Gongronema latifolium is a plant that has a wide range of nutritional and ethnomedical uses in different tropical African communities. Scientific reports on the chemical composition and bioactivity (anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer and allelopathic properties) of the plant material by different authors are discussed in this review. Future prospects of the plant extracts in the areas of herbal formulations, food preservation, alcoholic fermentation and beer production, drug discovery and allelopathy are also highlighted.
PCOS, Polycystic ovary syndrome, is the most common endocrine disorder occurring in women with normal reproductive age. General symptoms of PCOS include irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovaries, hirsutism, and hyperandrogenism. Also, Insulin resistance that is associated with obesity, skin conditions such as acne, and even psychiatric conditions have been reported. Comparison of prevalence of PCOS is not an easy task due to the fact that there are too many variables to consider. The biggest one is that each research uses different diagnostic criteria. Also, some studies use small sample sizes, and some studies are too specific in location to represent the whole country. This study reviewed articles to determine how geographical and ethnic differences among Asians and Caucasians would affect the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome.
Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created avenues for physical and mental stress on individuals worldwide. Pregnant women especially, with the onset of COVID-19 have been challenged greatly by an array of disorders, all with varying cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses. The aim of our research is to conduct a review of the different mental health issues experienced by pregnant women in various geographical locations and analyze the prevalence of specific mental issues. Materials and Methods: A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted. Databases PubMed, Google Scholar, BioMed Central, CrossRef and British Medical Journal were thoroughly examined by the authors for the purpose of locating the relevant articles as per specific geographical location. Results: From the applicable studies identified, twenty-eight (28) were selected for review. As per the North American studies, levels of depression and anxiety in pregnant women at and around the time of the pandemic ranged from 33.2 to 70%. This differs in European countries where there were levels of 14.0 to 60%. Prevalence of stress among pregnant women in Asia was 32.7% while 17% of North American women reported the same. In the studies of Australia and South America, the prevalence of anxiety ranged 6% to 13.9% while studies in Africa reported severe and extremely stress, 7.2% (n=33) and 64% (n=29) respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression and anxiety among pregnant women was shown to be relatively high in all regions as per the COVID-19 pandemic, owing to many factors. Based on the studies analyzed, adequate support, resources and better healthcare systems are imperative for ensuring that depression and anxiety levels be reduced among this demographic.
The onset of pain is the major discomfort associated with inflammation. The inflammation is usually associated with tissue injury, irritation and infection. This leads to the release of pro-inflammatory compounds from either damaged or immune cells leading to the stimulation of nociceptors which are mainly primary afferent fibres. The stimulation of these fibres by neuropeptide, substance P, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, histamine, serotonin, protons and others leads to pain. To ease this pain, the drugs tend to either inhibit the enzymes or the nerve receptors. The major means of controlling the pain involves the inhibition of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. However, the effective inhibition of these enzymes tends also to impede other functional physiological activities occurring in the body, leading to health crisis. The steps in eradicating these lethal side effects have led to the various techniques including natural remedies like plants and fish oils. Therefore, this study tends to present a review on the pain sensation pathway during inflammation and how the introduction of natural products in drug therapies could prove lucrative.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way that healthcare systems and research centers across the world operate. Resources are now being poured into fighting the pandemic. Unfortunately, these resources are often drawn from other healthcare sectors. The focus of this paper is to determine how the shift of resources affects how cancer treatment and cancer research across the globe. Previous research in this topic is sparse, so looking into how cancer research and treatment has been affected can prove beneficial by highlighting the affected treatment methods for cancer patients so that healthcare teams will be able to allocate resources for particularly vulnerable patients once resources are available. Research has discovered that the shift of resources has led to a decrease in screenings for various types of cancer. Furthermore, clinical trials for new cancer treatments have been paused as well. This has led to an increase in cancer-related mortality, for many different types of cancer. However, some healthcare systems are adapting to these changes by increasing their use of telemedicine, which patients have welcomed. This shows that resources being taken away from cancer treatment and research has had a negative impact on cancer care but as the pandemic progresses, healthcare workers are finding ways to care for their patients.
As of march 2022, the World health Organisation stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an immense 25% increase in the global prevalence of anxiety and depression (WHO, 2022). It is important that precautions are taken to protect the mental health of individuals affected by the pandemic and more specifically the youth. This paper aims to investigate the psychological effects of the pandemic on adolescents and it also sheds light on the coping mechanisms used by these individuals. By integrating results from various research a general conclusion was made that the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the daily activities of adolescents, causing stress, depression, harmful lifestyle engagements and even self-injury.
Precipitous labor is certainly not a novel statement in the field of medicine. It has been reported in various regions over the years with a prevalence of about 1-3% in the United States. A study revealed that the prevalence of precipitous labor in Australia is 14%, which is relatively higher than that of the US. This gives a general idea that the incidence of precipitous labor varies according to different regions. This research paper examines the prevalence, risk factors and complications associated with precipitous labor. We analyzed the issues surrounding precipitous labor, relying on various qualitative and quantitative studies to communicate vivid understanding of this topic. Our conclusions are drawn by considering all factors surrounding precipitous labor and comparing the associated complications with those seen in regular labor as a means of knowing if it is meant to be encouraged or discouraged.
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