TREATMENT

This study evaluated the comparative effects of standard pharmacotherapy (Lisinopril/Glibenclamide) and an aqueous extract combination of Cleome rutidosperma and Hunteria umbellata on metabolic and cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive/diabetic rats. The hypertensive/diabetic rats showed reduced body weight, elevated fasting blood glucose, and increased blood pressure indices confirming disease induction. Treatment with Lisinopril/Glibenclamide significantly restored body weight and normalized blood glucose and blood pressure. The plant extract also improved these parameters, with a more pronounced effect on weight gain, moderate glucose lowering, and significant reductions in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures. Cardiovascular autonomic function was improved as indicated by heart rate stabilization. Lipid profile analysis revealed that, while standard therapy unexpectedly increased total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, the combined Cleome/Hunteria extract markedly improved lipid profiles by reducing total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and eliminating detectable VLDL levels, while significantly increasing HDL cholesterol. These results suggest that the plant extract may modulate lipid metabolism more effectively than standard drugs. Overall, the findings demonstrate that Cleome rutidosperma and Hunteria umbellata aqueous extract exert beneficial effects on anthropometric, glycemic, hemodynamic, and lipid parameters in hypertensive/diabetic rats. This suggests potential cardiometabolic protective properties via biochemical pathways involving glucose homeostasis, vascular tone regulation, and lipid metabolism. Further mechanistic and clinical investigations are warranted to confirm its therapeutic viability. This summary aligns with literature reporting reduced body weight gain in hypertensive and diabetic rat models due to metabolic derangement and catabolism. The plant extract’s enhancement of body weight may reflect improved anabolic state and nutrient utilization, while its lipid-lowering effect suggests modulation of lipoprotein metabolism enzymes.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the infectious agent that causes COVID-19, commonly
referred to as coronavirus illness. Chloroquine (CQ), Hydroxylchloroquine (HCQ),
Lopinavor/Retinavir (L/R), and other medications were tested for treating COVID-19 infection. Alcohol or phosphate functional group molecules are uncommon in lipids, which are esters of fatty acids that are soluble in organic solvents but insoluble in water. Triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol make up the lipid profile. The aim of the thesis is to ascertain and assess how prescribed medications for the management of COVID-19 infection affect albino rats' lipid levels. In total, 60 albino wistar rats were employed in this investigatigation. 6 were used as negative controls (given with water and feed only), while 54 were used as positive controls (administered with the medications). On the 29th day, blood samples were collected from the albino wistar rats into plain containers and serum were obtained for laboratory analysis of the lipid profile indices.. Version 27 of SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) was used to analyze the study's data. For both tests and controls, the Standard Error of Mean was expressed as mean ± S.E.M. Additionally, an ANOVA was used to compare the results at a 95% confidence interval (P<0.05). Notably, the combination treatment containing Hydroxylchloroquine (HCQ), Ivermectin (IV), L/R (Lopinavir/Retinavir), Azithromycin (AZI), Zinc (Zn), and Selenium (Se) led to a significant decrease in HDL_c levels (P<0.05) and weight (P<0.05) compared to the control group. This was in addition to the notable reduction in total cholesterol (TC) levels (P <0.05) that HCQ showed. Additionally, compared to the control group, Chloroquine (CQ) showed significantly lower cardiac risk ratios (P<0.05) and atherogenic coefficients (P<0.05), suggesting a possible decrease in cardiovascular risk and atherogenic potential. Additionally, compared to the control group, the ydroxychloroquine (HCQ) treatment group showed significantly decreased cardiac risk ratios (P<0.05) and atherogenic coefficients (P<0.05). Nevertheless, the combination therapy with CQ, IV, L/R, AZI, Zn, and Se showed noticeably greater atherogenic coefficients and cardiac risk ratios. In conclusion, the study elucidated the various effects of the drugs on lipid profile, weight, cardiac risk ratio, and atherogenic coefficient. However, while both CQ and HCQ treatments led to significant weight gain, contrary to some findings, their mechanisms of action on weight regulation remain complex and warrant further investigation.

