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ICTs devices have great potential for use in agricultural extension delivery and are increasingly being used without corresponding research into their optimal use. The study analyzed the effects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in agricultural extension in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socioeconomic characteristics of farmers, identified the level of awareness of farmers on ICTs devices, described the type of ICTs devices available for use in agricultural extension delivery, examined the effectiveness of ICTs devices and identified the barriers farmers face in the use of ICT devices. Sample size comprised fifty (50) farming households selected using simple random sampling techniques. Structured questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and multiple regression analysis. Mean age was 45 years. Majority (74.0%) were male and about 76.0% were married with a mean household size of 6 persons. Mean farming experience was 20 years, while about 78. 0% were members of farmers' associations. Average monthly farm income was N49, 500.00. Greater proportions (58.0%) did not have access to extension agents. Sizable proportions (82.00%) were highly aware of various ICT tools used in agricultural extension. Estimated multiple regression models revealed that the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers have a significant influence on their level of effectiveness in use of ICTs devices. Farmers identified high cost of ICTs devices (94.00%) and inadequate power supply (86.00%) as their barriers in the use of ICTs devices in the area. It was recommended that seminars and workshops should be organized for farmers on the use of various ICTs devices as this would enhance their use of ICT and promote effective agricultural delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceptance of new agricultural technology can lead to significant increase in productivity, income and improve livelihood of rural poor farmers in Nigeria. The study assessed adoption behaviour of the beneficiaries of Multinational (New Rice for Africa) NERICA Rice Dissemination Project in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique in a multistage sampling procedure was used to select 52 beneficiary rice farmers. Data were collected through the use of structured interview schedule and analysed using mean score, adoption index, multiple regression and factor analysis. The results revealed that majority (80.4%) of rice farmers were males, average age of the farmers was observed to be 40years and average farming experience of the famers was found to be 19years. Also, results showed high adoption score for planting distance, early planting, late planting and harvesting duration (61%), fertilizers use (95%) and herbicides use (75%), while water efficiency methods (26%) and improved rice varieties (48%) of the NERICA disseminated technologies had low adoption. Regression analysis indicated that only age and number of years spent in school influenced adoption decisions of rice farmers. The perceived serious constraints to adoption of improved NERICA rice technologies were menace of birds on rice field (M = 4.96), menace of grass cuter (M = 4.47), high cost of labour (M = 3.41), poor access to road (M = 3.61) amongst others. Also, the perceived not serious constraints to adoption of improved NERICA rice technologies were lack of sufficient land (M =1.96), untimely availability of improved NERICA rice varieties (M = 1.92), inadequate knowledge about rice processing techniques (M = 1.78), inadequate access to NERICA rice varieties (M = 1.59) and incompatibility of innovations conflict between technology and norms of the people (M = 1.59). Therefore, the study recommends that researchers should increase farmers' participation and interaction of local and ecological knowledge to enhance generation of socially, economically and ecologically adaptable rice varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed hydraulic conductivity and soil quality of some tropical soils of Nigeria. Field studies were carried out in eight Local Government Areas of Imo State with contrasting land use and similar lithology (coastal plain sands). These included Owerri west (Bare fallow) Mbaitoli (Industrial Area), Owerri Municipal (Residential Area), Ohaji/Egbema (Cassava Cultivated), Ikeduru (Oil Palm Plantation), Ngor-Okpala (Continuous Cultivated), Aboh–Mbaise (Excavated Site) and Owerri North (Bush Fallow/Control). Top soil samples of 0-20cm were collected from each land use type. Soil sample was also collected in fallow plot as a tool for comparison. Soil samples were air dried and sieved for standard laboratory analysis. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results showed nutrient depletion in soils of all land uses compared to the fallow plot. Sand content (812.3g/kg) dominated the texture of all soils studied. All soils studied had slightly acidic soil reaction with mean value of 4.73. With regard to hydraulic conductivity, following the land degradation index (LDI,) high land degradation was observed in the excavated site (-92.9), Residential Area (-87.3) and Industrial Area (-84.1) with corresponding higher bulk densities and lower soil porosity compared to other soils .Generally, soils of the excavated site were highly degraded, followed by the residential area, industrial area, continuous cultivated area, cassava cultivated plot, oil palm plantaion and bare fallow plot, respectively. Dense population, blank utilization of lands, soil mismanagement, deforestation, high temperature and rainfall, intensive cultivation were observed to have aided the decline of soil quality. Adoption of night soil technology as well as other organic and climate smart agricultural practices should be encouraged.

