Genetic profiling of Plasmodium falciparum antigenic biomarkers among asymptomatic pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine from southwest Nigeria.

Introduction: The genetic complexity of Plasmodium falciparum is contributory to the emergence of drug resistant-parasites. Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) in malaria endemic settings is recommended by WHO. This study evaluated the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance-1 gene (Pfmdr-1), genetic diversity of merozoite surface proteins (msp-1, msp-2) and glutamate-rich protein (glurp) among pregnant women with sub-patent parasitaemia from southwest Nigeria.

The legal and institutional framework for the protection of religious rights in Nigeria and the right to wear Hijab in public institutions.

Background: Religion and its exercise are among the most sensitive discourses in different parts of the world, especially in Nigeria. The constitution and other laws ensure citizens are afforded basic human rights of which religious rights are included and yet regulated. There are questions of interpretation as to the extent to which such rights can be enjoyed and the efficacy of both the legal and institutional frameworks protecting religious rights in Nigeria.

The question of the early diagnosis of asymptomatic and subpatent malaria in pregnancy: Implications for diagnostic tools in a malaria endemic area.

Objectives: Malaria in pregnancy (MIP) is a major healthcare challenge in low-income countries with high malaria endemicity. Early but accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment is the hallmark of preventing disease progression/adverse outcomes in the mother, foetus and neonates. We assessed the comparative diagnostic performance of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (mRDT), microscopy and PCR for malaria diagnosis in pregnant women for early detection of asymptomatic malaria in pregnant women.

EVALUATION OF PHENOTYPIC AND MOLECULAR TECHNIQUE IN THE DETECTION OF EXTENDED SPECTRUM BETA-LACTAMASE (ESBL)-PRODUCING GRAM NEGATIVE BACILLI IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.

Background: Molecular diagnosis though faster and more sensitive than phenotypic techniques, is more expensive. Resource limited settings are thus limited to using more of phenotypic rather than molecular methods in the routine detection of Extended Spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL).

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of double disc synergy test (DSST) and Epsilometer (E) test with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and to detect the risk factors associated with ESBL producing organisms among in-patients at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria.