- Vitamin
A use in pregnancy
Kandemiri, T.
and Nyazema, N.
Vitamin a is essential
for growth, vision, reproduction, bone development and proper epithelial
differentiation. Daily dietary intake should be 6000IU for women during
pregnancy and lactation. Both high and low levels of the vitamin result
in birth defects. Hypervitaminosis in rodents determines embryolethality
and various congenital malformations like spina bifida and vascular abnormalities.
Mothers of premature infants have been reported to have had lower levels
of serum vitamin A than those of full term infants. The present study reports
vitamin A levels in mothers attending post-natal clinics at Mbare Polyclinic.
Using designed questionnaire, 103 mothers were interviewed to obtain obstetrical
and medical records. Data on the new-born was obtained from the medical
records. Forty-three women were then randomly selected to obtain blood
samples for analysis of vitamin A in serum. UV spectrophotometry was used
in the analysis. The results obtained showed that the majority of the women
(66%) did not take supplements during pregnancy. About 22% of these women
had low birth weight children compared to about 9% of those who did take
vitamin A supplementation. About 27% of the non-takers had also suffered
from perinatal infection compared to 8% of takers. Twenty-four percent
of babies born to non-takers were preterm compared to 11% of those born
to the supplemented mothers. Babies form the groups of women equally suffered
from conjunctivitis or respiratory infections. According to the method
of analysis used, it was found that most of the serum analysed had vitamin
A concentration above the acceptable minimum. The prevalence of perinatal
maternal infections was found to be significantly higher in mothers who
did not take vitamin A supplements. It is rather difficult to make a firm
conclusion to associate birth weight , premature birth and early neonatal
infection with vitamin A supplementation. A larger sample would be required.
However, the results do seem to confirm that there is chance of more perinatal
problems in women who do not supplement their vitamin A intake.
- The
phagocytic killing activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the absence
and presence of praziquantel
Maduwa, I. and
Nyazema, N.
The effect of praziquantel
on polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis and phagocytosis was studied
in normal volunteers. It is postulated that the efficacy of praziquantel
against schistosomiasis is due to its ability to modify the phagocytic
activities of the cells of the immune system. The phagocytes were separated
by normal centrifugation of heparinised blood samples before and after
Praziquantel was ingested. Chemotaxis was assessed in vitro by measuring
differential migration of the cells under an agarose toward a chemoattractant
and also using a spectrophotometric technique after incubation of cells
under conditions mimicking human physiological situations. The phagocytic
function was determined by determining the proportion of phagocytes that
ingested carbonyl iron particles. Praziquantel had no significant effect
on chemotaxis and phagocytosis at the dose (20mg/kg body weight).
- Hepatotoxicity:
hexafluorobenzene and lipid peroxidation
Mateketa, T.
and Nhachi, C.
In this research
work rats were injected with increasing doses of Hexafluorobenzene and
Carbon Tetrachloride and the extent of hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation
measured by two methods. The methods applied were thiobarbituric acid method
and spectroscopic determination of iodine. Lipid peroxidation was measured
18hours after administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) and Hexafluorobenzene
(HFB). Dose response relationships were established for both HFB and CCL4.
Total liver weights were also recorded before and after administration
of HFB or CCL4 to establish the effect of these on total liver weight.
The results obtained from both methods show that HFB induces lipid peroxidation
only at doses of 600mg/kg body weight and 1200mg/kg body weight. Carbon
tetrachloride in a more potent inducer of lipid peroxidation than HFB.
It induced lipid peroxidation at doses even as low as 300mg/kg body weight.
In both treatments, there was an increase in total liver weight.
- The
effects of high dose penicillin (benzathine penicillin) in pregnancy
Mkamba, D. and
Munjeri, O.
Penicillin is known
to decrease the maternal oestrogen levels. In this project, the main objective
was to link this depression of oestrogen levels to foetal distress. Different
doses of penicillin i.e. low dose 1.33mg/100g and high dose 5.33mg/100g
were administered to pregnant rats at different times of the gestation
period and continuously. The control animals were given 0.22ml of vehicle
used for reconstitution. The maternal oestrogen levels were analyzed using
the TDx (LR 30179) machine. No oestrogen levels were detected because of
the low amount present in the rate and also because the machines software
was meant to pick up concentrations in ng/ml. The fertility index was then
changed to that of percentage occupied resorption sites. The litter was
assessed for any malformations, missing limbs and the litter was weighed
to assess their well being. The high fertility index and the absence of
malformations indicated the safety of benzathine penicillin in pregnant
rats. However, the safety of benzathine penicillin could not be extrapolated
to humans because of the physiological and anatomical differences existing
between the two species.
