Gender differentials in access to medical services during COVID-19 lockdown: Insights from Nigeria.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria, like many other countries, implemented a lockdown policy that restricted all movement except for essential services. Access to medical services is a critical component of an effective healthcare system, and without equitable access across genders, improving the overall health outcomes of the population is unlikely to be achieved. This study analyses gender differential in access to medical services and sexual reproductive health services namely, family planning, child health, adult health, pharmacy, emergency care, vaccination, and other medical services during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria, using both descriptive and inferential analytical techniques.

Atorvastatin improves sputum conversion and chest X-ray severity score.

We report the results of a phase IIB study investigating the safety and effectiveness of atorvastatin use with standard anti-TB drugs. In this multicentre, open-labelled study, we recruited treatment-naÏve patients with uncomplicated pulmonary TB aged at least 18 years. Participants were randomly assigned to standard-of-care or standard-of-care plus oral dose of atorvastatin (40 mg) daily for 2 months.

Effect of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Severity on Inspiratory Flow Rates via Inhaler Devices.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disorder that affects millions of people worldwide and inhalation therapy is central to the symptomatic management of the disease. Therefore, knowledge of the minimum Peak inspiratory flow (PIF) requirements for specific inhalers especially dry powder inhalers (DPI's) is necessary when prescribing inhalation therapy. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of COPD severity on PIF in patients with COPD.

Correction: Linkages between men's wealth status and the ideal number of children: A trend and multilevel analysis of survey data in Nigeria.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.

Determinants of Suboptimal Peak Inspiratory Flow Rates among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Southwest, Nigeria.

Background: Inhalational therapy is the cornerstone in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Patients' peak inspiratory flow impacts effective dry powder inhaler (DPI) delivery and management outcome.

Objective: This study assessed peak inspiratory flow rates (PIFR) and determined the factors associated with suboptimal inspiratory flow rates among COPD patients.

Linkages between men's wealth status and the ideal number of children: A trend and multilevel analysis of survey data in Nigeria.

Most African societies practice a patriarchal family system that endows a man with authority and dominance in the family and society with a defined role of being the breadwinner of the home. A man is expected to have a great influence in determining the ideal number of children in the family and take a domineering role in decision-making, especially those related to household resource allocation. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between men's wealth status and an ideal number of children.

Women's ability to negotiate safer sex with partners by contraceptive status among a nationally representative sample of married women in Nigeria.

Background: Existing studies established that safer sex negotiation influences contraceptive use, and women who are able to negotiate safer sex were expected to be contraceptive users. However, it is not certain that all contraceptive users have the ability to negotiate safer sex. Likewise, there is no evidence that all non-users are not able to negotiate safer sex with partners.

CSR-brand relationship, brand positioning, and investment risks driven towards climate change mitigation and next perspectives emerging from: "Litigation, projections, pathway, and models".

Unlabelled: This study delineates the relationship between CSR and brands, unveiling pragmatic steps towards achieving the sustainable business environment, while unveiling its potential towards climate changes mitigation cognizant of investment risks, leading to an action plan-framework for proffering practical solutions coupled with establishing future paths and projection towards addressing climatic changes consequences, risen incidences in litigation trends and environmental issues. Trends manifesting in risen litigation incidences linked to industrial and economic activities that adversely impact the climate, environment and society makes it imperative to look extensively beyond prediction models while establishing and building on brand relationship with CSR, while strategically establishing a practically realistic business model for translating this relationship to value-creation and applied in abating climate change, addressing all environmental concerns, redressing litigation incidences, among other issues resulting from impacts of business and socio-economic pursuits of humans. The twenty-first century realities towards a green planet demands doing business strategically, optimize resources by imbibing investment risks as a trend and organizational culture-strategic fit, adopting brand as a potential tool for addressing climate change and environmentally related activities and adversaries from business activities and negligent practices from such, while achieving climate change mitigation as outlined and extensively inundated.

Comparing the family characteristics, professional profile, and personality traits of COVID-19 volunteer and nonvolunteer frontline healthcare workers at the epicenter in Nigeria.

Background: Emergency volunteering becomes a necessity in the face of unprecedented disasters like the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. There is a paucity of empirical data on volunteerism not imported from the developed countries. It became necessary to evaluate the local-bred volunteerism with its peculiarity, as it emerged within the public health sector of Nigeria's COVID-19 epicenter.

The relationship between asthma control and health-related quality of life in asthma and the role of atopy: a cross-sectional study of Nigerian adult asthmatics.

Introduction: the relationship between asthma control and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult asthmatics is fairly established, but the unique contribution of atopy to this relationship has received less attention. The aim of this study was to quantify the contribution of atopy to this relationship.

