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Background: In cancer microenvironment, there is increased production of inflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1a, and IL-6. These cytokines are capable of causing thrombus formation through the activation of tissue factors. Then, the Khorana risk score can be Utilised to stratify the risk of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients. AIM: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between levels of IL 6, TNF-α, and Khorana scores of chemotherapy-naïve ambulatory cancer patients (CNACPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. The case group (n = 100) consisted of newly diagnosed CNACP recruited from adult oncology clinics of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla Enugu, Nigeria, whereas the control group (n = 100) consisted of healthy individuals. The participants’ blood samples were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique for IL-6 and TNF-α. Demographic variables were analysed using descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and percentages and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were significant differences between the mean levels of IL-6 (P = 0.036) and TNF-α (P = 0.001) in three Khorana score groups of the case group. Further, comparisons of mean IL-6 levels between three Khorana score groups showed that differences were between high-risk versus low-risk groups (P = 0.026) and between intermediate-risk versus low-risk groups (P = 0.014). Comparison of mean TNF-α levels in three Khorana score groups of CNACP showed that differences were between high-risk versus low-risk groups (P = 0.026) and between intermediate-risk versus low-risk groups (P = 0.014). Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between the Khorana scores and IL-6 (r = 0.28, P = 0.031) and TNF-α (r = 0.254, P = 0.011). The mean serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly higher in CNACP than in healthy control (8.98 [8–12] pg/ml vs. 8.43 [2–10] pg/ml, P < 0.001) and (P < 0.001 and < 0.01), respectively. Conclusion: Inflammatory biomarkers are elevated in ambulatory CNACP and their values are significantly related with Khorana scores. There is a need for more studies on the possible benefit of prophylactic anticoagulation for newly diagnosed CNACP.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with the outcome of the 2023 diphtheria outbreak in Jigawa State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted amongst all line-listed diphtheria cases reported from Jigawa State, Nigeria, using the 2023 Integrated Disease and Surveillance Response line list of cases that met the World Health Organization case definition of diphtheria. A total of 245 line-listed cases from January 2023 to December 2023 met the criteria for inclusion in the study. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 22.0 with a P value set at ≤5%. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the independent predictors of the outcome of the 2023 outbreak. Results: The maximum age of the line-listed cases was 39 years, and the minimum was 1 year with a median of 8 (interquartile range = 5–8) years. More than two-thirds (68.2%) of the cases were ≥5 years of age. More than one-third of the cases (39.6%) were from the northeast senatorial zone of the state. Out of the total 245 cases, 14 died of the disease representing a case fatality rate of 6%, and an attack rate of 3.4 per 100,000 populations. The majority of the cases (95.5%) had fever, cough (81.2%), pharyngitis (86.9%), tonsillitis (96.7%) and laryngitis (82.0%). More diphtheria-related mortalities were recorded amongst cases

Background: Fibroadenoma (FA) is documented as the most common benign breast disease typically presenting as a lump. A wide variety of other diseases including breast cancer can similarly present as lumps hence the need for further differentiation. Ultrasonography plays a vital role in the evaluation and treatment of breast lumps with histological analysis as the gold standard. Objective: This study compared the physical and sonographic features of the breast in women with FA and women with breast lumps due to other diseases. Materials and Methods: This is a single-centre comparative study. Clinical and sonographic breast evaluations of the recruited patients with lumps were done and reported using the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System score. The lumps were biopsied, and histological diagnosis was documented. Clinical and imaging features of the breasts of women with FA were then compared with those of women with lumps from other breast diseases, and collated data were analysed using SPSS Statistical version 23.0. Results: Data from 118 subjects (59 in each group) were used for this study. There was a significant difference in the physical and sonographic appearance of FA concerning the patient’s age, parity, change in lesion size, perilesional architecture, echogenicity, borders, capsule and background breast density. No FA was found in women with less dense breasts. Conclusion: The sonographic features of breasts showed some differences from the corresponding features of FA and other breast lesions. This has the potential to increase the efficiency of pre-operative diagnosis of FA and could be further applied in developing diagnostic criteria for FA in our environment.

Background: Physical exercise helps to mitigate cardiovascular risks in people with diabetes mellitus (DM), but there are limited data in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess cardiovascular risk awareness, exercise practices and metabolic outcomes among Nigerians with diabetes. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at five tertiary hospitals using questionnaire interviews and clinical assessments. Participants’ knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and knowledge of exercise were assessed on 12- and 5-item scores, while exercise practices were classed as adequate if performed regularly on 3 or more days weekly for a total of 150 min or more based on the American Diabetes Association recommendations. Mean body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose, serum haemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), lipid profile, urea, creatinine and uric acid were then compared among participant groups. Results: We studied 426 participants with DM, 58.7% females. The mean age was 52.9 ± 13.1 years, with males significantly older than females (54.6 ± 12.2 vs. 51.8 ± 13.5 years; 95% confidence interval: 0.27–5.28, P = 0.03). The mean age at diabetes diagnosis was 44.8 ± 11.7 years, and the median duration of diabetes was 84 months. There was low knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and low knowledge of exercise (mean scores of 2.94 and 2.31, respectively). Forty-three per cent of participants reported adequate exercise, which was significantly associated with younger age (P = 0.007), male gender (P = 0.001) and formal education (P = 0.021). Participants with adequate exercise had lower systolic BP and serum urea compared to those with inadequate exercise, but there were no significant differences in BMI, fasting glucose, HbA1c, serum lipids, creatinine or uric acid. Conclusion: Participants had low knowledge of cardiovascular risks and the appropriate exercise practices for diabetes patients. There is a need for better patient education on diabetes self-care and exercise at clinic visits.

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder associated with variable air flow obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. It is characterised clinically by recurrent episodes of cough, difficulty in breathing and wheezing which resolves spontaneously or with treatment. The socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of asthmatic children in north western Nigeria have not been reported. Methods: This was a descriptive study in children with asthma aged 4-15 years carried out over a 3 month period Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano. The aim was to determine the socio-demographic and clinical parameters of asthmatic children. Asthmatic children whose parents or guardian consented to the study were recruited consecutively. Their bio-data, sociodemographic and physical examination were documented. Results: Seventy asthmatic children were recruited of which 50(71.4%) were males and 20(28.6%) were females, giving a male: female ratio of 2.5:1. Insecticide was the commonest asthma trigger (64.3%) and 26(37.1%) patients belonged to socio economic class III. Mild persistent asthma was the commonest form of asthma severity encountered. There was positive correlation between PEFR and height (r = 0.577, p< 0.0001). Conclusion: Most of the asthmaticschildren seen at AKTH, Kano were males with mild persistent asthma, had positive family history of atopy and belonged to the middle socio economic class.

Background: Death certification is an integral part of physician practice, yet common errors are being encountered from this vital source of health information. Most medical training programs lack formal curricula for this important skill. Accurate information from DC will help in improve our mortality data which can be use public health purposes Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of a multifaceted educational intervention on accuracy of completing death certification in a tertiary-based paediatric residency program Method: A pre-post intervention and control cohort study over 12- month period to assess the effect of our multifaceted intervention accuracy rate of completed DC was conducted. The intervention consisted of a 3-part program (distribution of educational material, presentation by a skilled instructor, skills workshop, and clinical mortality/auditing feedback sessions). Primary outcome was the difference in scores preand post-intervention and also the rate of accuracy on the MAHI death certificate scoring system. Results: The mean score before the intervention was 6.8±2.7 and 7.1±2.3 in both the intervention and control cohorts respectively. The mean score after the intervention was 16.3±2.5 and 7.3±2.8 in both the intervention and control cohorts respectively indicating an increase in scores. The mean difference in pre- and post-tutorial scores was significant (t=20.39, p=0.0001). Conclusions: We found that using a multifaceted educational intervention to train junior physicians on how to correctly complete a DC was effective in a residency-based pediatric program

