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This study examined the status of climate smart small ruminant production practices in Kwara State, Nigeria. About 105 small ruminant breeders were selected for the study. The data were analysed the use of frequency count, percentage, mean score, Binary Logistic Regression and Pearson product moment correlation. The result revealed that about 60% of the breeders were females and the mean years of experience in small ruminant production was 7 years. The result of most of the frequently used climate smart small ruminant production practices of the respondents showed that provision of medication to sick animals and cultivation of crops along with rearing of animals (90.5%), feeding with supplementary feeds, isolation of sick animals and vaccination of animals (92.4%); provision of shade through Planting of trees to reduce heat stress (93.3%); feeding with crop residues and building and maintenance of pens (96.2%) and grazing on pasture/grassland (97.1%). About 90.5% of the breeders have high status on the use of climate smart small ruminant production practices. Disease outbreak and high mortality (mean=2.07) was the highest ranked factors affecting the small ruminant breeders. The result of Binary Logistic Regression showed that educational level (B=3.985), membership of social group (B=6.083), access to extension services (B= 13.941) and years of experience (B= -0.544) were the determinant factors of the use of climate smart small ruminants production practices. This study therefore recommends that breeders should be provided with veterinary services and extension services.

This study examined the use of social media among market women in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria. One hundred and Twenty (120) market women were randomly selected in six markets in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria. The data collected was analysed with the use of frequency count, percentage, mean, standard deviation and pearson product moment correlation (PPMC). The result revealed that 36.9 years was the average age of the respondents, 52.5% were married, household size of 4 persons, 9.1years of experience and annual income of about 319,175.00 Naira. About 70% of the respondents make use of social media daily, while 1,853.33 Naira was average monthly expenditure on data. Facebook was the most (72.5%) frequently used social media platform, commercial purpose was the highest (79.2%) motive for use of social media by the respondents. Social media exposes one to several business opportunities (4.18) and ranked the highest attitudinal statement. Strenuous/Stressful tasks involved n business activities (2.18) was the highest ranked factor affecting the use of social media. Results also show significant relationship between the use of social media and the respondent’s attitude towards the use of social media (r= 0.16, p= 0.080). The study therefore recommends that market women should utilize social media platforms when they are less busy and ensure they verify the source of any information given via social media.

Background: The computerised classification and prediction of heart disease can be useful for medical personnel for the purpose of fast diagnosis with accurate results. This study presents an efficient classification method for predicting heart disease using a data-mining algorithm. Methods: The algorithm utilises the weighted support vector machine method for efficient classification of heart disease based on a binary response that indicates the presence or absence of heart disease as the result of an angiographic test. The optimal values of the support vector machine and the Radial Basis Function kernel parameters for the heart disease classification were determined via a 10-fold cross-validation method. The heart disease data was partitioned into training and testing sets using different percentages of the splitting ratio. Each of the training sets was used in training the classification method while the predictive power of the method was evaluated on each of the test sets using the Monte-Carlo cross-validation resampling technique. The effect of different percentages of the splitting ratio on the method was also observed. Results: The misclassification error rate was used to compare the performance of the method with three selected machine learning methods and was observed that the proposed method performs best over others in all cases considered. Conclusion: Finally, the results illustrate that the classification algorithm presented can effectively predict the heart disease status of an individual based on the results of an angiographic test.

Graphical Abstract One-dimensional (1D) titanate nanotubes materials (protonated titanate nanotube (HTNT) and sodium titanate nanotube (NaTNT)) have been reported as low-cost and efficient catalytic materials in chemical syntheses for the production of biofuel precursors with interesting catalytic performance exhibited, even better than some commonly used zeolites, H-MOR, H-β, SO42−/Al2O3, and H-ZSM-5 solid catalysts with environmental benign in focus when compared with homogeneous catalytic materials. This mini-review expressly revealed the significance and potential of using HTNT and NaTNT as sustainable and environmentally benign solid catalysts/supports in various chemical reactions. The critical assessment of biomass valorization and titanate nanostructured materials as catalysts/supports via Green Chemistry approach, #7 (use of renewable feedstocks), #9 (use of catalyst against stoichiometry) and United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), #7 (affordable and clean energy; ensure access to inexpensive, reliable, sustainable, and new energy), is presented as integrated pathways to meet environmental benign technology toward sustainability. Hence, this work follows in the pattern of recent formulated features reported for solid catalysts—‘PYSSVR’ concept, which means P–production cost, Y–yield, S–stability, S–selectivity, V–versatility, and R–reusability.

In this study, a simple, sensitive and reproducible spectrophotometric technique has been developed and validated for the determination of caffeine and vitamin B6 in beverages, energy/soft drinks and herbal products. The determination of caffeine and vitamin B6 in the respective samples were carried out at maximum (λmax) absorbance of 272 and 290 nm respectively. The method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity (limit of Detection (LOD) and limit of Quantification (LOQ), accuracy (% Recovery), precision (relative standard deviation). The method was linear from (4-20 µg/ml and 50 - 250 µg/ml with r 2 of 0.9991 and 0.9996 for vitamin B6 and caffeine respectively. The accuracy of the method ranged from 99.48 - 101.42% for caffeine and 99.94% - 102.35% for vitamin B6. The detection limit and quantification limit were 0.192 µg/ml and 0.640 µg/ml for vitamin B6 while 0.0155 µg/ml and 0.0518 µg/ml was obtained for caffeine. The method for the two analytes was found to be precise as the percentage relative standard deviation was below 5%. Therefore, the method proposed in this study is rapid, suitable and can be used as a quality control index for caffeine and vitamin B6 in beverages, energy/soft drinks and herbal products in industries. Keywords: Caffeine, Vitamin B6, Beverages, Energy/Soft drinks, Herbal products, Spectrophotometry

