Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Toward Cervical Cancer Screening Among Female University Students in Ishaka Western Uganda.

Purpose: Cervical cancer (CC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women living in third-world countries. CC is preventable, with the possibility of complete treatment if detected early. The objective of the study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice on CC screening (CCS) among female university students (FUS) in Ishaka, western Uganda. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study among FUS (n = 407) in western Uganda conducted after the first nationwide lockdown in Uganda. Information was collected using a questionnaire and descriptively presented as frequency and percentages. Results: The majority of our respondents were medical students 283 (69.5%), below 25 years 339 (83.3%), with Anglican Christian religious background 150 (36.9%). Respondents above the age of 25 years (p = 0.0052) and those in the medical profession (p < 0.001) had more knowledge. More medical students had a better attitude (p = 0.0043) and favorable practices (0.0134) compared to their non-medical counterparts. There is a weak correlation between attitude (r = 0.206, p < 0.001) and practice (r = 0.181, p = 0.0003) with knowledge on CCS. Conclusion: Observation from the present study suggests the need for more efforts in the fight against cervical cancer and encouragement of positive attitude and practice towards cervical cancer screening and uptake of vaccination.

Hepatoprotective potential of Tamarindus indica following prenatal aluminum exposure in Wistar rat pups.

Over time, the use of plant-derived agents in the management of various human health conditions has gained a lot of attention. The study assessed the hepatoprotective potential of ethyl acetate fraction Tamarindus indica leaves (EFTI) during prenatal aluminum chloride exposure. Pregnant rats were divided into 5 groups (n = 4); Group I rats were administered 2 ml kg-1 of distilled water (negative control), Group II rats received only 200 mg kg-1 aluminum chloride (positive control), Group III rats were administered 200 mg kg-1 aluminum chloride and 400 mg kg-1 EFTI, Group IV rats were administered 200 mg kg-1 aluminum chloride and 800 mg kg-1 EFTI, Group V rats were administered 200 mg kg-1 aluminum chloride and 300 mg kg-1 Vit E (comparative control). On postnatal day 1, the pups were euthanized, and liver tissues were harvested for the biochemical study (tissue levels of malondialdehyde, caspase-3, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine aminotransferases) and the liver histological examination. The administration of EFTI was marked with significant improvement in the tissue levels of malondialdehyde, caspase-3, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine aminotransferases. There was a marked improvement in histopathological changes associated with prenatal aluminum chloride exposure. In conclusion, the administration of EFTI was protective during prenatal aluminum chloride exposure of the liver in Wistar rats, and is mediated by the anti-lipid peroxidative, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activity of EFTI.

Prolonged Codeine Administration Causes Degeneration of Myelinated Axons and Motor Dysfunction in Wistar Rats.

Purpose: Over-the-counter (OTC) anti-cough medications which contain codeine (an opioid) are extensively available in Nigeria, and hence prone to overuse or abuse. The study aimed to understand the effects of oral codeine administration on the integrity of neurons of the cerebral cortex and cerebellum and its behavioral implications in male Wistar rats. Methods: Thirty adult male Wistar rats of comparable weights were obtained and randomly allocated into 5 groups: A, B, C, D, and E (n = 6). Drugs used for the study were ArchilinTM with codeine and dihydrocodeine 30mg. Group A served as control and was administered 0.5mL/kg of normal saline. Groups B and C were treated with 1mg/kg and 2mg/kg of dihydrocodeine, respectively; Group D and E received 2mL/kg and 4mL/kg of ArchilinTM codeine syrup, respectively. The ArchilinTM codeine syrup and dihydrocodeine solutions were administered to the animals based on their body weight, orally and daily with the aid of oropharyngeal tubes for 21 days. The experimental animals were subjected to neurobehavioral studies using beam walk and open field. At the end of the treatment period, the animals were anesthetized with ketamine-hydrochloride intraperitoneally. The brains were quickly dissected out, rinsed with normal saline, and tissue processed for myelin studies. Results: The beam walking and open field result revealed that prolonged codeine administration interfered with motor function in the experimental animals. Sections of the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum of rats given normal saline showed normal myelin sheaths, whereas animals in the treatment group showed degenerating myelin compared to the control. Conclusion: Prolonged consumption of prescription codeine causes degeneration of the myelin sheaths and this may affect the conduction of electrical impulses in myelinated axons thus resulting in motor function insufficiency.

