Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries among 12-year-old JSS pupils in the local government and the correlation with refined carbohydrate consumption pattern. Patients and Methods: A dental survey (The World Health Organization [WHO] “pathfinder” survey) was conducted utilizing five private junior secondary schools (JSS) and ten public JSS with pupils of JSS 1–3. These schools were chosen by a simple random sampling from the five geographical areas of the local government. All participants had dental examination for oral hygiene and dental caries experience using the decayed (D), missing (M), filled (F), and treated (T) teeth (DMFT) codes, respectively. Results: A total number of 394 JSS pupils were examined in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State. A low caries prevalent level of 34% (DMFT ≥1) was observed. The mean DMFT for the study population was 0.69 (+1.2). This is better than the WHO. maximum of 3DMFT by the age of 12 years. The mean DMFT for male pupils was 0.66 (+1.2) and for female 0.72 (+1.2) (P = 0.592). This observed difference was not statistically significant. However, the mean DMFT for public schools was 0.80 (+1.3) and for private schools, it was 0.36 (+0.83) (P = 0.00104). This observed difference was statistically significant. There appears to be no statistically significant association between DMFT and frequency of consumption of confectionaries generally. Conclusion: There is a higher caries level among students in public secondary schools compared to those in private secondary schools in the local government.

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Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a major cause of disability among adults with conservative therapies being among the preferred first line of treatment. Acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are considered as potentially useful treatment for OA; however, there is dearth of information on the acceptability and efficacy of acupuncture in Nigeria. The study was designed to compare the effects of acupuncture and acupuncture-like TENS (ACUTENS) among adult Nigerian with OA of the knee joints. Thirty patients with knee OA were randomized into two intervention groups (i.e., acupuncture and ACUTENS) and a control (soft-tissue manipulation [STM]) group. Patients in the acupuncture and ACUTENS group were also treated with STM as the control group. Pain intensity, functional mobility, and knee active range of movement (AROM) were measured at preintervention, postintervention, and 3 months postintervention. Patients who received acupuncture showed statistically better improvement in the form higher mean changes ± standard error of means in pain intensity score of 4.20 ± 0.01 than the ACUTENS group who recorded changes in pain intensity scores of 30 ± 0.30. The mean changes in the functional mobility scores of 10.60 ± 3.35 and 4.30 ± 1.12 were recorded for the patients in the acupuncture and ACUTENS group, respectively. In addition, the mean changes in the knee AROM for the patients in the acupuncture group was 15.5 ± 5.18 while patients who received ACUTENS recorded mean changes of 5.50 ± 1.38. Acupuncture and ACUTENS treatment produced significant reduction in pain intensity level postintervention and at follow-up assessments (P < 0.05). Patients who received acupuncture treatment showed a significant improvement in functional mobility and knee active range of motion which was not present in the ACUTENS and control groups (P < 0.05). Acupuncture and ACUTENS treatment had significantly better pain-relieving effects when compared to STM in patients with OA of the knee. Acupuncture treatment produces better outcome than ACUTENS regarding pain reduction, knee range of movements, and functional mobility in patients with OA of the knee.

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Background: Castration has been shown to be associated with dyslipidemia. The present study aimed at investigating the effect of melatonin supplementation on castration-induced dyslipidemia. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two surgical groups: Group I rats (n = 10) were sham-operated and then subdivided into 2 oral gavage treatment groups (n = 5 each) to receive either normal saline (1 ml/kg) or 10 mg/kg melatonin for 4 weeks. Group II rats (n = 15) were rendered bilaterally castrated and then subdivided into 3 oral gavage treatment groups (n = 5 each) to receive normal saline (1 ml/kg), 4 mg/kg melatonin, or 10 mg/kg melatonin for 4 weeks. Results: Castrated rats that received normal saline had reduced high-density lipoprotein (35.8 ± 3.8 vs. 62.37 ± 3.26 mg/dl), testosterone (0.30 ± 0.01 vs. 2.70 ± 0.20 ng/ml), estradiol (1.30 ± 0.01 vs. 2.70 ± 0.20 pg/ml) but increased low-density lipoprotein (57.90 ± 0.70 vs. 35.23 ± 0.93 mg/ml), triglycerides (158.20 ± 5.90 vs. 130.93 ± 2.96 mg/ml), total cholesterol (100.00 ± 1.70 vs. 73.67 ± 2.77 mg/ml), Castelli index (2.83 ± 0.35 vs. 1.19 ± 0.07), and had the same follicle stimulating hormone (3.86 ± 0.04 vs. 3.32 ± 0.17 mIU/ml) when compared to sham-operated rats that received normal saline, respectively. Melatonin supplements improved these parameters in normal and castrated rats, with 10 mg/kg melatonin-producing more noticeable effect. Conclusions: Melatonin administration to castrated rats reversed the castration-induced dyslipidemia while potentiating increased testosterone and estradiol production from other nontesticular sources.

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Objective: Cyperus rotundus (L.) (family-Cyperaceae) occupies a prime role in traditional system of medicine. Since the extensive literature survey did not provide proper and accurate information regarding its study on standardization; therefore, the current study is carried out to establish various quality control parameters of C. rotundus rhizomes. Materials and Methods: The investigation included the determination of various standardization parameters such as macroscopic and microscopic studies, physicochemical parameters as well as phytochemical analysis of crude drug. Results: The microscopy study revealed that rhizome of the plant shows typical monocotyledonous characters with epidermal layer, sclerenchymatous layers, cortex, collateral, closed, vascular bundles, and endodermis. Physicochemical constants such as moisture content, ash values, fluorescence analysis, and extractive values were established. Preliminary phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, etc. Conclusion: Various pharmacognostical and physicochemical parameters have pivotal roles in identification, authentication, and establishment of quality parameters of the species.

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Background: Trichomonas vaginalis infection is associated with adverse reproductive outcomes and an increased risk for HIV transmission. Data on the prevalence of trichomoniasis among women in rural Nigeria are sparse. Against this background, this study aimed at determining the prevalence and associated risk factors for T. vaginalis infection among women of reproductive age in rural Okada community of Edo State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A pair of high vaginal swabs was collected from 311 women (consisting of 217 pregnant and 94 nonpregnant women) and examined microscopically for the presence of T. vaginalis. A detailed questionnaire was used to obtain demographic information from the study participants. Results: The overall prevalence of T. vaginalis infection was 7.7%. Although the prevalence of T. vaginalis infection was higher among pregnant than nonpregnant women, the difference was not statistically significant (pregnant vs. nonpregnant: 8.2% vs. 6.4%; odds ratio = 1.327, 95% confidence interval = 0.509, 3.457, P = 0.649). The prevalence of Trichomoniasis was not significantly affected by age, marital status, occupation, and educational status among pregnant and nonpregnant women (P > 0.05). The prevalence of T. vaginalis was significantly (P = 0.004) higher among pregnant women in polygamous unions than their counterparts in monogamous ones. Conclusions: The prevalence of T. vaginalsis infection was high and not significantly affected by pregnancy status. Of all factors examined, only the type of marriage was found to significantly affect the prevalence of T. vaginalis infection among pregnant category of study participants. Increased emphasis on screening of trichomoniasis among rural women is advocated.

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