Seasonal variations in haematological and biochemical parameters of healthy Gambian adults: Retrospective study 2018-2022.

The objectives of this study were to determine the presence and effect of seasonal variations and provide insights into trend from 2018 to 2022 in a comprehensive set of routine haematological indices and biochemical measurements in Gambian adults with no known underlying health condition. We retrieved five years of data from an electronic database and analysed 493 full blood counts and 643 biochemical data from different individuals. In this study, we focused on data from individuals with no known underlying health condition who visited the clinical diagnostic laboratory for routine medical examinations or assessments.

Human Caring Perspectives of Care Meanings and Expressions in a Nigerian Cancer Care Setting.

Background: Caring in Africa is often viewed from sociopolitical and humanity perspectives.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the meanings and expressions of caring from the narratives of persons living with cancer and their nurses.

Methods: This study adopted a qualitative ethnonursing methodology.

Work-related stress and associated factors among health professionals working in Ambo town public health facilities, West Shoa Zone, Ethiopia, 2021: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To assess work-related stress (WRS) and associated factors among health professionals working in Ambo town governmental health facilities, in 2021.

Design: Institution-based analytical cross-sectional study.

Setting: Institution-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Ambo town from 15 July 2021 to 15 August 2021.

The effect of school-entry age on health is understudied in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review and future directions for research.

Background: Substantive literature has assessed the impact of starting school at younger ages relative to peers on health in high-income countries (HICs), but there is little evidence from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Conclusions drawn from HICs may not apply to different education contexts and health threats. This study maps the empirical evidence on the effect of school-entry age on health in LMICs and identifies directions for future research.

Genetic variability and genotype by environment interaction of two major cassava processed products in multi-environments.

Conversion of cassava () roots to processed products such as gari and fufu before consumption is a common practice worldwide by cassava end-user for detoxification, prolonged shelf life or profitability. Fresh root and processed product yield are supposed to be equivalent for each genotype, however, that is not the case. Developing genotypes with high product conversion rate is an important breeding goal in cassava as it drives the adoption rates of new varieties.

Parsimonious genotype by environment interaction covariance models for cassava ().

The assessment of cassava clones across multiple environments is often carried out at the uniform yield trial, a late evaluation stage, before variety release. This is to assess the differential response of the varieties across the testing environments, a phenomenon referred to as genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI). This phenomenon is considered a critical challenge confronted by plant breeders in developing crop varieties.

Comparative analysis of the nutritional, biochemical and hematological parameters of pregnant women attending the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Background: Despite the efforts to encourage the intake of nutritional supplements during antenatal periods, there are still many cases of anemia and protein-energy malnutrition during pregnancy. Hence, this study determined the incidence of anemia, protein-energy malnutrition, and associated risk factors among pregnant women in Abuja, Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: This hospital-based, case-control study involved randomly selected 176 pregnant and non-pregnant women attending the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, Nigeria.

Brief report: Validity and reliability of the Nigerian Autism Screening Questionnaire.

Early intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is dependent on reliable methods for early detection. Screening for ASD symptoms is an important strategy in low- and middle-income countries that often lack adequate service infrastructure. This study aims to conduct preliminary evaluation of the psychometric properties of a tool developed and deployed in Nigeria called the Nigerian Autism Screening Questionnaire (NASQ).

Immunological and anti-oxidant profiles of malarial children in Abuja, Nigeria.

Background: The clinical symptoms, cellular immune response, and serum cytokine homeostasis during falciparum malaria among children living in endemic regions depend on the parasite densities. This study aims to evaluate the CD4 and CD8 T cells, leucocytes subpopulations, IL-6, IL-10 and biomarkers of oxidative stress among children infected with varying grades of malaria attending the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: This case-control study involved blood samples collected from 165 children (between 5 and 12 years).

From Ebola to COVID-19: emergency preparedness and response plans and actions in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Lagos state is the industrial nerve centre of Nigeria and was the epicentre of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Nigeria as it is now for the current Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak. This paper describes how the lessons learned from the Ebola outbreak in 2014 informed the emergency preparedness of the State ahead of the COVID-19 outbreak and guided response.

Discussion: Following the Ebola outbreak in 2014, the Lagos State government provided governance by developing a policy on emergency preparedness and biosecurity and provided oversight and coordination of emergency preparedness strategies.

An assessment of race and gender-based biases among readmission predicting tools (HOSPITAL, LACE, and RAHF) in heart failure population.

