Nursing students' perceptions of inadequate nurse staffing in the clinical learning environment - a systematic narrative review.

Aim: The aim of this study was to substantiate the perceptions and experiences of nursing students related to nurse understaffing in the clinical learning environment.

Background: The quality of the clinical learning environment affects students' learning experiences, shapes their thinking about the profession and can influence their choice to stay or leave the profession. Understaffing in the clinical learning environment has an adverse impact on patient safety, quality of care outcomes and mortality.

Management of Infective Endocarditis and Tibioperoneal Mycotic Aneurysm Following COVID-19 Infection.

Introduction: Infective endocarditis and mycotic tibioperoneal aneurysms are rare complications of COVID-19 infection. Medical therapy may not always be sufficient to reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with these cardiovascular complications. Surgical treatment may need to be considered in such patients.

Clinical Significance of Elevated Levels of Cardiac Troponin T in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos.

Background: This is an observational study of pre-dialysis patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) attending nephrology clinic at Lagos University Teaching Hospital to determine the clinical significance of elevated levels of Cardiac Troponin T (CTT) and possible associated factors.

Methods: One hundred and forty-three (143) patients with CKD and no prior history of myocardial infarction were recruited and their serum levels of CTT were determined within 3 months of sample collection and storage at -80° C. ECG findings and clinical variables were compared.

Molecular mechanisms involved in the prevention and reversal of ketamine-induced schizophrenia-like behavior by rutin: the role of glutamic acid decarboxylase isoform-67, cholinergic, Nox-2-oxidative stress pathways in mice.

Mounting evidences have shown that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase-2 (Nox-2) pathway modifies glutamic-acid decarboxylase-67 (GAD) (GABAergic enzyme) and cholinergic systems via oxidative-nitrergic mechanisms in schizophrenia pathology. Rutin, a neuroactive antioxidant compound, with proven neuroprotective property has been shown to reduce schizophrenic-like behavior in mice. This study sought to investigate the mechanisms of action of the psychopharmacological activity of rutin in the preventive and reversal effects of ketamine-induced schizophrenic-like behavior, oxidative-nitrergic stress, cholinergic and GABAergic derangements in mice.

Registered nurses' perceptions and experiences of autonomy: a descriptive phenomenological study.

Background: Professional autonomy is a key concept in understanding nurses' roles in delivering patient care. Recent research exploring the role of autonomy in the nursing work environment indicated that English and American nurses had differing perceptions of autonomy. This qualitative study aimed to explore the understanding and experiences of autonomy of nurses working in England.

The nursing work environment and quality of care: Content analysis of comments made by registered nurses responding to the Essentials of Magnetism II scale.

Aim: To report a qualitative study of themes Registered Nurses raised spontaneously about their work environment, in a cross-sectional survey study when responding to the Essentials of Magnetism II (EOMII) scale.

Design: Qualitative descriptive survey.

Methods: At the end of the EOMII scale, a free form text section was included asking nurses to add comments about their ward/work environment Of the 247 nurses who completed the EOMII scale, 30% ( = 75) provided comments.

Oxidative stress markers and genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase T1, M1, and P1 in a subset of children with autism spectrum disorder in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: The role of oxidative stress has been identified in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase have been associated with some diseases linked to oxidative stress. Hence, we evaluated the serum levels of oxidative stress markers and investigated genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase associated with autism.

Materials And Methods: Forty-two children clinically diagnosed with ASD using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria and a clinical interview were included in the study.

Atorvastatin attenuates testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats: role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and cyclo-oxygenase-2.

Diabetes and obesity have been reported to alter sex steroid hormone metabolism. In this study, an attempt was made to investigate the protective effect of atorvastatin (ATR) in combination with celecoxib (CEL) or pioglitazone (PIO) on testosterone-induced BPH in rats. Male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were randomly divided into nine groups (n = 8) and orally treated as follows for 28 consecutive days: group 1: vehicle control (10 mL/kg); group 2: vehicle testosterone (10 mL/kg); groups 3 - 5: ATR (0.

Prevalence of insulin resistance among patients attending the HIV clinic in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Background: Insulin Resistance(IR) is increasing in Africans as well as among the Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) infected population for several reasons which include the viral infection itself and the use of Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This present study assessed the prevalence of IR among HIV infected population and the imminent effect of the disease and therapy on patients.

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Lagos among 266 HIV infected participants and 130 HIV Negative controls aged 18-80 years.

Thyroid, cortisol and growth hormone levels in adult Nigerians with metabolic syndrome.

Introduction: The similarities in presentation of cortisol excess, growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome suggest that subtle abnormalities of these endocrine hormones may play a causal role in the development of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study is to determine the levels of cortisol, thyroid and growth hormones in adult Nigerians with metabolic syndrome and determine the relationship between levels of these hormones and components of the syndrome.

Methods: This was a case control study conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.

The nursing work environment and quality of care: A cross-sectional study using the Essentials of Magnetism II Scale in England.

Aims And Objectives: To explore the structure of the Essentials of Magnetism II (EOMII) scale using data from nurses working in England; and to describe the impact of different aspects of the nursing work environment on nurse-assessed care quality (NACQ).

