A review on microorganisms and mycotoxin contamination of selected ' meals' - Potential health risks to consumers.

a local parlance used by Nigerians to describe ready-to-eat pasty foods rich in carbohydrates which include , pounded yam, , , , , among others; molded in small size balls using the palm and dipped inside a bowl of nutritious and delicious soup (okro, , , bitter leaf soups etc.) before swallowing it. meals are often prepared in households and eateries, without strict implementation of food hygiene, which predisposes the meal to contamination by microorganisms.

Prevalence and Predictors for use of Herbal medicine in the treatment of Infertility in a secondary Health facility in South-South Nigeria.

Background: Infertility is one of the major medical problems seen in the Gynaecology clinic. Herbal medicine (HM) has become one of the treatment options used to circumvent infertility problems. This study aims to explore the prevalence and predictors for HM use in the management of infertility in our region.

Evaluation of Inter-atrial Septal Defect Diameter and Left Ventricular Systolic Function in Children with Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Children with ostium secundum atrial septal defect (OS ASD) usually present with varying degrees of ventricular dysfunction.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the left ventricular systolic function of children with OS ASD compared with control.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 113 children with OS ASD and 113 age- and sex- matched controls.

Preference and Disclosure of Fetal Gender to Pregnant Women during Prenatal Ultrasonography in South South Nigeria.

Background: Ultrasound scan (USS) in pregnancy has become a common diagnostic tool used in the assessment of pregnancy in recent time. In the course of routine pregnancy assessment using USS, some pregnant women will request to know the sex of their unborn babies. Their reasons for wanting to know the gender of their baby could be either for social reason like planning for an unborn child or their desire for a preferred gender.

Barriers and advocacy needs for hepatitis C services in prisons: Informing the prisons hepatitis C advocacy toolkit.

Background: Carceral settings are a key focus of the 2030 WHO global hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination goals. Despite this, access to HCV testing and treatment services in prisons remains low globally, limiting opportunities to achieve these goals. Advocacy efforts are needed to address service inequities and mobilise support for enhanced HCV programs in prisons globally.

COTI-2, A Novel Thiosemicarbazone Derivative, Exhibits Antitumor Activity in HNSCC through p53-dependent and -independent Mechanisms.

Purpose: 53 mutations are highly prevalent in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and associated with increased resistance to conventional treatment primarily consisting of chemotherapy and radiation. Restoration of wild-type p53 function in 53-mutant cancer cells represents an attractive therapeutic approach and has been explored in recent years. In this study, the efficacy of a putative p53 reactivator called COTI-2 was evaluated in HNSCC cell lines with different 53 status.

Evaluation of phenolphthalein, diazepam and quinacrine dihydrochloride in the in vitro mammalian cell micronucleus test in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and TK6 cells.

The in vitro micronucleus assay has been extensively used as an in vitro screening tool to identify test articles that might have aneugenic or clastogenic potential. Currently, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is working towards a final version of the guideline for the conduct of the in vitro mammalian cell micronucleus Test (MNvit). A few questions regarding appropriate cytotoxicity measurements and cytotoxicity limits to use remain to be answered.

Observations on the food habits of some African rodents.

Food habits of four common species of African rodents: the giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus), the black house rat (Rattus rattus), the multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis) and the pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides) were studied on the basis of stomach content analysis, habitat sampling and experimental trials with caged animals. Vegetable items (especially grass, grains and tubers) formed the bulk of the food of all the species. Oil-palm nuts and kernels were also common in the guts of C.