Biomass fuel exposure and asthma symptoms among rural school children in Nigeria

Background: Approximately 70% of rural Nigerian households rely on biomass fuels for cooking. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) estimates the prevalence of current wheeze among children in Nigeria to have risen from 10.7% in 1999 to approximately 20% in 2014. Objective: To examine the effects of biomass smoke exposure on asthma symptom prevalence in rural children in Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in rural communities in Nigeria. Asthma symptoms were defined according to ISAAC definitions. Biomass smoke exposure was determined by the types of fuel used for cooking. Logistic regression was used to explore associations between biomass smoke and asthma symptoms. Results: The study population comprised 1,690 school children, of which 865 lived in households cooking with biomass and 825 lived in households not using biomass. Asthma symptoms were reported in 481 (28.5%) children. Biomass fuel was associated with increased odds of asthma symptoms. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were 1.38 (95% CI: 1.05–1.80) for nocturnal cough, 1.26 (95% CI: 1.00–1.61) for current wheeze, and 1.33 (95% CI: 1.05–1.69) for report of any asthma-related symptoms. Sex modified the associations between asthma symptoms with biomass fuel: aORs were stronger and significant for males (nocturnal cough = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.24–2.76; current wheeze = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.03–2.13; report of any asthma-related symptoms = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.12–2.28), but weaker and non-significant for females.Conclusion: The risk of asthma symptoms related to biomass smoke exposure appears to differ by sex.     

Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation improves locomotor learning in healthy humans

Background

Ambulation is an essential aspect of daily living and is often impaired after brain and spinal cord injuries. Despite the implementation of standard neurorehabilitative care, locomotor recovery is often incomplete.

Conventional endometrioid adenocarcinomas of the endometrium recurring as clear cell tumors: comparative immunohistochemical analyses

Endometrial carcinomas are known to have the potential for recurrences that are distinctly discordant at the morphologic and immunophenotypic levels from their antecedent primary tumors. This report describes 3 patients with stage I, low or intermediate grade, conventional endometrioid carcinomas that recurred at the vaginal apex as notably clear cell-rich, higher grade, histotypically ambiguous neoplasms. Comparative immunohistochemical analyses were performed on all cases on both the original and the recurrent tumors using a panel of 8 biomarkers, including estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, vimentin, p53, p16, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1β, BAF250a (ARID1A), and stathmin or oncoprotein-18 (STMN1). Notable immunophenotypic differences (relative to the original tumor) in case 1 included the relative loss of vimentin and estrogen receptor and the acquisition of p53, p16, and STMN1 expression in the recurrence. In case 2, significant p16 and STMN1 expression were identified only in the recurrence. In case 3, there were no significant immunophenotypic differences between the original tumor and the recurrence. In all 3 cases, the recurrent and original tumors showed no significant differences in BAF250a, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1β, and progesterone receptor expression. In summary, our cases confirm that endometrioid carcinomas can recur as clear cell-rich tumors. The relative acquisition of STMN1 expression in 2 of the 3 recurrences and p53 overexpression in 1 of 3 recurrences suggests that this phenomenon represents a form of tumor evolution, and this may be a potential contributor to tumor progression in these patients.     

Resettling into a new life: Exploring aspects of acculturation that could enhance the mental health of young refugees resettled under the humanitarian programme

Globally, the exodus of individuals who have been forced to flee their home and seek refuge in countries of safety has led to a refugee crisis. The United Kingdom (UK) has engaged with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in playing a significant role in the long‐term resettlement of refugees, half of whom are children and young people. One initiative of such humanitarian resettlement is the Gateway Protection Programme (GPP). To date, there is a dearth of studies investigating aspects of acculturation that affect the mental health of young refugees resettled under the UNHCR humanitarian programme. This study aimed to explore aspects of acculturation that could enhance the mental health of GPP young refugees several years after resettlement. Using narrative research, a purposive sample of 31 GPP young refugees, who had a minimum of three‐year stay in the UK, were recruited from local refugee community organizations. Data were collected through a multi‐method design combining focus group discussions (FGDs) with visual arts‐based narrative research (VABNR) and analysed thematically. Three overarching themes emerged: People and places; Its nearly all new to me; and Finding self. This study contributes important knowledge regarding the mental well‐being of young people who have engaged in a resettlement programme and offers valuable information for policymakers and mental health professionals working with GPP young refugees.     

