Identification and characterization of clinical isolates of members of the Staphylococcus sciuri group

A total of 28 staphylococcal isolates from human clinical specimens belonging to the Staphylococcus sciuri group were identified and characterized. The API Staph and ID32 STAPH correctly identified S. sciuri and S. lentus but not S. vitulinus strains. Identification to the subspecies level was possible only by a PCR-based method.     

Influence of Social Support,Work Overload,and Parity on Pregnant Career Women's Psychological Well‐Being

The influence of social support, work overload, and parity on psychological well‐being of pregnant career women was investigated. Women executives (N200) attending antenatal clinics were selected. A 2 × 2 × 2 analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant independent influence of social support (F(1, 199) = 26.51, p < 0.05) and work overload (F(1, 199) = 461.76, p < 0.05), and significant joint effect of social support and work overload. There was no significant effect of parity (F(1, 199) = 0.72, p > 0.05). Combinations of parity, social support, and work overload were also not significant (F(1, 199) = 0.80, p > 0.05). Social support and appropriate work incentives are helpful in assisting pregnant women executives in coping with psychological changes during pregnancy.     

Impact of COVID‐19 on access to healthcare in low‐ and middle‐income countries: Current evidence and future recommendations

The COVID‐19 pandemic continues to be a major public health threat globally and low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) are not an exception. The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic is far‐reaching on many areas including but not limited to global health security, economic and healthcare delivery with a potential impact on access to healthcare in LMICs. We evaluate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on access to healthcare in LMICs, as well as plausible strategies that can be put in place to ensure that the delivery of healthcare is not halted. In order to mitigate the devastating effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the already weak health systems in LMICs, it is much necessary to reinforce and scale up interventions and proactive measures that will ensure that access to healthcare is not disrupted even in course of the pandemic.     

To what extent do community characteristics drive health facility delivery? Findings among Women who had recent live births in Nigeria

Existing studies have established several individual drivers of health facility delivery in many developing countries. However, the community characteristics that drive health facility delivery have been less studied across developing countries. This study thus examines the extent to which community characteristics drives health facility delivery among women who had recent live births in Nigeria based on data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). A weighted sample size of 7,342 women was analysed. The outcome variable was health facility delivery. The explanatory variables were selected individual and community characteristics. Results show 39.7% prevalence of health facility delivery among the women. Findings further reveals that the community characteristics have significant effects on the variations in health facility delivery across the communities. Community characteristics significantly drive health facility delivery in Nigeria. More community-based priority actions are required to improve demand for health facility delivery in the country.     

Prevalence of EBV infection in 1157 diseased cohorts in Nigeria: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a member of the herpesvirus family that is known to ubiquitously infect people worldwide. However, the actual prevalence of EBV infection in diseased patients in Nigeria, remains unknown. This study was thus conducted to ascertain the true prevalence.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of published data was conducted according to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched for studies reporting the occurrence of EBV infection among patients with established diseases. Studies were included if they assessed EBV infection in diseased patients in Nigeria. Data were extracted and subsequently analysed using R software. Funnel plot and Egger's regression test was used to assess publication bias, while JBI prevalence tool was used to assess study quality.ResultsA total of 13 studies covering 228 cases of EBV infection among 1157 diseased patients were included. Summary estimates were computed using random-effects model. The pooled prevalence of EBV infection was 20.3% (95% CI: 10.8–34.9, I² ?= ?92.26, p ?< ?0.001). When stratified according to the type of disease, higher estimates were obtained for patients suffering from Kaposi's sarcoma (98.7%, 95% CI: 82.2–99.9) and Nasopharyngeal malignancy (85.7%, 95% CI: 70.0–93.9). A prevalence of 13.4% (95% CI: 6.0–27.4) and 12.2% (95% CI: 4.8–27.8) was derived for the most reported patient populations, lymphoma and HIV, respectively.ConclusionThis first meta-analysis on the prevalence of EBV among Nigerian patients suffering from various diseases reveals a prevalence that emphasises the need to routinely monitor EBV infection in all EBV-associated diseases in Nigeria.     

Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Motivational Interviewing with Sexual Minority Male Couples to Reduce Drug Use and Sexual Risk: The Couples Health Project

AIDS and Behavior - A randomized controlled trial evaluated the preliminary efficacy of a dyadically-delivered motivational interviewing (MI) intervention to reduce drug use and sexual risk in a...     

Carotid atherosclerosis and right ventricular diastolic dysfunction in a sample of hypertensive Nigerian patients

Aim

To determine the association of carotid atherosclerosis and right ventricular diastolic dysfunction (DD) among treated hypertensive Nigerian patients.