Tremendous efforts in developing sustainable processes for integrated production of value-added products/chemicals and fuels in biorefineries increase through delicate designs towards sustainability. This review focuses on the synthesis of activated carbon (AC) from renewable precursors and its utilisation in catalytic systems for a gentle and sustainable approach. Owing to the unique shape and porosity-controlled properties, these carbon materials could offer strong, active phase-support interactions, leading to unusual catalytic activities and selectivity in biomass upgrading. Porous carbons have been developed and used as heterogeneous solid catalysts in fine chemical and biofuels synthesis as a sustainable and economical alternative over homogeneous catalytic systems. This review revealed the AC's significance and potential as solid catalysts/supports in renewable feedstocks' valorisation. The literature showed that bio-derived activated carbon could be a promising and sustainable solid catalyst or support for producing biofuels/ value-added products with appreciable BET surface area (750 m2/g) and total pore volume (0.37 cm3/g). However, the surface area and pore volume vary with the treatment/nature of cellulose used as the precursor for AC production. Finally, the utilisation of these renewable feedstocks/waste streams presents us with the avenues to realise sustainable synthesis through green process and design for a sustainable future.

Surgical repair of Tetralogy of Fallot has excellent outcomes, with over 90% of patients alive at 30 years. The ideal time for surgical repair is between 3 and 11 months of age. However, the symptomatic neonate with Tetralogy of Fallot may require earlier intervention: either a palliative intervention (right ventricular outflow tract stent, ductal stent, balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty, or Blalock-Taussig shunt) followed by a surgical repair later on, or a complete surgical repair in the neonatal period. Indications for palliation include prematurity, complex anatomy, small pulmonary artery size, and comorbidities. Given that outcomes after right ventricular outflow tract stent palliation are particularly promising – there is low mortality and morbidity, and consistently increased oxygen saturations and increased pulmonary artery z-scores – it is now considered the first-line palliative option. Disadvantages of right ventricular outflow tract stenting include increased cardiopulmonary bypass time at later repair and the stent preventing pulmonary valve preservation. However, neonatal surgical repair is associated with increased short-term complications and hospital length of stay compared to staged repair. Both staged repair and primary repair appear to have similar long-term mortality and morbidity, but more evidence is needed assessing long-term outcomes for right ventricular outflow tract stent palliation patients.

A Fontan circulation requires a series of three-staged operations aimed to palliate patients with single-ventricle CHD. Currently, the most frequent technique is the extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection, an external conduit connecting the IVC and right pulmonary artery, bypassing the right side of the heart. Fontan candidates must meet strict criteria; they are assessed utilising both cardiac catheterisation and cardiac magnetic resonance. Postoperatively, treatment protocols prioritise antibiotic prophylaxis, diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, anticoagulation, and oxygen therapy with fluid restriction and a low-fat diet. These measures aim to reduce length of stay in the ICU and hospital by preventing acute complications such as infection, venous thromboembolism, low cardiac output, pleural effusion, and acute kidney injury. Late complications of a Fontan procedure include circulation failure, protein-losing enteropathy, plastic bronchitis, and Fontan-associated liver disease. The definitive management is cardiac transplantation, with promising innovations in selective embolisation of lymphatic vessels and Fontan-specific ventricular assist devices. Further research assessing current protocols in the perioperative management of Fontan patients would be beneficial for standardising current practice and improving outcomes.

Performance and other parameters of broiler chickens could be influenced by the environment (feeds, housing, climate) and genetic potentials (breeds). Three hundred (300) broiler chicks comprising of one hundred each of the three breeds designated as A, B and C were used in a completely randomized design experiment which lasted for 56 days. Each breed represents a treatment with 5 replicates of 20 birds each. The birds were fed ad libitum with the same commercial starter and finisher diets throughout the period of the study; and water supplied free of choice. Average final body weight, average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, cost/kg feed and cost of feed/kg live weight gains at the starter and finisher phase were the performance parameters measured. Carcass, serum and haematological indices of these birds were also investigated. Proximate composition of the experimental starter and finisher diets indicated that both were adequately formulated for birds in the tropics under which the study was carried out. Results of the performance parameters showed that the values were similar for the starters and finishers except for highest (P

Aims: Bone meal and oyster shell are good source of calcium in the diet of livestock but they are expensive hence there is need to look for another source. Snail shell is rich in calcium and could be used to replace other sources of calcium hence the study was designed to determine the effect of inclusion of snail shell (SS) in the diet of grass-cutters on dressing percentage, meat qualities, haematological and serum biochemical indices. Experimental Design: Completely randomized design was used for the study Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted in the Institute of Agriculture Research and Training, Ibadan, Nigeria for a period of twelve weeks Methodology: A total of thirty six weaned grass-cutters of mixed sexes of mean weight 523.45±3.6g were used. Four diets were formulated to contain SS at 0% (SS1) as Control, 50% (SS 2), 75% (SS 3) and 100% (SS 4) as replacement for oyster shell in the diet of grass-cutters. Each dietary treatment was replicated thrice with 3 grass-cutters per replicate in a. Data were collected on dressing percentage, heamoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, blood calcium and phosphorus etc. Results: The results of the carcass analysis showed that the dressing percentage was not significantly influenced by substituting oyster shell with snail shell in the diet (P>0.05). The results of Haematological and Biochemical indices indicated that the mean red blood corpuscles of the grasscutters were not significantly different from one another and varied between 5.31 and 5.44 106/µ1 (P>0.05). The mean haemoglobin was not significantly influenced by the dietary treatments, the values varied between 12.23 and 12.57g/dl respectively. The mean globulin, calcium and phosphorus levels of the grass-cutters were not significantly influenced by substituting oyster shell with snail shell. Conclusion: It could be therefore, concluded that carcass qualities and blood indices were not significantly influenced by the inclusion of varying levels of snails shell as partial or total replacement for Oyster shell in the diet of weaned grass-cutter, hence snail shell could be used as substitute for Oyster shell.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) belong to group of biopolymers that have in recent times received growing research interest as a result of being eco-friendly and close characteristics with petrochemical based plastics. Alternatives to utilization of synthetic plastics are being explored since synthetic plastics are non-recyclable and non-biodegradable in nature. One of the innovations of Green Chemistry is utilization of renewable feedstocks such as biomass to achieve sustainable development with future circular economy. Bio-based products are of great interest to sustainable development as a result of diminishing fossil fuel reserves and rising environmental concerns. This review summarizes the productions of PHAs from renewable feedstocks such as lignocellulose, crude glycerol, levulinic acid (LA), palm-oil mill effluents (POME) and waste oils. The production of bio-based polymers has become much more professional and differentiated in recent years. Presently, there are bio-based alternatives for practically every application, therefore, this review presents applications of PHA in bio-refinery, medical sectors, agriculture sector, construction industry, and in packaging industry. The cost analysis of PHA from renewable sources with commercially available ones and potential to attain circular economy were also stressed. The reasons for this shift are connected to the non-renewability of fossil-based resources, the deteriorating environmental impacts, and the lack of biodegradability of the petroleum-produced materials.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to repeat a previous audit, performed from 2009 to 2013, for the cohort of 2018 to determine how the resistance rates in urinary pathogens in women over 18 years of age have changed. A secondary aim of the study was to use resistance data from a different UK hospital in the same year to compare differences in resistance rates across different geographic locationsStudy designThis was a retrospective study of all positive urine cultures grown from female patients attending two different hospitals in the year 2018. Resistance patterns were analysed.ResultsThe resistance rate to co-amoxiclav continues to increase with amoxicillin retaining high resistance patterns. There are some significant differences in resistance patterns between the different locations.ConclusionAntimicrobial resistance is a significant problem in the UK particularly in antibiotics used to treat UTI. These patterns can vary across different geographical locations and over time; therefore, up-to-date knowledge of local anti-biotic resistance is essential when making an appropriate prescription choice.

