The Vaccination Fear Scale (VFS-6): Adaptation, Cross-Cultural Validation, and Invariance among Genders and Six Different Cultures, Applying Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT).

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a meaningful impact on several areas of human activity. With respect to psychological assessment, the requirements to study the fear of vaccination as a means to diminish negative behaviour towards vaccination had been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the factorial invariance of the six-item Vaccination Fear Scale (VFS-6) across individuals and cultures. To achieve this goal, a sample of university students was recruited (n = 2535; mean age = 20.59, SD = 2.04; males: 26.75%, females: 73.25%) from Spain (n = 388; 15.3%), Italy (n = 376; 14.83%), Lebanon (n = 487; 19.21%), Nigeria (n = 561; 22.13%), Turkey (n = 410; 16.17%), and Ukraine (n = 313; 12.34%). The results showed that the most appropriate factorial structure, exhibiting excellent fit indices, was a model with two correlated factors (cognitive symptoms: items 1, 2, and 4; somatic symptoms: items 3, 5, and 6) for both the total sample and individual samples from each country and language (Spanish, Italian, Arabic, English, Turkish, and Ukrainian). Notably, the VFS-6 demonstrated configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance across sex. Regarding countries and languages, configural invariance was observed between them. Also, metric invariance was observed between Spain, Italy, and Ukraine and between Lebanon, Nigeria, and Turkey, which indicates the presence of two well-differentiated groups of countries and the possibility of inferential analysis between them. Item Response Theory analysis suggested an appropriate level of discrimination and difficulty of the test. These significant findings lay the groundwork for future investigations into vaccination fear across diverse cultural backgrounds, providing valuable insights for addressing vaccination-related concerns worldwide.

Acute effects of aqueous leaf extract of Aspilia africana C.D. Adams on some haematological parameters in rats.

Several medicinal plants have been documented for their haematological effects either at low or high concentration but very little is known about Aspilia africana. The aim of the study was to investigate the acute effects of aqueous leaf extract of Aspilia africana at different concentrations on some haematological parameters in rats. Following 14 days of oral administration of aqueous extract of A. africana, Haematocrit (HCT), Haemoglobin concentration (HB), Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Red Blood Cell Count (RBC Count), Total White Blood Cell Count (Total WBC Count), Absolute Neutrophils count (NEUT#), Absolute Lymphocytes count (LYM#), Absolute Eosinophils Count (EOSIN#) and Absolute Monocytes (MONO#) were evaluated in twenty (20) male Wistar albino rats. The rats weighed 174 ± 20 g, and were randomly assigned into 4 groups viz: Group 1, Control; Group 2, 250 mg/Kg/d aqueous extract; Group 3, 500 mg/Kg/d aqueous extract; and Group 4, 750 mg/Kg/d aqueous extract. HCT, HB, MCHC, RBC Count, Total WBC Count, NEUT#, LYM#, EOSIN# and MONO# were significantly increased (P<0.001) in 500 mg/Kg/d of A. africana extract (61.13 ± 1.65%, 13.5 ± 1.29 g/dl, 23.33 ± 0.0.02 g/dl, 3.68 ± 0.02 X 10(12)Cells/l, 2.33 ± 0.02 X 10(9)Cells/l, 1.32 ± 0.04 X 10(9)Cells/l, 1.43 ± 0.05 X 10(9)Cells/l, 0.47 ± 0.02 X 10(9)Cells/l and 0.47 ± 0.04 X 10(9)Cells/l, respectively) when compared to the Control (51.13 ± 0.85%, 9.56 ± 0.43 g/dl, 19.22 ± 0.19 g/dl, 2.69 ± 0.01 X 10(12)Cells/l, 1.79 ± 0.01 X 10(9)Cells/l, 0.80 ± 0.00 X 10(9)Cells/l, 0.83 ± 0.00 X 10(9)Cells/l, 0.18 ± 0.00 X 10(9)Cells/l and 0.24 ± 0.00 X 10(9)Cells/l, respectively) which received no extract at all. The 500 mg/Kg of A. africana extract proved to be the most effective, while the 750 mg/Kg proved to be the least effective in comparison with the control. The results of this study further strengthened the earlier works on the medicinal benefits of Aspilia africana and its virtue as a good pharmacological source of haematopoiesis.

Acid buffering effects of aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum L. in the rabbit stomach.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the gastroprotective properties of Ocimum gratissimum L. have been mentioned, the exact mechanism is yet to be explored. Since acid output plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of gastric ulceration, the present study was aimed at investigating the effect of leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum on gastric luminal pH, acid output, parietal cell mass and gastric mucous cell population in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The model of pyloric ligation for acid secretion and ulcer study was employed. Prior to the 4 h ligation, male New Zealand rabbits were treated orally with 75 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg b.w aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum twice daily for three weeks. The antisecretory and antiulcer effect of Ocimum gratissimum was compared with omeprazole (20 mg/kg p.o). Parietal cell mass and gastric mucous cell population were determined in the gastric samples by histometry. RESULTS: Aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum caused significant reduction in ulcer formation, gastric secretion volume and acid output in a dose dependent manner (p<0.05). Percentage inhibition was recorded as 29%, 46.2%, 52.9% for ulcer; and 16.2%, 35.9%, 52.1% for acid output upon pretreatment with 75 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg b.w respectively. Parietal cell mass was also reduced while gastric mucous cell population and luminal pH increased accordingly when compared to the control group. Data were comparable with the antisecretory effect of omeprazole. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the anti-secretory activity of Ocimum gratissimum may be the anti-ulcer mechanism of this plant.