Disparities in kidney care in vulnerable populations: A multinational study from the ISN-GKHA.

Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, displaced people, and refugees, often encounter challenges in accessing healthcare. In this study, we used data from the third iteration of the International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA) to describe kidney care access and delivery to vulnerable populations across countries and regions. Using data from an international survey of clinicians, policymakers, and patient advocates, we assessed the funding and coverage of vulnerable populations on all aspects of kidney replacement therapies (KRT).

Cell-free DNA methylation-based inflammation score as a marker for hepatocellular carcinoma among people living with HIV.

Background: People living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at a greater risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), potentially due to the stimulation of inflammation by HIV infection. Inflammation-related DNA methylation signatures obtained in liquid biopsy, such as circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), may serve as promising minimally invasive biomarkers that can inform diagnosis of HCC.

Methods: Using data from 249 individuals with HIV (114 individuals with normal liver conditions, 69 with fibrosis, 30 with cirrhosis, and 36 with HCC), we constructed a cfDNA methylation-based inflammation score (inflammation-DNAm score) based on 54 CpGs previously associated with circulating C-reactive protein concentrations.

Evaluation of three rapigen biocredit point-of-care tests for malaria case management in Lagos, Nigeria.

Introduction: Histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) antigen kits are widely used for malaria diagnosis in tropical regions due to their heat stability. The Plasmodium Lactate Dehydrogenase (pLDH) used in BIOCREDIT® malaria test kit is claimed to be heat-stable. This study aimed to evaluate the heat stability and field performance of three BIOCREDIT® kits.

Insights into the Experiences of Persons with Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19 Lockdown in Lagos, Nigeria: A Qualitative Investigation.

Objective: This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the consumption of illicit drugs among Persons with Substance Use Disorders in Lagos, Nigeria.

Methods: Using convenience sampling, 25 participants, who use different substances consented to participate in the study. Data was collected using in-depth interview guide and thematically analysed using NVivo 12 Plus.

A review of the association between in vitro fertilization and children's neurocognitive development.

This review investigated the current research on the association between in vitro fertilization and children's neurocognitive development. Twenty studies were analyzed, encompassing over 23,000 children conceived through IVF, and compared to those conceived naturally. The findings on overall cognitive function were mixed, as measured by IQ.

The Professional Identity of STEM Faculty as Instructors of Course-based Research Experiences.

The professional identity of scientists has historically been cultivated to value research over teaching, which can undermine initiatives that aim to reform science education. Course-Based Research Experiences (CRE) and the inclusive Research and Education Communities (iREC) are two successful and impactful reform efforts that integrate research and teaching. The aim of this study is to explicate the professional identity of instructors who implement a CRE within an established iREC and to explore how this identity contributes to the success of these programs.

African ancestry neurodegeneration risk variant disrupts an intronic branchpoint in GBA1.

Recently, an African ancestry-specific Parkinson disease (PD) risk signal was identified at the gene encoding glucocerebrosidase (GBA1). This variant ( rs3115534 -G) is carried by ~50% of West African PD cases and imparts a dose-dependent increase in risk for disease. The risk variant has varied frequencies across African ancestry groups but is almost absent in European and Asian ancestry populations.

Shelf-life quality evaluation and smartphone-based phenolic analysis of cassava treated with varied chitosan formulations.

Phenolic compounds exhibit potent antioxidant properties and defense mechanisms in plants, serving as quality biomarkers. This study investigates the effect of chitosan formulations, incorporated with 1 % and 2 % ascorbic acid and quercetin, for extending cassava shelf life and improving nutritional quality. The PhotoMetrix® smartphone App was employed to analyze the impact of these treatment-formulations on their total phenolic contents (TPC) using RGB (Red-Green-Blue) color scale, validated by statistical analysis.

Risk Factors for Viral Non-suppression Among Youth Living with HIV in Nigeria: Findings from the iCARE Nigeria Study.

Viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a critical component of UNAIDS objectives to end the HIV epidemic. Youth living with HIV (YLH) have worse viral suppression rates than adults. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for viral non-suppression among YLH in Nigeria.

Rates, Diagnoses, and Predictors of Unplanned 30-Day Readmissions of Critical Care Survivors Hospitalized for Lung Involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Analysis of National Representative US Readmissions Data.

Introduction/objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that frequently involves the lungs, contributing to significant morbidity in hospitalized patients. Critical care survivors with lung involvement in SLE are at particularly high risk for unplanned hospital readmissions, which can reflect the complexity of their disease, which often affects multiple organs and requires immunosuppressive therapy that increases infection risk. Severe pulmonary complications, critical illness sequelae, and challenges in medication adherence or follow-up care further contribute to their vulnerability.

Burden of disease scenarios by state in the USA, 2022-50: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Background: The capacity to anticipate future health issues is important for both policy makers and practitioners in the USA, as such insights can facilitate effective planning, investment, and implementation strategies. Forecasting trends in disease and injury burden is not only crucial for policy makers but also garners substantial interest from the general populace and leads to a better-informed public. Through the integration of new data sources, the refinement of methodologies, and the inclusion of additional causes, we have improved our previous forecasting efforts within the scope of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) to produce forecasts at the state and national levels for the USA under various possible scenarios.

Organophosphate pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables in Nigeria: prevalence, environmental impact, and human health implications.

Pesticides have become indispensable in modern agriculture, aiding in crop protection, and ensuring food security. However, their extensive use has raised concerns about environmental contamination and human health risks. This manuscript reviews the prevalence of organophosphate pesticide (OPP) use in Nigerian agriculture and explores methods for detecting pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables.

HPV vaccine knowledge, attitude, and programme satisfaction among parents and caregivers of vaccine recipients in Ogun state Nigeria.

Introduction: Human Papillomavirus is responsible for about 5% of the global cancer burden. In Nigeria, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women. The Federal Government of Nigeria and partners recently introduced Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination into routine immunization beginning with 15 States and the Federal Capital Territory.

A Case Series of Diagnostic Challenges in Mycosis Fungoides in Resource-poor Settings: Blood Film Examination - A Useful Tool.

The prognosis/mortality rate in mycosis fungoides (MF)/cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) is alarming in resource-poor countries due to delayed diagnosis in meeting recognised criteria. We highlight the diagnostic accuracy of examining peripheral blood films (PBFs). We reviewed clinically diagnosed MF/CTCL cases in the Dermatology Clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital between January and October 2022 and analysed clinical, haematological and histology findings.

Implementation of Standard setting in the Assessment of Examinations in a Postgraduate Medical College: Opinions, Experiences and Prospects.

Context: The world over, there has been a paradigm shift in medical education from the traditional curriculum to Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME), of which the application of standard setting in assessments is an integral part. Standard setting is the process used to define an acceptable level of performance and to establish a pass score for the defined levels of performance in the competency domains assessed by an examination.

Aims: This study was designed to assess the opinions and experiences of key judges for implementation of standard setting and to outline its prospects from their perspective.

Analytic performance of ScreenFire HPV RS assay Zebra BioDome format and its potential for large-scale population HPV screening.

Background: Easy-to-use, rapid, scalable, high-throughput, and cost-effective HPV tests are urgently needed for low-resource settings. Atila Biosystems' high-throughput, cost-effective, and clinically validated ScreenFire HPV Risk Stratification (RS) assay identifies 13 high risk HPV (hrHPV) in 4 groups based on their oncogenic risk (i.e.