The study assessed the factors affecting entrepreneurship development among Food Marketers in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria. One hundred and ten respondents were randomly selected in four markets in Ilorin. The data was analyzed using frequency count, percentage, mean and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The result reveals that mean age of the respondents was 30.5 years and about 58.2% were female. Record keeping skills (mean score =2.42) was the highest ranked entrepreneurial information needs of the respondents while lack of start-up capital (mean score =2.40) was the most severe factor affecting entrepreneurial activities of food marketers. There is a weak positive significant relationship between the entrepreneurial information needs and factors affecting entrepreneurial development of the respondents (r=0.407, p=0.0001). The study recommends that there should be provision of training on entrepreneurial skills based on the identified areas of needs and there should be provision of credit facilities to the food marketers as these will enhance their productivity. Keywords: Entrepreneurial Development, Factors, Information Needs, Food Marketers, Ilorin Metropolis

ObjectivesTo assess the rates of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the timing of mother-to-child transmission and perinatal outcomes, and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 status in offspring.DesignLiving systematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesMajor databases between 1 December 2019 and 3 August 2021.Study selectionCohort studies of pregnant and recently pregnant women (including after abortion or miscarriage) who sought hospital care for any reason and had a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and also provided data on offspring SARS-CoV-2 status and risk factors for positivity. Case series and case reports were also included to assess the timing and likelihood of mother-to-child transmission in SARS-CoV-2 positive babies.Data extractionTwo reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study quality. A random effects model was used to synthesise data for rates, with associations reported using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Narrative syntheses were performed when meta-analysis was inappropriate. The World Health Organization classification was used to categorise the timing of mother-to-child transmission (in utero, intrapartum, early postnatal).Results472 studies (206 cohort studies, 266 case series and case reports; 28 952 mothers, 18 237 babies) were included. Overall, 1.8% (95% confidence interval 1.2% to 2.5%; 140 studies) of the 14 271 babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection tested positive for the virus with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Of the 592 SARS-CoV-2 positive babies with data on the timing of exposure and type and timing of tests, 14 had confirmed mother-to-child transmission: seven in utero (448 assessed), two intrapartum (18 assessed), and five during the early postnatal period (70 assessed). Of the 800 SARS-CoV-2 positive babies with outcome data, 20 were stillbirths, 23 were neonatal deaths, and eight were early pregnancy losses; 749 babies were alive at the end of follow-up. Severe maternal covid-19 (odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 4.4), maternal death (14.1, 4.1 to 48.0), maternal admission to an intensive care unit (3.5, 1.7 to 6.9), and maternal postnatal infection (5.0, 1.2 to 20.1) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity in offspring. Positivity rates using RT-PCR varied between regions, ranging from 0.1% (95% confidence interval 0.0% to 0.3%) in studies from North America to 5.7% (3.2% to 8.7%) in studies from Latin America and the Caribbean.ConclusionSARS-CoV-2 positivity rates were found to be low in babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Evidence suggests confirmed vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2, although this is likely to be rare. Severity of maternal covid-19 appears to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity in offspring.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42020178076.Readers’ noteThis article is a living systematic review that will be updated to reflect emerging evidence. Updates may occur for up to two years from the date of original publication.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the rates of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the timing of mother-to-child transmission and perinatal outcomes, and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 status in offspring. DESIGN: Living systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Major databases between 1 December 2019 and 3 August 2021. STUDY SELECTION: Cohort studies of pregnant and recently pregnant women (including after abortion or miscarriage) who sought hospital care for any reason and had a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and also provided data on offspring SARS-CoV-2 status and risk factors for positivity. Case series and case reports were also included to assess the timing and likelihood of mother-to-child transmission in SARS-CoV-2 positive babies. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study quality. A random effects model was used to synthesise data for rates, with associations reported using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Narrative syntheses were performed when meta-analysis was inappropriate. The World Health Organization classification was used to categorise the timing of mother-to-child transmission (in utero, intrapartum, early postnatal). RESULTS: 472 studies (206 cohort studies, 266 case series and case reports; 28 952 mothers, 18 237 babies) were included. Overall, 1.8% (95% confidence interval 1.2% to 2.5%; 140 studies) of the 14 271 babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection tested positive for the virus with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Of the 592 SARS-CoV-2 positive babies with data on the timing of exposure and type and timing of tests, 14 had confirmed mother-to-child transmission: seven in utero (448 assessed), two intrapartum (18 assessed), and five during the early postnatal period (70 assessed). Of the 800 SARS-CoV-2 positive babies with outcome data, 20 were stillbirths, 23 were neonatal deaths, and eight were early pregnancy losses; 749 babies were alive at the end of follow-up. Severe maternal covid-19 (odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 4.4), maternal death (14.1, 4.1 to 48.0), maternal admission to an intensive care unit (3.5, 1.7 to 6.9), and maternal postnatal infection (5.0, 1.2 to 20.1) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity in offspring. Positivity rates using RT-PCR varied between regions, ranging from 0.1% (95% confidence interval 0.0% to 0.3%) in studies from North America to 5.7% (3.2% to 8.7%) in studies from Latin America and the Caribbean. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates were found to be low in babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Evidence suggests confirmed vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2, although this is likely to be rare. Severity of maternal covid-19 appears to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity in offspring. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020178076. READERS' NOTE: This article is a living systematic review that will be updated to reflect emerging evidence. Updates may occur for up to two years from the date of original publication.

