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Antimalarial and analgesic activities of root extract of Panicum maximum
Get PDFBackground: Panicum maximum is used as malarial remedy traditionally and the leaf extract has been found to possess antimalarial, analgesic and anticancer properties. Objective: The ethanol root extract of Panicum maximum were evaluated for antiplasmodial and analgesic activities in rodents. Methods: The crude root extract (137 – 547mg/kg) of Panicum maximum were investigated for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei infections in mice. The antiplasmodial activity during early and established infections as well as prophylactic were investigated. Artesunate 5mg/kg and pyrimethamine 1.2mg/kg were used as positive controls. Analgesic activity of the crude extract/fractions was also evaluated against acetic acid, formalin and heat-induced pains. Results: The extract dose-dependently reduced parasitaemia induced by chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei infection in prophylactic, suppressive and curative models in mice. These reductions were statistically significant (p<0.001). They also improved the mean survival time (MST) from 13 to 28 days relative to control (p<0.001). The activity of extract was weak compared to that of the standard drugs used (artesunate and pyrimethamine). On chemically and thermally- induced pains, the extract inhibited acetic acid and formalin-induced inflammation as well as hot plate-induced pain in mice. These inhibitions were statistically significant (p<0.001) and in a dose-dependent fashion. Conclusion: Panicum maximum root extract has antiplasmodial and analgesic activities which may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant. Key words: Panicum maximum, analgesic, antimalaria
Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of root extract of Zea mays
Get PDFBackground: Zea mays is used in Ibibio traditional medicine in Nigeria for the treatment of various ailments such as pains, malaria and hemorrhoids. Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Zea mays ethanol root root extract in mice. Methodology: The crude ethanolic extract (45 – 135 mg/kg) of Zea mays root was investigated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in mice using various experimental models; acetic acid and thermal- induced pains and carrageenan, egg albumin and xylene – induced oedema. The activity of the extract was compared to that of standard drug, acetyl salicylic acid (100 mg/kg). Results: The extract caused a significant (p<0.05 – 0.001) dose-dependent reduction of inflammation and pains induced by different phlogistic agents used. These effects were comparable to that of the standard drugs, acetyl salicylic acid (100 mg/kg) used in some models. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of this plant may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant and the results of the analgesic action suggest central and peripheral mechanisms. The findings of this work confirm the ethno medical use of this plant to treat inflammatory conditions. Key words: Zea mays, antiinflammatory, analgesi
Mother-To-Child HIV Transmission using Single, Dual and Triple ARV Prophylaxis Regimens and their Correlates in Western Kenya: Chart Review
Get PDFBackground: It is estimated that 2.1 million individuals worldwide became newly infected with HIV in 2013, and this included 240,000 children (<15 years). Most of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa and were infected by their HIV-positive mothers during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. Objective: This study sought to ascertain the different PMTCT approaches or regimens that mothers and infants receive, their Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (MTCT) rates and associated correlates in Western Kenya. Methods: A retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data in Ministry of Health HIV-Exposed Infant (HEI) register from 24 health facilities. The study population was HIV-positive mothers enrolled from January 2012 to June 2013. The main outcomes were infant HIV status at 6 weeks, 9 to <18 months and 18-24 months. The correlates were maternal haemoglobin levels, WHO staging, CD4 counts, duration between enrolment and delivery, duration between enrolment and ART initiation, TB status, place of delivery, mode of delivery, and infant feeding options at 6 weeks, 9 to <18 months and 18-24 months. Proportions were analyzed using Chi-square tests while associations between MTCT correlates and outcomes were established using logistic regression. Results: 1,751 HIV mother-baby pairs were enrolled in the 24 health facilities: 78.1% received Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), 14.2% received Zidovudine (AZT), 1.7% received Single-dose Nevirapine (SdNVP), and 4.3% received no prophylaxis. MTCT rates were 5.5%, 7.4% and 5.6% at 6 weeks, 9 to <18 months and 18-24 months, respectively. MTCT rate at 18-24 months showed a significant difference (p<0.001) across PMTCT regimens. Women with CD4 cells between 350 to 500 cells/mm3 were about twice as likely to have HIV-negative babies compared to those with CD4 cells count <350cells/mm3. Women on TB treatment are less likely to have HIV-negative babies compared to those without TB. Exclusive breastfeeding at 6 weeks was associated with lower MTCT rates. Feeding option at 6 weeks is a strong predictor of HIV status (p<0.001) as compared to babies on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). Conclusion: Most of the mother-baby pairs received HAART. AZT depicted the lowest MTCT rate at 18-24 months. Higher CD4 counts, no TB signs, and EBF at 6 weeks were associated with lower MTCT rates at 18-24 months Key words: Antiretroviral prophylaxis, Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV rates
