Perceptions of healthcare finance and system quality among Nigerian healthcare workers.

Nigeria's healthcare system faces significant challenges in financing and quality, impacting the delivery of services to its growing population. This study investigates healthcare workers' perceptions of these challenges and their implications for healthcare policy and practice. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 600 healthcare professionals from eight states across Nigeria, representing a variety of healthcare occupations.

COVID-19 Related Tracheal Stenosis Requiring Tracheal Resection: A Case Series.

Objective: To characterize the preoperative and intraoperative findings of symptomatic tracheal stenosis associated with COVID-19 related respiratory failure requiring tracheal resection.

Method: We performed a retrospective review identifying all patients with a history of tracheal stenosis secondary to COVID-19 related respiratory failure who subsequently received a tracheal resection at our institution between January 2020 and June 2023. Clinical, radiological, pathological, and surgical characteristics were recorded to describe and characterize pre-operative and intraoperative findings associated with tracheal stenosis in the setting of a previous COVID-19 infection.

Immunologic basis for development of keratoconjunctivitis sicca in systemic autoimmune diseases: Role of innate immune sensors.

The literature is filled with citations reporting an increased incidence of chronic dry eye disease, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's Syndrome, systemic sclerosis and lupus. As the most environmentally exposed mucosal surface of the body, the conjunctiva constantly responds to environmental challenges which are typically self limited, but when persistent and unresolved may provoke pathogenic innate and adaptive immune reactions. Our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms by which systemic autoimmune diseases cause dry eye inducing ocular surface inflammation continues to evolve.

Efficacy, safety, and public attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines: A systematic review.

Background: This paper reviews some of the literature on the safety and efficacy of different COVID-19 vaccines, the attitudes, and perceptions of people towards the vaccines, and the factor underlying such perceptions and behavior.

Methods: Two major databases (PubMed and Epistemonikos) were checked using search expansion mechanisms and several search strings. After the title, abstract, and full-text analysis, 19 studies were selected for review.

Automated measurement of alpha angle on 3D-magnetic resonance imaging in femoroacetabular impingement hips: a pilot study.

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome is an established pre-osteoarthritic condition. Diagnosis is based on both clinical and radiographic parameters. An abnormal manually calculated alpha angle in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is traditionally utilized to diagnose abnormal femoral head-neck offset.

Anti-CTGF Oligonucleotide Reduces Severity of Postsurgical Hypertrophic Scars in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Within-Subject, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Background: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) levels are up-regulated in wounded skin and are thought to play a major role in scar formation. An antisense oligonucleotide targeting CTGF was evaluated in adult patients undergoing hypertrophic scar revision surgery, to determine effects on reducing the severity of subsequent scars.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, within-subject, placebo-controlled study, 23 female subjects (aged 28 to 55 years) with bilateral, symmetric, hypertrophic surgical scars of the breast underwent scar revision surgery.

New data analysis in a population study raises the hypothesis that particle size contributes to the pro-asthmatic potential of small pet animal allergens.

Background: The size of inhaled particles influences where they deposit and theoretically should be important for the development of airway inflammation and responsiveness. Our aim was to assess if sensitization to smaller-sized aeroallergens relates to higher prevalence of treated asthma, increased airway responsiveness, and airway and systemic inflammation.

Methods: Molecular-based IgE antibody determination was done in 467 subjects.

Complete ventricular asystole in a patient with altered mental status.

Patients who present with recurrent syncope are at risk for having underlying conduction disease, which may worsen if not promptly recognized and treated. We describe a patient who initially presented to a Mexican clinic with recurrent syncope and an electrocardiogram that showed complete heart block. After being transferred to our emergency department, he deteriorated into complete ventricular asystole with preserved atrial function and required placement of a transvenous cardiac pacemaker.

Neonatal, atopic and infectious disease outcomes among children born to mothers with latent tuberculosis infection.

Exposure to microbes may result in maternal immune responses that can affect fetal immune development. Several lines of evidence have shown that mycobacterial antigens can change the onset of atopic disease. We hypothesized that infants born to mothers with a positive tuberculosis (TB) test and a negative chest radiograph, may exhibit differential development of atopic disease during early childhood.

Nurse-physician collaboration on medical-surgical units.

Interdisciplinary collaboration is viewed as a critical factor in delivering quality patient care. The purpose of this study was to describe nurse-physician perceptions of collaboration relationship on general medical-surgical units.

Early deaths with thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction in corticosteroid-dependent rheumatoid arthritis.

Intravenous thrombolytic therapy has become standard treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We describe three patients with long-standing seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on chronic corticosteroid therapy who experienced very early (1-6 h) mortality after the use of intravenous thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of AMI. All three patients likely experienced electromechanical dissociation (EMD).