Vibrio species from diarrhoeal stools and water environment in Cross River State,Nigeria

Diarrhoeal stools from patients, and river/estuarine water, crab and shrimp samples from the environment of Ikom and Calabar areas of Nigeria were examined bacteriologically for Vibrio spp. Vibrio cell populations were additionally enumerated in the environmental samples. Three Vibrio species were isolated: Vibrio cholerae and V. parahaemolyticus from both the clinical and the environmental samples, and V. alginolyticus from the latter only. Vibrio cholerae was the major cause of Vibrio diarrhoea in the region and was confirmed as the major aetiologic agent in the cholera outbreak in Ikom. Clinical disease by V. parahaemolyticus was confirmed and was indistinguishable from V. cholerae symptoms except in severity and fever, which occurred in some of the latter. V. parahaemolyticus was isolated more frequently (48.8%), particularly from the environment, than V. cholerae (36.6%) and V. alginolyticus (0.78%). The log 10 Vibrio cell count of the three species followed a similar pattern (2.42 - 2.47-5.07 - 5.00, 1.96 - 2.27-5.01 - 5.14, and 2.78 - 3.21 cfu, respectively). There was higher incidence of the Vibrio species in the dry season (23.3-93.3%) than in the rainy season (3.3-70.0%). The Vibrio cell count followed similar seasonal variation (1.94 - 2.37-5.32 - 5.59 cfu in the dry season and 1.96 - 1.03-4.67 - 5.01 cfu in the rainy season).     

Effects of dimethylnitrosamine on some actions of testosterone

Using homogenates of mouse kidney and testes, the activities of the enzymes, β-glucuronidase and β-galactosidase, were studied as markers of androgen action. The results obtained differed between testes and kidney homogenates. Dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) may cause a competetitive inhibition of the anabolic action of testosterone in kidney homogenates but this was not evident from the results obtained with testes homogenates.     

Healthcare utilization and cost barriers among U.S. childhood cancer survivors

Background

To evaluate healthcare utilization and cost barrier patterns among childhood cancer survivors (CCS) compared with noncancer controls.

Procedure

Using the 2014-2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we identified CCS < 50 years and matched controls. We used chi-squared tests to compare characteristics between the two groups. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the likelihood of having a checkup, receiving influenza vaccine, and experiencing healthcare cost barriers (being unable to see the doctor due to cost) during the past 12 months. Conditional models accounted for the matching.

Results

We included 231 CCS and 692 controls. CCS had lower household income (p < 0.001), lower educational attainment (p = 0.021), more chronic health conditions (p < 0.001), and a higher proportion of being current smokers (p = 0.005) than controls. Both groups had similar rates of having a checkup and influenza vaccine; however, a quarter of CCS experienced healthcare cost barriers compared with 13.9% in controls (p = 0.001; regression findings: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-2.65). Compared with the youngest CCS group (18-24 years), CCS ages 25-29 years were five times more likely to experience healthcare cost barriers (aOR = 4.79; 95% CI, 1.39-16.54). Among CCS, current smokers were less likely to have a checkup (aOR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.23-0.94). Uninsured CCS were less likely to have a checkup (aOR = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.14-0.75) and ∼8 times more likely to experience healthcare cost barriers (aOR = 8.28; 95% CI, 3.45-19.88).

Conclusion

CCS being 25-29 years, uninsured, or current smokers encounter inferior outcomes in healthcare utilization and cost barriers. We suggest emphasis on programs on care transition and smoking cessation for CCS.     

A 4-year analysis of caesarean delivery in a Nigerian teaching hospital: one-quarter of babies born surgically.

