Determinants and outcomes of preterm births in Nigerian tertiary facilities.

Objective: To describe the incidence, and sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with preterm birth and perinatal mortality in Nigeria.

Design: Secondary analysis of data collected through the Maternal Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity (MPD-4-QED) Programme.

Setting: Data from births in 54 referral-level hospitals across Nigeria between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020.

Insight into antioxidant-like activity and computational exploration of identified bioactive compounds in Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) aqueous extract as potential cholinesterase inhibitors.

Background: Recent reports have highlighted the significance of plant bioactive components in drug development targeting neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, the current study assessed antioxidant activity and enzyme inhibitory activity of the aqueous extract of Talinum triangulare leave (AETt) as well as molecular docking/simulation of the identified phytonutrients against human cholinesterase activities.

Methods: In vitro assays were carried out to assess the 2,2- azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) cation radicals and cholinesterase inhibitory activities of AETt using standard protocols.

Production, acceptability, nutritional and pasting properties of orange-flesh sweet potato, cowpea and banana flour mix.

Promoting the intake of foods rich in vitamin A is key to combating the increase in vitamin A deficiency. This research focused on the utilization of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (a tuber-based food), cowpea (a pulse), and ripe bananas (a fruit) for the production of flour mix as a means to reduce Vitamin A deficiency in children. Different ratios of sweet potato-cowpea-banana (PCB) mix, resulting in 8 different blended samples, were optimized.

Effects of supplementing processed velvet beans (Mucuna pruriens L. DC. var. utilis) on nutrients intakes, growth performance, and blood profile in goats.

Ruminant production in West Africa faces both qualitative and quantitative feeding constraints during the dry season and animal diseases in smallholder farms. High-protein legume seeds can represent an alternative and sustainable feed that could enhance animal performance. The use of legume beans, limited by their anti-nutritional factor contents, can be improved through different detoxification methods.

Trehalose-Guanosine Glycopolymer Hydrogels Direct Adaptive Glia Responses in CNS Injury.

Neural tissue damaged after central nervous system (CNS) injury does not naturally regenerate but is instead replaced by non-neural fibrotic scar tissue that serves no neurological function. Scar-free repair to create a more permissive environment for regeneration requires altering the natural injury responses of glial cells. In this work, glycopolymer-based supramolecular hydrogels are synthesized to direct adaptive glia repair after CNS injury.

Physiochemical and Nutritional Characteristics of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food Prepared Using Bambara Groundnut- Leaf Protein Complex.

The utilisation of local raw material in the production of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) is worthy of exploration for the replacement of full-fat milk, peanut butter, mineral and vitamin mix used in the standard formulation. The objective of this study was to produce snack bars that will meet the protein requirement set by World Health Organisation (WHO) for RUTF (13-16% by weight) using the Bambara groundnut- leaf protein complex (BAMOLP). The BAMOnut snack bars were simulated using the mixture preparation procedure in Superpro Designer to determine different proportions of BAMOLP, leaf powder, egusi, oats, and millet.

Mechanism and isotherm modeling of effective adsorption of malachite green as endocrine disruptive dye using Acid Functionalized Maize Cob (AFMC).

Cationic Malachite green has been identified as a candidate for the endocrine disruptive compound found in the environment. In this study, the mechanism and isotherm modeling of effective adsorption of cationic malachite green dye onto acid-functionalized maize cob (AFMC) was investigated by batch technique. The operational parameters such as initial concentration (100-600 mg/L); contact time (10-120 min) and pH (3-10) influenced the removal efficiency and quantity adsorbed.

Ameliorative potential of Moringa Leaf Meal on nutrient digestibility of rabbits fed Fumonisin B-contaminated diets.

The ameliorative potential of Moringa leaf meal (MLM) on nutrient digestibility and organ weights of rabbits fed FB-contaminated diets was evaluated. The rabbits were divided into nine treatment groups (2.5 mg FB, 5.

In vitro antiviral activity of peptide-rich extracts from seven Nigerian plants against three non-polio enterovirus species C serotypes.

