Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology

The impermeable areas in catchments are proportional to peak flows that result in floods in river reaches whose flow-carrying capacity is inadequate. Urbanization is the major factor contributing to floods and intensifying flood risks in urban areas. Dar es Salaam city experiences frequent floods along the Msimbazi River likely due to urbanization. The Low Impact Development (LID) practices that include bioretention (BR) ponds, rain barrels (RB), and rain gardens (RG) have the potential to reduce peak flows and flood levels. This study aims to evaluate the performance of BR, RG, and RB in mitigating peak runoff floods in the Kinyerezi River catchment using the SWMM model. A total of 3698 RB each with 3000 L capacity, 3698 RG each with 28 m² and 0.9 depth, and 101 BR ponds of sizes ranging from 800 to 10,000 m² each with 1.2 m depth were deployed into the sub-catchments. The results indicated that the combination of BR, RG, and RB reduced the peak runoff flows and volumes by 36.8% and 24%, respectively. The combination of the three LID practices offered the best performance in mitigating peak runoff floods. It was recommended that authorities should encourage city residents to practice households’ RB and residential RG at the household level. In addition, city planning authorities should ensure that open spaces are left in residential areas for the construction of BR ponds in the future.

The starchy storage roots of cassava are commonly processed into a variety of products, including cassava granulated processed products (gari). The commercial value of cassava roots depends on the yield and quality of processed products, directly influencing the acceptance of new varieties by farmers, processors, and consumers. This study aims to estimate genetic advance through phenotypic selection and identify genomic regions associated and candidate genes linked with gari yield and quality. Higher single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)‐based heritability estimates compared to broad‐sense heritability estimates were observed for most traits highlighting the influence of genetic factors on observed variation. Using genome‐wide association analysis of 188 clones, genotyped using 53,150 genome‐wide SNPs, nine SNPs located on seven chromosomes were significantly associated with peel loss, gari yield, color parameters for gari and eba, bulk density, swelling index, and textural properties of eba. Future research will focus on validating and understanding the functions of identified genes and their influence on gari yield and quality traits.

Dry scooping, a rather risky act of consuming undiluted pre-workout protein powder hoping for a more pronounced energy surge, is increasingly becoming a fitness trend worldwide. A previously healthy 25-year-old man of African origin presented with acute onset of crushing mid-sternal chest pain for 4 h. His symptoms began about an hour following completion of his 2-h exercise regimen at the gym. He had an unremarkable past medical history except for an 8-month consumption of a pre-workout supplement as part of his gym routine. He claimed to have adhered to the manufacturer’s recommended method of using the supplement, except for 3 days prior to presentation when he started “dry scooping” following the viewing of a video advocating such practice from his fitness WhatsApp group. Cardiac evaluation revealed features in keeping with diagnosis of anterolateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Emergency coronary angiography revealed a thrombotic lesion completely occluding the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery with TIMI 0 flow distally. After successful balloon angioplasty, a drug-eluting stent was implanted successfully, restoring TIMI 3 flow to the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. This case report aims to raise awareness among both clinicians and the general public regarding the pervasiveness of pre-workout supplements, improper methods of consumption, and the potential life-threatening repercussions of misuse.

