Search

ObjectiveColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed cancer, and requires surgical resection and reconnection, or anastomosis, of the remaining bowel to re-establish intestinal continuity. Anastomotic leak (AL) is a major complication that increases mortality and cancer recurrence. Our objective is to assess the causal role of gut microbiota in anastomotic healing.DesignThe causal role of gut microbiota was assessed in a murine AL model receiving faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from patients with CRC collected before surgery and who later developed or not, AL. Anastomotic healing and gut barrier integrity were assessed after surgery. Bacterial candidates implicated in anastomotic healing were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and were isolated from faecal samples to be tested bothin vitroandin vivo.ResultsMice receiving FMT from patients that developed AL displayed poor anastomotic healing. Profiling of gut microbiota of patients and mice after FMT revealed correlations between healing parameters and the relative abundance ofAlistipes onderdonkiiandParabacteroides goldsteinii. Oral supplementation withA. onderdonkiiresulted in a higher rate of leaks in mice, while gavage withP. goldsteiniiimproved healing by exerting an anti-inflammatory effect. Patients with AL and mice receiving FMT from AL patients presented upregulation of mucosal MIP-1α, MIP-2, MCP-1 and IL-17A/F before surgery. Retrospective analysis revealed that patients with AL present higher circulating neutrophil and monocyte counts before surgery.ConclusionGut microbiota plays an important role in surgical colonic healing in patients with CRC. The impact of these findings may extend to a vast array of invasive gastrointestinal procedures.

The high spin states in 61 Ni have been studied using the fusion evaporation reaction, Ti( $^{14}$C,3n) $^{61}$Ni at an incident beam energy of 40 MeV. A Compton suppressed multi-HPGe detector setup, consisting of six Clover detectors and three single crystal HPGe detectors was used to detect the de-exciting $\gamma$ rays from the excited states. The level scheme has been extended up to an excitation energy of 12.8 MeV and a tentative J$_{\pi}$ = 35/2$^+$ . The low-lying negative parity levels are found to be generated by single particle excitation within the f p shell and also excitations to the g$_{9/2}$ orbitals as explained well with shell model calculations using the GXPF1Br+V M U (modified) interaction. Two rotational structure of regular E2 sequences with small to moderate axial deformation have been established at higher excitation energy. Most interestingly, two sequences of M1 transitions are reported for the first time and described as magnetic rotational bands. The shears mechanism for both the bands can be described satisfactorily by the geometrical model. The shell model calculation involving the cross shell excitation beyond the fp shell well reproduce the M1 and E2 sequences. The shell model predicted B(M1) values for the magnetic rotational band B1 show the decreasing trend with spin as expected with closing of the shears., Comment: 18 pages, 17 Fig

Acute kidney injury is a major public health issue in Nigeria, and it is associated with an increase in mortality. The study’s goal was to look at the most common precipitating factors, outcomes, and risk factors associated with mortality in our patients. This study examined the medical records of 11 years, of of hospitalized adult patients with confirmed Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). The patient record was searched for relevant information. The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) serum creatinine criteria were used to define AKI. The logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors associated with mortality. A total of 399 patients were analysed. The overall mean age was 45.0 ± 17.3. The older age group (≥ 60years) compared to the younger group (

