Ameliorative Effects of Kolaviron, a Biflavonoid Fraction from Garcinia Kola Seed, on Hepato-renal Toxicity of Anti-tuberculosis Drugs in Wistar Rats.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease of international health priority. The combination of anti-TB drugs (4-Tabs)- isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), pyrazinamide (PZA) and ethambutol (ETB) are effective in the management of the disease, however, their toxic effect is a major concern. PURPOSE: The study was designed to evaluate the toxicity of anti-TB drugs in male Wistar rats and possible ameliorative effects of kolaviron (KV), a biflavonoid from Garcinia kola seeds. METHODS: Twenty-eight rats were assigned into four groups; Group 1 (Control) received corn oil, Group 2 (4-Tabs) received therapeutic doses of INH (5 mg/kg), RIF (10 mg/kg), PZA (15 mg/kg) and ETB (15 mg/kg) in combination, Group 3 (4-Tabs + KV) received INH, RIF, PZA, ETB and KV (200 mg/kg) and Group 4 (KV) received KV (200 mg/kg) by oral gavage three times per week for 8 consecutive weeks. RESULTS: Administration of 4-Tabs caused oxidative stress resulting in significant (p = 0.031, 0.027) increase in malondialdehyde levels in the liver and kidney of rats by 101% and 34%, respectively. Also, 4-Tabs caused significant (p = 0.023-0.035) elevation of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases by 41% and 48%, creatinine by 252% and total bilirubin by 89%, respectively. In contrast, hepatic and renal antioxidant indices- reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-s-transferase and superoxide dismutase were significantly (p = 0.028-0.039) decreased in 4-Tabs-treated rats. Co-administration of KV with 4-Tabs significantly restored the antioxidant parameters and biochemical indices to near normal. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that anti-TB drugs elicit oxidative damage in liver and kidney of rats while KV protects against the adverse effects via antioxidative mechanism.

Prevalence of STI/HIV co-infections among special treatment clinic attendees in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are poorly recognised and inadequately treated in Nigeria despite the fact that they constitute a major risk factor for sexual transmission of HIV infection. This study was carried out to ascertain STI/HIV co-infection rates and also to obtain relevant socio-demographic and reproductive health data associated with STI/HIV infections among special treatment clinic (STC) attendees. This information is urgently needed for designing STI/HIV control strategies. All consenting patients who attended the STC clinic from March to November 2001 were interviewed to obtain their socio-demographic and reproductive health data. Urethral, high vaginal and endocervical swabs and urine specimens were obtained and processed by standard methods. HIV screening was done by double ELISA tests. Of the 210 patients seen, 98 (46.7%) were male and 112 (53.3%) were female (p > 0.05). The majority, 171 (81.4%) were aged 20-39 years, while only ten (4.8%) were adolescents. One-hundred-and-eighty (85.7%) had an STI, of which 41 (22.8%) were co-infected with HIV. Thirty (16.7%) patients with nongonococcal urethritis/cervicitis and five (2.8%) with gonorrhoea were also positive for HIV. Five patients were HIV positive but had no other STI. Patients with gonorrhoea, non-gonococcal urethritis/cervicitis, trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis were more likely than those with warts, candidiasis and herpes to have co-infection (chi2 = 12.5, p = 0.04). The study's HIV prevalence rate was 21.9%. STI/HIV co-infection rate was significantly higher among unskilled and unemployed patients compared with professional and skilled workers (p < 0.05). This study shows a high STI/HIV co-infection rate indicating that there is need for proper management of STI, as this will help curb the spread of HIV infection in Nigeria.