Introduction: Tracking of blood glucose levels by patients and care providers remains an integral component in the management of diabetes mellitus (DM). Evidence, primarily from high-income countries, has illustrated the effectiveness of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in controlling DM. However, there is limited data on the feasibility and impact of SMBG among patients in the rural regions of sub-Saharan Africa. This study is aimed at assessing SMBG, its adherence, and associated factors on the effect of glycaemic control among insulin-treated patients with DM in northeastern Tanzania. Materials and Methods: This was a single-blinded, randomised clinical trial conducted from December 2022 to May 2023. The study included patients with DM who had already been on insulin treatment for at least 3 months. A total of 85 participants were recruited into the study and categorised into the intervention and control groups by a simple randomization method using numbered envelopes. The intervention group received glucose metres, test strips, logbooks, and extensive SMBG training. The control group received the usual care at the outpatient clinic. Each participant was followed for a period of 12 weeks, with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) being checked both at the beginning and at the end of the study follow-up. The primary and secondary outcomes were adherence to the SMBG schedule, barriers associated with the use of SMBG, and the ability to self-manage DM, logbook data recording, and change in HbA1c. The analysis included descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and logistic regression. Results: Eighty participants were analysed: 39 in the intervention group and 41 in the control group. In the intervention group, 24 (61.5%) of patients displayed favourable adherence to SMBG, as evidenced by tests documented in the logbooks and glucometer readings. Education on SMBG was significantly associated with adherence. Structured SMBG improved glycaemic control with a HbA1c reduction of −1.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) −1.39, −0.63) in the intervention group within 3 months from baseline compared to controls of 0.18 (95% CI −0.07, 0.44) (p<0.001). Conclusion: Structured SMBG positively impacted glycaemic control among insulin-treated patients with DM in the outpatient clinic. The results suggest that implementing a structured testing programme can lead to significant reductions in HbA1c and FBG levels. Trial Registration: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry identifier: PACTR202402642155729.

This study aimed to evaluate how the duration of travel affects the behavior of urban and rural residents regarding free COVID-19 vaccination, and provide scientific evidence for promoting free vaccination and building an immune barrier to cope with future epidemics. From August 3, 2022 to February,18,2023, A follow-up survey was conducted in urban and rural adults in four cities in China to collect information on socio-demographic factors, vaccination status and travel time for vaccination. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was deployed to measure the net difference of the enhanced vaccination rate between urban and rural residents in different traffic time distribution. A total of 5780 samples were included in the study. The vaccination rate of the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine among rural residents was higher than that of urban residents with a significant P-value (69.36% VS 64.49%,p < .001). The traffic time had a significant negative impact on the COVID-19 booster vaccination behavior of urban and rural residents. There was a significant interaction between the travel time to the vaccination point and the level of trust in doctors. Travel time had a negative impact on the free vaccination behavior of both urban and rural residents. The government should optimize and expand the number of vaccination sites and enhance residents’ trust in the medical system. This is crucial for promoting free vaccination and effective epidemic management in the future.

The OpenFlexure Microscope is an accessible, three-dimensional-printed robotic microscope, with sufficient image quality to resolve diagnostic features including parasites and cancerous cells. As access to lab-grade microscopes is a major challenge in global healthcare, the OpenFlexure Microscope has been developed to be manufactured, maintained and used in remote environments, supporting point-of-care diagnosis. The steps taken in transforming the hardware and software from an academic prototype towards an accepted medical device include addressing technical and social challenges, and are key for any innovation targeting improved effectiveness in low-resource healthcare. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Open, reproducible hardware for microscopy'.

This study sought to explore learners’ perspectives on support services in distance learning at the Institute of Adult Education in Tanzania. The study used the explanatory sequential mixed method design to capture respondents’ perspectives on quality of learner support services provided at the Institute. The target population was 350 distance learning diploma students. A sample of 83 students was drawn from the population through simple random sampling. The study employed a closed-ended questionnaire and an open-ended interview in data collection. Quantitative data was analysed through the thematic approach while quantitative data was analysed through descriptive statistics. The analysis led to the conclusion that learner support services existed but were inadequately provided. Most of the students were not satisfied with how face to face sessions were conducted. While the majority of respondents were satisfied with information about choosing courses of study, the majority were not satisfied with stress management services. The study recommends that the institute should develop strategies to ensure provision of quality student support services in terms of academic matters, guidance and counselling and stress management. Furthermore, students should be encouraged to report challenges experienced and propose the best way to improve the situations.