Affordable novel strategies are needed to treat COVID-19 cases complicated by respiratory compromise in resource limited settings. We report a mixed-methods pre-post assessment of 1) the useability of CPAP/O2 helmet non-invasive ventilation (NIV) to treat COVID-19, at ∼ 1% the cost of mechanical ventilation; 2) the effectiveness of a train-the-trainer practice facilitation intervention; and 3) whether use of CPAP/O2 helmet NIV was associated with increased COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers. At baseline, eight COVID-19 treatment centers in Nigeria (CircumVent network) received CPAP/O2 helmet systems, and were instructed on its use. After five months, clinicians within the CircumVent netwok participated in a 2-day train-the-trainers educational intervention. The physicians completed i) standardized forms on patient demographics, clinical course, and outcomes for patients seen in the treatment centers; ii) standardized surveys of feasibility and acceptability of use of CPAP/O2 helmet systems; and iii) in-depth-interviews to explore facilitators and barriers to implementation of CPAP/O2 helmet NIV. Physicians described the CPAP/O2 helmet ventilator as easy to use and they felt comfortable training their staff on its use. They rated CPAP/O2 helmet NIV as feasible, acceptable, and appropriate (mean score of 4.0, 3.8, and 3.9 out of 5, respectively, on standardized scales). Case report forms for 546 patients with suspected and/or confirmed COVID-19 infection were obtained between May 2020 and November 2021. Of these, 69% (n=376) were treated before the training; and 29.7% (n=162) were treated with CPAP/O2 helmet ventilation. CPAP/O2 helmet NIV was well-tolerated by patients, with 12% reporting claustrophobia, and 2% reporting loose- or tight-fitting helmets. Although patient outcomes improved among CPAP/O2 helmet users overall, this was not associated with training (P=0.2). This finding persisted after adjustment for disease severity at presentation. Serosurvey of 282 health workers across treatment centers revealed that 40% (n=112) were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2. Seropositivity was significantly associated with direct contact with COVID-19 patients and limited access to PPE and hand hygiene during aerosol generating procedures (P = 0.02), but not use of CPAP/O2 helmet (P’s ≥ 0.2). In conclusion, physicians effectively used CPAP/O2 helmet NIV systems to treat COVID-19 patients in Nigeria without need for practice facilliation of their training and without increased risk of infection among healthcare workers. The use of CPAP/O2 helmet NIV could be an important strategy for treating individuals with COVID-19 infection and other disease conditions complicated by respiratory distress, particularly in settings were resources such mechanical ventilation are limited.

The study developed a scale for measuring assessment literacy of university teachers and determined the validity and reliability of the scale. This is with a view of improving university teachers’ assessment literacy. The study adopted the survey design. The population comprised all lecturers working in universities within Osun State. The sample consisted of 549 university teachers that were not in training position (lecturer II and above) from different disciplines selected using convenient sampling technique in all the eight accredited universities within Osun state. The study made use of three instruments namely; University Teachers Assessment Literacy Scale (UTALS), Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale (TSES) and Teacher Burnout Scale (TBS). The results showed that the 60- item UTALS was reduced to 43 items after the psychometric procedure of item retention and deletion were applied. Scree plot and eigen value methods showed that the final UTALS construct validity had seven factors of university teachers’ assessment literacy that accounted for 86.46% of the total scale variance and it significantly converge and diverge with the Teacher Efficacy Scale (r = 0.75) and Teacher Burnout Scale (0.52) respectively. The internal consistency reliability of the scale was 0.96 (Guttman), 0.90 (Cronbach), and 0.96 (Spearman). The study concluded that the university teacher’s assessment literacy scale developed in this study had adequate psychometric characteristics and is suitable for measuring assessment literacy of university teachers in Osun State. It was therefore recommended that the University Teacher’s Assessment Literacy Scale be adopted by institutions of higher learning for the assessment of new and old academic staff members’ assessment competency in order to help in the improvement of assessment standard of the institutions

This study reports on the synthesis and characterization of micro-sized lithium triborate doped with Zinc oxide nanoparticle via solid state sintering method for possible application in radiation dosimetry. A stoichiometric amount of the mechanically processed precursors were mixed in water acting as a dissolvent and sintered at a temperature of 800 °C for one hour and allowed to cool to room temperature. The synthesized undoped lithium triborate and the 0.5 mol% of ZnO nanoparticles doped lithium triborate were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) reader. X-ray diffraction pattern shows a Lithium triborate phase structure with high crystallinity. Scanning electron microscope presented an interesting morphology of the system with clear display of the distribution of the nanoparticles on the microparticle surfaces. Differential thermal analysis data shows early endothermic peak within 100 °C and 200 °C which is assigned to the dehydration of the hygroscopic water in the system, endothermic peaks also exists within 813 °C and 836 °C which are ascribed to the incongruent melting of lithium triborate. The thermoluminescent glow curves of the chips exposed to a low dose of 10 mGy and high dose of 10 Gy exhibited an interesting response to ionizing radiation. A readout time delay of 5 min, 30 min, 1 h and 24 h gave a glimpse of the fading/curing properties of the new material.