Tomato is a vegetable crop commonly grown in Nigeria and consumed by most people. It contains vitamins and vital nutrients that are essential for good health. This study was conducted to determine the effect of magnetization of irrigation water on the growth, yield and nutritional qualities of tomatoes under deficit irrigation. Tomato seeds (‘Roma VF’ and ‘UC 82B’ varieties) were planted in 96 buckets (11 liters capacity), 48 buckets for magnetized water (MW) and 48 buckets for non-magnetized water (NMW), grown in a greenhouse and harvested 82 days after planting. The irrigation water was treated with 30 pieces of 10×25×50 mm neodymium magnets (1.2 Tesla). The tomato plants were subjected to deficit irrigation to determine the effect on the performance of tomatoes at 100% (1 liter), 80% (0.8 liters), 60% (0.60 liters) and 50% (0.50 liter) water requirement. Each treatment was replicated 6 times for both MW and NMW. The MW increased the growth of ‘Roma VF’ and ‘UC 82B’ varieties by 5.44-38.10% and the stem girth by 21.13-49.01%. MW increased the yield of ‘Roma VF’ variety by 110.00%, 36.00%, 6.26% and 24.00% for 100%, 80%, 60% and 50% of water application, respectively but increased the yield of ‘UC 82B’ variety by 56.52% for 100% water application. MW also improved vitamin A and C content by 7.89-27.94% and 0.45-19.06%, respectively. The concentrations of Lead were slightly higher in the tomato irrigated with MW than in the NMW but values of other heavy metals were not consistent and very close for both MW and NMW.

This study examined the goat farmers’ adaptation strategies to climate change in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. About 105 goat farmers were selected for the study. Statistical tools such as frequency count, percentage, mean score and Pearson product moment correlation analysis were used to analyse data. The result revealed that about 61% of the respondents were males. The average age of the respondents was 57.7 years. About 48.6% of the respondents had primary education. The average years of experience in goat farming was 7 years and the average annual income of the respondents was ₦65,447.62. About 44.8% of the respondents indicated crop farming as the supportive occupation. The average number of Goats reared was 6 goats and about 58.1% of the respondents’ system of goats rearing was semi-intensive system. The main motive for goat production were for financial purpose (43.8%). More than half (56.2%) of the respondents indicated that they had no access to extension services on goat production. About 50.5% of the respondents acknowledged that climate change is occurring. The result revealed that about 52.4% of the respondents had high level of usage of adaptation strategies to climate change. The highest ranked perception statement was that there is increase in temperature (mean=3.45). The result of Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) showed that income (r=0.518), educational status (r=0.425), main motive (r=0.215) and knowledge of climate change (r=0.328) were positively significant to the adaptation strategies to climate change at 5 % level of significance. The study therefore recommends that there should be creation of more awareness on climate change and provision of extension services to goat farmers on adaptation strategies to climate change.

Good practices at harvest and postharvest could be useful in obtaining nutritious mango with high minerals and vitamins. The present study evaluated effect of harvest handling and postharvest conditions on the level of minerals and vitamins using standard methods. Ripe, half-ripe and unripe mangoes were harvested on parent plant and on ground around parent plant. The half-ripe and unripe mangoes were further divided to include heat ripened mangoes. The mango samples were separately stored naturally at 25±3oC and heat ripened at 37±5oC for 0 to 10 day after harvest (dah). The results show Ijebu-Mamu mangoes could cater for reference dietary intake of Vit C. Mango harvested on parent plant has highest level of minerals and vitamins than those picked on ground. Ripe mango has highest level of minerals, half ripe mango presented highest level of vits. B1 and B2 and unripe mango has highest level of Fe and Vit. C. Heat caused increased level of minerals and reduced level of vitamins. The minerals show increased level from 0 to 4 or 6 dah while vitamins reduced from 0 till 10 dah. High level of minerals and vitamins was obtained with optimum integrated harvest and postharvest condition of half-ripe mango naturally ripened at 6 dah. The present results highlight effects of the assessed harvest handling and postharvest conditions and their co-optimization that might be necessary for high minerals and vitamins in mango.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical trials evaluating pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of COVID-19, either excluded pregnant women or included very few women. Unlike the numerous systematic reviews on prevalence, symptoms and adverse outcomes of COVID-19 in pregnancy, there are very few on the effects of treatment on maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnancy. We undertook a systematic review of all published and unpublished studies on the effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for COVID-19 on maternal and neonatal pregnancy outcomes. DATA SOURCES: We performed a systematic literature search of the following databases: Medline, Embase, Cochrane database, WHO (World Health Organization) COVID-19 database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang databases from 1 December 2019 to 1 December 2020. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies were only included if they involved pregnant or postnatal women who were exposed to pregnancy specific interventions like the mode of delivery and type of anaesthesia, pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: We first screened the titles and abstracts of studies and then assessed the full text of the selected studies in detail for eligibility. Data on study design, population, type of screening for COVID-19, country, hospital, country status (high or low and middle income), treatment given (mode of delivery, type of anaesthesia, type of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment was extracted. The pre-defined maternal outcomes we collected were mode of delivery (vaginal or by caesarean section), severe or critical COVID-19 (as defined by the authors), symptomatic COVID-19, maternal death, maternal hospital admission, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, ECMO and maternal pneumonia. The pre-defined neonatal outcomes we extracted were preterm birth (

