bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy Completion among People Living with HIV in Oyo and Ogun States, Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Olajide O , Okonkwo P , Ajayi O , Adetoye D , Ogunsola O , Ibiloye O , Omole T , Elujide O , Ayinde O 
Published: March 2022

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) among People Living with HIV (PLHIV) to reduce morbidity and mortality from Tuberculosis (TB). This study assessed the rate of IPT completion and its associated factors among PLHIV in South West Nigeria.Methods: A review of records of 1526 PLHIV who commenced IPT between October 2017 and December 2018 was done. Data were extracted from facility level IPT service documentation tools using study-developed data abstraction template. The chi-square test was used to assess the association between the independent variables and the patient’s IPT completion status at 0.05 significance level. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of IPT completion.Results: The mean age of the study population was 42.3±11.3 years and 1154 (75.6%) of them were females. About 1342 (87.9%) completed IPT within six months of initiation. Major reasons for non-completion of IPT were lost to follow up 86 (46.7%) and nonadherence to IPT 60 (32.6%). Higher proportion of respondents who were Igbo (92.9%), ART-naïve (97.6%) or active on ART regimen (94.8%) completed their IPT regimen within 6 months of initiation when compared to those of other tribes (p=0.023), ART experienced (87.7%), (p=0.023) or inactive on treatment (0.9%), (p<0.001) respectively. Traders/farmers were 6 times more likely to complete IPT compared to public/civil servants (AOR=6.110, 95%CI=2.180-17.112, p=0.001).Conclusion: IPT completion rate was high among study participants. Intensified counselling on IPT benefits among ART patients with focus on civil/public servants might further improve IPT completion.
Keywords: IPT Completion; Isoniazid Preventive Therapy; PLHIV; Tuberculosis; Southwest Nigeria
Parental Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Adolescent Sex Education in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Onyeodi IA , Ladi-Akinyemi TW , Kanma-Okafor OJ 
Published: March 2022

Background: The period of adolescence is characterized by rapid physical and cognitive growth along with sexual maturation. Parents are obligated to educate adolescents on matters of sex and relationships with age-appropriate information using culturally relevant methods and providing scientifically accurate and non-judgmental information. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of sex education among parents in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among 350 parents selected by multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested intervieweradministered questionnaire and analyzed using Epi info version 7.2 statistical software. The Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to determine statistical associations. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 46.1±10.2 years. The male to female ratio was 1.6:1. About two-thirds, 227 (67.2%) opined that sex education is best commenced in primary school. Overall, 311 (92.0%) had good knowledge, 323 (95.6%) of the respondents had positive attitudes while 255 (75.3%) had good practice of sex education. The major barrier to the practice of sex education was the lack of a general protocol to guide parents. Good knowledge and positive attitudes were significantly associated with practicing sex education (p<0.001).Conclusion: Although parents mostly had good knowledge, positive attitudes and good practice of sex education, a quarter of them still had poor practice of sex education mostly due to the lack of a protocol to guide them. Sex education programs and guidelines to encourage parents should be developed
Keywords: Knowledge; Attitude; Practice; Adolescents Sex Education; Parents; Lagos
Revision of the genus Neptis Fabricius, 1807 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) in the Afrotropical Region: Currently described taxa
Authors: Richardson Ian D. 
Published: March 2022