Molecular Surveillance of Adamantane Resistance among Human Influenza A Viruses Isolated in Four Epidemic Seasons in Kenya
Get PDFBackground: Adamantanes impede influenza A virus replication and are important in the treatment and prophylaxis of disease caused by these viruses. Genotypic characterization of influenza A viruses for mutations associated with resistance to adamantanes has not been fully investigated in Kenya. Objective: To characterize susceptibility of influenza A virus subtypes that circulated in Kenya from 2008-2011 to adamantanes. Methods: Archived influenza A virus strains obtained from 2008 to 2011 were propagated in MDCK cells prior to sequencing of the matrix and hemagglutinin gene segments, followed by bioinformatics analyses. Results: Ninety two virus strains consisting of 21 A/H3N2, 18 A/H1N1 and 53 A/H1N1pdm09 were analyzed. All A/H3N2 and A/H1N1pdm09 viruses displayed resistance to adamantanes due to the S31N/S31D amino acid substitution. All A/H1N1pdm09 virus strains belonged to the N-lineage characterized by S203T amino acid substitution in the HA1. All A/H1N1 viruses were sensitive to adamantane and were characterized by K140E amino acid substitution in the HA1. Conclusion: All Kenyan influenza A/H3N2 and A/H1N1pdm09 virus strains were resistant to adamantanes while seasonal A/H1N1 strains were sensitive to these drugs. During the study period, Amantadine and Rimantadine were inappropriate for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza disease caused by A/H3N2 and A/H1N1pdm09 virus subtypes in Kenya. Key words: Kenya, influenza A/H3N2, A/H1N1pdm09, A/H1N1, adamantane
DRIVERS OF CUSTOMER’S CHOICE OF MOBILE MONEY AGENT FOR MOBILE MONEY SERVICE IN KAMPALA, UGANDA
Get PDFABSTRACT Though the mobile money industry is growing with a significant potential ofenhancing financial inclusion and economic growth, mobile money services face a criticalchallenge of improving service quality to attract and retain customers. This article examines thedrivers of a customer’s choice of a mobile money agent for a mobile money service in Kampala.Specifically, the study explores the effect of courtesy and efficiency of mobile money agents as wellas cleanliness of their business premises. The analysis is based on data of 188 mobile money agentsand customers across all mobile money service providers in Uganda. The study adopted a crosssectionalsurvey method using a mixed methods research approach. The data was collected througha questionnaire and face-to-face interviews. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and thelinear regression model was fitted to determine the significant drivers for customers’ choice of amobile money agent. Descriptive statistics indicated a situation where mobile money agents aregenerally; courteous, efficient and operate from clean business premises.The regression modelresults revealed a significant influence (p<0.05) of courtesy and efficiency of the agent as well ascleanness of the business premises on customers’ choice of mobile money agents to transact with,affirming the hypothesized effect of these variables. The estimated coefficients indicated thatimproving courtesy and efficiency as well the cleanly-ness of the business premises was associatedwith more than 80% chance of attracting a customer to a particular mobile money agent. In lieu ofthe findings, the paper recommends strategic measures to all mobile money agents and serviceproviders in Uganda who wish to improve quality of their service, satisfy, attract and retaincustomers to their businesses. As a result, customers will see better or improved services from themobile money agents which in turn would contribute to the development of the mobile moneyindustry in Uganda.Key words: Mobile Money Services, Mobile Money Agents, Courtesy, Cleanliness, Efficiency,Choic
Antinociceptive effect of Pentas lanceolata and Ximenia americana medicinal plants used to treat malaria traditionally in Kenya
Get PDFBackground: Pain being one of the many symptoms experienced in the course of an infection, this study was designed to investigate antinociceptive activity of two medicinal plants used to treat malaria traditionally. In traditional health practice there is usually a misunderstanding on whether the plants clear the disease causing organism or they cure the pain as one of the most common symptoms. The plants were selected based on their ethnomedical literature as a means of establishing a distinction between their antinociceptive and bio-activities. Objective: To determine antinociceptive effect of Pentas lanceolata and Ximenia americana. Materials and Methods: The aerial parts of P. lanceolata and the stem bark of X. americana were collected from Kiangombe forest and Kerio Valley in Embu and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties respectively. The collection was done with the help of an experienced taxonomist. The plant parts were dried, and extracted with methanol and aqueous solvents. Analgesic activity was determined by the tailflick and formalin test techniques in male albino mice. The positive control used in the experiment was acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) at 100 mg/kg. Results: Antinociceptive activity of the plant extracts in the tail flick assay was time and dose dependent, except in the case of P. lanceolata methanol extract. In the formalin test, the extracts significantly (p<0.05) reduced the time spent in pain behavior in both the early and late phases Conclusion: The results of this study support the use of these plants to manage pain and imply other pharmacological benefits to the host other than parasiticidal effect in malaria treatment. Keywords: Medicinal plants, tail-flick, formalin test, antinociceptiv
CAN COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES SHAPE PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC ENTITY?
