Impact of the Quadriceps Angle on Health and Injury Risk in Female Athletes.

The quadriceps angle, knowns as the Q-angle, is an anatomical feature of the human body that is still largely unknown and unstudied despite its initial discovery in the 1950s. The strength disparities between male and female athletes are largely determined by the Q-angle. In spite of a growing number of women participating in sports such as track, tennis, soccer, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, swimming, and softball, studies investigating injuries in this group are scanty.

Incidence of childhood cancers in the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

Introduction: Cancers are a major cause of childhood mortality worldwide especially in LMICs where underdiagnoses and lack of quality cancer data hampers effective cancer control efforts. This study aimed to document and describe the patterns and characteristics of childhood cancers in the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study that collected cancer data from 4 out of the 6 states in the North East of Nigeria.

Is educational attainment associated with the onset and outcomes of low back pain? a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading global cause of years lived with disability. Of the biopsychosocial domains of health, social determinants of LBP remain under-researched. Socioeconomic status (SES) may be associated with the onset of new LBP or outcomes of acute LBP, with educational attainment (EA) being a key component of SES.

Emerging cancer disease burden in a rural sub-Saharan African population: northeast Nigeria in focus.

Introduction: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is plagued by myriads of diseases, mostly infectious; but cancer disease burden is rising among non-communicable diseases. Nigeria has a high burden of cancer, however its remote underserved culturally-conserved populations have been understudied, a gap this study sought to fill.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional multi-institutional descriptive study of histologically diagnosed cancers over a four-year period (January 2019-December 2022) archived in the Departments of Pathology and Cancer Registries of six tertiary hospitals in the northeast of Nigeria.

Achilles Tendon Tear Following an Unusual Pattern of Open Pure Ankle Dislocation: A Case Report.

We present a rare case of concurrent open Achilles tendon tear and pure subtalar dislocation in a 20-year-old male following a motorcycle accident, highlighting the complexity of managing such unique musculoskeletal injuries. The patient was initially admitted with an open and deformed left ankle, underwent prompt primary debridement, and received immediate medical intervention. Despite unsuccessful attempts to reduce the dislocation through external maneuvers, subsequent radiographic evaluation revealed a subtalar dislocation associated with a 90° rotation of the talus.

Pure Open Ankle Dislocation Leading to Isolated Lateral Ligament Complex Tear: A Rare Case.

Pure open ankle dislocation is a rare orthopedic emergency characterized by the absence of associated bony lesions, necessitating prompt and immediate management to prevent disastrous complications. This article details a distinctive case of open pure ankle dislocation in an 18-year-old female following a motorcycle accident, resulting in a 6-cm wound and a dislocated left ankle with a concurrent tear of the anterior talofibular ligament and calcaneofibular ligament. Immediate reduction under sedation was performed, followed by intensive debridement and ligament repair in the operating room.

Clinicopathological pattern of oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 over-expression of epithelial ovarian carcinomas in Nigeria.

Background: Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from all gynaecological malignancies. Only few biomarkers of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) prognosis have been studied so far among Nigerian patients.

Objective: To determine the pattern of oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) expression in patients with EOC seen in Nigeria.

Detection and Characterization of Endplate Structural Defects on CT: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study.

Study Design: Diagnostic test study.

Objective: To determine the reliability and validity or diagnostic accuracy of two previously described endplate structural defect (EPSD) assessment methods.

Summary Of Background Data: Studies of EPSD may further the understanding of pathoanatomic mechanisms underlying back pain.

MKP1 promotes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by suppressing AMPK activity through LKB1 nuclear retention.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is triggered by hepatocyte death through activation of caspase 6, as a result of decreased adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα) activity. Increased hepatocellular death promotes inflammation which drives hepatic fibrosis. We show that the nuclear-localized mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase-1 (MKP1) is upregulated in NASH patients and in NASH diet fed male mice.

MKP1 promotes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by suppressing AMPK activity through LKB1 nuclear retention.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is triggered by hepatocyte death through activation of caspase 6, as a result of decreased adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα) activity. Increased hepatocellular death promotes inflammation which drives hepatic fibrosis. We show that the nuclear-localized mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase-1 (MKP1) is upregulated in NASH patients and in NASH diet fed mice.

The beneficial role of exercise in preventing doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Doxorubicin is a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent widely used to treat a variety of cancers. However, the clinical application of doxorubicin is limited due to its adverse effects on several tissues. One of the most serious side effects of doxorubicin is cardiotoxicity, which results in life-threatening heart damage, leading to reduced cancer treatment success and survival rate.

Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) Associated with Well-Differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Vulva: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: A case description of a rare incidence of female genital schistosomiasis related to vulva squamous cell carcinoma in a 76-year-old woman from the schistosomiasis-endemic region of Gombe State, Nigeria. Physicians should be aware of the high incidence rate of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) in women and girls in schistosomiasis-endemic areas, which is often related to gynecological morbidity and the risk of HIV infection to avoid unnecessary interventions.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Urinary Schistosomiasis among Primary School Pupils in the Jidawa and Zobiya Communities of Jigawa State, Nigeria.

Background: Urogenital schistosomiasis (UgS) is a parasitic disease caused by and can lead to chronic ill-health. Nigeria is endemic for schistosomiasis, but epidemiology of UgS has not been studied in most states. This study was conceived with the aim to contribute towards an accurate national picture of UgS in Nigeria.

Metabolic Impact of MKP-2 Upregulation in Obesity Promotes Insulin Resistance and Fatty Liver Disease.

The mechanisms connecting obesity with type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular diseases remain incompletely understood. The function of MAPK phosphatase-2 (MKP-2), a type 1 dual-specific phosphatase (DUSP) in whole-body metabolism, and how this contributes to the development of diet-induced obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and insulin resistance is largely unknown. We investigated the physiological contribution of MKP-2 in whole-body metabolism and whether MKP-2 is altered in obesity and human fatty liver disease using MKP-2 knockout mice models and human liver tissue derived from fatty liver disease patients.

Characterization and Roles of Membrane Lipids in Fatty Liver Disease.

Obesity has reached global epidemic proportions and it affects the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and other metabolic diseases. Membrane lipids are important structural and signaling components of the cell membrane. Recent studies highlight their importance in lipid homeostasis and are implicated in the pathogenesis of fatty liver disease.

Pattern and outcome of traumatic spinal cord injury managed at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria: A retrospective study.

Background: Understanding pattern and outcome of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) will inform better management which expectedly would improve prognosis and minimise complications.

Methods: : A retrospective study was carried out on all managed TSCI cases from January 2009 to December 2018. Sociodemographic characteristics, injury type, cause and complications were extracted from patients' registers and case folders.

The association between vertebral endplate structural defects and back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To clarify the current state of knowledge on the association of endplate structural defects and back pain.

Methods: Five databases were searched for studies reporting on the association between endplate structural defects and back pain. Covidence and comprehensive meta-analysis software were used for article screening and selection and pooling of extracted data.

A Systematic Literature Review on the Application of Machine-Learning Models in Behavioral Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges. The insufficient number of trained clinicians coupled with limited accessibility to quick and accurate diagnostic tools resulted in overlooking early symptoms of ASD in children around the world. Several studies have utilized behavioral data in developing and evaluating the performance of machine learning (ML) models toward quick and intelligent ASD assessment systems.

Improving Obesity and Insulin Resistance by Targeting Skeletal Muscle MKP-1.

Obesity has reached a global epidemic and it predisposes to the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and related metabolic diseases. Current interventions against obesity and/or type 2 diabetes such as calorie restriction, exercise, genetic manipulations or established pharmacological treatments have not been successful for many patients with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes. There is an urgent need for new strategies to treat insulin resistance, T2D and obesity.

Quality of life of stroke survivors in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Functional impairments and socioeconomic constraints associated with stroke affect quality of life (QoL). With limited care and social support resources, there is a greater anticipated decline in QoL among stroke survivors in Africa. This study aims to examine post-stroke QoL, properties of outcome measures adopted and predictors of the QoL among African stroke survivors.

Impact of physical activity and traumatic exposure on occurrence of gestational hypertension: a survey of pregnant women in an armed-conflict region in Nigeria.

Objective: To compare physical activity level and traumatic exposure between normotensive and hypertensive pregnant women in an armed conflict region of Nigeria.

Methods: 130 normotensives and hypertensive pregnant women comprising of 65 participants per group participated in the study. Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire were used to assess traumatic events and physical activity respectively.

Vertebral endplate defects: nomenclature, classification and measurement methods: a scoping review.

Purpose: To summarize the scope of nomenclature and measurement methods used to document endplate defects in the health sciences literature.

Methods: The scoping review followed the York framework and was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. The databases of PubMed, Scopus, Embase and CINAHL were searched using key terms.