Analyzing Knowledge Status and HIV Linkage to Care: Insights From America's HIV Epidemic Analysis Dashboard (AHEAD) National Database.

Background: Understanding knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and timely linkage to care are crucial for improving health outcomes among individuals living with HIV. This study analyzes trends in HIV knowledge status and linkage to care using data from America's HIV Epidemic Analysis Dashboard (AHEAD) National Database.

Methods: A retrospective database analysis was conducted utilizing the AHEAD National Database, focusing on individuals diagnosed with HIV from 2017 to 2022.

Understanding the Challenges of Advocacy Communication, Social Mobilization, and Operationalization for COVID-19 and Routine Immunization in Nigeria.

The primary goal of program communication in public health is to influence behaviors. It also aims to raise awareness and ultimately improve health outcomes. Under the umbrella of program communication exist three interconnected, interrelated, and mutually supportive communication aspects: advocacy, communication, and social mobilization (ACSM).

Tadalafil pretreatment attenuates doxorubicin-induced hepatorenal toxicity by modulating oxidative stress and inflammation in Wistar rats.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used anticancer agent, but its clinical application is limited by significant off-target hepatorenal toxicity. Tadalafil (TAD), a selective phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor used mainly for erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension, has shown potential in reducing oxidative stress. This study investigated TAD's chemoprotective effects and underlying mechanisms in DOX-induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats over 12 days.

Upper Airway Alarmin Cytokine Expression in Asthma of Different Severities.

The secretion of alarmin cytokines by epithelial cells, including thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin (IL)-25, and IL-33, initiates inflammatory cascades in asthma. However, alarmin cytokine expression in the upper airways in asthma remains largely unknown. We recruited 40 participants with asthma into four groups as per the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) steps (10 in each group of GINA 1/2, 3, 4, and 5).

Erythromycin, retapamulin, pyridoxine, folic acid, and ivermectin inhibit cytopathic effect, papain-like protease, and M enzymes of SARS-CoV-2.

Background: Although tremendous success has been achieved in the development and deployment of effective COVID-19 vaccines, developing effective therapeutics for the treatment of those who do come down with the disease has been with limited success. To repurpose existing drugs for COVID-19, we previously showed, qualitatively, that erythromycin, retapamulin, pyridoxine, folic acid, and ivermectin inhibit SARS-COV-2-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) in Vero cells.

Aim: This study aimed to quantitatively explore the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2-induced CPE by erythromycin, retapamulin, pyridoxine, folic acid, and ivermectin and to determine the effect of these drugs on SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease and 3CL protease (M) enzymes.

Oxidized dietary lipids induce vascular inflammation and atherogenesis in post-menopausal rats: estradiol and selected antihyperlipidemic drugs restore vascular health in vivo.

Background: Thermoxidation of edible oil through deep fat frying results in the generation of several oxidized products that promote lipid peroxidation and ROS production when eaten. Consumption of thermoxidized oil in post-menopausal conditions where the estrogen level is low contributes to cardiovascular disease. This study evaluates the role of estradiol and antihyperlipidemic agents (AHD) in restoring the vascular health of ovariectomized (OVX) rats fed with thermoxidized palm oil (TPO) and thermoxidized soya oil (TSO) diets.

Unique Properties of Apicomplexan Mitochondria.

Apicomplexan parasites constitute more than 6,000 species infecting a wide range of hosts. These include important pathogens such as those causing malaria and toxoplasmosis. Their evolutionary emergence coincided with the dawn of animals.

From Paper Files to Web-Based Application for Data-Driven Monitoring of HIV Programs: Nigeria's Journey to a National Data Repository for Decision-Making and Patient Care.

Background: Timely and reliable data are crucial for clinical, epidemiologic, and program management decision making. Electronic health information systems provide platforms for managing large longitudinal patient records. Nigeria implemented the National Data Repository (NDR) to create a central data warehouse of all people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) while providing useful functionalities to aid decision making at different levels of program implementation.

CD71 erythroid cells suppress T-cell effector functions and predict immunotherapy outcomes in patients with virus-associated solid tumors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of cancer. However, only a portion of patients respond to such treatments. Therefore, it remains a prevailing clinical need to identify factors associated with acquired resistance or lack of response to ICIs.

Innovative, rapid, high-throughput method for drug repurposing in a pandemic-A case study of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.

Several efforts to repurpose drugs for COVID-19 treatment have largely either failed to identify a suitable agent or agents identified did not translate to clinical use. Reasons that have been suggested to explain the failures include use of inappropriate doses, that are not clinically achievable, in the screening experiments, and the use of inappropriate pre-clinical laboratory surrogates to predict efficacy. In this study, we used an innovative algorithm, that incorporates dissemination and implementation considerations, to identify potential drugs for COVID-19 using iterative computational and wet laboratory methods.

Hypertension in HAART-naϊve HIV Subjects in Southeast Nigeria: A single-Center Study.