Background: The objective of our study is to retrospectively investigate if the HOSPITAL score, LACE index, and RAHF scale exhibit any bias based on gender and race in heart failure readmissions.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study with all adult medical patients discharged with congestive heart failure from 2016 to 2018 from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Hospitalist service. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed comparing prediction tools (HOSPITAL score, LACE index, and RAHF scale) performance based on gender and race by measuring the area under the curve (AUC).

Mechanism underlying nephroprotective property of curcumin against sodium nitrite-induced nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rat.

The current work examined the outcome of curcumin (20 mg/kg body weight/day) administration on arginase and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities and other kidney markers, as well as markers of oxidative stress, in Wistar rats exposed to sodium nitrite (NaNO ) (60 mg/kg of body weight, single dose) for 28 days. The results revealed that the NaNO exposed rats had significantly altered the ADA activities, arginase activities alongside other biomarkers of kidney function, and oxidative stress. However, pretreatment with curcumin significantly mitigated the altered activities ADA and arginase as well as other parameters.

Comparison of major depression diagnostic classification probability using the SCID, CIDI, and MINI diagnostic interviews among women in pregnancy or postpartum: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Objectives: A previous individual participant data meta-analysis (IPDMA) identified differences in major depression classification rates between different diagnostic interviews, controlling for depressive symptoms on the basis of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. We aimed to determine whether similar results would be seen in a different population, using studies that administered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in pregnancy or postpartum.

Methods: Data accrued for an EPDS diagnostic accuracy IPDMA were analysed.

Autism Spectrum Disorders in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of Literature and Opinion on Future Research and Social Policy Directions.

Introduction: Research about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in sub-Saharan Africa is sparse and limited. However, research studies coming from Nigeria in West Africa as a country have contributed significantly to the subject of ASD in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods And Results: This study is a scoping review of research literature on ASD in Nigeria through June 2017 conducted by searching the key terms autism and Nigeria on PubMed and Google Scholar.

Gender-based constraints affecting biofortified cassava production, processing and marketing among men and women adopters in Oyo and Benue States, Nigeria.

This study identified gender-based constraints affecting the production, processing and marketing of biofortified cassava in two states in Nigeria, using a mixed methods approach. The study identified major differences between the two study sites (Benue and Oyo). The scale of production of biofortified cassava is higher in Oyo state among adult men because of their active involvement and collaboration with research institutes within the state and the ease of transporting products to Lagos State for designated diverse markets.

Melatonin prevents and ameliorates lead-induced gonadotoxicity through antioxidative and hormonal mechanisms.

We investigated the effects of melatonin on sperm parameters and some biochemical markers in lead-exposed male Wistar rats. Lead (50 mg/kg bw/day) and/or melatonin (4 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg bw/day) was administered for 4 weeks, while 2-week lead exposure was preceded by or followed by 2-week treatment with both doses of melatonin in other groups. Lead reduced glutathione, catalase, adjusted testes weight, semen parameters but did not change malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity.

Improving access to interventions among mothers screened positive for post-partum depression (PPD) at National Programme on Immunization (NPI) clinics in south-western and south-eastern Nigeria - A service development report.

We investigate the possibility of improving access to interventions among mothers screened positive for post-partum depression (PPD) at National Programme on Immunization (NPI) clinics randomly selected from Lagos and Enugu States in south-western and south-eastern Nigeria respectively. The principle of human centred design was employed by engaging the mothers screened positive for PPD to be part of the decision making regarding their further assessment and intervention services. The study brought intervention services to primary healthcare centre at the NPI clinics.

Burden and factors associated with post-stroke depression in East central Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the burden and factors associated with post-stroke depression in East central Nigeria.

Method: We carried out this cross-sectional study of 50 stroke survivors (mean age=54.8 ± 8.

Distribution of symptoms of post-stroke depression in relation to some characteristics of the vulnerable patients in socio-cultural context.

Objective: To determine the distribution of symptoms of post-stroke depression (PSD) in relation to some predisposing factors in an African population.

Relevance: Environment is a key determinant of behavior, and varied socio-cultural contexts must have implications for modifiable characteristics (age, duration of the stroke, marital status, type of employment, gender, the location of cerebral lesion and complications) of individuals vulnerable to PSD, which may be targeted to enhance recovery.

Method: This was a cross-sectional observational study of 50 (22 females and 28 males) stroke survivors (mean age=54.