Link to the full PDF is here: Link
The Afrotropical taxa in the genus Neptis are revised based on barcodes, facies and genitalia. A provisional phylogeny is derived from barcodes using the neighbour joining method showing that the taxa can be assigned to eleven species groups. Within each group, it is shown that the form of the valve of the male genitalia and the sclerotisation of the female abdomen are distinctive. However, it is noted that the most noticeable aspects of the facies, the discal bands and the forewing cell markings, are not necessarily diagnostic as to the relationships between species. This paper covers the currently described taxa and further publications are envisaged to describe new species revealed by barcoding.The taxonomic changes stated in the review are as follows:Neptis livingstonei Suffert, 1904 is declared a nomen nudum due to the lack of a type specimen and any potential lectotypes.Neptis sextilla Mabille, 1882 is declared a nomen nudum due to the lack of a type specimen, any potential lectotypes and an image of a specimen.Neptis vingerhoedti Pierre-Baltus, 2003 is synonymised with Neptis rothschildi Eltringham, 1921.Neptis loma Condamin, 1971, Neptis angusta Condamin, 1966 and Neptis constantiae kaumba Condamin, 1966 are synonymised with nominate Neptis constantiae Carcasson, 1961.Neptis troundi Pierre-Baltus, 1978 is synonymised with Neptis melicerta (Drury, 1773).Neptis multiscoliata Pierre-Baltus, 2007 is synonymised with Neptis nysiades Hewitson, 1868.Neptis claude Collins & Larsen, 2005 is synonymised with Neptis matilei Pierre-Baltus, 2000.Neptis trigonophora intermedia Schultze, 1920 synonymised with Neptis trigonophora melicertula Strand, 1911.The neotype of Neptis melicerta (Drury, 1773) from Sierra Leone and the paratypes from the Côte d’Ivoire designated in Pierre-Baltus (1978) are invalid.Neptis nemetes margueritae Fox, 1968 is synonymised with nominate Neptis nemetes nemetes Hewitson, 1868.Neptis neavei Rothschild, 1918 is reinstated as a species separate from Neptis swynnertoni Trimen, 1912.Neptis agouale parallela Collins & Larsen, 1996 becomes Neptis melicerta parallela Collins & Larsen, 1996 comb. nov.Neptis occidentalis batesii Hall, 1930 is promoted to species Neptis batesii Hall, 1930.Neptis ochracea mildbraedi Gaede, 1915 is reinstated as a species Neptis mildbraedi Gaede, 1915Neptis woodwardi translima Collins & Larsen, 1991 is promoted to species Neptis translima Collins & Larsen, 1991.Neptis metella flavimacula Jackson, 1951 is promoted to species Neptis flavimacula Jackson, 1951.All the currently described taxa are illustrated along with the type specimens, where important for resolving identification difficulties. Photomicrographs of the male valves and female abdomen are included for the majority of species.
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) restores 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients by attenuating ROS-mediated activation of NF-κB
Authors: Liu Yuhong , Xie Yidun , Liu Mailing , Yang Junfeng 
Published: March 2022

Purpose: To investigate the mechanism by which epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) attenuates ROS-induced pathogenesis in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
Methods: Fifty patients (33 male and 17 female) aged between 25 and 60 years who satisfied ACR 1987 criteria for active RA, and thirty healthy individuals were recruited. Total peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), neutrophils and monocytes were isolated from the blood samples of RA patients and healthy donors using commercial extraction kits. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide radical (O2-) in isolated cells were measured using fluorescence spectroscopy while the levels of the associated inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) were determined in PBMCs isolated from RA patients using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). These parameters were monitored in EGCG-treated and untreated cells. Moreover, the status of 25(OH) vitamin D and NK-κB were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged PBMCs in the presence and absence of EGCG.
Results: Elevated levels of superoxide radical and ROS were observed in neutrophils from RA patients in the absence of ECGC, but in the presence of EGCG, the levels of the two parameters were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Similarly, EGCG treatment downregulated the ROS-mediated increases in TNF-α and IL-6 in the PBMCs from RA patients (p < 0.05). Treatment of PBMCs with the ROS-inducing agent, LPS, resulted in the activation of NK-κB via phosphorylation, and also depletion of 25(OH) vitamin D levels (p < 0.05). However, pre-treatment of the LPS-challenged cells with EGCG inhibited NK-κB activation and 25(OH)-vitamin D depletion (p < 0.05). Moreover, 25(OH)vitamin D levels were restored in the presence of NK-κB inhibitor, flavopiridol, thereby confirming the direct regulatory role of NK-κB in 25(OH) vitamin D levels.
Conclusion: EGCG restores 25(OH) vitamin D levels by attenuating ROS-mediated NK-κB activation. Thus, EGCG may be a promising drug candidate for RA.
Evaluation of anisodamine-mediated amelioration of hypoxic injury in brain microvascular endothelial cells
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhu Qinghua , Duan Xiaohui , Li Lingyu , Zhang Shuyan , Chen Jie , Wang Youming 
Published: March 2022

