[Drug use for abortifacient purposes among teenage hairdressers and seamstresses in one suburb of Lome]. / Usage des medicaments a des fins abortives chez les adolescentes coiffeuses et couturieres dans une banlieue de Lome.

The use of drugs is not solely determined by its therapeutic properties but refers to diversions of these properties. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of knowledge of the diversion of drugs for abortifacient purposes among hairdressers and seamstresses of the suburb of Togblékopé. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional study among hairdressers and seamstresses living in Togblékopé, a suburb on the outskirts of the city of Lomé. RESULTS: Of the 114 respondents, 74.6% knew that drugs were diverted for abortion, mostly among older young people, singles and apprentices. In addition, 70.6% reported having at least once attended a drug abortion by someone. Thus, drugs such as paracetamol, chloroquine and acetylsalicylic acid have been reported for abortifacient purposes' diversion, most often purchased on the street and responsible for serious side effects. CONCLUSION: This study has highlighted the knowledge of drugs' use for abortifacient purposes among hairdressers and seamstresses. It is necessary to carry out actions that will aim at teaching the risks of drug intoxication and reduce the risk of pregnancy through family planning.

L'usage des médicaments n'est pas uniquement déterminé par ces propriétés thérapeutiques mais renvoie en effet à des détournements de ces propriétés. OBJECTIF: Evaluer le niveau de connaissance du détournement des médicaments à des fins abortives auprès des coiffeuses et couturières de la banlieue de Togblékopé. MATÉRIEL ET MÉTHODE: Nous avons réalisé une étude transversale auprès des coiffeuses et couturières résidant à Togblékopé, une banlieue située à la périphérie de la ville de Lomé. RÉSULTATS: Parmi les 114 enquêtées, 74,6% savaient que les médicaments étaient détournés à des fins abortives, majoritairement chez les jeunes âgés, les célibataires et les apprenties. Par ailleurs, 70,6% ont déclaré avoir au moins une fois assistée à un avortement médicamenteux par un tiers. Ainsi, les médicaments tels que, le paracétamol, la chloroquine et l'acide acétylsalicylique ont été rapportés pour leur détournement à des fins abortives, le plus souvent achetés dans la rue et responsables des effets indésirables graves. CONCLUSION: Cette étude a mis en évidence la connaissance d'usage des médicaments à des fins abortives chez les coiffeuses et couturières. Il est nécessaire de mener des actions qui auront pour but d'enseigner les risques d'intoxications médicamenteux et de réduire par le planning familial les risques de grossesses.

Antihyperglycaemic activity of the stem-bark extract of Tamarindus indica L. on experimentally induced hyperglycaemic and normoglycaemic Wistar rats.

Diabetes is the most common endocrine disease and its prevalence is reaching epidemic proportion worldwide. In 2002, WHO Expert Committee on diabetes mellitus recommended an urgent and further evaluation of the folkloric methods of managing the disease. In response to this recommendation, several medicinal plants are currently being investigated for their hypoglycaemic activity and one of such plants is Tamarindus indica. Tamarindus indica is a slow growing tree that is resistant to strong winds and perennial. The stem-bark extract of the plant is used locally for the management of diabetes. The stem-bark extract of Tamarindus indica L. was investigated for its hypoglycemic action on experimentally induced hyperglycaemic Wistar rats using a single dose of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg kg(-1) IP). The oral LD50 of the extract was found to be greater than 5,000 mg kg(-1). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, alkaloids and triterpenes. The 1000 mg kg(-1) dose of the extract lowered the blood glucose level significantly (p < 0.05) at the 4th, 8th and 16th h. The 500 mg kg(-1) lowered the BGL significantly (p < 0.05) throughout the study. In the oral glucose load method the 1000 mg kg(-1) dose of the extract significantly (p < 0.05) lowered elevated blood glucose at the 3rd and 5th. The 500 mg kg(-1) lowered the blood glucose from the 1st to the 5th, while the 250 mg kg(-1) also lowered the blood glucose level but only significantly at the 5th h. The extract is practically non toxic when administered orally. The stem-bark extract of Tamarindus indica Linn significantly lowered elevated Blood Glucose concentration (BGL) in the experimental animal models, while the crude extract was able to prevent an elevation in BGL when used in the oral glucose load model.

Optimization of Chromium Removal by the Indigenous Bacterium Bacillus spp. REP02 Using the Response Surface Methodology.

An indigenous bacterium, Bacillus REP02, was isolated from locally sourced chromium electroplating industrial effluents. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the five critical medium parameters responsible for higher % Cr(2+) removal by the bacterium Bacillus REP02. A three-level Box-Behnken factorial design was used to optimize K2HPO4, yeast extract, MgSO4, NH4NO3, and dextrose for Cr(2+) removal. A coefficient of determination (R (2)) value (0.93), model F-value (3.92) and its low P-value (F < 0.0008) along with lower value of coefficient of variation (5.39) indicated the fitness of response surface quadratic model during the present study. At optimum parameters of K2HPO4 (0.6 g L(-1)), yeast extract (5.5 g L(-1)), MgSO4 (0.04 g L(-1)), NH4NO3 (0.20 g L(-1)), and dextrose (12.50 g L(-1)), the model predicted 98.86% Cr(2+) removal, and experimentally, 99.08% Cr(2+) removal was found.

Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous leaves extract of Ocimum gratissimum (Labiate) in rodents.

The aqueous leaves extract of Ocimum gratissimum was investigated for anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in mice and rats. The models used to study the effect on nociception are the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction test, hot-plate method in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect was investigated employing the formalin-induced hind-paw oedema in rats. The extract caused a significant (p<0.05), dose-dependent inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing and hot-plate method. The extract also exhibited anti-inflammatory effect which was significant (P<0.001) at all the three doses. The intraperitoneal LD(50) value of the extract was 1264.9 mg/kg body weight in mice. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins and flavonoids. The results suggest the extract contained pharmacologically active principles, and supports the local application of the plant in painful and inflammatory conditions.