Introduction Globally, millions of children and adolescents die every year from treatable and preventable causes. Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 55% of deaths of children aged 5–14 years in 2017. Despite this high burden, minimal effort has been directed toward reducing mortality among older children and adolescents in comparison to under-fives. Mortality rates of children post-discharge vary between 1–18% in limited-resource countries and are reported to exceed in-hospital mortality. In Tanzania, there is limited data regarding post-discharge mortality and its predictors among children aged 5–14 years. Objectives This study aims to determine the post-discharge mortality rate and its predictors among children aged 5–14 years admitted to pediatric wards at MNH, MOI, and JKCI. Methods and analysis This will be a prospective observational cohort study that will be conducted among children aged 5–14 years admitted to pediatric wards at Muhimbili National Hospital, Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institue, and Muhimbili Orthopedic Institue in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. Data will be collected using a structured questionnaire and will include socio-demographic characteristics, clinical factors, and patients’ outcomes. Post-discharge follow-up will be done at months 1, 2, and 3 after discharge via phone call. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 23. The association of demographic, social economic, and clinical factors with the outcome of all causes, 3 months post-discharge mortality will be determined by Cox regression, and survival rates will be displayed through Kaplan-Meier curves. Discussion This study will determine post-discharge mortality among children aged 5–14 years and its predictors in Tanzania. This information is expected to provide baseline data that will be useful for raising awareness of clinicians on how to prioritize and plan a proper follow-up of children following hospital discharge. These data may also be used to guide policy development to address and reduce the high burden of older children and adolescent mortality and may be used for future studies including those aiming to develop prediction models for post-discharge mortality among older children and adolescents.

Background Despite the decreased incidence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Tanzania, the number of adolescents living with HIV is increasing. This study aimed to describe factors independently associated with viral load non-suppression among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) on ART in the Tanga region. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of routinely collected data from ALHIV on ART from October 2018 to April 2022. We extracted data from the Care and Treatment Clinics form number 2 (CTC2) database that included age, sex, BMI, World Health Organization HIV clinical disease stage, marital status, ART duration, viral load suppression, facility level, and Dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen. We did descriptive analysis using frequencies to describe the study participants’ socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to identify factors associated with viral load non-suppression (VLS). Viral load non-suppression was defined as viral load ≥ 1000 copies/ml. A total of 4735 ALHIV on ART were extracted from CTC2, then 2485 were excluded (2186 missed viral load results, 246 were lost to follow-up, and 53 deaths). Results 2250 ALHIV on ART were tested for viral load, of whom 2216 (98.62%) adolescents were on first-line ART, and 2024 (89.96%) participants were virally suppressed, while 226 (10.04%) were virally non-suppressed. In addition, 2131 (94.71%) of participants were using a DTG-based regimen; of them, 1969 (92.40%) were virally suppressed. Not using a DTG-based regimen (HR: 9.36, 95% CI 3.41–15.31) and dispensary facility level (HR: 3.61, 95% CI 1.44–7.03) were independently associated with increased hazard for viral load non-suppression. In addition, adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years are less likely to be virally suppressed (HR: 0.55, 95% CI 0.30–0.99). Conclusions The dispensary facility level and not using a DTG-based regimen were significantly associated with viral load non-suppression. HIV intervention strategies should ensure a DTG-based regimen utilization in all adolescents living with HIV, and techniques used by higher-level health facilities should be disseminated to lower-level facilities.