This is a case of a patient prenatally diagnosed with ccTGA. Immediately after birth, postnatal transthoracic echocardiography diagnosed ccTGA with concomitant Ebstein’s anomaly of the tricuspid valve, without a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Initially, this dysplastic tricuspid valve had mild tricuspid regurgitation. However, by 12 months follow up, the patient was becoming symptomatic, and their tricuspid regurgitation had become severe. Due to the patients worsening symptoms and regurgitation, clinical intervention was pursued. The patient had Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance performed to assess for myocardial fibrosis and to measure the size of each ventricle. After imaging and MDT discussion, the patient was deemed suitable for a double switch operation, a form of anatomical repair. However, since this patient did not have pulmonary stenosis (PS), they required a pulmonary artery (PA) band before anatomical repair. This procedure has dual benefits: to retrain the morphological left ventricle (mLV) to cope with systemic pressures, and to induce a septal shift, which can reduce the severity tricuspid regurgitation. At 18 months of age, this patient had their PA band placed. The patient immediately had a reduction in the severity of their tricuspid regurgitation. In the future, this patient will have cardiac catheterisation performed to measure mLV pressures and assess when the patient is ready for anatomical repair. The morphology of this patient is rare, as most patients with ccTGA have an associated VSD. This case describes a potential management pathway for a ccTGA patient without VSD and an Ebstenoid tricuspid valve. It also demonstrates the benefits of PA banding in a ccTGA patient with this morphology. This is a unique contribution, due to the rarity of this specific morphology and the limited evidence and guidance for its successful management.

Objective To determine if postnatal transfer or birth in a non-tertiary hospital is associated with adverse outcomes. Design Observational cohort study with propensity score matching. Setting National health service neonatal care in England; population data held in the National Neonatal Research Database. Participants Extremely preterm infants born at less than 28 gestational weeks between 2008 and 2015 (n=17 577) grouped based on birth hospital and transfer within 48 hours of birth: upward transfer (non-tertiary to tertiary hospital, n=2158), non-tertiary care (born in non-tertiary hospital; not transferred, n=2668), and controls (born in tertiary hospital; not transferred, n=10 866). Infants were matched on propensity scores and predefined background variables to form subgroups with near identical distributions of confounders. Infants transferred between tertiary hospitals (horizontal transfer) were separately matched to controls in a 1:5 ratio. Main outcome measures Death, severe brain injury, and survival without severe brain injury. Results 2181 infants, 727 from each group (upward transfer, non-tertiary care, and control) were well matched. Compared with controls, infants in the upward transfer group had no significant difference in the odds of death before discharge (odds ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 1.61) but significantly higher odds of severe brain injury (2.32, 1.78 to 3.06; number needed to treat (NNT) 8) and significantly lower odds of survival without severe brain injury (0.60, 0.47 to 0.76; NNT 9). Compared with controls, infants in the non-tertiary care group had significantly higher odds of death (1.34, 1.02 to 1.77; NNT 20) but no significant difference in the odds of severe brain injury (0.95, 0.70 to 1.30) or survival without severe brain injury (0.82, 0.64 to 1.05). Compared with infants in the upward transfer group, infants in the non-tertiary care group had no significant difference in death before discharge (1.10, 0.84 to 1.44) but significantly lower odds of severe brain injury (0.41, 0.31 to 0.53; NNT 8) and significantly higher odds of survival without severe brain injury (1.37, 1.09 to 1.73; NNT 14). No significant differences were found in outcomes between the horizontal transfer group (n=305) and controls (n=1525). Conclusions In extremely preterm infants, birth in a non-tertiary hospital and transfer within 48 hours are associated with poor outcomes when compared with birth in a tertiary setting. We recommend perinatal services promote pathways that facilitate delivery of extremely preterm infants in tertiary hospitals in preference to postnatal transfer.

Among the currently available poultry feed additives, natural herbs and plants have been widely advocated due to their reported widespread beneficial effects. Vernonia amygdalina is one of such potential feed supplements which have recently been reported as having a wide range of beneficial effects on production performance. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of varying levels of V. amygdalina leaf meal on growth performance, hematological parameters and as anticoccidial agent for broiler chicken. A total of one hundred and fifty day old marshal broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments with 30 birds per treatment, replicated thrice, in a completely randomized design. The treatments were: Treatment 1 (T1) served as control (positive control) with inclusion of coccidiostat but no inclusion of V. amygdalina, T2 served as negative control with no inclusion of either coccidiostat or V. amygdalina, T3 (200 g of V. amygdalina/ 150 kg of feed), T4 (400 g of V.amygdalina/ 150 kg of feed), and T5 (600 g of V. amygdalina/150 kg of feed). Significant differences (p 0.05) across the treatment except for hemoglobin in T2 that has the lowest (8.04 g/dl) and T4 that has the highest (12.03 g/dl). Eosinophil’s in T4 has the highest value (4.00%) and lowest in T5 (2.00%) and T2 (2.00%). However, all other parameters were within the normal range. It can be concluded that V. amygdalina can be used as anticoccidial in broiler chickens due to high fed conversion ratio and Eosinophil’s observed in T3 (200 g) and T4 (400 g), respectively. Key words: Natural herbs, vernonia amygdalina, performance, haematological, coccidiostat.

