Identification of putative promoter elements for epsilon glutathione s-transferases genes associated with resistance to DDT in the malaria vector mosquito anopheles arabiensis.

The purpose of this study was to identify the putative regulatory elements in the promoter region of strains which differed in susceptibility to DDT and compare with those identified in its sibling . Basal expression level of Epsilon class GSTs (Glutathione S - transferases) GSTe1 gene was 0.512 - 0.

The economic impacts of cataract surgery on sustainable vision and quality of life in Katsina state.

Background: This study investigates the economic impacts of eye care interventions on the quality of life in Katsina state. Eye care intervention is a requirement for equitable and inclusive development in the state.

Methods: The study used a survey method and 5-point Likert scale questionnaire to collect data.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Refractive Errors and Effective Spectacle Coverage in Emiratis and Non-Emiratis Aged 40 Years or Older: the Dubai Eye Health Survey.

Purpose: The aim was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of refractive errors (REs) and the effective spectacle coverage in Emiratis and non-Emiratis in Dubai.

Design: The Dubai Eye Health Survey was a population-based cross-sectional study of participants aged 40 years or older.

Methods: Distance and near visual acuity (VA), and noncycloplegic automated refraction were tested according to a standardized protocol.

Epidemiological studies of gastrointestinal parasites infecting dogs in Kwara Central, North Central, Nigeria.

Dogs are the most cosmopolitan pets of humans and as such a means of transmitting zoonotic parasites to their owners. This study was designed to investigate the diversity, prevalence, pattern of infection, intensity of infections, and the risk factors associated with gastrointestinal parasites of dogs in Kwara Central, North Central, Nigeria. Three hundred and five clinically healthy dogs were sampled.

Secondhand smoke exposure is independently associated with stroke among non-smoking adults in West Africa.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide, but little is known about the contribution of secondhand smoke exposure (SHSE) to stroke epidemiology among indigenous Africans.

Objective: To evaluate the association of SHSE with stroke among indigenous Africans.

Methods: We analyzed the relationship of SHSE with stroke among 2990 case-control pairs of adults who had never smoked (identified in the SIREN study) using conditional logistic regression at a two-sided P < 0.

Toward Universal Eye Health Coverage-Key Outcomes of the World Health Organization Package of Eye Care Interventions: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Despite persistent inequalities in access to eye care services globally, guidance on a set of recommended, evidence-based eye care interventions to support country health care planning has not been available. To overcome this barrier, the World Health Organization (WHO) Package of Eye Care Interventions (PECI) has been developed.

Objective: To describe the key outcomes of the PECI development.

Epidemiology and public health implications of parasitic contamination of fruits, vegetables, and water in Kwara Central, Nigeria.

Fruits and vegetables are sources of parasitic infections in humans. This study was designed to determine the epidemiology of parasitic contamination of fruits, vegetables, and water, as well as the perception of retailers, buyers, and consumers about its contamination in Kwara Central, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study design was employed for this study.

Prevalence, Causes, and Risk Factors of Visual Impairment in Emiratis and Non-Emiratis of Dubai: A Subnational Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey.

Purpose: To study the prevalence, causes, and risk factors of visual impairment (VI) among the Dubai Emiratis and non-Emiratis.

Methods: The survey was a population-based cross-sectional eye health study conducted 2019-2020. Cluster sampling was used to randomly select local (Emirati) and expatriate (non-Emirati) Dubai residents aged 40 years and older.

The basic reproduction number of COVID-19 across Africa.

The pandemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) took the world by surprise. Following the first outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019, several models have been developed to study and understand its transmission dynamics. Although the spread of COVID-19 is being slowed down by vaccination and other interventions, there is still a need to have a clear understanding of the evolution of the pandemic across countries, states and communities.

Molecular characterisation of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks from domestic dogs in Nigeria.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus is the most widely reported tick in the world. Molecular characterisation is important to verify its taxonomic status in the different parts of the world. In this study, we provide information on the molecular characterisation of R.

Assessing the potential impact of immunity waning on the dynamics of COVID-19 in South Africa: an endemic model of COVID-19.

We developed an endemic model of COVID-19 to assess the impact of vaccination and immunity waning on the dynamics of the disease. Our model exhibits the phenomenon of backward bifurcation and bi-stability, where a stable disease-free equilibrium coexists with a stable endemic equilibrium. The epidemiological implication of this is that the control reproduction number being less than unity is no longer sufficient to guarantee disease eradication.

Assessing the impact of adherence to Non-pharmaceutical interventions and indirect transmission on the dynamics of COVID-19: a mathematical modelling study.

Adherence to public health policies such as the non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented against COVID-19 plays a major role in reducing infections and controlling the spread of the diseases. In addition, understanding the transmission dynamics of the disease is also important in order to make and implement efficient public health policies. In this paper, we developed an SEIR-type compartmental model to assess the impact of adherence to COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions and indirect transmission on the dynamics of the disease.

Phosphate-Dependent Regulation of Growth and Stresses Management in Plants.

The importance of phosphorus in the regulation of plant growth function is well studied. However, the role of the inorganic phosphate (Pi) molecule in the mitigation of abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, heavy metal, heat, and acid stresses are poorly understood. We revisited peer-reviewed articles on plant growth characteristics that are phosphorus (P)-dependently regulated under the sufficient-P and low/no-P starvation alone or either combined with one of the mentioned stress.