Black history month program is coordinated by the FAMU College of Education Department of Health and Physical Education. Today, this unique and intriguing Program has turned into an annual event hosted by a syndicate of dedicated professionals representing various disciplines at Florida A&M University. National Black History Month theme for 2020 was African Americans and voting. The primary purpose of this presentation is to plan, implement, and evaluate the black history month program in a historically black institution of higher education. In addition, the Health, Education model will introduce students to community service learning. This presentation will discuss various Black History Month Programs implemented at Florida A&M University for the past 24 years. The secondary purpose of this presentation will address the sport's history of multiculturalism and the legacy of the sport's black hall of fame athletes in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marijuana use and its impact on professional sports and current developments have become a very heated debate in the United States. In 2013, nine states in the U.S. and Washington, D.C., have passed laws to legalize recreational marijuana, while 31 states passed laws legalizing medical marijuana. A 2018 Pew Research Center survey reported that 62% of Americans agreed that marijuana should be legalized. Established adverse health effects of marijuana use include risk of respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, psychotic illness, and motor vehicle collisions. The review of some current and historical studies depicted evidence suggesting that marijuana can be used for various medical problems, including pain, nausea, and loss of appetite, Parkinson's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. However, a review from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found little evidence for marijuana's ability to treat health conditions outside chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and patient-reported multiple sclerosis spasticity symptoms. Public tolerance for marijuana use for medicinal and recreational purposes continues to increase. Employers in nearly every industry struggle to adapt to shifting state laws, conflicts between state and federal laws, and pressure from employees' expectations. This conflict is prominent in America's professional sports leagues. Marijuana use does not offer any performance-enhancing capabilities, but it is among the drugs on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list of banned drugs. The purpose of the study is to investigate behaviors, perceptions, and motivations underlying the use of medical marijuana among student-athletes attending HBCUs. Researchers hypothesize that perceptions and motivations underlying the use of medical marijuana will differ based on age, gender, and sports. The researchers will investigate why student-athletes decided to use or not to use medical marijuana, what methods they use to ingest it, when they are using is it (i.e., before or after games, when they get injured, etc.), and if medical marijuana has directly helped them recover from injuries or soreness. This survey will collect data about HBCU student athletes' attitudes toward marijuana and help the research team to learn more about why some student-athletes use marijuana for medicinal purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanol extracts of two Nigerian spices, Piper guineense (fruits) and Xylopia aethiopica (seeds), were tested for anti-microbial activity against a fungus and seven bacterial strains by the agar diffusion technique. Piper guineense, but not Xylopia aethiopica, was active against Candida albicans. Extracts of both spices were variously bactericidal or bacteristatic against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051, Escherichia coli ATCC 11775, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12600, as well as locally isolated strains of the above bacteria, and Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145 strain was not susceptible. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract Background Poxvirus-vectored vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer are currently under development. We hypothesized that the extensive use of poxvirus-vectored vaccine in future might result in co-infection and recombination between the vaccine virus and naturally occurring poxviruses, resulting in hybrid viruses with unpredictable characteristics. Previously, we confirmed that co-infecting in vitro a Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) strain engineered to express influenza virus haemagglutinin (HA) and nucleoprotein (NP) genes with a naturally occurring cowpox virus (CPXV-NOH1) resulted in recombinant progeny viruses (H Hansen, MI Okeke, Ø Nilssen, T Traavik, Vaccine 23: 499–506, 2004). In this study we analyzed the biological properties of parental and progeny hybrid viruses. Results Five CPXV/MVA progeny viruses were isolated based on plaque phenotype and the expression of influenza virus HA protein. Progeny hybrid viruses displayed in vitro cell line tropism of CPXV-NOH1, but not that of MVA. The HA transgene or its expression was lost on serial passage of transgenic viruses and the speed at which HA expression was lost varied with cell lines. The HA transgene in the progeny viruses or its expression was stable in African Green Monkey derived Vero cells but became unstable in rat derived IEC-6 cells. Hybrid viruses lacking the HA transgene have higher levels of virus multiplication in mammalian cell lines and produced more enveloped virions than the transgene positive progenitor virus strain. Analysis of the subcellular localization of the transgenic HA protein showed that neither virus strain nor cell line have effect on the subcellular targets of the HA protein. The influenza virus HA protein was targeted to enveloped virions, plasma membrane, Golgi apparatus and cytoplasmic vesicles. Conclusion Our results suggest that homologous recombination between poxvirus-vectored vaccine and naturally circulating poxviruses, genetic instability of the transgene, accumulation of non-transgene expressing vectors or hybrid virus progenies, as well as cell line/type specific selection against the transgene are potential complications that may result if poxvirus vectored vaccines are extensively used in animals and man.

