The mRNA-1647 vaccine: A promising step toward the prevention of cytomegalovirus infection (CMV).

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a leading cause of congenital infections and significant health complications in immunocompromised individuals. With no licensed CMV vaccine available, the development of the mRNA-1647 offers promising advancements in CMV prevention. We have reviewed results from Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials of the mRNA-1647 vaccine, demonstrating robust immune responses in both seronegative and seropositive participants.

A prospective registry study of the epidemiology and management of childhood cancer in the Gambia-The first year experience.

Background And Aim: Globally, over 180,000 children develop cancers yearly, with about 80% residing in low- or middle-income countries where cancer-associated mortality is also high. In The Gambia, cumulative incidence rate of 27.6 childhood cancers/million population was reported between 2002 and 2011.

Kinetic and thermodynamic investigation of Rhodanese synthesized by enhanced JCM 1665 strain: a comparative between the free and immobilized enzyme entrapped in alginate beads.

JCM 1665 was subjected to extracellular rhodanese production using a submerged fermentation technique. The organism was further engineered for higher cyanide tolerance and rhodanese yield using ethylmethanesulfonate as a mutagen. Mutagenesis resulted in an improved mutant with high cyanide tolerance (100 mM) and rhodanese yield (26.

Enhancing care transition performance of community pharmacies in Nigeria.

Community pharmacies (CPs) represent a crucial source of primary care for the Nigerian population. Pharmacists in this setting provide essential primary care services to the public and, when required, facilitate care transitions or referrals for patients to higher levels of care. Given their accessibility and expanding roles in patient care, pharmacists are considered pivotal to meeting the transition of care (TOC) goals, that is, continuity, quality, and safety, especially at the community level.

A supervised machine learning approach for the prediction of antioxidant activities of seed.

This research aimed at modelling and predicting the antioxidant activities of seed extract using four (4) data-driven models. Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-nearest Neighbour (k-NN), and Decision Tree (DT) were used as modelling algorithms for the construction of a non-linear empirical model to predict the antioxidant properties of seed extract. Datasets for the modelling operation were obtained from a Box Behnken design while the hyperparameters of the ANN, SVM, k-NN and DT were determined using a 10-fold cross-validation technique.

Mucuna pruriens seed repeals the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis disruption following carbamazepine treatment in male Wistar rats.

This study examined the potential effects of Mucuna pruriens (MP) seed powder on the disruptions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis caused by the carbamazepine (CBZ) treatment in male Wistar rats. A total of 35 male Wistar rats were randomized into 5 groups (n=7). The animal in group 1 received normal saline (0.

Atorvastatin improves sputum conversion and chest X-ray severity score.

We report the results of a phase IIB study investigating the safety and effectiveness of atorvastatin use with standard anti-TB drugs. In this multicentre, open-labelled study, we recruited treatment-naÏve patients with uncomplicated pulmonary TB aged at least 18 years. Participants were randomly assigned to standard-of-care or standard-of-care plus oral dose of atorvastatin (40 mg) daily for 2 months.

Health Providers' Response to Female Adolescent Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Demand Side Barriers in the Utilization of Support Services in Urban Low-Income Communities of Nigeria.

Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) are often hindered in their quest to access quality healthcare. This has a significant effect towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal SDG Target 3.7.

Experience and perceptions of nigerian undergraduate dental students to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: COVID-19 outbreak impacted negatively on teaching globally with traditional face-to-face teaching mostly affected.

Aim: This study evaluated the experiences and perceptions of Nigerian undergraduate dental students to virtual learning (VL) including perceived institutional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Subjects And Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of 346 dental students from all 13 Nigerian dental schools.

Comparative investigation of gas sensing performance of liquefied petroleum gas using green reduced graphene oxide-based sensors.

Herein, we report the comparative gas sensing performance (at room temperature) of reduced graphene oxide sensors obtained by reducing graphene oxide using extracts of pumpkin leaf, neem leaf and methionine. An interdigitated pattern was designed on soda-lime glass using a stamp method and the dispersed solution of rGO was spin coated on the pattern. The electrical response of the sensors was investigated (using a simple in-house measurement set up) by measuring change in resistance of graphene with varying gas concentration on exposure to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

A national survey of oral maxillofacial surgeons' and trainees' awareness and practice regarding psychological problems associated with facial trauma.

Background: The psychological problems associated with facial trauma may sometimes pose additional health concerns for the injured patient. Understanding the gaps in the Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons' (OMFS) awareness of patient in need of specialist mental health intervention is important in ensuring holistic care for the trauma patient.

Objectives: To determine the knowledge, practices and self-assessed level of competence of Nigerian Oral maxillofacial surgeons/trainees regarding psychological problems associated with facial trauma and to determine their perceived need for training in assessment of psychological consequences following facial trauma.

Antimicrobial activities and phylogenetic study of DC (Fabaceae) seed lectin.

