Summary: Haematotoxic implications of exposure to petroleum fumes through inhalation in human subjects were investigated. A total of 400 subjects (200 males and 200 females) aged between 18-30 years participated. Each gender was further categorized into two groups of 100 each for control and test, respectively. The test group was again subdivided into test 1 (T1) and test 2 (T2) in both sexes. T1 subjects were exposed to petroleum fumes for two years and below while T2 subjects were exposed for more than two years. Samples of blood were collected daily and subjected to haematological analysis. The results obtained showed that in males and females, red blood cell counts (10 6 /mm 3 ) was significantly (P<0.001) decreased in T1 (4.4 ± 0.13) and T2 (3.85 ±0.07) compared to control (4.76 ± 0.01). There was a significant decrease (P<0.01) in white blood cell counts, haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpusclular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in both sexes of test groups when compared with control. There was also a significant (P<0.001) decrease in mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in test 2 males compared with control. Most subjects exposed for longer than two years (T2) had significantly (P<0.001) lower values of red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit than those exposed for less than two years. The odds/odds ratio that a subject would become anaemic progressively rose from less than 1 in the control to greater than 1 or infinity on exposure to petroleum fumes. These results indicate that the petroleum fumes cause a reduction in haematological indices which worsens with prolonged exposure.

This work was carried out to study the association between lifestyle, health-care practices and incidence of recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis (RVVC) among young women in south eastern Nigeria. It was a multicentre case-control study of 176 women aged between 20 and 35 years recruited from the designated health facilities. Lifestyle and health-care practice structured questionnaires were used to survey the participants. Clinical examination was performed and vaginal swabs were taken from participants for microscopy, culture and sensitivity. The germ tube test was performed for identification of Candida albicans. The results of this study showed that frequent douching with water or other fluids (odds ratio [OR](adjusted) = 2.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.25-4.66, P = 0.000), wearing tight nylon/synthetic underwear (OR(adjusted) = 4.76, 95% CI = 2.28-9.95, P = 0.000), alternative medical treatment for repeated or recalcitrant cases (OR(adjusted) = 4.84, 95% CI = 2.94-15.91, P = 0.000), were significantly associated with higher odds for RVVC and self-diagnosis and use of over-the-counter antifungal medications (OR(adjusted) = 4.61, 95% CI = 2.29-9.32, P = 0.000) were associated with RVVC. Results of the fungal cultures showed that C. albicans and non-C. albicans were isolated from 83.7% and 16.3% of participants, respectively. Our results supported the association between some of the hypothesized risk factors and the occurrence of RVVC.

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Introduction Gastric juice is secreted by the glands in the mucous membrane of the stomach and its essential constituents are water, mucus, digestive enzymes such as pepsin and lipase, electrolytes and hydrochloric acid (HCl). The best-known component of gastric juice secreted in the stomach is HCl (gastric acid) and it is the secretory product of the parietal cell (Sung, 2016). The effects of orally ingested substances on gastric function have been the subject of human investigation almost since the discovery of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice by Prout (1824). All foods are capable of stimulating gastric acid secretion through the distension of stomach but proteins are the major stimulants. Gastric acid secretion is a complex process that involves neuronal, hormonal, and endocrine pathways, all of which have one common target: the parietal cell. The parietal cell is responsible for secreting concentrated hydrochloric acid into the gastric lumen. Agents that inhibit gastric acid secretion such as H2-receptor blockers (Cimetidine, Ranitidine etc.), proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, rabeprazole etc.) are widely used to control increased acid secretion and acid related disorders. But however, adverse effects and relapse have been reported in the use of these agents The search for natural and available sources have led to the discovery several herbs used in the management several diseases including acid related