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effect of anisodamine on hypoxic injury of brain microvascular endothelial cells, and the underlying mechanism of action.
Methods: A hypoxic injury model of rat primary brain microvascular endothelial cells was established. Cell viability, proliferation, percent survival and apoptosis were assessed using MTT, EdU staining, trypan blue staining and TUNEL staining assays, respectively. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were measured using colorimetry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Expression levels of key proteins in the PI3K/Akt signal route were determined by Western blotting.
Results: Anisodamine treatment significantly reduced apoptosis and LDH leakage in the rat cerebral vascular endothelial cell hypoxia injury model group (p < 0.001). At doses of 3 and 10 mM, anisodamine markedly reduced the cellular level of MMP-9 in rat cerebral vascular endothelial cell hypoxia injury model group (p < 0.001). Treatment of rat brain microvascular endothelial cells with anisodamine significantly reduced levels of caspase-3 and Bax, but up-regulated the expression levels of Bcl2, p-Akt and PI3K (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Anisodamine exerts significant protective effect against hypoxic injury in rat brain microvascular endothelial cells by modulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This finding provides a scientific basis for the clinical application of anisodamine in the treatment and prevention of ischemic cerebrovascular disease.
Prediction of novel natural inhibitors of avian coccidia (Eimeria tenella) through molecular docking
Authors: Aljedaie Manei M. , Alam Pravej , Al-Malki Esam S. 
Published: March 2022

Purpose: To identify some natural molecules (inhibitors) against avian coccidia (Eimeria tenella) through molecular docking in order to find the candidate drugs for poultry industry.
Methods: The natural compounds, 6’-de-O-acetylcupacinoside, apigenin, artemisinin, cupacinoside, quercetin and rutin, were screened on the basis of previous research data. These biomolecules were selected as potent inhibitors based on extant literature on calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) in Eimeria tenella.
Results: All the compounds showed good interactions with 6’-de-O-acetylcupacinoside. Based on docking studies, quercetin produced the best interaction, with a binding energy of -7.04 kcal/mol, when compared to the other compounds.
Conclusions: Based on these in silico results, the screened compounds have great potential for use against E. tenella. In particular, the results suggest that quercetin may be beneficial in the control of avian coccidia through its strong inhibitory potential on CDPKs of E. tenella.
Anti-diarrhoeal effect of methanol leaf fraction of Cola hispida Brenan and Keay in rats
Authors: Njoku Ugochi Olivia , Ogugofor Obinna Martins 
Published: March 2022

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal activity of 20 % methanol leaf fraction of Cola hispida (MLFC) using castor oil-induced diarrhoea model in rats.
Methods: The activity of MLFC against castor oil-induced diarrhoea, intestinal fluid accumulation (enteropooling), and gastrointestinal motility were evaluated. The experimental animals were grouped into five, each with four animals. Group 1 received distilled water, while group 2 received loperamide and served as negative and standard control groups respectively. Groups 3 - 5 were administered 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg of MLFC respectively. One-hour post-treatment, castor oil (p.o.) was used to induce diarrhoea in all the groups. The activity of MLFC was tested against castor oil-induced looseness of stool, fluid accumulation in the intestine and intestinal motility of charcoal meal. Its effect on electrolyte concentration in the small intestinal content was assessed; furthermore, its effect on the electrolyte concentrations of Na+, Cl-, K+, and HCO3- in supernatants obtained from the intestinal loop effluents of the rats was evaluated.
Results: The MLFC produced a significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent decrease in the severity of diarrhoea and frequency of watery stool passed in castor oil-induced diarrhoea, enteropooling, gastrointestinal transit of charcoal meal in rats and serum concentrations of sodium and chloride ions, while significant (p < 0.05) increase in potassium and bicarbonate ion concentrations were observed when compared with diarrhoeal control group. Similar inhibitory effects were obtained for loperamide control group.
Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that methanol leaf fraction of Cola hispida possesses anti-diarrhoeal properties by inhibiting intestinal peristalsis and hypersecretion of water and electrolytes. Thus, the findings lend some support to the traditional use of the plant for the treatment of diarrhoea.
Suppression of KLF7 gene expression inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of hemangioma cells via NF-κB signaling pathway
Authors: Wu Yang , Jin Fang , Huang He , Wang Shi 
Published: March 2022

