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Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a rare large-vessel vasculitis of unknown etiology that leads to arterial wall thickening, stenosis, and occlusion, which may complicate cerebrovascular ischemic events. Ischemic stroke is a potentially devastating complication of TAK at a young age, but the occurrence is still rarely reported in Ethiopia. Although it occurs late in the course of the condition, it may be the initial presentation and suggest an unfavorable prognosis. Herein, we address the case of a 25-year-old woman who presented to a university hospital while on follow-up after 2 years of stroke with deterioration in clinical symptoms, absent brachial artery pulses, and unrecordable blood pressure in both arms. At the time of admission in 2021, the contrast brain computed tomography scan revealed an ischemic infarction in the right middle cerebral artery territory. However, the etiology of the stroke could not be defined at that time due to ambiguity in the clinical picture and the inability of clinicians to incorporate TAK into the differential diagnosis, resulting in a delay in the early diagnosis of the case. Two years later, in 2023, she underwent computed tomography angiography and was diagnosed to have TAK based on American College of Rheumatology criteria, with Numano type IIb angiographic extent of disease, ischemic stroke, and stage II systemic hypertension. The patient was treated by a field of experts. This case highlights the need to consider TAK in the differential diagnosis of stroke in young patients in the absence of traditional risk factors; appropriate tests should be performed to confirm or rule out this diagnosis, and management should be modified accordingly.

The Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) extract contain a lot of constituents and elements. Ginger extract can effort as a good bio-reductant to produce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The AgNPs Green synthesis was achieved by using the Ginger plant extract with AgNO3. The green synthesis of AgNPs is the best developing procedure for preparation, since this process is easier than other procedures, eco-friendly and fewer times consuming. The produced AgNPs were characterizing via UV-Vis, FTIR, AFM, SEM, Zeta potential and EDX. The optimal conditions for the synthesis AgNPs which was confirmed through UV–Vis spectrophotometer. Also, the AgNPs has been characterized by AFM with average size of 53.45 nm, SEM with average size of 21.91 to 33.79 nm. Antioxidant and free radical scavenge activity are examined through TLC and DPPH test, the results shows that the Ginger have a high activity, moreover, this activity increased with characterized AgNPs.

Highlights Verbenone, a natural bicyclic ketone monoterpene, and L-arginine, a natural amino acid, are both found in Daucus carota and other medicinal plants useful in the management of diabetes mellitus. Verbenone and L-arginine possess in vitro antidiabetic activities, improve glucose uptake, and inhibited haemoglobin glycation. Verbenone possesses in vivo antidiabetic activities in NAD-STZ-induced diabetic mice with potential synergetic effect with L-arginine. Verbenone and L-arginine possess antihyperlipidemic properties and could prevent the risk of cardiovascular diseases in NAD-STZ-treated mice.

Objective: Romania began its COVID-19 immunization programme with approved vaccinations in three stages, as follows: The first step of vaccination is for health and social professionals, the second stage is for high-risk persons and the third stage is for the remainder of the general public. This study aims at assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice towards COVID-19 and vaccination against COVID-19 in the Romanian population during the third wave of the pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on a Bosnian and Herzegovinian study on COVID-19 vaccination during the country’s third wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Our study sample, dominantly female (629; 61.0%), with a bachelor’s degree (734; 71.2%), either single (539; 52.3%) or in a relationship (363; 35.2%), engaged in intellectual labour (910; 88.3%) and living in an urban environment (874; 84.8%) with a mean age of 25.07 ± 8.21 years, 294 (28.5%) people with COVID-19 symptoms and 86 (8.3%) were tested COVID-19 positive, had a mean knowledge score of 16.38 ± 4.0 with correct answer rates on questions ranging from 30.1% to 88.2%. Being single (odds ratio = 3.92, p = 0.029) or in a relationship (odds ratio = 3.79, p = 0.034), having a bachelor’s degree and higher (odds ratio = 1.61, p = 0.006) and being COVID-19 tested (odds ratio = 1.82, p 15 points) (odds ratio = 1.66, p = 0.002) and positive attitudes of this study (odds ratio = 1.59, p = 0.001, odds ratio = 4.16, p

