Evaluating the impact of rational emotive behavior therapy on post-traumatic stress in farmers with experiences of natural disaster.

Background/objective: This study was necessary due to the increasing number of cases of natural disasters such as flood, air pollution, erosion, etc in Nigeria, particularly in the Abia state, as well as the accompanying psychological and health issues affecting individuals within families and society as a whole. The study aimed to examine the impact of rational emotive behavior therapy on farmers' post-traumatic stress (PTS) in Abia State, Nigeria.

Method: A randomized control trial was conducted in Abia state, with a sample size of 118 farmers with experiences of natural disasters.

Effect of cognitive behavior-aided counseling on entrepreneurial self-efficacy of students of home economics education in South-East Nigeria.

Background: Raising potential entrepreneurs to advance the economy of nations through education has been projected by scholars. On the contrary, Nigerian students lack the enthusiasm and internal force to pursue the aims enshrined in their courses of study. Rather they prefer white-cola jobs to the entrepreneurial intention of the institutions.

Investigating the impact of credit channels, energy production and oil revenues on agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa.

Development of the agricultural sector can numerously gift the economy by ensuring food security and rural livelihoods, fostering economic growth, reducing poverty, promoting social stability, and achieving sustainable development goals. But agricultural activities especially in Sub-Saharan Africa are faced with numerous challenges like lack of required credits to the farmers, unavailability of needed energy for powering the farm machinery and transportation of farm produce, and fluctuation of crude oil prices which serve as the main source of energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the sequel to these highlighted challenges that face agricultural activities, this study examines the impact of credit channels, energy production, and oil revenue on agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa using an annual time series covering 21 years (2001-2021) drawn from selected sub-Saharan African countries under study.

Systematic update to the mammalian relative potency estimate database and development of best estimate toxic equivalency factors for dioxin-like compounds.

The World Health Organization (WHO) assesses potential health risks of dioxin-like compounds using Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEFs). This study systematically updated the relative potency (REP) database underlying the 2005 WHO TEFs and applied advanced methods for quantitative integration of study quality and dose-response. Data obtained from fifty-one publications more than doubled the size of the previous REP database (∼1300 datasets).

Psychological intervention for career self-esteem among students of agricultural education programme.

Background: This study determined the efficacy of rational career intervention on career self-esteem of students of Agricultural education programmed in Universities in Southeast Nigeria.

Methods: Data were collected from a sample of 54 students. The sampled students were allocated to 2 (treatment and control) groups using the sequence allocation software package.

Family health therapy for treating anxiety symptoms in flood victims.

Background: Flood cases in so many parts of Nigeria, especially in Anambra state and the accruing psychological and health related problems, affecting members of families and society necessitated this study. In view to assist and help affected individuals who specialized in farming therapeutically, this study investigated the effect of rational emotive family health therapy (REFHT) on flood-induced anxiety disorders among farmers in Anambra state Nigeria. This study was guided with 3 null hypotheses.

Occupational health coaching for job stress management among technical college teachers: Implications for educational administrators.

Background: The need for stress management strategies has been empirically investigated and supported considering demands in workplaces. However, some people in public offices do not seem to have been exposed to occupational health strategies that could reduce the adverse impacts of stress on job productivity and quality of life. Consequently, they become susceptible to mental health disturbances requiring the attention of occupational therapists.

Serologic and Cytokine Signatures in Children With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome and Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Background: The serologic and cytokine responses of children hospitalized with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) vs coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are poorly understood.

Methods: We performed a prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study of hospitalized children who met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition for MIS-C (n = 118), acute COVID-19 (n = 88), or contemporaneous healthy controls (n = 24). We measured severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers and cytokine concentrations in patients and performed multivariable analysis to determine cytokine signatures associated with MIS-C.

Distinguishing Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children From COVID-19, Kawasaki Disease and Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Background: Distinguishing multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Kawasaki disease (KD), and toxic shock syndrome (TSS) can be challenging. Because clinical management of these conditions can vary, timely and accurate diagnosis is essential.

Methods: Data were collected from patients <21 years of age hospitalized with MIS-C, COVID-19, KD, and TSS in 4 major health care institutions.

Dose-effect relation between regular consumption of 100% cocoa powder and blood pressure in young, healthy black Africans.

Background: Some previous works have focused on dose-response relationship between cocoa consumption and blood pressure in Caucasians. As black subjects have lower nitric oxide bioavailability, the aim of this work was to determine the dose-effect relation between cocoa and blood pressure in black Africans.

Method: One hundred and thirty healthy black African males aged 18-30 were randomly assigned into four groups: three groups consuming 10 g, 5 g, or 2 g of cocoa powder daily for three weeks and one control group that did not consume cocoa.

