Nigeria has a population of about 180 million, estimated to double in 22 years due to low uptake of family planningservices. Low utilization of family planning is the major factor associated with high fertility pattern in Nigeria. Thistrend is higher among rural women in Northern Nigeria. Without a thorough understanding of, and due attention to thelocal context, utilization of family planning may continue to be low. Identification of correlates of family planning wouldbe invaluable in designing strategies for ultimately improving uptake of family planning services. This study becamerelevant as no previous study on family planning has been carried out in Ushafa Community. The study was conductedat Ushafa community, a rural community, located in Bwari Area Council on the northern axis of the Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT) of Nigeria. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted among women of reproductiveage (15-49 years) who were permanent resident of Ushafa Community. Using proportion of contraceptive usage of 16%from a previous study, 240 women were recruited into the study by systematic sampling technique. Data was collected bymeans of a structured interviewer administered questionnaire, data was entered and analysed using statistical packagefor social sciences (SPSS) version 20. All tests were conducted using 2 tails while level of significance was set at 0.05.About a quarter of respondents (26.3%) knew that amenorrhoea could be a side effect of oral contraceptive pills, 51.1%knew that oral contraceptive pills must be taken daily, 58% were not using any form of family planning. Age (χ2 = 8.382,p = 0.01) and marital status (χ2 = 8.915, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with family planning knowledge. Levelof education was significantly associated with current use of family planning (χ2 = 10.78, p = 0.03). Educational statuswas significantly associated with likelihood of using family planning in the future (χ2 = 8.64, p = 0.04). Although therespondents had fairly good knowledge of family planning, the study observed some misconceptions especially withrespect to side effects and methodology of use of the commodities. Low uptake of family planning was observed amongthe respondents. Age and marital status were significantly associated with family planning knowledge; level of educationwas significantly associated with current use of family planning. There is need for incorporation of facts on usage andside effects of family planning in message disseminated by health workers in health facilities in Ushafa Community so as to correct misconceptions.

Eating behaviour disorder during early childhood is a common pediatric problem. Many terminologies have been used interchangeably to describe this condition, hindering implementation of therapy and confusing a common problem. The definition suggests an eating behaviour which has consequences for family harmony and growth. The recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition does not cover the entire spectrum seen by pediatricians. Publications are substantive but level of evidence is most of the time low. This purpose of this review is to clarify terminology of eating behaviour problems during early childhood; including benign picky eating, limited diets, sensory food aversion, selective eating, food avoidance emotional disorder, pervasive refusal syndrome, tactile defensiveness, functional dysphagia, neophobia and toddler anorexia. This tool is proposed only to ease the clinical management for child care providers. Diagnostic criteria are set and management tools are suggested. The role of dietary counselling and, where necessary, behavioural therapy is clarified. It is hoped that the condition will make its way into mainstream pediatrics to allow these children, and their families, to receive the help they deserve.
Anorexia ; Child ; Child Care ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Diet ; Disulfiram ; Feeding and Eating Disorders ; Eating* ; Hope ; Humans ; Meals ; Pediatrics

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate the antihyperglycemic potential of miracle fruit (MF) as well as its hepatic safety as compared to aspartame in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. METHODS: MF extracts were prepared and screened for their phytochemical composition using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents and antioxidant potential were also determined. Additionally, MF was evaluated for its sensory attributes. For in vivo work, MF ethanol extract at high (MFH: 500 mg/kg body weight [BW]) and low (MFL: 250 mg/kg BW) doses as well as aspartame were injected intraperitoneally into alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Blood glucose levels were determined following acute and subchronic treatment. At the end of the study, animals were sacrificed, serum was collected for biochemical analysis and liver tissues were obtained for histopathological examination. RESULTS: MF ethanol extract contained more flavonoids and tannins, and had higher 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity (79.61%) compared to MF aqueous extract (P < 0.05). HPLC analysis of MF ethanol extract also revealed the presence of 10 antioxidants with quercetin comprising the major polyphenol. Additionally, sensory analysis of MF showed that its intake is effective in masking undesirable sourness. Subchronic administration of MFH proved amelioration of hyperglycemia in mice as compared to aspartame. Moreover, aspartame treatment significantly elevated (P < 0.05) the level of alanine aminotransferase and had destructive effects on the liver histopathology; however, hepatic architecture was restored by low and high doses of MF. CONCLUSION MF is an effective antihyperglycemic with hepatoprotective properties that can be used as a healthier alternative sweetening agent in place of aspartame for sour beverages.