Dear EditorThe COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the delivery of medical education across the UK, with the majority of face-to-face teaching cancelled during the first wave, and medical...

Introduction Anatomical knowledge is an essential part of surgical practice. However, its delivery lacks a standardised approach across medical school curricula. A student-led anatomy programme was implemented at a single institution, using near-peer teaching and Anatomage virtual dissection. This study aims to describe the methodology of this programme and determine the benefit of a near-peer taught anatomy course. Method The programme was organised by senior medical students, utilising Anatomage virtual dissection and techniques in line with Bigg’s constructive alignment. Attendees were asked to complete questionnaires with Likert scales (0-10) and open answer text to determine learners’ benefit. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses are presented. Results 73 students attended eight sessions from January to March 2020. Students reported a statistically significant (p Conclusions This study demonstrates how virtual dissection technology and near-peer teaching can derive significant benefit to undergraduate students, in line with previously published data.

This study examined the small ruminant farmers’ perception of climate change in Moro Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State, Nigeria. About 120 small ruminant farmers were selected for the study. Analyticall tools such as descriptive (frequency count, percentage, mean score) and inferential [Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC)] statistics were used to analyse the data. The result revealed that about 57.5% of the respondents were male, average age of 38.3years, income of N56633.33, and household size of about 5 persons. The average number of goat and sheep was 10 and 5 respectively. About 52% of the respondents utilized extensive system of rearing and 60.8% had access to extension services. About 77.5% of the respondents indicated Ministry of Agriculture as their main source of information on small ruminant production. The result revealed that planting of trees/erecting cover to serve as shades to reduce heat stress (90.8%) was the most frequently used adaptation strategies to climate change. About 59.2% of the respondents have high level/status of use of adaptation strategies. The highest ranked perception statement was increase in temperature (4.48), while disease outbreak and high mortality (2.78) ranked highest as factor affecting small ruminant production. It is therefore recommended that there should be provision of information on the adaptation strategies as climate change is now a reality that is not going away and provision of veterinary services to reduce disease outbreak.

To appreciate congenital heart disease fully, a detailed understanding of the anatomical presentation, as well as the physiology, is required. This is often introduced at an advanced stage of training. Professor Anderson has been influential in the Clinical Anatomy Intercalated BSc programme at the University of Birmingham, in particular in his teaching on Sequential Segmental Analysis. This article describes the experiences of the latest cohort of students on this programme, who undertook varying research projects using the Birmingham Cardiac Archive, with the guidance of Professor Anderson. The projects outlined include various aspects of isomerism, encompassing both the cardiac and abdominal manifestations, as well as details of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries and prenatally diagnosed right aortic arch and double arch. These studies all aimed to increase the knowledge base of their respective cardiac malformations and provide a basis for further research.

The world’s crude oil is fast depleting, hence the need to look inwards for other energy sources. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that has received considerable attention recently because it is non-polluting and biofuels from plants represent the most abundant source of renewable fuels. Jatropha curcas L, a multipurpose perennial plant has gained lots of importance for the use of its non-edible seeds in the production of biodiesel. This study is aimed at assessing performance of selected Morphological and yield parameters of wild collections of the crop comparing their variability for future improvement breeding programmes. Seeds of Jatropha curcas LA01JC, OG01JC, OG02JC, OS01JC, OY01JC and OY02JC were collected from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun States and nursed in loam soil. The seedlings were then transplanted on the field using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data collection (Plant height, Stem length, Petiole length, Collar diameter, Canopy spread, Leaf length, Leaf width, Number of branches, Number of leaves; Days to flowering Number of fruits per tree, Number of inflorescences, Number of fruits per inflorescence, Fruit length, Fruit weight, Fresh fruit weight) commenced four weeks after transplanting. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and mean separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Tests; while Pearson correlation and Principal component analysis were used to study relationships and variability of the collections and the characters. The result showed significant differences between the collections with respect to the morphological and yield variables measured. OY01JC had the highest plant height (107.217cm), OS01JC flowered earliest (254 days) and produced more fruits per stand (23). Morphological and Yield variables had significant (p ≤ 0.01) and positive correlation with one another. Correlation between days to flowering is negatively highly significant with number of fruits per inflorescence (-0.615), number of inflorescence (-0.571), number of fruits per tree (0.869), fruit length (-0.724), fruit width (-0.714) and fresh fruit weight (-0.729). Consequently, this study demonstrates that collections investigated were highly variable for all parameters evaluated and harbours obvious potentials for improvement. Hence OS01JC, OY01JC and OY02JC could serve as a good starting point for further improvements.

ObjectiveTo describe temporal changes in inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) use in English neonatal units between 2010 and 2015.DesignRetrospective analysis using data extracted from the National Neonatal Research Database.SettingAll National Health Service neonatal units in England.PatientsInfants of all gestational ages born 2010–2015 admitted to a neonatal unit and received intensive care.Main outcome measuresProportion of infants who received iNO; age at initiation and duration of iNO use.Results4.9% (6346/129 883) of infants received iNO; 31% (1959/6346) were born 34 weeks of gestation. Between epoch 1 (2010–2011) and epoch 3 (2014–2015), there was (1) an increase in the proportion of infants receiving iNO: 34 weeks (4.5% vs 5.0%), (2) increase in postnatal age at iNO initiation: ConclusionsBetween 2010 and 2015, there was an increase in the use of iNO among infants admitted to English neonatal units. This was most notable among the most premature infants with an almost fourfold increase. Given the cost of iNO therapy, limited evidence of efficacy in preterm infants and potential for harm, we suggest that exposure to iNO should be limited, ideally to infants included in research studies (either observational or randomised placebo-controlled trial) or within a protocolised pathway. Development of consensus guidelines may also help standardise practice.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying levels of Vernonia amygdalina leaf meal as anticoccidial in broiler chickens. Atotal of one hundred and fifty day oldmarshal broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments with 30 birds per treatment and replicated three times in a completely randomized design for a period of eight weeks. The treatments were: T1 naturally infected and treated with Coccidiostat drug (positive control), T2 naturally infected and not treated with Vernonia amygdalina (negative control), T3, T4 and T5 were naturally infected and treated with Vernonia amygdalina at 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% to 100kg of feed, respectively. Carcass and organ parameters were monitored while the liver and caecum were assessed for histopathological lesions. Significant differences (p

