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Background: The world is currently experiencing a healthcare crisis caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the forefront of controlling the spread of the disease; this response has resulted in a huge number of infections amongst HCWs and unfortunately some casualties. Infection prevention and control practices (IPC) are practical, proven methods that prevent avoidable harm to patients and protect health workers from contagious infection. This study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of IPC practices utilized in COVID-19 testing drive through facility in Lagos Nigeria. Method: The facility recruited 42 HCWs who were trained on IPC and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). Training on donning and doffing of PPEs, preparation of decontaminants and sample handling were done for relevant personnel. A daily log for monitoring COVID-19 symptoms was deployed to all HCWs; to help early detection of COVID-19 infection and prevent transmission amongst staff. Results: Of 42 personnel, 92.8% had a tertiary level of education while 71.4% had at least 5 years work experience. A total of 5 (11.9%) out of 42 HCWs were positive by week six of the study. All infected persons worked at the drive through centre. Most common symptom filled in the daily log tool was headache and fatigue. Conclusion: Despite all the measures introduced, 11.9% of HCWs became positive within 6 weeks, showing the highly infectious nature of the virus and the need to research into more effective measures in preventing the transmission of highly infectious pathogens to HCWs during outbreaks.

We earlier reported the protective effect of Solanum dasyphyllum against cyanide neurotoxicity. In furtherance to this, we investigated the protective effect of S. dasyphyllum against rotenone, a chemical toxin that causes brain-related diseases. Mitochondria fraction obtained from the brain of male Wistar rats was incubated with various solvents (hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, and methanol) extracts of S. dasyphyllum before rotenone exposure. Mitochondria respiratory enzymes (MRE) were evaluated along with markers of oxidative stress. The inhibition of MRE by rotenone was reversed by treatment with various fractions of S. dasyphyllum. The oxidative stress induced by rotenone was also reversed by fractions of S. dasyphyllum. In addition, the ethylacetate fraction of S. dasyphyllum was most potent against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity. In conclusion, S. dasyphyllum is rich in active phytochemicals that can prevent some neurotoxic effects of rotenone exposure. Further study can be done in an in vivo model to substantiate our results.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a highly transmissible viral infection has spread worldwide causing exponential increase in morbidity and mortality. But so far, there is limited information available to describe the presenting characteristics, outcomes and treatment modalities of COVID-19 patients in Nigeria. This study aimed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics, underlying comorbidities, treatment modalities and outcomes of patients isolated and treated in a repurposed COVID-19 isolation and treatment centre in Abuja, Nigeria.A retrospective study which reviewed the medical records of 300 confirmed COVID-19 patients isolated and treated according to the World Health Organisation and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control guidelines between 22Out of 300 patients studied, 61.0% were male. The mean age of the participants was 38.2 ± 14.7. Less than half of the patients (40.3%) had one or more underlying comorbidities with hypertension the most common co-morbidity. Majority (62%) of patients were mildly symptomatic, 33% were asymptomatic while only 2% were severely symptomatic. The most common presenting symptoms include cough 34.0%, fever 30.3%, anosmia 28.7% and dysgeusia 22.7%. Older age (P0.001), tertiary education and the presence of underlying comorbidity (P0.001) were significantly associated with symptomatic presentation of COVID-19. The median duration of time between positive laboratory testing and presentation for treatment was 5 days (0-29). All patients were treated with a combination of Ivermectin, Azithromycin, Zinc and Vitamin C with no recorded death. The median length of stay at facility was 9 days.Close attention should be given to patients with co-morbidities as an inefficient management of such co-morbidities could lead to mortalities which may not be directly attributable to COVID-19.

