Cytotoxic Flavokawain B Inhibits the Growth and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma through Modulation of the STAT3/Hif-1α/VEGF Signalling Pathway.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with a high mortality rate due to early recurrence and its metastasis features. To this day, effective treatment options for metastatic HCC remain a major challenge to patient treatment. Flavokawain B (FKB) is a naturally occurring chalcone molecule capable of providing effective therapy against this life-threatening disease.

Inter-State Transmission of Lassa Fever during the 2015-2016 Lassa Outbreak in Nigeria: An Implication for Infection Prevention and Control Practices.

Background: Lassa fever is an acute hemorrhagic viral disease caused by the Lassa virus. The Lassa virus belongs to the Arenaviridae family of RNA viruses. On 05/04/2016; two cases of Lassa fever were reported from Katsina State with the date of presentation of the first case on 23/03/2016 and 27/03/ 2016 for the second case.

Does adherence to antiretroviral therapy differ by place of residence in Nigeria? A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Introduction: Retention in care is still a significant challenge in the HIV treatment cascade and varies extensively across regions, leading to poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Several factors across different socioecological levels, such as health and community-level factors, inhibit ART adherence among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Nigeria. This review seeks to ask whether adherence to ART differs by place of residence in Nigeria.

Neonatal administration of fenofibrate had no developmental programming effect on the lipid profile and relative leucocyte telomere lengths of adolescent rats fed a high-fructose diet postnatally.

Telomere length, a marker of ageing, is susceptible to developmental programming that may cause its accelerated attrition. Metabolic syndrome triggers telomere attrition. Fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha agonist, is protective against telomere attrition.

Monolateral external fixation versus internal fixation of Gustilo IIIB open tibial fractures: a multicenter comparative study.

Purpose: Gustilo IIIB open tibial fractures are associated with significant risks of complications particularly nonunion and fracture-related infections (FRI) due to the severity of the injuries. The commonly adopted viewpoint is that a Gustilo IIIB open tibial fracture is a relative contraindication for internal fixation. However, this study aims to assess the veracity of this viewpoint.

Determinants of social support among people living with HIV in Nigeria-a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: More than 38.4 million people were living with HIV worldwide in 2021. Sub-Saharan Africa bears two-thirds of the burden, with Nigeria having nearly two million people living with HIV (PLWH).

Isolation and molecular characterization of pathogenic Leptospira species from cattle in Zaria and its environs, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic serovars of Leptospira spp. The paucity of information on the status of leptospirosis in cattle in the study area led to this study. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a total of 130 kidney samples from cattle which were cultured using Ellinghausen Mc-Cullough Johnson Harris enrichment and examined on dark field microscope after 8 weeks of culture.

Clinical Profile and Determinants of Loss to Follow-Up in Patients Enrolled in an Urban Antiretroviral Treatment Programme in Northwestern Nigeria.

Introduction: Loss of follow up in patients enrolled on antiretroviral treatment programmes has the potential to reduce their quality of life. We set out to describe the profile and risk factors for loss to follow up in patients enrolled on our programme.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the records of patients who were identified as lost to follow up between August 2008 to July 2018.

Quality of life of dental patients treated with laser surgery: A scoping review.

Background And Aims: The use of lasers has been increasing in various surgical procedures. Its specific characteristics have conquered the scalpel used to a major extent in certain surgical procedures. This scoping review aimed to assess the empirical evidence that exists on the quality of life (QoL) of dental patients treated with laser surgery.

Pattern of systemic lupus erythematosus in NIGERIA: a multicentre descriptive hospital-based study.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease with manifestations ranging from mild to life-threatening organ dysfunction. There is wide variability in the reported incidence and prevalence rate globally, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Nigeria had very few isolated reports of SLE from private and public hospitals Therefore, we conducted this large multi-center descriptive study to determine the sociodemographic, clinical profile, laboratory patterns, and treatment among Nigerian lupus patients.

Langya virus outbreak: current challenges and lesson learned from previous henipavirus outbreaks in China, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

Background And Aims: A new novel virus, Langya virus (LayV), was detected in China in August 2022, 3 years after the COVID-19 pandemic. LayV is similar to the previously discovered Mojiang henipavirus. Other zoonotic henipaviruses include the Hendra and Nipah viruses.

Polio-philanthropy in Africa: A narrative review.