This study investigated the efficiency of Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) estimator of Feasible Generalized Least Square (FGLS) compared to robust MM-BISQ, M-Huber, and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimators when the variances of the error terms are non-constant and the distribution of the response variables is not Gaussian. The finite properties and relative performance of these other estimators to OLS were examined under four forms of heteroscedasticity of the error terms, levels of Contemporaneous Correlation (Cc) with gamma responses. The efficiency of four estimation techniques for the SUR model was examined using the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) criterion to determine the best estimator(s) under different conditions at various sample sizes. The simulation results revealed that the SUR estimator (FGLS) showed superior performance in the small sample situations when the contemporaneous correlation ( ) is almost perfect ( =0.95) with the gamma response model while MM-BISQ was the best under low contemporaneous correlation. The relative efficiencies of MM-BISQ, M-Huber and FGLS estimators over the OLS are respectively 89%, 71%, and 14% in a small sample 30) and 49%, 32% and 1% in large sample sizes under gamma response model. The study concluded that MM-BISQ and M-Huber estimators are the most efficient estimators for modeling systems of simultaneous equations with non-Gaussian responses under either homoscedastic or multiplicative heteroscedastic error terms irrespective of the sample size.Keywords—, Contemporaneous correlation, Feasible Generalized Least Square, Heteroscedasticity, Homoscedasticity, Seemingly unrelated Regression.

Objective To determine the clinical manifestations, risk factors, and maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnant and recently pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19). Design Living systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources Medline, Embase, Cochrane database, WHO COVID-19 database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang databases from 1 December 2019 to 27 April 2021, along with preprint servers, social media, and reference lists. Study selection Cohort studies reporting the rates, clinical manifestations (symptoms, laboratory and radiological findings), risk factors, and maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnant and recently pregnant women with suspected or confirmed covid-19. Data extraction At least two researchers independently extracted the data and assessed study quality. Random effects meta-analysis was performed, with estimates pooled as odds ratios or risk difference and proportions with 95% confidence intervals. All analyses are updated regularly. Results 435 studies were included. Overall, 9% (95% confidence interval 7% to 10%; 149 studies, 926 232 women) of pregnant and recently pregnant women attending or admitted to hospital for any reason were diagnosed as having suspected or confirmed covid-19. The most common clinical manifestations of covid-19 in pregnancy were fever and cough (both 36%). Compared with non-pregnant women of reproductive age, pregnant and recently pregnant women with covid-19 were less likely to report symptoms of fever, dyspnoea, cough, and myalgia. The odds of admission to an intensive care unit (odds ratio 2.61, 95% confidence interval 1.84 to 3.71; I 2 =85.6%), and invasive ventilation (2.41, 2.13 to 2.71; I 2 =0%) were higher in pregnant and recently pregnant than non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Overall, 970 pregnant women (0.2%, 123 studies, 179 981 women) with confirmed covid-19 died from any cause. In pregnant women with covid-19, non-white ethnicity, increased maternal age, high body mass index, any pre-existing maternal comorbidity including chronic hypertension and diabetes, and pregnancy specific complications such as gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, were associated with serious complications (severe covid-19, admission to an intensive care unit, invasive ventilation, and maternal death). Compared to pregnant women without covid-19, those with the disease had increased odds of maternal death (odds ratio 6.09, 95% confidence interval 1.82 to 20.38; I 2 =76.6%), of admission to the intensive care unit (5.41, 3.59 to 8.14; I 2 =57.0%), caesarean section (1.17, 1.01 to 1.36; I 2 =80.3%), and of preterm birth (1.57, 1.36 to 1.81; I 2 =49.3%). The odds of stillbirth (1.81, 1.38 to 2.37, I 2 =0%), and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (2.18, 1.46 to 3.26, I 2 =85.4%) were higher in babies born to women with covid-19 versus those without covid-19. Conclusion Pregnant and recently pregnant women with covid-19 attending or admitted to the hospitals for any reason are less likely to manifest symptoms such as fever, cough, dyspnoea, and myalgia, but are more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit or needing invasive ventilation than non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Pre-existing comorbidities, non-white ethnicity, chronic hypertension, pre-existing diabetes, high maternal age, and high body mass index are risk factors for severe covid-19 outcomes in pregnancy. Pregnant women with covid-19 versus without covid-19 are more likely to deliver preterm and have an increased risk of maternal death and of being admitted to the intensive care unit. Their babies are more likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020178076. Readers’ note This article is a living systematic review that will be updated to reflect emerging evidence. Updates may occur for up to two years from the date of original publication. This version is update 2 of the original article published on 1 September 2020 ( BMJ 2020;370:m3320), and previous updates can be found as data supplements ( https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3320/related#datasupp ). When citing this paper please consider adding the update number and date of access for clarity.

