Applying Mobile Technology to Address Gender-Based Violence in Rural Nigeria: Experiences and Perceptions of Users and Stakeholders.

This paper documents the results of an intervention conducted in Nigeria to test the effectiveness of a mobile phone technology, , in enabling women to self-report gender-based violence (GBV). Women experiencing GBV and other challenges related to sexual and reproductive health and rights were requested to use their mobile phones to text a code to a central server. In turn, the server relayed the messages to trained nearby health providers and civil society organization (CSO) officials who reached out to provide health care and social management services to the callers.

When one door closes: a qualitative exploration of women's experiences of access to sexual and reproductive health services during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic widely disrupted health services provision, especially during the lockdown period, with females disproportionately affected. Very little is known about alternative healthcare sources used by women when access to conventional health services became challenging. This study examined the experiences of women and adolescent girls regarding access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria and their choices of alternative healthcare sources.

Implementation of value-based healthcare in ophthalmology: a scoping review.

Objective: This review aimed to identify and summarise how value-based healthcare (VBHC) is implemented in the field of ophthalmology.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted by searching empirical and non-empirical articles from from electronic databases (PubMed, Science Direct, ProQuest and Scopus) and other methods starting January 2006 (the year Porter and Teisberg introduced VBHC) up to 31 December 2023.

Results: 1.

Time Series and Spectral Analysis of Thermoacoustic Oscillations for Propane-Oxyfuel Combustion in a Swirl-Stabilized, Nonpremixed Combustor.

In this study, the time series data for sound pressure and heat release fluctuations were analyzed to establish the stability window of the propane-oxyflames under different operating conditions. The CO dilution level and the combustor power density were varied at a fixed global equivalence ratio to investigate the thermoacoustic instability of the flames. The phase difference between the fluctuations and the instantaneous Rayleigh index reveals whether the heat release and pressure fluctuations are coupled, which can result in the amplification of the sound pressure fluctuations.

Erythrocytic, Enzymatic, and Histological Markers of Oxidative Stress in Subacute and Chronic Stage Infections in Wistar Rats () Infected with .

Trypanosomiasis is a complex of diseases caused by a haemoprotozoan parasite of medical and veterinary importance. One of the leading factors that cause morbidity and death in trypanosomiasis is oxidative stress. The oxidative stress biomarkers in trypanosomiasis at the subacute and chronic stages of infection were investigated in this study.

Assessment and associated factors of comprehensive HIV knowledge in an at-risk population: a cross-sectional study from 19,286 young persons in Nigeria.

Background: The prevalence of HIV among young people aged 15-19 years in Nigeria is estimated as 3.5%, the highest among West and Central African countries. Comprehensive knowledge of HIV is associated with increased awareness of preventive interventions and a reduction in the spread of HIV.

Female genital mutilation and sexual behaviour by marital status among a nationally representative sample of Nigerian women.

Background: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is believed to have a negative effect on sexual and reproductive health but the evidence from nationally representative sample in high-burdened countries like Nigeria is scarce. This study explored the association between FGM and sexual behaviour in a nationally representative sample of Nigerian women.

Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey conducted in 2013 and 2018 among women aged 15-49 years.

Gain of Function of Malate Dehydrogenase 2 and Familial Hyperglycemia.

Context: Genes causing familial forms of diabetes mellitus are only partially known.

Objective: We set out to identify the genetic cause of hyperglycemia in multigenerational families with an apparent autosomal dominant form of adult-onset diabetes not due to mutations in known monogenic diabetes genes.

Methods: Existing whole-exome sequencing (WES) data were used to identify exonic variants segregating with diabetes in 60 families from the United States and Italy.

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on provision of sexual and reproductive health services in primary health facilities in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Nigeria, like many other countries, has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. While efforts have been devoted to curtailing the disease, a major concern has been its potential effects on the delivery and utilization of reproductive health care services in the country. The objective of the study was to investigate the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns had affected the provision of essential reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health (RMCAH) services in primary health care facilities across the Nigerian States.

Autosomal dominant diabetes associated with a novel ZYG11A mutation resulting in cell cycle arrest in beta-cells.

Diabetes is a genetically heterogeneous disease, for which we are aiming to identify causative genes. Here, we report a missense mutation (c.T1424C:p.

Defective functions of HNF1A variants on BCL2L1 transactivation and beta-cell growth.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 3 (MODY3) is caused by mutations in a gene encoding transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-alpha (HNF1A). Although the roles of HNF1A in regulation of hepatic and pancreatic genes to maintain glucose homeostasis were investigated, the functions of HNF1A are not completely elucidated. To better understand the functions of HNF1A, we characterized mutations of HNF1A in Thai MODY3 patients and studied the functions of wild-type HNF1A and variant proteins.

Utility of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron-emission Tomography/ Computed Tomography in the Detection of Primary Colonic Malignancy Presenting as an Inguinoscrotal Hernia.

Carcinoma of the sigmoid colon presenting in an inguinoscrotal hernia is uncommon. Many of the cases seen in literature were diagnosed only intraoperatively, as most of them had misleading presentations. We report a case of carcinoma of the sigmoid colon in an incarcerated inguinoscrotal hernia with imaging findings of 18F-FDG PET/CT along with a brief review of the literature.

