Bridging the mismatch: observing the introduction of new anesthesia technology for a low-resource environment.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the introduction of the Universal Anaesthesia Machine (UAM), a device designed for use in clinical environments with limited clinical perioperative resources, on the choice of general anesthesia technique and safe anesthesia practice in a tertiary-care hospital in Sierra Leone.

Methods: We introduced an anesthesia machine (UAM) into Connaught Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone. We conducted a prospective observational study of anesthesia practice and an examination of perioperative clinical parameters among surgical patients at the hospital to determine the usability of the device, its impact on anesthesia capacity, and changes in general anesthesia technique.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C Virus Infections among Healthcare Seekers at a Tertiary Health Facility in North-Central Nigeria: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Hepatitis B and C viral infections are among the common infectious diseases with global public health importance. Nigeria is among the countries identified to be hyper-endemic for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among healthcare seekers at Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria, to increase awareness among the populace and sensitize public health stakeholders.

What Is the Role of Dexmedetomidine in Modern Anesthesia and Critical Care?

Dexmedetomidine's unique sedative properties have led to its widespread use. Dexmedetomidine has a beneficial pharmacologic profile including analgesic sparing effects, anxiolysis, sympatholysis, organ-protective effects against ischemic and hypoxic injury, and sedation which parallels natural sleep. An understanding of predictable side effects, effects of age-related physiologic changes, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of dexmedetomidine is crucial to maximize its safe administration in adults and children.

Burden of COVID-19 Pandemic on Adolescents' Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study among Secondary School Students in North-Central Nigeria.

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused millions of mortalities globally. Although the prevalence and fatality rates of COVID-19 among adolescents is low, its impact on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is not adequately known. This study was carried out to determine the burden COVID-19 pandemic has on the HRQoL of adolescents.

Interocular ND filter suppression: Eccentricity and luminance polarity effects.

The depth and extent of interocular suppression were measured in binocularly normal observers who unilaterally adapted to neutral density (ND) filters (0, 1.5, 2, and 3 ND). Suppression was measured by dichoptically matching sectors of a ring presented to the adapted eye to a fixed contrast contiguous ring presented to the non-adapted eye.