study aims to measure and compare the values of RBCs, Total and Differential WBCs, MCV, MCH,
MCHC and Platelets between young male and female human adults. A Questionnaire was given to collect demographic and a little clinical data from the participants to ensure they met the criteria for participation.
The participants constituted two (2) groups – males and females, with each group having 20 individuals between ages 18-30. Blood samples were collected. The data obtained from the groups were presented as Mean ± S.E.M (Standard Error of Mean), (n=20) in each group and analyzed for statistical significant at (p ≤ 0.05). The statistical software used includes R and WPS sheets. The results for RBC count, MCV, MCH and MCHC were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in males than in females, while the values of total WBC count, each of the differential WBC count and the platelet count, were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in females compared to males. In conclusion, the results of this study highlights and buttress that there are significant differences between the selected hematological parameters of males and females. These variations are most likely due to physiological factors like the testosterone on erythropoiesis and the potential differences in body composition and metabolism.

The aim of this study is to understand the significance of montelukast, hydrocortisone and salbutamol on the lung histology and antioxidant levels in asthma induced Sprague Dawley rats. Chronic asthma is a respiratory disease characterized by oxidative stress and inflammation of the airways. Montelukast, hydrocotisone and salbutamol are drugs that are often used to treat asthma. Their impact on endogenous antioxidant levels in asthmatic conditions are yet to be clearly defined. Medication for asthma might include corticosteroids (like hydrocotisone), leukotrine receptor antagonists (like Montelukast) and Beta 2-adrenergic receptors (like salbutamol). Free radicals may be neutralized by antioxidants, which also lessen oxidative stress in the body. As a selective antagonist of the leukotriene D4 (LTD4) receptor, montelukast acts by preventing the body's production of leukotrienes, which are substances that promote inflammation and constriction of the airways when they come into contact with allergen. Other classes of drugs also prove useful in bronchodilation. Five (5) primary groups of Sprague Dawley rats were grouped (control, negative control and test groups). Group 1 control was not induced with asthma, Group 2, negative control was induced with asthma but not treated. These two groups make up the control group. Group 3 was induced with asthma and
treated with salbutamol, Group 4 was induced with asthma and treated with montelukast, while Group 5 was induced with asthma and treated with Hydrocortisone. These three groups make up the test group, five rats in each group. The rats were sensitized to 1mg ovalbumin and 20mg Aluminium hydroxide dissolved in 0.9 saline, and then they were challenged with ovalbumin 1 % w/v adsorbed in 0.9 saline, twice weekly for four weeks (28 days), using a Medal family nebulizer. This caused the rats to develop asthma. After the Conclusion of treatment, the rats were sacrificed and their lungs were extracted for histological assay, while 1ml of blood is extracted for measurement of antioxidants using the spectrophotometric method, following reagent manufacturers guidelines. Measurements were made of the amounts of endogenous antioxidants, such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH). The findings demonstrated that there was statistically significant increase in superoxide dimutase and malondialdehyde levels in the negative control in comparison to the control group, while there was a statistically significant decrease in catalase and glutathione levels in the negative control group in comparison to the control group. Super-Oxide Dismutase was considerably increased after treatment with all classes of drugs. There was no statistically significant variance in catalase level noticed among the test group. Glutathione peroxidase was only significantly in the group treated with salbutamol, it showed no significant variance in other drug administration. There was significant increase in malondialdehyde in all groups except salbutamol. All test groups had considerably lower glutathione levels than the control group. As a result, the research concludes that some antioxidant levels (except glutathione) can be significantly
increased with the given drugs, reducing oxidative stress in lung tissues.