Get PDFABSTRACT Firms operate within an environment that influences their operations either positivelyor negatively depending on the nature of their business. This study was guided by positivistphilosophy. The positivist school of thought is based on the assumption that only one reality exists,though it can only be known imperfectly due to human limitations and researchers can onlydiscover this reality within the realm of probability. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectionalcensus survey on a population of 187 Kenyan State Corporations across the public sector. Thestudy used primary data collected by questionnaires administered to the Chief Executive Officers ofthe State Corporations. The study also used secondary data on performance collected from annualperformance contract reports for State Corporations for the five performance contracting cyclesbetween 2009 and 2014 from the Department of Performance Contracting in the Ministry ofPlanning and Devolution. The results indicated that competitive strategies had statisticallysignificant effects on the performance of Kenyan state corporations. At policy level, the Governmentwill benefit from the study by developing guidelines and policies to define the required competitivestrategies. Management will benefit from this study because they could use it to formulate internalorganizational processes that would guide the positioning of the organization. Performance wastested as a composite score as reported by the Performance Contracting Department. It would beinteresting if the individual competitive strategies dimensions were tested against the raw score ofeach of the six performance areas in the performance contracts.Since the context of the study wasKenyan State Corporations future research could be undertaken to replicate this to compareperformance of Kenyan State Corporations with that of public quoted companies at the SecuritiesExchange or other sectors of the economy to check whether the findings would be the same.Further, a similar study could be replicated but in a different context, such as a private companiesin Kenya using the same variables
African Male Writers’ Presentation of Women in African Literature
No full textAbstract This article analyses the presentation of women characters by male writers such as Okot p’Bitek, Ngugi wa Thiongo and Francis Imbuga. It will look at the woman question both as a historical and a cultural phenomenon. Various women characters will be looked into so as to investigate how they were shaped by the colonial and imperialistic struggle. It is worth noting that except for Francis Imbuga’s Aminata at that point male writers were not presenting women characters of high status. For example, Lawino is not educated, Malaya is a prostitute, Wanja begins out as a young girl who is raped and who ends up to be a prostitute. Imbuga has used a female character who, contrary to those other female characters, is educated and who is a lawyer. I will analyse the characters in the order in which the respective works were published
INFLUENCE OF ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC PROJECT MONITORING INFORMATION SYSTEM IN PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN KENYA
Get PDFABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to explore the influence of organisational structureon implementation of electronic project monitoring information system (e-ProMIS) in publictertiary institutions. It is based on literature review and filed research by employing crosssectionalsurvey research design. Questionnaire was used to collect data from 30 tertiaryinstitutions and a sample size of 162 members of staff selected through stratified randomsampling technique. Null hypothesis was tested using regression analysis at 0.05 confidenceinterval. The results indicate that all the three types of structure: formalization; complexity; andcentralization were statistically significant with coefficients (.=0.238, t=3.167, p=0.002<0.05),(.=0.204, t=2.777, p=0.006<0.05) and (.=0.317, t=4.574, p=0.000<0.05) respectively.Specifically one unit change in implementation of e-ProMIS was associated with 23.8% changesin formalization structure, 20.4% changes in complexity structure and 31.7% change incentralization structure. The overall F statistics was (3,158) = 23.760 at level of significance p =0.000<0.05 suggesting that there was a statistically significant relationship betweenorganisational structure and implementation of electronic project monitoring information systemin public tertiary institutions in Kenya. These study findings imply that for successfulimplementation of e-ProMIS and other e-government systems, organisational structure isimperative. In this era of digital systems public and private institutions that intend to implementICT based technologies should ensure that their organisations adopted the right structure that iswell aligned to supporting e-government systems
Evaluation of the management of hypertension among diabetic and non-diabetic adult outpatients at a referral hospital in Kenya
Get PDFBackground: Hypertension is a common non-communicable illness that can occur either alone or in combination with diabetes and other diseases. Diabetic hypertensive patients are more vulnerable to cardiovascular and renal complications compared to non-diabetic hypertensive patients. Target blood pressures in these two patient populations are different; nevertheless, optimal blood pressure control is paramount in both groups. Objective: To evaluate the management of hypertension among diabetic and non-diabetic outpatients at the medical outpatient clinic in Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. Methodology: A tertiary hospital based cross-sectional study was carried out at the medical outpatient clinic in Kenyatta National Hospital. This study comprised of two study groups: 48 diabetic hypertensive patients and 48 non-diabetic hypertensive patients. Face to face interviews were conducted and additional data was extracted from the patient’s file. The main outcomes of interests were the BP readings that formed the dependent variable and the covariates or factors that influenced BP control that formed the independent variables in both the two arms of study. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 19.0 software. The level of significance was determined using Pearson chi square set at 0.05 and p values < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results: Of the 96 patients enrolled, the male to female ratio was 1:2, the mean age was 57 years (+11.1) and the mean duration of hypertension was 7.7 years (+6.3). Overall, 70% of the entire study population had inadequate blood pressure control. Among the diabetic patients, 75% had inadequate blood pressure control compared to 65% of the non-diabetic patients. Three quarters of the diabetic patients were on > 2 antihypertensive drugs compared to 98% of the non-diabetic patients. Conclusion: Control of hypertension in both diabetic and non-diabetic hypertensive patients is poor. We suggest that patient involvement, patient education and continuous counseling on hypertension are essential in the overall management of hypertension. Key words: Diabetes, Hypertension, Blood Pressur