Background And Aim: Polio eradication efforts including polio-philanthropy have been coordinated and sustained since 1988, with the introduction of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The polio fight is sustained in the name of evidence-based benevolence or beneficent philanthropy from which Africa has benefited immensely. With the recorded polio cases as of 2023, more efforts and funds are required to eradicate polio.

School-based interventions on Mpox: A scoping review.

Background And Aims: The 2022 multicountry mpox outbreak necessitated the declaration of mpox as a public health emergency. This is the first time a wide mpox spread and human-to-human transmission are recorded in several countries outside West and Central Africa. The outbreak reveals a strong need for wider intervention to increase awareness and control measures on mpox, especially in schools.

Barriers and facilitators to hepatitis B birth dose vaccination: Perspectives from healthcare providers and pregnant women accessing antenatal care in Nigeria.

Nigeria is estimated to have the largest number of children worldwide, living with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the leading cause of liver cancer. Up to 90% of children infected at birth develop chronic HBV infection. A birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine (HepB-BD) followed by at least two additional vaccine doses is recommended for prevention.

School-Based Interventions on Dental Trauma: A Scoping Review of Empirical Evidence.

Introduction: Accidents involving sports or leisure activities, falls, blows from objects, acts of interpersonal violence, and accidents can all result in dental trauma (also known as traumatic dental injuries [TDIs]). School children are one of the population groups that are highly vulnerable to TDIs. Multiple school-based interventions have been conducted around the world on the prevention and management of TDIs; however, no known scoping review has been conducted to map the evidence.

Effectiveness of buffered and non-buffered local anaesthetic in inferior alveolar nerve block: a randomised study.

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of buffered and non-buffered local anaesthetic (LA) following inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB). This study was conducted at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto from June 2020 to January 2021. Subjects were randomised into Groups A and B.

Iron deficiency and its epigenetic effects on iron homeostasis.

Iron deficiency is a common micronutrient deficiency associated with metabolic changes in the levels of iron regulatory proteins, hepcidin and ferroportin. Studies have associated dysregulation of iron homeostasis to other secondary and life-threatening diseases including anaemia, neurodegeneration and metabolic diseases. Iron deficiency plays a critical role in epigenetic regulation by affecting the Fe/α-ketoglutarate-dependent demethylating enzymes, Ten Eleven Translocase 1-3 (TET 1-3) and Jumonji-C (JmjC) histone demethylase, which are involved in epigenetic erasure of the methylation marks on both DNA and histone tails, respectively.

Public health concerns surrounding the cVDPV2 outbreak in Africa: Strategies for prevention and control with a special focus on Nigeria.

Background And Aim: Poliovirus is a global health issue that affects children in different parts of the world. Despite the efforts of national, international, and nongovernmental organizations to eradicate the disease, it is re-emerging in Africa due to poor sanitation, vaccine hesitancy, new ways of transmission, and poor surveillance among others. Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) is a major step in eradicating poliovirus and preventing outbreaks in developing countries.

Dental caries in Rwanda: A scoping review.

Background And Aims: Dental caries is an infectious disease affecting virtually all nations, including Rwanda. In Rwanda, the burden of dental caries is an issue of public health concern. To ensure the progressive eradication of the current dental caries burden in Rwanda through an evidence-based approach, it is imperative to have an overview of the scientific research landscape of dental caries in the country.

Research on natal and neonatal teeth in Africa: A systematic scoping review of empirical evidence.

Background And Aims: In Africa, natal and neonatal teeth is a culture-bound phenomenon which is associated with several sociocultural connotations which might affect child survival. Different empirical studies have been conducted in Africa on natal and neonatal teeth; however, no known scoping review has been conducted to map the empirical evidence. This systematic scoping review (SSR) aims to document the available empirical evidence, research gaps, and hotspots on neonatal and natal teeth in Africa.

Preventative interventions by dental care professionals in Africa on oral human papillomavirus, gonorrheal, chlamydial, syphilitic and trichomonas infections: A scoping review.

Background: Oral human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrheal, chlamydial, syphilitic and trichomonas infections are very common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Africa. However, no known study has reviewed the available evidence concerning the preventative interventions by dental care professionals (DCPs) in Africa on oral STDs; hence, this scoping review was conducted to evaluate the research landscape of this topic area in Africa.

Methods: The scoping review methodology and documentation were informed by the Arksey and O'Malley's guideline, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for conducting Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist, and the AMSTAR-2 guideline.