Correlation of Maximum Standardized Uptake Values in 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography-computed Tomography Scan with Immunohistochemistry and Other Prognostic Factors in Breast Cancer.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to correlate maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) with different immunohistochemical subtypes of breast cancer and other prognostic factors in breast cancer.

Subjects And Methods: This was a retrospective study including 219 consecutive patients undergoing whole-body fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan for the staging of breast cancer. Out of 219 patients, two were male and 217 were female; age ranged from 26 to 85 years with mean age of 54 years.

Torsion Ovary, an Unusual Presentation of Carcinoma Appendix Detected in Whole-Body F-18 2-Fluoro 2-deoxy Glucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Scan.

Torsion ovary is one of the common emergencies in gynecology requiring surgery. Torsion ovary is generally caused by cystic lesions of ovary and benign tumors. Malignant tumors rarely present as torsion ovary.

Role of F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Scan in Castleman's Disease.

Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare benign lymphoproliferative disorder. We are presenting three cases of CD of which one is unicentric CD, and the other two are an idiopathic multicentric CD. One of the two multicentric cases is associated with POEMS syndrome.

Role of F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron-Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Scan in Primary Staging of Breast Cancer Compared to Conventional Staging.

Aim: In newly diagnosed carcinoma breast cancer patients, comparing conventional staging and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography-computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) staging.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. A total of 171 new diagnosed carcinoma breast patients who underwent staging F-FDG PET/CT scan and routine conventional imaging including mammosonography of breast and axilla, chest X-ray, ultrasound sonography abdomen, and bone scan were included in the study.

Methamphetamine toxicity-induced calcineurin activation, nuclear translocation of nuclear factor of activated T-cells and elevation of cyclooxygenase 2 levels are averted by calpastatin overexpression in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Methamphetamine (METH) is an addictive stimulant drug that has many negative consequences, including toxic effects to the brain. Recently, the induction of inflammatory processes has been identified as a potential contributing factor to induce neuronal cell degeneration. It has been demonstrated that the expression of inflammatory agents, such as cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), depends on the activation of calcineurin (CaN) and nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT).

Calpastatin overexpression reduces oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial impairment and cell death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by decreasing calpain and calcineurin activation, induction of mitochondrial fission and destruction of mitochondrial fusion.

Calpain is an intracellular Ca(2+)-dependent protease, and the activation of calpain has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. Calpain activity can be regulated by calpastatin, an endogenous specific calpain inhibitor. Several lines of evidence have demonstrated a potential role of calpastatin in preventing calpain-mediated pathogenesis.

A new technique to pyrolyse biomass in a microwave system: effect of stirrer speed.

A new technique to pyrolyse biomass in microwave (MW) system is presented in this paper to solve the problem of bio-oil deposition. Pyrolysis of oil palm shell (OPS) biomass was conducted in 800 W and 2.45 GHz frequency MW system using an activated carbon as a MW absorber.

What is the cost of providing outpatient HIV counseling and testing and antiretroviral therapy services in selected public health facilities in Nigeria?

Background: Limited data on actual cost of providing HIV/AIDS services in Nigeria makes planning difficult. A study was conducted in 9 public health facilities supported by the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria. The objective was to determine the cost of outpatient HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) services per patient.

The use of routine monitoring and evaluation systems to assess a referral model of family planning and HIV service integration in Nigeria.

Objective: To measure changes in service utilization of a model integrating family planning with HIV counselling and testing (HCT), antiretroviral therapy (ART) and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in the Nigerian public health facilities.

Design: It is a retrospective survey of attendance and family planning commodity uptake in 71 health facilities in Nigeria that analyzes the preintegration and postintegration periods between March 2007 and January 2009.

Methods: A prepost retrospective comparison of mean attendance at family planning clinics and couple-years of protection (CYP) compared 6 months preintegration with 9 months postintegration period.

Processes of diversification and dispersion of rice yellow mottle virus inferred from large-scale and high-resolution phylogeographical studies.

Phylogeography of Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) was reconstructed from the coat protein gene sequences of a selection of 173 isolates from the 14 countries of mainland Africa where the disease occurred and from the full sequences of 16 representative isolates. Genetic variation was linked to geographical distribution and not to host species as isolates from wild rice always clustered with isolates from cultivated rice of the same region. Genetic variation was not associated to agro-ecology, viral interference and insect vector species.

Inferring the evolutionary history of rice yellow mottle virus from genomic, phylogenetic, and phylogeographic studies.

Fourteen isolates of Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) were selected as representative of the genetic variability of the virus in Africa from a total set of 320 isolates serologically typed or partially sequenced. The 14 isolates were fully sequenced and analyzed together with two previously reported sequences. RYMV had a genomic organization similar to that of Cocksfoot mottle sobemovirus.

Molecular epidemiology of the RNA satellite of Rice yellow mottle virus in Africa.

Satellite RNA was sought in 51 isolates of Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) representative of the geographical, molecular and pathogenic variability of the virus in Africa. Three-quarters of the isolates from cultivated rice and wild gramineaceous hosts supported a satellite RNA. The prevalence of RYMV isolates that were associated with a satellite differed among regions, being c.