Methods: in a cross-sectional study, we assessed HRQoL using mini-Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ).

Frequency of Osteoporosis in Black Nigerian Women Aged 50 and above with Degenerative Musculoskeletal Diseases and Fractures.

Background And Objectives: Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by reduced bone density (and microarchitecture damage) prevalent in post-menopausal women, who are prone to fragility fractures. There is paucity of data regarding the prevalence of osteoporosis in Nigerian women. This study was carried out to evaluate the frequency of osteoporosis among Nigerian women with degenerative skeletal diseases and fractures who visited our hospital so as to suggest prevention and early treatment in order to reduce the occurrence of fragility fractures.

Ultrasonographic Volumetric Assessment of Achilles Tendons in Unilateral Congenital Clubfoot in Lagos, Nigeria.

Purpose: To assess cases of unilateral congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) and compare both Achilles tendons using [MSK USS].

Methods: Twenty-two patients (44 feet) with unilateral CTEV presenting at the clubfoot clinic who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study. Biographic data was collected from the patients and both Achilles tendons scanned using high frequency ultrasound scan probe.

Challenges of diagnosing and managing bronchiectasis in resource-limited settings: a case study.

Bronchiectasis, once an orphan disease is now gaining renewed attention as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. It is a morphologic term used to describe abnormal, irreversibly dilated and thick-walled bronchi, with many etiologies. The management of bronchiectasis can be challenging because its pathogenetic mechanisms is still evolving.

Hibiscus sabdariffa renews pancreatic β-cells in experimental type 1 diabetic model rats.

This study evaluated the antidiabetic potentials of flavonoid-rich aqueous fraction of methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx (HSCE) on the pancreatic β-cells of experimental type I diabetic model rats. Type 1 diabetes mellitus was induced in Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of 80mg/kg b/w streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in 0.1M citrate buffer (pH 6.

Impact of Sleep Quality on the Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Impaired sleep is reportedly common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the impact of quality of sleep on health-related quality of life (HRQL) has been documented. Although factors affecting HRQL have been investigated in various studies, the impact of sleep quality on HRQL has not been previously investigated among patients with COPD in Nigeria. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of sleep quality as a factor affecting HRQL.

Biomimetic extracellular matrix coatings improve the chronic biocompatibility of microfabricated subdural microelectrode arrays.

Intracranial electrodes are a vital component of implantable neurodevices, both for acute diagnostics and chronic treatment with open and closed-loop neuromodulation. Their performance is hampered by acute implantation trauma and chronic inflammation in response to implanted materials and mechanical mismatch between stiff synthetic electrodes and pulsating, natural soft host neural tissue. Flexible electronics based on thin polymer films patterned with microscale conductive features can help alleviate the mechanically induced trauma; however, this strategy alone does not mitigate inflammation at the device-tissue interface.

Two-Dimensional TiC MXene for High-Resolution Neural Interfaces.

High-resolution neural interfaces are essential tools for studying and modulating neural circuits underlying brain function and disease. Because electrodes are miniaturized to achieve higher spatial resolution and channel count, maintaining low impedance and high signal quality becomes a significant challenge. Nanostructured materials can address this challenge because they combine high electrical conductivity with mechanical flexibility and can interact with biological systems on a molecular scale.

HIV treatment is associated with a two-fold higher probability of raised triglycerides: Pooled Analyses in 21 023 individuals in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) regimes for HIV are associated with raised levels of circulating triglycerides (TG) in western populations. However, there are limited data on the impact of ART on cardiometabolic risk in sub-Saharan African (SSA) populations.

Methods: Pooled analyses of 14 studies comprising 21 023 individuals, on whom relevant cardiometabolic risk factors (including TG), HIV and ART status were assessed between 2003 and 2014, in SSA.

Domestic solid fuel combustion in an adult population in Nigeria: A cross sectional analysis of association with respiratory symptoms, quality of life and lung function.

Background And Objectives: We examined the association of respiratory symptoms, health status, and lung function with the use of solid fuel (wood, charcoal, coal or crop residue) for cooking or heating in a predominantly non-smoking population.

Methods: Using the protocol of the Burden of Obstructive Lung Diseases (BOLD) initiative, we collected representative population data using questionnaires and spirometry tests. We categorized solid fuel use into 'never user', 'ex user' and 'current user' based on responses to the survey.

Between Traditions and Health: Beliefs and Perceptions of Health Effects of Smokeless Tobacco Among Selected Users in Nigeria.

Objectives: Snuffing or licking of smokeless tobacco (SLT) is one of the oldest traditional practices among the African population. This study aims to investigate the beliefs and practices related to SLT use among users in Nigeria. We also assess the awareness of the health consequences of SLT among users.