Rationale & Objective Recent studies in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected population have suggested that there are genetic predispositions to the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in this context. We investigated the association of genetic polymorphisms of the genes encoding apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1; a profibrotic cytokine), and heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) with prevalent CKD among adults with and without HIV infection. Study Design Case-control study. Setting & Participants West African adults including 217 HIV-infected patients with CKD (HIV+/CKD+ group), 595 HIV-infected patients without CKD (HIV+/CKD− group), 269 with CKD and no HIV infection (HIV−/CKD+ group), and 114 with neither CKD nor HIV (HIV−/CKD− group). Exposure The genetic polymorphisms with reference single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs) identification numbers rs1800469 (TGF-β1), rs1800470 (TGF-β1), rs121918282 (TGF-β1); rs60910145 (APOL1 G1 risk allele), rs73885319 (APOL1 G1 risk allele), rs71785313 (APOL1 G2 risk allele), and rs743811 (HMOX1); HIV. Outcome CKD. Analytical Approach Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of rs1800469 (TGF-β1), rs1800470 (TGF-β1), rs121918282 (TGF-β1); rs60910145 (APOL1), rs73885319 (APOL1), rs71785313 (APOL1), and rs743811 (HMOX1) was performed. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was evaluated for all SNPs, and minor allele frequencies were reported. A case-control analysis was performed, and multivariable logistic regression was used to control for potential confounders. Results Minor allele frequencies for TGF-β1 (rs1800469, rs1800470, and rs1800471), APOL1 (rs60910145, rs73885319, and rs71785313), and HMOX1 (rs743811) were 0.25, 0.46, 0.46, 0.44, 0.45, 0.17, and 0.14, respectively. Among HIV-positive individuals, only TGF-β1 rs1800470 (GG vs AA), APOL1 (in the recessive model), and hypertension were associated with prevalent CKD (adjusted ORs of 0.44 [95% CI, 0.20-0.97], 2.54 [95% CI, 1.44-4.51], and 2.17 [95% CI, 1.35-3.48], respectively). No SNP polymorphisms were associated with prevalent CKD among HIV-negative individuals. Limitations The lack of histopathology data for proper categorization of the type of HIV-related nephropathy. Conclusions APOL1 polymorphisms were highly prevalent in this population and among adult patients infected with HIV and were associated with increased CKD risk. The TGF-β1 (rs1800470) polymorphism was associated with reduced risk, and HMOX1 polymorphisms were unassociated with CKD.

Voice and speaking are integral parts of a person’s self-identity and ability to communicate on a day-to-day basis. There have been numerous studies investigating the link between gastro-esophageal reflux disease and its concomitant association with a range of other disorders across the breadth of medicine. In this review, we will focus on the relationship between conditions which contribute to pathologies of voice and GORD. These will include Laryngopharyngeal reflux, Globus Pharyngeus and Paroxysmal Laryngospasm. To perform this review, we scoped papers from journals in Gastroenterology, Otolaryngology and General Medicine across the medical literature focusing on PubMed indexed articles. Inclusion criteria included English as the primary language of the work and peer-reviewed journals. We scoped a range of papers from 1988 to the current decade. More than 40 original research and review papers—in addition to guidelines and books—were utilised to supplement the review. The key terms outlined related to “Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease”, “Laryngopharyngeal reflux”, “Globus Pharyngeus”, “Paroxysmal Laryngospasm” as well as their respective abbreviations were used in the initial scope of the search. We found that there was a link between Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and pathologies of voice due to the intercurrent relationship with pathologies which contribute to the changes in voice aforementioned. Investigating and implementing effective treatments for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and related disorders can help individuals to regain their natural voice—an attribute closely linked to their sense of self—resulting in a profoundly positive psychological impact.

Introduction: This study investigated the association of urinary transforming growth factor-β1 (uTGF-β1) with prevalent chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the HIV-infected population. Methods: HIV-positive patients without CKD (HIV+CKD−, n = 194) and 114 with CKD (HIV+CKD+) who did not have hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or hepatitis B or C, had their urinary protein-creatinine ratio (uPCR), serum transforming growth factor (TGF)–β1, and uTGF-β1 measured. uTGF-β1-creatinine ratios (uTGF-β1Cr) were calculated. Spearman correlation was used to determine the association between uTGF-β1Cr and various attributes, and the Cuzick trend test was used to assess the presence of a linear trend in median uTGF-β1Cr levels across the stages of CKD. Multivariable robust linear regression models were used to assess independent association with variability in uTGF-β1Cr and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels. Results: The age of the participants was 38.3 ± 10.3 years with 73.4% women. The median uTGF-β1Cr was higher among HIV+CKD+ (4.85 ng/mmol [25th–75th percentile 1.96–12.35] vs. 2.95 [1.02–5.84]; P = 0.001]). There was significant correlation between uTGF-β1Cr and age (P = 0.02), eGFR (P = 0.001), and uPCR (P < 0.001) in the HIV+CKD+ group. Among the HIV+CKD+ patients, there was gradual reduction in the median level of uTGF-β1Cr with CKD severity (P = 0.04). HIV+CKD+ patients had significantly higher levels of uTGF-β1Cr after controlling for potential confounders. Using eGFR as dependent variable, proteinuria explained the changes associated with uTGF-β1Cr levels. Conclusion: HIV+CKD+ patients express higher levels of uTGF-β1 especially in the early stages of CKD apparently related to proteinuria levels. Keywords: CKD, HIV, Nigeria, urinary TGF-β1

