Challenges and Recommendations for Improving Cancer Research and Practice in Nigeria: .

Background: Cancers, with increasing incidence and mortality rates, constitute a leading public health problem in Nigeria. As the burden of cancer in Nigeria increases, research and quality service delivery remain critical strategies for improved cancer control across the continuum of care. This study contextualizes the challenges and gaps in oncology research and practice in Nigeria, and presents recommendations to address the gaps.

Non-compartmental and population pharmacokinetic analysis of dapsone in healthy NIGERIANS: A pilot study.

Dapsone is employed for both non-dermatological and dermatological indications but with non-existent population pharmacokinetics (popPK) data in Nigerians. This study was therefore designed to develop a popPK model in Nigerians. Non-compartmental analysis and nonlinear mixed effects modelling were utilized for data analysis.

Comparison of efavirenz levels in blood and hair with pharmacy refills as measures of adherence and predictors of viral suppression among people living with HIV in Nigeria.

Background: Strategies to support adherence are constrained by the lack of tools to objectively monitor medication intake in low-resource settings. Pharmacologic measures are objective, but pharmacy refill data is more accessible and cost-efficient. This study compared short-term and long-term efavirenz (EFV) drug levels with pharmacy refill adherence data (PRA) and evaluated their ability to predict viral suppression among people living with HIV in Nigeria.

Oncology Training Needs Assessment Among Health Care Professionals in Nigeria.

Purpose: This study investigated the status of training and preparedness for oncology practice and research and degree of interprofessional collaboration among health care professionals in the six geopolitical regions of Nigeria.

Methods: A convergent parallel mixed methods design was used. Three hundred seventeen respondents completed a three-part, online questionnaire.

Quinoline Antimalarials Increase the Antibacterial Activity of Ampicillin.

Bacterial and malaria co-infections are common in malaria endemic countries and thus necessitate co-administration of antibiotics and antimalarials. There have long been anecdotal clinical reports of interactions between penicillins and antimalarial agents, but the nature and mechanisms of these interactions remain to be investigated. In this study, we employed antimicrobial interaction testing methods to study the effect of two antimalarials on the antibacterial activity of ampicillin Paper strip diffusion, a modified disc diffusion and checkerboard methods were used to determine the nature of interactions between ampicillin and quinoline antimalarials, chloroquine and quinine, against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Implementing oncology clinical trials in Nigeria: a model for capacity building.

Background: There is both higher mortality and morbidity from cancer in low and medium income countries (LMICs) compared with high income countries (HICs). Clinical trial activities and development of more effective and less toxic therapies have led to significant improvements in morbidity and mortality from cancer in HICs. Unfortunately, clinical trials remain low in LMICs due to poor infrastructure and paucity of experienced personnel to execute clinical trials.

ARETTA: Assessing Response to Neoadjuvant Taxotere and Subcutaneous Trastuzumab in Nigerian Women With HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: A Study Protocol.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) subtype of breast cancer is aggressive, leading to a poor outcome. Targeted therapy with trastuzumab has been shown to be effective in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. Cardiotoxicity is a specific adverse effect associated with trastuzumab.

Causes and remedies for low research productivity among postgraduate scholars and early career researchers on non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

Objective: The aim of the descriptive, cross sectional, questionnaire-based study reported here was to explore the causes of low productivity in non-communicable diseases research among postgraduate scholars and early career researchers in Nigeria and identify measures that could facilitate increased research output.

Results: The 89 respondents were masters-level, doctoral scholars and resident doctors who attended a workshop. Majorities of the respondents (over 70%) either agreed or strongly agreed that factors contributing to poor non-communicable diseases research productivity include a dearth of in-country researchers with specialized skills, inability of Nigerian researchers to work in multidisciplinary teams, poor funding for health research, sub-optimal infrastructural facilities, and limited use of research findings by policy makers.

N-acetyltransferase 2 enzyme genotype-phenotype discordances in both HIV-negative and HIV-positive Nigerians.

Background: The N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) enzyme has been understudied in Nigerians including genotype-phenotype association studies.

Objective: The aim of this study was NAT2 haplotype identification and genotype-phenotype investigations in HIV-positive and HIV-negative Nigerians.

Patients And Methods: Phenotypes included self-reported sulphonamide hypersensitivity survey, experimental and computational NAT2 phenotyping.

Self-reported sulphonamide hypersensitivity reactions in adults living in Ibadan, Nigeria: A cross-sectional, community-based study.

Background: Documentation of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is critical to a safe health delivery system. The aim of our study was to explore the prevalence of self-reported sulphonamide hypersensitivity reactions in a community-based sample of the general population in Ibadan, Nigeria. We also examined sociodemographic factors associated with ADRs in the sample.