Implementation of the advanced HIV disease package of care using a public health approach: lessons from Nigeria.

Background: Nigeria adapted the WHO package of care for Advanced HIV Disease (AHD) in 2020. The package includes CD4 + cell count testing to identify People Living with HIV (PLHIV) with AHD, screening and treatment of opportunistic infections, rapid antiretrovirals (ART) initiation, and intensive adherence follow-up. The national program adopted a phased approach in the rollout of the AHD package of care to learn lessons from a few representative health facilities before scaling up across the country.

The evolving role of social media in enhancing quality of life: a global perspective across 10 countries.

Background: Excessive or inappropriate use of social media has been linked to disruptions in regular work, well-being, mental health, and overall reduction of quality of life. However, a limited number of studies documenting the impact of social media on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are available globally.

Aim: This study aimed to explore the perceived social media needs and their impact on the quality of life among the adult population of various selected countries.

Shifts in species dominance related to spatial assemblages and variation in environmental parameters in a tropical mangrove estuary.

A shift in species dominance in the mangrove microalgae community in Cross River Estuary System (CRES), Nigeria, was carried out during the wet season to highlight the microalgae structure, identify potential indicators, and evaluate the water quality variation. Plankton samples were collected at sixteen selected sampling sites along the river. Diatoms showed the highest number of species (240 species), contributing more than 70% of the total microalgae abundance.

Searching for Mental Health Services: Search Strings and Information Acquisition.

Based on decision sciences and information processing theories, how information is acquired is the foundation of decisions and choices subsequently made. Adapting the Active Information Search methodology, the aim for this study is to examine what information potential mental health clients look for in a service provider through their use of search strings. College students ( = 519) from a large public university from the southwest USA (data collection from August to December 2018) were asked in an online survey to imagine themselves needing mental health services and list down the search string they would use in a search engine (e.

Ecophysiological differences between five mangrove seedlings under heavy metal stress.

It was studied for the effects of heavy metal stress on the antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) in the leaves of five mangrove plants. The results showed the protein concentrations were significantly higher in B. gymnorrhiza (7.

An interpopulation comparison of 3-dimensional morphometric measurements of the proximal humerus.

Background: Precise anatomic reconstruction of the proximal humerus is essential to a favorable outcome of total shoulder arthroplasty. Because of the wide variation in the geometric features of the proximal humerus, prosthetic designs incorporating these disparities are being developed.

Methods: The aim of this study is to use data obtained from cadavers and computed tomographic scans to investigate the 3-dimensional morphometric parameters of the proximal humerus of South African and Swiss samples and make an interpopulation comparison.

Distribution and risk of mercury in the sediments of mangroves along South China Coast.

The importance of mangrove was widely reported. However, the potential risks of pollutants (e.g.

Phytoplankton diversity and community responses to physicochemical variables in mangrove zones of Guangzhou Province, China.

The phytoplankton diversity and community response to physicochemical variables in mangrove zones of Guangdong Province along the South China coast was investigated from October to December, 2017. This study was set to investigate the phytoplankton community structure in the mangrove zone and assess the relationship between the physicochemical variables and phytoplankton species diversity. Physicochemical variables such as water temperature, total dissolve solids (tds), pH, salinity, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC) and nutrient salts were measured in situ across the 27 stations.

Functional Characteristics and Mechanical Performance of PCU Composites for Knee Meniscus Replacement.

The potential use of fiber-reinforced based polycarbonate-urethanes (PCUs) as candidate meniscal substitutes was investigated in this study. Mechanical test pieces were designed and fabricated using a compression molding technique. Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers were impregnated into PCU matrices, and their mechanical and microstructural properties evaluated.

Salt tolerance and exclusion in the mangrove plant Avicennia marina in relation to root apoplastic barriers.

Salt tolerance and the possible functions of suberization on salt exclusion and secretion were examined in a dominant mangrove plant, Avicennia marina. The results showed that low salinities (10‰ and 20‰) almost has no negative effect on A. marina, however significant growth inhibitions were observed in the seedlings grown in higher salinities (30‰ and 40‰).

Suitability of developed composite materials for meniscal replacement: Mechanical, friction and wear evaluation.

The meniscus is a complex and frequently damaged tissue which requires a substitute capable of reproducing similar biomechanical functions. This study aims to develop a synthetic meniscal substitute that can mimic the function of the native meniscus. Medical grade silicones reinforced with nylon were fabricated using compression moulding and evaluated for mechanical and tribological properties.

Typhoid perforation in children: an unrelenting plague in developing countries.

Introduction: Despite global scientific development, typhoid fever and subsequent typhoid perforation have continued to be common in developing countries. The aim of this study was to re-evaluate the pattern of presentation and management outcomes as well as morbidity and mortality of typhoid perforation among children.

Methodology: Children aged 15 years and under with clinical diagnosis of typhoid perforation were retrospectively studied by reviewing their hospital records between January 2006 and December 2015.

Assessment of 3D morphological characteristics of the shoulder bones using statistical shape modeling: Prospective application to handedness.

In this study we have described the use of statistical shape modeling (SSM) technique in evaluating the morphological variation of shoulder bones from a South African population. The anatomical landmark selections were carried out, followed by the registration of the meshes which were validated before establishing the dense correspondence. The SSMs were built and average shape comparison from each side for each bone were made in order to evaluate handedness.