The purpose of this study is to examine the link between technical efficiency and both the corporate governance and financial performance of listed financial firms on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange using three theoretical approaches: shareholder theory, stakeholders’ theory, and resource dependence theory. We employed a stochastic frontier analysis to examine the impact of technical efficiency on the link between corporate governance and financial performance on the one hand, and, on the other, multiple regressions comprised of OLS and Poisson estimates to analyze a data-generating set sourced from 2007 to 2020. The results of our OLS estimates suggest that a negative but significant relationship exists between the corporate governance mechanism and the financial performance of the listed firms. When we subject the analysis to the Poisson estimates, the relationship becomes positive and significant. Our results have some positive implications.

Variants in the Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene (G1-rs60910145, rs73885319, G2-rs71785313) are common in Africans and in individuals of recent African ancestry and are associated with an increased risk of non-diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) and in particular of HIV associated nephropathy (HIVAN). In light of the significantly increased risk of HIVAN in carriers of two APOL1 risk alleles, a role in HIV infectivity has been postulated in the mechanism of APOL1 associated kidney disease. Herein, we aim to explore the association between HIV viremia and APOL1 genotype. In addition, we investigated interaction between BK and JC viruria, CKD and HIV viremia. A total of 199 persons living with HIV/AIDS (comprising 82 CKD cases and 117 controls) from among the participants in the ongoing Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Kidney Disease Research Network case control study have been recruited. The two APOL1 renal risk alleles (RRA) genotypes were associated with a higher risk of CKD (OR 12.6, 95% CI 3.89–40.8, p < 0.0001). Even a single APOL1 RRA was associated with CKD risk (OR 4.42, 95% CI 1.49–13.15, p = 0.007). The 2 APOL1 RRA genotypes were associated with an increased probability of having HIV viremia (OR 2.37 95% CI 1.0–5.63, p = 0.05). HIV viremia was associated with increased CKD risk (OR 7.45, 95% CI 1.66–33.35, P = 0.009) and with a significant reduction of JC virus urine shedding (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.12–0.98, p = 0.046). In contrast to prior studies, JC viruria was not associated with CKD but was restricted in patients with HIV viremia, regardless of CKD status. These findings suggest a role of APOL1 variants in HIV infectivity and emphasize that JC viruria can serve as biomarker for innate immune system activation.

Close range photogrammetry (CRP) has gained increasing relevance over the years with its principles and theories being applied in diverse applications. Further supporting this trend, the current increase in the wide spread usage of mobile phones with high resolution cameras is expected to further popularize positioning by CRP. This paper presents the results of an experimental study wherein two (2) non-metric mobile phone cameras have been used to determine the 3-D coordinates of points on a building by using the collinearity condition equation in an iterative least square bundle adjustment process in MATLAB software environment. The two (2) mobile phones used were Tecno W3 and Infinix X509 phones with focal lengths of 5.432 mm and 8.391 mm respectively. Statistical tests on the results obtained shows that there is no significant difference between the 3-D coordinates obtained by ground survey and those obtained from both cameras at 99% confidence level. Furthermore, the study confirmed the capability of non-metric mobile phone cameras to determine 3D point positions to centimeter level accuracy (with maximum residuals of 11.8 cm, 31.0 cm, and 5.9 cm for the Tecno W3 camera and 14.6 cm, 16.1 cm and 1.8 cm for the Infinix X509 camera in the Eastings, Northings and Heights respectively).

