Synthetic Food dyes cause testicular damage via up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and down-regulation of FSH-R and TESK-1 gene expression.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of Tartrazine and Erythrosine (T+E) on the reproductive hormones and expression of some pro-inflammatory cytokines and testicular genes in testis of male Wistar rats.

Methods: 25 male Wistar rats (150-180g) were divided into 5 groups (n=5). Group 1 received distilled water while groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were treated with T+E (2.

Methamphetamine and social rewards interact to produce enhanced conditioned place preference in male adolescent rats.

Elucidating the influence of social context on drug reward is critical for understanding substance use disorders. Adolescents demonstrate enhanced sensitivity to drug and social rewards. However, the extent to which methamphetamine interacts with social reward in adolescents has not been thoroughly examined.

Black soot exposure induced hypothalamic and testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis in male rats.

Air pollution constitutes the largest cause of environmental risks today. At present, no scientific publication linking environmental black soot and derangement in the hypothalamus and testis of rats exists. This study investigated the effect of black soot exposure on hypothalamic and testicular functions of male rats exposed to black soot for 4, 8 and 12 weeks respectively.

Combine colorants of tartrazine and erythrosine induce kidney injury: involvement of TNF-α gene, caspase-9 and KIM-1 gene expression and kidney functions indices.

Twenty-five male Wistar rats (140-170 g) were partitioned into 5 groups ( = 5). 2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of combine Tartrazine and Erythrosine (T+E; 50:50) were administered for 23 days.

Lead and cadmium in infant milk and cereal based formulae marketed in Nigeria: a probabilistic non-carcinogenic human health risk assessment.

Background: There has been concern on the likelihood of contamination of infant formulae and consequent health risk in children.

Objective: This study has assessed and compared the lead and cadmium levels in infant formulae commonly consumed in Nigeria with international regulatory limits. It has also compared the estimated daily intake with Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and Proposition 65 Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake.

antioxidants and hepatoprotective effects of on carbon tetrachloride-treated rats.

Objectives: This study has characterized the phytoconstituents and evaluated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl). antioxidant assay of ethanol extract of and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses to identify the phytoconstituents were carried out.

Methods: Sixty rats were divided into six groups of 10 animals in each group and treated as follows for 13 weeks.

An integrative review of nurse practitioner practice and its relationship to the core competencies.

Background: Competency based education (CBE) has been suggested for nurse practitioner (NP) education reform. For this to occur, competencies should reflect the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that NPs need for independent practice.

Purpose: This integrative review examined the general practice activities of NPs across all population foci to determine the extent to which these activities are reflected in current NP competencies.

Integration of Advance Care Planning Into Clinical Practice: A Quality Improvement Project for Leaders.

Objective: This quality improvement initiative sought to develop a proactive integrated system approach to advance care planning (ACP) through leadership and colleague engagement.

Background: Nurse leaders have the capacity to influence the professional competencies of care teams in ACP. Nurse leaders were educated on the importance of ACP, national quality metrics, resources for staff education, and ways to integrate ACP into workflows based on a population management model.

Cadmium and lead in geophagic clay consumed in Southern Nigeria: health risk from such traditional nutraceutical.

Geophagy is a cultural behavior, based on the recurrent intentional eating of clay soil, that is raising increasing concern as it implies multidimensional (space, time) potential risk of serious adverse health effects. This study investigated the level of toxic metals (Cd and Pb) in 20 Nigerian geophagic clays intended for both local consumption and distribution to the West Africa market. After sampling in 4 open markets in southern Nigeria (Akwa Ibom, Abia, Rivers, Imo), samples were subjected to digestion, ashing and analysis.

Improving Palliative Care Conversations Through Targeted Education and Mentorship.

Health care provider communication proficiency is critical in the initiation and revisitation of these discussions throughout the trajectory of chronic illness. The delivery of palliative care (PC) throughout the continuum of illness has traditionally been underutilized. Nurses have the ability to significantly improve PC utilization through the use of advance care planning strategies to confidently initiate conversations with patients and families at multiple points throughout the continuum of illness.

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.

Toxicity study of ethanolic stem bark extract of on fertility indices of male rats: An experimental study.

Background: The uses of toxicologically unscreened plants to enhance fertility can be associated with adverse consequences.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the ethanolic stem back extract of (EEXA) on the fertility indices of male albino rats.