Purpose: To assess the role of Kruppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) in hemangioma (HA) progression, KLF7 expression and regulation of downstream targets in HA tissues and hemangioma-derived endothelial cells (HemECs) have been evaluated.
Methods: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunoblotting were performed to assess KLF7 expression in HA tissues and normal tissues. Endothelial cells were isolated from HA tissues, and Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were carried out to analyze proliferation and apoptosis of the isolated HemECs. Immunoblotting was used to determine the effect of KLF7 on expression of members of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway in HemECs.
Results: High KLF7 expression occurred in infantile HAs during the proliferative stage. Knockdown of KLF7 expression in HemECs inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis via suppression of NF-κB pathway (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: KLF7 is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of HA.
Venlafaxine inhibits neuronal apoptosis in a depression rat model via ERK1/ERK2 pathway
Authors: Hou Yanbin , Lou Zhongze , Ji Yunxin , Ruan Liemin , Gao He 
Published: March 2022

Purpose: To investigate the effects and mechanism of action of venlafaxine on neuronal apoptosis of depressed rats.
Methods: Rats were randomly divided into normal control (NC) group, depressed rats (depression) group or venlafaxine-treatment group. Changes in body weight and sucrose preference ratio were recorded and behaviors in open field test (OFT) were observed in each group. Pathological changes in and the apoptosis rate of the cerebral neurons, and the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1)/ERK2 pathway were observed under a microscope.
Results: At weeks 2 and 4, the body weight and water consumption of rats in depression group dropped below those of rats in NC group. On the other hand, at week 2, the body weight and water consumption of rats in venlafaxine-treatment group were significantly higher than those of rats in depression group (p < 0.05). Besides, depression group had randomly arranged neuron cells and a thinner cell layer, while venlafaxine-treatment group had a relatively regular hippocampal neural cell arrangement and a thicker cell layer. Moreover, cell apoptosis rate was higher in depression group than in that NC group, and lower in venlafaxine-treatment group than that in depression group (p < 0.05). Finally, the protein expressions of phosphorylated (p)-ERK1 and p-ERK2 were significantly higher in depression group than those in NC group (p<0.05), and distinctly lower in venlafaxine-treatment group than those in depression group (p <0.05).
Conclusion: By suppressing the activity of ERK1/ERK2 pathway, venlafaxine relieves the symptoms of depression and repairs neuronal injuries in rats, thereby suppressing neuronal apoptosis. Thus, these findings provide a novel approach for the development of new antidepressants.
Dexmedetomidine inhibits oxidative stress in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury in rats by regulating GSK-3β/Nrf2/ARE axis
Authors: Jing Yan , Yao Li , Du Weicui , Liu Jia , Yang Rongrong , Zhou Wanchang , Xu Xiaolin , Cao Jingjing , Zhang Lichao , Si Chengjing 
Published: March 2022

