Nnamdi Azikiwe University Journals
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Neuroprotective effect of Andrographis paniculata (burm.f.) leaf extract in aluminum chloride-induced alzheimer’s disease in mice
No full textThe socio-economic burden and poor quality of life associated with Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD), coupled with the high cost of available treatment options, prompted the search for alternatives from plants. This study investigated the neuroprotective effect of Andrographis paniculata in Aluminum chloride- induced Alzheimer’s disease in mice model. Thirty female mice were randomly allocated into six groups (n=5) following the 14-day induction of groups 2-6 with aluminum chloride (AlCl3). Group 1 (AD free) received only distilled water while groups 2 to 6 were orally treated with distilled water, 1 mg/kg donepezil, 125 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of Andrographis paniculata extract respectively. T-maze and Morris water maze experiments were utilized to investigate the cognitive behaviors of the mice. A. paniculata treated mice showed an improved dose dependent and significant (p≤0.05) alternation between the two arms of the T maze when compared to the poor alternation observed with group 2(AD positive) but untreated group. The results also showed that treatment with A. paniculata significantly (p≤0.05) reduced the time taken to reach the Morris water maze escape platform dose-dependently. The AD model group, however sluggishly roamed the water and failed to reach the escape platform within the stipulated time despite the intensive prior trainings. A. paniculata thus, has a promising neuroprotective potential against aluminum chloride-induced Alzheimer’s disease
Assessment of HIV p24 antibody response in HIV discordant couples in Anambra state, Nigeria.
No full textThe current management approach of HIV/AIDS is not associated with curative potential via the HAART regimen, thus necessitating alternative treatment approaches. Current vaccine target options have limited protective efficacy and thus create the need for the identification of better and more reactive immunogenic HIV epitopes. Our study therefore aims to assess the formation of naturally occurring HIV-specific p24 antibodies among HIV heterosexual serodiscordant couples.
This study was carried out in two hospitals, all of which can manage HIV-positive clients and also offer counselling and case management services. After the issuance of the ethical approval, a total of 64 participants were selected for the ELISA to detect HIV-specific antibodies for p24 antibodies. R version 4.3.2 was utilized for the analysis.
The mean age of participants recruited stood at 38 years with an equal number of males and females, since all participants were HIV-serodiscordant heterosexual couples. Thus, the antigen-antibody ELISA results indicated that IgM and IgG3 predominantly reacted with p24 (29.7% and 25% of samples testing positive). Further binomial regression analysis identified no predictors for the formation of HIV-specific p24 antibody immune response. However, it was established that the development of this antibody in HIV-seronegative partners was not dependent on their partners, suggesting the potential benefit of incorporating HIV p24 antigenic epitopes in vaccine development.
This study therefore provides substantive evidence for the natural development of antibodies to other proteins of the HIV molecule beyond the HIV Envelope region that has been consistently targeted in previous studies. Thus, future studies need to explore the protective efficacy of these antibodies
CARDIOMETABOLIC STATUS OF MENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN NKWELLE-EZUNAKA, ANAMBRA STATE
No full textBackground: Menopause results from ovarian aging or ovarectomy and is accompanied by hormonal and metabolic changes that contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of mortality.
Aim of study: To assess the cardiometabolic status of menopausal women in Nkwelle-Ezunaka using Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), Insulin Resistance, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) and Fasting Insulin (FI).
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved ninety females (45 menopausal, and 45 premenopausal) recruited by simple random sampling technique. Blood pressure was measured using the auscultatory method, BMI calculated using weight and height measurements, while WHR was obtained using waist and hip circumference measurements. Levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, IR, FPG and FI were determined spectrophotometrically using standard methods. Independent t-test was used for the statistical analysis of data.
Results: A significantly higher mean values of BP, WHR, TC, TG and LDL-C (p˂ 0.05) and lower mean values of FI (6.80 ± 4.46) and IR (1.49 ± 1.15) were observed in menopausal women compared to premenopausal women (12.90 ± 15.33) (3.95 ± 5.45) with p˂0.05 in both cases. No significant differences were found in the mean values of BMI, HDL-C and FPG in menopausal women compared with the premenopausal women (p> 0.05).
Conclusion: Waist Hip Ratio, Diastolic Blood Pressure, Systolic Blood Pressure, Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, may be better indicators of unhealthy cardio[1]metabolic status than Body Mass Index, High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Fasting Plasma Glucose. Menopausal women appear to be more predisposed to cardiovascular disease than the premenopausal women
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND BODY COMPOSITION OF A COHORT OF CLINICAL UNDERGRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN
No full textBackground of the study: Physical activity and healthy body composition are crucial for the overall health and well-being of students of healthcare professions, who are being trained as future advocates of healthcare.
