Comparison of the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of cancer patients admitted to a tertiary palliative care unit before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To compare the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of patients with advanced cancer admitted to a tertiary palliative care unit before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This is an analysis of data from patients receiving care before (10/21/2019 to 03/16/2020) and during (09/23/2020 to 08/26/2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociodemographic and clinical data were evaluated.

Periapical bone edema volume in 3D MRI is positively correlated with bone architecture changes.

Objectives: To compare and correlate bone edema volume detected by 3D-short-tau-inversion-recovery (STIR) sequence to osseous decay detected by a T1-based sequence and conventional panoramic radiography (OPT).

Materials And Methods: Patients with clinical evidence of apical periodontitis were included retrospectively and received OPT as well as MRI of the viscerocranium including a 3D-STIR and a 3D-T1 gradient echo sequence. Bone edema was visualized using the 3D-STIR sequence and periapical hard tissue changes were evaluated using the 3D-T1 sequence.

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Clinical Impact of Prophylactic Quinolones with Adjuvant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Instillation for Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer.

Background And Objective: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) reduces disease recurrence and progression in intermediate- and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). BCG-associated adverse events during instillations are common, leading to treatment cessation. Prophylactic use of quinolones in conjunction with BCG instillations is one approach for reducing BCG-associated adverse events.

Buruli Ulcer Transmission: Environmental Pathways and Implications for Dermatologic Care.

Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing skin and soft tissue disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans that is common in hot and humid climates. Mycobacterium ulcerans is a nontuberculous mycobacterium and ubiquitous acid-fast gram-positive bacillus known to thrive in aquatic environments and water insects. The mode of transmission to humans is poorly understood and varies by geography.

Assessing the role of education level on climate change belief, concern and action: a multinational survey of healthcare professionals in nephrology.

Background: Climate change poses a significant risk to kidney health, and countries with lower national wealth are more vulnerable. Yet, citizens from lower-income countries demonstrate less concern for climate change than those from higher-income countries. Education is a key covariate.

Hearing care in low-resourced and humanitarian settings: findings from a pilot study in South Sudan.

Objectives: This longitudinal experimental study aimed to profile audiometric hearing loss, explore the feasibility and efficacy of low-cost hearing devices, and examine their social and emotional impact on participants in South Sudan, a low-resource humanitarian setting.

Design: We performed pure tone hearing screenings on adults with self-reported hearing disability, randomly providing eligible participants with one of two inexpensive devices-Asana Pro 800, a non-customizable hearing device fit unilaterally, or the Super Ear SE9000, a hand-held amplifier with headphones given one per individual.

Study Sample: Between October 2022 and January 2023, 142 adults underwent hearing screening at the Juba Teaching Hospital ENT clinic, of whom 19 eligible individuals were provided with hearing devices.

Introducing Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir + Ribavirin as a Generic Retreatment Regimen for Hepatitis C: Evaluation of a Government Program in Rwanda.

Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir is recommended for hepatitis C virus (HCV) retreatment in those who fail initial treatment but is unavailable in resource-limited settings. We describe a government sofosbuvir/velpatasvir + ribavirin (SOF/VEL + RBV) × 24 weeks retreatment program in Rwanda (November 2021-October 2022). Of 231 participants, 174 were cured (75.

Exploring the Role of the Pharmacist in the Prevention and Management of Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy in Ashanti Region, Ghana.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDPs) are a leading cause of poor maternal and birth outcomes worldwide. Prompt management of these disorders is usually recommended to optimize outcomes. Administration of pharmacotherapeutic agents is critical in the prevention and management of these disorders.

Optimizing the life of vascular access during follow-up.

Optimizing the longevity of vascular access in hemodialysis patients remains a critical aspect of patient care, given the significant role of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) in enabling effective dialysis. Vascular access complications, such as stenosis, thrombosis, and cannulation-related damage, continue to challenge both the functionality and the sustainability of these access points. Recent advancements underscore the importance of a robust follow-up strategy, integrating clinical evaluations with diagnostic tools like color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) and emerging interventional approaches such as drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty.

A rare case of culture-negative infective endocarditis following cataract surgery.

A 70-year-old man developed intermittent fever with chills, severe anorexia, generalized weakness, and mild exertional difficulty in breathing following posterior chamber intraocular lens replacement surgery for a mature white cataract in the left eye. Laboratory tests revealed persistent negative blood cultures, normocytic and normochromic anemia, neutrophilia, and elevated inflammatory markers despite multiple courses of antibiotics. All other investigations conducted to identify the cause of prolonged fever, including transthoracic echocardiography, were negative.

The Pattern of Abdominal Ultrasound Scan Findings at the Department of Radiology at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

Background: Abdominal ultrasound imaging is a standard diagnostic tool used in clinical practice. Understanding the patterns of sonographic findings in specific population demographics can lead to better clinical decisions and improved patient management. This study will evaluate the prevalent abdominal ultrasound scan findings and explore their demographic patterns based on age and sex characteristics at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

Quality of hypertension management and health insurance impact: an assessment of insured and uninsured patients with systemic hypertension in a teaching Hospital in Ilorin, Nigeria.

Background: Patient satisfaction is an important indicator used to measure quality of care and the performance of healthcare services. This study assessed patient satisfaction with the quality of hypertension care received by both insured and uninsured patients with systemic hypertension.

Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among insured and uninsured patients with systemic hypertension attending the Medical Outpatient Department clinics of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State, Nigeria, from May to July, 2023.

Antipsychotic medication non-adherence and its determinants among out-patients with schizophrenia.

Introduction: While antipsychotics are key requirement in acute and long-term management of schizophrenia, medication adherence remains a major unmet need in its care. This paper assessed the prevalence of oral antipsychotic non-adherence among outpatients with schizophrenia and its associated clinico-demographic factors.

Method: Three hundred and ten adult outpatients (18-64 years of age) were cross-sectionally interviewed after being diagnosed of schizophrenia using ICD-10 criteria, and the diagnosis confirmed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).

Assessment of Left Ventricular function and Aortic blood flow in children with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) attending two health institutions in Enugu Metropolis.

Background: Children with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) usually present with right heart abnormalities, however much is not known if these children presents with left ventricular dysfunction.

Objectives: This article is aimed to ascertain the left ventricular function of children with TOF compared with those without any congenital heart disease. It also elicits the correlation if any, between left ventricular mass and descending aorta blood flow.

Sociodemographic and Economic Correlates of Dialysis Vintage in a Resource Challenged Setting: A Four-Year Prospective Study in Southwest Nigeria.

Background: Dialysis vintage is largely dependent on the effectiveness of the delivered dose coupled with the extent of patient compliance with the prescribed treatment regimen. This study assessed the determinants and correlates of dialysis vintage. : This was a 4-year prospective, observational study.

Causes and Outcome of Unconsciousness in the Accident and Emergency Department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

Background: Unconsciousness occurs when a patient enters a sleeplike state but cannot be aroused, and it is not due to physiological drowsiness. It is a common presentation in the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E), and a burden to the emergency physician especially when the cause is unknown. The cause of coma may be trauma or non-trauma related.

Blood usage among orthopedic patients at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Background: Blood transfusion holds a significant place in the practice of surgery, including orthopaedic surgeries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intraoperative use of blood and blood products among orthopaedic patients operated at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital from January 2021 to December 2021, focusing on the demographics of patients, number and type of surgeries needing a blood transfusion, and the number of blood transfusions.

Methodology: A retrospective observational study was carried out at the operating theatre of a referral tertiary hospital using a designed proforma to extract data from the registers of operated orthopaedic patients.

Attitudes and Beliefs about HIV/AIDS and their Relationships with Sexual Practices among Senior Secondary School Students in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria.

Background: Attitudes and beliefs regarding HIV among adolescents and young adults (AYA) may influence practices that increase the risk of HIV transmission. The study aimed to determine the attitudes and beliefs regarding HIV among senior secondary students and their sexual practices.

Methodology: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study that involved 1,200 adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 14-24 years in senior secondary schools in Abakaliki.

Predictive Value of Prostate-Specific Antigen Density on Tumour Grade in Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common urologic malignancy in men, it is witnessing a huge burden in developing countries. Prostate-specific antigen has served as a tool in diagnosis and prognostication. To improve its sensitivity, Prostate-specific antigen density is being used to discriminate between benign and malignant conditions to avoid the incidence of unnecessary biopsy.

Cholera in Nigeria: A review of outbreaks, trends, contributing factors, and public health responses.

Cholera remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with recurrent outbreaks exacerbated by inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, as well as conflict and displacement. This review examines cholera outbreaks in Nigeria from 2010 to 2024, analyzing epidemiological trends, contributing factors, and public health responses. Seasonal peaks during periods of heavy rainfall and flooding have consistently facilitated transmission, with Northern regions disproportionately affected due to poor infrastructure and ongoing conflicts.

Prevalence and perception of disrespect and abuse during childbirth in public healthcare facilities in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: There is increasing awareness of disrespect and abuse (DAA) during childbirth. Globally, DAA during delivery is a common cause of suffering and violation of the human rights of birthing mothers. Respectful maternal care is necessary to improve the quality of care and uptake of institutional delivery services to reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Comparison of Papanicolaou Smear Tests Among HIV Negative and HIV Positive Pregnant Women on HAART at a Tertiary Hospital.

Background: Cervical cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer worldwide, causing morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. It develops from premalignant lesions of the cervix. Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) increases the risk of dysplastic changes in the cervix.

Comparison Of Risk Factors and Clinicopathological Features Between Pre- and Post-Menopausal Patients with Breast Cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women globally with an estimated 2.3 million new cases in 2020. In Nigeria, it constitutes about 12% of all new cancers and 25% of all cancers in women.

Challenges in Diagnosing Advanced Abdominal Ectopic Pregnancy in Low-Resource Settings: A Case from North Western Nigeria.

Abdominal ectopic pregnancy is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy associated with high maternal and perinatal mortality. We present a case of a 28-year-old now primipara who was misdiagnosed to have abruptio placentae and ruptured uterus on two different occasions from a primary health care center but was found to have an advanced abdominal ectopic gestation at 21 weeks gestational age. The patient was managed by exploratory laparotomy and is currently doing well.

Patient-Related and Health System Factors, and Experiences of Women with a History of Stillbirth in Port-Harcourt.

Background: Nigeria makes a substantial contribution to the global burden of stillbirths. However, data on women's experiences and care received at the time of stillbirth are limited. This study aimed to investigate the experiences and patient-related and health system factors in women who had a stillbirth in a previous pregnancy in the past 15 years.