Moving forward: scaling-up the integration of an HIV and hypertension program in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

As people living with HIV experience increased life expectancy, there is a growing concern about the burden of comorbid non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension. This brief describes the current policy landscape on the management of HIV and hypertension in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, stakeholder engagement meetings, and the resulting five policy recommendations rooted in an ongoing research study designed to integrate hypertension management into HIV care across primary health centers in the State. In order to identify the current gaps in integrated care, discussion sessions with three stakeholder groups (i.

Psychiatric admissions in young people after expiration of criminal justice supervision in Australia: a retrospective data linkage study.

Background: Mental health services are available for young people involved with the criminal justice system. However, they have unmet mental health needs after the expiration of criminal justice supervision.

Objective: To determine the incidence rate and identify predictors of psychiatric hospitalisations within 24 months after the expiration of criminal justice supervision among young people involved with the New South Wales (NSW) criminal justice system.

Moving forward: Scaling-up the integration of an HIV and hypertension program in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Background: As people living with HIV experience increased life expectancy, there is a growing concern about the burden of comorbid non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension. This policy brief describes the current policy landscape in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, the research activities, and five policy recommendations rooted in an ongoing research study designed to integrate hypertension management into HIV care across primary health centers in the state.

Analysis: The policy brief was developed in four steps: review of existing policies, using the reviewed policies to inform research activities, solicitation of stakeholder recommendations via focus group discussions, and formulation of the resulting five policy recommendations for integrating hypertension management into HIV care programs in Akwa Ibom.

Building Capacity of Community Nurses to Strengthen the Management of Uncomplicated Hypertension in Persons Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Objectives: Poor training of non-physician healthcare workers (especially community nurses) could hinder the successful integration of cardiovascular disease (CVD) management into HIV chronic care in primary healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries. To address this limitation, we included a holistic training programme with a robust module for both practice facilitators and community nurses as part of the formative stages of the managing hypertension among people living with HIV: an integrated model (MAP-IT), which is a study that is evaluating the effectiveness of practice facilitation on the integration of a task-strengthening strategy for hypertension control (TASSH) into primary healthcare centres in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.

Methods: Between June and November 2021, 3 didactic training workshops were conducted using a training module which is based on the simplified Nigerian Hypertension Protocol for primary care and the World Health Organization (WHO) heart package.

Virus persistence after recovery from acute Lassa fever in Nigeria: a 2-year interim analysis of a prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Background: There is anecdotal evidence for Lassa virus persistence in body fluids. We aimed to investigate various body fluids after recovery from acute Lassa fever, describe the dynamics of Lassa virus RNA load in seminal fluid, and assess the infectivity of seminal fluid.

Methods: In this prospective, longitudinal, cohort study we collected plasma, urine, saliva, lacrimal fluid, vaginal fluid, and seminal fluid from Lassa fever survivors from Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State, Nigeria.

Brain antioxidants and hippocampal microanatomical alterations following the administration of Efavirenz/Lamivudine/Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and Lamivudine/Nevirapine/Zidovudine in adult male Wistar rats.

Highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAARTs) are used for the management of human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The present study was designed to characterize the neurotoxicity profile of two popular HAARTs on the brains' antioxidants and hippocampal microanatomical alterations in an in vivo model. Fifteen adults male Wistar rats, were assigned to three groups (n = 5); group I the normal control (NC) received distilled water (5 mL/kg b.

Remote blood collection from older adults in the Brain Health Registry for plasma biomarker and genetic analysis.

Introduction: Use of online registries to efficiently identify older adults with cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an approach with growing evidence for feasibility and validity. Linked biomarker and registry data can facilitate AD clinical research.

Methods: We collected blood for plasma biomarker and genetic analysis from older adult Brain Health Registry (BHR) participants, evaluated feasibility, and estimated associations between demographic variables and study participation.

Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease as a Marker of Hypertension Target Organ Damage in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Hypertension is a major global cause of cardiovascular disease and death with rising worldwide prevalence, particularly in low-income countries. With low awareness, poor treatment, and low control of hypertension in Africans, there is an increased number of patients with target organ damage (TOD), especially chronic kidney disease (CKD), as a consequence of hypertension. The aim of our study is to assess the prevalence of CKD from studies in Africa reporting TOD related to hypertension.

Appraisal of protectivity and corrosivity of surficial hydrogeological units via geo-sounding measurements.

The surface resistivity method was used to appraise the protectivity of hydrogeological units and corrosivity of the top soil in Obot Akara County, southern Nigeria. A total of 28 vertical electrical sounding (VES) was undertaken in the area using the Schlumberger electrode configuration. The results of the VES data interpretation reveal 3 to 4 geoelectric layers in the study area.

Scapular length estimation from anatomical landmarks: an osteometry and radiographic evaluation using regression equations.

Estimation of body length has been achieved from the measurements of the scapular with relative accuracy by researches in recent times. This research hypothesized that the landmarks on the scapular and on the x-ray radiographs could be used to predict scapular length and elucidated the landmarks that best estimate the scapular length. A total of 600 scapulae and 600 anterior-posterior x-ray radiographs were used for the study.

Assessment of Resources for Primary Health Care: Implications for the Revitalization of Primary Health Care in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.

Context: Primary health care (PHC) is the cornerstone of the Nigerian National Health Policy. The national policy on PHC under one roof is undergoing implementation nationwide as a means of strengthening the PHC system. Akwa Ibom State (AKS) is set to commence full implementation of the policy.