We previously demonstrated that the overall number of regulatory T (Treg) cells decrease proportionately with helper CD4 + T cells and their frequencies increase in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infected individuals. The question now is whether the discrepancies in Treg cell numbers and frequencies are synonymous to an impairment of their functions. To address this, we purified Treg cells and assessed their ability to modulate autologous monocytes functions. We observed that Treg cells were able to down modulate autologous monocytes activation as well as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production during stimulation with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stabilized with poly-L-lysine and carboxymethylcellulose (poly-ICLC). This activity of Treg cells has been shown to be influenced by immunocompetence including but not limited to helper CD4 + T cell counts, in individuals with HIV-1 infection. Compared to immunosuppressed participants (CD4 < 500 cells/µL), immunocompetent participants (CD4 ≥ 500 cells/µL) showed significantly higher levels of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and IL-10 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively), key cytokines used by Treg cells to exert their immunosuppressive functions. Our findings suggest the contribution of both TGF-β and IL-10 in the suppressive activity of Treg cells., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The interrelationships of suicidal ideation, psychological distress, and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in cancer patients are complex and multifaceted. Limited empirical evidence exists on the indirect effects of impaired HRQoL on suicidal ideation through psychological distress among cancer patients. To fill this research gap, 250 cancer patients were recruited through a cross-sectional hospital-based research design. Structural equation model (SEM) results indicated that impaired HRQoL is a predictor of psychological distress (β = 0.153; p  < 0.05), and psychological distress positively predicts suicidal ideation (β = 0.647; p  < 0.000). The study found no direct effects of impaired HRQoL on suicidal ideation (β = -0.05; p  = 0.223). Indirect effects of HRQoL on suicidal ideation was confirmed, showing a full-mediation effect β = 0.099 (SE = 0.048, CI = [0.030, 0.189], p  < 0.05) (i.e. the pathway impaired HRQoL predict suicidal ideation is through psychological distress). Cognitive-behavioral therapy and other emotional support programs should be considered for cancer patients to mitigate psychological vulnerabilities linking impaired HRQoL to suicidal ideation., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background and Aims: This study retrospectively assessed the prevalence of TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS coinfection among patients that attended the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) centers in Anambra State, Southeast, Nigeria, between 2013 and 2017., Methods: The study adopted a descriptive and retrospective epidemiological survey design. A total of 1443 case files of patients aged 15-60 who were treated in DOTS centers selected from Anambra State's 21 Local Government Areas between 2013 and 2017 were investigated. The uniform data form, a standardized instrument used in Anambra State's health facilities for data collection, was used to collect data from case files of all those identified as coinfected with TB and HIV/AIDS., Results: The mean prevalence rate of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection in the state during the 5-year period (2013-2017) was 20.00%. The highest annual prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection was recorded in 2014 (23.84%). The state's prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection increased dramatically from 13.17% in 2013 to 23.84% in 2014, followed by a slight downward trend to 22.80% in 2015, 20.17% in 2016, and 20.03% in 2017. In terms of gender, age, marital status, and occupation, females (59.5%), those aged 15 to 25 years (30.7%), married people (43.90%), and traders/business owners (50.7%), respectively, had the highest rates of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS coinfection during the study period., Conclusion: The findings of this study show that young people, females, married people, and traders/business owners appear to be the most vulnerable groups affected by TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection, accounting for the majority of the disease burden in the state. To address the high prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection in the Anambra State, novel intervention and control programs should be developed and implemented, and existing intervention frameworks should be strengthened., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: in areas with intense perennial malaria transmission, limited data is available on the impact of environmental conditions especially rainfall on naturally acquired