Background Epidemiological data on paediatric acute kidney injury (AKI) in sub-Saharan Africa are limited and largely retrospective. We performed a prospective study of AKI among patients admitted through the emergency room. Methods Children admitted to the post-neonatal emergency room of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria between February 2016 and January 2017 were studied. AKI was defined by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes serum creatinine criteria. AKI ascertainment relied on serum creatinine measurements carried out in routine care by post-admission Day 1. We compared in-hospital mortality by post-admission Day 7 for patients with and without AKI (no-AKI). Results Of the 1344 children admitted to the emergency room, 331 were included in the study. AKI occurred in 112 patients (33.8%) with a median age of 3.1 years [interquartile range (IQR) 0.9–9.4] and was Stage 3 in 50.5% of the cases. The no-AKI group had a median age of 1.8 (IQR 0.7–5.8) years. The underlying diagnoses in patients with AKI were sepsis (33.0%), malaria (12.5%) and primary renal disorders (13.4%). Twenty-four of the patients with AKI underwent dialysis: haemodialysis in 20 and peritoneal dialysis in 4. By Day 7 of admission, 7 of 98 (7.1%) patients in the AKI group had died compared with 5 of 175 (2.9%) patients in the no-AKI group [odds ratio 2.6 (95% confidence interval 0.8–8.5)]. Outcome data were not available for 58 (17.5%) patients. Conclusions AKI is common among paediatric emergency room admissions in a tertiary care hospital in sub-Saharan Africa. It is associated with high mortality risk that may be worse in settings without dialysis.

Introduction: Time of medication delivery from the onset of illness is one factor that determines disease outcomes. In this study, we aimed to reduce the average time from admission to the first dose of antibiotic by at least 30% and increase the percentage of neonates receiving the first antibiotic dose within 1 hour of neonatal intensive care unit arrival to 50% over 12 months in asymptomatic neonates 34 weeks and older estimated gestational age with exposure to maternal chorioamnionitis as a sample population. Method: This study involved 135 infants 34 weeks and older gestational age exposed to chorioamnionitis. We documented the demographic characteristics of mothers and infants. We monitored time to the administration of the first dose of antibiotics through multiple plan-do-study-act cycles. We identified barriers to timely antibiotic administration and targeted them with multipronged interventions in plan-do-study-act cycles. Process measures were displayed monthly using X-bar/S control charts and P charts. We applied established rules for detecting a special cause. Results: We reduced the meantime to the first dose of antibiotics from 130 to 78 minutes (40% reduction). The percentage of infants who received the first antibiotic dose within 60 minutes rose from 5.8% to 36.3% during the study period. Special cause improvement was seen in all process measures. The most significant improvement seen was in the time to obtain a blood culture and the interval between intravenous access placement and antibiotic delivery. Conclusion: Multipronged interventions can help improve timely medication delivery to neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit in this example of infants exposed to chorioamnionitis.

A total of fifty-five soil samples were collected from four locations, namely, residential, industrial, dumpsite, and sewage in Agbara industrial estate, Ogun state, Nigeria. The samples were analyzed using a high purity germanium detector (HPGe) to measure the activity concentration of radionuclides. Background radiation measurements were also taken at each point where soil samples were collected using Geiger Muller (GM) counter. The mean activity concentrations measured in the soil samples were 171.33 for 40K, 9.11 for 232Th, and 5.05 for 226Ra in Bq/kg. The mean absorbed dose rate in the air due to radionuclides (40K, 232Th, and 226Ra) in the soil is calculated to be 14.77 nGy/h, and the mean annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) is 0.02 mSv/year. The mean equivalent dose rate (EDR) from GM counter for background radiation is 0.22 μSv/h, and the mean annual effective dose rate (AEDR) is 0.39 mSv/year. These values are below the world average values, except EDR and AEDR with mean values higher than the world standard. The comparison of radiation dose rates revealed that radionuclides contributed 6.7% to background radiation. The equivalent dose (EDorgans) for various organs of the body was calculated, and results showed that values do not pose any immediate health hazard. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) due to exposure to background radiation indicated that the dwellers and industrial workers in the study area may develop cancer over a lifetime due to accumulated dose.

Indoor radon (222Rn) measurements were carried out using solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) in some dwellings from southwestern Nigeria. This was aimed at statistically assessing influence of building characteristics on the measured radon and estimating excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCR). The measured radon concentrations followed lognormal distribution and were significantly influenced by some building properties. The arithmetic mean (1.60 mSv) of annual effective doses (AEDs) due to indoor radon was observed to be higher than the world average level (1.15 mSv) but less than lower limit (3 mSv) of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The evaluated excess lifetime cancer risk ranged from 1.5 to 28.1 (MPy)−1 with an average value of 6.3 (MPy)−1, indicating that after exposure to indoor radon for 70 years, 6 people in every 1000 are likely to suffer the risk of developing lung cancer. Adequate ventilation systems were recommended for houses with high level of radon to avoid unnecessary exposure to radon. However, the investigated data would form important component of the database required to set up guidelines and policy of controlling radon at home.