The covid-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges to medical school applicants.1 These changes have particularly affected students from widening access backgrounds—that is, young people from under-represented groups such as those of a lower socioeconomic …

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are an increasing threat to patient safety but only a small percentage of CRE identified are NDMs. Since 2018, clinical CRE isolates have been submitted to the Ohio Department of Health for sequencing and NDM cases have notably increased since that time. Candida auris is an emerging pathogen with similar risk factors for colonization as CRE. Methods: A point-prevalence study was initiated after an index patient was identified with NDM CRE infection or colonization during their inpatient admission. Two patient populations were included in the study: current patients on the same unit as the index patient and currently hospitalized patients who overlapped on any unit with the index patient for at least 72 hours. Patients had perirectal screening for CRE (via PCR) and axilla or groin screening for C. auris (via Xpert Carba-R Assay). Patients were excluded if they had been discharged, expired, or refused testing. Results: We completed 5 point-prevalence studies from March 21, 2021, to October 15, 2021. The index patients were admitted at different times and across 2 campuses including medical, cardiac, and surgical ICUs as well as medical-surgical and inpatient rehabilitation units. Moreover, 3 species of NDM were identified from urine and 2 species were identified from bronchoalveolar lavage: Enterobacter hormaechei, Citrobacter freundii, and Enterobacter cloacae complex. C. freundii and E. cloacae complex both had dual mechanisms of NDM and KPC. Although some of the index patients overlapped temporally within the health system, none overlapped in the same unit or building. None of the patients had recently received health care outside the United States, although 1 patient had emigrated from Togo >5 years prior and 4 had had prior local healthcare exposure within 12 months of admission. Also, 147 patients were identified for screening; 105 consented, 32 declined, and 10 were excluded due to being discharged, deceased, or unable to consent. Inpatient point-prevalence screening tests for all patients tested (n = 105) were negative for NDM CRE and C. auris. Conclusions: Despite an increase of inpatients with NDM CRE, evidence of patient-to-patient transmission was not identified, likely resulting from adherence to standard precautions. The diversity of species and lack of international travel suggests that these patients likely acquired NDM CRE from a local reservoir in the community or healthcare settings. Given the continued increase in NDM CRE without traditional risk factors, it is critical for hospitals and public health agencies to collaborate to identify these organisms and that they develop surveillance programs to clarify risk factors for colonization.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

The concentration and spatial distribution of the gamma ray emitting 238 U, 232 Th, 40 K and 137 Cs radionuclides in dumpsite soils in Agbara were analyzed with the aim of evaluating the radiation hazards and excessive lifetime cancer risk using well calibrated HPGe γ-ray spectrometry technique. The ranges of activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th, 40 K and 137 Cs are 11.5 ± 1.0 ↔ 166 ± 40 Bq kg −1 , 15.6 ± 1.8 ↔ 31.4 ± 2.3 Bq kg −1 , 20.4 ± 1.3 ↔ 366 ± 30 Bq kg −1 and 0.52 ± 0.1 ↔ 8.44 ± 0.2 Bq kg −1 respectively. Radiological parameters such as absorbed dose rate, radium equivalent, annual effective dose equivalent, internal and external hazard indices, gamma level index, activity utilization index, annual genetic significant dose equivalent, exposure rate and excessive lifetime cancer risk were calculated to know the complete radiological hazardous nature of the dumpsite soils to the inhabitants of the sites. The calculated radiological parameters were higher than the world average value in two of the sampling points. The ratio of the detected radioisotopes was calculated for spatial distribution of natural radionuclides in the study area. RESRAD computer code was applied to calculate the total effective dose equivalent (TEDE). The code was also used to calculate the probability of excess lifetime cancer incurred by dwellers/inhabitants of the dumpsites, the level of which was determined to be 0.5 × 10 −4 and 2.5 × 10 −5 for Idowale and Ibijola dumpsite soils over a period of 30 years respectively. Therefore, the radiological risks to the general populations from waste enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (WENORM) from the Idowale dumpsite top soils are considered to be significant.

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of stress, illness perceptions, and behaviors on healing of venous leg ulcers. Methods A prospective observational study of 63 individuals for 24 weeks investigated possible psychosocial predictors of healing. There were two indices of healing: rate of change in ulcer area and number of weeks to heal. Psychological variables were assessed at baseline using self-report measures (Perceived Stress Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire, adapted Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, Adherence Questionnaire, and Short-Form Health Survey). Results Controlling for sociodemographic and clinical variables, for the 24 weeks, a slower rate of change in ulcer area was predicted by greater stress (standardized β = −0.61, p = .008), depression (standardized β = −0.51, p = .039), and holding negative perceptions or beliefs about the ulcer (standardized β = −1.4, p = .045). By 24 weeks, 69% of ulcers had closed. A more negative emotional response to the ulcer at baseline (i.e., emotional representation of the ulcer) was associated with a greater number of weeks to heal (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.41-0.95, p = .028). Higher educational attainment (HR = 3.22, 95% CI = 1.37–7.55, p = .007) and better adherence to compression bandaging (HR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.06–1.88, p = .019) were associated with fewer weeks to heal. No other psychosocial variable (stress, perceptions about the ulcer, health behaviors) predicted weeks to heal. Conclusions Alongside ulcer-related predictors, psychological and sociodemographic factors were associated with healing. Future research should explore mediating mechanisms underlying these associations and develop interventions to target these variables.

Background & Aim: In this study, efficient Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm for feature selection and classification of multi-category tumour classes of biological samples using gene expression profiles was proposed. Methods: Feature selection interface of the algorithm employed the F-statistic of the ANOVA–like testing scheme at some chosen family-wise-error-rate which ensured efficient detection of false-positive genes. The selected gene subsets using the above method were further screened for optimality using the Misclassification Error Rates yielded by each of them and their combinations in a sequential selection manner. In a 10-fold cross-validation, the optimal values of the SVM parameters with appropriate kernel were determined for tissue sample classification using one-versus-all approach. The entire data matrix was randomly partitioned into 95% training set to train the SVM classifier and 5% test set to evaluate the predictive performance of the classifier over 1,000 Monte-Carlo cross-validation runs. Published microarray breast cancer dataset with five clinical endpoints was employed to validate the results from the simulation studies. Results: Results from Monte-Carlo study showed excellent performance of the SVM classifier with higher prediction accuracy of the tissue samples based on the few gene biomarkers selected by the proposed feature selection method. Conclusion: SVM could be considered as a classification of multi-category tumour classes of biological