Background: Malaria has remained a major public health problem in Nigeria with the under-five aged children and pregnant women being the most affected. The local epidemiological profile of the disease is dynamic owing to the continuous variation in the various determinants and hence the need for periodic re-evaluation. We aim to determine the prevalence of malariaparasitaemia among the under -five aged children and the effect of various determinants. Material and Method: In this cross-sectional study, 433 out- patients aged below 5 years with fever or history of fever in the previous 72hours were enrolled. Relevant information was obtained and recorded using a questionnaire. Thick and thin films were prepared from a finger or heel prick for each of the patients and subjected to microscopy. Result: The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was 27.7%. Age, sex, nutritional status, socio- economic class, temperature at presentation as well as ownership of insecticide treated nets had no significant effect on the prevalence of malaria (p>0.05). Only P. falciparum was seen in all the positive slides. The parasite density was generally low with 48.3% having parasite densities below 100/μl and only 7.5% had parasite density of ≥1000/μl. Parasite density increased significantly with increasing age (p=0041). Nutritional status as well as other studied factors had no significant effect on parasite density (p>0.05). Conclusion and Recommendation: Prevalence of malaria infection was high in the population studied. It is characterized by low density parasitaemia and hence the need to interpret negative results with caution. Age, gender, socio-economic and nutritional status, temperatureat presentation as well as ownership of ITN had no significant effect on prevalence of malaria parasitaemia. There is need to strengthen and scale up various malaria control programs while ensuring proper implementations of programs and activities through effective monitoring and evaluation.

Background: Under nutrition and overweight in children co-exist in developing countries and may persist into adulthood. Interpretation of body mass index (BMI), a useful measure of nutritional status in children requires age related reference standards, many of which were developed from different international sources. It is necessary to determine which of these reference standards is most suitable for use in the assessment of BMI distribution among adolescents in Nigeria. Objective: To determine the prevalence of thinness, overweight and obesity using the World Health Organization (WHO), International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), and Centre for Disease Control (CDC) reference standards and assess their level of agreement amongst adolescents in Sokoto metropolis. Methods: 800 students were selected through multi-stage sampling technique from secondary schools. BMI was classified according to three reference standards (WHO, CDC, IOTF). Data was analysed with SPSS version 22. The level of agreement between the reference standards in diagnosing nutritional status was assessed using Kappa statistics. Level of significance was put at p< 0.05. Results: The prevalence rate of thinness was highest with the IOTF at 22.6% compared to 19.4%, and 19.6% by the WHO and CDC respectively. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were highest with the WHO reference standards at 7.0% and 1.3% followed by the IOTF (6.1%and 0.6%) and lowest with the CDC (5.8% and 0.3%). Substantial agreement was observed between WHO and IOTF (Kappa = 0.77), while the level of agreement was 0.68 for IOTF/CDC and 0.64 for WHO/CDC. All agreement statistics were significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The WHO and IOTF reference charts may be more suitable for our population.

The Paediatric Association of Nigeria first published management guideline for community-acquired pneumonia in 2015 and covered available evidence at that time. This update represents a review of available recent evidence statements regarding the management of pneumonia in children, while at the same time incorporating relevant materials from the first edition of the guideline. The guideline is developed to assist clinicians in the care of children with CAP. The recommendations provided in this guideline may not be the only approach to management, since there are considerable variations among children in the clinical course of CAP. The goal of this guideline is to reduce morbidity and mortality rate of CAP in children by providing recommendations that may be relevant in assisting clinicians to make timely diagnosis and institute appropriate antibiotic therapy of children with CAP. Summarized below are recommendations made in the new 2021 CAP guideline. As part of the recommendations, the quality of the evidence is provided and the grade of the recommendation indicated. The details of the background, methods and evidence summaries that support each of these recommendations can be found in the full text of the guideline.

Dextrocardia with situs inversus are rare congenital anomalies which can be asymptomatic and compatible with normal life. They are characterized by mirror images of all intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal viscera. Our aim is to report an incidental finding of dextrocardia with situs inversus in a neonate with neonatal sepsis. A day-old male term neonate presented with features of infection. Physical examination revealed cardiac apex on the 4th right intercostal space, along the mid-clavicular line. Chest radiograph and abdominal ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of dextrocardia with situs inversus. Bilateral cervical ribs were also seen on chest radiograph. He was managed with antibiotics and discharged. Newborn babies should have a thorough physical examination after delivery before discharge to enable early diagnosis of congenital anomalies for appropriate referral.

Background: Cardiomyopathies are myocardial disorders in which the heart muscle is structurally and functionally abnormal, thereby affecting the ventricular systolic function and/or diastolic function. Comprehensive approach to management warrants recognizing the clinical profile in order to strategize to improve outcomes. Aim: To evaluate the types of cardiomyopathies, presentation and outcome among children admitted into a tertiary hospital in Sokoto. Methods. A hospital based prospective study of children aged below 15 years who were seen over an 8.5-year period. A proforma was used to collect the information on their socio-demographics, type of cardiomyopathy, associated presentations and outcome. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 25. Results: 71 out of 78,321 children seen that period (0.1%) were diagnosed with CM giving a hospital prevalence of 90.7/100,000. They comprised 40 (56.3%) males and 31 (43.7%) females. Age ranged from 1 month to 15 years (6.2 ± 3.8 years). Dilated CM (DCM) was the commonest in 63 (88.7%), restrictive CM (endomyocardial fibrosis-EMF) in 5 (7.0%) and hypertrophic (HCM) in 3 (4.2%). Forty-six (73%) of DCM had severe systolic dysfunction. DCM also occurred in 2 siblings of 2 patients on follow up. Two of the patients with EMF had recurrent pericardial effusions and all the patients with HCM died in infancy. Thirty (42.2%) of the total patients were lost to follow-up while 27 (38.0%) died. Conclusion: Dilated cardiomyopathy followed by restrictive type are the commonest types seen among children in Sokoto. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Abstract This study assessed the gamma-ray shielding potential of clay, sand, gypsum and kaolin commonly used as a building material in Northwestern, Nigeria. The radiological status of the samples was first evaluated by determining the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K using NaI (Tl) detector after which elemental composition and mass density were determined using Neutron Activation Analytical Technique. After which the mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), linear attenuation coefficients (LAC), half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), and effective atomic number (Zeff) were determined experimentally and theoretically using standard point sources of 137Cs and 60Co photon peaks (0.662 and 1.332, 1.173) MeV and Py-MLBUF software. The activity concentrations were found to range from 51 to 59 Bq kg−1 with a mean value of 59 Bq kg−1 for 238U, 24 to 27 Bq kg−1 with a mean value of 29 Bq kg−1 for 232Th, and 219 to 247 Bq kg−1 with a mean value of 247 Bq kg−1 for 40K which were about within the world recommended values of 33, 45 and 420 Bq kg−1 respectively. The results of the elemental compositions show that Si, Al, K, Fe, and Ba in clay and sand samples have concentrations in the range of 36.83–78.48%, 1.92–26.05%, 6.33–21.96%, 2.39–19.09%, and 0.09–1.44%, respectively, while in kaolin and gypsum, results revealed that Si, Al, K, Fe, and Ca range between 0.34 and 65.52%, 1.14–35.82%, 0.00–12.12%, 0.00–5.77%, and 0.00–96.6%, respectively. However, the concentrations of other elements such as Mg, Ti, Mn, Zn, Na, and Ba varied significantly with the samples. The results showed that clay has an average density of 1.96 g/cm3, sand has 2.32 g/cm3, kaolin has 2.63 g/cm3, and gypsum has the highest density with a value of 2.66 g/cm3 compared to other samples. During the measurements, a thallium-activated sodium-iodide NaI (TI) detector was used. A narrow beam transmission geometry condition was adopted for the measurements to ensure minimal scattered radiation. Absorption and attenuation of gamma beams as a function of sample thickness against gamma energy generally exhibit an increasing gamma ray behaviour as the sample thickness increases from 1 to 3 cm. The results showed that the gypsum, kaolin, sand, and clay were capable of attenuating 63.5%, 61.5%, 58.4%, and 44.2 of gamma-ray photons of energy 0.662 MeV at 3 cm thickness %, respectively, and 40.6%, 32.9%, 30.6%, and 27.3% of gamma energy 1.332 MeV at 3 cm thickness, respectively. The results showed that MAC, LAC, and Zeff of all the samples decreased with an increase in photon energy, while those of HVL and TVL increased. The experimental results for all the gamma-ray shielding parameters were found to be in good agreement with the theoretical values obtained using Py-MLBUF. The results have shown that all the samples have similar photon attenuation behaviours; however, gypsum has the best shielding potential than kaolin and this is attributed due to its highest density value.

