Mind the gap in kidney care: Translating what we know into what we do.

Historically, it takes an average of 17 years to move new treatments from clinical evidence to daily practice. Given the highly effective treatments now available to prevent or delay kidney disease onset and progression, this is far too long. The time is now to narrow the gap between what we know and what we do.

Telerehabilitation Interventions in the management of Alzheimer’s disease: An Implication for rehabilitation care in Sub‐Saharan Africa.

Background: Alzheimer’s disease is estimated to reach 139 million people by 2050, with an increase in people living with functional limitations caused by the disease (Alzheimer’s Disease International). However, telerehabilitation presents a promising solution to improve functional outcomes in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This systematic review investigates the use of telerehabilitation therapies worldwide for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairments.

Assessing Root Causes and Solutions to Address Cross-Programmatic Inefficiencies in a Subnational Health System: A Case Study of Anambra State, Nigeria.

Cross-programmatic inefficiencies are duplications or misalignments that arise from undue fragmentation of health systems by vertical health programs. Identifying and addressing the root causes of cross-programmatic inefficiencies in a health system can ensure more efficient use of resources to make progress toward Universal Health Coverage. This paper examines the root causes of cross-programmatic inefficiencies related to governance and financing in the state health system of Anambra in southeast Nigeria.

Agrivoltaics shading enhanced the microclimate, photosynthesis, growth and yields of vigna radiata genotypes in tropical Nigeria.

In recent years, more agricultural lands are been converted to photovoltaic (PV) power plants for better return on investment. However, prioritizing energy generation over food production poses a significant threat to the well-being of the rapidly growing global population. Agro-photovoltaics (APV) provide an opportunity to integrate crop production under PV panels.

Strategic SWOT analysis of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital using Modified Delphi Technique: implications for strengthening national and regional health systems.

Background And Aim: The perennial underperformance of the Nigerian Health System necessitated enhanced advocacy for health to be placed at the centre of a renewed social contract and as a means of bolstering public trust. The hospital management of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) introduced initiatives to improve the hospital's operational environment and service performance in response to the population served. Following these changes, an Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA) is critical to direct further development in the organization.

Physical activity and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania: insights for public health policy in low-income contexts.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic heightened anxiety levels globally, disproportionately affecting low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Physical activity (PA) has shown potential to alleviate mental health challenges, including anxiety. This study explores the relationship between PA and anxiety among Tanzanian adults during the pandemic, examining whether self-reported health status moderates this relationship and identifying demographic variations.

Iron nutrition and COVID-19 among Nigerian healthcare workers.

Background And Objectives: The optimal iron hypothesis (OIH) posits that risk for infection is lowest at a mild level of iron deficiency. The extent to which this protection results from arms race dynamics in the evolution of iron acquisition and sequestration mechanisms is unclear. We evaluated the OIH with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), an emerging infectious agent.

Smartphone-integrated colorimetric sensor for rapid detection of phenolic compounds based on the peroxidase-mimicking activity of copper/cerium-aspartic acid metal-organic framework.

A smartphone-integrated colorimetric sensor is introduced for the rapid detection of phenolic compounds, including 8-hydroquinone (HQ), p-nitrophenol (NP), and catechol (CC). This sensor relies on the peroxidase-mimicking activity of aspartate-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) such as Cu-Asp, Ce-Asp, and Cu/Ce-Asp. These MOFs facilitate the oxidation of a colorless substrate, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), by reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from hydrogen peroxide (HO), resulting in the formation of blue-colored oxidized TMB (ox-TMB).

Detection of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli in the abattoir wastewater-impacted Iyi-Etu River and other water types at the Amansea livestock market settlement, Anambra State, Nigeria: a matter of public health concern.

Background: Globally, diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) has been implicated in the spread of waterborne diseases and abattoir wastewater has played a role in its dissemination into watersheds. This study isolated and characterised DEC from the abattoir wastewater-impacted Iyi-Etu River and other water sources at the Amansea livestock market settlement.

Methods: A total of 96 water samples comprising river water (upstream, downstream 1, downstream 2), borehole, well, sachet and abattoir wastewater samples were tested for DEC.

The Future Hospital in Global Health Systems: The Future Hospital as an Entity.

Health care is changing rapidly. Hospitals are, and will remain, an essential setting to deliver it. We discuss how to maximise the benefits of hospitals in the future in different geographic and health system settings, highlighting a series of cross-cutting issues.

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delays and disruptions in cancer care services: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic substantially impacted the delivery of cancer services and programs. Here we reviewed and synthesized the global scale and impact of pandemic-related delays and disruptions on cancer services, including diagnosis, diagnostic procedures, screening, treatment and supportive and palliative care. Based on data from 245 articles in 46 countries, we observed declines in the number of cancer screening participation (39.

Lactose-assimilating yeasts with high fatty acid accumulation uncovered by untargeted bioprospecting.