Between January 2001 and December 2004, a total of 2,922 deliveries were conducted at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital , Enugu. Caesarean section accounted for 740 deliveries, an incidence of 25.3%. A total of 62.2% of caesarean sections were done as emergencies, while 37.8% were done as elective procedures and 64.8% were booked patients. Repeat caesarean sections accounted for 59.2% of elective cases and 18.7% of emergency cases. Fetal distress was responsible for 11. 6% of emergency cases, however 35.6% of babies delivered for clinically diagnosed fetal distress had Apgar scores 7 and above. A total of 85.6% of patients were between 25 - 29 years of age; 31% were primigravida, while 54.4% were Gravida 2 - 4. There were seven (0.6%) maternal deaths and 73 (9.2%) stillbirths. It was concluded that reduction of primary caesarean section rate and repeat caesarean rates should be the main target of any strategy to reduce caesarean section rate. Other measures to reduce the caesarean section rate and recommendations are discussed.     

Managing social anxiety among undergraduate adult education and extra-mural studies students: An intervention study

Background/Objective:Anxiety is a significant problem affecting University students including undergraduate adult education and extra-mural studies students. This research evaluated the impact of a group rational-emotive behavioral education intervention (group rational-emotive behavioral education intervention [REBEI]) on social anxiety symptoms among undergraduate adult education and extra-mural studies students.Method:Eighty six students participated in the study by belonging to either treatment group (n = 43) or control group (n = 43). A REBEI treatment program was developed by the researchers was used to implement the experiment and data was collected using a 22-item questionnaire on social anxiety. Analyzes of data were done using repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-test.Results:Results showed that despite the social anxiety experienced before exposure to the intervention, the social anxiety symptoms of the undergraduate adult education and extra-mural studies students in the treatment group reduced significantly at post-treatment and follow-up compared to students in the control group.Conclusion:REBEI demonstrated its clinical usefulness in treating undergraduate adult education and extra-mural studies students with social anxiety problem.     

Effects of kola-nut extract administration on the liver, kidney, brain, testis and some serum constituents of the rat

Kola-nut extract induced a number of overt neurotoxicological signs in male albino rats. A decrease in the total body weight and an increase in the absolute weights of the liver, kidney, brain and testis were observed after 18 weeks oral administration of kola-nut extract to the rats. Total protein, RNA and DNA of these organs were significantly depressed. The activity of beta-glucuronidase and beta-galactosidase was induced only in the kidney, brain and testis of treated animals. While the levels of serum phosphomonoesterases and total cholesterol were significantly enhanced due to kola-nut intake, serum total and conjugated bilirubin levels were significantly decreased.     

Analysis and forecasting of confirmed,death, and recovered cases of COVID-19 infections in Nigeria: Implications for university administrators

The coronavirus (COVID-19) disease outbreak was a public health emergency of international concern which eventually evolved into a pandemic. Nigeria was locked down in March, 2020 as the country battled to contain the spread of the disease. By August 2020, phase-by-phase easing of the lockdown was commenced and university students will soon return for academic activities. This study undertakes some epidemiological analysis of the Nigerian COVID-19 data to help the government and university administrators make informed decisions on the safety of personnel and students.The COVID-19 data on confirmed cases, deaths, and recovered were obtained from the website of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) from April 2, 2020 to August 24, 2020. The infection rate, prevalence, ratio, cause-specific death rate, and case recovery rate were used to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of the pandemic in Nigeria. Exponential smoothing was adopted in modeling the time series data and forecasting the pandemic in Nigeria up to January 31, 2021.The results indicated that the pandemic had infection rate of at most 3 infections per 1 million per day from April to August 2020. The death rate was 5 persons per 1 million during the period of study while recovery rate was 747 persons per 1000 infections. Analysis of forecast data showed steady but gradual decrease in the daily infection rate and death rate and substantial increase in the recovery rate, 975 recoveries per 1000 infections.In general, the epidemiological attributes of the pandemic from the original data and the forecast data indicated optimism in the decrease in the rate of infection and death in the future. Moreover, the infection rate, prevalence and death rate in January 2021 coincided with the predictions based on the analysis. Therefore, the Nigerian government is encouraged to allow universities in the country to reopen while university administrators set up the necessary protocols for strict adherence to safety measures.