Flies as carriers of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria in Nigerian hospitals: A workflow for surveillance of AMR bacteria carried by arthropod pests in hospital settings.

The dissemination of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria by flies in hospitals is concerning as nosocomial AMR infections pose a significant threat to public health. This threat is compounded in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by several factors, including limited resources for sufficient infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and high numbers of flies in tropical climates. In this pilot study, 1,396 flies were collected between August and September 2022 from eight tertiary care hospitals in six cities (Abuja, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and Sokoto) in Nigeria.

Iron Regulatory Protein 2 (IRP2) Deficiency Is Protective Against Resistive Breathing-induced Pulmonary Inflammation.

Iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2), a post-transcriptional regulator of cellular iron metabolism has been associated with susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Resistive breathing (RB) is the hallmark of the pathophysiology of obstructive airway diseases, especially during exacerbations, where increased mechanical stress is imposed on the lung. We have previously shown that RB, through tracheal banding, mimicking severe airway obstruction, induces pulmonary inflammation and injury in previously healthy mice.

Etiologic Pattern, Severity, and Outcome of Pericardial Effusion Among Children Seen Over Ten Years at a Tertiary Hospital in Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria.

Introduction: Pericardial effusion (PE) is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space, which, if severe, is associated with high mortality. The causes are diverse, including infective and non-infective. Few studies have looked at the spectrum of severity and causes in Northern Nigeria.

Prevalence and Outcomes of Sepsis in Patients With Colon Carcinoma: Organism-Specific Analysis.

Background Sepsis is a challenging condition, especially in patients with malignancy, that is associated with worse mortality and increased complications. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of sepsis, its complications, healthcare outcomes, and associated organism-specific mortality in patients with colorectal carcinoma using the National Inpatient Sample database. Methodology We included patients aged >18 years with a primary diagnosis of colon cancer.

Gender, Race, and Regional Disparities in Leading Authorships of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background And Aims: To investigate gender, racial, ethnic, and regional disparities in first and senior authorship positions in gastroenterology/hepatology-related randomised controlled trials (RCT).

Method: Retrospective bibliometric analysis of PubMed-indexed RCTs published between January 2000 to December 2022 in leading journals with an impact factor of at least five.

Results: 943 RCTs met our inclusion criteria, providing a participant pool of 301 female (15.

Effect of "In Use" Administration on Topical Product Metamorphosis and Skin Permeation of Acyclovir Creams: Implications for Bioequivalence.

Purpose: Typical clinical "in use" conditions for topical semisolids involve their application as a thin film, often with rubbing that can induce metamorphic stress. Yet, product quality and performance tests often characterize the manufactured product, and may not consider product metamorphosis (e.g.

A Systematic Review of the Attitudes, Beliefs, and Acceptance of the COVID-19 Vaccine in the Western and Eastern Hemispheres.

The availability of an effective vaccine does not equate to its use; its effectiveness primarily depends on vaccine acceptance by the targeted population. Despite the rapid development and widespread access to the COVID-19 vaccine, herd immunity is yet to be achieved, with vaccine hesitancy as a major barrier. This study sought to systematically assess the beliefs, attitudes, and acceptance towards COVID-19 vaccines, including factors contributing to vaccination hesitancy in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Epidemiologic study on prostate cancer in Sudanese men across African ethnic groups.

This study sought to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of Sudanese men diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) to highlight differences in diagnosis among the three major ethnolinguistic groups. A total of 532 patients with confirmed PCa diagnosis through biopsy were enrolled from six medical centers in Sudan. The majority of patients, comprising 84.

Investigating the Association Between Family Socioeconomic Profile and Diabetes Control in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study From Sudan.

Aims: Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disease in childhood which significantly impacts quality of life, morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the socioeconomic background of children with diabetes and their families and to assess its association with diabetes control.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Khartoum State, Sudan, in 2018, at three outpatient diabetes clinics, using standardised questionnaires.

Synthesis and multifaceted evaluation of novel AgCZ nanocomposite for targeted anti-angiogenic cancer therapy.

Angiogenesis is the formation of blood vessels from the existing vasculature, which is important in the tumor growth where the metastatic spread, of cancer cells depends on an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients and the removal of waste products. Targeting angiogenesis has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. This study presents the synthesis and evaluation of a novel Ag-CeO-ZnO (AgCZ) nanocomposite designed to specifically inhibit angiogenesis for effective cancer therapy.

Search for Soft Unclustered Energy Patterns in Proton-Proton Collisions at 13 TeV.

