Charting the path to the implementation of universal health coverage policy in Nigeria through the lens of Delphi methodology.

Background: Expanding access to equitable health insurance is an important lever towards the overall strategy for achieving universal health coverage. In Nigeria, health insurance coverage is low with a renewed government action on increasing access to and coverage of high-quality healthcare services to citizens, particularly for the vulnerable and poor population. Therefore, our study co-creates the priorities for expanding health insurance in Nigeria, focusing on key policy reforms, public advocacy, and innovative financing strategies to ensure broader and more equitable coverage for the population.

Mid-term outcomes of the modified Dunn procedure for slipped capital femoral epiphysis: results from a north African pediatric hip unit.

Background: Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) is a prevalent pediatric orthopedic condition. Treatment options range from in situ pinning to various osteotomies, with the Modified Dunn procedure gaining significant attention over the past two decades. However, the suitability of this procedure for different SCFE subtypes and the risk of avascular necrosis (AVN), particularly in moderate and severe cases, remains controversial.

Vesicular Stomatitis Virus: Insights into Pathogenesis, Immune Evasion, and Technological Innovations in Oncolytic and Vaccine Development.

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) represents a significant advancement in therapeutic medicine, offering unique molecular and cellular characteristics that make it exceptionally suitable for medical applications. The bullet-shaped morphology, RNA genome organization, and cytoplasmic replication strategy provide fundamental advantages for both vaccine development and oncolytic applications. VSV's interaction with host cells through the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) and its sophisticated transcriptional regulation mechanisms enables precise control over therapeutic applications.

Management of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Caused by and Organisms in a Pediatric Center: A Randomized Controlled Study.

A dangerous infection contracted in hospitals, ventilator-associated pneumonia is frequently caused by bacteria that are resistant to several drugs. It is one of the main reasons why patients in intensive care units become ill or die. This research aimed to determine the most effective empirical therapy of antibiotics for better ventilator-associated pneumonia control and to improve patient outcomes by using the minimal inhibitory concentration method and the Ameri-Ziaei double antibiotic synergism test and by observing the clinical responses to both single and combination therapies.

The stability improvements of dye-sensitized solar cell with natural template for photoanode using lignin extracted from rice husk.

In response to escalating global concerns over environmental pollution, the development of green dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has emerged as a promising technology for solar energy conversion. This study harnesses the potential of rice husk, an abundant agricultural waste in Indonesia, by extracting lignin through a simple recycling method. Lignin acts as a natural, non-toxic dopant and template for TiO₂ composites, enhancing the stability of the photoanode in DSSCs.

Identification of leaf rust resistance loci in hard winter wheat using genome-wide association mapping.

Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina (Pt), is a serious constraint to wheat production. Developing resistant varieties is the best approach to managing this disease. Wheat leaf rust resistance (Lr) genes have been classified into either all-stage resistance (ASR) or adult-plant resistance (APR).

Combating COVID-19 and its co-infection by Aspergillus tamarii SP73-EGY using in vitro and in silico Studies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant mortality and morbidity for millions of people. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is capable of causing severe and fatal diseases. We evaluated the antiviral properties of Aspergillus tamarii SP73-EGY isolate extract against low pathogenic coronavirus (229E), Adeno-7- and Herpes-2 viruses.

One-step green synthesis of collagen nanoparticles using Ulva fasciata, network pharmacology and functional enrichment analysis in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

Collagen nanoparticles (collagen-NPs) possess numerous applications owing to their minimal immunogenicity, non-toxic nature, excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility. This study presents a novel sustainable technique for one-step green synthesis of hydrolyzed fish collagen-NPs (HFC-NPs) using a hot-water extract of Ulva fasciata biomass. HFC-NPs were characterized using TEM, FTIR, XRD, ζ-potential analyses, etc.

Breaking Barriers in Huntington's Disease Therapy: Focused Ultrasound for Targeted Drug Delivery.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease resulting from a mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene and characterized by progressive motor dysfunction, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disturbances. Currently, no disease-modifying treatments are available. Recent research has developed therapeutic agents that may have the potential to directly target the disease pathology, such as gene silencing or clearing the mutant protein.

Intravenous and oral administration of the synthetic RNA drug, TY1, reverses heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in mice.

TY1, a synthetic non-coding RNA (ncRNA) bioinspired by small Y RNAs abundant in extracellular vesicles (EVs), decreases cGAS/STING activation in myocardial infarction and thereby attenuates inflammation. Motivated by the concept that heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a systemic inflammatory disease, we tested TY1 in a murine model of HFpEF. Intravenous TY1, packaged in a transfection reagent, reversed the cardiac and systemic manifestations of HFpEF in two-hit obese-hypertensive mice, without inducing weight loss.

Genome sequencing of Plasmodium malariae identifies continental segregation and mutations associated with reduced pyrimethamine susceptibility.