This study investigated the potential of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) fibers, isolated from Teff straw (TS) using a chemical treatment with metal catalysts, as reinforcement for polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films. The effects of MCC type (derived from different metal catalysts) and loading (0, 2, 5, and 8 wt%) on the physico-mechanical properties (including thermal stability) of PVA films, were investigated. The incorporation of MCCs significantly improved the films’ mechanical strength. Compared to neat PVA, the tensile strength increased by up to 49%, 71%, and 67% when incorporating Cr(III)-MCC, Fe(III)Cl-MCC, and Fe(III)-MCC, respectively, at a 5% loading level. The thermal stability of the PVA/MCC composites also improved, with a higher onset degradation temperature compared to neat PVA. For instance, The Tonset for the neat PVA, Cr(III)-MCC, Fe(III)Cl-MCC, and Fe(III)-MCC-based PVA films were 295, 305, 308, and 303 ⁰C at a level of 5% MCC content, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed good dispersion of MCC fibers within the PVA matrix, indicating strong interaction between the materials. Overall, TS MCCs show promise as low-cost, bio-based reinforcement for producing biodegradable films with enhanced mechanical properties and thermal stability, making them suitable for various applications like food packaging. Graphic Abstract

Effective message dissemination in vehicular ad hoc networks requires proper management of broadcast storms for effective bandwidth usage, fast and reliable delivery of messages. Studies suggest clustering of vehicles as a means of solving broadcast storm problems due to reduction of nodes that rebroadcast emergency messages. However, clustering in an urban environment faces challenges in terms of bandwidth utilization and high End-to-End (E2E) delay due to high density of vehicles, and the number of intersections and buildings. Several cluster-based dissemination schemes have been proposed however, their model evaluations lack typical urban features, like intersections and buildings, which can adversely affect their actual performances. Thus, it is still not clear which scheme is truly the best for real-world urban scenarios. To address this challenge, a fair and thorough performance evaluation of the state-of-the-art schemes in a detailed urban setup, specifically at crossroads with buildings nearby, is urgently needed. Results deduce that, in terms of E2E delay, the Time-Barrier Emergency Message Dissemination Scheme (TBEMDS) outperforms Effective Emergency Message Dissemination Scheme (EEMDS) and Position-based Emergency Message Dissemination Scheme (PBEMDS) by 75% and 50% respectively at low traffic density. However, it is outperformed by PBEMDS by around 9% in high density. For Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), from low to high density, EEMDS has the least percentage decrease in PDR with a 10% and 40% higher than TBEMDS and PBEMDS respectively, making it the most robust scheme in maintaining PDR as traffic density.

Background In Tanzania, where over a third of the society is impoverished, the burden of NCDs which account for about two-fifths of all disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and one-third of premature deaths has doubled in the past two decades. However, notwithstanding a wider realization of the escalating burden of NCDs across Tanzania, the link between NCD awareness and lifestyle practices at the population level is not well characterized. We aimed to establish the gap between NCD knowledge and healthy behaviors. Methods This multi-regional community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 5 regions of Tanzania between September 2022 and June 2023. A 22-item standardized tool evaluating various NCD risk behaviors was used in knowledge assessment and a cut-off of ≥70% was used to denote good knowledge. Bivariate analyses were performed to compare knowledge of NCD risk factors across various NCD risk subgroups. All tests were two tailed, and the significance was set at p<0.05. Results A total of 5121 individuals were consecutively enrolled. The mean age was 47.2 years and females comprised over three-fifths (60.8%) of the participants. With regard to behavioral NCD risks, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, smoking and alcohol consumption were present in 79.0%, 70.2%, 2.1% and 17.6% of participants, respectively. Moreover, biological risk factors, ie, excess body weight, hypertension, and diabetes were present in 68.4%, 55.8% and 13.0% of participants, respectively. The mean knowledge score was 77.1% and 70.3% of participants demonstrated good knowledge of NCD risk factors. Except for smoking, individuals who showed awareness of various NCD risk factors were found to have significant rates of risky behaviors. Conclusion Despite sufficient NCD risk knowledge, incongruent lifestyle practices persist, highlighting a crucial concern. This suggests that awareness of NCDs and their risks may influence motivation for change but may not necessarily result in lifestyle modification.

Background Cassava leaf samples degrade quickly during storage and transportation from distant areas. Proper sampling and efficient, low-cost storage methods are critical for obtaining sufficient quality DNA and RNA for plant virus epidemiology and improving disease control understanding. This is useful when samples are collected from remote areas far from a laboratory or in developing countries where money and materials for virus diagnostics are scarce. Results The effect of sample storage duration on nucleic acid (N.A.) quality on virus detection was investigated in this study. A simple, rapid, and cost-effective CTAB-based approach (M3) for single N.A. extraction was optimized and tested alongside two existing CTAB-based methods (M1 and M2) for N.A. extraction from fresh and herbarium cassava leaves stored for; 1, 8, 26, and 56 months. The amount and quality of DNA and RNA were determined using Nanodrop 2000 c U.V.–vis Spectrophotometer and agarose gel electrophoreses. The sample degradation rate was estimated using a simple mathematical model in Matlab computational software. The results show no significant difference in mean DNA concentration between M1 and M2 but a significant difference between M3 and the other two methods at p < 0.005. The mean DNA concentration extracted using M3 was higher for 1 and 8 months of leave storage. M3 and M2 produced high concentrations at 26 and 56 months of leave storage. Using a developed scale for quality score, M3 and M2 produced high-quality DNA from fresh samples. All methods produced poor-quality DNA and RNA at 8 and 26 months of leave storage and no visual bands at the age of 56 months. Statistically, there was a significant difference in the mean DNA quality between M1 and M2, but there was no significant difference between M3 and the other two methods at p < 0.005. However, Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV) were readily detected by RT-PCR from RNA isolated using M3. The quality of DNA declined per storage time at 0.0493 and 0.0521/month, while RNA was 0.0678 and 0.0744/month. Compared to the existing two methods, modified CTAB extracted enough high-quality N.A. in one-third the time of the existing two methods. Conclusion Our method provides cost-effective, quick, and simple processing of fresh and dry samples, which will quicken and guide the decision on when and what type of sample to process for plant disease management and surveillance actions.

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of different sorghum varieties to micro-dosing fertilization strategies on yield and yield traits, as well as the impact on nitrogen fertilizer and water use efficiency (NUE and WUE). In addition, the benefit-cost ratio of sorghum cultivation under different fertilization strategies in the Sudan savanna zone of Nigeria was analyzed. The experiment included eight fertilizer micro-application strategies as well as two control and three sorghum varieties. Our results showed that most agronomic indicators differed significantly between years, varieties, and fertilization strategies. However, the application of 100g hill-1 poultry manure plus 3g NPK hill-1 resulted in the highest average grain yield > 2000 kg ha-1 at both study sites (BUK and Minjibir). This means that the grain yield is 86% and 132% higher than the average grain yield with zero fertilization. There were extremely significant differences between NUE and WUE fertilization strategies and varieties at the two sites. At BUK and Minjibir, NPK applied with 3 g of hill-1 had the highest NUE with an average of 37.6 and 40 kg grain/kg N. Application of 100 g of poultry manure plus 3g of NPK hill-1 resulted in the highest average WUE of 6.1 and 5.6 kg grain/mm for BUK and Minjibir, respectively. BUK (3.2) and Minjibir (3.6) had the highest net income and benefit-to-cost ratios when applying 3 grams of NPK per hill. The adoption of micro-dosing fertilization strategies by smallholder farmers provides a good opportunity to prevent long-term soil fertility limitations and thereby increase sorghum productivity and farmer incomes by recommending multiple-choice fertilization strategies for improved sorghum varieties.

