A Systematic Review of Yellow Fever Outbreaks and Public Health Responses in Nigeria.

Background: Yellow fever (YF) outbreaks continue to occur in Nigeria with a high mortality rate despite a well-established mode of transmission and the availability of a potent vaccine. This review is aimed at describing the epidemiology, determinants, and public health responses of yellow fever outbreaks in Nigeria from 1864 to 2020.

Methodology: The guidelines for the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) were used to conduct the review from November 2020 to April 2021.

Postnatal care services use by mothers: A comparative study of defaulters versus attendees of postnatal clinics in Enugu.

Introduction: Despite much emphasis on the reproductive health of women, maternal mortality is still high, especially in postnatal period.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of postnatal care use and reasons for defaults among mothers attending the child immunization clinics in Enugu, Nigeria.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study of 400 consecutive nursing mothers who presented at the Institute of Child Health of UNTH and ESUTH, Enugu for Second dose of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV2) for their babies at 10 weeks postpartum.

Risk Perception amongst Petrol Pump Attendants and Analysis of Indiscriminate Siting of Petrol Stations in Enugu Metropolis.

Proliferation and unregulated siting of petrol stations expose petrol pump attendants to occupational hazards. This study assessed knowledge, risk perception, occupational hazards of petrol pump attendants and site-suitability of petrol stations in Enugu metropolis, Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional analytical study of 210 pump attendants from 105 petrol stations spread within the city and highways.

A decline of protective apolipoprotein J and complement factor H concomitant with increase in C5a 3 months after cardiac surgery-Evidence of long-term complement perturbations.

Background: Heart surgery results in complement activation with the potential for collateral end-organ damage, especially if the protective elements (complement factor H, Apolipoprotein J) are inadequate. Here, we have investigated if peri-operative stress results in an imbalance between complement activation and its protective mechanisms up to 3 months after heart surgery.

Methods: 101 patients scheduled for non-emergent cardiac surgery donated blood before the procedure (t), and 24 h (t ), 7 days (t ) and 3 months (t ) after.

Persistent Depletion of Neuroprotective Factors Accompanies Neuroinflammatory, Neurodegenerative, and Vascular Remodeling Spectra in Serum Three Months after Non-Emergent Cardiac Surgery.

We hypothesized that the persistent depletion of neuroprotective markers accompanies neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in patients after cardiac surgery. A total of 158 patients underwent elective heart surgery with their blood collected before surgery (t) and 24 h (t), seven days (t), and three months (t) post-surgery. The patients' serum was measured for markers of neurodegeneration (τau, τaup181-183, amyloid β1-40/β2-42, and S100), atypical neurodegeneration (KLK6 and NRGN), neuro-injury (neurofilament light/heavy, UC-HL, and GFAP), neuroinflammation (YKL-40 and TDP-43), peripheral nerve damage (NCAM-1), neuroprotection (apoE4, BDNF, fetuin, and clusterin), and vascular smoldering inflammation (C-reactive protein, CCL-28 IL-6, and IL-8).

A disturbed balance between blood complement protective factors (FH, ApoE) and common pathway effectors (C5a, TCC) in acute COVID-19 and during convalesce.

A complement effect on homeostasis during infection is determined by both cytotoxic (activate complement component 5 (C5a) terminal cytotoxic complex (TCC)), and cytoprotective elements (complement factor H (FH), as well as apolipoprotein E (ApoE)). Here, we investigated the gap in knowledge in their blood milieu during SARS-CoV-2 infection with respect to the viral burden, level of tissue necrosis, and immunological response. 101 patients hospitalized with a PCR-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 had blood collected at H1 (48 h), H2 (3-4 Days), H3 (5-7 days), H4 (more than 7 days up to 93 days).

Social Bullying Among Undergraduates: The Roles of Internet Gaming Disorder, Risk-Taking Behavior, and Internet Addiction.

An issue that affects the academic engagement, performance, health and wellbeing of university undergraduates is bullying. Substantial literature has examined the predictors of bullying perpetration, but there is little research on the contributions of internet-related factors and the propensity to take risks in bullying. We examined the roles of IGD, risk-taking behavior, and internet addiction in social bullying.

Formulation Development of Extract as Nanosuppository to Improve its Intrarectal Delivery for the Treatment of Malaria.

Background: Previous folkloric and experimental reports have demonstrated the antimalarial efficacy of Azadirachta indica (AZA) extracts. However, one of the major challenges facing its application for the clinical treatment of malaria is the design of an acceptable dosage form.

Objective: Consequently, we developed AZA extract-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for the formulation of suppositories, denoted as nanosuppositories, for intrarectal treatment of malaria.

Dynamic Changes in Central and Peripheral Neuro-Injury vs. Neuroprotective Serum Markers in COVID-19 Are Modulated by Different Types of Anti-Viral Treatments but Do Not Affect the Incidence of Late and Early Strokes.

The balance between neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, neuroprotection, and COVID-19-directed therapy may underly the heterogeneity of SARS-CoV-2's neurological outcomes. A total of 105 patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19 had serum collected over a 6 month period to assess neuroinflammatory (MIF, CCL23, MCP-1), neuro-injury (NFL, NCAM-1), neurodegenerative (KLK6, τ, phospho τ, amyloids, TDP43, YKL40), and neuroprotective (clusterin, fetuin, TREM-2) proteins. These were compared to markers of nonspecific inflammatory responses (IL-6, D-dimer, CRP) and of the overall viral burden (spike protein).