- Antimicrobial
screening of Steganotaenia araliacea
Moyo, T. and
Gundidza, M.
Steganotaenia araliacea
was identified and collected from the National Botanic Gardens, Zimbabwe.
Extraction was done using methanol, citric acid, petroleum ether and dichloromethane
as solvents. The yield from dichloromethane was negligible. The dried extracts
were reconstituted in methanol for pharmacological and chemical studies.
Both antibacterial and antifungal effects of the extracts were tested.
Antibacterial results showed that the methanol extract exhibited the most
significant antibacterial activity as compared to the citric and petroleum
ether extracts This extract showed activity against all except three of
the bacteria tested, namely Clostridium sporogenes and Streptococcus faecalis.
The citric acid also showed activity against all except the three above
mentioned bacteria but its potency was much lower than that of the methanol
extract. The petroleum ether extract was only active against Salmonella
pullonium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia
coli. Methanol and citric acid extracts had no significant activity against
the fungi tested. It was only the petroleum ether extract which showed
some significant inhibitory effect against Candida albicans. On using the
TLC antimicrobial testing method, a single active constituent of the methanol
extract was detected.
- Drug
utilization in the psychiatric units at Parirenyatwa and Harare Central
Hospital
Mudyirwa, I.
and Kasilo, O.
Psychotropic drug
use was investigated using a random sample of 209 psychiatric in-patients
at the two Central hospitals of urban Harare, 117 patients were form Parirenyatwa
Hospital Ward 12, (Annex.), and 92 were from Harare psychiatric Unit. The
age group range was between 10 and 80 years. There were predominantly more
male patients 67% than female patients in the study. The relationship between
the number of psychotropic drugs prescribed simultaneously and four variables
namely sex age educational level and diagnosis was investigated using regression
analysis. The number of psychotropic drugs was significantly more in women
than in men (women 2,81 and men 2,43). Psychiatric diagnosis also interacted
in its effect with the number of psychotropic drugs with diagnosis of schizophrenia
or affective disorders were prescribed the most drugs an average of 2,59
psychotropic drugs per patients. Behavioural disorders, mental retardation
and alcohol related disorders were prescribed the least, an average of
1,03 psychotropic drugs per patient. There was no interactive effect between
age and educational level with the number of psychotropic drugs prescribed.
Antipsychotic were the most commonly used psychotropic drugs prescribed.
Antipsychotic were the most commonly used psychotropic drugs (59,3%) followed
by anti-Parkinson drugs (23,8%), tricyclic antidepressants (8,6%), lithium
(4,9%), benzodiazepine (2,6%) and anticonvulsants (0,7%). The relative
use of these drugs correlated well with diagnosis. The prevalence of psychotic
illness was 69,3%, effective disorder 21.2%, behavioural disorder 4,2,
mental retardation 1,9% and alcohol related disorders 3,3%. Polypharmacy
practice was seen among the psychiatric patients. The average number of
psychotropic drugs taken concurrently was 2,49. This level must be revised.
Traditional medicine was often sought before any other sources, or after
other therapies had failed or to complement another form of treatment.
Recommendations were made to engage into large scale drug use studies so
that trends and variations in drug use can be evaluated. Such studies should
go further into the economic aspects of drug use.
- The
stability of chloramphenicol injection
Mujuru, V. and
Chinyanganya, F.
The stability of
chloramphenicol injection study was carried out to verify the shelf-life
of the drug after reconstitution. Three temperatures were employed and
the residual concentration of the active ingredient were determined by
an HPLC method. The results showed that the shelf-life of reconstituted
chloramphenicol injection did comply with the recommendation set in the
official monographs as well as the manufacturers. The results show reconstituted
chloramphenicol injection is stable for up to 30 days.
- The
effects of dopaminergic noradrenergic and serotoninergic agents on chlorpromazine-induced
seizures in mice
Musarurwa, A.
and Amabeoku, G.
- The convulsant
effects of chlorpromazine and the influence of some dopaminergic, noradrenergic
an serotoninergic agents were investigated in mice.
- Chlorpromazine (100
-250mg/kg,ip) effectively elicited tonic convulsions in a dose related
manner.
- Apomorphine (0,125-0, 500mg/kg,ip) and DOPA (50-100mg/kg,ip)
significantly attenuated the convulsant properties of chlorpromazine (250mg/kg,ip).
