Aim:To investigate the levels of total aflatoxin (AF) in herbal medicines from selected vendors in South-Eastern Nigeria. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study designed to investigate the levels of aflatoxin (AF) mycotoxin in herbal traditional medicines selected randomly from vendor dealers in Ebonyi State of Ikeagwulonu et al.; JAMPS, 22(1): 26-31, 2020; Article no.JAMPS.54073 27 Nigeria. Fifty-seven (57) herbal medicine samples were obtained from local markets and stores in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. Original Research Article Place and Duration of Study:This study was carried out at Abakaliki, Ezza-North, Afikpo North, Ohaukwu, Ikwo in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. This study covered a period of one year from April, 2018 to April, 2019. Methodology: Fifty-seven (57) herbal medicine samples were analyzed to detect the level of aflatoxin (AF) mycotoxins with the controls. They were selected with self-administered questionnaire using a multistage random sampling technique. Wet extraction was performed on the liquid herbal samples whereas aflatoxin occurrence and levels were evaluated using lateral flow immunoassay technique. Data were analyzed using One sample t-test and descriptive statistics and statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The incidence of Aflatoxin contamination in the samples were 48(84.21%) out of 57 herbal medicines examined with the highest level seen in African Iba herbal (20.00±2.00 ppb) and the lowest level seen in Dunamis and Divine roots herbals (0.00 ± 0.00). Data from the analysis of herbal medicine samples showed different concentration range of mycotoxins AFs (0-20 ppb). Conclusion: Although aflatoxins concentration observed in the herbal samples were below Nigerian and European Union (EU) upper limits of 20 ppb, the high incidence rate observed in the study should be of concern to public health. The policy makers in the Nigerian agricultural and health sectors have been provided with research evidence as contained in this study on the dangers posed by consumption of some herbal medicines as a result of their aflatoxin contamination.
The practice of herbal medication is as old as the culture of the people and despite the advent of modern medication, many people of south eastern Nigeria, still patronizes herbal medication. Herbal medications are consumed directly and could be contaminated with mycotoxins which are detrimental to human and animal health. This study was therefore, designed to determine the extent of mycotoxin contamination of herbal medications on sale in Ebonyi State, South-Eastern Nigeria. In this regard, a multistage random sampling technique was used to select 19 herbal medication samples from stores and markets in Ebonyi State, Nigeria and evaluated for occurrence of three major mycotoxins- aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA) and fumonisins (FB). Employing wet extraction procedure, mycotoxin occurrence and levels were determined via lateral flow immunoassay technique. Results showed high prevalence of all three mycotoxins in the samples in the order OTA (89.47%), FB (82.46%) and AF (82.21%). Ochratoxin A was highest in Goodswill herbal (23.66 ± 3.51 ppb) and lowest in Goko mixture (0.00 ± 0.00) while fumonisin was highest in Ukwara (634.33 ± 8.00 ppb) and lowest in Iketo-2 mixture (0.00 ± 0.10). Aflatoxin B1 was highest in African Iba (20.00 ± 2.00 ppb) and lowest in Dunamis and Divine roots herbals (0.00 ± 0.00). Data from the analysis of herbal medication samples showed varying concentrations of mycotoxins AFs (0 – 20 ppb); OTA (0 – 23 ppb); FB (0 – 634 ppb) respectively. In conclusion, mycotoxins concentration determined in the herbal samples were above Nigerian and European Union (EU) set limits for OTA only. The co-occurrence of these mycotoxins in herbal samples analyzed in this study raises further awareness to the health risks consumers of these herbal commodities.Keywords: Mycotoxin, herbal medicine, quality, Nigeria.
Introduction: Conflicting evidences exist that ABO blood groups correlate with the susceptibility to COVID-19 and its clinical outcomes. This study aimed to pool available articles that assessed a possible relationship between COVID-19 and ABO blood groups. Materials and methods: A search was conducted in four databases comprising Pubmed/Medline, Google scholar, Journal storage (JSTOR) and African Journals Online (AJOL) for relevant studies available before 25th August 2020 and contained extractable data on ABO blood type distribution and COVID-19 disease. Search terms included a combination of “ABO blood group, and COVID-19, coronavirus, and SARS-COV-2”. Results: Fourteen articles that met study inclusion criteria were selected from a total of five hundred and eighty-five articles identified through database search. The fourteen articles reviewed comprised of a total of 73934 subjects (13189 SARS-COV-2 positive cases and 60745 controls). Overall, the risk of SARS-COV-2 infection was found to be significantly increased in patients with blood group A with ORs: 1.24 (95%Cl: 1.09-1.41, P = 0.001). Additionally, blood group O subjects were seen to have decreased odds of contracting COVID-19 infection (OR: 0.78, 95%Cl: 0.68 – 0.89, P=0.0003). No significant association was found between ABO blood groups and COVID -19 severity and mortality. Conclusions: Blood group A was associated with a higher risk of SARS-COV-2 infection whereas risk of infection was lower in blood group O subjects. No statistical significant association was found between ABO blood groups and COVID-19 severity and mortality. The precise role of ABO blood group in COVID-19 susceptibility, severity and mortality requires further research for clarification.
BackgroundOne in every four men will be affected by prostate cancer. Choice of treatment depends on factors including grade and stage of the disease, age of the patient, availability of treatment options and socioeconomic status. We aimed to develop a protocol to assess the impact of socioeconomic status on prostate cancer outcomes globally.Methods A search strategy is developed using MeSH, text words, and entry terms. Nine databases will be searched, including PubMed, African Journals Online (AJOL), Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase and ResearchGate.Only observational studies, retrievable in the English language will be included. The primary outcome of this study is the socioeconomic status of prostate cancer patients. Secondary outcomes include mortality due to prostate cancer, health related quality of life, prostate cancer recurrence, need for secondary treatment, time to return to work, treatment choice regret and hospice enrollment. Identified studies will be screened and selected based on inclusion criteria. Data items will be managed in Zotero software, Microsoft Excel and CMA software. Both quality scores and the risk of bias for individual studies will be reported. Studies will be assessed for methodological, clinical, and statistical heterogeneity. Funnel Plots will be used for assessing publication bias. DiscussionThis protocol will enable a transparent, reliable and accurate method for assessing the impact of socioeconomic status on the global prostate cancer outcomes. It will allow discussions on outcomes such as mortality due to prostate cancer and how income disparity and availability of treatment options can influence prostate cancer outcomes. The final report of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and the findings will be made available to health authorities.Systematic review RegistrationThis protocol has been registered in PROSPERO, with registration number CRD42020213700
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