Double stigma: a cross-sectional study of Lassa patients with hearing loss in North Central Nigeria.

Introduction: Lassa fever is a zoonotic infectious disease endemic in West Africa with a high case-fatality rate and reported stigmatization of surviving patients. This study examines discrimination among survivors of Lassa fever (LF) complicated by hearing loss (HL).

Methods: This cross-sectional qualitative study used an in-depth interview guide to collect information from patients with HL about their experience of stigma.

Clinical profile and Predictors of Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with Laboratory-Confirmed Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Nigeria: A Retrospective Analysis of 13 High Burden States in Nigeria.

Background: The majority of global COVID deaths have occurred in developed countries. Not much is known about the clinical outcomes for the patients admitted with COVID in Nigeria. We thus described the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and predictors of outcomes of hospitalized Nigerian COVID-19 patients.

FACTORS INFLUENCING ANTI-POLYRIBOSYLRIBITOL PHOSPHATE TITRES IN YOUNG NIGERIAN CHILDREN PRIMED WITH DTWP-HEPB-HIB VACCINE.

Introduction: Recent research suggests that variation in vaccine-induced immune responses is influenced by genetic, nutritional, environmental, and vaccine-related factors, with significant vaccine design and programmatic policy implications. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Conjugate Vaccine (HCV) stimulates the production of antiPolyribosylribitol phosphate (anti-PRP) antibodies, which confer long-term protection against invasive Hib disease and nasopharyngeal colonization by Hib at titre levels ≥1μg/mL and ≥5μg/mL respectively. This study investigated the influence of these factors on the protective anti-PRP levels in children aged 6-23 months in Obi L.

SEROPROTECTION RATE OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B CONJUGATE VACCINE AND ASSOCIATED CLINICAL OUTCOMES AMONG NIGERIAN CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 23 MONTHS.

Introduction: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) causes invasive infections almost exclusively in under- fives with those aged 6-23 months being the most vulnerable. In Nigeria, it is estimated to cause nearly 400,000 annual infections and another 30,000 under-five mortality attributable to pneumonia and meningitis alone. The Hib Conjugate Vaccine (HCV) is in widespread use to combat these devastating infections.

Research opportunities for the primary prevention and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute workshop report.

Primary prevention of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) encompasses the timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of the superficial group A (GAS) infections pharyngitis and impetigo. GAS is the only known inciting agent in the pathophysiology of the disease. However, sufficient evidence indicates that the uptake and delivery of primary prevention approaches in RHD-endemic regions are significantly suboptimal.

Tertiary prevention and treatment of rheumatic heart disease: a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute working group summary.

Although entirely preventable, rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a disease of poverty and social disadvantage resulting in high morbidity and mortality, remains an ever-present burden in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) and rural, remote, marginalised and disenfranchised populations within high-income countries. In late 2021, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute convened a workshop to explore the current state of science, to identify basic science and clinical research priorities to support RHD eradication efforts worldwide. This was done through the inclusion of multidisciplinary global experts, including cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular specialists as well as health policy and health economics experts, many of whom also represented or closely worked with patient-family organisations and local governments.

Rationale, Design, and the Baseline Characteristics of the RHDGen (The Genetics of Rheumatic Heart Disease) Network Study†.

Background: The genetics of rheumatic heart disease (RHDGen) Network was developed to assist the discovery and validation of genetic variations and biomarkers of risk for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in continental Africans, as a part of the global fight to control and eradicate rheumatic fever/RHD. Thus, we describe the rationale and design of the RHDGen study, comprising participants from 8 African countries.

Methods: RHDGen screened potential participants using echocardiography, thereafter enrolling RHD cases and ethnically-matched controls for whom case characteristics were documented.

Data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry in severe rheumatic heart disease (RHD) identifies a proteomic signature showing ongoing inflammation and effectively classifying RHD cases.

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a major source of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. A deeper insight into the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying RHD could provide opportunities for drug repurposing, guide recommendations for secondary penicillin prophylaxis, and/or inform development of near-patient diagnostics.

Methods: We performed quantitative proteomics using Sequential Windowed Acquisition of All Theoretical Fragment Ion Mass Spectrometry (SWATH-MS) to screen protein expression in 215 African patients with severe RHD, and 230 controls.

The international Perinatal Outcomes in the Pandemic (iPOP) study: protocol.

Preterm birth is the leading cause of infant death worldwide, but the causes of preterm birth are largely unknown. During the early COVID-19 lockdowns, dramatic reductions in preterm birth were reported; however, these trends may be offset by increases in stillbirth rates. It is important to study these trends globally as the pandemic continues, and to understand the underlying cause(s).

COVID-19 Subclinical Infection and Immunity: A Review.

The aetiologic agent of COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Like other coronaviruses, it generally induces enteric and respiratory diseases in animals and humans. COVID-19 may be subclinical, and symptomatic, ranging from mild-to-severe disease.

