This study examines the links between vaccination status, fear of vaccination (cognitive and somatic symptoms), anxiety, alexithymia, and type D personality (negative affect and social inhibition), to propose policies to increase vaccination rates. A sample of university students (n = 2535; mean age = 20.59, SD = 2.04; male: 26.75%, female: 73.25%) from Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Nigeria, Turkey, and Ukraine completed the Vaccination Fear Scale (VFS-6), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire—Short Form (PAQ-S), the Type D Scale (DS14), and also a question on vaccination status. Correlation, regression, and network analyses were applied. Cognitive symptoms of fear of vaccination and negative affect were the most significant in the correlation and regression analyses. In the network analysis, negative affect showed the highest values in all centrality indices and positive relationships with other nodes. Vaccination status showed negative relationships with fear of vaccination, alexithymia, and social inhibition. The network structure is similar between the sexes but varies between cultures and sexes within cultures. The relationship between vaccination status and cognitive symptoms of fear of vaccination was the most consistent, allowing for interventions at this level to be advised across cultures. For more specific interventions, cultural context must be considered for optimal results.

Acute effects of aqueous leaf extract of Aspilia Africana C.D. adams on some haematological parameters in rats

The therapeutic activities of medicinal plants have been associated with their constituent bioactive compounds called phytochemicals. The phytochemicals of methanol and aqueous leaf extracts of Basella alba were assessed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique and pharmacological potential of the phytochemicals were elucidated. The results showed the presence of 8-Methyl-6-nonenoic acid, Valeric acid, but-3-yn-2-yl ester, 3-Decyne, 2-Butynedioic acid, Benzene, propyl-, 5-Ethyl-2-furaldehyde, 2-Pyrazoline, Furan, 3-methyl-, Caryophyllene oxide, Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, 6-Octen-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl- and trans-Geranylgeraniol in the methanol extract. Naphthalene, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-, Tetradecanoic acid, 1,5-Heptadiyne, 2-Pentadecanone, 6,10,14-trimethyl, 1,2Benzenedicarboxylic acid,1-Tetradecanol, Heptyl triacontyl ether, Pentadecanoic acid, n-Hexadecanoic acid, Cyclohexadecane, 9-Octadecenoic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Cyclohexaneethanol, Heptadecanoic acid, 1-Octadecene, 1-Hexadecanol, and 1-Hexadecanol, 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl were identified in the aqueous extract. Some of the pharmacological properties of the identified phytochemicals include: antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. The findings derived from this study hereby elucidate the therapeutic value of the plant especially the aqueous extract which contained more phytochemicals with more prominent antioxidant effects. Hence, B. alba plant could serve as a veritable source of therapeutic agent for treatment and management of diseases.

To assess nephroprotective potency of methanolic extract of C. owariensis on renal histomorphology of Wistar rats during exposure to nephropathic activity of CCl4. Twenty eight (28) albino Wistar rats divided into four groups which include normal control group administered with vehicles -distilled water (1 ml/kg b.w.) and olive oil (3 ml/kg b.w.), experimental control group administered with CCl4 (3 ml/kg b.w.) twice a week, first treatment group administered with CCl4 (3 ml/kg b.w.) twice a week + methanolic extract of C. owariensis (100 mg/kg b.w.) daily and second treatment group administered with CCl4 (3 ml/kg b.w.) twice a week + methanolic extract of C. owariensis (300 mg/kg b.w.) daily for twenty eight (28) days. Phytochemical analysis of methanolic extract of C. owariensis was carried out using GC-MS. The body weight of study animals was measure at days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of study. Then, kidney tissue of study animals was collected, weighed and processed for histopathological study. Tissue sections were stained using H & E, examined under microscope, photomicrographs were generated and observable histopathological changes were quantified using image-J software. Phytochemical analysis of methanolic extract of C. owariensis showed abundance of phenolic compounds which may in turn confer antioxidant property on the extract. Results of this study also showed that treatment with extract helped to reduce body and tissue weight loss that follows exposure to CCl4. Also, treatment with the extract helped to reduce significantly (p < 0.05) renal histopathological changes following exposure to CCl4. The methanolic extract of C. owariensis contains abundant phenolic compounds which confer antioxidant property that in turn mediate the nephroprotective potency of the extract against nephropathic effect of CCl4.