The aim of this study is to understand the significance of montelukast, hydrocortisone and salbutamol on the lung histology and antioxidant levels in asthma induced Sprague Dawley rats. Chronic asthma is a respiratory disease characterized by oxidative stress and inflammation of the airways. Montelukast, hydrocotisone and salbutamol are drugs that are often used to treat asthma. Their impact on endogenous antioxidant levels in asthmatic conditions are yet to be clearly defined. Medication for asthma might include corticosteroids (like hydrocotisone), leukotrine receptor antagonists (like Montelukast) and Beta 2-adrenergic receptors (like salbutamol). Free radicals may be neutralized by antioxidants, which also lessen oxidative stress in the body. As a selective antagonist of the leukotriene D4 (LTD4) receptor, montelukast acts by preventing the body's production of leukotrienes, which are substances that promote inflammation and constriction of the airways when they come into contact with allergen. Other classes of drugs also prove useful in bronchodilation. Five (5) primary groups of Sprague Dawley rats were grouped (control, negative control and test groups). Group 1 control was not induced with asthma, Group 2, negative control was induced with asthma but not treated. These two groups make up the control group. Group 3 was induced with asthma and
treated with salbutamol, Group 4 was induced with asthma and treated with montelukast, while Group 5 was induced with asthma and treated with Hydrocortisone. These three groups make up the test group, five rats in each group. The rats were sensitized to 1mg ovalbumin and 20mg Aluminium hydroxide dissolved in 0.9 saline, and then they were challenged with ovalbumin 1 % w/v adsorbed in 0.9 saline, twice weekly for four weeks (28 days), using a Medal family nebulizer. This caused the rats to develop asthma. After the Conclusion of treatment, the rats were sacrificed and their lungs were extracted for histological assay, while 1ml of blood is extracted for measurement of antioxidants using the spectrophotometric method, following reagent manufacturers guidelines. Measurements were made of the amounts of endogenous antioxidants, such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH). The findings demonstrated that there was statistically significant increase in superoxide dimutase and malondialdehyde levels in the negative control in comparison to the control group, while there was a statistically significant decrease in catalase and glutathione levels in the negative control group in comparison to the control group. Super-Oxide Dismutase was considerably increased after treatment with all classes of drugs. There was no statistically significant variance in catalase level noticed among the test group. Glutathione peroxidase was only significantly in the group treated with salbutamol, it showed no significant variance in other drug administration. There was significant increase in malondialdehyde in all groups except salbutamol. All test groups had considerably lower glutathione levels than the control group. As a result, the research concludes that some antioxidant levels (except glutathione) can be significantly
increased with the given drugs, reducing oxidative stress in lung tissues.

The consumption of dietary supplements for cellular health and detoxification is increasing globally, yet many proprietary formulations lack rigorous safety evaluation measures . CellifeIQ is a polyherbal supplement marketed to enhance intracellular glutathione levels; however, its subacute toxicity profile remains unknown . To address this gap, this study evaluated the subacute (28-day) oral toxicity of CellifeIQ on kidney function, hematological parameters, and glucose homeostasis in male Wistar rats. Twenty adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=5) consisting of a Control group receiving distilled water and three treatment groups receiving CellifeIQ at 20, 80, and 600 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The protocol was conducted in accordance with OECD Test Guideline 407, with body weight, feed, and water consumption monitored weekly.After 28 days, blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analysis. No mortality or overt clinical signs of toxicity were observed. However, the high dose (600 mg/kg) caused significant reductions in feed consumption and body weight gain, alongside a significant increase in water intake. .Renal function assessment revealed a significant decrease in serum potassium (K+) across all treated groups and reduced creatinine levels at 80 and 600 mg/kg, indicative of metabolic alteration rather than renal filtration failure. Hematological parameters and fasting blood glucose levels remained largely stable. In conclusion, CellifeIQ was welltolerated at lower doses but induced signs of hepatotoxicity and metabolic disruption at the highest dose tested, establishing the No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level (NOAEL) at 80 mg/kg. These findings suggest that high-dose supplementation may pose health risks, validating the need for strict dose regulation of antioxidant-boosting formulations.

Herbal mixtures are widely consumed in Nigeria for their perceived therapeutic benefits, yet concerns about microbial safety, particularly fungal contamination, persist. This study investigated the fungal load and diversity of herbal mixtures sold at selected markets in Benin City, Edo State. A total of 20 samples (powder, liquid, and paste formulations) were collected from Uselu, New Benin, and Ring Road markets. Fungal isolation was performed using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, and identification was based on cultural and microscopic characteristics. Antifungal sensitivity was assessed by incorporating herbal mixtures into culture media. Results showed that 65% of samples were contaminated, with fungal loads ranging from 3.08 ×10³ to 1.72 × 10⁶ CFU/ml. The predominant isolates were Mucor (20%), Fusarium (20%), Aspergillus niger (15%), and Penicillium (10%). Powdered samples showed the highest contamination levels, while Ring Road samples recorded the least growth. Antifungal assays revealed only partial inhibitory effects at high concentrations (3000 mg), indicating limited intrinsic antifungal activity of the herbal mixtures tested. These findings highlight significant fungal contamination in locally sold herbal mixtures, with potential public health risks including opportunistic infections and mycotoxin exposure. Stronger regulation, quality control, and public health awareness are recommended to improve the safety of herbal medicines in Benin City.