Abstract Background Following WHO guidelines, microscopy is the gold standard for malaria diagnosis in endemic countries. The Parasitology-Mycology laboratory (LPM) is the National Reference Laboratory and is currently undergoing ISO 15189 accreditation. In this context, we assessed the performance of the laboratory by confirming the reliability and the accuracy of results obtained in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 15189 standards. This study aimed to verify the method of microscopic diagnosis of malaria at the LPM, in the Aristide Le Dantec hospital (HALD) in Dakar, Senegal. Methods This is a validation/verification study conducted from June to August 2020. Twenty (20) microscopic slides of thick/thin blood smear with known parasite densities (PD) selected from the Cheick Anta Diop University malaria slide bank in Dakar were used for this assessment. Six (6) were used to assess microscopists’ ability to determine PD and fourteen (14) slides were used for detection (positive vs negative) and identification of parasites. Four (4) LPM-HALD microscopists read and recorded their results on prepared sheets. Data analysis was done with Microsoft Excel 2010 software. Results A minimum threshold of 50% concordance was used for comparison. Of the twenty (20) slides read, 100% concordance was obtained on eight (8) detection (positive vs negative) slides. Four (4) out of the six (6) parasite density evaluation slides obtained a concordance of less than 50%. Thirteen (13) out of the fourteen (14) identification slides obtained a concordance greater than 50%. Only one (1) identification slide obtained zero agreement from the microscopists. For species identification a concordance greater than 80% was noted and the microscopists obtained scores between 0.20 and 0.4 on a scale of 0 to 1 for parasite density reading. The microscopists obtained 100% precision, sensitivity, specificity and both negative and positive predictive values. Conclusion This work demonstrated that the microscopic method of malaria diagnosis used in the LPM/HALD is in accordance with the requirements of WHO and ISO 15189. Further training of microscopists may be needed to maintain competency.

Abstract The utilization of plants for the production of metallic nanoparticles is gaining significant attention in research. In this study, we conducted phytochemical screening of Alstonia scholaris (A. scholaris) leaves extracts using various solvents, including chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, methanol, and water. Our findings revealed higher proportions of flavonoids and alkaloids in both solvents compared to other phytochemical species. In the methanol, extract proteins, anthraquinone and reducing sugar were not detected. On the other hand, the aqueous extract demonstrated the presence of amino acids, reducing sugar, phenolic compounds, anthraquinone, and saponins. Notably, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts displayed the highest levels of bioactive compounds among all solvents. Intrigued by these results, we proceeded to investigate the antibacterial properties of the leaf extracts against two major bacterial strains, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). All extracts exhibited significant zones of inhibition against both bacterial isolates, with S. aureus showing higher susceptibility compared to E. coli. Notably, the methanol extract displayed the most potent I hibitory effect against all organisms. Inspired by the bioactivity of the methanol extract, we employed it as a plant-based material for the green synthesis of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs). The synthesized Cu-NPs were characterized using Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–visible spectroscopic analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The observed color changes confirmed the successful formation of Cu-NPs, while the FTIR analysis matched previously reported peaks, further verifying the synthesis. The SEM micrographs indicated the irregular shapes of the surface particles. From the result obtained by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis, Cu has the highest relative abundance of 67.41 wt%. Confirming the purity of the Cu-NPs colloid. These findings contribute to the growing field of eco-friendly nanotechnology and emphasize the significance of plant-mediated approaches in nanomaterial synthesis and biomedical applications.

Abstract A mathematical model that describes the dynamics of bacterium vibrio cholera within a fixed population considering intrinsic bacteria growth, therapeutic treatment, sanitation and vaccination rates is developed. The developed mathematical model is validated against real cholera data. A sensitivity analysis of some of the model parameters is also conducted. The intervention rates are found to be very important parameters in reducing the values of the basic reproduction number. The existence and stability of equilibrium solutions to the mathematical model are also carried out using analytical methods. The effect of some model parameters on the stability of equilibrium solutions, number of infected individuals, number of susceptible individuals and bacteria density is rigorously analyzed. One very important finding of this research work is that keeping the vaccination rate fixed and varying the treatment and sanitation rates provide a rapid decline of infection. The fourth order Runge–Kutta numerical scheme is implemented in MATLAB to generate the numerical solutions.

Background Sexual violence is prevalent in higher education institutions in Nigeria and stakeholders have encouraged staff and students to blow the whistle whenever they fall victim to or are aware of any sexual violence case. However, there is lack of data about whether the staff and students of these institutions have the intention to blow the whistle internally (within the institution) or not. There is also a lack of data on the existing reporting mechanisms or preferred whistleblowing mechanisms in these institutions. These have hindered the analysis of stakeholders’ opinions on this topic. Methods This data note presents a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative data set collected from staff and students of three categories of government owned higher education institutions (Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education) in Nigeria. Data collection was between February and December, 2021, during which quantitative data were collected from 21,937 students and 3,108 staff. Qualitatively, 138 students and 111 staff participated in a total of 35 focus group discussion sessions. The study provides unique information on respondents’ attitude, self-efficacy, and subjective norm to sexual violence whistleblowing. It also provides information on self-reported sexual violence experiences, whistleblowing intention, reporting systems in higher institutions and the preferred sexual violence whistleblowing mechanisms. Conclusions In this data note, we provide a detailed account of the variables in the dataset and then highlight the potential of this study to contribute to improved sexual violence reporting in higher education institutions, thereby reducing the occurrence of the social menace.

Abstract The most widely used method for detecting Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is real-time polymerase chain reaction. However, this method has several drawbacks, including high cost, lengthy turnaround time for results, and the potential for false-negative results due to limited sensitivity. To address these issues, additional technologies such as computed tomography (CT) or X-rays have been employed for diagnosing the disease. Chest X-rays are more commonly used than CT scans due to the widespread availability of X-ray machines, lower ionizing radiation, and lower cost of equipment. COVID-19 presents certain radiological biomarkers that can be observed through chest X-rays, making it necessary for radiologists to manually search for these biomarkers. However, this process is time-consuming and prone to errors. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop an automated system for evaluating chest X-rays. Deep learning techniques can be employed to expedite this process. In this study, a deep learning-based method called Custom Convolutional Neural Network (Custom-CNN) is proposed for identifying COVID-19 infection in chest X-rays. The Custom-CNN model consists of eight weighted layers and utilizes strategies like dropout and batch normalization to enhance performance and reduce overfitting. The proposed approach achieved a classification accuracy of 98.19% and aims to accurately classify COVID-19, normal, and pneumonia samples.