Background: The EOMII Scale was developed in the United States to measure nursing work environments. It has been widely used in the United States and in a number of other countries, but has not yet been used in the UK.

Video assisted thoracic surgery in a second trimester pregnant woman with thoracic empyema: a case report.

Background: An empyema is an infection of the pleural space that occurs most frequently secondary to the progression of pneumonia. The stages of empyema are based on pleural characteristics and reflect the risks of the condition for morbidity and mortality. Pregnancy is a risk factor for major complications of pneumonia, including empyema.

Thyroid function in adult Nigerians with metabolic syndrome.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome and thyroid dysfunction are two common disorders encountered in the metabolic clinic. Recently, there has been increased interest in the association between the two disorders because of the similarities between symptoms of hypothyroidism and components of the metabolic syndrome. While some reports suggest that metabolic syndrome is associated with subclinical hypothyroidism, this concept is largely under investigated in Nigerian adults with metabolic syndrome.

The effect of a membrane dialyzer during hemodialysis on the antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation of patients with end-stage renal disease.

Renal failure is accompanied by oxidative stress, which is caused by enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an impaired antioxidant defense. We studied 73 hemodialysis (HD) patients (39 males and 34 females) aged 24-75 years; the patients were randomized into two subgroups according to the type of hemodialysis membrane (35 patients were dialyzed on cellulose and 38 patients on polysulfone F7/F9 membrane dialyzers) and we assessed their antioxidant and lipid peroxidation status levels. The total antioxidant status (TAS) levels including whole blood levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH); glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were measured, before and after hemodialysis.

Neurotoxic effects of dexmedetomidine in fetal cynomolgus monkey brains.

The neuroprotective effects of dexmedetomidine have been reported by many investigators; however its underlying mechanism to reduce neuronal injury during a prolonged anesthesia remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the neurotoxic effects of dexmedetomidine in fetal monkey brains. In the present study, we compare the neurotoxic effects of dexmedetomidine and ketamine, a general anesthetic with a different mechanism of action, in fetal cynomolgus monkeys.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia, liver disease and oral chlorhexldine.

As part of the ventilator care bundle, the Department of Health (DH) in the U.K. recommends the use of chlorhexidine (CHX) for oral care to prevent the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in all mechanically ventilated patients.

The incidence of electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities in critically ill patients using point of care testing (i-STAT portable analyser).

Background: Electrolytes and acid-base disorders are common challenges seen in the intensive care unit (ICU) resulting in difficulty in weaning patients off the ventilator, prolonged admission periods, preventable cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. These require prompt lab results most of which are done serially, ideally a point of care test (POCT), as most central hospital lab result's turnaround time (TAT) sometimes might not meet up with the urgency of clinical decision making in the ICU.

Objective: To determine the incidence of electrolytes and acid-base abnormalities using i-Stat portable analysers in the ICU of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Circulating adipokine levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Type 2 diabetes remains a global concern with its numerical increase occurring in developing countries which include Nigeria. Adipose tissue-secreted factors called "adipokines" are involved in energy homeostasis and regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism.

Objective: This study was undertaken with the aim of investigating adipokine levels in the Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

The impact of preoperative education on postoperative pain. Part 1.

This article, the first of two parts, explores the general concept of preoperative education through a literature review. The relatively complex relationships between the ways people perceive a threatening situation, their levels of anxiety, coping styles and postoperative pain is explored. In dealing with these complex relationships, teaching strategies and forms of presentation of preoperative education are also discussed.

The impact of preoperative education on postoperative pain. Part 2.

The second of this two-part article examines the impact of preoperative education on postoperative anxiety, pain and recovery. The first part (Oshodi, 2007) explored the general concept of preoperative education. Surgery can be physically and psychologically stressful for patients.

Primary aortoappendicular fistula arising from an infected, chronic, contained, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by a variety of pathologies. Primary aortoappendicular fistula is rare and, in our case, arose in addition to a chronic contained rupture sac of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Clinical diagnosis is difficult.

Clinical skills: an evidence-based approach to preoperative fasting.

The procedure of fasting from midnight until induction of anaesthesia arose from concern that patients could regurgitate during induction of general anaesthesia when the pharyngeal and laryngeal refluxes are depressed. In this situation, the contents of the stomach do not come out of the patient's mouth, but go up into the oesophagus and trachea and are drawn back down into the lungs. This can damage the lungs, causing chemical inflammation, a condition referred to as aspiration pneumonitis or Mendelson's syndrome, a serious although rare complication of general anaesthesia.

Internal iliac aneurysm rupture into the rectum following endovascular exclusion: an unusual cause of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Purpose: To report a rare iliorectal fistula following endovascular treatment of an internal iliac aneurysm.

Case Report: A 76-year-old man developed lower gastrointestinal bleeding 3 months after successful endovascular exclusion of a left internal iliac aneurysm with coil embolization, attempted stent-grafting, ligation of the distal external iliac artery, and a femorofemoral crossover bypass. Aortography showed no clear intestinal bleeding point, but demonstrated recanalization and continued perfusion of the aneurysm.