A study on the effect of sisal fibre and waste plastic strips on tropical black clay (also called Black cotton soil, BCS) was carried out. Tests piloted on the natural and treated soil consist of California bearing ratio (CBR), Atterberg limits and compaction for different percentages inclusion of sisal fibre (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2%) and waste plastic strips (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2%) by dry weight of soil. Results obtained showed that the liquid limit of BCS initially fluctuated between 43.4% and 55.9% at 1% sisal fibre content, then dropped to 49.4% at 2% sisal fibre content. In the case soil treated with waste plastic strips, liquid values increased from 43.4% for the natural soil to a highest value of 58% at 1% waste plastic strips and thereafter decreased to 49.15% at 2% waste plastic strips content. Plastic limit for both BCS-sisal fibre/ waste plastic strips initially decreased from its natural value of 25.78 to 15.55 and 14.77% when treated with sisal fibre and waste plastic strips respectively at 0.5% admixtures content. In the case of plasticity index, values initially increase from its natural value of 17.66% to peak values of 35.39 and 43.23% for sisal fibre and waste plastic strips treated soil respectively, and thereafter decreased. Maximum dry density (MDD) initially increased from 1.55 mg/m3 at 0%, to 1.60 mg/m3 at 0.5% and thereafter decreased to 1.53 mg/m3 at 2% of fibre content. In the case of samples treated with waste plastic strips. The MDD progressively increased as the amount of waste plastic strips increased. OMC show an overall trend of increase for BCS treated with sisal fibre, and a general trend of decrease for soil treated with waste plastic strips. The CBR values initially lessened from their natural value of 13.59% to 4.76% at 1% sisal fibre and subsequently increased to 10.57% at 2% sisal fibre. Similar behaviour was observed for soil modified with waste plastic strips. Based on the results, BCS/waste plastic strips improved the soil more than BCS/sisal fibre treated soil and is recommended at optimal 2% waste plastic strips for geotechnical engineering application such as road payment.

In current research, the synthesis of gold nanoparticles was achieved via reducing of gold ions in aqueous solution with Garcinia mangostana (G. mangostana) peel extract. The optimum concentration of gold (Au) solution, concentration ratio of Au solution and extract, temperature, time and pH, the synthesized AuNPs (G. mangostana-gold nanoparticles) were studied by using UV-Vis, FT-IR, AAS, AFM, SEM and Zitasizer. The absorbance peak is noticed between 535-550 nm via UV-Vis spectroscopic method. The SEM, AFM analysis were proofed the particle as spherical in structure and their size between 15-100nm. Therefore, mechanism of AuNPs synthesis had been suggested. Also, the antibacterial activity was examined using different bacteria as well as free radical scavenging activity was tested using 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The AuNPs produced through biosynthesized method indicated a much elevated antioxidant activity as compared to peel extract of G. mangostana. Toxicity of the NPs and extract were tested via giving orally dose 50 mg/b.w. to mice. Diagnosis of the data (pathological changes) indicated that the AuNPs was non-toxic. The G. mangostana peel extract and AuNPs synthesized by this extract were converted to a cream and used as a wound healing cream. As a results, the AuNPs exhibited important role in wound healing progression compared to control, which may be attributed to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Therefore, this research confirms its important use of AuNPs and can be utilized as promising agents for in the development of new drugs.