The first search for soft unclustered energy patterns (SUEPs) is performed using an integrated luminosity of 138  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data at sqrt[s]=13  TeV, collected in 2016-2018 by the CMS detector at the LHC. Such SUEPs are predicted by hidden valley models with a new, confining force with a large 't Hooft coupling. In events with boosted topologies, selected by high-threshold hadronic triggers, the multiplicity and sphericity of clustered tracks are used to reject the background from standard model quantum chromodynamics.

Neurological Complications Associated With the Powassan Virus and Treatment Interventions.

Powassan virus (POWV), a flavivirus transmitted by ticks, poses significant neurological risks, including encephalitis and meningitis. Despite its growing geographical spread and severe clinical manifestations, no specific antiviral treatments are currently available. This review synthesizes the existing literature on POWV, focusing on its epidemiology, clinical manifestations, neurological impact, and current treatment approaches.

Search for the Z Boson Decay to ττμμ in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV.

The first search for the Z boson decay to ττμμ at the CERN LHC is presented, based on data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138  fb^{-1}. The data are compatible with the predicted background. For the first time, an upper limit at the 95% confidence level of 6.

Health Facility Capacity and Health-care Worker Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Hepatitis B Vaccine Birth-dose and Maternal Tetanus-Diphtheria Vaccine Administration in Nigeria: A Baseline Assessment.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and neonatal tetanus infections remain endemic in Nigeria despite the availability of safe, effective vaccines. We aimed to determine health facilities' capacity for hepatitis B vaccine birth dose (HepB-BD) and maternal tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccination and to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of HepB-BD and maternal Td vaccine administration among health facility staff in Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study assessing public primary and secondary health facilities in Adamawa and Enugu States.

Exploring the landscape of routine immunization in Nigeria: A scoping review of barriers and facilitators.

Background: Despite global efforts to improve vaccination coverage, the number of zero-dose and under-immunized children has increased in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, which has over 2.1 million unvaccinated (zero dose) children, the highest in the continent. This scoping review systematically maps and summarizes existing literature on the barriers and facilitators of immunization in Nigeria, focusing on regional inequalities.

Advances in, and prospects of, 3D preclinical models for skin drug discovery.

The skin has an important role in regulating homeostasis and protecting the body from endogenous and exogenous microenvironments. Although 3D models for drug discovery have been extensively studied, there is a growing demand for more advanced 3D skin models to enhance skin research. The use of these advanced skin models holds promise across domains such as cosmetics, skin disease treatments, and toxicity testing of new therapeutics.

Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems (TDDS): Recent Advances and Failure Modes.

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS), commonly refered to as "patches", present a nonintrusive technique to provide medication without the need for invasive procedures. These products adhere to the skin and gradually release a specific dosage of medicine at a defined rate into the bloodstream. Compared with other methods of drug delivery, TDDS offer benefits such as reduced invasiveness, convenience for patients, and avoidance of the metabolic processes that occur when drugs are orally consumed.

Impact of Different Packaging Configurations on A Topical Cream Product.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate whether different dispensing processes can alter the physicochemical and structural (Q3) attributes of a topical cream product, and potentially alter its performance.

Methods: Acyclovir cream, 5% (Zovirax®) is sold in the UK and other countries in a tube and a pump packaging configurations. The structural attributes of the cream dispensed from each packaging configuration were analyzed by optical microscopy, confocal Raman microscopy and cryo-scanning electron microscopy.

3D Printed Microneedles for the Transdermal Delivery of NAD Precursor: Toward Personalization of Skin Delivery.

3D printing of microneedles (μNDs) for transdermal therapy has the potential to enable patient personalization based on the target disease, site of application, and dosage requirements. To convert this concept to reality, it is necessary that the 3D printing technology can deliver high resolution, an affordable cost, and large print volumes. With the introduction of benchtop 4K and 8K 3D printers, it is now possible to manufacture medical devices like μNDs at sufficient resolution and low cost.

Age and gender in drug resistance tuberculosis: A cross-sectional case study at a national tuberculosis reference hospital in Nigeria.

Objectives: Drug resistance in tuberculosis (TB) is a very important public health threat that should not be ignored. Understanding the gender, age, and characteristics of individuals affected by TB (without HIV, diabetes, or hepatitis B complications), particularly in terms of drug resistance or susceptibility, is crucial for effective prevention and management strategies, as most studies focus on TB/HIV co-infection.

Methods: A cross-sectional case study of age and gender was carried out in 140 individuals grouped into drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB), and apparently healthy controls (AHCs).