Optimal Control Strategies and Sensitivity Analysis of an HIV/AIDS-Resistant Model with Behavior Change.

Despite several research on HIV/AIDS, it is still incumbent to investigate more effective control measures to mitigate its infection level. Therefore, we introduce an HIV/AIDS-resistant model with behavior change and study its basic properties. In order to determine the most sensitive parameters that are responsible for disease transmission with respect to the basic reproduction number and those responsible for disease prevalence with respect to the endemic equilibrium, the sensitivity analysis was established and it was confirmed that the influx rate of people into the infected population and total abstinence from all risk practices and endemic areas are some of the most sensitive parameters for disease spread and disease eradication, respectively.

Keeping an eye on eye care: monitoring progress towards effective coverage.

The eye care sector is well positioned to contribute to the advancement of universal health coverage within countries. Given the large unmet need for care associated with cataract and refractive error, coupled with the fact that highly cost-effective interventions exist, we propose that effective cataract surgery coverage (eCSC) and effective refractive error coverage (eREC) serve as ideal indicators to track progress in the uptake and quality of eye care services at the global level, and to monitor progress towards universal health coverage in general. Global targets for 2030 for these two indicators were endorsed by WHO Member States at the 74th World Health Assembly in May, 2021.

A Mathematical Model of the Tuberculosis Epidemic.

Tuberculosis has continued to retain its title as "the captain among these men of death". This is evident as it is the leading cause of death globally from a single infectious agent. TB as it is fondly called has become a major threat to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDG) and hence require inputs from different research disciplines.

Epidemiological studies of Eimeria species of cattle in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria.

Coccidiosis is the most economically impactful enteric protozoan disease of animals including cattle. A year (March 2018 to February 2019) study was conducted on cattle in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria with the objective of determining the prevalence, intensity of infection, diversity of Eimeria species, co-infection patterns and risk factors associated with the enteric protozoan infection in cattle. To address this, faecal samples from 478 cattle of different age groups, breeds and sex were subjected to the floatation technique, the McMaster counting technique and sporulation procedure.

Serospatial epidemiology of zoonotic Coxiella burnetii in a cross section of cattle and small ruminants in northern Nigeria.

The persistent and highly transmissible Coxiella burnetii is a neglected infection that negatively affects reproductive parameters of livestock. It is also of zoonotic importance and has been reported to cause devastating human infections globally. Domestic ruminants represent the most frequent source of human infection.

Strengthening the integration of eye care into the health system: methodology for the development of the WHO package of eye care interventions.

Objective: To describe the rational for, and the methods that will be employed to develop, the WHO package of eye care interventions (PECI).

Methods And Analysis: The development of the package will be conducted in four steps: (1) selection of eye conditions (for which interventions will be included in the package) based on epidemiological data on the causes of vision impairment and blindness, prevalence estimates of eye conditions and health facility data; (2) identification of interventions and related evidence for the selected eye conditions from clinical practice guidelines and high-quality systematic reviews by a technical working group; (3) expert agreement on the inclusion of eye care interventions in the package and the description of resources required for the provision of the selected interventions; and (4) peer review. The project will be led by the WHO Vision Programme in collaboration with Cochrane Eyes and Vision.

The Nigeria Parkinson Disease Registry: Process, Profile, and Prospects of a Collaborative Project.

Background: Clinical disease registries are useful for quality improvement in care, benchmarking standards, and facilitating research. Collaborative networks established thence can enhance national and international studies by generating more robust samples and credible data and promote knowledge sharing and capacity building. This report describes the methodology, baseline data, and prospects of the Nigeria Parkinson Disease Registry.

Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Retinopathy in Persons 50 Years and Above in Katsina State Nigeria: A Population-based Cross-sectional Survey.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence and magnitude of diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy among people with diabetes mellitus in Katsina State.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of persons aged 50 years and over in Katsina State Nigeria based on the rapid assessment of avoidable blindness survey plus diabetic retinopathy methodology. The study was conducted in November and December 2018.

Helminth infections of great concern among cattle in Nigeria: Insight to its prevalence, species diversity, patterns of infections and risk factors.

Background And Aim: Helminth infections are one of the greatest causes of productive and reproductive loss in animals and man, and in some cases, it results in heavy mortalities. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence, species diversity, patterns of infections and risk factors associated with helminth infections of cattle in Ilorin, Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: A total of 478 fecal samples were collected from abattoirs and cattle farms over a year period (March, 2018-February, 2019).

Assessment of the awareness, adherence, and barriers to low back pain clinical practice guidelines by practicing physiotherapists in a low-resourced country.

Background And Objectives: Many clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for low back pain (LBP) management have been developed, but adherence to CPGs seems to be challenging as developing them in the first place. This cross-sectional survey study was carried out to determine the awareness level, the level of adherence, and barriers to adherence to CPGs of LBP among physiotherapists in Nigeria.

Methods: A total of 189 participants were recruited for this study using the convenience sampling technique.

Impact of a 10-Year Eye Care Program in Sokoto, Nigeria: Changing Pattern of Prevalence and Causes of Blindness and Visual Impairment.

Background: This study was undertaken to ascertain the current magnitude and causes of blindness and visual impairment in persons aged 50 years and over and to assess the impact of a 10-year eye care program in Sokoto State, Nigeria.

Methods: A rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) survey (in persons 50 years and over) was conducted in 2016. Participants were selected in Wurno health zone using a two-stage cluster randomized sampling with probability proportional to size.