Effective action of silymarin against ketamine-induced schizophrenia in male mice: Insight into the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of action.

Background: Neurochemical dysregulations resulting from N-methyl-D-aspartate hypofunction (NMDA), are exacerbated by neuroimmune and oxidative stress and are known risk factors for neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia-like diseases. Here, we investigate the protective and curative effects, and mechanisms of silymarin, a polyphenolic flavonoid with neuroprotective functions in preventive-reversal model of ketamine, an NMDA antagonist in mice.

Methods: Mice were grouped into 6 cohorts (n = 9).

Predictors of the willingness to accept a free COVID-19 vaccine among households in Nigeria.

Background: To inform vaccination policy and programmatic strategies to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake, an understanding of the factors associated with the willingness to vaccinate is needed.

Methods: We analyzed data collected from the sixth and tenth round of the Nigerian COVID-19 National Longitudinal Phone Survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics and the World Bank in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Exploratory data analysis and feature selection techniques were used to identify important variables.

Susceptibility status and synergistic activity of DDT and Lambda-cyhalothrin on Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti in Delta State, Nigeria.

The detection of insecticide resistance in male mosquitoes has been treated with less importance in monitoring insecticide resistance spread in mosquitoes. There are no studies on the susceptibility and synergistic activity of DDT and lambda-cyhalothrin on male Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti in Delta State, Nigeria. Even though studies have extensively reported resistance in female mosquitoes, the susceptibility of male mosquitoes to insecticide classes should be ascertained.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Mammographic Findings in Patients 35 Years and Older Presenting with Palpable Breast Lump in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City.

Background: Mammography has become an invaluable tool for diagnosing breast lesions and detecting early breast cancer in women of 35 years and above.

Aims: To correlate the mammography Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) categories with the histology in breast lesions and to determine the predictive values, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of mammography.

Patients And Method: This was a one- year prospective study carried out from March 2015 to February 2016.

Geospatial Mapping and Seasonal Profiling of Urinary Schistosomiasis in Ase-Niger River Settlements: A Data-Driven Population-Base Study in Delta State, Nigeria.

Objectives: This study is aimed to determine the geospatial, seasonal, age and gender prevalence and intensity of UgS; and to establish disease maps in the Ase-Niger River communities for effective drug administration.

Study Design: This study employed a 24 months longitudinal study design for parasitological investigations in 11 riparian communities of the Ase-Niger River basin, taking into cognizance their GPS locations imported into QGIS software for schistosomiasis mapping.

Methods: A total of 7,219 urine samples with WHO structured questionnaires were retrieved and subjected to parasitological evaluation using swinnex urine filtration techniques.

Impact of water quality and morphometric indices on the spatio-temporal prevalence of fish endo-parasites and diversity in the Ase River, Niger-Delta, Nigeria.

Three stations along the Ase River, Delta State Nigeria provided water and 85 fish samples which were analyzed. The fish were measured and examined for endoparasites according to established protocol. All water quality parameters investigated were within the WHO-acceptable values for surface waters.

Alcohol exacerbates post-traumatic stress psychiatric behavior and its neuropathological sequalae in experimental mice: preventive effects of morin.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are very prevalent and co-occurring. It is unclear how alcohol exacerbates PTSD predicaments owing to less characterized pathophysiological mechanisms. Also, studies on pharmacological agents that can effectively reverse PTSD-AUD comorbidity have, to date, been scarce.

May Measurement Month 2021: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Nigeria.

There is a need to constantly assess the awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Nigeria. This study determined the frequency of undiagnosed hypertension across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. We conducted an opportunistic screening of adults aged at least 18 years in the month of May 2021.

Leaking Ectopic Pregnancy Following In vitro Fertilization with Associated Acute Appendicitis.

Background: Ectopic pregnancy associated with appendicitis is rare, with very few cases reported in the literature. It is unclear if appendicitis is coincidentally associated with ectopic pregnancy or a possible risk factor for the development of ectopic pregnancy. Ruptured ectopic pregnancy has also been postulated as a possible risk factor leading to appendicitis because of the probable inflammatory reaction involving the adjacent appendix.

Incidence of Pregnancy-Related Acute Kidney Injury in a Low Resource Setting: A Prospective Study.

