11β-HSD1 inhibition in men mitigates prednisolone-induced adverse effects in a proof-of-concept randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Glucocorticoids prescribed to limit inflammation, have significant adverse effects. As 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) regenerates active glucocorticoid, we investigated whether 11β-HSD1 inhibition with AZD4017 could mitigate adverse glucocorticoid effects without compromising their anti-inflammatory actions. We conducted a proof-of-concept, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study at Research Unit, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK (NCT03111810).

Physical activity domains, levels, and health-related quality of life among Nigerian adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic spurred unprecedented public health measures to curb its spread. Such measures might have negatively impacted adolescents' participation in physical activity and health-related quality of life. However, the evidence is unclear in Nigerian adolescents.

Psychological distress, burnout, and coping strategies among Nigerian primary school teachers: a school-based cross-sectional study.

Background: The teaching profession is highly stressed job. A high level of stress is associated with poor health outcomes, such as burnout and psychological distress. Therefore, teachers' use of coping styles becomes imperative.

Association of Sociodemographic Factors, Breast Cancer Fear, and Perceived Self-Efficacy With Breast Cancer Screening Behaviors Among Middle-Aged Nigerian Women.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is a major public health problem among women. However, BC screening uptake is abysmally low among Nigerian women. This study evaluated the association of BC fear and perceived self-efficacy with BC screening (clinical breast exam [CBE] and mammography) among middle-aged Nigerian women.

Design and rationale of the EMPA-VISION trial: investigating the metabolic effects of empagliflozin in patients with heart failure.

Aims: Despite substantial improvements over the last three decades, heart failure (HF) remains associated with a poor prognosis. The sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor empagliflozin demonstrated significant reductions of HF hospitalization in patients with HF independent of the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the EMPEROR-Reduced trial and cardiovascular mortality in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial. To further elucidate the mechanisms behind these positive outcomes, this study aims to determine the effects of empagliflozin treatment on cardiac energy metabolism and physiology using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

Adverse childhood experiences and psychological distress among higher education students in Southeast Nigeria: an institutional-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) constitutes public health problems linked to adverse mental outcomes such as psychological distress during adulthood. This study examines the prevalence of ACEs and psychological distress and explores the association between ACEs and psychological distress and demographic factors among young adults.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 330 students from May 2018 to July 2018.

Relationship Between Physical Activity Levels and Psychological Well-Being Among Male University Students in South East, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to evaluate the associations between physical activity (PA) and psychological well-being (PWB) among male university students. An institutionally based cross-sectional study was completed by 243 young men aged 18-30 years in a Nigerian public university. PA was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and PWB was measured by Ryff's Scale of Psychological Well-being (PWB).

Workplace gender-based violence and associated factors among university women in Enugu, South-East Nigeria: an institutional-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Exposure to workplace gender-based violence (GBV) can affect women's mental and physical health and work productivity in higher educational settings. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the prevalence of GBV (workplace incivility, bullying, sexual harassment), and associated factors among Nigerian university women.

Methods: The study was an institutional-based cross-sectional survey.

Organic biopolymers of venus clams: Collagen-related matrix in the bivalve shells with crossed-lamellar ultrastructure.

Background: Biochemical studies and spectroscopic techniques have shown that chitin-silk fibroins are common in nacroprismatic bivalve shells. However, the nature of organic biopolymers in the less well studied shell architectures, such as crossed lamellar shells, remain unknown. Here, two venus shells, and , with crossed lamellar ultrastructure have been studied.

Nonadherence to tuberculosis treatment and associated factors among patients using directly observed treatment short-course in north-west Nigeria: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a public health problem in Nigeria. One of the most effective ways of controlling tuberculosis is the directly observed treatment short-course. However, some factors influence tuberculosis patients' treatment nonadherence via directly observed treatment short-course.

Chest imaging findings in COVID-19 patients: a case series from Nigeria.

COVID-19 is a global pandemic ravaging the whole world with large numbers of reported cases globally. It is a highly-contagious novel infectious disease that causes inflammation in the respiratory system. Chest imaging is a useful adjunct for diagnosis, documenting the extent of disease as well as observation of changes and is thus, strongly recommended in suspected COVID-19 cases, for initial evaluation, differential diagnoses and follow-up.

Characterization of organophosphatic brachiopod shells: spectroscopic assessment of collagen matrix and biomineral components.

The shells of linguloid brachiopods such as and are inorganic-organic nanocomposites with a mineral phase of calcium phosphate (Ca-phosphate). Collagen, the main extracellular matrix in Ca-phosphatic vertebrate skeletons, has not previously been clearly resolved at the molecular level in organophosphatic brachiopods. Here, modern and recently-alive linguliform brachiopod shells of and have been studied by microRaman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission gun scanning electron microscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis.

Lixisenatide in type 1 diabetes: A randomised control trial of the effect of lixisenatide on post-meal glucose excursions and glucagon in type 1 diabetes patients.

Aims: The GLP1 agonist lixisenatide is glucagonostatic and reduces post-prandial blood glucose (PPBG) in type 2 diabetes. This study investigates its impact in type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: In a blinded, crossover trial, 25 patients with T1D were randomised to 4 weeks adjunctive treatment with lixisenatide (L) or placebo (P), with a 4-week washout period.

Predicting post one-year durability of glucose-lowering monotherapies in patients with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus - A MASTERMIND precision medicine approach (UKPDS 87).

Aims: Predicting likely durability of glucose-lowering therapies for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) could help inform individualised therapeutic choices.

Methods: We used data from UKPDS patients with newly-diagnosed T2D randomised to first-line glucose-lowering monotherapy with chlorpropamide-glibenclamide-basal insulin or metformin. In 2339 participants who achieved one-year HbA values <7.

Prevalence of loneliness and association with depressive and anxiety symptoms among retirees in Northcentral Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Retirees face numerous challenges, including disassociation from persons in their social networks in Nigeria. Perceived social isolation or loneliness could impair the quality of life in old age, and lead to mental disorders. However, it is uncertain whether perceived loneliness has an independent association with depressive and anxiety symptoms and comorbid conditions in Nigerian retirees.

Mars Rover Techniques and Lower/Middle Cambrian Microbialites from South Australia: Construction, Biofacies, and Biogeochemistry.

The Perseverance rover (Mars 2020) is equipped with an instrumental and analytical payload capable of identifying a broad range of organic molecules in geological samples. To determine the efficacy of these analytical techniques in recognizing important ecological and environmental signals in the rock record, this study utilized analogous equipment, including gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, along with macroscopic and petrographic observations, to examine early-middle Cambrian microbialites from the Arrowie Basin, South Australia. Morphological and petrographic observations of these carbonate successions reveal evidence of hypersaline-restricted environments.

Time-varying risk of microvascular complications in latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood compared with type 2 diabetes in adults: a post-hoc analysis of the UK Prospective Diabetes Study 30-year follow-up data (UKPDS 86).

Background: Latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood (LADA) differs in clinical features from type 2 diabetes. Whether this difference translates into different risks of complications remains controversial. We examined the long-term risk of microvascular complications in people enrolled in the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), according to their diabetes autoimmunity status.

Effects of a health education intervention on hypertension-related knowledge, prevention and self-care practices in Nigerian retirees: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: Education is vital to increasing knowledge, improving prevention and self-care practices for hypertension in older adults. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a health education intervention in improving hypertension (HT) knowledge, prevention and self-care practices among retirees in Enugu State, South-east, Nigeria.

Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, we enrolled 400 participants in Enugu and Nsukka cities in Enugu State, south-east Nigeria.

Depressive and anxiety symptoms and associated factors among postnatal women in Enugu-North Senatorial District, South-East Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Postnatal depression (PND) and anxiety (PNA) among women are prevalent and impairing health problems, with adverse outcomes for mothers and their infants. This study assessed the prevalence of depression, anxiety and associated factors in a sample of postnatal women.

Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 postpartum women attending public health facilities in the study area.

Simulating the impact of targeting lower systolic blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol levels on type 2 diabetes complication rates.

Aims: There are few data available on the incremental benefits of risk factor modification in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We simulated the potential benefits of achieving lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) and LDL-cholesterol targets.

Methods: We used the UKPDS Outcomes Model v2.

Biomacromolecules within bivalve shells: Is chitin abundant?

Bivalve shells are inorganic-organic nanocomposites whose material properties outperform their purely inorganic mineral counterparts. Most typically the inorganic phase is a polymorph of CaCO, while the organic phase contains biopolymers which have been presumed to be chitin and/or proteins. Identifying the biopolymer phase is therefore a crucial step in improving our understanding of design principles relevant to biominerals.

Planktic foraminifera form their shells via metastable carbonate phases.

The calcium carbonate shells of planktic foraminifera provide our most valuable geochemical archive of ocean surface conditions and climate spanning the last 100 million years, and play an important role in the ocean carbon cycle. These shells are preserved in marine sediments as calcite, the stable polymorph of calcium carbonate. Here, we show that shells of living planktic foraminifers Orbulina universa and Neogloboquadrina dutertrei originally form from the unstable calcium carbonate polymorph vaterite, implying a non-classical crystallisation pathway involving metastable phases that transform ultimately to calcite.