Aims: Skin burns remain a noteworthy general medical issue throughout the world, as it boosts a condition of immuno-suppression. The present research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Syzygium aromaticum extracts, silver sulphadiazine ointment, and different commercially available topical antibiotics against pathogenic bacteria, isolated from the skin of burn patients. Methodology and results: A total of 124 clinical pus samples were collected from the skin of burn patients, admitted to two different tertiary care burn units at Peshawar, Pakistan. From these pus samples, 6 bacterial isolates from burned skin (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp.) were isolated, while 4 different bacterial isolates (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus and Streptococcus spp.) were isolated from unburned skin via conventional culturing techniques. Further, antibacterial assays were performed to compare the efficacy of S. aromaticum extracts (methanolic and aqueous extract), silver sulphadiazine ointment, and different commercially available antibiotics against tested bacteria. It was observed that both methanolic and aqueous extracts of S. aromaticum were effective at all concentrations against all the tested bacteria. In addition, all the tested antibiotics expressed substantial activity against most of the bacterial isolates. While silver sulphadiazine ointment was observed to be less potent against isolated bacteria as compared to S. aromaticum extracts. Conclusion, significance and impact of study It was concluded that both aqueous and methanolic extracts of S. aromaticum were effective antimicrobial agents and could be used as an alternative to control bacterial infections of burn patients. This study would help to distinguish the risk factors of bacterial pathogenicity in burn patients and would also provide a guideline to utilize medicinal plants and their extracts to minimize the chances of antibiotic resistance phenomenon in burn patients.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cell Membrane ; Oxidative Stress ; Permeability ; Plant Extracts ; Syzygium

OBJECTIVE: An extract of Costus speciosus (CSE), a herb widely used in folk medicine, was evaluated for its antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic and ameliorating effects on histopathological changes in atherogenic rabbits. METHODS: Twenty-four male rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were divided into 4 groups. Three groups were fed a diet containing 3% saturated fat and 1.3% cholesterol for 40 d. One of these was sacrificed on the 40th day and was called the pathogenic (P) group; the other two groups received treatment for another 30 d as follows: one received 0.8 g/(kg·d) of CSE and the other was given 0.01 g/(kg·d) of simvastatin. The normal group was sacrificed on the 70th day and used as a control. RESULTS: CSE showed radical-scavenging ability. Administration of CSE for a 30-day period resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein and aspartate aminotransferase compared to the P group, while levels of hemoglobin, packed corpuscular volume and red blood cells were elevated. With respect to studies performed on the heart, a decrease in malondialdehyde and an increase in reduced glutathione were noted. Total protein increased in the liver, heart and aorta after treatment with CSE and also a marked improvement in histopathological parameters was demonstrated. CONCLUSION The present findings indicate that the C. speciosus rhizome possesses antiatherogenic and antioxidant properties which may provide protective effects against oxidative stress in atherosclerotic rabbits.

Objective To explore inhibitory effects of genome-specific, chemically synthesized siRNAs (small interference RNA) against NS3 gene of hepatitis C virus (HCV) 1a genotype in stable Huh-7 (human hepatoma) cells as well as against viral replication in serum-inoculated Huh-7 cells. Methods Stable Huh-7 cells persistently expressing NS3 gene were produced under antibiotic gentamycin (G418) selection. The cell clones resistant to 1 000 μg antibiotic concentration (G418) were picked as stable cell clones. The NS3 gene expression in stable cell clone was confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blotting. siRNA cell cytotoxicity was determined by MTT cell proliferation assay. Stable cell lines were transfected with sequence specific siRNAs and their inhibitory effects were determined by RT-PCR, real-time PCR and Western blotting. The viral replication inhibition by siRNAs in serum inoculated Huh-7 cells was determined by real-time PCR. Results RT-PCR and Western blot analysis confirmed NS3 gene and protein expression in stable cell lines on day 10, 20 and 30 post transfection. MTT cell proliferation assay revealed that at most concentrated dose tested (50 nmol/L), siRNA had no cytotoxic effects on Huh-7 cells and cell proliferation remained unaffected. As demonstrated by the siRNA time-dependent inhibitory analysis, siRNA NS3-is44 showed maximum inhibition of NS3 gene in stable Huh-7 cell clones at 24 (80%, P = 0.013) and 48 h (75%, P = 0.002) post transfection. The impact of siRNAs on virus replication in serum inoculated Huh-7 cells also demonstrated significant decrease in viral copy number, where siRNA NS3-is44 exhibited 70% (P < 0.05) viral RNA reduction as compared to NS3-is33, which showed a 64% (P < 0.05) decrease in viral copy number. siRNA synergism (NS3-is33 + NS3-is44) decreased viral load by 84% (P < 0.05) as compared to individual inhibition by each siRNA (i.e., 64%–70% (P < 0.05)) in serum-inoculated cells. Synthetic siRNAs mixture (NS5B-is88 + NS3-is33) targeting different region of HCV genome (NS5B and NS3) also decreased HCV viral load by 85% (P < 0.05) as compared to siRNA inhibitory effects alone (70% and 64% respectively, P < 0.05). Conclusions siRNAs directed against NS3 gene significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression in stable cell clones. Viral replication was also vividly decreased in serum infected Huh-7 cells. Stable Huh-7 cells expressing NS3 gene is helpful to develop anti-hepatitis C drug screening assays. siRNA therapeutic potential along with other anti-HCV agents can be considered against hepatitis C.