African Journal of Science and Nature

FREQUENCY AND PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF ABNORMAL ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN ACUTE STROKE PATIENTS

2022-09-12T11:53:33-05:00

Electroencephalography (EEG)are useful in detecting changes in neuronal integrity and predicting
outcome in acute stroke. Thus, the study hope to determine the frequency and prognostic importance
of abnormal EEG wave changes in acute stroke. Adult patients with acute stroke who met the
inclusion criteria were studied. Stroke severity, functional outcome was determined using the
National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Modified Rankin scale (MRS) respectively
which were assessed on admission, 72hours, 7days, 14days and 30days after stroke. The proportion of
stroke patients with slow frequencies on EEG was 63.3% compared to 16.2% in controls (p0.008).
The percentage of Alpha wave, Beta wave, Delta wave, Theta wave, and Intermixed wave
respectively among cases were 24.1%, 12.7%, 22.8%, 21.52%, and 18.9% respectively compared to
66.3%, 17.5%, 5.0%, 3.8%, and 7.5% respectively among the controls (p0.008). The percentage of
epileptiform discharges seen among stroke patients was 31.6% compared to 11.2% in controls.
Epileptiform discharge was seen 31.6%, 62.7%, 57.9%, and 44.4% respectively at presentation, day
3, day 7, day 14, and day 30 respectively in stroke patients. Presence of sharps, RAWOD, asymmetry
and slowing respectively at day 14 (p0.014, 0.03, 0.02, 0.014) and at day 30 (p0.049, 0.03, 0.07, 0.034)
were associated with poor outcome among those with NIHSS >20. Among stroke patients with
NIHSS >20, there was association between good outcome and occurrence of Alpha rhythm within two
weeks of acute stroke. EEGwaves changes are useful in predicting functional outcome in acute stroke.

EFFECTS OF JATROPHA CURCAS EXTRACTS ON THE HORMONAL PROFILE OF MATURE FEMALE WISTAR RATS

2022-09-12T13:51:40-05:00

Extracts from Jatropha curcas, a tropical shrub, serve as multi-purpose drugs in folk medicine.
Previous studies have shown contraceptive and abortifacient potency of the extract of this plant. This
study assessed the effect of oral administration of J. curcas root extracts on hormonal levels of follicle
stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone, estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin in
Wistarrats. The root extracts of J. curcas in water (JCW) and 80% ethanol (JCE) were prepared using
the Soxhlet extraction method. Four groups of mature female Wistar rats (Groups A-D) were
administered varying doses of JCW or JCE once daily for 15 days. Another group (Group E) served as
control with no extract. After 15 days of extract administration, the rats were fasted for 18 h and
sacrificed. Venous blood samples were collected from each group for analysis of fasting glucose level
and lipid profile using spectrophotometry. We observed that, except for prolactin, the levels of all
other hormones decreased significantly in the rats treated with the root extracts, compared to the
control(all P < 0.05). Among groups that were treated with varying doses of JCW, the levels of E2,
progesterone, and LH increased with an increase in the concentration of the JCW. Although there was no
dose-dependent increasing or decreasing trend in case of FSH and prolactin, the levels of these
hormones varied significantly among the rats of Groups A-C. Administration of the root extracts
of J. curcas led to a decline in the serum FSH, LH progesterone, and E2, compared to the control
group, indicating adverse effect of root extract on fertility of Wistar rats.

BIOINFORMATIC ANALYSIS OF SOME GLOBAL STRAINS OF SARS-COV-2 GENOMES REVEAL DISTRIBUTION OF SIX MAJOR PHYLOGENETIC GROUPS

2022-09-12T14:08:03-05:00

The global strains of SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated using bioinformatic approach in order to infer their
levels of variation. Phylogeny, toggling and secondary structure were carried out using maximum
likelihood, percentages and SOPMA tools respectively while tajima's neutrality test and maximum
likelihood estimate for transition-transversion bias were estimated using standard recommended
procedures. Results obtained delineate the evaluated global SARS-Cov-2 into six distinct haplotypes
with several conserved sites at different levels of percentages ranging from 50-100%. The tajima's
neutrality test and maximum likelihood for transition-transversion bias were found to be
approximately 5.85 and 0.59 respectively while the secondary structure of these six haplotypes shows
similar representation of protein content with approximately 67% ( cluster 3-6) showing higher
content of alpha helix than other protein structures. The remaining 33% (cluster 1 and 2) however also
resembles themselves as their random coil was found to be higher than other protein structures.
Results of this study have shown that, even though, there is a little variation occurring in the SARSCov-
2 genome, the rate at which is happening is a cause for concern and there might be SARS-Cov-2
variants escaping vaccines in the nearest future

PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION ON THE USE OF SPICES AND HERBS IN THE MANAGEMENT/ MITIGATION OF COVID -19 INFECTION

2022-09-12T14:19:10-05:00

The lack of definite treatment for COVID-19 during the pandemic led to the search for alternative
treatments such as herbs and spices. This study aimed to sample people's opinion on the use of herbs
and spices in the prevention/management of COVID-19 infection. An online questionnaire was
designed with Google forms and administered via WhatsApp in August 2020 and February 2021. The
questionnaire consists of 19questions; Seven (7) have to do with the demography while the remaining
12questions are on the health benefits of herbs and spices and people's opinion on their uses in the
management of COVID-19. Five hundred and sixty-four responses were received. From the
responses, 95.3% knew herbs and spices, 69.1% stated that there was an increase in the consumption
of spices during the pandemic, 70.4%of the respondents took spices in the form of soup while 79.6%
have used it to relieve symptoms of illnesses like cold, fever, cough and sore throat. On the health
benefits of spices, 81.9% were aware of their health benefits,82.6% believed they could boost the
immune system, while 83.7% and 72% believed they could relieve symptoms related to COVID-19
and help in the management of COVID-19 symptoms. Ginger, garlic and turmeric are the three top
herbs and spices being taken by the respondents; ginger, garlic, lemon grass and scent leaves were the
most chosen spices and herbs that can manage COVID-19 symptoms. This research thus has revealed
that people used spices and herbs to prevent and manage COVID-19 during the pandemic; their use
should further be encouraged because of their health benefits.