Background: This was a cross-sectional community-based survey to study the prevalence of serum antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-COV-1) and determine possible source of antibodies as to whether from vaccination or from natural infection as well as attempt to compare antibody levels in response to the different four types of vaccines administered in Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study of the prevalence of serum antibodies against all four vaccine types used in Nigeria amongst a representative sample of people aged 18 years and above in the six geopolitical zones of the country using a multistage sampling technique covering 12 states of the country with two states being randomly selected from each geopolitical zone. High-throughput Roche electrochemiluminescence immunoassay system (Elecsys Anti-SARS-COV-1 Cobas) was used for qualitative and quantitative detection of antibodies to SARS-COV-1 in human plasma. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the proportions with seropositivity for both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated (P = 0.95). The nucleocapsid antibody (anti-Nc) titres were similar in both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, whereas the Spike protein antibody (anti-S) titres were significantly higher amongst the vaccinated than amongst the unvaccinated. Antibody levels in subjects who received different vaccines were compared to provide information for policy. Conclusion: While only 45.9% of the subjects were reported to have been vaccinated, 98.7% of the subjects had had contact with the SARS-COV-1 as evidenced by the presence of nucleocapsid (NC) antibodies in their plasma. The 1.3% who had not been exposed to the virus, had spike protein antibodies which most likely resulted from vaccination in the absence of NC antibodies. Successive vaccination and booster doses either through heterogeneous or homologous vaccines increased antibody titres, and this stimulation of immune memory may offer greater protection against coronavirus disease 2019.

Abstract Cancer is one of the major causes of death in the modern world, and the incidence varies considerably based on race, ethnicity, and region. Novel cancer treatments, such as surgery and immunotherapy, are ineffective and expensive. In this situation, ion channels responsible for cell migration have appeared to be the most promising targets for cancer treatment. This research presents findings on the organic compounds present in Albizia lebbeck ethanolic extracts (ALEE), as well as their impact on the anti-migratory, anti-proliferative and cytotoxic potentials on MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines. In addition, artificial intelligence (AI) based models, multilayer perceptron (MLP), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), and extreme learning machine (ELM) were performed to predict in vitro cancer cell migration on both cell lines, based on our experimental data. The organic compounds composition of the ALEE was studied using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. Cytotoxicity, anti-proliferations, and anti-migratory activity of the extract using Tryphan Blue, MTT, and Wound Heal assay, respectively. Among the various concentrations (2.5–200 μg/mL) of the ALEE that were used in our study, 2.5–10 μg/mL revealed anti-migratory potential with increased concentrations, and they did not show any effect on the proliferation of the cells (P

WHO promotes the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to control and eliminate schistosomiasis through preventive chemotherapy, snail control, clean water supply, improved sanitation, behaviour change interventions, and environmental management. The transmission of schistosomiasis involves infected definitive hosts (humans or animals) excreting eggs that hatch (miracidia), which infect freshwater snail vectors (also referred to as intermediate snail hosts) living in marshlands, ponds, lakes, rivers, or irrigation canals. Infective larvae (cercariae) develop within the snail, which, when released, may infect humans and/or animals in contact with the water. Snail control aims to interrupt the transmission cycle of the disease by removing the vector snails and, by so doing, indirectly improves the impact of the preventive chemotherapy by reducing reinfection. Snail control was, for many years, the only strategy for the prevention of schistosomiasis before preventive chemotherapy became the primary intervention. Snails can be controlled through various methods: environmental control, biological control, and chemical control. The chemical control of snails has proven to be the most effective method to interrupt the transmission of schistosomiasis. The current review aims to describe the vector snails of human schistosomiasis, present the chemicals and strategies for the control of snails, the challenges with the implementation, and the future needs. Snail control can play a key role in reducing schistosomiasis transmission and, thus, complements other interventions for disease control. There is a need to develop new molluscicide products or new formulations and methods of applications for existing molluscicides that would target snail vectors more specifically.

Introduction Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. The need to diagnose glaucoma early in its natural history before extensive sight loss occurs cannot be overemphasised. However, glaucoma is largely asymptomatic in the early stages of the disease making it complex to diagnose clinically and requires the support of technology. The objective of this scoping review is to determine the nature and extent of the evidence for use of portable devices in the diagnosis of glaucoma.Methods We will consider studies conducted in all healthcare settings using portable devices for the detection of all type of adult glaucoma. We will also include any systematic reviews or scoping reviews, which relate to this topic. Searches will be conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL on the Cochrane Library and Global Health databases, from their inception to the present. Reference lists from publications identified in the searches will also be reviewed. Two authors will independently screen titles and abstracts, followed by full-text screening to assess studies for inclusion. Any disagreements will be discussed and resolved with a third author. Tables accompanied by narrative descriptions will be employed to discuss results and show how it relates to review questions.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required in this review. Only published and publicly accessible data will be used. We will publish our findings in an open-access, peer-reviewed journal and develop an accessible summary of results and recommendations.

During 2016–2022, PCR testing confirmed 100 mpox cases among 302 suspected cases in the Central African Republic. The highest detection rates were from active lesions (40%) and scabs (36%); cycle thresholds were lower (≈18) than those for blood samples (≈33). Results were consistent for generic primer– and clade I primer–specific PCR tests.

Abstract Background Bronchiolar obstruction, which causes airway obstruction in hyperresponsive airways, often results from the contraction of the airway's smooth muscles, increased viscid mucous secretions, and mucosal oedema consequent upon a reduced cyclic 3,5-adenosine monophosphate (c-AMP). These processes respond to bronchodilators. The six cases presented to us, in Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), Banjul, The Gambia, in the newborn period with clinical features suggesting obstruction with airway reactivity with response to bronchodilator treatment are presented here. Our capacity-limited literature search did not show any such report in neonates. This report highlights the need for this condition to be sought in neonates, medically managed in resource-poor countries without resorting to high-cost equipment use, and for its possible future classification. Case presentation We report six cases of Gambian neonates consisting of four males and two females ages 2–27 days who presented to us with histories of fast breathing of a few hours duration and expiratory respiratory distress. All were term babies with rhonchi and demonstrable prolonged expiration with terminal effort. They all had a diagnosis of hyperreactive airway disease with bronchiolar obstruction. Five cases were first-time wheezers, while one was a recurrence. All were eventually treated with bronchodilators and steroids with good results. The median duration for resolution of most symptoms with treatment was two days, with a range of 1–5 days. Conclusion Clinically determined bronchiolar obstructions in term neonates can be relieved with bronchodilators and steroids, and this treatment modality, if employed where the pathological process can be established, can reduce the demand on scarce resources in resource-poor countries.

Background: School Health Programme (SHP) if effectively implemented, will contribute to the optimal health of schoolchildren. In this survey, the extent of the implementation of SHP in Nigeria was evaluated. Methods: The study was crosssectional nationwide, school-based survey, and schools were randomly selected. The school proprietors, school health personnel, teachers, students, and parents were interviewed using an interviewer- administered questionnaire on the key components of SHP. Results: A total of 105 schools were surveyed. The proportion of students, teachers and parents who were aware of SHP were 26.3%, 11.1% and 9.10%, respectively. The proportion of the schools which conduct mental health, nutritional assessment and visual & hearing screening were 48.6%, 51.4%, and 57.1%, respectively. There were 18 (17.6%) schools that had trained person in charge of the health of students. Schools that still use pit toilet and open defecation method were 22.9% and 11.3%, respectively. The proportion of school with retainership with a health facility was 37.1%. Conclusion: The SHP awareness is poor in Nigeria, and its implementation is sub-optimal. There is need for renewed interest in SHP in Nigeria through reform and deliberate interventions especially on establishing school-based vaccination programme and referral of sick pupils to healthcare facility.