Unlabelled: Bioprospecting can uncover new yeast strains and species with interesting ecological characteristics and valuable biotechnological traits, such as the capacity to convert different carbon sources from industrial side and waste streams into bioproducts. In this study, we conducted untargeted yeast bioprospecting in tropical West Africa, collecting 1,996 isolates and determining their growth in 70 different environments. While the collection contains numerous isolates with the potential to assimilate several cost-effective and sustainable carbon and nitrogen sources, we focused on characterizing the 203 strains capable of growing on lactose, the main carbon source in the abundant side stream cheese whey from dairy industries.

Does social support buffer the impact of stress on health among people living with sickle cell disease? A cross-sectional study.

In this cross-sectional study, we examined the contributions of social support in mitigating the burden that sickle cell disease (SCD) has on the well-being of patients living with the condition. SCD patients ( = 139) in Nigeria completed measures of sickle cell distress, social support, and quality of life. Although we found that SCD distress was strongly associated with poorer quality of life, across domains; social support did not mitigate the impact that SCD distress had on the quality of life of patients.

Knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices towards soil-transmitted helminthiases among teachers in schools implementing the home-grown school feeding program in Enugu Metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs) are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, impacting school-aged children significantly. Teachers, integral to STH control through the Home-Grown School Feeding Program (HGSFP), need adequate knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices (KAP) for successful STH prevention. However, there is limited research on teacher KAP regarding STH in Enugu State, particularly concerning its endemic nature.

Effectiveness of Monthly Versus Two-Dose Regimen of Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine for Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancy in Southeastern Nigeria: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: There are reports of a high prevalence of maternal peripheral and placental malarial parasitaemia (MP) in southeastern Nigeria following the two-dose regimen of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) for intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) of malaria in pregnancy.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of monthly versus two-dose regimens of SP for IPT of malaria in pregnancy in Enugu, south-eastern Nigeria.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial involving antenatal clinic attendees at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.

Detection and Molecular Characterization of from Wastewater Environments in Two University Campuses in Nigeria.

Background: () is the most prominent bacterial pathogen that causes urinary tract infections (UTIs), and the rate of resistance to most used antibiotics is alarmingly increasing.

Methods: This study assessed the hostel gutters of two Nigerian universities, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and Kogi State University, Anyigba (KSU), for and its antimicrobial resistance genes (). Oxoid Chromogenic UTI agar was used to isolate uropathogenic (UPEC), identified using standard biochemical tests.

Educational Intervention Can Improve the Pilot Balloon Palpation Method of Tracheal Tube Cuff Pressure Monitoring: An Experimental Study.

Background: Considerable morbidity is attributable to inappropriate tracheal cuff pressure. An earlier study undertaken in our hospital revealed that a normal cuff pressure of 20-30 cm HO was achieved in only 6% of intubated patients using subjective estimation methods.

Objective: To determine whether a training intervention could improve the accuracy of the subjective estimation method in our tracheal cuff monitoring.

The Burden, Challenges, and Prospects of Hand Surgery Practice in South Eastern Nigeria.

Background: Hand injuries sometimes cause significant loss of function with psychological and functional consequences. The national status on dedicated specialised hand surgery units, hand surgery fellowship programmes, and outcome of operative hand surgery cases is generally lacking.

Aims: To determine the current state of hand surgery practice in south eastern Nigeria and identify the major challenges to its practice and proffer realistic solutions.

Factors Affecting Choice of Subspecialisation amongst Orthopaedic Surgery Residents in Southern Nigeria.

Background: As the field of surgery continues to evolve, subspecialty training is fast becoming integral to surgical education. Presently, orthopaedic surgery residents have opportunities to subspecialise in different areas.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting the choice of desired subspecialties amongst orthopaedic surgery residents in southern Nigeria.

Exploring the impact of stigma on health-related quality of life among individuals with sickle cell disease: a moderated mediation analysis of distress and social support.

Despite extensive research on the impact of stigma on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with sickle cell disease, gaps remain in understanding the mechanisms through which this association occurs. We investigated how stigma impacts HRQoL among people with sickle cell disease (SCD) through distress and the moderating role of social support in this association. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, we sampled 165 people with SCD in Nigeria, who completed relevant measures.

Nanotoxicology: developments and new insights.

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in treatment of diseases have increased exponentially recently, giving rise to the science of nanomedicine. The safety of these NPs in humans has also led to the science of nanotoxicology. Due to a dearth of both readily available models and precise bio-dispersion characterization techniques, nanotoxicological research has obviously been constrained.

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and its related determinants in Nigeria: An online survey.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a major challenge in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Identifying the sociodemographic factors associated with vaccine acceptance among Nigerians is crucial for improving vaccine uptake.

Aim: To assess the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccine and its related determinants among Nigerians.