This study presents the first report on the kinetic parameters of micro-nano interaction of lithium triborate microparticles doped with zinc oxide nanoparticles (LBZ) in 0.1 to 0.4% dopant concentrations. The parent-dopant mix was synthesized using high-temperature solid-state method. The materials were subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) to ascertain their structural, physical properties as well as gamma irradiation and thermoluminescence (TL) analysis for their dosimetric properties. XRD and DTA confirmed the formation of polycrystalline lithium triborate compounds, while SEM and EDS showed the presence of the dopant. TL analysis presented a simple glow curve structure with the main temperature peak for different dopant concentrations varying from 243 to 327°C. The activation energy (E) and frequency factor (s) were calculated for each peak shape parameter τ (low temperature half width), δ (high temperature half-width) and ω (total half width) using Chen’s peak shape (PS) method and the order of kinetics was deduced from the symmetry factor (μg) and gamma dose–response curves. The activation energy and frequency factor with respect to the peak shape parameters Eτ, Eδ, Eω and sτ, sδ, sω across the dopant concentrations were in the range of 1.14 to 2.2 eV and 3.92 × 1010 to 7.71 × 1022 s−1, respectively. Comparing the methods for the determination of the order of kinetics, LBZ 0.2% agrees with the conditions of first-order kinetics, while second-order kinetics is assigned to LBZ 0.1, 0.3 and 0.4%. The results present simple glow curve structure which relates to stability, high-temperature peaks and E values which correspond to deep trap states.

Indoor radon (

This study examined the relationship between work-life balance and employee health and wellbeing in the Nigerian banking industry. The study was based exclusively on primary data obtained by administering a well-structured questionnaire and conducted at the headquarters of the banks located in the state of Lagos. The random sampling technique used to select banks and bank employees was deliberately selected because they are the focus of the study. Yamane's formula was used to determine the sample size of 50 employees. The multiple regression analysis showed that all the stated predictors significantly affected employee's health and wellbeing in the Nigerian banking industry, where R2 = 0.996, F = (4, 45) = 2590.451, P < 0.01. Thus, there is a significant relationship between work-life balance and employee health and wellbeing in the Nigerian banking industry. The study, therefore, recommends that there is a need for the banking sector and corporate bodies in Nigeria to improve the working conditions of employees. Also, the negative relationship from welfare facilities suggests a state of neglect on the part of management; thus, more attention needs to be given to the welfare package of newly recruited employees in the Nigerian banking industry.

The use of chlorine in municipal water started at the beginning of the 20th century to protect humans against waterborne infections. Disinfection of swimming pools has become a necessity to prevent outbreaks of infectious illnesses from recreational waters. However, this has led to the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) which are unintended chemical constituents formed from the reaction between disinfectants and natural organic matter. DBPs in water have generated a lot of interest because of the attendant health risks as they have been found to be toxic and carcinogenic. Various studies have associated DBPs with cancers (bladder, colorectal), allergies, respiratory problems, congenital anomalies, and other reproductive implications. Exposure to DBPs is widespread as large populations are exposed via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal adsorption. Further studies are necessary to assess association between exposure to DBPs and attendant health concerns as well as methods to detect DBPs in water and eliminate them.

The roles and responsibilities of Human Resources departments are transforming as the modern business faces pressures of globalization. The local supply of talent is short of its long-term demand in Nigeria oil and gas industry, and the gap is a challenge for operators in the Hydrocarbon industry in Nigeria and other areas. The shortage between the demand and supply of talent is likely to continue to increase, notably for high skilled workers and for the next generation of business executives. Now organizations in this sector are required to place greater emphasis on attracting, developing and retaining human capital for their short and long term business needs. To remain in profitable and sustainable operation global staffing and management of a workforce diverse in culture and language skills, and dispersed in different nations are the key goals of global human resources. Only those organizations with systems and processes in place that support quick and easy adaptation to their human resource practices in line with the changing global labor market conditions will be able to attract and retain high performing and motivated employees. Companies with the ability to foresee their business needs and their workforce needs – especially for high skills – will gain the decisive competitive advantage.

