"From Preparation to Consumption." Food Safety Practices among Public Food Handler's in Enugu Metropolis.

Background: demand for public prepared food with numerous food handlers creates uncertainties in the quality of safe foods and possible food contamination. This study aimed to ascertain the food safety hygiene practices, and associated factors among public food handlers in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 400 public food handlers in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria.

Targeting the Epigenetic Marks in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Will Epigenetic Therapy Be a Valuable Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy?

Although genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors largely contribute to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk, the role of epigenetics in its pathogenesis is now well established. The epigenetic mechanisms in T2DM mainly consist of DNA methylation, histone modifications and regulation by noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). For instance, DNA methylation at CpG islands in the promoter regions of specific genes encoding insulin signaling and glucose metabolism suppresses these genes.

Are boarding secondary schools suitable for students with asthma? An asynchronous online focus group discussion among members of an asthma awareness group.

Introduction: Children in boarding schools spend most of their time without their parents or caregivers, causing concerns about the suitability of such schools for children with asthma. This study assessed individuals' opinions regarding the suitability of boarding secondary schools for children with asthma.

Methods: A qualitative design was adopted for this study using a focus group discussion held on a social media platform (WhatsApp®) of the Asthma Awareness and Care Group (AACG), The group comprised 150 registered members.

Association between serum vitamin D status and severity of liver cirrhosis: implications for therapeutic targeting in Nigerian patients.

Background: Liver cirrhosis is a chronic and progressive liver disease with significant global health implications. Recent evidence suggests an association between serum vitamin D levels and the severity of liver cirrhosis, potentially serving as a therapeutic target. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin D status and the severity of liver cirrhosis in a population of Nigerian patients.

Has Treatment Seeking Behaviour Changed in People Living with Epilepsy? Experience of People Living with Epilepsy Attending Adult Neurology Clinics in Enugu.

Background: Over the years efforts has been made through public health education to change the knowledge, attitude and practice of epilepsy and seizures among the populace in Nigeria. One surrogate method of reviewing the impact of these educational interventions includes changes in treatment-seeking behavior of People Living With Epilepsy and the reasons for their choices of treatment.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Plasma concentration of fucosyltransferase 7 is not associated with the number of clinically overt vaso-occlusive events in sickle cell disease.

Objective: To determine if the number of vaso-occlusive events in SCD relates to plasma concentration of fucosyltransferase 7 (FUT7), which catalyses the synthesis of selectin ligands.

Design: A prospective, analytical study.

Setting: Haematology and Chemical Pathology Departments of tertiary healthcare centres.

Evaluation of Myocardial Injury Using Serum Cardiac Troponin-I in Asphyxiated Neonates at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, South-East Nigeria.

Background: The burden of perinatal asphyxia remains high in our environment and when asphyxia is severe, vital organs are affected, with resultant multiorgan hypoxic-iscahemic injury to the heart, the brain, adrenals and other organs.

Study Aim: To evaluate for myocardial injury in asphyxiated term neonates with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy using serum cardiac troponin-I (cTnI).

Methods: The study was a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study involving sixty term asphyxiated neonates and sixty gestational age-and sex-matched controls.

Rising Cardiovascular Mortality Despite Increased Resource Utilization: Insights From the Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database.

Introduction The global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has risen over the past decade, potentially escalating resource utilization, morbidity, and mortality. We analyzed trends in hospitalization for CVDs, outcomes of hospitalizations, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CVD hospitalizations between 2016 and 2020. Methods Adult CVD hospitalizations recorded in the 2016-2020 nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) were identified using major diagnostic categories (MDC- class 5).

Prevalence, perinatal outcomes and factors associated with neonatal sepsis in Nigeria.

Objective: To examine the prevalence, perinatal outcomes and factors associated with neonatal sepsis in referral-level facilities across Nigeria.

Design: Secondary analysis of data from the Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity Programme in 54 referral-level hospitals across Nigeria.

Setting: Records covering the period from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020.

Impact of COVID-19 on ophthalmic surgical procedures in sub-Saharan Africa: a multicentre study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on healthcare and ophthalmology services globally. Numerous studies amongst various medical and surgical specialties showed a reduction in patient attendance and surgical procedures performed. Prior published ophthalmic literature focused on specific types of procedures and were usually single centre.

