Effect of nevirapine, efavirenz and lopinavir/ritonavir on the therapeutic concentration and toxicity of lumefantrine in people living with HIV at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Patients living with HIV in malarial endemic regions may experience clinically significant drug interaction between antiretroviral and antimalarial drugs. Effects of nevirapine (NVP), efavirenz (EFV) and lopinavir/ritonavir (LPVr) on lumefantrine (LM) therapeutic concentrations and toxicity were evaluated. In a four-arm parallel study design, the blood samples of 40 participants, treated with artemether/lumefantrine (AL), were analysed. Lumefantrine Cmax was increased by 32% (p = 0.012) and 325% (p < 0.0001) in the NVP and LPVr arms respectively but decreased by 62% (p < 0.0001) in the EFV-arm. AUC of LM was, respectively, increased by 50% (p = 0.27) and 328% (p < 0.0001) in the NVP and LPVr arms but decreased in the EFV-arm by 30% (p = 0.019). Median day 7 LM concentration was less than 280 ng/mL in EFV-arm (239 ng/mL) but higher in control (290 ng/mL), NVP (369 ng/mL, p = 0.004) and LPVr (1331 ng/mL, p < 0.0001) arms. There were no clinically relevant toxicities nor adverse events in both control and test arms. Artemether/lumefantrine is safe and effective for treatment of malaria in PLWHA taking NVP and LPVr based ART regimen but not EFV-based regimen.

A prospective study of the effect of antihypertensive medications on the sexual functions of hypertensive adult male patients.

BACKGROUND: The potential for antihypertensive medications to produce deleterious adverse effects on sexual functions among hypertensive adult male patients has been widely reported, such adverse effects may limit drug adherence and compliance. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of antihypertensive medication use on sexual functions among hypertensive adult male patients. METHODOLOGY: The study was carried out at the outpatient clinic of a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital. A total of one hundred and fifty-nine recruited hypertensive adult male patients that were being managed at the center over a 3-month period between January 2017 and April 2017 participated in the study; provided they satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria for enrolment. RESULTS: The respondents were between 30 and 98 years of age, (mean of 59 ± 11.1 years). Blood pressure recorded was during their initial medical diagnosis for hypertension. Systolic blood pressure recorded was between 128 and 194 mmHg (mean of 162 ± 16.4 mmHg), while their diastolic blood pressure was between 78 and 120 mmHg (mean of 95 ± 10.7 mmHg). The highest occurrence of sexual dysfunctions was associated with calcium-channel blockers in 32 (20.1%) patients, followed by diuretics in 27 (17.0%) and, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in 20 (12.6%) patients. CONCLUSION: Calcium channel blockers caused the highest occurrence of sexual dysfunctions.

Biochemical, hematological, and hormonal profile of rats orally administered methanol stem bark extract of Napoleona vogelii Hook and Planch (Lecythidaceae).

Napoleona vogelii is used in traditional medicine for the management of stomach aches, ulcer, and cancers. This study was conducted to investigate the subchronic toxicological effect of methanol stem bark extract of N. vogelii on biochemical, hematological, and hormonal profile of male and female rats. Forty rats of both sexes were randomly divided into four groups of 10 rats each and were administered 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the extract p.o. for 90 d. Ten milliliter per kilogram of distilled water p.o. was administered to control rats. On hematological assessment, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration was significantly (p < 0.01) increased at 400 mg/kg compared to control. Biochemical assessment showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively, compared to control. Hormonal assessment of male rats revealed a significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced level of testosterone at all treatment doses compared to control while estradiol was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced at 100 mg/kg, but significantly (p < 0.0001) increased at 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively compared to control in female rats. Findings from this study demonstrate that N. vogelli is relatively safe on oral acute exposure but may possess the potential to cause hepatic dysfunction and infertility in male rats by perturbations of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis while conversely enhancing fertility in female rats on subchronic administration.