Materials And Methods: Sixty male albino rats (weighing 200-250 gr) were grouped and administered by gavage with 200-800 mg/kg of EEXA daily for 15, 30, and 60 days.

A pediatric health risk assessment of children's toys imported from China into Nigeria.

Trade liberalization led to the flooding of the Nigerian markets with ''made in China'' children's toys. Information about metal contamination in toys is vital to ensure the safety of children's product. This is a pediatric health risk assessment of three toxic metals (Pb, Cd and As) in children toys purchased from Nigerian market.

Oral consumption of Garcinia kola(Bitter kola) lowers intraocular pressure.

Purpose: Garcinia kola (bitter kola) is locally ingested across the West African subregion. It has ocular hypotensive effects similar to some commonly used glaucoma medications when administered topically. The study assessed the effect of oral ingestion of G.

Public Health and Paediatric Risk Assessment of Aluminium, Arsenic and Mercury in Infant Formulas Marketed in Nigeria.

Objectives: Infant formulas are useful alternatives to breast milk in many circumstances but may pose health risks to infants and children due to contamination by potentially toxic metals. This study aimed to determine the aluminium, arsenic and mercury concentrations and carry out an exposure health risk assessment in commonly consumed infant formulas in Nigeria.

Methods: Different brands of both locally manufactured and imported infant formulas were purchased in March 2017 from stores in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Appropriateness of Essentials Trace Metals in Commonly Consumed Infant Formulae in Nigeria.

Background: Mothers who feed their children with infant food have increased have over the years leaving a large percentage of children who consume other types of liquid food for supplementation or as alternatives.

Aim: Determining the levels of essential trace metals in these formulae with the aim of ascertain their appropriateness is considered important.

Methods: Iron, zinc, manganese, chromium and cobalt in 26 infant formulae purchased from Port Harcourt city, Nigeria were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry.

Overview of Hysteroscopy.

Hysteroscopy involves the visualization of the endometrial cavity with the aid of a hysteroscope (Telescope) inserted through the cervix. Hysteroscopy can be performed in an office setting and minor pathologies managed. A distension medium is necessary for proper visualization.

Determining nurse practitioner core competencies using a Delphi approach.

Background: Competency-based education (CBE) has been recommended for nurse practitioner (NP) education. To implement CBE, existing NP core competencies need to be reduced in number and refined.

Purpose: This study refined and reduced redundancy in the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) NP core competencies through the consensus of experts in NP practice.

Establishing a Low-Budget Hysteroscopy Unit in a Resource-Poor Setting.

Objective: To report our experience in establishing a low-budget hysteroscopy unit in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria over a 7-year period.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective descriptive study carried out between April 1, 2010, and March 31, 2017. Transaction receipts for the hysteroscopic equipment were retrieved.

Dietary supplementation of Pleurotus tuber regium in rat feed ameliorates metabolic and hematotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride.

Pleurotus tuber regium, a wild edible mushroom can reduce free radical-mediated injury and oxidative stress induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) via improvement of antioxidant capacity. This work evaluates the protective effects of this mushroom against the metabolic and hematological toxicity induced by CCl4. Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into six groups (n = 10).

Affective determinants of physical activity in cancer survivors.

Research with non-cancer survivor populations finds affective variables to be important determinants of physical activity. This study assessed the ability of explicit and implicit affective variables to predict the physical activity of cancer survivors, above that accounted for by cognitive variables. The study also tested whether the affective variables were connected to physical activity directly or indirectly through their association with behavioural intentions.

Retained bones of the second twin following a cesarean section: a case report.

Twin pregnancies are increasing due to assisted reproductive techniques. Following the death of one twin in-utero, the surviving and dead twin are removed from the uterine cavity at delivery. This is a report of a 38-year-old para 0 woman who experienced fetal demise of one of a set of twins at 20 weeks of gestation.

Reducing New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation is the most common dysrhythmia to occur after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. It develops in 10% to 40% of patients and can lead to complications such as hemodynamic instability, heart failure, and stroke. Risk factors include hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and obesity.

Is 2-person urinary catheter insertion effective in reducing CAUTI?

This study focused on implementation of the 2-person urinary catheter insertion protocol as a way to decrease catheter-associated infection (CAUTI) rates. Whereas the CAUTI prevention bundle is important to implement, additional focus on specific parts of the bundle are imperative. The results of this study indicate implementation of the 2-person urinary catheter insertion protocol with a checklist decreased the risk of CAUTI for our patient population.