Study of congenital heart defects among neonates in Jos, Nigeria: prevalence and spectrum.

Background: There are few reports of the prevalence of CHD in the neonatal period in sub-Saharan Africa. The only available study in Nigeria was carried out before the widespread availability of echocardiography in the country. We sought to determine the prevalence and spectrum of congenital heart defects (CHD) among neonates in Jos, Nigeria.

Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in North-Central Nigeria: a school-based cross-sectional pilot study.

Objectives: To present epidemiological data on rheumatic heart disease (RHD), the most common acquired heart disease in children and young adults in low- and middle-income countries, for North-Central Nigeria.

Methods: In this pilot study, we conducted clinical and echocardiography screening on a cross section of randomly selected secondary schoolchildren in Jos, North-Central Nigeria, from March to September 2016. For outcome classification into borderline or definite RHD, we performed a confirmatory echocardiography using the World Heart Federation criteria for those suspected to have RHD from the screening.

Profile of congenital heart disease in infants born following exposure to preeclampsia.

Background: Events in pregnancy play an important role in predisposing the newborn to the risk of developing CHD. This study evaluated the association between maternal preeclampsia and her offspring risk of CHD.

Methods: This is a cohort study of 90 sex-matched neonates (45 each born to women with preeclampsia and normal pregnancy) in Jos, Nigeria.

Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017.

Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2-to end preventable child deaths by 2030-we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends.

Head Circumference of Babies at Birth in Nigeria.

Background And Objectives: Measuring head circumference (HC) of newborns is an important tool for evaluating intra-uterine brain development. HC reference charts currently in use in Nigeria are not representative of the local population. We thus present locally derived HC reference data for Nigerian infants at birth.

Low Zika virus seroprevalence among pregnant women in North Central Nigeria, 2016.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) has been known for decades in Africa but contemporary data is lacking at large.

Objectives: To describe the seroepidemiology of ZIKV in North Central Nigeria.

Study Design: We performed a cross-sectional study at six health care facilities in North Central Nigeria from January to December 2016.

Factors influencing irradiance of locally fabricated phototherapy devices in Jos, north-central Nigeria.

Locally fabricated phototherapy devices (LFPDs) are widely used in Nigeria for the treatment of neonatal jaundice. Ours was a cross-sectional observational study of all LFPDs in major hospitals in Jos between January and March 2015. We evaluated a total of 24 LFPDs.

Serum lipid and glucose profiles in HIV-positive Nigerian children.

Objectives: To describe the fasting serum lipid and glucose profiles of HIV-positive Nigerian children and determine the prevalence and risk factors for dyslipidaemia and hyperglycaemia, which are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study carried out at the Paediatric Infectious Disease Clinic (PIDC) of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for HIV-positive children and at two primary schools in Jos for HIV-negative children as controls. One hundred and forty-two HIV-positive children aged 6-18 years and an equal number of controls were studied by determining their fasting serum lipid and glucose levels.

Clinical Outcomes in 3343 Children and Adults With Rheumatic Heart Disease From 14 Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Two-Year Follow-Up of the Global Rheumatic Heart Disease Registry (the REMEDY Study).

Background: There are few contemporary data on the mortality and morbidity associated with rheumatic heart disease or information on their predictors. We report the 2-year follow-up of individuals with rheumatic heart disease from 14 low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia.

Methods: Between January 2010 and November 2012, we enrolled 3343 patients from 25 centers in 14 countries and followed them for 2 years to assess mortality, congestive heart failure, stroke or transient ischemic attack, recurrent acute rheumatic fever, and infective endocarditis.

Audit of availability and distribution of paediatric cardiology services and facilities in Nigeria.

Background: Paediatric cardiac services in Nigeria have been perceived to be inadequate but no formal documentation of availability and distribution of facilities and services has been done.

Objective: To evaluate and document the currently available paediatric cardiac services in Nigeria.

Methods: In this questionnaire-based, cross-sectional descriptive study, an audit was undertaken from January 2010 to December 2014, of the personnel and infrastructure, with their distributions according to geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Malnutrition in Sickle Cell Anemia: Implications for Infection, Growth, and Maturation.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a genetic disease that affects mostly individuals of African and/or Hispanic descent, with the majority of cases in sub-Saharan Africa. Individuals with this disease show slowed growth, delayed sexual maturity, and poor immunologic function. These complications could partly be explained by the state of undernutrition associated with the disease.

Childhood acquired heart diseases in Jos, north central Nigeria.

Background: The patterns of childhood acquired heart diseases (AHD) vary in different parts of the world and may evolve over time. We aimed to compare the pattern of childhood AHD in our institution to the historical and contemporary patterns in other parts of the country, and to highlight possible regional differences and changes in trend.

Materials And Methods: Pediatric echocardiography records spanning a period of 10 years were reviewed.