BackgroundDespite the huge burden of sickle cell disease (SCD) among Nigerian children, the burden and outcome of respiratory illnesses remain undocumented. Thus, we aimed to describe the spectrum and outcome of respiratory illnesses among SCD childrenand adolescentadmissions in ten Nigerian tertiary hospitals.MethodA retrospective review of the SCD admission records of children and adolescents with a confirmed diagnosis of respiratory illnesses from 2012 to 2021 in ten tertiary health facilities across five geopolitical zones in Nigeria was conducted. The data, collectedbetween March and June 2023, included the age, sex, diagnosis, complications, duration and outcome of hospitalization.ResultsOf the 72,333 paediatric admissions, 7,256 (10.0%) had SCD; the proportion of SCD from the total admission ranged from 2.1 to 16.3% in the facilities. Of the 7,256 children and adolescents with SCD, 1,213 (16.7%) had respiratory morbidities. Lower respiratory disease was the most common (70.0%) respiratory entity and the majority were pneumonia (40.1.0%), followed by acute chest syndrome (26.7%). Seventeen (1.4%) patients died; all had lower respiratory diseases [(acute chest syndrome ACS (11, 64.7%), pneumonia; 5, 29.4%, and asthma (1, 5.9%). Based on the proportion of deaths among overall SCD, the 17 death cases contributed 9.4% (95% CI 5.9 to 14.5). Factors associated with deaths included duration of hospitalization less than 72 hours and lower respiratory tract diseases.ConclusionSickle cell disease is a major contributor to hospitalization among Nigerian children and adolescents, with high respiratory morbidity and mortality. Pneumonia and acute chest syndrome were associated with mortality, andthe highest risk of death within the first 72 hours.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately impacted people who use drugs (PWUD). This study explored relationships between drug use, COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and infection. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Miami, Florida between March 2021 and October 2022 as part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative and the Miami Adult Studies on HIV (MASH) cohort. Users of cannabis, cocaine/crack, heroin/fentanyl, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, and/or prescription drug misuse in the previous 12 months were considered PWUD. Sociodemographic data, COVID-19 testing history, and vaccination-related beliefs were self-reported. Vaccinations were confirmed with medical records and positivity was determined with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and logistic regression. Of 1,780 participants, median age was 57 years, 50.7% were male, 50.2% Non-Hispanic Black, and 66.0% reported an annual income less than $15,000. Nearly 28.0% used drugs. PWUD were less likely than non-users to self-report ever testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 (14.7% vs. 21.0%, p = 0.006). However, 2.6% of participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with no significant differences between PWUD and non-users (3.7% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.076). PWUD were more likely than non-users to experience difficulties accessing testing (10.2% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.033), vaccine hesitancy (58.9% vs. 43.4%, p = 0.002) and had lower odds of receiving any dose of a COVID-19 vaccine compared to non-users (aOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.49-0.81; p

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus/ Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), has remained a disease of public health concern, with the largest burden being found in sub Saharan Africa. The advent of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has significantly reduced the mortality of the disease, thereby transforming it to a chronic disorder, with significant co-morbid psychiatric sequalae. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and pattern of psychiatric morbidity among PLWHA attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Materials and methods: This was a cross sectional study of adult patients with HIV/AIDS attending outpatient clinic at the S.S. Wali Virology Centre of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital who gave informed consent. Systematic random sampling technique was used. Patients aged 18years and above who had been on ARV drugs for at least one year were included, while those who had a medical emergency and needed immediate attention were excluded. Socio demographic characteristics were obtained using a socio-demographic questionnaire and psychiatric morbidity was assessed with the MINI International Neuropsychiatry Interview. Results: A total of 420 participants were recruited in the study with a male to female ratio of 1:1.5 and mean age of 40.4±10.0 years. The prevalence of a psychiatric disorder was 22.1% out of whom 5.0% had more than one psychiatric diagnosis. Major depression was the most common (11%) psychiatric disorder. Generalized Anxiety disorder, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol abuse accounted for 7.6%, 5.5%, 2.4% and 1.7% of psychiatric disorders respectively. Conclusion: Psychiatric disorders are common in PLWHA, with major depression being the commonest.

Purpose: Rare conditions are often poorly understood, creating barriers in determining the value treatments can provide. This study explored barriers and facilitators to personal health data sharing among those with one particular group of rare hematologic disorders, ie, sickle cell disorder (SCD) and its variants. Methods: A single online focus group among those > 18 years of age and living with SCD was conducted. Participants (N = 25) were recruited through a United Kingdom-based SCD charity. Discussions were transcribed verbatim, with data therein analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Five primary motivators for sharing health data were identified: improving awareness; knowing this would help others; evidencing impact; financial incentives; and being recognized as “experts with lived experience” rather than “specimens to be studied.” Barriers included lack of clarity regarding “why” data was sought and “who” benefited. Participants stated that electronic health record (EHR) and genetic data were often “too detailed” and therefore “off limits” for sharing. However, experiences, mindset, and well-being data, often hidden from the EHR, were acceptable to share and considered a better barometer of how rare conditions treat patients day-to-day. Conclusions: Utilizing patient experience data obtained under real-world conditions is key to painting the most accurate picture of needs and understanding how SCD impacts patients’ day-to-day lives. Study findings suggest that patients with SCD are not merely passive providers of health data, but rather experts by experience. To appreciate the value that patient perspectives bring, we must revisit this status quo, amending our approach to patient centricity and reframing patients as high-value managers of their condition and personal health data who crucially decide what, how, and when they share it.

Background: Kidney diseases requiring haemodialysis are becoming an emerging public health problem. This study aimed to determine the burden, socio-demographic and other risk factors associated with haemodialysis in Northwest Nigeria. Methodology: The study was a retrospective multicentre review of secondary data from the dialysis centres of public hospitals in northwestern Nigeria. Risk factors for renal failure were examined in 1329 patients who were enrolled for haemodialysis between 2019 and 2022 in the four public dialysis centres in Kano and Jigawa state. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 22.0, with statistical significance set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The minimum age of the patients was 2 years and the maximum was 100 years with a median of 48 (interquartile range = 31, 60) years. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was found amongst more than two-thirds 998 (75.1%) of the patients. Up to 51 (3.8%), 62 (4.7%) and 10 (0.8%) were seropositive for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, respectively. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was significantly higher (67.9%, P < 0.001) amongst patients with post-partum haemorrhage (PPH), and were 24 times more likely to develop AKI when compared with those with no PPH (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] =24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [13.5–44.5]). CKD was significantly higher amongst patients with hypertension (HTN) (84.9%, P < 0.001), and were 3.2 times more likely to develop CKD compared with non-hypertensives (aOR = 3.2, 95% CI = [2.4–4.1]). Acute on CKD (AOCCKD) was significantly higher amongst patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) (28.1%, P < 0.001), and were three times more likely to develop AOCCKD than those without CGN (aOR = 3, 95% CI = [2.1–4.2]). Conclusion: PPH was the major reason for AKI related haemodialysis while diabetes and HTN were the major causes of CKD-requiring haemodialysis. CGN was more amongst patients who had dialysis due to acute exacerbation of CKD. The government and relevant stakeholders should ensure a favourable policy for the screening and management of patients.

Introduction: Medication errors (MEs) are important, often overlooked forms of medical error that are associated with morbidity and mortality in health care settings. Among health care workers, knowledge, attitude and perception may affect reporting of MEs. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and perception of MEs among health care workers in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 138 health care workers selected randomly through a stratified sampling. Their responses were collected using pre-tested, self-administered questionnaires and analysed using the Statsitical Package for the Social Sciences. The numerical variables were summarised as means and standard deviations, whereas categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. The Chi-square test was used to test for associations at P < 0.05. Results: All the respondents heard of MEs and up to 108 (78.3%) correctly defined them. While only 121 (87.7%) respondents had fair to good knowledge about MEs, all of them had good perception of them. Major types of MEs known by the respondents were knowledge-based errors (79.7%), rule-based errors (52.9%), action-based errors (67.4%) and memory-based errors (55.8%). The causes of MEs identified were communication problems (88.4%), poor organizational knowledge transfer (63.8%), heavy workload (80.4%) and not reading instructions carefully (63.0%). There was no statistically significant association between the level of knowledge on MEs and sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents. Conclusion: Knowledge and perceptions of MEs were good among our respondents. Adequate mechanism (s) should be put in place to encourage the reporting of MEs whenever they occur to promote patient safety and improve health outcomes.

