A cerebellar granule cell-climbing fiber computation to learn to track long time intervals.

In classical cerebellar learning, Purkinje cells (PkCs) associate climbing fiber (CF) error signals with predictive granule cells (GrCs) that were active just prior (∼150 ms). The cerebellum also contributes to behaviors characterized by longer timescales. To investigate how GrC-CF-PkC circuits might learn seconds-long predictions, we imaged simultaneous GrC-CF activity over days of forelimb operant conditioning for delayed water reward.

Health workers' perspectives on school-based mass drug administration control programs for soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and schistosomiasis (SCH) are among the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), affecting 1.5 billion globally, with a significant burden in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria. These diseases impair health and contribute to socio-economic challenges, especially in children, undermining educational and future economic prospects.

Chronic brain functional ultrasound imaging in freely moving rodents performing cognitive tasks.

Background: Functional ultrasound imaging (fUS) is an emerging imaging technique that indirectly measures neural activity via changes in blood volume. Chronic fUS imaging during cognitive tasks in freely moving animals faces multiple exceptional challenges: performing large durable craniotomies with chronic implants, designing behavioral experiments matching the hemodynamic timescale, stabilizing the ultrasound probe during freely moving behavior, accurately assessing motion artifacts, and validating that the animal can perform cognitive tasks while tethered.

New Method: We provide validated solutions for those technical challenges.

Exploration of the diversity of multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in Lagos, Nigeria using WGS: Distribution of lineages, drug resistance patterns and genetic mutations.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) or extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Tuberculosis (TB) is a major challenge to global TB control. Therefore, accurate tracing of in-country MDR-TB transmission are crucial for the development of optimal TB management strategies. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of MTBC in Nigeria.

Morphometric analysis of schistosome eggs recovered from human urines in communities along the shoreline of Oyan River Dam in Ogun State, Nigeria.

There are growing concerns that communities characterized with surface water, where both humans and livestock interact for agricultural, domestic, cultural and recreational purposes, are likely to support hybridization between schistosome species infecting humans and livestock. This study therefore investigated the morphometrics of schistosome eggs recovered from human urine samples in four schistosomiasis endemic communities (Imala-Odo, Abule-Titun, Apojula and Ibaro-Oyan) along the banks of Oyan River Dam in Ogun State, Nigeria. Recovered eggs were counted, photographed, and measured with IC Measure™ for total length, maximum width and a ratio of egg shape.

A combined effort of 11 laboratories in the WHO African region to improve quality of Buruli ulcer PCR diagnosis: The "BU-LABNET".

Buruli ulcer is one of the 20 neglected tropical diseases in the world. This necrotizing hypodermitis is a chronic debilitating disease caused by an environmental Mycobacterium ulcerans. At least 33 countries with tropical, subtropical and temperate climates have reported Buruli ulcer in African countries, South America and Western Pacific regions.

infection: seroprevalence and associated risk factors for women of childbearing age in Osun State, Nigeria.

Toxoplasmosis is a common parasitic infection caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan, . Prevalence and risk factors of infection in women of childbearing age in Osun State, Nigeria are unknown. This study was aimed to determine the seroprevalence and potential risk factors in acquiring infection by women of childbearing age in Osun State, Nigeria.

A medical percussion instrument using a wavelet-based method for archivable output and automatic classification.

There is no standard instrument for carrying out medical percussion even though the procedure has been in continuous use since 1761. This study developed one such instrument. It generates medical percussion sounds in a reproducible manner and accurately classifies them into one of three classes.

High seroprevalence of Toxocara antibodies in pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic at a university hospital in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Background: Human toxocariasis is a neglected zoonotic disease and its impact on human health is underestimated. Studies investigating the occurrence of toxocariasis in pregnancy are very scarce in Nigeria. This study investigated the seroprevalence of Toxocara spp.

Report of high prevalence of schistosome infection in Biomphalaria snails from a geographic area with no previous prevalence of human schistosomiasis in Nigeria.

Previous study using the traditional method of screening snails for infection reported shedding of Schistosoma cercaria by Biomphalaria snails from a river in Nkalagu, southeastern Nigeria. This is contrary to published reports that Biomphalaria from this part of the country does not shed schistosome cercaria. Here, we employed the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods to screen and characterize the Biomphalaria snails from Nkalagu.

Urinary schistosomiasis in Nigeria: a 50 year review of prevalence, distribution and disease burden.

We reviewed survey data deposited in the Global Neglected Tropical Diseases database and many other articles on the prevalence and distribution of Schistosoma haematobium in Nigeria. Schistosoma haematobium surveys conducted over the period of 50 years under review using different diagnostic tools revealed that Ogun State has the highest prevalence, followed by Ekiti state, while the lowest prevalence was recorded in Adamawa. No incidence of Schistosoma haematobium was recorded for states such as Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Jigawa and Gombe.

