Synthesis of Ti-Al-xNb Ternary Alloys via Laser-Engineered Net Shaping for Biomedical Application: Densification,Electrochemical and Mechanical Properties Studies

The lives of many people around the world are impaired and shortened mostly by cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Despite the fact that medical interventions and surgical heart transplants may improve the lives of patients suffering from cardiovascular disease, the cost of treatments and securing a perfect donor are aspects that compel patients to consider cheaper and less invasive therapies. The use of synthetic biomaterials such as titanium-based implants are an alternative for cardiac repair and regeneration. In this work, an in situ development of Ti-Al-xNb alloys were synthesized via laser additive manufacturing for biomedical application. The effect of Nb composition on Ti-Al was investigated. The microstructural evolution was characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). A potentiodynamic polarization technique was utilized to investigate the corrosion behavior of TiAl-Nb in 3.5% NaCl. The microhardness and corrosion behaviour of the synthesized Ti-Al-Nb alloys were found to be dependent on laser-processing parameters. The microhardness performance of the samples increased with an increase in the Nb feed rate to the Ti-Al alloy system. Maximum microhardness of 699.8 HVN was evident at 0.061 g/min while at 0.041 g/min the microhardness was 515.8 HVN at Nb gas carrier of 1L/min, respectively.     

Novel sulphonic acid liquid crystal derivatives: experimental,computational and optoelectrical characterizations

A novel liquid crystal homologous series based on the benzene sulphonic acid moiety, namely (E)-4-((4-((4-(alkoxy)benzoyl)oxy)benzylidene)amino)benzenesulfonic acid (Sn), was synthesized and examined via different experimental and theoretical measurements. The four synthesized members have terminally connected alkoxy chain groups, which vary between 6 and 12 carbons. FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy, as well as elemental analyses, were used to confirm their molecular structures. Mesomorphic and optical investigations of the prepared homologues were also conducted using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). The DSC and POM characterization revealed that all of the synthesized sulphonic acid members are monomorphic, exhibiting a pure smectic A (SmA) mesophase with enantiotropic properties. Moreover, all compounds in the group have high thermal transition temperatures. The terminal electron-withdrawing group –SO₃H plays a considerable role in the stabilization of the molecule, which in return resulted in high thermal SmA stability. Furthermore, the experimental data relating to the mesophase behavior were substantiated via computational studies using the DFT approach. In addition, the terminal –SO₃H moiety has an essential impact on the thermal and physical parameters of possible geometries. All members of the synthesized Sn series exhibit ohmic behavior with electrical resistance in the GΩ range, as revealed by electrical measurements. The S10 electrode had the highest electrical conductivity: 35.16 pS. It also showed two direct optical band gaps of 3.58 and 3.23 eV with Urbach energies of 1261.1 and 502.4 meV. Upon decreasing the number of carbon atoms to n = 6, the main bandgap for S6 reduced to 3.3 eV. The highest conductivity, good absorption, and two large bandgaps recorded for the chain derivative S10 make it suitable for investigations relating to energy-based applications.

A novel liquid crystal homologous series based on the benzene sulphonic acid moiety, namely (E)-4-((4-((4-(alkoxy)benzoyl)oxy)benzylidene)amino)benzenesulfonic acid (Sn), was synthesized and examined via different experimental and theoretical measurements.     

Radiation therapy: A major factor in the five-year survival analysis of women with breast cancer in Lagos,Nigeria

Purpose

This retrospective study was carried out to examine five-year survival from breast cancer cases diagnosed between 2005 and May 2008 in Nigerian women.

Material and methods

Two hundred and twenty-four patients were entered into the study. Five-year survival was evaluated using proportional hazard model proposed by Cox to assess variables such as age of diagnosis, menopausal status, and stage of the disease in the two treatment groups: surgery/chemotherapy or surgery/chemotherapy/radiotherapy.

Results

Findings revealed that the different staging of disease and treatment are independent predictors of disease outcome whereas age of diagnosis and menopausal status although associated with low hazards, are not significant. TNM Stage I (Hazard Ratio = 0.153, 95% CI 0.45–0.51, P = 0.003), II (Hazard Ratio = 0.245, 95% CI 0.12–0.46, P = 0.0001), and III (Hazard Ratio = 0.449, 95% CI 0.31–0.46, P = 0.0001) showed significantly greater survival rates compared to TNM Stage IV for patients receiving surgery/chemotherapy. Similarly, for patients receiving surgery/chemotherapy/radiotherapy TNM Stage II (Hazard Ratio = 0.110, 95% CI 0.02–0.46, P = 0.003) and III (Hazard Ratio = 0.238, 95% CI 0.07–0.73, P = 0.012) also showed significantly greater survival rates compared to TNM Stage IV. Treatment had a significant impact on survival independent of stage, age, and menopausal status. Patients receiving surgery/chemotherapy/radiotherapy had a significant increase in survival outcome for TNM Stage (II, P = 0.045; III, P = 0.0001); age groups (40–49, P = 0.021; 50–59, P = 0.016; 60–69, P = 0.017; >70, P = 0.025); and menopausal status (premenopausal, P = 0.049; postmenopausal, P = 0.0001) compared to those receiving surgery/chemotherapy.

Conclusion

The five-year breast cancer survival rate in Lagos, Nigeria 24.1% (54/224) is relatively poor compared to most countries in the world and needs to be improved. Poor survival rates are mainly attributed to late presentation and poor follow-up, hence early detection through breast cancer awareness programs, appropriate logistics and better management of patients through guidelines for the treatment of breast need to be implemented to improve survival.     