Background: Adverse pregnancy outcomes occur more commonly in developing countries and are still prevalent in our sub-region. Microalbuminuria is a marker of endothelial dysfunction and has been proposed as an aetiological factor in the development of some adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and pre-term labour. Aim: The aim is to determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria and its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study with follow-up amongst women in early pregnancy presenting at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Three hundred and thirty women with singleton pregnancy at gestational age 0.05). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of microalbuminuria amongst healthy pregnant women and pregnancy complications occurred more frequently in women with microalbuminuria than in those without. However, this association was not sufficient to predict adverse outcomes in pregnancy.

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study is to identify the clinical predictors of mortality among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia during first and second waves in a treatment center in northwestern Nigeria.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of 195 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between April 2020 to March 2021 at a designated COVID-19 isolation center in Kano State, Northwest Nigeria. Data were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Unadjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals and p-values were obtained. To determine independent determinants of mortality, we performed a stepwise multivariate logistic regression model.ResultsOf 195 patients studied, 21(10.77%) patients died. Males comprised 158 (81.03%) of the study population. In the adjusted stepwise logistic regression analysis, age>64 years (OR = 9.476, 95% CI: 2.181-41.165), second wave of the pandemic (OR = 49.340, 95% CI:6.222-391.247), cardiac complications (OR = 24.984, 95% CI: 3.618-172.508), hypertension (OR = 5.831, 95% CI:1.413-24.065) and lowest systolic blood pressure while on admission greater than or equal to 90mmHg were independent predictors of mortality (OR = 0.111, 95%CI: 0.021-0.581).ConclusionStrategies targeted to prioritize needed care to patients with identified factors that predict mortality might improve patient outcome.

Abstract An insect repellent composite containing tiger nut particulate fibre, waste low density polyethene (LDPE) and castor oil alkyd resin was fabricated. Canarium schweinfurthii gum was used as insect repellent compound and maleic anhydride as compatibilizer. The tiger nut chaff was subjected to benzoylation using benzoyl chloride to increase the fibre-matrix interaction. The compound and composition was then moulded with LDPE as dual matrices for excellent physico-mechanical properties (pressed for 5 min, 130 °C and 25 bar and cured). The 10 wt.% treated composite exhibited a minimum water absorption of ~ 0.085%, optimal chemical resistance for both acids (HCl and H2SO4) and bases (NaOH and KOH) and no effect on thickness. Density measurement showed the lowest value of ~ 0.0096 g/cm3 for the treated fibre composite. However, the tensile strength, flexural stress, hardness and impact load were improved up to 35.08 Mpa, 456.3 Mpa, 95 and 730 J/m respectively with treated composites. Insect repellent tests against termites and cockroaches show repellent activity with time intervals. FTIR and SEM analysis showed fibre modification achieved.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) constitutes a serious impediment to the attainment of the World Health Organization's Sustainable Development Goals, which seek to ensure and promote healthy living among humans and animals. Studies have identified the vulnerability of conflict-affected populations to exposure to antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. Resource-limited countries like Afghanistan have suffered for long periods from armed conflicts, and this situation is exacerbated by the already poor or dilapidated healthcare delivery services. The country has suffered human and economic losses due to antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections driven by the prolonged war, as well as a limited number of antimicrobials and frequent under dosage. Most reports point to the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics as the main reason for building up resistant strains. There is a need for more efforts toward identifying the major contributors and enlightening the public on the importance of AMR. This review aimed to provide a critical appraisal regarding the current situation of AMR in Afghanistan.

Background: Adenoid hypertrophy is the most common cause of nasopharyngeal airway obstruction in children. The radiographic evaluation of the adenoid hypertrophy using the adenoid-nasopharyngeal ratio is a simple, economical, and reliable method in determination of the position, size, and shape of the adenoids. Aims and Objectives: The study was conducted to determine the correlation between radiographic adenoid-nasopharyngeal ratio and clinical symptoms of adenoid hypertrophy. Materials and Methods: This crosssectional prospective study was carried out in the Department of Radiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, North West Nigeria. A total of 90 consecutive patients aged between 3 and 12 years with clinical symptoms of adenoid hypertrophy were included in the study. All the patients had plain radiography of the post-nasal space. The adenoid-nasopharyngeal ratio (ANR), which is the ratio of the adenoid thickness measured from the maximum convexity of the adenoid to the margin of the basiocciput and the nasopharyngeal depth measured from the posterior border of the hard palate to the anteroinferior aspect of the sphenobasioccipital synchondrosis (Fujioka method), was calculated and scores obtained for each patient were graded into mild (0.50–0.62), moderate (0.63–0.75), and severe (0.76–0.88). The clinical symptoms assessed included snoring, mouth breathing, sleep apnea, otitis media, and recurrent upper airway infections. Each symptom was scored on a 4-point scale and the sum of the scores was graded into mild (0–5), moderate (6–10), and severe (11–15). The data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22. Results: A total of 90 patients were involved in the study, their age ranged between 3 and 12 years (mean=6.11±2.77); and male-tofemale ratio was 2:1.5. The mean ANR score was 0.71±0.11 and that of the clinical symptoms score was 8.67±3.23. ANR correlated significantly with the clinical symptoms scores (r=0.901; P

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection has been known to pose one of the most formidable challenges to progress and development. It is a public health burden associated with high morbidity. Chest radiograph is an important tool in manifesting some of the findings associated with HIV. Aims and Objectives: To determine the baseline chest radiographic findings among HIV positive adults in a poor resource economy. Materials and Methods: 140 Newly diagnosed adult HIV positive, HAART naïve, participants were recruited in the Radiology Department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto and had their chest radiograph done using Silhoutte VR System GE diagnostic x-ray equipment. The processed radiographs were viewed using an illuminated viewing box and then reported by the investigator and cross-checked by another consultant Radiologist. Data collated was analysed using SPSS version 23. Results: The study showed female to male ratio of 2.2: 1. Normal chest radiographic finding was found in 67(47.9%) participants. Pulmonary consolidation 32 (22.9%) constituted the highest abnormal chest finding. The least of the abnormal radiographic findings were emphysematous bullae 1(0.7%) and plate atelectasis 1(0.7%). Majority of the lesions were in the upper zone, 43(30.7%) and on the right side. Conclusion: The study provides baseline data on the chest radiographic patterns among the HAART naïve HIV positive adult patients in a poor resource economy.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are group of parasitic nematodes transmitted through ingestion of eggs in contaminated food and water or through active skin penetration by an infective larva. Aim: This study determined the prevalence of STHs and molecular identification of Ascaris lumbricoides in fresh carrots and cucumbers in Jos Plateau State, Nigeria. Materials and Method: This was a cross-sectional study of carrots and cucumbers obtained from two vegetable markets and streets of Jos metropolis. About 200 g of each sample was weighed and washed separately in a sterile container using 200 ml of normal saline. This was allowed to sediment overnight, and the sediment was examined microscopically for eggs or larvae of parasites using ×10 and ×40 objectives of the light microscope. The positive samples for eggs of A. lumbricoides were subjected to molecular identification. The data obtained were computed using IBM SPSS software version 26. Results: The overall prevalence of STHs was 38.3% (138/360). The rate of contamination was higher in carrots with 45.0% (81/180) compared to 31.7% (57/180) of the total cucumbers examined. This was statistically significant (P = 0.009). The vegetables from the Farin-Gada market were the most contaminated, having a prevalence of 63 (52.5%), followed by the building Materials Market 50 (41.7%) and street traders 25 (20.8%). Strongyloides stercoralis was the most identified parasite totaling 69 (50.0%), followed by hookworm 51 (37.0%), A. lumbricoides 10 (7.2%), and Trichuris trichiura 8 (5.8%) being the least. Conclusions: There was a high contamination of carrots and cucumber studied in this research by STHs. Hence, there is a need for proper washing and possible decontamination before consumption to prevent food-borne infections.