Background The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) - Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Biorepository (I-HAB) seeks to provide high-quality biospecimens for research. This depends on the ability of clinical research sites (CRS) - who provide biospecimens - to operate according to well-established industry standards. Yet, standards are often neglected at CRSs located in Africa. Here, I-HAB reports on its four-pronged approach to empower CRSs to prepare high-quality biospecimens for research. Objectives I-HAB sought (1) to assess a four-pronged approach to improve biobanking practices and sample quality among CRSs, and (2) to build human capacity. Methods I-HAB partnered with two H3Africa principal investigators located in Nigeria and Ghana from August 2013 through to May 2017 to debut its four-pronged approach (needs assessment, training and mentorship, pilot, and continuous quality improvement) to empower CRSs to attain high-quality biospecimens. Results Close collaborations were instrumental in establishing mutually beneficial and lasting relationships. Improvements during the 12 months of engagement with CRSs involved personnel, procedural, and supply upgrades. In total, 51 staff were trained in over 20 topics. During the pilot, CRSs extracted 50 DNA biospecimens from whole blood and performed quality control. The CRSs shipped extracted DNA to I-HAB and I-HAB that comparatively analysed the DNA. Remediation was achieved via recommendations, training, and mentorship. Preanalytical, analytical and post-analytical processes, standard operating procedures, and workflows were systematically developed. Conclusion Partnerships between I-HAB and H3Africa CRSs enabled research sites to produce high-quality biospecimens through needs assessment, training and mentorship, pilot, and continuous monitoring and improvement.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a common finding among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a major contributor to the high morbidity, mortality and poor quality of life associated with the disease. Assessment of iron deficiency anaemia has become routine in the evaluation of patients with CKD and iron studies such as serum ferritin, total iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation are recommended as standard diagnostic work up. However, in Nigeria and other low and middle income countries (LMICs) where most patients pay out of pocket, only few patients could afford iron studies, in addition to other cost of care. It is therefore imperative to find and establish the utility of other relatively affordable markers of iron deficiency among patients in LMICs. In studies done within the general population, the percentage of hypochromic red blood cells (PHRC), RBC indices and reticulocyte haemoglobin concentration (CHr) have been shown to predict iron deficiency. However, the usefulness of these in CKD patients had not been established. Thus, we determined the utility of PHRC and RBC indices among patients with CKD. METHODS: this is a cross sectional survey of 157 participants with CKD and 157 apparently healthy controls. The patients with CKD were individuals receiving care at the renal unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Clinical data were collected using standard care report forms and information obtained were demographic details, aetiologies of CKD, dialysis status, symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia, modalities of anaemia treatments and other medications. Blood samples were collected for iron studies, full blood count, red blood cell (RBC) indices, peripheral blood film for PHRC, plasma highly sensitive C- reactive protein, serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. RESULTs: a total of 314 participants were enrolled in the study, half of them were patients with CKD while the remaining half were controls without CKD. The mean age for cases and controls were [a href=´#ref45.5±14.4 vs 46.1±15.5 years respectively´45.5±14.4 vs 46.1±15.5 years respectively/aa href=´#ref p = 0.72´ p = 0.72/a ] =a href=´#refwhile females were 57% vs 60.1%´while females were 57% vs 60.1% /a, a href=´#ref p = 0.06´ p 0.06/a]. The prevalence of IDA using iron studies [a href=´#ref67 (42.6%) vs 33 (21.0%)´67 (42.6%) vs 33 (21.0%)/a,a href=´#ref p = 0.01 p =0.01/a], RBC indices [a href=´#ref46 (29.3%) vs 25 (15.9%)´46 (29.3%) vs 25 (15.9%) /a,a href=´#ref p = 0.002´= p 0.002/a], and PHRC [a href=´#ref48 (30.5%) vs 32 (20.4%)´48 (30.5%) vs 32 (20.4%)/a, a href=´#ref p = 0.038´= p =0.038=/a]. The sensitivity and specificity of RBC indices and PHRC as surrogate markers of iron deficiency anaemia were [a href=´#ref73.8% ; 92.0%´73.8% ; 92.0% /a ] and [a href=´#ref80.0% ; 92.3%´=80.0% ; 92.3%/a,a href=´#ref´/a] respectively. CONCLUSION: this study confirmed that the 3 methods of diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia vis-a-vis iron studies (Serum ferritin and TSAT), RBC indices and percentage hypochromic RBC, all demonstrated high prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among patients with CKD. While RBC indices and percentage hypochromic RBC are reliable and highly specific surrogate markers of iron deficiency anaemia among individuals with CKD.

