Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research

Insomnia and Hypertension in African Ancestry Women: Epidemiology, Mechanisms, and Public Health Implications

T. O. Adedipe — Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Insomnia and hypertension each represent major global health burdens, and their co-occurrence in women of African ancestry has emerged as a clinically and epidemiologically distinct phenomenon warranting urgent scientific scrutiny. Women of African ancestry — encompassing populations across sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas, and other regions of the African diaspora — experience disproportionately high rates of both insomnia and hypertension relative to women of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. The convergence of these conditions is not merely coincidental; accumulating evidence suggests a bidirectional, mechanistically complex relationship mediated by dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, pro-inflammatory pathways, and the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system. Structural inequities, including chronic exposure to racial discrimination, socioeconomic disadvantage, neighbourhood deprivation, and the cumulative physiological toll of chronic psychosocial stress — encapsulated in the concept of allostatic load — further compound biological vulnerability in this population. Despite this, women of African ancestry have been systematically underrepresented in sleep research and in hypertension trials, limiting the generalisability of existing evidence and perpetuating health disparities. This review synthesizes current epidemiological, mechanistic, and public health literature to characterize the insomnia–hypertension relationship in women of African ancestry, identify persistent gaps in knowledge, and propose culturally sensitive directions for future research and policy. The findings argue for the integration of systematic sleep health assessment into hypertension management pathways, for investment in culturally adapted and community-anchored sleep interventions, and for the dismantling of structural barriers to care that disproportionately disadvantage women of African ancestry.

Pharmacognostic Standardization and HPTLC Fingerprint Profiling of Nardostachys jatamansi DC. Rhizome with Comparative Phytochemical Analysis of Extracts

Sushma, Gaurav Kumar, Arun Kumar, Banshidhar Behera — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Nardostachys jatamansi DC. (Jatamansi), a perennial rhizomatous herb of the family Caprifoliaceae, is widely used in Ayurveda for the management of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The rhizome, being the most therapeutically active part, possesses diverse pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, and anticonvulsant activities.

Aim and Objective: The present study aimed to establish pharmacognostical standards and evaluate the phytochemical profile of the rhizome of Nardostachys jatamansi for its identification and quality control.

Methodology: Pharmacognostical evaluation was carried out through macroscopic, powder microscopic, and physicochemical analyses following standard protocols. Preliminary phytochemical screening of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts was performed to identify major secondary metabolites. Chromatographic profiling was conducted using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), along with UV–Visible spectroscopic analysis.

Results: Macroscopically, the rhizome was dark brown, cylindrical, fibrous, brittle, aromatic, and slightly bitter. Microscopic examination revealed diagnostic features including cork cells with oil globules, cortex canals, phloem patches, cambium, xylem vessels, and stellate cork rings. Powder microscopy showed fibres, vessels, tracheids, parenchyma containing starch grains, oil globules, and stone cells. Physicochemical parameters were found within acceptable limits, with loss on drying (2.53 % w/w), ash value (7.64 % w/w), water-soluble extractive (8.43 % w/w), and ethanol-soluble extractive (5.62 % w/w). Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, and proteins. HPTLC profiling of the ethanolic extract revealed a characteristic chromatographic pattern with a prominent band at Rf 0.95 under UV 254 nm and 366 nm.

Conclusion: The study provides a comprehensive set of pharmacognostical and phytochemical standards for Nardostachys jatamansi rhizome, which can serve as reliable parameters for its identification, authentication, and quality control, and may support further pharmacological and formulation-based studies.

Exaggerated Placental Site Mimicking Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia: A Multimodality Imaging and Histopathological Case Report

Shilajit Banerjee, Prashant Kumar Kundu, Manas Ranjan Jena — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Exaggerated placental site (EPS) is a benign, physiologic infiltration of intermediate trophoblasts that can radiologically mimic malignant gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) (Wijesinghe, 2025, Yordanov et al., 2020).

Case Presentation: A 38-year-old female presented with suspected abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) and a working diagnosis of GTN. Multimodality imaging, including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT), revealed a highly vascular, infiltrative uterine mass. Serum Beta-HCG was elevated. The patient underwent a hysterectomy. Histopathological examination ruled out malignancy, diagnosing products of conception with an exaggerated placental site.

Discussion and Conclusion: Exaggerated Placental Site (EPS)—a benign, self-limiting physiological reaction—can perfectly mimic malignant Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia (GTN) both clinically and on advanced radiological imaging (Menczer et al., 1999, Yordanov et al., 2020). By detailing a case where MRI and CT scans falsely flagged a uterine mass as an aggressive malignancy due to its deep myometrial infiltration and robust vascularity, the authors underscore the limitations of relying solely on radiological evaluations. Ultimately, this report reinforces that histopathological examination is strictly required to definitively differentiate EPS from true neoplasms, which is a critical step to prevent misdiagnosis and protect patients from receiving unnecessary oncological treatments like systemic chemotherapy.