Longitudinal urinary biomarkers of immunological activation in covid-19 patients without clinically apparent kidney disease versus acute and chronic failure.

Kidney function is affected in COVID-19, while kidney itself modulates the immune response. Here, hypothesize if COVID-19 urine biomarkers level can assess immune activation vs. clinical trajectory.

Unbiased Analysis of Temporal Changes in Immune Serum Markers in Acute COVID-19 Infection With Emphasis on Organ Failure, Anti-Viral Treatment, and Demographic Characteristics.

Identification of novel immune biomarkers to gauge the underlying pathology and severity of COVID-19 has been difficult due to the lack of longitudinal studies. Here, we analyzed serum collected upon COVID-19 admission (t1), 48 hours (t2), and seven days later (t3) using Olink proteomics and correlated to clinical, demographics, and therapeutic data. Older age positively correlated with decorin, pleiotrophin, and TNFRS21 but inversely correlated with chemokine (both C-C and C-X-C type) ligands, monocyte attractant proteins (MCP) and TNFRS14.

What are the Predictors of Burn out in Nigerian Bankers? A Case Study of Bankers in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: In developing countries such as Nigeria, due to globalization and the deteriorating economy, workers are especially vulnerable to burnout. The pressure on bank employees from tight deadlines and unrealistic targets may predispose them to burnout. Burnout has been shown to occur in workers because of failure to cope with occupational stress, especially in the banking sector which requires intensive communication and interaction with service recipients.

Prevalence of psychological workplace violence among employees of a public tertiary health facility in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.

Background: Psychological violence is the most common form of workplace violence (WPV) that can affect job performance and health of the workers.

Aims: This study sought to determine the prevalence of psychological WPV among employees working in a tertiary health institution in a South-eastern state of Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study done in 2018 among healthcare workers at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu State using a pretested self-administered questionnaire adapted from Workplace Violence in the Health Sector Country Case Study Questionnaire.

Knowledge, Misperceptions, Preparedness, and Barriers towards Lassa Fever Control among Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Institution in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Lassa fever outbreaks are common in Nigeria. The study aimed to assess knowledge, misperception, preparedness and barriers towards Lassa fever among health care workers (HCWs) in a tertiary hospital in Enugu.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among 400 HCWs of a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria.

Time to endoscopy for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding: Results from a prospective multicentre trainee-led audit.

Background: Endoscopy within 24 h of admission (early endoscopy) is a quality standard in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB). We aimed to audit time to endoscopy outcomes and identify factors affecting delayed endoscopy (>24 h of admission).

Methods: This prospective multicentre audit enrolled patients admitted with AUGIB who underwent inpatient endoscopy between November and December 2017.

Complement Levels in Nigeria Patients with Sickle Cell Anaemia in the Asymptomatic State.

Objectives: Significantly low serum levels of complement components have been reported in patients with Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) which may result in a high susceptibility to infections. However some studies have reported a normal or high complement level. The aim of our study was to assess some haematological parameters and Complement levels in adult patients with steady state SCA in Zaria, North western Nigeria.

Health education: Effect on knowledge and practice of workplace personal hygiene and protective measures among woodworkers in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: There has been increasing incidence of occupational diseases among woodworkers due to exposure to preventable hazards in the workplace. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of health education on the knowledge and practice of workplace hygiene and protective measures among woodworkers in Enugu timber market.

Materials And Methods: This was a before and after study conducted among 290 woodworkers using interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire and manual on workplace hazards prevention.

Morbidities, concordance, and predictors of preterm premature rupture of membranes among pregnant women at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is a challenging complication of pregnancies and an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Management of morbidities associated with PPROM is fraught with controversy. However, women should be informed of these complications.

Desire for prenatal gender disclosure among primigravidae in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Prenatal gender disclosure is a nonmedical fetal ultrasonography view, which is considered ethically unjustified but has continued to grow in demand due to pregnant women's requests.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of primigravidae who want prenatal gender disclosure and the reasons for it.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of randomly selected primigravidae seen at Enugu Scan Centre.

Prevalence of depression among health workers in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

Aims: Determination of the prevalence and distribution of depression among health workers at tertiary level of health care delivery in Enugu South East Nigeria.

Settings And Design: A cross-sectional descriptive survey of depression in health workers at tertiary level.

Subjects And Methods: By proportional quota sampling, the sample size of 309 was used.

Seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, and Co-infections among Antenatal Women in a Tertiary Institution in South East, Nigeria.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS are a major public health concern owing to both their prevalence and propensity to affect offspring through vertical transmission.

Aim: The aim was to determine the seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis, and co-infections among antenatal women in Enugu, South-East Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of antenatal women at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, South-East Nigeria from 1(st) May 2006 to 30(th) April 2008.

Seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis and Co-infections among Antenatal Women in a Tertiary Institution in South-East Nigeria.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS are a major public health concern owing to both their prevalence and propensity to affect offspring through vertical transmission.

Aim: The aim was to determine the seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis, and co-infections among antenatal women in Enugu, South-East Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of antenatal women at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, South-East Nigeria from May 1, 2006 to April 30, 2008.

Impact of some low-cost interventions on students' performance in a Nigerian medical school.

Background: Students' poor performance in physiology examinations has been worrisome to the university community. Reported preference of peer-tutoring to didactic lectures at the University of Nigeria Medical School has not been investigated.

Aim: The aim of this work is to design/implement low-cost interventions to improve teaching and learning of physiology.