(Fabaceae) have been traditionally used in the treatment of microbial ailments, and the specific agent mediating its efficacy has been investigated in several studies. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of purified lectin (ESL) was analyzed. The phylogenetic relationship of the gene encoding lectin with other legume lectins was also established to investigate their evolutionary relationship via comparative genomics.

Zirconium ferrite incorporated zeolitic imidazolate framework-8: a suitable photocatalyst for degradation of dopamine and sulfamethoxazole in aqueous solution.

The complete removal of pharmaceutical wastes from polluted water systems is a global challenge. Therefore, this study incorporates zirconium ferrite (ZrFeO) into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) to form ZrFeO@ZIF-8. The ZrFeO@ZIF-8 is a photocatalyst for removing dopamine (DOP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) from an aqueous solution.

The Nigerian Dentist: Emerging Trends in Caries Management.

Background: Fundamental to effective caries management, are measures that eliminate caries risk factors and increase caries protective factors. These include the use of appropriate and effective caries assessment, diagnostic and teaching methods.

Objectives: To assess the use of current caries management protocols and teaching methods/techniques among Nigerian Dentists.

Knowledge and attitude of sex education among secondary school students in south-western Nigeria: A cross-sectional study.

Sex education helps in preparing adolescents to have responsible attitudes and behaviour towards sex for a harmonious sexual life. This study assessed the level of knowledge and attitude towards sex education among secondary school students in an urban south-western Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design.

Impacts of COVID-19 Restrictions on Regional and Local Air Quality Across Selected West African Cities.

The emergence of COVID-19 brought with it panic and a sense of urgency causing governments to impose strict restrictions on human activities and vehicular movements. With anthropogenic emissions, especially waste management (domestic and municipal), traffic, and industrial activities, said to be a significant contributor to ambient air pollution, this study assessed the impacts of the imposed restrictions on the concentrations and size distribution of atmospheric aerosols and concentration of gaseous pollutants over West African subregion and seven major COVID-19 epicenters in the subregion. Satellite retrievals and reanalysis data sets were used to study the impact of the restrictions on Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and atmospheric concentrations NO, SO, CO, and O.

Adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system modeling of Synsepalum dulcificum L. drying characteristics and sensitivity analysis of the drying factors.

The requirement for easily adoptable technology for fruit preservation in developing countries is paramount. This study investigated the effect of pre-treatment (warm water blanching time-3, 5 and 10 min at 60 °C) and drying temperature (50, 60 and 70 °C) on drying mechanisms of convectively dried Synsepalum dulcificum (miracle berry fruit-MBF) fruit. Refined Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) was utilized to model the effect and establish the sensitivity of drying factors on the moisture ratio variability of MBF.

Efficacy of selected Nigerian tropical plants in the treatment of COVID-19: in silico and in vitro investigations.

The whole world is still challenged with COVID-19 pandemic caused by Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) which has affected millions of individuals around the globe. Although there are prophylactic vaccines being used, till now, there is ongoing research into discovery of drug candidates for total eradication of all types of coronaviruses. In this context, this study sought to investigate the inhibitory effects of six selected tropical plants against four pathogenic proteins of Coronavirus-2.

Effects of Recent/Healed Post-Extraction Protocols on Incisor and Canine Alignment During Fixed Orthodontic Appliance Therapy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of recent/healed post-premolar extraction protocol, gender, age, and dental arch on incisor and canine alignment during fixed orthodontic appliance therapy.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 50 dental arches of patients undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance therapy. The arches were randomized into an equal number of recent and healed extraction groups.

Patterns of ferns community assemblages in some Malaysian and Nigerian tropical forests.

Research on fern ecology has gained attention in the last decade, yet there is a paucity of information on the comparison of ferns communities across continents. This study focused on comparing the ferns community assemblages in some tropical forests of Malaysia and Nigeria, thereby assessing the patterns of species richness (SR) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) in relation to the bioclimatic drivers across the continents. The diversity and taxonomic compositions of ferns were assessed using 180 plots of 10 m × 10 m in each country.

COVID-19, economic problems, and family relationships in eight Middle East and North African countries.

Objective: The aim was to assess the reported family relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic and the association between these relationships and individual, interpersonal, and country-level income in eight Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries.

Background: COVID-19 causes fear of infection, loss of loved ones, and economic problems that may affect family relationships.

Methods: Data were collected from eight MENA countries using an online survey (July-August 2020).

HMGA2 Immunoexpression is frequent in salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma: immunohistochemical and molecular analyses of and HMGA2 in 25 cases.

The main oncologic events in pleomorphic adenoma (PA) are the translocations of () on chromosome 8q12 and () on chromosome 12q14.3 with various fusion partners. These translocations result in the transcriptional up-regulation of PLAG1 and HMGA2 proteins.