Traumatic Dental Injuries: A seven-year evaluation of peadiatric cases seen in a tertiary hospital

BackgroundEarly presentation, prompt and adequate interventions of Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDIs) are necessary to prevent unwanted sequelae/complications.ObjectivesTo assess the pattern of TDIs among the affected children, identify the treatments received and the resultant complications/sequelae.MethodsThis was a retrospective review of dental records of all paediatric patients from December 2011 to December 2018. TDIs were recorded according to the WHO classification (1995). Information on the treatment received, clinical and radiographic sequelae of trauma were also retrieved. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software Version 22.ResultA total of 776 teeth (208 primary, 568 permanent) were traumatized in 513 patients (314 males, 199 females, mean age = 8.86 ± 4.04 years). The peak age at occurrence of trauma was 8 years. The majority of patients complained of broken teeth (51.5%), sustained injury at home (47.6%), had trauma due to a fall (88.7%) and presented after one year of trauma (27.3%). Three quarters of motorcycle accidents occurred in 6–12 year–old children. More young age groups sustained injuries at home compared with older age group (p = 0.000). Avulsion (26.1%) and uncomplicated crown fracture (38.2%) were the commonest injuries to primary and permanent dentitions respectively. The most common sequelae of trauma were pulpal necrosis followed by internal root resorption. Tooth extraction (42.8%) and root canal treatment (37.0%) were the commonest treatments given in both dentitions respectively.ConclusionThe pattern of TDIs appeared not to have changed considerably but motorcycle accidents contributed to the aetiology and pulpal necrosis was a major complication due to late presentation.     

FDG PET/CT for evaluating systemic arterial inflammation induced by anthracycline-based chemotherapy of Hodgkin lymphoma: A retrospective cohort study

To evaluate arterial fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake as a marker of arterial inflammation in multiple vascular beds in patients treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).We used maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and target-to-background ratio (TBR) to quantify arterial FDG uptake in the carotid artery, ascending aorta, abdominal aorta, and femoral artery obtained on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging performed at baseline before chemotherapy and after completion of chemotherapy in patients with HL treated with an anthracycline-containing regimen. We compared the SUVmax and TBR obtained at baseline with that obtained post-chemotherapy for each arterial bed to evaluate the effect of anthracycline-based chemotherapy. We evaluated the effect of cardiovascular risk factors such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes on the changes in SUVmax and TBR seen in the different arterial beds after anthracycline-based chemotherapy.Fifty-two patients were included with a mean age of 34.56 ± 10.19 years. There were 33 males, and 18 patients were HIV-infected. The mean interval between completion of chemotherapy and follow-up flourine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) scan was 65 weeks. We found no significant difference in arterial FDG uptake measured by SUVmax and TBR in all arterial beds between the pre- and post-chemotherapy FDG PET/CT. There was no significant impact of HIV infection, smoking, and hypertension on the changes in arterial FDG uptake following treatment with anthracycline-based chemotherapy.In patients with HL who were treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy, we found no significant increase in arterial inflammation measured by FDG PET/CT after an average follow-up period of about 65 weeks since completion of chemotherapy.     

Machinery penile injuries associated with traditional trousers of the Yoruba of South-western Nigeria: A consideration for proper work clothes

Appropriateness of garments for different vocations to avoid unintended injury to the worker has always been recognized. This report of two cases of machinery penile injuries in patients wearing the traditional trousers of the Yoruba tribe of south-western Nigeria emphasizes the need for wearing appropriate clothes when operating machines.     

Occupational Hazards and Coping Strategies of Sex Workers in Southwestern Nigeria

The purpose of this article is to share with nurses around the world the findings of a phenomenological study of the meaning of menopause as experienced by modern Korean women. Four rhythmical patterns of the process of menopause were found: from suffering to comfort, from oppression to freedom, from being a good wife and mother to becoming a woman, and from a productive life to a transformed life. This unique nursing perspective on women's experience of menopause can further nurses' understanding of this human health experience and contribute to their participation in the quality of women's lives.     

West African medicinal plants and their constituent compounds as treatments for viral infections,including SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19

ObjectivesThe recent emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic (caused by SARS-CoV-2) and the experience of its unprecedented alarming toll on humanity have shone a fresh spotlight on the weakness of global preparedness for pandemics, significant health inequalities, and the fragility of healthcare systems in certain regions of the world. It is imperative to identify effective drug treatments for COVID-19. Therefore, the objective of this review is to present a unique and contextualised collection of antiviral natural plants or remedies from the West African sub-region as existing or potential treatments for viral infections, including COVID-19, with emphasis on their mechanisms of action.Evidence acquisitionEvidence was synthesised from the literature using appropriate keywords as search terms within scientific databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar.ResultsWhile some vaccines and small-molecule drugs are now available to combat COVID-19, access to these therapeutic entities in many countries is still quite limited. In addition, significant aspects of the symptomatology, pathophysiology and long-term prognosis of the infection yet remain unknown. The existing therapeutic armamentarium, therefore, requires significant expansion. There is evidence that natural products with antiviral effects have been used in successfully managing COVID-19 symptoms and could be developed as anti-COVID-19 agents which act through host- and virus-based molecular targets.ConclusionNatural products could be successfully exploited for treating viral infections/diseases, including COVID-19. Strengthening natural products research capacity in developing countries is, therefore, a key strategy for reducing health inequalities, improving global health, and enhancing preparedness for future pandemics.Graphical abstract