RESUMO
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) has various bioactive components used for the treatment of different diseases such as gastritis and ulcers. This research aims to examine the anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer attributes of okra extract against gastric lesions. Adult Sprague Dawley male albino rats were divided into five groups. The negative control (G1) received normal feed, positive control (G2) received ulcer-inducing drug aspirin 150 mg/kg of body weight (b.w), G3 group received reference drug omeprazole 20 mg/kg of b.w, G4 group received okra extract 250 mg/kg of b.w, and G5 group received 500 mg/kg of b.w. Acute gastric damage was induced in G1, G2, G3, and G4 using aspirin 150 mg/kg of b.w, during 14-day-long efficacy trials after that all the animals were sacrificed. Anti-ulcer parameters and histopathological analysis of stomachs were performed to evaluate the degree of recovery against tissue damage by the administration of okra extract. The obtained results indicated that the 500 mg/kg of b.w okra extract exerted a protective effect in aspirin-induced gastric ulcers by significantly (p < .05) reducing ulcer score, ulcer area, total acidity, and gastric volume, and significantly (p < .05) increasing gastric pH. Moreover, histopathological observation revealed that gastric mucosa was normal in G1, G3, G4, and G5; however, disruptions in the gastric epithelium were observed in G2. Congestion was observed in all groups except G1 and G5. Gastric pits and gastric glands were increased in size in G2 and G4. A higher concentration of okra extract (500 mg/kg of b.w) showed almost similar results when compared to the reference drug omeprazole.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five in Pakistan. Gauging the knowledge and practices of mothers related to ARIs may hold a key role in reducing the incidence and complications. Our study assessed the knowledge of mothers regarding ARIs among children under five years in accordance with WHO guidelines, and its association with education and socioeconomic status of mothers. In addition, we studied the association between education of mothers and socioeconomic status with vaccination status of child. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to December 2016 at Civil Hospital, Ziauddin Hospital and Gulshan-e-Sikanderabad PHC Karachi and involved mothers with at least one child under the age of five years. Four hundred mothers were interviewed using a questionnaire. Results were analysed using SPSS 20.0. RESULTS: 51% of mothers were found to have an above average understanding about ARIs with a mean score of 13.35±3.03 out of a possible 20. There is no association between knowledge of mothers and their level of education. Education level of the mother was found to have a significant association with the vaccination status of youngest child. Mothers having no education or just religious education had the highest percentages of incomplete vaccinations. CONCLUSIONS: Most mothers had above average knowledge of what classified as an ARI and could identify the danger signs. Uneducated mothers had incomplete vaccinations of their youngest child. The majority of mothers had satisfactory breastfeeding habits.