Primary versus delayed primary closure of laparotomy wounds in children following typhoid ileal perforation in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Background: The optimal management strategy for dirty abdominal wounds has yet to be determined, but studies indicate that delayed primary closure (DPC) may be a reliable method of reducing surgical site infection (SSI) rate in these wounds. In this study, of dirty laparotomy wounds following typhoid ileal perforation (TIP), the SSI rate, incidence of wound dehiscence, and length of hospital stay (LOS) are compared in wounds primarily closed to those closed in the delayed primary fashion.

Patients And Methods: The study was conducted over a 12-month period.

Syndromic anorectal malformation associated with Holt-Oram syndrome, microcephaly, and bilateral corneal opacity: a case report.

Background: The occurrence of an anorectal malformation with Holt-Oram syndrome, microcephaly, and bilateral corneal opacity is rare and to the best of our knowledge has not previously been reported in the literature. Hence, there is a need to document our experience in this case and learn as much as possible from it.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a Nigerian female neonate with a postnatal diagnosis of syndromic anorectal malformation associated with Holt-Oram syndrome, microcephaly, and bilateral corneal opacity.

Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome: A Case Report in an Adolescent Nigerian Boy.

Aim: This is to report a case of Klippel Trenauay Weber syndrome in a fifteen year old Nigerian boy. This is a rare syndrome and it is the first case to be reported in UCTH Calabar.

Case Presentation: Product of a full term uneventful pregnancy, delivered to non-consanguineous apparently healthy parents.

Apparent diffusion coefficient map of a case of extramedullary plasmacytoma.

Plasmacytomas are rare tumors, which arise from the monoclonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells. They may affect either the bony skeleton or rarely the soft tissues, the latter being referred to as extramedullary or extraosseous. We report a case of an extramedullary plasmacytoma that presented as a soft tissue mass involving the muscles of the left leg, in a patient who was previously treated for multiple myeloma.

Primary Pseudomyogenic Hemangioendothelioma of Bone.

Pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma (PMH) is a well-recognized neoplasm that usually arises in the soft tissue; concurrent bone involvement occurs in 24% of cases. PMH of bone without soft tissue involvement is rare. We describe the clinicopathologic findings of 10 such cases, the largest series reported to date.

Heterologous Liposarcomatous Differentiation in Malignant Phyllodes Tumor is Histologically Similar but Immunohistochemically and Molecularly Distinct from Well-differentiated Liposarcoma of Soft Tissue.

Malignant phyllodes tumor (PT) infrequently displays heterologous differentiation, and when present is most often liposarcomatous. We identified five cases of malignant PT with regions identical to well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDLS) of soft tissue and evaluated them for MDM2 and CDK4 gene expression and amplification using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), respectively. Despite indistinguishable morphology all cases of malignant PT with WDLS-like liposarcomatous differentiation were negative for MDM2 and CDK4 IHC and FISH, supporting different underlying pathogenesis.

Microdensitometric and microarchitectural alterations in irradiated mandibular fracture repair.

Head and neck cancer most often requires a multimodality approach to treatment that includes the use of radiotherapy. Unfortunately, radiation treatment can cause significant locoregional adverse effects with the particularly debilitating sequelae of late pathologic fracture. We aimed to define comprehensive metrics that will allow us to evaluate the efficacy of therapies aimed at assuaging the damaging effects of radiation on fracture healing.

Nodular fasciitis: characteristic imaging features on sonography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the imaging features of nodular fasciitis on sonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: A retrospective search of the radiologic and pathologic databases over the past 10 years for the diagnosis of nodular fasciitis was performed. Sonographic and MRI features were described.

Utilization of banked blood in pediatric surgical procedures in Calabar, Nigeria.

Background: Performing major surgery in a child demands that blood is cross-matched and saved to be transfused as indicated. Because the cost of cross-matching and donation of blood can be enormous and may equal or surpass the cost of surgery in our setting, it is pertinent to evaluate its utilization. The aim of this study was to determine how banked blood meant for pediatric surgical procedures was utilized with the hope of streamlining our blood requisition policy.

Intussusception in children: Comparison between ultrasound diagnosis and operation findings in a tropical developing country.

Background: Intussusception is one of the more common causes of intestinal obstruction in children. The diagnosis may be based mainly on clinical features; however, there are no classic signs and symptoms that are common to all cases. This study reports our experience at US diagnosis and operation findings of children with intussusceptions in a tropical developing economy.

Quantitative histomorphometric assessment of regenerate cellularity and bone quality in mandibular distraction osteogenesis after radiation therapy.

Background: The use of mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) for tissue replacement after oncologic resection in head and neck cancer could have immense therapeutic ramifications. We have previously demonstrated significantly decreased mechanical and microdensitomeric metrics of our MDO regenerate after 36-Gy radiation. Quantitative histomorphometry, a third metric, would permit objective investigation of the effects of radiation on tissue and cellular composition.

Cholecystectomy: indications at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.

Background/objective: The relative rarity of gallbladder disease has been documented in various parts of Africa. Recently the incidence has been reported as rising in some African countries. We undertook this study to evaluate the indications for cholecystectomy in our center and compare with others.