immunity against promising malaria vaccine candidates. For this reason, we have compared IgG antibody responses specific to Plasmodium spp. derived MSP3 and UB05 vaccine candidates, in plasma of children living in two areas of Cameroon differing in rainfall conditions., Methods: data about children less than 5 years old was collected during the years 2017 and 2018. Next malaria asymptomatic P. falciparum (Pf) infected children were selected following malaria test confirmation. MSP3 and UB05 specific IgG antibody responses were measured in participant´s plasma using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Results: interestingly, IgG antibody responses specific to UB05 were significantly higher (p<0.0001) in Pf-negative children when compared to their asymptomatic Pf-infected counterparts living in monomodal rainfall areas. In contrast, a significantly higher (p<0.0001) IgG response to MSP3 was observed instead in asymptomatic Pf-infected children in the same population. In addition, IgG responses specific to UB05 remained significantly higher in bimodal when compared to monomodal rainfall areas irrespective of children´s Pf infection status (p<0.0055 for Pf-positive and p<0.0001 for negative children). On the contrary, IgG antibody responses specific to MSP3 were significantly higher in bimodal relative to monomodal rainfall areas (P<0.0001) just for Pf-negative children., Conclusion: thus IgG antibody responses specific to UBO5 are a better correlate of naturally acquired immunity against malaria in Pf-negative Cameroonian children especially in monomodal rainfall areas., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright: Loveline Ngu et al.)

Monkeypox (mpox), a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), poses a significant public health threat with the potential for global dissemination beyond its endemic regions in Central and West Africa. This study explores the multifaceted aspects of monkeypox, covering its epidemiology, genomics, travel-related spread, mass gathering implications, and economic consequences. Epidemiologically, mpox exhibits distinct patterns, with variations in age and gender susceptibility. Severe cases can arise in immunocompromised individuals, underscoring the importance of understanding the factors contributing to its transmission. Genomic analysis of MPXV highlights its evolutionary relationship with the variola virus and vaccinia virus. Different MPXV clades exhibit varying levels of virulence and transmission potential, with Clade I associated with higher mortality rates. Moreover, the role of recombination in MPXV evolution remains a subject of interest, with implications for understanding its genetic diversity. Travel and mass gatherings play a pivotal role in the spread of monkeypox. The ease of international travel and increasing globalization have led to outbreaks beyond African borders. The economic ramifications of mpox outbreaks extend beyond public health. Direct treatment costs, productivity losses, and resource-intensive control efforts can strain healthcare systems and economies. While vaccination and mitigation strategies have proven effective, the cost-effectiveness of routine vaccination in non-endemic countries remains a subject of debate. This study emphasizes the role of travel, mass gatherings, and genomics in its spread and underscores the economic impacts on affected regions. Enhancing surveillance, vaccination strategies, and public health measures are essential in controlling this emerging infectious disease., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Background: There has been an increase in the reporting of cases of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) cardiomyopathy in medical literature due to advances in medical imaging. Patients with LVNC may be asymptomatic or may present with arrhythmias, heart failure, thromboembolism or sudden death. LVNC is typically diagnosed by echocardiography, although there are higher-resolution cardiac imaging techniques such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to make the diagnosis. The objective of the study is to report on a series of 9 cases of LVNC cardiomyopathy seen at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Cases of LVNC seen between September 1, 2015 and July 31, 2022 in our echocardiography service  is being reported., Results: There were a total of 6 men and 3 women. Mean age at presentation was 52.89 ± 15.02 years. The most common mode of presentation was heart failure (6 patients). Hypertension was the most common comorbidity (6 patients). Three patients had an ejection fraction of less than 40% and the mean ratio of noncompacted to compacted segment at end-systole was 2.80 ± 0.48. The most common areas of trabecular localization were the LV lateral wall and the apex. Beta blockers were highly useful in the management of the patients., Conclusions: LVNC cardiomyopathy is not uncommon in our environment and a high index of suspicion is often required., (© 2023. Egyptian Society of Cardiology.)