Tamarindus indica ameliorates behavioral and cytoarchitectural changes in the cerebellar cortex following prenatal aluminum chloride exposure in Wistar rats.

Aluminium exposure has been linked with developmental neurotoxicity in humans and experimental animals. The study aimed to evaluate the ameliorative effect of Tamarindus indica on the developing cerebellar cortex, neurobehavior, and immunohistochemistry of the cerebellar cortex following prenatal aluminum chloride (AlCl3) exposure. Pregnant timed Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups (n=4). Group I (negative control) was given distilled water, group II was treated with 200 mg/kg of AlCl3, group III were given 200 mg/kg of AlCl3 and 400 mg/kg of ethyl acetate leaf fraction of Tamarindus indica (EATI), group IV were given 200 mg/kg of AlCl3 and 800 mg/kg of EATI, and group V were treated with 200 mg/kg of AlCl3 s/c and 300 mg/kg of vitamin E for 14 days (prenatal day 7-21) via the oral route. Male pups (n=6) were randomly selected and taken for neurobehavioral studies, and humanely sacrificed via intraperitoneal injection of thiopental sodium. The cerebellum was removed, fixed and tissue processed for histological and immunohistochemical studies. The results revealed that prenatal AlCl3 exposure impacted neurodevelopment and neurobehaviour among exposed pups. Prenatal AlCl3 exposure was marked with delayed cytoarchitectural development of the cerebellar cortex and increased GFAP expression in the cerebellar cortex. On the other hand, treatment with EATI and vitamin E were marked with significant improvements. The present study therefore concluded treatment with EATI shows an ameliorative effect to prenatal AlCl3 exposure.

Anxiety, Anger and Depression Amongst Low-Income Earners in Southwestern Uganda During the COVID-19 Total Lockdown.

Background: Low-income earners are particularly vulnerable to mental health, consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions, due to a temporary or permanent loss of income and livelihood, coupled with government-enforced measures of social distancing. This study evaluates the mental health status among low-income earners in southwestern Uganda during the first total COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken amongst earners whose income falls below the poverty threshold. Two hundred and fifty-three (n = 253) male and female low-income earners between the ages of 18 and 60 years of age were recruited to the study. Modified generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) tools as appropriate were used to assess anxiety, anger, and depression respectively among our respondents. Results: Severe anxiety (68.8%) followed by moderate depression (60.5%) and moderate anger (56.9%) were the most common mental health challenges experienced by low-income earners in Bushenyi district. Awareness of mental healthcare increased with the age of respondents in both males and females. A linear relationship was observed with age and depression (r = 0.154, P = 0.014) while positive correlations were observed between anxiety and anger (r = 0.254, P < 0.001); anxiety and depression (r = 0.153, P = 0.015) and anger and depression (r = 0.153, P = 0.015). Conclusion: The study shows the importance of mental health awareness in low resource settings during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Females were identified as persons at risk to mental depression, while anger was highest amongst young males.