Background: Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (PRAKI) is a common cause of AKI globally. The incidence and burden of PRAKI are still high in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) especially in Africa due to limited access to optimal obstetric care, late diagnosis, and referral. The study aimed to determine the incidence and aetiologies of PRAKI among women in the peripartum period in two government hospitals in Nigeria.

An Assessment of Enrollees' Knowledge and Satisfaction with Delta State Contributory Health Scheme: A Cross- Sectional Survey of Civil Servants in Delta State, Nigeria.

Background: Delta State Contributory Health Scheme (DSCHS) was established to provide quality and affordable healthcare services to all Deltans, irrespective of socioeconomic status and geographical location. This study assessed the knowledge and satisfaction of formal sector enrollees with the Delta State Contributory Health scheme.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study involving 400 public/civil servants enrolled in DSCHS using a multistage sampling technique.

Cervical ripening with vaginal Misoprostol plus Hyoscine-N-Butylbromide versus vaginal Misoprostol alone among pregnant women: a double-blind randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To compare cervical ripening time with the use of vaginal Misoprostol plus Hyoscine-N-Butylbromide, with vaginal Misoprostol alone.

Design: A double-blind randomized controlled trial with Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) approval number PACTR202112821475292.

Setting: Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria.

Psychopharmacological interaction of alcohol and posttraumatic stress disorder: Effective action of naringin.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are prevalently co-occurring, important risk factors for a broad array of neuropsychiatric diseases. To date, how these two contrastive concomitant pairs increase the risk of neuropsychiatric states, notably exacerbating PTSD-related symptoms, remains unknown. Moreover, pharmacological interventions with agents that could reverse PTSD-AUD comorbidity, however, remained limited.

Breaking Barriers: Nucleic Acid Aptamers in Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers Therapy.

Conventional cancer therapies can have significant adverse effects as they are not targeted to cancer cells and may damage healthy cells. Single-stranded oligonucleotides assembled in a particular architecture, known as aptamers, enable them to attach selectively to target areas. Usually, they are created by Systematic Evolution of Ligand by Exponential enrichment (SELEX), and they go through a rigorous pharmacological revision process to change their therapeutic half-life, affinity, and specificity.

Thirty-Day Readmissions After Hospitalization for Psoriatic Arthritis.

Background Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is correlated with higher rates of major adverse cardiovascular events and autoimmune disorders than the general population, leading to more frequent hospitalizations. This study assessed the rates and characteristics of index and 30-day readmissions among adults hospitalized for PsA and evaluated the indications and predictors of 30-day readmissions across the United States. Methodology We analyzed the 2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database for adult PsA hospitalizations using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes.

Vincristine attenuates isoprenaline-induced cardiac hypertrophy in male Wistar rats via suppression of ROS/NO/NF-қB signalling pathways.

Vincristine (VCR), a vinca alkaloid with anti-tumor and anti-oxidant properties, is acclaimed to possess cardioprotective action. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this protective effect remains unknown. This study investigated the effects of VCR on isoprenaline (ISO), a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist, induced cardiac hypertrophy in male Wistar rats.

Maternal morbidity and death associated with pregnancy loss before 28 weeks in Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of maternal morbidity and death from pregnancy loss before 28 weeks in referral-level hospitals in Nigeria.

Design: Secondary analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Setting: Fifty-four referral-level hospitals.

Neonatal jaundice incidence, risk factors and outcomes in referral-level facilities in Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of babies with neonatal jaundice in a network of referral-level hospitals in Nigeria.

Design: A cross-sectional analysis of perinatal data collected over a 1-year period.

Setting: Fifty-four referral-level hospitals (48 public and 6 private) across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Serum zinc levels and body composition variability as trajectory for hyperlipidemic and dyslipidemic effect among welders exposed to welding fumes and smoking: A biomarker for cardiovascular health.

Welding is a common method for joining metals by heating them to the welding temperature. Exposure to welding fumes has a serious effect on the health of welders. This study examined serum zinc variability and body composition as route for hyperlipidemia and dyslipidemia in welders exposed to welding fumes and smoking, exploring the possibilities for the risk of possible cardiovascular disease.

Aetiological Spectrum of Pancreaticobiliary Diseases in Adult Nigerians on Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography.

Background: Imaging is vital for assessing pancreaticobiliary diseases.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the spectrum and pattern of pancreaticobiliary diseases in adult Nigerians using magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP).

Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study.