Impaired contour object perception in psychosis.

Background: Contour integration, the process of joining spatially separated elements into a single unified line, has consistently been found to be impaired in schizophrenia. Recent work suggests that this deficit could be associated with psychotic symptomatology, rather than a specific diagnosis such as schizophrenia.

Methods: Examining a transdiagnostic sample of participants with psychotic psychopathology, we obtained quantitative indices of contour perception in a psychophysical behavioral task.

Detection of Genetic Variations in Children with Tetralogy of Fallot Using Whole Exome Sequencing Technology Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis.

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic heart defect in newborns, with a complex etiology and genetic variation considered to be one of the main pathogenic factors. Identifying genetic variations associated with TOF has important clinical value for understanding its pathogenesis, patient susceptibility, and prognosis of patients with TOF. Therefore, this study aimed to identify potential pathogenic genes of TOF through comprehensive genetic analysis.

Impact of investments in agricultural innovation on food security in sub-Saharan Africa.

Empirical evidence proves that agricultural research and development expenditure, and researchers attract high returns though the investments have long gestation periods. Nonetheless, Sub-Saharan Africa invests meagerly in agricultural research and development, and researchers. This study explores the impacts of agricultural research and development expenditures, and researchers on food security in the region and across the sub-regions.

Impaired contour object perception in psychosis.

Contour integration, the process of joining spatially separated elements into a single unified line, has consistently been found to be impaired in schizophrenia. Recent work suggests that this deficit could be associated with psychotic symptomatology, rather than a specific diagnosis such as schizophrenia. Examining a transdiagnostic sample of participants with psychotic psychopathology, we obtained quantitative indices of contour perception in a psychophysical behavioral task.

Subcutaneous Emphysema Complicating the Convalescent Stage of Measles in a Malnourished Indigent Child: A Case Report From North-Western Nigeria.

Measles is a highly infectious, vaccine-preventable viral disease that runs a devastating course in developing countries due to its association with malnutrition and poor immunization coverage. Subcutaneous emphysema (SE) is a rare complication of measles that can be challenging to manage and may portend poor outcomes if untreated. We present a case of a two-year-old unimmunized rural dweller who presented with facial, neck, and chest swellings three days after being managed for measles exanthem from a referral hospital.

Depletion of hepatic glutathione and adenosine by glucocorticoid exposure in Wistar rats is pregnancy-independent.

Liver diseases have gained increasing attention due to their substantial impact on health, independently as well as in association with cardio-metabolic disorders. Studies have suggested that glutathione and adenosine assist in providing protection against oxidative stress and inflammation while glucocorticoid (GC) therapy has been associated with chronic inflammatory disorders, even in pregnancy. The implications of Glucocorticoid exposure on maternal health and fetal growth is a concern, however, the possible role of glutathione and adenosine has not been thoroughly investigated.

Statistical mirroring: A robust method for statistical dispersion estimation.

This study introduces statistical mirroring as an innovative approach to statistical dispersion estimation, drawing inspiration from the Kabirian-based isomorphic optinalysis model, aimed at enhancing robustness and mitigating biases in estimation methods. Beyond scale-invariant characteristics, the proposed estimators emphasize scaloc-invariant robustness, thereby addressing a critical gap in dispersion estimation. By highlighting statistical meanic mirroring, alongside other forms of proposed statistical mirroring, the study underscores the adaptability and customization potential.

The Use of Precision Epigenetic Methods for the Diagnosis and Care of Stable Coronary Heart Disease Reduces Healthcare Costs.

Introduction: The cost of secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) is continuing to increase, with a substantial portion of this acceleration being driven by the expense of confirmatory diagnostic testing. Conceivably, newly developed precision epigenetic technologies could drive down these costs. However, at the current time, their impact on overall expense for CHD care is poorly understood.

Kabirian-based optinalysis: A conceptually grounded framework for symmetry/asymmetry, similarity/dissimilarity and identity/unidentity estimations in mathematical structures and biological sequences.

This paper introduces "Kabirian-based optinalysis (KBO)," a pioneering framework that addresses the longstanding challenges in estimating symmetry/asymmetry, similarity/dissimilarity, and identity/unidentity within mathematical structures and biological sequences. The existing methods often lack a strong theoretical foundation, leading to inconsistencies and limitations. Kabirian-based optinalysis draws inspiration from isomorphism and automorphism, providing a theoretically grounded framework that unifies estimation methodologies.

Biomass fuel use and birth weight among term births in Nigeria.

Despite the high burden of household air pollution from biomass fuel in sub-Saharan Africa, the association of prenatal biomass fuel exposure and birth weight as a continuous variable among term births has not been extensively studied. In this study, our primary aim is to estimate the association between biomass cooking fuel and birth weight among term births in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria. For replication, we also evaluated this association in a larger and nationally representative sample from the 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (DHS).