This study examines the impact of leadership styles on employee performance and productivity in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. Specifically, it seeks to investigate and describe the different types of leadership styles practiced in the Nigerian gas industry and the extent to which these impact on employee performance and productivity. The styles of leadership employed in managing employees have an effect on the morale and productivity of workers. This study obtained and analyzed the perspectives and opinions of Nigeria LNG employees on impact of Leadership styles on employee performance. To do this, Data were collected via a structured questionnaire from a randomly selected 450 (Four Hundred & Fifty) respondents who have worked more than 5 years in the company and regression analysis was conducted to analyze the data using SPSS 21. The results of the correlation analysis showed that there is positive and significant relationship between autocratic leadership style and employee work quality (r=0.772; p

The elemental and radioactivity analyses of rock and soil samples from some selected sites in southwestern Nigeria have been done. Measurements of the elemental compositions and activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K were carried out using nuclear activation analysis technique and gamma spectrometry with high purity germanium detector, respectively. The results obtained provide reference data, allowing observation of possible future changes due to future radiological contamination. The activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides measured in the rocks were higher than those of the soils. The mean concentration of the major and minor elements in the rock and soil samples followed the order Al > Ca > Na > K > Mg > Fe > Ti and Mn > Ba > V > As > Cr > Ni > Zn > Cu, respectively. The radiological hazard and pollution risks associated with the natural radionuclides and heavy metals in the samples were assessed. The results obtained for the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), intern...

African-American (AA) infants are known to have, overall, lower bilirubin levels than infants of other ethnicities during their birth hospitalization. However, they are known to have a higher incidence of severe hyperbilirubinemia and are over represented in the US Kernicterus Registry. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO) is the rate limiting enzyme in heme metabolism leading to the equimolar production of bilirubin, carbon monoxide (CO) and free iron (Fe). Short (S) (GT)n repeats (25) in the promoter region of the gene encoding the inducible HO-1 isozyme augment its expression, while long (L) repeats (33) lead to an attenuation, modulating the production of bilirubin and CO. The impact of HO-1 promoter polymorphisms on bilirubin levels has not been well studied in (AA) infants.The objectives of this study were to compare the distribution of (GT)n repeat lengths in the HO-1 promoter region in a cohort of AA infants to those found in other ethnicities and to evaluate the contribution of this polymorphism to the degree of hyperbilirubinemia and the level of COHbc in this cohort.We prospectively studied a cohort of term AA infants with O+ mothers. Per hospital routine, infants' blood type, Rh status, direct antiglobulin test (DAT), and total bilirubin (TB) levels were checked prior to discharge. After parental consent, blood was collected for DNA extraction and carboxyhemoglobin (COHbc) measurements at the same time as the infants' newborn screen. An infant's TB percentile risk based on the Bhutani nomogram was used to determine need for phototherapy or follow-up. (GT)n repeat length in the HO-1 promoter was determined for each allele using PCR after DNA extraction from dried bloodspots. Size of allele lengths were typed as short (S,25), medium (M, 25-33) or long (L,33).One hundred eighty infants were studied for a total of 360 separate alleles. 12.2% (44/360) of alleles were S which was significantly less than all other ethnicities reviewed. Carboxyhemoglobin (COHbc) levels and bilirubin percentiles were higher among infants who had at least one S allele when compared to those who had at least one L allele in the cohort as a whole: COHbc 0.92 ± 0.35 vs. 0.85 ± 0.37; p = 0.28 and Bilirubin percentile 48.6 ± 34.0 vs. 44.9 ± 31.6; p = 0.51. This relationship remained when only those infants who were DAT neg were examined: COHbc 0.81 ± 0.26 vs. 0.74 ± 0.21; p = 0.11 and Bilirubin percentile 43.6 ± 29.9 vs. 37.5 ± 28.7; p = 0.28.The presence of L alleles of this variant is significantly greater among infants who are either African or of African descent. There was a trend toward lower COHbc levels among infants with at least one L allele as opposed to at least one S allele, although this did not have a statistically significant impact on TB risk percentile.