Electrostratigraphy and hydrogeochemistry of hyporheic zone and water-bearing caches in the littoral shorefront of Akwa Ibom State University, Southern Nigeria.

Ground-based electrical geophysical data calibrated with borehole information are conveniently used to delineate subsurface strata because of their inherent capability to assess the lateral and vertical variations in the pore water. In this study, joined geophysical approach of vertical electrical sounding (VES) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has been steered to define the strata in the hyporheic zone and in the water bearing caches in the Akwa Ibom State University's littoral shorefront. Four ERTs with each using Wenner array with 5 m electrode spacing were conducted along four profiles at the same locations that VES were conducted.

Rate of BCG Immunization in HIV-Exposed Infants in a Selected Primary Health Centre in Southern Nigeria: Implications of No Vaccine Policy for HIV-Positive Infants.

Background: Maternal and infant HIV status influences the decision of BCG immunization of infants at birth. The objective of this study was to determine the HIV status of HIV-exposed infants (HEIs) by the first HIV DNA PCR test and the rate of BCG uptake among the HEIs who were confirmed HIV negative.

Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study involving the review of results of 99 dried blood samples (DBS) for the first HIV DNA PCR test of HEIs whose mothers were diagnosed HIV positive on presentation of the infants at first immunization visit at a Primary Health Centre from January 2018 to January 2019.

Phylogeography of Lassa Virus in Nigeria.

Lassa virus is genetically diverse with several lineages circulating in West Africa. This study aimed at describing the sequence variability of Lassa virus across Nigeria and inferring its spatiotemporal evolution. We sequenced and isolated 77 Lassa virus strains from 16 Nigerian states.

Metagenomic sequencing at the epicenter of the Nigeria 2018 Lassa fever outbreak.

The 2018 Nigerian Lassa fever season saw the largest ever recorded upsurge of cases, raising concerns over the emergence of a strain with increased transmission rate. To understand the molecular epidemiology of this upsurge, we performed, for the first time at the epicenter of an unfolding outbreak, metagenomic nanopore sequencing directly from patient samples, an approach dictated by the highly variable genome of the target pathogen. Genomic data and phylogenetic reconstructions were communicated immediately to Nigerian authorities and the World Health Organization to inform the public health response.

Private sector malaria RDT initiative in Nigeria: lessons from an end-of-project stakeholder engagement meeting.

The malaria rapid diagnosis testing (RDT) landscape is rapidly evolving in health care delivery in Nigeria with many stakeholders playing or having potential for critical roles. A recent UNITAID grant supported a pilot project on the deployment of quality-assured RDTs among formal and informal private service outlets in three states in Nigeria. This paper describes findings from a series of stakeholder engagement meetings held at the conclusion of the project.

The effect of aqueous preparation of Allium cepa (onion) and Allium sativa (garlic) on erythrocyte osmotic fragility in Wistar rats: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Allium cepa (onion) and Allium sativa (garlic) are bulbous herbs used as food item, spice and medicine in different parts of the world. The effects of onion and garlic on the osmotic fragility of red blood cells in albino rats were assessed in vivo and in vitro. In the in vivo studies, five albino rats weighing between 150 - 200g composed each of three study groups.

Toxicity of crude oil to fresh water shrimp, Macrobrachium macrobrachion and Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, from Nigerian coastal water.

The water soluble fraction (WSF) of crude oil was tested against Macrobrachium macrobrachion and Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mg/L in glass aquaria stocked with ten animals for 96 h under observations for changes. Moribund swimming, restlessness, respiratory difficulties, depigmentation and mortalities were observed in the WSF exposure groups, but not in the controls. LC(50) values were estimated at 5 ± 1.

Review of obstetrics genito-urinary fistulae in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Calabar, Nigeria.

Background: Obstetric fistulae with Urinary incontinence are one of the most distressing maternal morbidities. It is associated with physical and social deprivation such as wife abandonment and violent reactions against the victims particularly in the developing countries of the world.

Aims And Objectives: To study the demographic and reproductive profiles as well as management of patients with obstetric fistulae in UCTH, Calabar, Nigeria.

Effects of ethanol extract of Artemisia annua L. against monogenean parasites of Heterobranchus longifilis.

Ethanol extract of Artemisia annua was effective in the dislodgement and mortality of monogenean parasites of juvenile Heterobranchus longifilis at concentrations ranging from 50 to 200 mg/l. Five hundred 1-week-old juvenile fish were stocked in hapa in earthen pond for 7 days to accumulate parasites. The approximate number of parasites per fish was confirmed by counting the number of parasites attached to body surfaces and the gills with a stereo-microscope before being exposed to the extract under in vivo conditions.

Neonatal morbidity and mortality in Calabar, Nigeria: a hospital-based study.

Background: The morbidity and mortality pattern amongst neonates admitted into the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital were reviewed from 1st June 2003 to 30th November 2004.

Results: The major indications for admission for inborn babies were infections (27.4%), jaundice (21%) and low birth weight (LBW) (18.

The prevalence of congenital malaria among neonates with suspected sepsis in Calabar, Nigeria.

We studied the prevalence of congenital malaria among neonates with suspected sepsis and its outcome at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. All in-born neonates admitted to the newborn unit with clinical features suggestive of sepsis were recruited. They were screened for bacterial sepsis and malaria.