Journal of Biology and Medicine: Open Access

The article presents the results of a study of the microwave parameters of the thermal state of moxa for moxibustion. The theoretical and physical basis of such research is described. Information is presented on research objects - moxa-rolls of different compositions and manufacturers. The characteristics and description of the unique radiometric equipment and research methodology are given. As a result of experimental measurements, it became clear that smoldering cigars (moxa-rolls) generate not only infrared, but also microwave radiation. At the same time, the level of microwave radiation is almost 100 times higher than the level of human radiation, which creates an additional therapeutic effect. It was established that cigars of different brands and with different additional fillings have the same level of radiation. The conducted studies allow us to assert the possible complex effect on the patient of both the thermal and microwave components of the output signal of the wormwood cigar (moxy). The mechanism of action of the entire spectrum of moxa radiation requires a deeper study, from the point of view of evidence-based medicine for use in the medical practice.

As a disease defined by the level of hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus (DM) causes micro- and macrovascular damage. The present study evaluated the effect of methanol fraction of ethanol extract of Dialium guineense (MEDG) stem bark on cardiovascular disease risk factors in diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats (n = 25, mean weight = 215 ± 15 g) were used. The rats were divided into five groups (5 rats per group): normal control, diabetic control, metformin, MEDG (200 mg/kg body weight, bwt) and MEDG (300 mg/kg bwt) groups. Diabetes mellitus was induced via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg bwt). The diabetic rats were then treated for 21 days with metformin (50 mg/kg bwt) or MEDG (200 and 300 mg/kg bwt, respectively). The results showed that STZ-induced DM significantly increased plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), atherogenic coefficient (AC) and cardiac risk ratio (CRR), but it significantly reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p < 0.05). However, treatment of diabetic rats with MEDG stem bark led to significant reductions in circulating levels of lipid profile (except HDL-C, which increased) as well as AIP, AC and CRR (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the medicinal plant extract has the capacity to protect against cardiovascular events in diabetic rats induced by STZ.

Food compositions and trophic levels of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacépède) and Lates niloticus (Linné) in Ikere gorge reservoir (reported to be underutilized) were studied in order to provide biological information for the effective management of the fisheries of these dominant and highly valued food fish. Samples of C. nigrodigitatus and L. niloticus were collected monthly between April and September, 2018 and stomach contents were examined. In addition, trophic indices including trophic levels were estimated and the overlap index. The dominant food items in the gut of C. nigrodigitatus were algae, insect and insect parts. In contrast L. niloticus showed more preference for animal components including insects and fish. The food spectrum of female individuals was more diverse in C. nigrodigitatus, while males had greater diversity in L. niloticus. In small size groups of C. nigrodigitatus, plant-based food items were encountered more frequently and large size individuals preferred animal derivatives. Insects were dominant in diet of small size L. niloticus while fish dominated in the large size individuals. The mean trophic level of C. nigrodigitatus and L. niloticus was 2.856 ± 0.675 and 3.217 ± 0.720, respectively. The mean diet overlap between C. nigrodigitatus and L. niloticus was 0.2, indicating a low overlap of resources between the species.