Background: As frequent viral outbreaks continue to pose threat to public health, the unavailability of antiviral drugs and challenges associated with vaccine development underscore the need for antiviral drugs discovery in emergent moments (endemic or pandemic). Plants in response to microbial and pest attacks are able to produce defence molecules such as antimicrobial peptides as components of their innate immunity, which can be explored for viral therapeutics.

Methods: In this study, partially purified peptide-rich fraction (P-PPf) were obtained from aqueous extracts of seven plants by reverse-phase solid-phase extraction and cysteine-rich peptides detected by a modified TLC method.

Extracts of herbs and spices as feed additives mitigate ruminal methane production and improve fermentation characteristics in West African Dwarf sheep.

The study aims to evaluate the effect of aqueous and methanolic extracts of three herbs, namely, neem (Azadirachta indica), drumstick (Moringa oleifera) and scent (Ocimum gratissimum), and three spices garlic (Allium sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and onion leaflets (Allium cepa) on ruminal methane production and fermentation characteristics. The feed samples (200 mg substrates plus extracts of the selected herbs and spices) were incubated with rumen liquor taken from three mature West African dwarf ewes at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 h. The results show that extracts of the selected herbs and spices increased the gas produced, from the insoluble fraction, degradability rate, volume of gas produced at time and time of most rapid change in gas produced.

Effects of commonly used food additives on haematological parameters of Wistar rats.

This study was done to investigate the effects of common food additives such as sodium benzoate (SB) and ascorbic acid (AA) on haematological parameters of male Wistar rats. Forty-eight (48) male albino rats with an average weight of 105 g were grouped into twelve (n = 4) of Basal Control and other 11 groups orally administered 1 mg of SB, 10 mg of SB, 10 mg of AA, 0.2 mg of AA + 0.

Concerns of Parents With Children Receiving Home-Based Pediatric Palliative Care.

Context: Caring for a child who will die from a life-limiting illness is one of the most difficult experiences a parent may face. Pediatric palliative care (PPC) has grown as a specialty service to address the unique needs of children and families with serious illness. However, gaps remain between the needs of families in PPC and the support received.

Potential ecological and health risks of toxic metals associated with artisanal mining contamination in Ijero, southwest Nigeria.

This investigation was done to decide the concentrations, sources and potential risks of metals in media around Ijero area. A total of 80 samples including topsoils, sediments, tailings and whole plants were gathered from this territory while control samples were taken from zone with less human exercises. Samples were pounded, sieved and chemically analyzed utilizing Agilent High Plasma Liquid Chromatography Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer.

Contamination, sources and risk assessments of metals in media from Anka artisanal gold mining area, Northwest Nigeria.

Mining is a major human activity that has contributed significantly to high degree of environmental and human health degradation. This study was done to uncover the degree of contamination and risks associated with metals in environmental media collected from Anka area, Northwest Nigeria. A total of eighty-two (82) samples which include 42 soils, 22 stream sediments, 13 tailings and 5 plants were collected.

HIV-1 Central Nervous System Compartmentalization and Cytokine Interplay in Non-Subtype B HIV-1 Infections in Nigeria and Malawi.

HIV-1 compartmentalization in the central nervous system (CNS) and its contribution to neurological disease have been well documented. Previous studies were conducted among people infected with subtypes B or C where CNS compartmentalization has been observed when comparing viral sequences in the blood to virus in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, little is known about CNS compartmentalization in other HIV-1 subtypes.

Evaluation of Kidney Function Parameters in Diabetic Rats Following Virgin Coconut Oil Diet.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) leads to disruption of kidney function parameters (KFPs) which are markers of kidney diseases, especially nephropathy. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) has been implicated in playing a significant role in DM management. However, its role on KFPs in DM is scarce.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Bovine Enterovirus Isolate Recovered from Sewage in Nigeria.