Methods

This was a single center cross-sectional study performed at the Cardiology Clinic of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria between January and December 2012. The study included 122 hypertensive Nigerians (mean age, 57.3 ± 14.7 years, 36.9% women). Patients’ clinical, demographic, and echocardiographic parameters were obtained. Diastolic dysfunction was assessed with the trans-tricuspid Doppler flow.

Results

Patients with DD were significantly older than those with normal diastolic function. Mean and maximum carotid intima media thickness measurements were significantly higher among patients with right ventricular DD than in those with normal diastolic function. Mean systolic blood pressure (148.3 ± 31.9 vs 128.0 ± 2.8 mm Hg, P = 0.049) and interventricular septal thickness in diastole (12.8 ± 2.3 vs 11.6 ± 2.8mm, P = 0.048) were significantly higher and tricuspid annular pulmonary systolic excursion (33.6 ± 4.9 vs 23.0 ± 4.2 mm, P = 0.035) was significantly lower in patients with right ventricular DD than in those with normal diastolic function. Carotid intima media thickness measurements were correlated with early trans-tricuspid Doppler flow and early transtricuspid diastolic flow/late right atrial transtricupsid diastolic flow ratio.

Conclusion

Right ventricular DD in hypertensive patients was significantly correlated with increased carotid atherosclerosis. Carotid intima media thickness measurements may therefore be a surrogate marker for DD in hypertensive subjects.Systemic hypertension has been shown to be associated with right ventricular abnormalities in both morphology and function. Right ventricular diastolic dysfunction (DD) may be an early indicator of hypertensive heart disease accompanying left ventricular DD (1-3). It can be diagnosed by various means including the ratio of early and late trans-tricuspid Doppler inflow velocities and tissue Doppler velocities.Atherosclerosis is the underlying factor for many cases of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (4). A useful surrogate marker for carotid atherosclerosis is carotid intima media thickness (5). This parameter reflects the severity of thickening/atherosclerosis of the major arteries and is directly linked with the severity of hypertension and target organ damage associated with hypertension (2,4). DD is a typical part of the cardiovascular risk spectrum with increased risk for accelerating progressive cardiac dysfunction (6). However, it is still not known whether carotid intima media thickness, which has been shown to correlate with many conventional cardiovascular risk factors, is associated with right ventricular DD, especially among Africans (7). This study aims to determine the association between right ventricular DD and carotid intima media thickness in a sample of Nigerian hypertensive patients.     

Tropical pyomyositis: an update

Tropical pyomyositis (TP) is a life‐threatening bacterial infection of the skeletal muscle that occurs particularly among children, young adults and those with immunocompromised conditions. The appropriate diagnosis and treatment are often delayed due to its non‐specific signs, leading to fatal consequences. Staphylococcus aureus, especially methicillin‐susceptible S. aureus, is responsible for most TP cases. However, other bacteria (i.e. streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Candida spp., Mycobacterium spp.) have been reported. This narrative review provides an update on the epidemiology and clinical course of TP. A special focus is laid on the role of toxins (i.e. Panton‐Valentine Leucocidin and α‐toxin) in the pathogenesis of TP and their implication for the clinical management of infection.     

Neo‐adjuvant Capecitabine Chemotherapy in Women with Newly Diagnosed Locally Advanced Breast Cancer in a Resource‐poor Setting (Nigeria): Efficacy and Safety in a Phase II Feasibility Study

The majority of clinical trials of neo‐adjuvant therapy for breast cancer have been conducted in resource‐rich countries. We chose Nigeria, a resource‐poor country, as the major site for a phase II feasibility open‐label multicenter clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of neo‐adjuvant capecitabine in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Planned treatment consisted of 24 weeks of capecitabine at a dose of 1,000 mg/m² twice daily (2,000 mg/m² total per day). The primary endpoints were overall, partial, complete clinical response rate (OCR, PCR, CCR) and complete pathologic response (cPR). A total of 16 patients were recruited from August 2007 to April 2010. The study was terminated early as a result of slow accrual. After the first three cycles of therapy, PCR were seen in five of 16 patients (31%; 95% CI 11–59%). Of the remaining 11 patients, eight had no response (NR) or stable disease (SD), and three had progressive disease (PD). Seven patients proceeded with further therapy of which had SD. OCR at the end of eight cycles was 44% (95% CI 20–70%). Clinical response and radiologic response by ultrasonomammography were highly concordant (spearman correlation 0.70). The most common adverse effect was Grade 1 hand–foot syndrome, which was seen in 75% of patients. Despite several limitations, we successfully carried out this phase II feasibility study of neo‐adjuvant capecitabine for LABC in Nigeria. Capecitabine monotherapy showed good overall response rates with minimal toxicity and further studies are warranted.