Advancements in tantalum based nanoparticles for integrated imaging and photothermal therapy in cancer management.

Tantalum-based nanoparticles (TaNPs) have emerged as promising tools in cancer management, owing to their unique properties that facilitate innovative imaging and photothermal therapy applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in TaNPs, emphasizing their potential in oncology. Key features include excellent biocompatibility, efficient photothermal conversion, and the ability to integrate multifunctional capabilities, such as targeted drug delivery and enhanced imaging.

A cross-sectional assessment of expanding basic healthcare services to rural and underserved communities through proprietary patent medicine vendors in Northern Nigeria.

The poor health indices in Nigeria are widely reported to be fueled by an acute shortage of skilled medical personnel. Opinions are converging that Proprietary and Patent Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) can bridge this human resource for health gaps. This study therefore aimed to assess the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of providing expanded basic health services among the skilled health workers operating PPMVs in underserved communities in Northern Nigeria states.

Acetate Abates Arsenic-Induced Male Reproductive Toxicity by Suppressing HDAC and Uric Acid-Driven Oxido-inflammatory NFkB/iNOS/NO Response in Rats.

Arsenic is associated with male reproductive toxicity through histone deacetylation and oxido-inflammatory injury. Notwithstanding, short-chain fatty acids such as acetate exert anti-oxido-inflammatory activities and inhibit histone deacetylation. This study investigated the impact of acetate on arsenic-induced male reproductive toxicity.

Sodium acetate ameliorates doxorubicin-induced cardiac injury via upregulation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and downregulation of NFkB-mediated apoptotic signaling in Wistar rats.

Despite the effectiveness of doxorubicin (DOX) in the management of a wide range of cancers, a major challenge is its cardio-toxic effect. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis are major pathways for the cardiotoxic effect of DOX. On the other hand, acetate reportedly exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities.

Zinc protects against lead-induced testicular damage via modulation of steroidogenic and xanthine oxidase/uric acid/caspase 3-mediated apoptotic signaling in male Wistar rats.

Aim: This study evaluated the effect of lead, with or without zinc co-administration, on steroidogenic and xanthine oxidase (XO)/uric acid (UA)/caspase 3-mediated apoptotic signaling in the testis.

Materials And Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups at random; vehicle-treated control, zinc-treated, lead-treated, and lead + zinc-treated groups.

Results: Lead exposure significantly lowered overall weight gain, testicular, epididymal, seminal vesicle, and prostate weights.

African walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) extract upregulates glucocerebrosidase activity and circumvents Parkinsonian changes in the Hippocampus via the activation of heatshock proteins.

Background: Neurodegenerative illnesses like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are largely caused by the accumulation of aggregated proteins. Heat shock proteins (HSPs), which are molecular chaperons, have been linked with the modulation of β-glucocerebrosidase (GCase) function encoded by GBA1 and Synucleinopathies. Herein, the chaperonic properties of African walnut ethanolic extract (WNE) in manganese-induced Parkinsonian neuropathology in the hippocampus was examined.

Buchholzia coriacea seed induce antifertility by interfering with steroidogenic enzymes and inflammatory cytokines in rat testis.

Buchholzia coriacea has been reported to possess antifertility activities but little is known of the mechanisms responsible. This study was therefore designed to examine the mechanism responsible for the action of Buchholzia coriacea. Eighteen male Wistar rats (180-200 g) were used for this study.

The Complete Genome Sequence of , the African Fluted Pumpkin.

is a tropical vine grown in West Africa as a leaf vegetable and for its edible seeds. We present the whole genome sequence of this species. Illumina sequencing was performed on a leaf tissue sample from a single cultivated plant.

Progress in the experimental and computational methods of work function evaluation of materials: A review.

The work function, which determines the behaviour of electrons in a material, remains a crucial factor in surface science to understand the corrosion rates and interfacial engineering in making photosensitive and electron-emitting devices. The present article reviews the various experimental methods and theoretical models employed for work function measurement along with their merits and demerits are discussed. Reports from the existing methods of work function measurements that Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) is the most suitable measurement technique over other experimental methods.

The Exploitation of Orphan Legumes for Food, Income, and Nutrition Security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Poverty, food, and nutrition insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have become major concerns in recent times. The effects of climate change, drought, and unpredictable rainfall patterns threaten food production and sustainable agriculture. More so, insurgency, youth restiveness, and politico-economic instability amidst a burgeoning population requiring a sufficient and healthy diet remain front-burner issues in the region.

A review of biotechnological approaches towards crop improvement in African yam bean ( Hochst. Ex A. Rich.).

Globally, climate change is a major factor that contributes significantly to food and nutrition insecurity, limiting crop yield and availability. Although efforts are being made to curb food insecurity, millions of people still suffer from malnutrition. For the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal of Food Security to be achieved, diverse cropping systems must be developed instead of relying mainly on a few staple crops.

Decreased wheat production in the USA from climate change driven by yield losses rather than crop abandonment.

An increase in global average surface temperature over the 21st century will affect food production. There is still uncertainty if the source of the production losses caused by climate change could be driven either by lower yield or reduced area harvested. We use county-level production data on winter wheat coupled with fine-scale weather outcomes between 1981-2007 to examine the impact of climate change on winter wheat production in Kansas.