We describe the draft genome of a bovine enterovirus (EV) isolate recovered from sewage in Nigeria. This isolate replicates on both RD and L20B cell lines but is negative for all EV screens in use by the Global Poliovirus Eradication Initiative (GPEI). It contains 7,368 nucleotides (nt) with 50.

Prescription Opioid Fatalities: Examining Why the Healer Could be the Culprit.

Prescription opioid use has increased rapidly in developed countries, as have fatalities and other related adverse events. This review examines the intrinsic characteristics of opioids, including their mechanisms of action and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, to determine how the use of a regonised pharmacological remedy for a medically confirmed ailment could result in an accidental fatality. Opioids trigger biological processes that inhibit their own therapeutic effect.

Patterns of serologic markers of hepatitis B virus infection and the risk of transmission among pregnant women in southwestern Nigeria.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health concern in developing countries that has a high morbidity and mortality rate. Vertical transmission of HBV from mother to child has been identified as a major factor leading to chronicity with attendant liver conditions, especially in poor socioeconomic settings. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of serological HBV markers among pregnant women in Ibadan southwestern Nigeria and to determine the implications for perinatal HBV transmission.

Outcome of Extremely Low Birth Weight Babies in Zaria; A Ten-Year Review.

Background: Survival among extremely low birth weight (ELBW) babies (birth weight below 1000grams) in resource limited settings is still very low. The study aimed to determine the correlation between materno-foetal factors and outcome in this category of neonates.

Study Design: A retrospective study in which patients' records admitted into the Neonatal Unit of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital between January 2005 and December 2014 were retrieved.

Defining the Enterovirus Diversity Landscape of a Fecal Sample: A Methodological Challenge?

Enteroviruses are a group of over 250 naked icosahedral virus serotypes that have been associated with clinical conditions that range from intrauterine enterovirus transmission withfataloutcome through encephalitis and meningitis, to paralysis. Classically, enterovirus detection was done by assaying for the development of the classic enterovirus-specific cytopathic effect in cell culture. Subsequently, the isolates were historically identified by a neutralization assay.

Epidemiological Evaluation of Rubella Virus Infection among Pregnant Women in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Rubella is a vaccine-preventable, mild rash-inducing viral disease with complications that include a spectrum of birth defects in the developing fetus, especially if the infection is acquired in the early months of pregnancy. Consequently, the primary objective of global rubella control programs is prevention of congenital rubella infection and associated birth defects. Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines, and the elimination of the rubella virus in many developed countries, substantial commitment to rubella control has not been demonstrated in developing countries.

Cord blood full blood count parameters in Lagos, Nigeria.

Introduction: Full blood count (FBC), one of the most frequently requested for laboratory investigations, is a simple, fast and cheap test and is a reliable indicator of health. Due to its usefulness in the assessment of health status of individuals, its parameters in cord blood, a major source of haemopoietic stem cell transplantation and an ideal source for laboratory investigations for newborns were determined to provide a useful guide to local neonatologists and stem cell transplant physicians.

Methods: Three millilitres of umbilical cord blood was collected from 130 normal birth weight newborns (69 males and 61 females) whose cord were clamped immediately after delivery, at a teaching hospital in Lagos, Nigeria and full blood count parameters were determined using Sysmex autoanalyzer, model KX-21N.

Prevalence of HIV-related autoimmune haemolytic anaemia in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Despite a high frequency of anaemia, a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) and bone marrow hyperplasia HIV-infected patients, lack of reticulocytosis may cause underdiagnosis autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) in them. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia in HIV-infected patients and to compare the haematological/immunological characteristics of subjects with anaemia and those without.

Materials And Methods: A total of 350 HIV-infected subjects attending the Lagos University Teaching Hospital who consented were recruited for the study.

High prevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G antibody among healthcare facility attendees in Osogbo, Nigeria.

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody and associated factors among residents of Osogbo, a town in Nigeria with inadequate environmental sanitation and a shortage of potable water. This is a health facility-based study. Ninety one consenting, asymptomatic attendees of public healthcare facilities in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria, were consecutively selected for this study.