COVID-19-Related Mental Health Burdens: Impact of Educational Level and Relationship Status Among Low-Income Earners of Western Uganda.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental health with the level of education, relationship status, and awareness on mental health among low-income earners in Western Uganda. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out among 253 participants. Anxiety, anger, and depression were assessed using a modified generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, and Beck Depression Inventory item tools, respectively. Results: The majority of our respondents were male (n = 150/253, 59.3), had a secondary level of education (104/253, 41.1), and were single (137/253, 54.2). No formal education and primary education (r2 = 47.4% and 6.4%, respectively) had a negative correlation with awareness of mental health care. In addition, no formal education had a positive correlation with anger and depression (r2 = 1.9% and 0.3%, respectively). Singleness in this study had a negative correlation with awareness of mental health care, anger, and depression (r2 = 1.9, 0.8, and 0.3%, respectively), and a positive correlation with anxiety (r2 = 3.9%). Conclusion: It is evident that education and relationship status influenced awareness on mental health care and mental health state among low-income earners in Western Uganda during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Therefore, policymakers should strengthen social transformation through the proper engagement of low-income earners in this COVID-19 era.

The effect of codeine administration on oxidative stress biomarkers and the expression of the neuron-specific enolase in the brain of Wistar rats.

The study aimed to assess the effects of codeine medication on some oxidative stress parameters and how it affects the expression of enolase in neuronal cells. The codeine medication used for the study was Archilin™ with codeine syrup and dihydrocodeine 30 mg. The study used 30 male Wistar rats which were grouped in five: A, B, C, D, and E (n = 6), while treatments were administered for 21 days. Based on the LD50s of 6.09 ml/kg body weight (b.wt.) Archilin™ with codeine syrup and 3.145 mg/kg b.wt. dihydrocodeine, group A served as control and were given normal saline; groups B and C were treated with 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg b.wt. dihydrocodeine, respectively; while groups D and E were treated with 2 ml/kg and 4 ml/kg b.wt. Archilin™ with codeine syrup, respectively. After treatments, animals were sacrificed via cervical dislocation and the brains were harvested and prepared for determination of oxidative stress biomarkers as well as immunohistochemical studies of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) to assess for neuronal cell integrity. Significantly decreased mean values (p < 0.05) of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were observed while malondialdehyde (MDA) is significantly increased (p < 0.05) among treated groups. The expression of enolase was downregulated in treatment groups when compared to control. Animals in group A which are control showed strong staining intensity of the prefrontal cortex compared to groups C, D, and E which showed mild staining. The scoring of group A for cerebellum showed strong staining intensity, groups B and C showed mild staining, while groups D and E showed weak staining intensity. From the findings of this study, prolonged codeine syrup administration causes oxidative stress and this affects the expression of enolase in neuronal cells resulting in glucose hypometabolism which eventually results in functional brain failure.

Community Drivers Affecting Adherence to WHO Guidelines Against COVID-19 Amongst Rural Ugandan Market Vendors.

Background: Market vendors occupy a strategic position in the fight against the spread of SARS CoV-2 in rural Uganda. To successfully contain the spread of the virus, special attention needs to be given to this set of people by assessing the type of information, source of information, and practices they inculcate as regards adherence to WHO guidelines in the fight against COVID-19 in Uganda. The study aimed to assess the role of information sources, education level, and phone internet connectivity in influencing COVID-19 knowledge among the rural market vendors; and the relationship existing between knowledge, attitude, and practices among them. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study among rural market vendors (n = 248) in southwestern Uganda. Information was collected using a questionnaire and descriptively presented as frequency and percentages. Results: The study showed that the majority of the rural market vendors had sufficient information regarding COVID-19 with the majority being female individuals and have attained a secondary level of education, The general percentage score for knowledge, attitude, and practices were (75.57, 82.6, and 76.50% respectively). There was a positive correlation between attitude and practices (r = 0.17, p = 0.007), as well as their knowledge with practices (r = 0.29, p < 0.001). The majority of the people in the population did not have their phones connected to the internet (OR = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.16-3.31, P = 0.01). The majority of people received their information regarding COVID-19 from one source (radio) (OR = 1.55). Conclusion: Where and how the rural market vendors get their information and education level are vital in breaking COVID 19 infection circle in line with WHO guidelines. Therefore, sources of information and education level played a key role in molding their knowledge and practices. However, the level of knowledge on COVID 19 among our respondents was not linked with phone internet connectivity.