Objective The objective of this study is to develop an isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry assay to screen for hepatorenal tyrosinemia (HT) from newborn filter paper samples using pooled extracts to increase high throughput screening. Design and methods Succinylacetone (SUAC), the marker for HT, was extracted from dried blood spots with the formation of the hydrazone derivative of SUAC; up to eight sample extracts were pooled and the SUAC-derivative was analyzed by mass spectrometry methods with an injection-to-injection time of one minute. If any pooled sample extract screened positive, then the samples comprising the pooled sample were assayed individually. Results Two newborn infants were identified with high levels of SUAC (7 & 23 μM) and later confirmed to have HT. Three older children whose initial filter paper samples were taken at 195 days to 614 days of age with elevated SUAC (range 4.9–5 μM) were identified; one of the three had clinical signs of HT and was placed on treatment (diagnosis of the other two are unavailable). Conclusion MS/MS analysis of pooled dried blood sample extracts permits sensitive, reduced instrumental analytical time and increase high throughput screening for HT.

The prevalence of heart diseases, such as coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure, increases with age. Optimal therapeutic interventions that antagonize aging may reduce the occurrence and mortality of adult heart diseases. We discuss here how molecular mechanisms mediating life span extension affect aging of the heart and its resistance to pathological insults. In particular, we review our recent findings obtained from transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of Sirt1, which demonstrated delayed aging and protection against oxidative stress in the heart. We propose that activation of known longevity mechanisms in the heart may represent a novel cardioprotection strategy against aging and certain types of cardiac stress, such as oxidative stress.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is increasing worldwide and a disproportionate burden of this increase is borne by developing economies. It is yet to be established whether dietary strategies and interventions which have been successful in the control of T2DM in Western nations will achieve the same effect in the African setting. We studied the effect of a formulated high caloric fibre diet on the glycemic and lipid profile of tablet treated type 2 Nigerian diabetics. We assigned 52 type 2 diabetics (26 men, 26 women) to either an intervention (35) or control group (17). Each subject in the intervention group consumed a diet providing at least 40g of fibre per day while subjects in the control group were fed a regular diet. The effect of both diets on glucose and lipid profile was then tested at 4 and 8 weeks. One way repeated measures analysis of variance for the follow up period showed a significant lowering of waist circumference p = 0.002, Fasting Blood Glucose, 2hr post prandial glucose, Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride, and LDL-C (p = 0.000 in all cases) by the third visit in the intervention group. At the end of the third visit, the mean FBG decreased by 4.9 ± 2.7mmol/l 95% CI -5.8 to -3.9 in the intervention group and by 3 ± 2.8mmol/l 95% CI -4.5 to -1.5 in the control group p = 0.02. 23 (65.7%) intervention group subjects had attained FBG levels = 7.0 mmol/l by the third visit. None of the control subjects had their FBG lowered below 7.0 mmol/l by the third visit. Plasma glucose concentration 2hr after meal, plasma TC, TG and LDL-C decreased significantly more in th e intervention group than among those in the control group. By the second visit, all the patients in the control group had their Glibenclamide increased to10mg or their Chlorpropamide to between 375 and 500mg per day while 29 (82.9%) persons in the intervention group had their drugs increased in a similar fashion. By the third visit, 8(47.1%) control subjects had a further increase in the dose of their sulphonylurea while all but 2 (5.7%) patients in the subject group had achieved normoglycemia. Consumption of a high fibre diet provided mainly through soup thickeners and vegetables by newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetic patients being treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents resulted in early attainment of normoglycaemi a and improved glycemic and lipid profile compared with a conventional diet. These findings underscore the need for our dietary guidelines to include specific recommendations on increased utilization of dietary fibre.

The rising problem of resistance to most commonly used antimalarials remains a major challenge in the control of malaria suggesting the need for new antimalarial agents. This work explores the antiplasmodial potential of ethanol extract of Russelia equisetiformis in chloroquine Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Swiss albino mice were intraperitoneally infected with chloroquine-resistant P. berghei (ANKA). Experimental mice were treated for four days consecutively with graded doses of plant extracts and standard antimalarial drugs (artesunate and chloroquine) at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight used as control. The extract showed a dose-dependent activity in the chemosuppression of P. berghei parasites by 31.6, 44.7, 48.4 and 86.5% at doses of 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg, while chloroquine (10 mg/kg) and artesunate produced 59.4 and 68.4%, respectively. The extract showed a significant decrease in parasitaemia (P

