Doxorubicin is widely applied in hematological and solid tumor treatment but limited by its off-target cardiotoxicity. Thus, cardioprotective potential and mechanism(s) of CVE in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity were investigated using cardiac and oxidative stress markers and histopathological endpoints. 50–400 mg/kg/day CVE in 5% DMSO in distilled water were investigated in Wistar rats intraperitoneally injected with 2.5 mg/kg DOX on alternate days for 14 days, using serum troponin I and LDH, complete lipid profile, cardiac tissue oxidative stress marker assays, and histopathological examination of DOX-treated cardiac tissue. Preliminary qualitative and quantitative assays of CVE’s secondary metabolites were also conducted. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of flavonoids (34.79 ± 0.37 mg/100 mg dry extract), alkaloids (36.73 ± 0.27 mg/100 mg dry extract), reducing sugars (07.78 ± 0.09 mg/100 mg dry extract), and cardiac glycosides (24.55 ± 0.12 mg/100 mg dry extract). 50–400 mg/kg/day CVE significantly attenuated increases in the serum LDH and troponin I levels. Similarly, the CVE dose unrelatedly decreased serum TG and VLDL-c levels without significant alterations in the serum TC, HDL-c, and LDL-c levels. Also, CVE profoundly attenuated alterations in the cardiac tissue oxidative stress markers’ activities while improving DOX-associated cardiac histological lesions that were possibly mediated via free radical scavenging and/or antioxidant mechanisms. Overall, CVE may play a significant therapeutic role in the management of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in humans.

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Introduction: Hypertension is an important and major public health concern globally. One of the major causes of sudden death worldwide is hypertension. This study is to present the morphological pattern of deaths at autopsy of those patients who were brought-in-dead (BID) and who had hypertensive heart disease (HHD) as the underlying illness. Materials and Methods: This is a 6-year retrospective autopsy study of BID patients as a result of HHD seen at our department between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015. The autopsy findings and data retrieved were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. Test for statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 477 deaths (44%) as a result of HHD were recorded out of the 1016 BID during the period under study. The age ranged from 21 to 92 years with a mean age of 52 ± 14.0 years and a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. The 5 th decade of life was the most common age group encountered. The most common cause of death was acute left ventricular failure (67.8%), and myocardial infarction was the least common (1.7%). Conclusions: Acute left ventricular heart failure was the most common cause of sudden death as a result of hypertension and was followed by intracerebral hemorrhage. In the female gender, sudden deaths were most common in the 6 th decade and in the male gender most sudden deaths were seen in the 5 th decade.

Background and Purpose: Hepatorenal toxicity is a side effect of the anthracycline cytotoxic antibiotics, doxorubicin that is used in cancer treatment. The study investigated the ameliorative potential of Clerodendrum volubile ethanol leaf extract (CVE) on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced hepatorenal toxicities. Methods: Male Wistar rats were pretreated with Clerodendrum volubile ethanol leaf extract (50 - 400 mg/kg/day, p.o) followed by intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mg/kg of DOX on alternate days for 14 days. Hepatorenal toxicity was assessed using renal function parameters (serum electrolytes, blood urea and creatinine), hepatic function endpoints [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and total bilirubin (TB)]. In addition, the antioxidant activity in the kidney and liver tissues were assayed and histological studies of these tissues were also conducted. Results: Oral pretreatment with 50 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day, 200 mg/kg/day and 400 mg/kg/day of CVE remarkably ameliorated DOX-induced liver and kidney injury by lowering the serum ALT, AST, ALP, Cr and BUN levels. CVE pretreatment remarkably ameliorated DOX-induced increases in the CAT, SOD and GPx activities and MDA levels compared to the DOX-treated rats. The biochemical changes were corroborated by improvements in the DOX-induced histological lesions seen in the hepatic and renal tissues examined. Conclusions: Overall, these findings suggest that Clerodendrum volubile ethanol leaf extract elicits protective effect against DOX-induced hepatorenal toxicities mediated primarily via oxidative stress suppression and improvement in the free radicals scavenging activities of CVE.

Background: Motorcycle use is associated with fatal crashes. The government of Lagos State, Nigeria has introduced legislation and policies to address this issue. Aim: To examine trends in motorcycle accident mortality in Lagos over a 10-year period (January 2010 - December 2019) and consider the impact of transportation legislation and policy changes on deaths from motorcycle accidents during that period. Method: A retrospective analysis of all autopsies performed on decedents from motorcycle crashes between January 2010 and December 2019. Results: There were 211 cases of motorcycle accident-related deaths. Most victims were males (89.1%), the peak age was 31–40 years (30.8%), and majority were riders and pillion passengers (39.8% each). Head injury (51.6%) was the most common injury and cause of death. There was a general decline in case numbers from 2010 to 2019. Following new legislation that introduced a motorcycle hailing service between 2017 and 2019, there was a 17.4% reduction in fatalities from accidents. Conclusion: There has been a general downward trend in fatal motorcycle accidents in Lagos from 2010 to 2019. Changes in government transportation policies have likely had consequences on motorcycle accident-related mortality.