Purpose: To determine the effect of dexmedetomidine on sepsis-mediated acute kidney injury (SAKI) in rats.
Methods: Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into blank untreated control group, model group given lipopolysaccharide at a dose of 10 mg/kg, dexmedetomidine (Dex) group, and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) inhibitor group given sb216763. In addition, Dex and inhibitor groups received the same dose of lipopolysaccharide as model group. There were 10 rats in each group. Pathological changes in kidney tissue, and the levels of related oxidative stress indices were determined.
Results: Compared with the model group, granular degeneration of renal tubular epithelial cells was significantly reduced in Dex group, and the population of exfoliated cells decreased (p < 0.05). The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in dexmedetomidine and GSK-3β inhibitor groups were significantly reduced, while superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) activities were markedly raised, relative to model group (p < 0.05). Protein levels of p- GSK-3β and Nrf2 markedly were raised in dexmedetomidine and GSK-3β inhibitor groups (p < 0.01). After intervention with Dex and GSK-3β inhibitor, there were marked upregulations in mRNA and protein expression levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), when compared with model group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine ameliorates SAKI injury in rats via suppression of oxidative stress. Its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of GSK-3β/Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. This finding may be a novel approach to the clinical management of SAKI.
Rehmannioside A protects against high glucose-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress of renal tubular epithelial cells by inhibiting the MAPK pathway
Authors: Huai Lei , Yang Lili , Xu Qunhong , Wang Benyong 
Published: March 2022

Purpose: To investigate the effects and mechanism of rehmannioside A (ReA) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) progression.
Methods: Various concentrations of glucose and ReA were added to HK2 cells, and cell viability was analyzed using the 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo(-2)-3,5 diphenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay. Cell apoptosis, caspase 3 activity, and expression levels of BAX, Bcl-2, and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase were evaluated to assess the effect of ReA on cell apoptosis. The effect of ReA on oxidative stress was also evaluated by assessing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde levels. Lactate dehydrogenase release and reactive oxygen species levels were also measured. Finally, activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 was determined by immunoblot technique.
Results: ReA significantly enhanced the survival of HK2 cells induced with high glucose (HG). In addition, ReA suppressed apoptosis and inhibited oxidative stress of HK2 cells induced with HG (p < 0.05). ReA protected against HG-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress of renal tubular epithelial cells by inhibiting the MAPK pathway (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: ReA is a potential as a therapeutic agent for DN; however, in vivo and clinical investigations are required to validate this assertion.
Anti-inflammatory effect of clearing-away-heat-promoting-diuresis and Wen-yang herbs on inflammatory signaling pathways in acute gout
Authors: Huang Jiyong , Zhang Yan , Chen Kai , Li Xiaopeng , Liu Jinghan 
Published: March 2022

Purpose: To investigate the regulatory effect of clearing away, heat-promoting diuresis and Wen yang herbs (CHPW) on acute gout IL-1β inflammatory signaling pathways in rats and cell lines.
Methods: Thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups: saline (SA group, SA-sodium urate (SA-SU) group, Colchicine-SU (Col-SU) group, CPHW-SU group, and clearing away heat-promoting diuresis-SU (CHP-SU) group. The cell line RAW264.7 groups were RAW264.7-A, RAW264.7-B, RAW264.7-C and RAW264.7-D. For the above cell groups, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the effects of drugs on macrophage proliferation, and levels of IL-1β and other inflammatory factors, while quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to assay NALP3 mRNA expression. The protein expressions of p-IRAK4, IRAK4, p-P65, P65, NALP3, and caspase-1 were measured using Western blot assay.
Results: Compared with SA-SU group, CHPW reduced gout symptoms in the joint, and reduced levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and IL-1β (p < 0.05). Compared with the SA group, the relative expression of NALP3 increased significantly in the SA-SU group (p < 0.05). The relative expression of NALP3 in CHPW and CHP groups decreased significantly, relative to the SA-SU group (p < 0.05). However, the expressions of p-IRAK4, IRAK 4 and p65 was basically unchanged (p > 0.05). Protein expression levels of NALP3 and caspase-1 were higher in SA-SU group, but lower in CHPW and CHP groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: CHPW exerts a protective effect against acute gout by downregulating the IL-1β inflammatory signaling pathway and decreasing the expression levels of NALP3 and p-P65. Thus, CHPW has a potential for use as a new therapeutic agent for gout.