Farmers' adoption and perceived benefits of diversified crop rotations in the margins of U.S. Corn Belt.

Monoculture and simplified two-crop rotation systems compromise the ecosystem services essential to crop production, diminish agricultural productivity, and cause detrimental effects on the environment. In contrast to the simplified two-crop rotation, diversified crop rotation (DCR) refers to rotation systems that contain three or more crops. Despite multiple benefits generated by DCR, its usage has dwindled over the past several decades.

Significance of African Diets in Biotherapeutic Modulation of the Gut Microbiome.

Diet plays an essential role in human development and growth, contributing to health and well-being. The socio-economic values, cultural perspectives, and dietary formulation in sub-Saharan Africa can influence gut health and disease prevention. The vast microbial ecosystems in the human gut frequently interrelate to maintain a healthy, well-coordinated cellular and humoral immune signalling to prevent metabolic dysfunction, pathogen dominance, and induction of systemic diseases.

Plant genomics in Africa: present and prospects.

Plants are the world's most consumed goods. They are of high economic value and bring many health benefits. In most countries in Africa, the supply and quality of food will rise to meet the growing population's increasing demand.

Hepatoprotective effects of stem bark against cadmium-induced toxicity in male Wistar rats.

Objectives: The liver is one of the primary biorepositories of cadmium (Cd) and it has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic diseases. stem bark has been reputed to have strong antimalarial, antimicrobial, antiulcerative and amoebicidal properties. This study aims to determine the effects of on Cd-induced hepatotoxicity and lipid profile in male Wistar rats.

Efficacy of Lam. (Benth.) leaf and stem bark ethanolic extracts on adult cowpea seed beetle, [ Fabricius (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)] affecting stored cowpea seeds ().

is the most damaging insect pest of stored cowpea () seeds in Nigeria. Thus, this present research work was put in place to assess the insecticidal activities of the extracts obtained from the leaf and stem bark of (Lam.) Benth against the cowpea seed beetle, The parameters that were assessed were adult mortality, oviposition and adult emergence of The experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions of 28±2 °C temperature and 75 ± 5% relative humidity.

Computational Identification of Metabolic Pathways of using the -Shortest Path Algorithm.

, a malaria pathogen, has shown substantial resistance to treatment coupled with poor response to some vaccines thereby requiring urgent, holistic, and broad approach to prevent this endemic disease. Understanding the biology of the malaria parasite has been identified as a vital approach to overcome the threat of malaria. This study is aimed at identifying essential proteins unique to malaria parasites using a reconstructed genome-scale metabolic model (GEM) of the 3D7 strain of by filling gaps in the model with nineteen (19) metabolites and twenty-three (23) reactions obtained from the MetaCyc database.

Reproductive Indices and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers of Male Wistar Rats Prenatally Exposed to Cigarette Smoke.

The negative influence of cigarette smoking on developing fetus is well documented but reports of prenatal cigarette smoking on male reproductive hormones are controversial. However, shortened anogenital distance (AGD) has been established to be an indicator of potential male infertility. We therefore investigated the effects of prenatal exposure to passive cigarette smoke on AGD, reproductive hormones and oxidative stress biomarkers of Wistar rats.

Sex hormones and oxidative stress biomarkers of male Wistar rats treated with Moringa oleifera seed fractions.

Objective: Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera seeds have been reported to exert male reproductive toxicity. To elucidate the spermatoxic constituents, methanol and hexane fractions of Moringa seeds were administered to male rats.

Methods: Methanol or hexane fractions (50 and 100 mg/kg) of Moringa seeds were administered orally to male rats for six weeks, while a control group concurrently received the vehicle.

Effects of aqueous extract of seed on cadmium-induced reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats.

Background: seeds have been reported to increase sexual activity of male rats but its mechanism of action remains unknown.

Objective: Cadmium is a heavy metal that induces reproductive toxicity. To elucidate its possible mechanisms of action, the effects of aqueous extract of Moringa seeds (AEMS) on Cadmium-induced reproductive damage were investigated.

Genomic Interventions in Medicine.

Lately, the term "genomics" has become ubiquitous in many scientific articles. It is a rapidly growing aspect of the biomedical sciences that studies the genome. The human genome contains a torrent of information that gives clues about human origin, evolution, biological function, and diseases.

Callus and etiolation induction data from explants of (Olive & Hierne) C. Jeffrey cultured in the dark.

Different types of explant (leaf, nodal and petiole explant) from in vitro grown plant maintained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, were cultured on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid(2, 4-D) (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.

A randomized controlled study comparing community based with health facility based direct observation of treatment models on patients' satisfaction and TB treatment outcome in Nigeria.

Background: Directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) strategy is an effective mode of treating TB. We aimed to study the cost effectiveness and patients' satisfaction with home based direct observation of treatment (DOT), an innovative approach to community-based DOT (CBDOT) and hospital based DOT (HBDOT).

Methods: A randomized controlled trial involving 150 newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients in four TB clinics in Ile Ife , Nigeria, was done.