T‐705‐modified ssRNA in complex with Lassa virus nucleoprotein exhibits nucleotide splaying and increased water influx into the RNA‐binding pocket

Lassa virus infection is clinically characterized by multiorgan failure in humans. Without an FDA‐approved vaccine, ribavirin is the frontline drug for the treatment but with attendant toxicities. 6‐Fluoro‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐pyrazinecarboxamide (T‐705) is an emerging alternative drug with proven anti‐Lassa virus activity in experimental model. One of the mechanisms of action is its incorporation into nascent single‐strand RNA (ssRNA) which forms complex with Lassa nucleoprotein (LASV‐NP). Here, using molecular dynamics simulation, the structural and electrostatics changes associated with LASV‐NP‐ssRNA complex have been studied when none, one, or four of its bases has been substituted with T‐705. The results demonstrated that glycosidic torsion angle χ (O4′‐C1′‐N1‐C2) rotated from high‐anti‐ (?110° and ?60°) to the syn‐ conformation (+30) with increased T‐705 substitution. Similarly, increased T‐705 substitution resulted in increased splaying (55°–70°), loss of ssRNA‐LASV‐NP H‐bond interaction, increased water influx into the ssRNA‐binding pocket, and decreased electrostatic potentials of ssRNA pocket. Furthermore, strong positively correlated motion observed between α6 residues (aa: 128–145) and its contact ssRNA bases (5–7) is weakened in Apo biosystem and transitioned into anticorrelated motions in ssRNA‐bound LASV‐NP biosystem. Finally, LASV genome may become more accessible to cellular ribonuclease access with T‐705 incorporation due to loss of NP interaction.     

Barium chloride dose‐dependently induced heart and lung injury in Wistar rats

Barium (Ba) is one of the environmental pollutant metals that incite deleterious effects on human health. The present study investigated the effects of exposure to different doses of barium chloride (BaCl₂) on heart and lung of Wistar rats. Rats were exposed to BaCl₂ at 150, 300, and 600 mg/L for seven consecutive days. Results indicated that exposure to Ba caused heart and lung damage evidenced by significant increase in plasma lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase activities, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol levels, while high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol level decreased when compared with control. Moreover, BaCl₂ significantly decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase, and acetylcholinesterase activities as well as glutathione level in heart and lung of the treated rats. Furthermore, the dose‐dependent increase in cardiac and lung lipid peroxidation, advanced oxidative protein product and nitric oxide levels were accompanied by marked increase in metallothionein in the BaCl₂‐treated rats. Administration of BaCl₂ altered hematological parameters and significantly increased concentrations of interleukin‐6 in the treated rats. Histology analysis showed significant alteration in the heart and lung tissues of Ba‐treated rats. In conclusion, BaCl₂‐induced heart and lung damages via disruption of antioxidant defense systems, and activation of inflammatory mediators and alteration in hematological parameters in rats.     

Covid-19 pandemic: chronicle of responses and experiences of the infection prevention and control committee at a tertiary hospital in southwest Nigeria

Since the advent of 2019-Corona virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria in February 2020, the number of confirmed cases has risen astronomically to over 61,307 cases within 8 months with more than 812 healthcare workers infected and some recorded deaths within their ranks.Infection prevention and control is a key component in ensuring safety of healthcare workers in the hospital as healthcare-associated infection is one of the most common complications of healthcare management. Unbridled transmission of infection can lead to shortage of healthcare personnel, reduced system efficiency, increased morbidity and mortality among patients and in some instances, total collapse of healthcare delivery services. The Infection Prevention and Control Committee is a recognised group by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention with their core programmes including drawing up activities, procedures and policies designed to achieve above-stated objectives before, during and after any disease outbreak, especially emerging and re-emerging ones such as the 2019 Coronavirus Disease. In this report, we highlight the roles played by the Infection Prevention and Control Committee of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within and outside the hospital community and the lessons learned to date.