Community mobilization, partnership, and surveillance are regarded as key elements in various polio eradication activities. Several nongovernmental organizations have led community mobilizers (CMs) in different aspects of the polio eradication campaigns, and their effectiveness shows mixed findings. This study systematically reviewed the literature on the role of CMs in polio eradication activities. Literature searches were conducted using a combination of key words to find relevant published studies up to 30 November 2020. The 27-item Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist addressing the various components of systematic review was adhered to. A total of 1627 articles were identified by the search, with 65 articles passing the title/abstract and full text reviews, and with four additional articles obtained from references of articles included (making a total of 69 articles). Of these 69 articles involved in the review, 24 (five reviews and 19 original articles) focused largely and explicitly on CMs and were included in the full review. The rest (45) discussed CMs in a broader context, hence they were summarized based on part 1 of the data extraction form only.The findings of the review indicated that although CMs’ instrumental role in health promotion and supporting immunization is consistent for all the reviewed studies, their role in acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) case detection is limited. The role of CMs, other actors in community-based surveillance, and health education needs to be further strengthened, particularly in high-risk communities where routine immunization and AFP surveillance are much needed.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific condition, with a serious impact on the health and quality of life of both mother and child. PE is a multisystem progressive disorder that occurs following placental and maternal vascular dysfunction and resolves postpartum over a variable period of time. Objectives: The study was aimed to determine the incidence as well as the perinatal and maternal outcomes of PE at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients managed in the labor and postnatal wards of the LUTH, Idi-Araba, Nigeria, over a 5-year period. A study proforma was used to collect relevant data which were entered and analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Statistics) Version 23. Results: A total of 426 pregnancies were complicated with PE giving an incidence of 10.2% of all deliveries during the study period. Several maternal complications recorded included: acute kidney injury (1.9%), abruptio placentae (2.1%), postpartum hemorrhage (2.4%), maternal mortality (3.8%). The perinatal mortality rate was 16.7%, and 35.4% of the live births required neonatal intensive care unit admission. Conclusion: PE contributed a sizeable proportion of deliveries in LUTH, Nigeria during the study period. It also played a significant role in maternal and perinatal complications.

Background: Every workplace has got hazards in many different forms, ranging from sharps, falling objects, chemicals, infections, noise and a lot of other potentially dangerous situations. The occupational safety and health administration mandates employers to protect their employees from such potentially dangerous workplace hazards. Personal protective equipment (PPE) plays an important role in preventing and ensuring health safety amongst industrial workers. This study aimed to determine the use of PPE and rules compliance amongst Industrial Workers in Kano State. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to assess 150 workers selected from the Sharada Industrial Estate, Kano, Nigeria, using a multistage sampling technique. Data were obtained using semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and analysed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: The response rate was 88.2%, and the mean age of respondents was 28.1 ± 7.4. About 72% were male, 74.7% had secondary education and 16.4% reported ever having a child with a congenital anomaly. Up to 25% reported using PPE always, 62% used PPE occasionally and 12% never used PPE. Factors significantly associated with the use of PPE at bivariate level were: Gender, 'provision of statutory regulation by the management', 'provision of PPE on worksite' and 'provision of training to staff' respectively. However, on multivariable regression analysis, only 'provision of statutory regulation by the management' and 'provision of PPE on worksite' were found to be independent (intrinsic) predictors of the use of PPE. Conclusions: Training alone does not necessarily increase the uptake of PPE amongst industrial workers. There is a need to ensure the availability of PPE at the worksite, as well as statutory regulations by industries.

Kwashi tremors or Kwashi shakes are uncommon neurological complications of unknown etiology seen in edematous forms of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) during rehabilitation phase of treatment. Four patients with SAM seen in our facility within a 30-month period who developed coarse tremors are presented. The aim was to highlight this uncommon presentation of SAM in our setting. Of the four patients, 3 were male and 1 was a female. Their age ranged from 19 months to 2 years and they weighed between 5.5 and 8.7 kg. Their common clinical presentation included body swelling, loss of appetite, fever, and tremors which developed after discharge. All the patients had increased/overzealous protein intake while at home. The tremors resolved completely in all the patients, but more slowly in two of the patients with hypocalcaemia. In conclusion, Kwashi shakes occurring during rehabilitation of edematous SAM with increased protein intake and appears to be worsened with hypocalcemia

Background: Sleep deprivation and disruptions are associated with both psychological and physiological disorders. Medical students have an increased risk for sleep deprivation. This study aimed to determine the quality of sleep among clinical medical students of Bayero University Kano (BUK). Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted between February and March 2019 among clinical students of BUK. The data were obtained using sociodemographic questionnaire as well as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) self-administered questionnaires. Two hundred questionnaires were administered to the students in their 4th, 5th, and 6th academic year. SPSS version 20 was used for the statistical analysis of the data collected. Results: A total of 181 questionnaires were completed out of the 200 that were administered, making a response rate of 90.5%. There were 114 males (63%) and 67 females (37%), giving a male-to-female ratio of 1.7:1, which is in keeping with the gender distribution of the students. The mean age (± standard deviation) of the students was 23.8 ± 2.9 years. The overall poor sleep quality was found to be 53.0% based on the PSQI, whereas the overall excessive daytime sleepiness was found to be 38.3% using the ESS. Poor sleep quality was found to be 61.1%, 51.7%, and 42.9% among the students in the 4th, 5th, and 6th academic years, respectively (P = 0.14). Excessive daytime sleepiness was found to be 45.8%, 41.7%, and 22.9% among the students in the 4th, 5th, and 6th academic years, respectively (P = 0.03). Conclusion: The prevalence of poor sleep quality is high among the clinical students of BUK.

Objective: NADPH oxidase (NOX) is known to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) at physiological concentrations. However, it can be over-activated with some disease conditions and produces excess ROS. Several molecules have shown an ability to suppress the enzyme’s over-activity, although some weaknesses have been found. Hence, the attempt to screen phytochemicals, with the aim of finding the most specific and effective NOX inhibitor. Material and Methods: The study was carried-out via an in-silico approach. First, phytochemicals with antioxidant activity, according to the literature review, were selected and downloaded from the PubChem database in SDF files. NOX with PDB: 2CDU was downloaded from the protein databank. Drug-likeness properties and biological activities were predicted using ADMETMESH and the Predict Activity Spectra of Substances (PASS) software. Phytochemical-NOX interactions were performed via molecular docking, whereas, docked conformations and bond residue amino acids were analyzed using Protein-plus software. Results: The result of this study predicted 13 phytochemicals with drug-likeness properties, out of which 9 showed NOX-inhibitory activity. Docking results predicted all of the 9 phytochemicals were capable of interacting with NOX, by binding to at least one amino acid. The reference inhibitor (Apocynin, -8.3 kcal/mol) and some phytochemicals (caffeic, eriodictyol, hesperetin, and morin with ΔG -6.1 to -7.7 kcal/mol) were predicted to have bonded to Ser115, via hydrogen bonding. On the other hand, epicatechin gallate and quercetin with ΔG −8.7 and −8.1 kcal/mol did not bind to Ser115, but rather through other amino acids. Conclusion: This study has led to the prediction of phytochemicals with NOX-inhibitory effects, which could be considered for further study.

Background: Drug and substance abuse among university students is of public health concern and is becoming a global threat to the education system. This is more devastating to the academic performance of the addicts. The present study aims to assess the prevalence and impacts of psychoactive substance abuse among the university undergraduate students in Katsina State, Nigeria, and to determine the effects of such abuses on the students’ academic performance.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using online survey tool (Google Form) validated by content validity and pilot study. The hyperlink to the online survey tool was shared with undergraduate students from three universities located in Katsina State via emails and social media platforms, namely WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter. Data collected from eligible participants were analyzed using descriptive statistics.Findings: A total of 308 students from the three universities returned the online questionnaire, of which 67.2% were men and 32.8% were women. Among the respondents, 37% admitted practicing drug and/or substance abuse. Majority of them (56.2%) were third-year students in the age range of 20-25 years.Conclusion: Drug and substance abuse among the undergraduate university students in Katsina State is common, and it cuts across both male and female students. Concerted efforts towards parental support and supervisions, social intervention programs, and campus-based prevention and supported programs against drug and substance abuse should be encouraged.

