Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among household heads in northern Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Objectives: COVID-19 vaccine was rolled out for the public in August 2021 in Zamfara state, Northen Nigeria. We determined the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Settings: We executed a community-based analytical cross-sectional study during the first 4 months of the second phase of the COVID-19 (Oxford/AstraZeneca) mass vaccination campaign in Zamfara state.

Clinical presentation and predictors of hospital mortality of diphtheria in Nigeria, July 2023 to April 2024: a single-center study.

Background: Despite recurrent outbreaks of diphtheria in Nigeria, there is a lack of in-depth analysis of hospitalization outcomes. Herein, we describe the sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory features associated with hospitalization outcomes (defined as death or discharge) during the recent diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria.

Methods: This prospective observational study included 246 confirmed diphtheria cases managed in a dedicated isolation ward of a health facility in northwestern Nigeria from July 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024.

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among healthcare workers in Katsina state: a cross-sectional study in Northwest Nigeria.

Objectives: Healthcare workers were prioritised to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. Administration of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria was challenging because of a lack of trust in vaccine safety and vaccine effectiveness among healthcare workers, who are expected to provide reliable information about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases in the communities. Hence, their acceptance and attitudes towards COVID-19 preventive practices could influence the acceptance of the vaccine by the local population.

Evaluation of radiological risk associated with local building materials commonly used in Northwestern Nigeria.

In this study, potential radiological risk due to the activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides (Ra, Th, and K) in commonly used local building materials (sand, clay, kaolin and gypsum) in Northwestern Nigeria were assessed using NaI (Tl) detector. The measured activity concentrations ranged from 47 to 63 Bq kg for Ra, 24-32 Bq kg for Th, and 219-257 Bq kg for K respectively. The mean values of Th, and K for all samples were below the respective world averages of 45 and 420 Bq kg with that of Ra for all the samples higher than the world average value of 32 Bq kg.

Grassland cover declined in Southern Africa but increased in other African subcontinents in early twenty-first century.

The African continent has the most extensive grassland cover in the world, providing valuable ecosystem services. African grasslands, like other continental grasslands, are prone to various anthropogenic disturbances and climate, and require data-driven monitoring for efficient functioning and service delivery. Yet, knowledge of how the African grassland cover has changed in the past years is lacking, especially at the subcontinent level, due to lack of relevant long-term, Africa-wide observations and experiments.

Outcomes of childhood severe malaria: a comparative of study pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods.

Background: The collateral damages from measures adopted to mitigate the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been projected to negatively impact malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Herein, we compare the prevalence and outcomes of childhood severe malaria during the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods at a tertiary health facility in Nigeria.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of cases of severe malaria admitted from 1st January to 31st December 2019 (pre-COVID-19 period) and 1st January to 31st December 2020 (COVID-19 period).

assessment of terrestrial gamma radiation dose and associated radiological hazards in Katsina State, Nigeria.

Terrestrial gamma radiation dose (TGRD) rates were measured from different locations in Katsina State, Nigeria, using a portable radiation survey metre based on geological formations and soil types. The measured TGRD rates ranged from 45 to 271 nGyh with an average value of 116 ± 1 nGyh. Geological formation (silicified sheared rock) and soil type (lithosols and ferruginous crusts and ferruginous tropical soils) appeared to have the highest mean TGRD values of 163 and 134 nGyh with sandstone geological formation and alluvial and hydromorphic soils having the lowest TGRD with values of 80 and 61 nGyh, respectively.

Determinants of Mortality Among Severely Malnourished Children in Northern Nigeria.

Objectives: Severe Acute Malnutrition is a significant cause of mortality in children under the age of 5 years in low-resource settings, including Northern Nigeria. The study aimed to determine the associations between selected risk factors and mortality outcomes in children admitted with SAM in a facility in Katsina State, Northern Nigeria.

Methods: A prospective observational cohort of 201 children aged 6 to 59 months who were admitted with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in stabilization centers in Katsina State, Northern Nigeria between May 18, 2021, and July 20, 2021, (63 days) were assessed followed up.

Viral suppression among HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy in northwestern Nigeria: an eleven-year review of tertiary care centre records, January 2009-December 2019.

