Hot Articles

  • Nutraceutical wild plants and their socio-economic contributions to households in Lare Woreda, Gambella Regional State, Southwest Ethiopia

    An ethno botanical study was conducted in Lare woreda (district) of Gamella Regional State of Ethiopia with the objective of identifying the existing nutraceutical plant species having various socio-economic significances for households in the area. The study has given special emphasis on assessing the roles of these plants in diversifying food sources and healthcare of the local communities. In addition, other socio-economic benefits of the identified plant species to the rural households were also studied. 120 households from three representative administrative Kebeles were selected and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire. In addition to household interview, other methods such as focus group discussions, key informants interview, preference ranking, and matrix scoring and ranking were also employed. Thirty seven plant species belonging to 27 families, along with their multiple household benefits were identified. Fabaceae family, which is represented by four species accounted for the largest proportion of these plants followed by Apocynaceae represented by three species. These plant species belong to different habits, which include trees, shrubs, climbers, and herbs with proportions of 31.57%, 22.05%, 5.26% and 41.12% respectively. The multiple household benefits of the plants include their use as wild food sources (especially during seasons of food deficit from the main food crops); as traditional medicines for treating both human and livestock diseases; as well as for other purposes such as fuel wood, construction materials, agricultural tools/implements, provision of shade, handcrafts or furniture making. Frequent fire, agricultural land expansion and investment activities, and timber collection and settlement are the major threats encountered in sustainable management of these valuable plants. Therefore, there is a need to design and implement an all inclusive and community-based management strategies in order to ensure their sustainable management and thereby enhance their socio-economic contributions to the communities.

  • FORAGE DRY MATTER YIELD OF INTERCROPPED MAIZE (Zea mays) AND COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) IN VARIOUS SPRAY REGIMES AND SEASONS

    The demand for crop residues is rising in response to increasing consumption of animal protein while productivity of natural pastures is declining due to adverse effects of climate change, overgrazing and population pressure on land. Although the use of forage crop can complement natural pastures, it is essential that the fodder potential of these crops be assessed. Five varieties of cowpea and one variety of maize were studied with the aim of evaluating their forage dry matter yield under different cropping systems, sowing dates and agro-chemical treatments. Treatments were laid out in split-split plot and arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications across the two years in Ako, South Eastern Nigeria. The results obtained indicated that intercropping cowpea with maize produced more total forage dry matter than sole crop of cowpea and maize. Early season cropping and long duration cowpea significantly (P=0.05) supported higher cowpea fodder dry matter yield in both years. Lowered application of agro-chemical (≤one spray) resulted in higher cowpea fodder production. Significantly (P=0.05) higher dry matter yield was obtained in maize when two insecticide sprays was applied in both sole and intercropping. The higher stover yield obtained in maize with higher insecticide application as against lower cowpea fodder yield with higher chemical application suggested the existence of physiological compensation among the component crops used in this study.

  • Antibacterial, antifungal and wound healing potentials of extract and fractions of Nauclea diderrichii root bark

    gar dilution technique to determine the inhibition zone diameters (IZD) and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The excision wound model was used to assess the wound healing properties of MDE (5, 10 and 20%) and compared it with that of bacitracin and neomycin powder (BNP, standard) in rats. Phytochemical screening and acute toxicity test were performed using standard procedures. Results showed that extract and fractions exhibited antimicrobial effect with IZD (mm, 40 mg/ml) against tested organisms. The EF exhibited the best antimicrobial activity with IZD of 30, 8, 15, 8 and 12 against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus cohnii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella aerogenes and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. The EF also gave an MIC (mg/ml) of 0.63, 20.00, 1.25, 20.00 and 0.63 for S. aureus, S. cohnii, P. aeruginosa, K. aerogenes, and A. flavus, respectively. The MDE showed a comparable wound healing effect with BNP, although with better effect on day 20 with 100% wound contraction while BNP gave 93.79%, post wound excision. Therefore, N. diderrichii root bark possesses antibacterial, antifungal and wound healing properties.

  • Bilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears treated by double bundle grafting

    Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears are orthopaedic injury, particularly in athlete and youth populations. ACL is composed of longitudinally oriented bundles of collagen tissue arranged in fascicular subunits within larger functional bands. Ligament is surrounded by synovium, thus making it extra-synovial. Unilateral ACL tear is common & seen by sports medicine orthopaedic surgeons. But bilateral ACL injury is extremely rare and reported only three times in the previous literature. In this case of bilateral ACL tear, which was surgically treated and managed by performing arthroscopic double bundle ACL reconstruction in left knee using quadruplet hamstring graft. This particular surgery is a rare practice adopted by orthopaedic surgeons. We would like to highlight that, performing double bundle grafting not only helped the patient back into his sports field in shorter duration, but also shows that orthopaedic surgeons are espousing newer techniques and accomplishment of such procedure opening new dimension in ACL tear management.

  • Considering Urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Conceptions of Health

    Drawing on the salutogenic, or ‘origins of health’ framework, this article explores the health and well-being conceptions of urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and identifies individual and community health-enabling strategies employed to support their health and well-being. This qualitative study included 12 focus groups with 83 predominantly Indigenous Australian participants of Work It Out, a chronic disease self-management and rehabilitation program in South East Queensland. The focus groups explored meanings of health and well-being as well as strategies used to keep healthy and well. The findings indicate that urban Indigenous Australians participants view health as a balance between physical, psychological, socio-emotional and environmental factors and are active engagers in health enhancing behavior. This study provides new insights into the health and well-being conceptions of urban Indigenous Australians at risk of suffering from a chronic disease and reveals a unique view of health and well-being. Understanding how urban Indigenous Australians conceptualize health and well-being will contribute to the evidence base to inform culturally responsive public health programs and policy.

  • Study of Knowledge about Hypertension in Young Adult Population of Age Group 20 to 40 Years in an Urban Slum of Mumbai

    Context: Hypertension is a growing health problem throughout the World. There is paucity of data on awareness about hypertension, its causes and related complications in general population. Awareness about hypertension in younger population can prevent its development in later age. Thus to prevent & control the problem of hypertension there is a need for increasing knowledge and awareness about hypertension in younger population. Aim of this study is to assess knowledge about hypertension in younger population using a knowledge questionnaire. Methods: A cross-sectional community based study amongst 450 participants in the age group of 20 to 40 years using systematic sampling technique with a random start. Data was collected using a questionnaire form that was devised relevant to the study. Conclusion: Among 450 participants, 264 i.e. 58.7% participants had poor knowledge about hypertension (score < 7) and 186 i.e 41.3% good knowledge about hypertension (score > 7).

  • An Assessment of Knowledge and Evaluation of Risk on Developing Type II Diabetes Mellitus- a Prospective Study

    Background: As per WHO definition Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Recent study estimates that there were 171 million people in the world with diabetes in the year 2000 and this is projected to increase to 366 million by 2030. WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030. Aim: To identify and improve the level of knowledge in type II Diabetes and to evaluate risk of developing type II DM among non-diabetics attending tertiary care hospital. Methods: A qualitative observational interview based method was conducted out in a 450 bedded tertiary care hospital for a period of 6 months. Patient data was collected through structured form and evaluated using standard validated scales DKQ – 24 item questionnaire form and Type II Diabetes Risk Assessment form. All patients admitted with Type II DM with/ without co-morbidities in the age range of 18-70years will be selected. The patients with increased risk of developing Type II DM will also be evaluated. The patients who are not interested to participate in study or due to serious illness or impairment are excluded. Results: 150 patients enrolled for study of both having diabetic and non-diabetics. They were also carried out the post survey for assessment diabetic knowledge after patient counseling. Patient counseling along with leaflets were provided to patients with poor knowledge. Patient improved from (SD +/-8.63) average pre-score of knowledge to post-score (SD +/-2.505) with P