Abstract Background Horseshoe kidney (HK) is one of the most common renal fusion abnormalities, with an incidence of 1:400 in the normal population. However, Wilms tumor (WT) arising in an HK is a rare occurrence. We report the case of a 9-year-old boy who presented with an advanced WT in an HK and also highlight the management challenges in a resource-poor setting such as ours. Case presentation The patient was a 9-year-old Nigerian boy presented to the Pediatrics Outpatient Clinic of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) with a history of progressive abdominal swelling, weight loss, abdominal pain, and cough. Abdominal examination revealed an irregular, firm, and non-tender mass in the right lumbar region. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed a heterogeneously dense mass that was predominantly to the right side of the abdomen and crossed the midline to the left side, where it continued with the relatively normal renal tissue. Chest CT revealed pulmonary metastases. A diagnosis of WT in an HK was made. The patient had a 6-week course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and a right nephrectomy and left partial nephrectomy was performed. The final histologic diagnosis of WT was made. Radiotherapy was intended but was not available in our facility, and the parents could not afford referral to another center. Conclusions Children with a clinically suspected HK with WT should undergo a careful imaging evaluation such as CT before any surgical intervention. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy to reduce tumor bulk might be a good treatment method to reduce surgical morbidity and aid in complete excision and potential for preserving renal function.

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common cause of morbidity in children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and may present as asymptomatic bacteriuria. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is often under-diagnosed and may lead to long term renal complications. Aim: This study compared the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria, bacterial isolates and their antimicrobial sensitivity in children with and without SCA seen at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Subjects and Methods: This crosssectional study recruited 139 children with SCA in stable state and 139 children without SCA aged 1-15 years. All children were tested for asymptomatic bacteriuria using clean catch or mid-stream urine samples. Children whose samples yielded significant bacteriuria (≥105cfu/ml) had a repeat urine culture within a week to confirm asymptomatic bacteriuria. Results: Both study groups had a mean age of 4.25 years ± 3.04, and a male: female ratio of 1.4:1. The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was higher in children with SCA(5.8%) compared to children without SCA (1.4%). Asymptomatic bacteriuria was more common among females in both study groups. The most common isolate in both groups was E. coli. Majority of the isolates were sensitive to quinolones, gentamycin and nitrofurantoin but resistant to commonly used antibiotics like amoxicillin and cotrimoxazole. Conclusion: Asymptomatic bacteriuria is more common in children with SCA than those without SCA. Majority of isolated pathogens showed low susceptibility to ampicillin, amoxicillin, cotrimoxazole and nalidixic acid, this implies that the use of these drugs for empirical or first line treatment for UTI in children with SCA should be avoided.

Background: Family planning (FP) providers play an important role in ensuring that clients are offered a full range of FP methods. This qualitative study explores providers’ views on three hormonal FP methods and why they think young women may choose these methods in Niger. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 FP providers in 24 government health centers in Dosso region, Niger between February-March 2020. Providers were asked about the suitability of different FP methods for women, including unmarried adolescents and young married women with children. The interviews were translated and transcribed from Hausa and Zarma into French, thematically coded, and qualitatively analyzed. Results: Many providers believed discretion to be the most important method attribute for women. Providers report preferring implants for young clients because of the more rapid return to fertility. They disagreed on whether implants or injectables are more discrete for clients. That said, providers felt that clients appreciate the implant’s discretion, effectiveness, long-acting nature, and ease of use. Providers perceived that the majority of women choose injectables due to familiarity with the method, the fact that it is “invisible” to an outsider, and a lack of awareness of implants. Providers stated that while women may not initially choose the implant, when given more information about it, they were more open to adopting it, or switching from another method, and less likely to believe local myths. Providers believed that women find pills to be indiscreet. Conclusions: The findings highlight that while providers have perspectives on suitable methods for certain women, they also recognize that clients have their own preferences, such as how discreet the method is. As programs continue to expand method choice and new contraceptive technologies undergo research and development, highly desirable features such as discretion need to be considered.

Cadaba farinosa Forssk. (Capparaceae) is found all over the world, mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. It is used to treat pain, dysentery, rheumatism, cough, and fever, as well as an antidote and in the treatment of neurological disorders. In mice, the median lethal dose (LD50) of Crude Ethanol leaf Extract (CEE) of Cadaba farinosa was found to be 2154.1 mg/kg body weight. The presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, and tannins was discovered during a preliminary phytochemical analysis of the dark gummy mass crude extract. The CEE was then put through pharmacological testing on mice. In mice, diazepam-induced sleep, beam walking, and hole-board assays were used to investigate behavioral activities. CEE of Cadaba farinosa had no effect on the onset of sleep in mice when given at the tested doses of diazepam. In contrast, it significantly increased sleep duration at all doses tested (75 mg/kg p 0.001, 150 mg/kg p 0.05, and 300 mg/kg p 0.01). The CEE significantly (p 0.01) increased the number of foot slips in the Beam walking assay at a dose of 150 mg/kg. Similarly, diazepam at 0.25 mg/kg increased the number of foot slips significantly (p 0.001). The extract at a dose of 300 mg/kg and diazepam increased the time required to complete the task significantly (p 0.05). At 150 mg/kg (p 0.01) and 300 mg/kg (p 0.05), the hole-board experiment significantly reduced the number of head dips. In contrast, the standard drug (diazepam) had no discernible effect on the number of head dips. These findings suggest that Cadaba farinosa CEE has analgesic (both centrally and peripherally mediated) and anti-inflammatory properties.

Breast cancer is a common cancer affecting women worldwide, and it progresses from breast tissue to other parts of the body through a process called metastasis. Albizia lebbeck is a valuable plant with medicinal properties due to some active biological macromolecules, and it’s cultivated in subtropical and tropical regions of the world. This study reports the phytochemical compositions, the cytotoxic, anti-proliferative and anti-migratory potential of A. lebbeck methanolic (ALM) extract on strongly and weakly metastatic MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, respectively. Furthermore, we employed and compared an artificial neural network (ANN), an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and multilinear regression analysis (MLR) to predict cell migration on the treated cancer cells with various concentrations of the extract using our experimental data. Lower concentrations of the ALM extract (10, 5 & 2.5 μg/mL) showed no significant effect. Higher concentrations (25, 50, 100 & 200 μg/mL) revealed a significant effect on the cytotoxicity and proliferation of the cells when compared with the untreated group (p n ≥ 3). Furthermore, the extract revealed a significant decrease in the motility index of the cells with increased extract concentrations (p < 0.05; n ≥ 3). The comparative study of the models observed that both the classical linear MLR and AI-based models could predict metastasis in MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7 cells. Overall, various ALM extract concentrations showed promising an-metastatic potential in both cells, with increased concentration and incubation period. The outcomes of MLR and AI-based models on our data revealed the best performance. They will provide future development in assessing the anti-migratory efficacies of medicinal plants in breast cancer metastasis.

Background: The risk of cardiac anomalies, both acquired and congenital, is high in children undergoing noncardiac surgeries. These cardiac anomalies are associated with increased risk of perioperative complications. Objectives: This study, therefore, determined the common indications as well as the echocardiographic findings findings in children undergoing noncardiac surgery in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study. The echocardiographic records of 25 children that underwent noncardiac surgery in AKTH over a 4 year period (from January 2015 to December 2018) were retrieved. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and the result was displayed using a frequency distribution table and bar chart. Results: There were 14 males and 11 females, with male to female ratio of 1.3:1. The ages of the patients range from 5 days to 8 years (median age of 8 months). The most common indication for echocardiography is orofacial cleft (cleft lip and/or palate), followed by adenotonsillar hypertrophy. The overall cardiac anomaly was found in 28% of the patients, with the highest anomaly being the atrial septal defect. Conclusion: The prevalence of cardiac anomaly was high in children with noncardiac surgical conditions.