Background Hypoglycemia is the commonest metabolic abnormality encountered in newborns. Besides, there is a growing body of evidence that links the causes of early neonatal mortality to neonatal hypoglycemia in Tanzania. However exact factors associated with asymptomatic hypoglycemia in preterm newborns are not known. Objective To assess factors associated with asymptomatic hypoglycemia among preterm newborns. Materials and methods A cross sectional, analytical hospital- based study was carried out at Dar es salaam public regional referral hospitals. Preterm newborns with asymptomatic hypoglycemia were the target population. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics of preterm newborns and their mothers were collected and analyzed using Epi-Info™ software version 7.4. Main data analysis was done by applying a multivariable binary logistic regression model with neonatal random glycaemia coded in a binary fashion at a cut-off point of 2.6 mmol/L. An α-level of 5% was used as a limit of type I error. Results We recruited and analysed 217 preterm newborns within 6–24 hours post-delivery. Male: Female = 1.1:1 (females n = 105, 48.4%). Median glycemic level was 2.6 (IQR; 2.1–3.9) mmol/L. Median gestational age at delivery was 33 (IQR: 30–35) weeks. Breastfeeding within 1st hour post-delivery was a statistically significant factor against glycemic levels associated with hypoglycemia (OR; 0.123, 95%-CI; 0.052–0.287) in a fitted multivariable logistic regression model. Conclusion About half of all preterm newborns studied had glycemic values in a statistical range associated with hypoglycemia. Exclusive breast feeding within 1 st hour post-delivery was associated with glycemic levels protective from risk of asymptomatic neonatal hypoglycemia. Recommendations Exclusive breastfeeding practices within 1 st hour post-delivery may need to be emphasized to all expectant mothers in order to avoid potential risk of asymptomatic hypoglycemia in preterm newborns.

Background: Biochar can enhance phytoremediation in petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted soils, making it an intriguing soil amendment option for remediating polluted soil. Biochar can improve the fertility of depleted soils through a range of mechanisms. This study can contribute valuable insights into the origin of biochar and enhance our understanding of the efficacy of different biochar types in remediating petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted soils. Aims: To assess the efficacy of different biochar types and plant growth in remediating petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted soils. Methods: A field experiment was conducted at the automobile workshop (commonly called Mechanic Village) from July to October 2021, using a randomised complete block design. The land was sectioned into designated plots with three replicates. Maize stalk biochar and Nipa palm biochar were treated differently in each plot at a rate of 20 t ha-1. Plots containing no biochar were used as controls. Initial and final soil analyses were conducted. Results: Preliminary soil assessments revealed higher values of soil bulk density (1.51 g cm–3), moisture content (35.02 %), organic carbon (41.01 g kg–1), cation exchange capacity (CEC) (13.27 cmol kg–1), petroleum hydrocarbon content (PHCt) (775.83 mg kg–1), cadmium (Cd) (5.41 mg kg–1), chromium (Cr) (25 mg kg–1), lead (Pb) (33.51 mg kg–1), and zinc (Zn) (0.91 mg kg–1) in the polluted soil than in the unpolluted counterpart. The polluted soil displayed lower hydraulic conductivity (Ks) (1.17 cm h–1), available phosphorus (69.46 mg kg–1), manganese (Mn) (6.38 mg kg–1) and Iron (Fe) (4.18 mg kg–1) contents than the unpolluted soil. The PHCt, Cd, and Cr were significantly decreased following the application of biochar. Nipa palm biochar recorded the lowest petroleum hydrocarbon (19%), lead (37%), manganese (57%), and zinc (69%) contents, whereas maize stalk biochar had the lowest cadmium (50%) and chromium (27%) contents when compared with the control. Between heavy metal accumulations in the leaves and fruits, a greater accumulation of Cd, Cr, and Pb was found in the leaves, whereas Ni accumulation was found in the fruits. The highest Cd (47.0 mg kg-1) and Ni (8.3 mg kg-1) accumulations in the leaves were recorded in nipa palm biochar-treated plots. Similarly, Cd (5.3 mg kg-1), Cr (3.7 mg kg-1), Pb (21.6 mg kg-1) and Ni (23.4 mg kg-1) accumulation in the fruits recorded the highest values in the nipa palm biochar-treated plots. The nipa palm biochar plants were the tallest compared with the other treatments. In addition, nipa palm biochar plants had the widest leaf area compared with other treatments. Conclusion: The results indicated that the amendment of nipa palm biochar may be suitable for phytoremediation of soils polluted with petroleum hydrocarbons.