Assessment of proton-pump inhibitor use at a tertiary teaching hospital in Nigeria.

Background: Proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) is a widely used medication class globally. Because of its good safety profile, there is a huge likelihood of inappropriate use.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of PPI use and indications, describe its pattern of usage, and identify factors associated with inappropriate prescriptions at a federal tertiary teaching hospital in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Theory-Practice Gap: The Knowledge and Perception of Nigerian Nurses.

Background: The theory-practice gap can be described as a lack of ability to relate the knowledge acquired in academics and research work with practice. This study aims to assess the knowledge and the perception of Nigerian nurses on the theory-practice gap in Nursing.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study was carried out with a sample of 196 nurses who were working in the Federal Medical Centre Keffi and Aminu Kano Teaching hospital in Kano, all from the northern part of Nigeria, from April to June 2019.

Intestinal proinflammatory macrophages induce a phenotypic switch in interstitial cells of Cajal.

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells in the intestine, and their function can be compromised by loss of C-KIT expression. Macrophage activation has been identified in intestine affected by Hirschsprung disease-associated enterocolitis (HAEC). In this study, we examined proinflammatory macrophage activation and explored the mechanisms by which it downregulates C-KIT expression in ICCs in colon affected by HAEC.

Robustness of anaerobes exposed to cyanuric acid contaminated wastewater and achieving efficient removal via optimized co-digestion scheme.

The impact of various industrial pollutants on anaerobes and the biodegradation potentials need much emphasis. This study aims to investigate the response of anaerobic microbial systems to cyanuric acid (CA) exposure; CA is toxic and possible carcinogen. First, the long-term exposure of mixed culture bacteria (i.

Utilisation of fine needle aspiration cytology and biopsy in Sokoto, Nigeria: A five-year review.

The histopathology department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto, Nigeria, conducted a total of 1435 fine needle aspiration biopsies from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015, constituting 30% of cytology specimens received. The most common site for the procedure was the breast (655 cases, 45.6%), and 893 cases (63.

Coexistence of Kaposi sarcoma and Molluscum contagiosum on the same site in a HIV-AIDS patient: A very rare occurrence.

Introduction: There have been numerous reported opportunistic infections among HIV/AIDS patients. However, coexistence of Kaposi sarcoma and Molluscum contagiosum on the same site is a rare finding.

Case Presentation: A 37-year-old man poorly adherent to antiretroviral therapy presented with Molluscum contagiosum and Kaposi sarcoma occurring simultaneously on numerous skin lesions around mid-2017 at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto State, Nigeria.

Use of transrectal ultrasound in the management of urologic diseases in a tertiary hospital in North-Western Nigeria.

Background: Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy of the prostate is considered as a standard of care for diagnosis of prostate cancer. The objective of this study was to document our experience in the use of TRUS in the management of urologic diseases in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients who had TRUS at UDUTH from December 2009 to November 2017.

Ex utero intrapartum treatment for giant congenital omphalocele.

Background: To determine whether ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) is an appropriate approach for managing fetuses antenatally diagnosed with giant congenital omphaloceles.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with omphaloceles who underwent either an EXIT procedure or a traditional repair surgery. Basic and clinical parameters including gender, gestational age, birth weight, maternal blood loss, operative times and operative complications were analyzed.

Binary effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTio) and phosphorus on microalgae (Chlorella 'Ellipsoides Gerneck, 1907).

The wide application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and phosphorus in the manufacturing of many industrial products mainly used in agricultural sector has resulted in the release of considerable amounts of these compounds into freshwater aquatic ecosystem. These compounds may cause some unexpected effects to aquatic organisms. This study assessed the binary effects of Titanium nanoparticles (nTiO) and Phosphorus on Chlorella ellipsoides.

Safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous suprapubic cystostomy in resource-poor setting: A 7-year review.

Introduction: Percutaneous cystostomy techniques are usually done using disposable sets in developed countries which are not affordable in poor-resource settings. However, the percutaneous technique can be done using reusable trocar or selected big size surgical blades. This is simple, safe, and cost effective in poor-resource setting.

Assessing the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Students Regarding Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak.

Background: The emergence and spread of Ebola outbreak is a growing problem worldwide, which represents a significant threat to public health. Evidence has shown that the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of people in the society play major roles in controlling the spread of Ebola virus disease. This study was designed to determine knowledge, attitude and practice of students at School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences towards Ebola.

Waterpipe (Hookah) Smoking Among Youth and Women in Canada is New, not Traditional.

Introduction: When asserting the right of individuals to be free to smoke a hookah (waterpipe [WP]) in public places, the "cultural" importance of the practice is often cited. The purpose of this study was to explore the cultural significance of WP smoking.

Methods: Qualitative methods were used to elicit the views of groups of WP smokers from different cultural backgrounds.