Breastfeeding support as predictors of sustainable breastfeeding practices of nursing mothers with common mental disorders in tertiary hospital nurseries in Nigeria: a cross sectional study.

Background: The postpartum period is associated with an increased risk of maternal mental disorders. The combined effect of having the mother's infant admitted to a tertiary hospital in a low-resource setting and the need to exclusively breastfeed the infant may exaggerate this risk. This study aimed to determine the breastfeeding support provided to mothers whose infants were hospitalised in Nigerian tertiary hospital nurseries and the prevalence of common mental health disorders among this population.

The contraceptive active ingredient levonorgestrel disrupts the physiology of Macrocyclops albidus.

Active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as levonorgestrel (LNG), continue to increase in aquatic ecosystems and are detected in environmental matrices; however, their ability to bioaccumulate and cause reproductive, developmental, and biochemical defects in benthic organisms, such as Macrocyclops albidus, is unknown. This study investigated the effects of LNG on the oxidative stress response, reproduction, and development of M. albidus.

Nanotheranostics for gynecological cancers: a path forward for Africa.

Nanoparticle-based therapies represent a transformative approach to managing gynecological cancers, offering targeted treatment strategies that minimize harm to healthy tissues while maximizing therapeutic efficacy. Despite their potential, implementing these advanced treatments in Africa is needed by a complex interplay of technological, economic, regulatory, and ethical challenges. This paper examines the current landscape of nanoparticle-based therapies, identifying critical barriers to their adoption, including inadequate infrastructure, high costs, and insufficient regulatory frameworks.

Scoping Review of Economic Analyses of Rare Kidney Diseases.

Introduction: Rare kidney diseases (RKDs) place a substantial economic burden on patients and health systems, the extent of which is unknown and may be systematically underestimated by health economic techniques. We aimed to investigate the economic burden and cost-effectiveness evidence base for RKDs.

Methods: We conducted a systematic scoping review to identify economic evaluations, health technology assessments, and cost-of-illness studies relating to RKDs, published since 2012.

Sociodemographic and Clinical Factors Predictive of Poor Health-Related Quality of Life of Children with Sickle Cell Anemia in The Gambia.

Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) experience recurrent vaso-occlusive crises and complications, significantly impacting their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study determined HRQoL in 130 children aged 5 -15 years with SCA in The Gambia, compared to 130 age- and sex-matched hemoglobin AA (HbAA) children. HRQoL was measured using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), with scores below 69.

Cultural and religious structures influencing the use of maternal health services in Nigeria: a focused ethnographic research.

Background: Cultural and religious structures encompass a set pattern of values, beliefs, systems and practices that define a community's behaviour and identity. These structures influence women's health-seeking behaviour and access to maternal health services, predisposing women to preventable maternal health complications. However, most maternal health policies have focused on biomedical strategies, with limited attention to women's cultural challenges around childbirth.

Developing an HIV-specific falls risk prediction model with a novel clinical index: a systematic review and meta-analysis method.

Background: Falls are a common problem experienced by people living with HIV yet predictive models specific to this population remain underdeveloped. We aimed to identify, assess and stratify the predictive strength of various physiological, behavioral, and HIV-specific factors associated with falls among people living with HIV and inform a predictive model for fall prevention.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to explore predictors of falls in people living with HIV.

Defining the genetic profile of prostate cancer.

Several studies indicated that prostate cancer has a hereditary component. In particular, a significant risk of prostate cancer has been linked to a tight familial lineage. However, to provide insight into how prostate cancer is inherited, characterising its genetic profile is essential.

Implication of Pyrethroid Neurotoxicity for Human Health: A Lesson from Animal Models.

Pyrethroids, synthetic insecticides used in pest management, pose health risks, particularly neurotoxic effects, with studies linking exposure to a neurodegenerative disorder. This review examines the neurotoxic mechanisms of pyrethroids analyzing literature from animal model studies. It identifies critical targets for neurotoxicity, including ion channels, oxidative stress, inflammation, neuronal cell loss, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Love Components in Free-Choice and Arranged Marriages Among Five Non-Western Populations From Africa, Amazonia, and Himalayas.

Two main ways to enter a marriage are through free choice and through an arrangement between families, known as an arranged marriage. In this study, we compared differences in three dimensions of love (Intimacy, Passion, and Commitment) between spouses in love-based marriages and arranged marriages among five non-Western societies: Bhotiya from the Himalayas, Igbo from Nigeria, Kimeru from Kenya, Meru from Tanzania, and Tsimane' from Bolivia. When considering all data gathered from the five cultures, free choice and arranged marriages did not differ significantly in average love scores.

Evaluation of Morbidity and Mortality in Iatrogenic Colonic Perforation During Colonoscopy: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis explores the clinical and patient-specific factors contributing to increased morbidity and mortality following iatrogenic colonic perforation (ICP) during routine colonoscopy. A comprehensive search of Scopus, PubMed (Medline), Embase, and Google Scholar was conducted, reviewing studies published between 2010 and 2024. Data were synthesized through thematic analysis for qualitative data and meta-analysis for quantitative outcomes.

Early biological and psychosocial factors associated with PTSD onset and persistence in youth.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. While considerable research has investigated PTSD in adults, little is known about the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to its onset, development, and persistence in youth. This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify longitudinal studies examining factors associated with PTSD status and symptom severity in children and adolescents.

"From Preparation to Consumption." Food Safety Practices among Public Food Handler's in Enugu Metropolis.

Background: demand for public prepared food with numerous food handlers creates uncertainties in the quality of safe foods and possible food contamination. This study aimed to ascertain the food safety hygiene practices, and associated factors among public food handlers in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 400 public food handlers in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria.

Co-Designing Case Scenarios and Survey Strategies to Examine the Classification and Reporting of Restrictive Care Practices in Adult Mental Health Inpatient Settings: Perspectives From International Stakeholders.

There is a global initiative to reduce the use of restrictive care practices in mental health settings. Variations in the reported rates across regions complicate the understanding of their use and tracking trends over time. However, it remains unclear whether these discrepancies reflect real differences in the implementation of these practices or are sourced from inconsistencies in incident classification and reporting methods.

Antiplasmodial Potentials, Phytocompounds and the Possible Toxic Effects of Administration of Ethylacetate Extract of Spondias mombin Linn.

Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites, is a global health concern. Natural products, such as plant extracts, are investigated for new antimalarial agents. Spondias mombin, traditionally used for medicinal purposes, was examined for its effects on parasitemia, haematological parameters, antioxidant activities, liver function biomarkers, and serum electrolytes in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.

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.

Effects of Maternal Dyslipidemia on Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Maternal dyslipidemia is one of the consistent metabolic changes during pregnancy. There is a controversy as to whether maternal lipid disturbances in early pregnancy are associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcome.

Aim: To determine the effects of maternal dyslipidemia on maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Fisetin attenuates AlCl-induced neurodegeneration by modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine release in adult albino wistar rats.

Aim: Natural flavonoids have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities against neurodegenerative diseases. Fisetin is a powerful flavonoid that targets a variety of neurological disorders. Aluminum (Al) has been linked to several neurological conditions, such as Parkinsons disease, autism, and Alzheimer's disease (AD).