Plasmodium malariae parasites are widely observed across the tropics and sub-tropics. This slow-growing species, known to maintain chronic asymptomatic infections, has been associated with reduced antimalarial susceptibility. We analyse 251 P.

Ultrasensitive analysis of the commonly abused CNS antitussive, dextromethorphan in biological fluids and dosage forms using a novel micellar-sensitized spectrofluorimetric approach: Compliance with greenness and blueness metrics.

The current study introduces the first micellar-enhanced spectrofluorimetric approach for the estimation of the commonly abused CNS antitussive, dextromethorphan (DXM) in its syrup and biological fluids. A micellar solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) containing DXM showed high native fluorescence emission at 305 nm following excitation at 224 nm. Using SDS as a micellar system resulted in about a 2.

Overcoming Geographic Barriers: Surgical Care in Rural Populations.

This chapter examines the challenges rural Americans face in accessing surgical care, which is characterized by geographical barriers, a decreasing surgical workforce, and unique patient factors. The widening health care disparity between rural and urban residents highlights the need for comprehensive strategies to improve surgical care delivery to rural areas. Focusing on colorectal care delivery, encompassing the spectrum of common and complex care, exemplifies opportunities to optimize care delivery for rural populations.

Repair of Cleft Palate in Adult Patients; Impact of Speech Therapy Following Surgical Intervention in Africa.

Cleft lip and palate anomalies constitute both aesthetic and functional impairments for affected individuals. While an individual with an unrepaired cleft palate may adjust somewhat to the associated feeding challenges as he or she gets older, the consequent speech impairment is amenable primarily to surgery. It is pertinent to assess how well speech function is restored in individuals with cleft after surgical repairs.

Leveraging Green Chromatography in Quality-by-Design-Driven Study for the Simultaneous Analysis of Essential Single-Pill Antidiabetic Drug Combinations.

Micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) has proven beneficial efficiency and ecological impact for routine quality control activities. In the proposed study, cyrene was investigated for the first time, together with other green additives, as a novel safe organic solvent in reversed-phase MLC. Quality-by-design (QbD) approach screened their effect on the separation performance.

COVID-19 Serostatus Does Not Affect the Intrauterine Transfer of Micronutrients and Fatty Acids or Maternal-fetal Lymphocyte Cell Composition: An Observational Study.

Objective:  Studies on the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on pregnant mothers and their newborns, specifically in relation to their micronutrient status, fatty acids (FAs), and inflammatory status are sparse. We hypothesized that COVID-19 infection would adversely affect the transfer of nutrients, and FAs from mothers to their fetuses via the umbilical cord and maternal-fetal distribution of inflammatory cells. This study aimed to determine the effect of COVID-19 on micronutrients, inflammatory markers, and FAs profiles in pregnant mothers and their newborns' cord blood.

Comparing distal and proximal radial access for percutaneous coronary intervention and angiography: a comprehensive meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Distal radial access (DRA) through the anatomical snuff-box is a novel technique for coronary procedures. Emerging evidence suggests that DRA is associated with a lower risk of certain complications compared to proximal radial access (PRA).

Methods: A systematic review was conducted to compare clinical and procedural outcomes between both access sites for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention.

The prevalence and clinical significance of EGFR mutations in non-small cell lung cancer patients in Egypt: a screening study.

Background: Lung cancer is a form of cancer that is responsible for the largest incidence of deaths attributed to cancer worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent of all the subtypes of the disease. Treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) may help some people who have been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer.

Understanding De Novo Bupropion-Induced Psychosis and Its Management Strategies: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Psychotic manifestations of iatrogenic origin are common in clinical practice, and it is essential to rule out organic and iatrogenic causes before attributing symptoms to psychiatric disorders. Bupropion, an atypical antidepressant used for treating depression and aiding smoking cessation, has been linked to rare instances of psychosis, especially in patients with risk factors like substance use, older age, or history of head trauma. This report describes the case of a 52-year-old man with recurrent depression who developed a bupropion-induced psychotic episode following an increase in dose to 300 mg/day.

Examining patient safety protocols amidst the rise of digital health and telemedicine: nurses' perspectives.

Background: Integrating digital health and telemedicine technologies is transforming healthcare delivery. In light of this transition, it is critical to ascertain the efficacy of patient safety protocols and evaluate the awareness of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, regarding the integration of digital health technologies.

Aim: This study examines the factors influencing the successful adoption of digital health and telemedicine technologies from the nurses' perspective, focusing on ensuring patient safety and enhancing organizational readiness for digital health integration.

Tailoring nursing interventions to empower patients: personal coping strategies and self-management in type 2 diabetes care.

Background: Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases that severely reduce a patient's quality of life. Effective self-care and management are critical for maintaining blood glucose levels and preventing complications.

Aim: This study evaluates the effectiveness of a structured diabetes self-management education program on patients' self-management behaviors, empowerment, and activation levels.