Aim: This study investigated the relationship between Physical activity and body composition of final year clinical students of Basic Medical Sciences of the University of Benin, Nigeria.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which 163 participants were recruited using consecutive sampling technique. The participants were drawn from departments in school of basic medical sciences including Physiotherapy, Nursing, and Medical Laboratory Science. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess physical activity levels, which were categorized as low, moderate, or high. Anthropometric measurements of weight, height, waist circumference, and hip circumference were taken to calculate body composition parameters such as Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR), and waist-to-stature ratio (WSR). Data was summarized using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, frequencies, percentages; and analyzed using inferential statistics of Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficients and chi-square. Level of significance was set at <0.05.
Results: Half (50.3%) of the participants had low physical activity levels, 24.5% had moderate levels, and 25.2% had high levels. Physical Activity levels had a significant negative correlation with BMI (r=-0.538, p<0.001) and weight (r=-0.390, p<0.001). A significant negative correlation was also found between physical activity levels and waist circumference (r=-0.158, p=0.04). However, no significant correlations were found between Physical activity levels and each of age and WHR. No significant (>0.05) gender-based correlation was found between physical activity levels and body composition.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that physical activity is associated with improved body composition, particularly lower BMI, weight, and waist circumference, among final year clinical students of the University of Benin. Promoting physical activity programs and maintaining healthy body composition may be beneficial for this population of future healthcare professionals
Examining the Legal and Regulatory Framework for Safeguarding Employee Rights in Nigerian Mergers and Acquisitions
No full textWith the growth of Nigeria’s economy and the increasing presence of multinational corporations,mergers and acquisitions have become more common, raising concerns about employee treatmentduring these transactions. Using doctrinal research methodology, this paper examined the legaland regulatory frameworks governing mergers and acquisitions in Nigeria, focusing specificallyon the protection of employee rights. The findings of this paper revealed strengths, weaknesses,and gaps within the current framework, highlighting the need for improvements to ensure fairtreatment, transparency, and accountability. Recommendations were made to strengthen employeerights protection in Nigerian mergers and acquisitions transactions, with the goal of promotingtrust, social responsibility, and organizational stability. This inquiry contributes to advancing theprinciples of equity, justice and sustainable development in the corporate landscape of Nigeria
Children in Penitentiary: Legal implications
No full textChildren are being incarcerated in Adult correctional centres across Nigeria, thereby deprivingthem of their right to child justice administration anchored on reformation and rehabilitation. Thisaberration in the Nigerian Criminal justice system spawns a lot of concern in view of itsdevastating and perilous effects on the children and the society by extension. Incarceration diveststhe children of rights to life, health, education and dignity of human person. It further advancesrecidivism, moral decadence and insecurity in the society. This paper examines this pertinent issuewhich is prevalent in Nigeria and recommends an immediate government intervention towardsestablishing a proper child justice administration with sustainable correctional institutions forchildren in every State of the Federation for proper treatment of child offenders in line withinternational standards and trends. 