Hypertension (HTN) is a condition that affects nearly half of the adult population in the United States. HTN is the elevation of blood pressure (BP) 130/80 mm Hg or higher. Untreated high blood pressure may increase the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and other serious complications. BP over 180/120 mm Hg with end-organ damage is called a hypertensive emergency. Despite advancements in medicine and treatment options, the global burden of HTN has been increasing due to the advancing age of the population and an increasing prevalence of obesity. Non-pharmacological management of HTN has gained prominence worldwide due to its additional benefits and positive impact on the overall health of individuals, having almost no side effects and reducing the financial burden of medication expenses. This article has compiled studies like systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials and reviewed the role of non-pharmacological management of HTN, including lifestyle modifications like exercise, weight loss, dietary interventions like dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet, low sodium diet, limiting alcohol consumption, smoking cessation and stress management to help control blood pressure. However, non-pharmacological interventions should be initiated in an early phase, and for proper management of HTN, we may need to include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. This article explored and integrated various studies to highlight the role of non-pharmacological interventions to manage HTN. We also examined the need for more research studies for strategies to alleviate morbidity and mortality associated with HTN., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Kodela et al.)

Introduction: There has been an upsurge in the reporting of cases of Left Ventricular Noncompaction (LVNC) cardiomyopathy in medical literature in the last 35 years due to advances in medical imaging.The condition was first described in 1926 and the first reported case by echocardiography was in 1984. The American Heart Association considers LVNC a primary cardiomyopathy of genetic origin, while the European Society of Cardiology and the World Health Organization grouped it as an unclassified cardiomyopathy. Its variability in terms of genetic profile, phenotypic expression, clinical presentation, and histopathological findings makes it somewhat a variant of other cardiomyopathies., Case Presentation: Patients with LVNC cardiomyopathy may not have any symptoms or may present with ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure, thromboembolism, or sudden death. LVNC cardiomyopathy diagnosis is typically made by echocardiography, although there are higher resolution cardiac imaging techniques. Management will depend on the patient's clinical presentation. Due to its genetic association, there is a need to screen living relatives once the diagnosis is made in an individual., Conclusion: The aim of this paper is to review current knowledge on this condition., (© Association of Resident Doctors, UCH, Ibadan.)

In this paper, different studies were integrated to conclude the impact of ulcerative colitis (UC) on the patient's vital prognosis, specifically highlighting the association with colorectal cancer (CRC). These severe complications have led us to consider studying the role of preventive surgery in managing UC. This study reviewed total preventive colectomy in UC patients for preventing the onset of CRC, the role of surgery in UC management, and its potential as a definitive treatment for the condition. The study also emphasized the effectiveness of annual colonoscopic monitoring and preventive colectomy in reducing the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). It discussed the role of laparoscopic surgery in minimizing postoperative complications and highlighted that partial surgical resection of the colon can be a viable option, offering improved bowel function without increasing the risk of CRC-related mortality. Elective surgery has an important place in UC management by preventing the development of forms requiring emergency surgery. Although surgery can cure UC, it can lead to significant postoperative complications and adverse effects., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Slonovschi et al.)

The paper chronicles the life and times of Professor Alexander Brown, the Foundation Professor and Head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Ibadan. The official opening of the University College Ibadan, Nigeria on 20 November 1957 as well as the graduation of the first set of clinical students in 1960 were glorious moments for Alexander Brown who laboured for 12years to witness these. He was also instrumental to the creation of the Department of Paediatrics (1962), Department of Radiology (1963) and the Medical Illustration unit of the hospital. Paediatrics and Radiology were initially units in the Department of Medicine. He played significant role in the development of postgraduate programmes in Cardiology, neuropsychiatry and nephrology units of the hospital and substantial role in the development of nursing education in the hospital. He was the brain behind the famous Ibarapa Community Health Project., (© Association of Resident Doctors, UCH, Ibadan.)

