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Purpose: Medication adherence (MA) is a challenge among patients with chronic diseases worldwide. Little has been reported on the influence of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) on MA among diabetic patients in Nigeria. Objective: To assess the influence of NHIS on MA among outpatient type 2 diabetics in 2 public secondary health facilities in Southwest Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional study involving 110 consecutively selected outpatient type 2 diabetics (insured, n = 42; uninsured, n = 68) was carried out. The patients’ perceptions of care and the influence of drug cost on MA between the insured and uninsured were compared. The patients’ perceptions of care were assessed using a 25-item pretested questionnaire. The MA was measured using the Morisky MA-8 scale. The use of oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) was evaluated using a medical chart review. Information about patients’ sociodemographics, year of diagnosis, comorbidities, and types of OADs prescribed was retrieved from the medical records. Descriptive statistics were used for data presentation. A Pearson χ 2 was used for test of associations. P values < .05 were considered significant. Results: Majority of the respondents (68 [61.8%]) were uninsured. The insured and the uninsured patients differed in their perceptions of the adequacy of time used by pharmacists for medication counseling ( P < .0005). The MA between the groups also differs ( P = .0002). The monthly drug cost for OADs was significantly associated with MA ( P = .037). Conclusion: The study concluded that the NHIS may positively influence MA among diabetic patients. The drug cost may have contributed significantly to the difference in MA between the groups. More time should be devoted to the counseling of the uninsured patients.

BACKGROUND:Despite several studies on the seroprevalence of antibodies against Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever virus (CCHFV) from humans and cattle in Nigeria, detailed investigation looking at IgG and IgM have not been reported. Additionally, there have been no confirmed cases of human CCHFV infection reported from Nigeria. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Samples from sera (n = 1189) collected from four Local Government Areas in Borno State (Askira/Uba, Damboa, Jere and Maiduguri) were assessed for the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies. The positivity rates for IgG and IgM were 10.6% and 3.5%, respectively. Additionally, sera from undiagnosed febrile patients (n = 380) were assessed by RT-PCR assay for the presence of CCHFV RNA. One positive sample was characterised by further by next generation sequencing (NGS) resulting in complete S, M and L segment sequences. CONCLUSIONS:This article provides evidence for the continued exposure of the human population of Nigeria to CCHFV. The genomic analysis provides the first published evidence of a human case of CCHFV in Nigeria and its phylogenetic context.

Copyright of Phytothérapie is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Phytothérapie is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

IntroductionCancers affecting the parts of the head and neck significantly impact patients. Among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, the visible signs and symptoms of the disease or the side effects of treatment modalities can cause various degrees of functional impairment such as mastication, swallowing, communication, and disfigurement. ObjectiveTo assess psychological distress and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients after 3 and 6 months’ post-treatment. Materials and MethodsA hospital-based follow-up study was conducted among head and neck cancer patients who came for routine follow-up after treatment in five cancer hospitals in Hyderabad City. Patients were categorized based on the treatment into surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and combination of all and the same subjects were followed; after 3 months, psychological distress and quality of life were assessed by distress thermometer and functional assessment of cancer therapy head and neck (FACT H and N). ResultsA total of 235 participants were included in the study. Mean age was 58.2 ± 8.7 years. The mean scores of psychological distress at baseline were 4.6 ± 1.2, and after follow-up, it was 3.4 ± 1.2 and the mean scores of quality of life at baseline were 76.4 ± 15.6, and after follow-up, it was 75.5 ± 12.5. ConclusionThe mean scores of psychological distress had reduced from baseline to follow-up with negligible improvement in the quality of life.

The evaluation of the effect of ginger on the modulation of toxic effects induced by lead is the objective of our study. Forty male rats were randomly divided into four groups and treated daily for 3 consecutive months. Group I (0-0) was kept as control; group II (0-G) received an experimental diet with 2% of ginger; group III (Pb-0) received 2% lead acetate dissolved in drinking water with a normal diet; and group IV (Pb-G) received 2% lead acetate in drinking water and an experimental diet containing 2% ginger. Lead acetate exposure caused a significant increase of organosomatic indexes, hepatic, lipid, and urine profiles. In addition, lead acetate has a pro-oxidative effect expressed by a significant decrease in tissue GSH levels and the enzymatic activity of GPx and CAT. This pro-oxidative action was also marked by an increase in MDA level and GST activity in lead-treated group. Feeding ginger-supplemented diet to lead acetate-treated rats restored all the parameters studied as compared to control. These results suggest that ginger treatment exerts a protective effect on metabolic disorders by decreasing the oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Phytothérapie is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Deprescribing has been suggested as a beneficial intervention to reduce polypharmacy among older patients. However, little is known about the willingness to accept this intervention among patients in resource-limited settings. Objective: To evaluate the attitudes of older patients to deprescribing polypharmacy. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was carried out among consecutively selected ambulatory patients aged ≥65 years who were on ≥5 chronic medications in two secondary healthcare facilities in Ogun State, southwest Nigeria. The 22-item revised Patients Attitude Towards Deprescribing questionnaire was used to evaluate the participants' attitudes toward deprescribing, while another ten-question tool explored participants' sociodemographic and clinical data. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with willingness to deprescribe among the participants using the global question, "If my doctor said it was possible, I would be willing to stop one or more of my regular medicines”. Results: Out of the 341 participants, the majority were females (60.7%), and 90.0% were on 5-7 medications. About three-quarters (71.8%) strongly agreed or agreed that they would be willing “to stop one or more of their medicines if the doctor said it was possible”. Female gender and caregivers’ involvement in medication management were significantly associated with participants' willingness to accept deprescribing (p = 0.07 and p = 0.01). Conclusions: Most participants were willing to accept the deprescribing of their medications. Female gender and caregivers’ involvement in medication management were predictive factors for the participants' willingness to accept deprescribing.

Background: Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is associated with older age. Antiglaucoma medications (AGM) are the cornerstones in the management of POAG. However, the relationship between AGM utilization, patients' medication adherence (MA) and the therapeutic outcome remains largely unexplored among older persons. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate AGM utilization patterns, patients' MA and intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction among older persons. Methods: This study was a 5-year retrospective review of medical records of consecutively selected older persons diagnosed of POAG at a University teaching hospital, in southwest Nigeria. Older persons were included if (1) aged 65 years and above, (2) had attended the outpatient ophthalmic clinics of the hospital between January 2010 and December 2015 (3)had at least 1-year clinic attendance during the period. The relationship between AGM utilization, patients' self-reported MA and physicians' comments on IOP was evaluated. A bivariate analysis was carried out to determine associations between variables and MA. Factors associated with IOP reduction were determined using a logistic regression. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The carbonic anhydrase inhibitors comprised (66/191; 34.6%) of the total 191 AGM prescriptions. Majority of the participants (36/60; 60.0%) had reduced IOP with AGM alone, of which (13/36;36.1%) were on triple AGM. The participants' MA (p=0.01) and number of AGM (p=0.04) were significantly associated with IOP reduction among the participants in a logistic regression. Conclusion: The number of AGM prescribed and the patients' medication adherence can influence IOP reduction among older persons with POAG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]