Background: Hypertension is a major healthcare problem in Nigeria with a probable prevalence of 36.6%. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a global healthcare problem.

Epithelial cell alarmin cytokines: Frontline mediators of the asthma inflammatory response.

The exposure of the airway epithelium to external stimuli such as allergens, microbes, and air pollution triggers the release of the alarmin cytokines IL-25, IL-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). IL-25, IL-33 and TSLP interact with their ligands, IL-17RA, IL1RL1 and TSLPR respectively, expressed by hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells including dendritic cells, ILC2 cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Alarmins play key roles in driving type 2-high, and to a lesser extent type 2-low responses, in asthma.

Evidence of seasonal changes in airborne particulate matter concentration and occupation-specific variations in pulmonary function and haematological parameters among some workers in Enugu Southeast Nigeria: a randomized cross-sectional observational study.

Background: Upsurge in cardiopulmonary dysfunctions in Enugu, Nigeria, involved mainly cement workers, automobile spray painters, woodworkers, and Cleaners and was worsened in the dry season, suggesting the need for an occupation-specific characterization of the disease features and seasonal evaluation of air quality for prevention and management.

Methods: We conducted a randomized cross-sectional study of eighty consenting participants (in Achara Layout, Enugu), comprising 20 cement workers (39.50 ± 14.

Apoprotein L1 risk variants and kidney transplantation: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Graft survival after kidney transplantation may be influenced by both donors' and recipients' Apoprotein 1 (APOL1) risk variant status. There are several conflicting reports on screening, eligibility, and inclusion of APOL1 risk variant testing in the Kidney donor risk index. We developed a search strategy that included medical subject headings (MeSH), text words, and entry terms in order to search nine databases.

Impact of 10-Day Fulbright Specialist Program and Project Pink Blue Education Sessions on Medical Oncology Knowledge Among Physicians Who Treat Cancer in Nigeria.

Despite an estimated population of over 201 million and over 115,950 yearly diagnosed new cases of cancer, Nigeria does not have dedicated medical oncologists. Most oncology care is delivered through surgical and clinical oncologists, who are trained in both radiation and medical oncology and they number fewer than 50 in the country. With a limited number of oncology professionals, cancer patients in Nigeria experience poor health outcomes, with an estimated cancer mortality rate of 75,000 deaths per year.

Meta-analysis of HNF1A-MODY3 variants among human population.

Background: Previously, numerous case-control studies have highlighted variants responsible for Maturity onset diabetes of young (MODY). However, these studies have been conducted among diverse populations and hence yielded contradictory results. We, therefore, performed a meta-analysis to precisely find the association of SNPs with the disease for the HNF1A gene.

The Nigerian Military Public Health Response to COVID-19: A 14-Month Appraisal.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant morbidity and mortality since its emergence in December 2019. In Nigeria, the government inaugurated the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to coordinate resources while the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control led the public health response. The Nigeria Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (MODHIP), in partnership with the US Army Medical Research Directorate - Africa/Nigeria, responded immediately to the pandemic by establishing a public health emergency operations center to coordinate the military response in support of national efforts.

Elevated ATP via enhanced miRNA-30b, 30c, and 30e downregulates the expression of CD73 in CD8+ T cells of HIV-infected individuals.

CD8+ T cells play a crucial role against chronic viral infections, however, their effector functions are influenced by the expression of co-stimulatory/inhibitory receptors. For example, CD73 works with CD39 to convert highly inflammatory ATP to adenosine. However, its expression on T cells in the context of viral infections has not been well defined.

X-ray Structure Determination, Antioxidant Voltammetry Studies of Butein and 2',4'-Dihydroxy-3,4-dimethoxychalcone. Computational Studies of 4 Structurally Related 2',4'-diOH Chalcones to Examine Their Antimalarial Activity by Binding to Falcipain-2.

Malaria is a huge global health burden with resistance to currently available medicines resulting in the search for newer antimalarial compounds from traditional medicinal plants in malaria-endemic regions. Previous studies on two chalcones, homobutein and 5-prenylbutein, present in , have shown moderate antiplasmodial activity. Here, we describe results from experimental and computational investigations of four structurally related chalcones, butein, 2',4'-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethoxychalcone (DHDM), homobutein and 5-prenylbutein to elucidate possible molecular mechanisms by which these compounds clear malaria parasites.

Efficacy and safety of dual intravenous artesunate plus quinine compared to intravenous artesunate for cerebral malaria in a triple blinded parallel multisite randomized controlled trial in Nigerian children: DUAL PAQ TRIAL Protocol.

Background: Evidence exists as to the criticality of the first 24 h in the management of cerebral malaria. The morbidity and the mortality rate (35%) with the current intravenous monotherapy for the initial treatment of cerebral malaria are unacceptably high. Combination therapy and a shorter course of effective medication have been shown to improve outcomes in human participants in the treatment of other diseases.