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are major public health challenge especially in developing countries. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Human T-cell lymphotropic Virus type I (HTLV-I) among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic, in Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, and South-Western Nigeria. One hundred and eighty two randomly selected pregnant women were screened for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and HTLV-1 IgM antibodies using commercially available ELISA kit. Of the 182 blood samples of pregnant women screened whose age ranged from 15-49 years, 13 (7.1%), 5 (2.7%), 9 (4.9%), and 44 (24.2%) were positive for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV, and HTLV-1 IgM antibodies, respectively. The co-infection rate of 0.5% was obtained for HBV/HCV, HBV/HIV, HIV/HTLV-1, and HCV/HTLV-1 while 1.1% and 0% was recorded for HBV/HTLV-1 and HCV/HIV co-infections, respectively. Expected risk factors such as history of surgery, circumcision, tattooing and incision showed no significant association with any of the viral STIs (P > 0.05). This study shows that there is the need for a comprehensive screening of all pregnant women for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and HTLV-1 to prevent mother to child transmission of these viral infections and its attending consequences.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a major cause of gynaecological morbidity globally. Complications from PID include infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain. Low socioeconomic status (SES) is a risk factor for the occurrence of PID.The aim of this study was to determine the association between SES of parents and the occurrence of PID among undergraduates attending Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua.The study was a hospital-based, descriptive cross-sectional study. Three hundred and sixty female undergraduates attending the hospital were consecutively recruited and clinically assessed for the presence of PID using the WHO and CDC MMWR 2010 criteria for the clinical assessment of PID. Their SES was determined by Oyedeji social class categorisation. Data were analysed using Epi Info 3.5.4. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data, and Chi-square was used to test for association.There was a significant association between SES of parents and multiple sex partners (P0.02), previous sexually transmitted infection (STI) (P = 0.05), unprotected sex (P0.001), history of induced abortion (P0.001) and surgical termination of pregnancy (P0.01). There was also association between occurrence of PID among respondents and multiple sexual partners (P0.001), previous history of STI (P = 0.02), non-persistent use of condom (P0.001), history of induced abortion (P0.01) and surgical termination of pregnancy (P0.01). There was however no significant association between SES of parents and occurrence of PID (P = 0.14) though PID was highest among respondents from low SES.Occurrence of PID among undergraduates was not associated with their SES. However, identified risk factors for PID among study population such as multiple sex partners, previous STI, unprotected sex and history of induced abortion were associated with the SES.

Background: Adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been proven to be the only effective treatment for HIV/AIDS worldwide. Good adherence to HAART might require good family support. Objective: To determine the family dynamics and social support of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and its roles on HAART adherence at an ARV treatment clinic in Osogbo, Nigeria Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Consenting PLWHA on HAART were interviewed using pre-tested semistructured questionnaire incorporating Perceived Social Support- Family Scale and Family APGAR. HAART adherence was measured using patient self report. Results: A total of 379 PLWHA were interviewed. Their mean age was 40.8 (SD=9.9) years. Most (60.7%) were females. More than half (55.7%) were currently married and the majority (72.1%) had secondary education and were Yoruba (86.3%). Most respondents (95.5%) were adherent to HAART. Over 90% were satisfied with support received from their family while 82.3% were treated like other family members. Most attributed their HAART adherence to the care and support received from their family. Conclusion: Most PLWHA had good social support and were adherent to HAART. Keywords: Family dynamics; HAART adherence; Nigeria African Health Sciences 2013; 13(4): 920 - 926

Heterotopic pregnancy (HP) is the co-existence of intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies; it is said to be rare. We report the case of a 22 year old woman with HP after unsuccessful attempts at abortion. This report illustrates the treatment difficulties encountered in a delayed presentation and the nature HP is assuming in rural practice. It also highlights the role of family physicians in reducing maternal mortality in resource-limited settings.