Aim: Hypocotyl extract of Borassus aethiopum is used in Northern Nigeria as aphrodisiac with no knowledge of its probable adverse effect on male reproductive system, toxic effect of medicinal plant on male reproductive organ in wistar rats have been documented, hence this study aimed at determining possible adverse effects of methanol hypocotyl extract of Borassus aethiopum in male Wistar rats.
Method: Nine rats were grouped into 3 were used for acute toxicity study (ATS), group 1(control), received distilled water, group 2 and 3 were given single dose of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg respectively of the extract by oral gavage respectively and observed them for signs of toxicities and mortality for 72 hours, and up to 14 days, and then sacrificed. Twenty-five rats divided into four groups were used for sub-chronic toxicity study (STS); group 1 (control) received distilled water, group 2, 3 and 4 were given oral graded doses of the extract of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg respectively for 28 days, and then sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for reproductive hormonal analysis; testes and seminal vesicle were harvested for histological investigation.
Result: In ATS, the LD50 of the extract is greater than 5000mg/kg, testosterone and progesterone significantly increased in group 3 than the control. In STS, there is significant increase in testosterone, luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones; distortion of interstitial spaces of testes and epithelial lining damage of acini of seminal vesicle in the groups that received higher doses.
Conclusion: Hypocotyl extract of Borassus aethiopum is safe for human consumption from the LD50 result, however; toxicity studies indicated that the dose and duration must be regulated to avoid untoward adverse effects.

Background: Malnutrition is still highly prevalent in developing countries. Furthermore, less privileged children, often lacking parental care, sources of livelihood, and adequate shelter, may be at high nutritional risk.
Aim: This study aims to assess the nutritional status of less privileged children (almajiris) in Sokoto.
Methodology: Blood samples were collected from 100 apparently healthy elites’ children and 200 less privileged children. Body mass index was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters (kg/m2). Using Agappe reagent kits, serum total protein was determined by Biuret, albumin by Bromocresol Green (BCG) and total cholesterol by enzymatic methods. Full blood counts and CD4 cell counts were determined using standard techniques.
Results: The mean ± standard deviation (S.D) values for the test and control groups, respectively, were: body mass index (kg/m2) 16.90 ± 2.55 and 18.67 ± 2.76; serum total protein (mg/dl) 7.43 ± 1.27 and 7.18 ± 1.40; serum albumin (mg/dl) 2.60 ± 0.63 and 3.68 ± 0.63 total cholesterol (mg/dl) 151.88 ± 43.91 and 163.40 ± 48.21. The packed cell volume, haemoglobin, total leucocyte count, neutrophil, lymphocyte, basophil, eosinophil, CD4 cells were 37.19 ± 8.71 and 39.48 ± 5.91; 12.41 ± 2.92 and 13.16 ± 1.94; 4034.67 ± 2154.39 and 8475.00 ± 3103.01; 44.17 ± 9.97 and 51.84 ± 9.93; 48.01 ± 11.97 and 44.26 ± 10.21; 0.00 ± 0.00 and 0.01 ± 0.12; 3.72 ± 3.55 and 8.02 ± 6.96; 540.00 ± 833.24; 212.95 ± 452.90 respectively.
Conclusion: Body Mass Index, albumin and haemoglobin values in less privileged children were significantly lower than those in elite children, indicating poor nutritional status. In conclusion, it was established from this study that there is malnutrition among the less privileged children living in Sokoto, as most of the children are underweight, and from physically stunted and thinned.
Keywords: Less privileged children, malnutrition; immunological, CD4 cells count, alms

Cervical cancer, a potentially preventable disease poses a disproportionate high burden of incidence and mortality in low-middle income (LMIC) country due to suboptimal linkages for confirmatory diagnosis and subsequent treatment in many LMIC’s. This study investigates the prevalence of high-risk HPV genotypes 16 and 18 in women with cervical abnormalities in Osogbo, South West Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional study conducted on 221 women aged 18-65 who attended UniOsun Teaching Hospital for cervical screening in 2023. Cytology was performed using the Papanicolaou staining method and classified with the 2014 Bethesda system, while HPV DNA was detected using real-time PCR. Results: Out of 221 women, 135 (61.1%) had normal cytology, while 86 (38.9%) had abnormalities, including 39 (17.65%) with Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (LSIL), 28 (12.67%) with High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (HSIL), and 19 (8.60%) with Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASC-US). Age-specific analysis indicated LSIL peaked in women aged 30-39, HSIL in those aged 40-49, and ASC-US in those aged 20-29. HPV 16 was found in 3 (1.4%) samples and HPV 18 in 2 (0.9%) samples, all from women with normal cytology. Conclusion: The study found no significant association between the presence of HPV 16/18 and cytological abnormalities (p>0.05), despite a high prevalence of HPV DNA across all cytology categories (75.0-79.5% for Relative Fluorescence Units) but without significant differences (p=0.977). This is supported by a meta-analysis, but contradicts a longitudinal study that showed higher HPV DNA levels were associated with increased risk of more severe cytological abnormalities. The study concluded that other high-risk HPV types or non-HPV factors may be involved in cervical pathogenesis in this region, and further research on a broader range of HPV genotypes and risk factors is needed to guide targeted screening methods.