Irrational career beliefs in agricultural education students, demographics, impacts, and rational career education intervention.

Background: Studies have shown that a good number of students admitted into Agricultural Science Education program in Nigerian universities exhibit irrational career interest which affects their perceptions, feelings, and academic behaviors. This study, therefore, explored the effect of rational emotive career education on irrational career beliefs among students enrolled in agricultural education program in federal universities in Enugu state. Three null hypotheses guided the study.

Impact of rational emotive behavioral therapy on personal value system of students with visual impairment: A group randomized control study.

Background: Visually impaired students have been reported to struggle with value system and rash decision making process. This study examined the impact of rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) in reducing negative personal value system of visually impaired people.

Method: A group-randomized trial design was adopted using 56 students with visual impairment.

Effects of group cognitive-behavioral therapy on psychological distress of awaiting-trial prison inmates.

Background/objectives: The level of psychological distress among awaiting-trial inmates is rapidly increasing in Nigeria. Studies have recommended increasing attention and additional psychological intervention that could improve the psychological wellbeing of prisoners. This study evaluates the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on psychological distress among awaiting-trial prison inmates in Nigeria.

Impact of rational emotive occupational health coaching on work-related stress management among staff of Nigeria police force.

Background: Empirical studies indicated that job-related stress is threatening the well-being of Nigerian public workers. The objective of this investigation was to examine the impact of REOHC for improving work-stress management among Staff of Nigeria Police Force in southeast Nigeria.

Method: This is a pretest-posttest control group design study with follow-up.

Randomized controlled evaluation of the effect of music therapy with cognitive-behavioral therapy on social anxiety symptoms.

Objective: This study examined the effects of music therapy with cognitive behavioral therapy on social anxiety in a sample of schooling adolescents in south-east Nigeria.

Methods: We adopted a randomized controlled trial design involving a treatment group and a waiting-list control group. A total of 155 schooling adolescents served as the study sample.

Remote sensing and signaling in kidney proximal tubules stimulates gut microbiome-derived organic anion secretion.

Membrane transporters and receptors are responsible for balancing nutrient and metabolite levels to aid body homeostasis. Here, we report that proximal tubule cells in kidneys sense elevated endogenous, gut microbiome-derived, metabolite levels through EGF receptors and downstream signaling to induce their secretion by up-regulating the organic anion transporter-1 (OAT1). Remote metabolite sensing and signaling was observed in kidneys from healthy volunteers and rats in vivo, leading to induced OAT1 expression and increased removal of indoxyl sulfate, a prototypical microbiome-derived metabolite and uremic toxin.

Impacts of cognitive-behavioral intervention on anxiety and depression among social science education students: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Anxiety is a common disorder which refers to a significant and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations. This study investigated the impacts of cognitive-behavioral intervention on anxiety and depression among undergraduate students enrolled in social science education programs at public universities in the Southeast Nigeria.

Methods: Participants were 55 undergraduate students enrolled in social science education programs at public universities in the Southeast Nigeria.

Efficacy of rational emotive digital storytelling intervention on knowledge and risk perception of HIV/AIDS among schoolchildren in Nigeria.

Background: This investigation was aimed at determining the efficacy of a rational emotive digital storytelling (REDStory) therapy on knowledge and perception of risk of HIV/AIDS among schoolchildren in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Methods: The researchers adopted a group randomized controlled trial design involving a pretest, posttest, and follow-up design involving a treatment group and a waiting-list control group. Participants were 80 junior secondary schoolchildren attending public and private schools who met the criteria for inclusion in the sample of this study.

Serum S100A8/A9 and S100A12 Levels in Children With Polyarticular Forms of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Relationship to Maintenance of Clinically Inactive Disease During Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy and Occurrence of Disease Flare After Discontinuation of Therapy.

Objective: To determine the relationship between serum levels of S100A8/A9 and S100A12 and the maintenance of clinically inactive disease during anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy and the occurrence of disease flare following withdrawal of anti-TNF therapy in patients with polyarticular forms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: In this prospective, multicenter study, 137 patients with polyarticular-course JIA whose disease was clinically inactive while receiving anti-TNF therapy were enrolled. Patients were observed for an initial 6-month phase during which anti-TNF treatment was continued.

Effect of music therapy combined with cognitive restructuring therapy on emotional distress in a sample of Nigerian married couples.

Background: Music therapy combined with cognitive restructuring could provide a mechanism to improve patients' sense of control over emotional distress. This study evaluates the effect of music therapy combined with cognitive restructuring therapy on emotional distress in a sample of Nigerian couples.

Methods: The participants for the study were 280 couples in south-east Nigeria.