Factors contributing to the duration of postpartum abstinence among Nigerian women: semi-parametric survival analysis.

Background: The duration of postpartum abstinence is on the decrease but has not been met with increased uptake of contraceptive in Nigeria. This imbalanced transition could result in shorter birth intervals and worsen maternal and child health outcomes. There is a paucity of information on the duration and predictors of time to end of postpartum abstinence in Nigeria.

Toxoplasma gondii: seroprevalence and associated risk factors among preschool-aged children in Osun State, Nigeria.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an ubiquitous apicomplexan parasite, which causes toxoplasmosis in animals and humans worldwide. However, little is known about T. gondii infection among preschool-aged children in Nigeria.

Intestinal parasitic infections: Current status and associated risk factors among school aged children in an archetypal African urban slum in Nigeria.

Background/purpose: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) among school aged children (SAC) in Nigeria remains endemic, hence the need for regular surveillance to attract the attention of policy makers. This cross-sectional study investigated the current prevalence and factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections among school aged children in an urban slum of Lagos City, Nigeria.

Methods: Single stool samples from 384 school aged children (188 boys and 196 girls) were examined by employing Merthiolate-iodine-formaldehyde concentration (MIFC) and Kato-Katz methods.

Seroepidemiological study and associated risk factors of Toxocara canis infection among preschool children in Osun State, Nigeria.

Human toxocariasis is caused by the nematode, Toxocara canis and it is a poorly understood phenomenon in Nigeria. Seroepidemiological studies have not been previously carried out among the preschool aged children in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted in pre-school children in four communities from Osun State, Nigeria between January and July 2016.

Toxoplasma gondii infection: seroprevalence and associated risk factors among primary schoolchildren in Lagos City, Southern Nigeria.

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii infection has been described as the most widespread zoonotic infection of humans and other animals. Information concerning T. gondii infection among schoolchildren is unavailable in Lagos City, Nigeria.

Seroprevalence, disease awareness, and risk factors for Toxocara canis infection among primary schoolchildren in Makoko, an urban slum community in Nigeria.

In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence of Toxocara canis infection in southern Nigeria, which previously was unknown, in addition to evaluating disease awareness and potential risk factors for schoolchildren in an urban slum community. In total, 366 primary schoolchildren were investigated for the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies. Blood was collected and screened by a Western blot analysis based on the excretory-secretory antigens of larval T.

Differentiating Schistosoma haematobium from Schistosoma magrebowiei and other closely related schistosomes by polymerase chain reaction amplification of a species specific mitochondrial gene.

Introduction: Schistosoma haematobium infection afflicts about 150 million people in 53 countries in Africa and the Middle East. In many endemic areas, S. haematobium is sympatric with Schistosoma bovis, Schistosoma mattheei, Schistosoma curassoni, Schistosoma intercalatum and Schistosoma magrebowiei, its closely related species.

Interventions for preventing relapse and recurrence of a depressive disorder in children and adolescents.

Background: Depressive disorders often begin during childhood or adolescence. There is a growing body of evidence supporting effective treatments during the acute phase of a depressive disorder. However, little is known about treatments for preventing relapse or recurrence of depression once an individual has achieved remission or recovery from their symptoms.

Biting on human body parts of Simulium vectors and its implication for the manifestation of Onchocerca nodules along Osun River, southwestern Nigeria.

Background: The biting preference of Simulium vectors has been known to influence the distribution of Onchocerca nodules and microfilariae in human body. There is, however, variation in biting pattern of Simulium flies in different geographical locations. This study investigates the biting pattern on human parts by Simulium vectors along Osun river system where Simulium soubrense Beffa form has been implicated as the dominant vector and its possible implication on the distribution of Onchocerca nodules on human body along the river.

Toxoplasma gondii infection: relationship between seroprevalence and risk factors among primary schoolchildren in the capital areas of Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, West Africa.

Background: The status of Toxoplasma gondii infection among primary schoolchildren (PSC) of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (DRSTP), West Africa, remains unknown to date.

Methods: A serologic survey and risk factors associated T. gondii infection among PSC in the DRSTP was assessed by the latex agglutination (LA) test and a questionnaire interview including parents' occupation, various uncomfortable symptoms, histories of eating raw or undercooked food, drinking unboiled water, and raising pets, was conducted in October 2010.

Urinary schistosomiasis transmission in Epe, an urban community of Southwest Nigeria.

Background: A survey of Schistosoma haematobium infection in Epe, an urban community in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, was carried out to ascertain the possibility that schistosomiasis, otherwise considered a rural disease, could reach urban populations.

Materials And Methods: About 100 ml of voided urine samples from 200 pupils aged 6-13 years [109 (54.5%) males and 91 (45.