Background: Cardiomyopathies contribute about 18.2-40.2% (average- 21.4%) to the global burden of heart failure of which dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause. DCM is the second commonest cause of heart failure in Ibadan. The gender differences in the clinical profile has not been described in our setting., Objective: In this study, we set out to describe the gender differences in the pattern and presentation of DCM at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria., Methods: This was an analysis of a prospectively collected data over a period of 5 years (August 1, 2016 to July 31, 2021)., Results: A total of 117 subjects, 88 males (75.3%) and 29 females (24.8%) aged 50.30 ± 14.7 years (range, 17 to 86 years). Males had significantly achieved a higher educational level than females (p = 0.004). Males were more likely to be employed and had more monthly income compared to females. Males were significantly more likely to use alcohol and smoke cigarette (p = 0.0001 and 0.001 respectively). Females were more likely to be in NYHA class III/IV. There was no statistically significant difference in the relationship between any medication and gender of participants (p > 0.05)., Conclusions: DCM is a disease of young and middle-aged adults in our population. The commonest age group was 20-39 years and there was male preponderance. There were some gender differences in the clinical profile of the disease in our environment., (© Association of Resident Doctors, UCH, Ibadan.)

What Is Known and Objective: The discussion about health equity in the United States frequently involves concerns over racial and ethnic minority under-representation in clinical trials and particularly in trials conducted in support of product approvals. The FDA has long worked to encourage diverse participation in clinical trials and through its Drug Trials Snapshots (DTS) program, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has moved to make trial demographic data more accessible and transparent. We conducted a demographic study of U.S. participants in clinical trials for FDA-approved new drugs (new molecular entities [NMEs], and original Biologics License Applications [BLAs]) from 2015 to 2019, as reported in DTS database with a purpose of understanding the extent to which U.S.-based trials used to support product approvals represent the racial and ethnic diversity of the U.S. population by therapeutic area., Methods: Participant-level trial data were collected by accessing the FDA electronic common technical document (eCTD), for the applications used to publish each Snapshot. The therapeutic area (TA) for each drug was determined by review division assignment. The demographic data were analysed and compared to U.S. census data., Results and Discussion: We examined 102,596 U.S. participants in trials of new drugs that were approved and presented in Drug Trials Snapshots between 2015 and 2019. White participation ranged from 51% in psychiatric trials to 90% in cardiovascular (CV) trials; Black or African American participation ranged from 5% in medical imaging to 45% in psychiatric trials; Asian participation ranged from 0.75% in CV to 4% in dermatologic trials; and Hispanic or Latino participation ranged from 1% in medical imaging to 22% in infectious diseases and gastroenterology trials., What Is New and Conclusion: Our data showed variable representation of racial and ethnic minorities across therapeutic areas at the U.S. sites. Blacks or African Americans were represented at or above U.S. census estimates across most therapeutic areas, while Asians and American Indian or Alaska Natives were consistently underrepresented. Hispanic or Latino participation across most therapeutic areas was below U.S. census estimates, however, more variable, and a sizable proportion of data was missing. The next step is a comparison of trial participation based on disease prevalence and epidemiology, which is a more accurate assessment of trial diversity., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.)

Trypanosomosis has been associated with immunosuppression, anemia and oxidative damage while selenium possesses both immunostimulatory and antioxidative effects. This study was designed to assess the effect of dietary selenium supplementation on parasitemia, anemia, survival pattern and serum protein profiles of trypanosome-infected rats. Twenty five rats, divided into five groups (A-E) of 5 each, were treated as follows: 4, 8 and 16 ppm (ppm) of selenium in their feed, respectively throughout the experimental period and were infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei on day 14 post supplementation, infected not supplemented and the negative control. Supplementation at 4 and 8 ppm increased the packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration on day 7 of supplementation (PS) when compared with the unsupplemented groups. Following infection on day 14 PS, the PCV, Hb of 16 ppm and infected not supplemented groups were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than other groups on days 28 and 35 PS. Supplementation did not lead to significant (P > 0.05) changes on the total protein, albumin and globulin by day 14 PS. Infection, however, caused significant (P > 0.05) decrease in the total protein and albumin from day 28. The supplementation did not significantly (P > 0.05) increase the pre-patent period but caused a significant reduction in the parasitemia levels and increased survival intervals. Dietary selenium supplementation, from the results, may show promise in the management of African trypanosomosis as the supplementation was able to: reduce anemia and parasitemia and increase survival intervals of trypanosome infected rats., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)