Pregnancy Outcome Following Treatment of Premalignant Lesion of the Cervix in Southeast Nigeria; A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Background: Treatment of cervical pre-cancers involves ablative and excisional therapies, and these have the potential to affect future pregnancy outcomes of women. Understanding the impact of the various treatment modalities on the outcome of pregnancies can motivate the development of interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes in women who had cervical pre-cancer treatment.

Aim: We aimed to the effect of cervical pre-cancer treatment on second-trimester miscarriages and preterm births.

Problem gambling among secondary school adolescents in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Adolescent problem gambling is a common behavioural issue and could be associated with internet addiction.

Objectives: To determine the pattern of problem gambling and factors that predict gambling among adolescents that attended secondary schools in southeast Nigeria.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study design.

Demographic characteristics, clinical presentation and in-hospital outcome among patients with Covid-19 in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Background: We described the demographic/clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcome of patients with COVID-19 at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) during the first wave to inform evidence-based responses during subsequent waves in Africa.

Methodology: We conducted retrospective cohort analyses of adult patients ≥18 years with PCR or GeneXpert-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data was extracted from patients' medical records from 1st May to 30th September 2020.

Correlation between Physician-Administered International Prostate Symptoms Score and Peak Urine Flow Rate in Assessment of Benign Prostatic Enlargement Patients.

Background: To determine the correlation between international prostate symptom score (IPSS) questionnaire, completed by benign prostatic enlargement patients with the aid of their physicians and the peak urine flow rate from uroflowmetry.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective study carried out over a period of one year (which year and which period). IPSS questionnaire was administered, and uroflowmetry done for 76 consecutive patients from urology clinic of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) who consented to the study.

Assessment of diastasis recti abdominis: Clinimetric properties of four measuring instruments.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the intra- and inter-rater reliability of palpation technique, digital calipers, and diastometer, as well as their concurrent validity against ultrasound imaging.

Methods: Ninety consenting parous women (20-45 years), recruited from a postnatal clinic in Enugu, Nigeria, participated in this observational study. Two physiotherapists and a sonographer measured their inter rectus distance at the level of the umbilicus, 4.

Emergency laparotomy for peritonitis in the elderly: A Multicentre observational study of outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Globally, interest in surgical diseases in the elderly was rekindled recently mainly due to a surge in the aging population and their increased susceptibility to infections. In sub-Saharan Africa, infective diseases are major causes of high morbidity and mortality especially in elderly cohorts, hence this study was set to evaluate current status of this scourge in the elderly in our environment.

Aim: To document the aetiologic factors and analyze the impact of selected clinical and perioperative indices on mortality and morbidity rates of peritonitis in the elderly.

Evidence-based interventions for reducing sickle cell disease-associated morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review.

Objective: Sickle cell disease is a lifelong illness affecting millions of people globally, but predominantly burdensome in sub-Saharan Africa, where most affected children do not live to adulthood, despite available evidence-based interventions that reduce the disease burden in high-income countries.

Method: We reviewed studies evaluating evidence-based interventions that decrease sickle cell disease-related morbidity and mortality among children living in sub-Saharan Africa. We used the Joanna Briggs scoping review methodological framework and grouped identified evidence-based interventions into preventative pharmacotherapeutic agents, newborn screening and comprehensive healthcare, disease-modifying agents, nutritional supplementation, systemic treatment, supportive agents and patient/carer/population education.

Knowledge Levels and Predictors of Venous Thromboembolism among Pregnant Women in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Survey for the 'Move for Flow' Programme.

Background: Pregnancy is a significant risk factor for Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) which results in high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality rates. Awareness creation is one of the preventable strategies of VTE. To this effect, we designed the 'Move for Flow' program aimed at maternal health education on VTE, its symptoms and preventive strategies.

Association between maternal selenium levels and pregnancy outcome among human immunodeficiency virus-positive and human immunodeficiency virus-negative pregnant women in a tertiary health-care center in Owerri, Nigeria: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection constitutes a major medical complication of pregnancy and is associated with adverse feto-maternal outcomes. However, the relationship between maternal serum selenium levels and pregnancy outcomes has been inconsistent.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal serum selenium status and pregnancy outcome in HIV-positive and HIV-negative women in a tertiary health facility.

Pattern and predictors of internet addiction among secondary school adolescents in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Internet addiction has negative effects on adolescents. These range from psychological and social impediments to school absenteeism.

Aim: To ascertain the pattern of Internet addiction and the factors that predict Internet addiction among secondary school adolescents in southeast Nigeria.