- 5HTP (4,0-8,0mg/kg,ip) profoundly delayed the onset and reduced the
incidence of chlorpromazine (250mg/kg,ip)-induced seizures, while mianserin
(2.0-4,0mg/kg,ip and cyproheptadine (2,5-5,0mg/kg,ip) effectively potentiated
the convulsant activity of chlorpromazine (250mg/kg, ip).
- DOPS (8,0-16,0mg/kg)
significantly potentiated the convulsant effect of chlorpromazine (250mg/kg,ip)
while phentolamine (5,0 - 10,0mg/kg,ip) prazosin (1,0-2,0mg/kg,ip) profoundly
delayed the seizures caused by chlorpromazine.
- The data indicate that
chlorpromazine elicited seizures dose dependently. Furthermore, the influence
of apomorphine, DOPA, 5HTP, cyproheptadine, mianserin, DOPS, phentolamine
and prazosin suggests that noradrenergic, dopaminergic and serotoninergic
mechanisms may be implicated in the seizures.
- Hospital
disinfection practice at Parirenyatwa Hospital
Nyachega, C.
and Chinyanganya, F.
The chemical disinfectants
commonly used in Zimbabwe in general and Parirenyatwa Hospital in particular
were tested for their efficacy in dirty and clean conditions. The Kelsey
-Sykes Capacity Test was used and the test organisms used were Escherichia
coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.
The results showed that most chemical disinfectants are not effective in
dirty conditions but effective in clean conditions. 70% v/v alcohol and
Jik (sodium hypochlorite) were found to be effective in both clean and
dirty conditions. The quantities of chemical disinfectants used at Parirenyatwa
Hospital for a period of one year were determined. Stock control cards
were used to obtain this information. Expenditure on disinfectants was
also determined for that period. The results revealed that large sums of
money are spend on chemical disinfectants each year with Betadine Antiseptic
Solution claiming as much as $48 109 for a period of one year.
- Synthesis
of a surgical detergent from phenol
Nyamunda, A.
and Gundidza, M.
Dibromol was synthesised
from phenol bromine and sulphonic acid . Sulphonation on phenol yielded
p-phenol sulphonic acid which was brominated to give 2.6-dibromol-p-phenol
sulphonic acid (Dibromol). The product was purified by recrystallization
in hot water. Antimicrobial studies carried out on dibromol showed significant
activity against Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus
subtilis, Escherichia coli and other grain positive and gram negative bacteria
e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The fungi Candida albicans, Aspergillus parasiticus,
Aspergillus niger and Geotrichum candidum showed sensitivity to Dibromol.
Structure elucidation was carried out by means of infrared and nuclear
magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This was done on both the intermediate
product p-phenol-sulphonate and the final product dibromol. The spectra
obtained confirmed the authentic structures of the products.
- Formulation
of paediatric dosage forms of pyrazinamide (antituberculosis drug)
Shoniwa, D. and
Munjeri, O.
Paediatric formulation
were carried out using the antitubercular drug pyrazinamide. Different
aqueous suspensions were studied as well as dry powder mixes for reconstitution
into suspensions. Stability studies at 50C, 250C and 550C were carried
out for the aqueous suspensions. The most stable aqueous suspension at
50C had a shelf-life of 10.86 days and contained pyrazinamide (2% W/V),
Tween 80 (5% V/V), ascorbic acid (0.5% W/V), methylcellulose (0.8% W/V),
syrup 2% V/V, alcohol [(70% W/V) (16% V/V)1 and water. At 250C the most
stable aqueous suspension had a shelf-life of 5.52 days and is the same
formulation which was most stable at 500C with a shelf-life of 2.67 days.
It contained pyrazinamide (2% W/V), Tween 80 (5% W/V), ascorbic acid (0.5%
W/V), tragacanth (2.5% W/V), syrup (2% V/V), benzoic acid (0.1% W/V) and
water. The dry powder mix with the most favourable sedimentation rate (1.33%
in 5 minutes) contained pyrazinamide 2% W/V, citric acid (1% W/V), Light
Kaolin (0.1% W/V), ascorbic acid (0.1% W/V), Benzoic acid (0.1% W/V) and
water. Paediatric pyrazinamide can therefore be dispensed as a dry powder
mix which will be reconstituted before use.
- A comparison
of the stability of amoxycillin oral suspension after reconstitution with
two types of water
Kuhudzai, R.
and Chinyanganya, F.
- The
phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of some Zimbabwean medicinal
plants
Nhiwatiwa, D.
and Chagonda, L.
- High
performance liquid chromatographic analysis of preservatives in some pharmaceutical
products
Zimbodza, N.
and Chagonda, L.
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