Background: Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) remains one of the world's significant public health challenges. Viral suppression is the key indicator for treatment success in People living with HIV (PLHIV). We determined the level of viral suppression, and its associated factors among PLHIV attending Federal Medical Centre Katsina (FMC Katsina), Nigeria.

COVID-19 in children: a case series from Nigeria.

Introduction: The global spread of COVID-19 remains unabated in the past few months with a rise in the number of available literature on the novel virus. There are very few paediatric studies and are mainly from developed countries with a paucity of information on the clinical manifestation of COVID-19 disease in African children, including Nigeria.

Methods: We described the clinical presentation, laboratory findings, treatment and outcome in a group of five Nigerian children managed at a COVID-19 isolation and treatment centre in Nigeria.

Impact of climatic variables on childhood severe malaria in a tertiary health facility in northern Nigeria.

Despite the recent progress in the malaria burden, climatic factors are important if the world will achieve the set target of its eradication. Hence, this study determined the impact of climatic conditions on childhood severe malaria in a tertiary health facility in northern Nigeria. This was a retrospective descriptive study that involved children with severe malaria managed between July 2016 and August 2017.

Epidemiology of COVID-19 and Predictors of Outcome in Nigeria: A Single-Center Study.

There is a paucity of information regarding the epidemiology and outcome of COVID-19 from low/middle-income countries, including from Nigeria. This single-center study described the clinical features, laboratory findings, and predictors of in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients. Patients admitted between April 10, 2020 and June 10, 2020 were included.

Recycling the CoMo/AlO catalyst for effectively hydro-upgrading shale oil with high sulfur content and viscosity.

Hydrotreatment is an effective upgrading technology for removing contaminants and saturating double bonds. Still, few studies have reported the hydro-upgrading of shale oil, with unusually high sulfur (13200 ppm) content, using the CoMo/AlO catalyst. Here we report an extensive study on the upgrading of shale oil by hydrotreatment in a stirred batch autoclave reactor (500 ml) for sulfur removal and viscosity reduction.

Determinants of health-related quality of life among human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV-positive) patients at Ahmadu Bello University teaching hospital, Zaria, Nigeria- 2015.

Background: The advent of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) is associated with improved clinical and laboratory outcomes resulting in prolonged life and well-being of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV). However, the needs for life-long therapy, medications' side effects and stigma have raised concerns about their quality of life (QOL). This study assessed the determinants of Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among HIV-positive patients at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria.

Comparative Insights Into the Complete Genome Sequence of Highly Metal Resistant Strain BS1 Isolated From a Gold-Copper Mine.

The highly heavy metal resistant strain BS1 was isolated from the Zijin gold-copper mine in China. This was of particular interest since the extensively studied, closely related strain, CH34 was shown to not be only highly heavy metal resistant but also able to reduce metal complexes and biomineralizing them into metallic nanoparticles including gold nanoparticles. After isolation, BS1 was characterized and complete genome sequenced using PacBio and compared to CH34.

Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudarthrobacter sp. Strain AG30, Isolated from a Gold and Copper Mine in China.

Here, we report the features and draft genome sequence of Pseudarthrobacter sp. strain AG30, isolated from the Zijin gold and copper mine in China. The genome size of Pseudarthrobacter sp.

Iron-deficiency anemia with lithobezoar (pica): a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in a 5-year-old Nigerian child.

Background: Despite a high prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) in developing countries such as Nigeria, intestinal obstruction secondary to lithobezoar (an accumulation of ingested stones within the gastrointestinal tract) is uncommon.

Case Presentation: Herein, we report a case of acute intestinal obstruction secondary to ingestion of large pebbles and IDA in a 5-year-old Nigerian boy. The patient was managed conservatively with the use of laxatives and a rectal wash-out, and the pebbles were excreted over 3 days.

Determinants of stillbirths in katsina, Nigeria: a hospital-based study.

Every year, about 3 million stillbirths occur globally, almost a third occurring during the intra-partum period. Almost all stillbirths (98%) occur in low and middle income countries, with Nigeria having the third largest burden. The aim of this study was to determine the stillbirth rate and its determinants in the Federal Medical Centre Katsina, located in north western Nigeria.