Piperine is an amide alkaloid responsible for producing the pungent smell that comes from black pepper. Piperine has been explained to exhibit significant properties such as anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive effects. The aim of the study was to synthesize pyrrole ester from piperine and evaluate its anti-arthritis effects in adjuvant-induced arthritis female Wistar rats. In this study, pyrrole ester (AU-5) was designed, synthesized and evaluated for ant-arthritic activity in adjuvant-induced arthritis Wistar rats. The synthesized pyrrole ester (AU-5) was administered in three selected doses (20, 10 and 5 mg/kg) to the arthritic-induced model. The administered ester significantly inhibited the increase in arthritis index, paw and ankle joint swelling compared to the arthritic control group. Similarly, the treated rats exhibited a remarkable increase in body weight increase, improved haematological, biochemical, histopathological and radiological parameters. Moreover, the excess production of rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was noticeably attenuated in all AU-5-treated rats. However, the spleen index, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were distinctly lowered compared to arthritic control rats. Moreover, AU-5 showed promising liver protection by lowering the level of liver function markers Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum. Henceforth, it might be concluded that AU-5 has an anti-arthritic effect which can be credited to the down regulation of inflammatory markers and the pro-inflammatory cytokines.

This study examines the impact of different categories of mineral resources on the growth of sub-Saharan African (SSA) economies. The role of institutional strength in the link between mineral resources and economic growth is also considered. The paper employs a panel estimation technique of dynamic generalized method of moment (GMM) with 46 SSA countries covering the period from 1998 to 2018. This study is one among the few studies that assess the impact of special divisions of mineral resources on the economic growth of SSA countries. Many studies in the lesser developed countries have treated mineral resources in aggregate form when studying their impact on economic growth. The results depict that different categories of minerals have different impacts on growth. On the one hand, crude fertilizers, precious stones, and metalliferous minerals reduce economic growth. On the other, non-ferrous minerals promote economic growth. Institutional quality indicators enhance the positive role of all mineral resources categories on economic growth. The findings of this study support the argument that arrangements to extract and export minerals should be aligned with improving the institutional capacities and governance in the SSA countries. Governments and policy analysts are therefore encouraged to reform policies to ensure that the bounty of resources benefits the society and promotes social and economic development.

Background Healthy lifestyle behaviors (LBs) have been widely recommended for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite a large number of studies exploring the association between combined LBs and CVD, a notable gap exists in integration of relevant literatures. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to analyze the correlation between combined LBs and the occurrence of CVD, as well as to estimate the risk of various health complications in individuals already diagnosed with CVD. Methods Articles published up to February 10, 2023 were sourced through PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science. Eligible prospective cohort studies that reported the relations of combined LBs with pre-determined outcomes were included. Summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using either a fixed or random-effects model. Subgroup analysis, meta-regression, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis were as well performed. Results In the general population, individuals with the healthiest combination of LBs exhibited a significant risk reduction of 58% for CVD and 55% for CVD mortality. For individuals diagnosed with CVD, adherence to the healthiest combination of LBs corresponded to a significant risk reduction of 62% for CVD recurrence and 67% for all-cause mortality, when compared to those with the least-healthy combination of LBs. In the analysis of dose-response relationship, for each increment of 1 healthy LB, there was a corresponding decrease in risk of 17% for CVD and 19% for CVD mortality within the general population. Similarly, among individuals diagnosed with CVD, each additional healthy LB was associated with a risk reduction of 27% for CVD recurrence and 27% for all-cause mortality. Conclusions Adopting healthy LBs is associated with substantial risk reduction in CVD, CVD mortality, and adverse outcomes among individuals diagnosed with CVD. Rather than focusing solely on individual healthy LB, it is advisable to advocate for the adoption of multiple LBs for the prevention and management of CVD. Trial registration PROSPERO: CRD42023431731.