A Legal Insight into the Concepts of Suicide and Euthanasia within the Context of Individuality of Life
No full textDeath is an inevitable occurrence in human existence. It is an event that puts an end to human life andactivities. This occurrence may be natural or unnatural. It is natural when it is an act of God and it isunnatural when it is orchestrated by the victim himself or a third party. However, suicide and euthanasiaare concepts that deal with unnatural termination of human life through human activities. In the case ofsuicide, the victim terminates his own life while in the case of euthanasia; the victim’s life is terminated onhis behalf by another. It is crystal clear that there are certain factors responsible for the deliberate andassisted termination of one’s life. These are sensitive issues that attract a lot of sympathy and they are underreported by the media. This study gave an insight into the concepts of suicide and euthanasia, their causesand effects. This study adopted doctrinal research method, and it is descriptive in nature. The study reliedon both primary and secondary sources of data. These sources are case law, journal article, textbooks,periodicals, online materials etc. This study found out that suicide and euthanasia are distinct concepts thatdeal with human life while euthanasia otherwise known as assisted murder is legal in some countries andperformed on health ground with or without the consent of the victim, suicide is an act that is never justifiedbut rather condemnable. The study however concluded that both suicide and euthanasia are caused bynegative factors
Review of Constraints and Solutions to the Enforcement of Human Rights in Nigeria
No full textNaturally, man is bequeathed with certain inalienable rights that are sacrosanct. These rights are notconferred on human beings by law but the law recognizes what is already in existence. In Nigeria Sections33-44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) depicted these rights. Theserights are intrinsic and fundamental that violation of any of them attracts an action of enforcement by theaggrieved party. However, it has been noted that the extent of human rights enforcement in Nigeria hasbeen grossly inadequate, uncertain and doubtful as well, due to certain factorial constraints. Therefore,this work sought to identify and evaluate the constraints to the enforcement of human rights in Nigeria andto provide solutions to those constraints. The research adopted doctrinal research method and reliedgreatly on data collected from primary and secondary sources. The primary sources consist of theConstitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), case law, statutes, conventions,regional and international legal instruments. The secondary sources included textbooks, journal articles,internet materials, magazines and newspapers. A diligent analysis of the data assembled revealed thatenforcement of human rights in Nigeria is highly ineffective due to some institutional and non-institutionalconstraints, such as: judicial mal-administration, doctrine of sovereign immunity, weak institutionalinfrastructure, constitutional derogation, government disobedience to Court orders among others. Thepaper therefore, recommends judicial reform, separation of the office of the Attorney General of theFederation from the Office of Minister of Justice, exclusion of human rights instruments from the ambit ofSection 12 of the 1999 Constitution, amendment of some clauses in the Nigerian constitution especiallySections 215 and 308. It equally recommended that government should have absolute obedience to Courtorders and create job opportunities for their citizens. Furthermore, there is need for the restoration of truedemocratic governance in Nigeria to ensure respect, protection and fulfillment of human rights amongothers
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOMESTIC CHARACTERISTICS AND ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION IN NIGERIA (1990 – 2023)
No full text This study investigated the complex relationship between the domestic characteristics of federal government and the economic revitalization of Nigeria from 1990 to 2023, with a specific focus on key economic variables: Gross Domestic Product (GDP), treasury bonds, and treasury bills. Over these three decades, Nigeria has experienced significant political, social, and economic transformations, driven by various government policies, institutional reforms, and socio-political dynamics. Key areas of investigation include Economic Growth which was measured with GDP (dependent variable) and the treasury bonds and treasury bills which both served as measures for domestic characteristics (the independent variable).. The study assesses how these instruments have been used to stimulate economic growth. Thus, it employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data analysis of economic indicators with qualitative insights from policy documents and case studies. The quantitative analysis includes evaluating GDP growth, treasury bond and treasury bill yields. Qualitative insights are derived from analyzing policy documents, and case studies to provide a comprehensive understanding of the federal government\u27s role in economic revitalization. Findings made indicated that there is positive but no significant relationship between Treasury bonds and economic growth in Nigeria during the period 1990-2023. It was also established that there is co-integration between gross domestic product growth rate and Treasury bills in Nigeria. Also, while certain federal initiatives have spurred economic development, challenges such as bureaucratic inefficiency, policy inconsistency, and regional disparities have hindered sustained progress. The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the federal government\u27s role in fostering a more resilient and inclusive economic environment in Nigeria. These recommendations include monitoring the disbursement of loans on real growth enhancing capital projects instead of recurrent expenditure. Also, there is evident need to strengthen governance frameworks, improve on fiscal policy management with a focus on effective use of treasury instruments, deepen institutional reforms, addressing regional disparities, and fostering greater socio-political engagement to ensure sustainable economic growth and development
EFFECT OF NATIONAL DEBT ON NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
No full textThe study investigated the effect of national debt on the economic performance of Nigeria from 1981 to 2023. The specific objectives were to assess the effect of domestic debt and foreign debt on the gross domestic product of Nigeria. In line with the ex-post facto research design adopted, secondary data were gleaned from the statistical bulletin of the Central Bank of Nigeria for various years, over a forty-three year period that spanned from 1981 to 2023. The Ordinary Least Square regression used in hypotheses testing revealed that: domestic debts have a positive and significant effect on the gross domestic product of Nigeria (p-value = 0.0000) while foreign debts have a significant but negative effect on the gross domestic product of Nigeria (p-value = 0.0086). In conclusion, effective management of both domestic and foreign debt is essential for fostering economic growth and stability. The study recommended that attention should be given to the composition and use of national debt to ensure that domestically borrowed funds are directed towards productive investments that stimulate economic growth. It was also recommended that policymakers should be cautious about increasing foreign debt levels and should ensure that such debt is used for projects that enhance economic resilience and generate sufficient returns to service the debt.