The discharge of untreated textile wastewater containing synthetic dyes poses significant environmental and public health risks due to its toxicity and resistance to conventional degradation processes. This research explores a sustainable and cost-effective solution by developing and evaluating a novel activated carbon (AC) adsorbent derived from a blend of two abundant agricultural wastes: Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) and Coconut Shell (CS).This study aimed to treat synthetic wastewater contaminated with Methyl Red dye. The PKS and CS were individually carbonized and chemically activated using potassium hydroxide (KOH). The resulting activated carbons were blended in a 1:1 ratio to create a composite adsorbent (PKS-CS AC). The adsorbent was extensively characterized using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, which revealed a specific surface area of 275.762 m²/g and a well-developed microporous and mesoporous structure, complemented by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) that identified key functional groups (O-H, C=O, C-O) crucial for adsorption.A series of batch adsorption experiments were conducted, and the process was optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on a Central Composite Design (CCD). The influence of critical operational parameters—adsorbent dosage (PKS-AC and CS-AC), contact time, and initial dye concentration—on Methyl Red removal efficiency was investigated. The ANOVA of the quadratic model confirmed its high significance, with an R² value of 0.9501, indicating the model accurately represented the experimental data. The optimization results identified the optimal conditions as 1.65 g/L of CS-AC, 6.13 g/L of PKS-AC, a contact time of 70.75 minutes, and an initial dye concentration of 328.1 mg/L, achieving a predicted dye removal efficiency of 93.75%

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) poses a significant health challenge in Nigeria, particularly in Edo State, where limited data exist on patient knowledge and treatment adherence. This study assessed the knowledge of CKD, adherence to prescribed treatment regimens, and associated barriers among CKD patients in a tertiary institution in Edo State. A cross- sectional descriptive study was conducted at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, involving 158 CKD patients selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 26.0, employing descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests (p<0.05). Findings revealed that 53.2% of respondents had fair knowledge of CKD, primarily sourced from nurses (52.9%), while 28.5% had poor knowledge. Adherence to treatment regimens was generally poor, with only dietary compliance showing a mean score above 2.50. Key barriers to adherence included medication costs, side effects, inaccessible healthcare facilities, dietary restrictions, cultural beliefs, and lack of family support. No significant relationship was found between CKD knowledge and adherence (p=0.306), indicating that knowledge alone does not ensure adherence. The study recommends enhanced health educations by nurses and mass media campaigns to improve CKD awareness and address barriers like cost and accessibility. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance CKD management in Edo State

BACKGROUND: Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs), including conditions like the common cold, pharyngitis, and sinusitis, are predominantly viral in origin and often do not require antibiotics. However, antibiotics are frequently misused for URTIs due to patient demand, diagnostic uncertainty, or lack of awareness. This practice contributes to the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a major public health threat.University students, particularly in densely populated settings like the University of Benin, are vulnerable to URTIs due to close-contact living conditions, stress, and poor health- seeking behaviors. Studies suggest that due to factors such as academic pressure, easy of access to drugs, and limited health literacy students often resort to self-medication with antibiotics obtained without prescriptions, exacerbating resistance risks. OBJECTIVE : This project seeks to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotic use for URTIs among University of Benin students. By identifying gaps in awareness and inappropriate usage trends, the study will inform targeted interventions, such as educational campaigns and stricter medication dispensing policies, to curb antibiotic misuse in this population.
METHODS : After obtaining ethical approval from the Faculty of Pharmacy Ethics Committee, a cross sectional study was employed. The study employed the use of a structured questionnaire as the major instrument of data collection. The questionnaire was carefully developed to address the objectives of the study and distributed to students of four faculties including two medical oriented faculties (Pharmacy and Basic Medical Sciences) and two non medical oriented faculties (Education and Engineering). The data obtained was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for social sciences, SPSS version 29.
RESULTS: 54.2% of the respondents were male, while 45.8% were female, indicating a fairly balanced gender representation. The majority of the respondents (49.0%) were between the ages of 21 and 25 years. The majority of the respondents (68.3%) reported having experienced a cold, sore throat, or cough within the past six months, Most of the respondents (78.4%) admitted to having used antibiotics to treat URTI, while 46.9% did not complete the
course, indicates a tendency toward incomplete antibiotic adherence among some participants. Majority (87.9%) obtained them from pharmacies and 64.5% of the respondents reported that they could purchase antibiotics without a prescription. Out of the total respondents, 275 (62.6%) demonstrated good knowledge, while 164 (37.4%) exhibited poor knowledge of antibiotic use. A majority (58.3%) reported that they keep leftover antibiotics for future use. Most respondents (72.9%) admitted to using antibiotics given by friends or family. CONCLUSION; The study results showed that although most students had experienced one or more URTI episodes, many engaged in improper antibiotic use, frequently self-medicating without valid prescriptions. The widespread misuse of antibiotics identified in this study represents a serious public health issue. While many students had a basic understanding of antibiotic use, misconceptions were common especially the false belief that antibiotics are effective against viral infections. Contributing factors included easy access to antibiotics without prescriptions, peer influence, prior antibiotic use, and limited awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Coordinated educational, clinical, and policy interventions are vital to promote the rational use of antibiotics and preserve their effectiveness for future generations