To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients taking different antiretroviral regimens.

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Objectives To assess the quality of life (QoL) of Nigerian pharmacy students and to investigate its predictors. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study randomly sampled one pharmacy school from each of the three geopolitical zones of northern Nigeria We collected data with the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Independent-samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used to compare groups. The predictors of QoL were identified using multiple linear regression analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Key findings The overall response rate was 81.2%. The overall QoL mean score of pharmacy students in the region was 76.94 ± 17.65. There was a lower environment domain mean score (56.06 ± 14.60) compared to other domains. Multivariate analyses revealed that being a Christian, in the 5th year of study, and having a current illness/problem negatively affected overall QoL (P < 0.05). Having a current illness/problem negatively affected physical health (P < 0.05). Being in the 5th year of study and having a current illness/problem negatively affected psychological health, whereas schooling in the state of residence, active involvement with student organizations/clubs and having a current illness/problem negatively affected the environment domain (P < 0.05). Conclusion This study showed that pharmacy students had a fair overall QoL and poor well-being in all four domains. Religion, state of residence, year of study, organizations/clubs and current illness/problem were the significant predictors of QoL. Therefore, these findings will be useful in reviewing the training of pharmacy students with a view to improving their well-being and quality of pharmacy education.

Background: Celosia laxa (Amaranthaceae) is mainly a west African plant species used in Traditional Medicine as an anthelmintic, anticancer, antibacterial and analgesic agent. The seeming prevalence of worm infection in Gwandu community of Gwandu Local Government Area of Kebbi State-Nigeria prompted this study. Methods: Whole plant of C. laxa extracts obtained through maceration in aqueous (AE), methanol (ME) and hexane (HE) solvents were investigated for their anthelmintic activity against Indian earthworms (Pheretima posthuman) at four different (gradient) concentrations of 10, 20, 40 and 80(mg/ml) for each extract. The study involved the determination of time of paralysis (P) and time of death (D) of the worms. Results: Both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts exhibited significant anthelmintic activity at the highest concentration of 80 mg/ml as compared to the standard drug, praziquantel (10 mg/ml). Consequently, the aqueous extract showed a higher activity at 80 mg/ml compared to standard praziquantel at 10 mg/ml (with no significant value of p < 0.05). The time of paralysis and death observed for AE was 13.0 ± 1.8 and 16.8 ± 1.5 while the ME was less bioactive with 15.7 ± 0.5 and 23.0 ± 0.0 respectively. However, on the other hand, the hexane extract recorded no-activity on all the test sample concentrations, compared to the standard drug (with a significant difference of p-value, p > 0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that the leaves of C. laxa are likely to yield a potent anthelminthic drug owing to soluble phytoconstituent which are largely hydrophilicity extracted by the polar solvents. Also, considering that the plants' mode of preparation for use by the locals was aqueous decoction before administration, the folkloric therapeutic claims can be said to have been justified.

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Context: Pharmacists providing pharmaceutical care are often confronted with a variety of professional issues, ethical dilemmas and moral problems that require professionalism to appropriately address. Aims: To investigate undergraduate fifth- year (final-year) Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm.) students’ views on professionalism, ethical dilemmas, and their application of bioethical principles, and to compare responses of various groups (pharmacy schools, age, gender, and religion). Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of the final-year B.Pharm. students in two pharmacy schools in northern Nigeria. The descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests and Independent-sample t-test) were utilised to analyse the study data. Statistical significance was considered at p<0.05. Results: Ninety-five students, corresponding to 49.5% response rate, participated in the study. More than 79% of the students strongly agreed that their actions as future pharmacists could affect how the profession is viewed by patients and other healthcare providers. Patients’ right to autonomy and non-maleficence were the most utilised bioethical principles by the participants. Conclusions: The study shows that the participants had good overall perceived professionalism and fair bioethical reasoning. Different bioethical principles were used by various groups considered to support how they would deal with each ethical dilemma. New strategies in teaching pharmacy practice courses by pharmacy educators in these schools are necessary to improve students’ bioethical reasoning which will maximise the quality of their future practice.