BackgroundBrucellosis is widespread in Ethiopia with variable reported prevalence depending on the geographical area, husbandry practices and animal species. However, there is limited information on the disease prevalence amongst pastoral communities, whose life is intricately linked with their livestock.MethodologyWe conducted an integrated human-animal brucellosis sero-surveillance study in two adjacent pastoral regions, Afar and Somali region (SRS). This cross-sectional study included 13 woredas (districts) and 650 households. Blood samples were collected from people and livestock species (cattle, camel, goats and sheep). Sera were analyzed with C-ELISA for camels and shoats (sheep and goats), with I-ELISA for cattle and IgG ELISA for humans. Descriptive and inferential statistics analyses were performed.ResultsA total of 5469 sera were tested by ELISA. Prevalence of livestock was 9.0% in Afar and 8.6% in SRS (ranging from 0.6 to 20.2% at woreda level). In humans, prevalence was 48.3% in Afar and 34.9% in SRS (ranging from 0.0 to 74.5% at woreda level). 68.4% of all households in Afar and 57.5% of households in SRS had at least one animal reactor. Overall, 4.1% of animals had a history of abortion. The proportion of animals with abortion history was higher in seropositive animals than in seronegative animals. Risk factor analysis showed that female animals were significantly at higher risk of being reactors (p = 0.013). Among the species, cattle had the least risk of being reactors (p = 0.014). In humans, there was a clear regional association of disease prevalence (p = 0.002). The older the people, the highest the odds of being seropositive.ConclusionBrucellosis is widespread in humans and animals in pastoral communities of Afar and SRS with the existence of geographical hotspots. No clear association was seen between human and particular livestock species prevalence, hence there was no indication as whether B. abortus or B. melitensis are circulating in these areas, which warrants further molecular research prior to embarking on a national control programs. Such programs will need to be tailored to the pastoral context.

Background: Despite 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. Method: A 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. Results: Of 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. Conclusion: Sickle 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The presence of asthma in children may negatively impact their cognitive function, possibly due to intermittent hypoxia from repeated acute exacerbations, sleep deprivation, and school absenteeism. However, conflicting reports abound on cognitive performance among children with asthma. Objective To assess and compare the cognitive function of asthmatic and non-asthmatic children in Ilorin, Nigeria. Methods This cross-sectional study compared the cognitive performance scores of 66 children with asthma aged 6-17 years, and the corresponding scores of 66 healthy age- and gender-matched children without asthma. Data obtained included sociodemographic, anthropometric, and clinical details. Cognitive function was assessed with the Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM) psychometric test. Results The male: female ratio was 1.3:1. The median RPM score of 50.0 [interquartile range (IQR) 25.0-75.0] in children with asthma was significantly higher than that of non-asthmatic children [32.5 (IQR 10.0-50.0)]; (P=0.016). A significantly higher proportion of asthmatic subjects (74.2%) were in the high grade RPM score category compared to the non-asthmatic children's concomitant proportion (57.6%). Asthmatic subjects were twice as likely to belong to the high grade RPM score category than their non-asthmatic counterparts (OR=2.12; 95%CI 1.02 to 4.44; P=0.043). There was no significant association between RPM score grade and clinical severity of asthma in the subject population (P=0.554). Conclusion Children with asthma perform better in cognitive function assessment, using RPM test, compared to their non-asthmatic counterparts in Ilorin, Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The birth of babies sharing body part(s) and surviving independently is indeed a scientific marvel. Conjoined twinning is a rare phenomenon with various presentations, having an estimated incidence of 1 per 200,000 live births. The successes recorded by experts in developed countries in the separation of conjoined twins in recent times, especially among those with complex unions are indeed fascinating. The management of conjoined twins presents a great challenge to medical and surgical teams in tropical African countries such as ours where we are faced with challenges of limited resources and facilities, even amidst the presence of well-trained experts. The incidence of conjoined twins is difficult to report in our practice because of failures that accompanied previous cases that were managed and not reported. This is the first successful separation after two previous failed attempts at our center. We report a case of successful surgical separation of thoraco-omphalopagus conjoined twins who were undiagnosed prenatally and delivered by emergency cesarean section following prolonged labor by a primiparous woman. Babies were joined from the lower chest and the upper abdomen and they shared a single umbilicus and omphalocele sac. No internal viscus was shared apart from the torso wall. They were cared for from 12 h of live until 127 days of live when they were successfully separated by a team of medical and surgical experts. This is a report of a successful separation of conjoined twins at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in North Central Nigeria. Careful interdisciplinary conduct of expert activities will ensure the survival of rare congenital malformations such as conjoined twinning even in underdeveloped climes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]