Assessment of Structural Strength of Commercial Sandcrete Blocks in Kano State

This research was aimed at studying the strength properties of the commercial sandcrete blocks produced in Kano State. A total number of 250 block samples were randomly collected from five local government areas, fifty (50) from each of the local governments and cured for 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The blocks were subjected to various tests at wet and dry conditions as follow: wet compressive test, drying shrinkage, moisture movement and density all in accordance with established standards in the structural laboratory of Department of Civil Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the aggregates were subjected to sieve analysis and moisture content determination in the Geotechnical Laboratory of the department. The compressive strength was found to be between 0.25 N/mm2 and 0.92 N/mm2 which are far below the specified values (2.5 N/mm2 to 3.45N/mm2 respectively) in the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS 87, 2000). It is concluded that the commercially produced sandcrete blocks in Kano State are of lower standard than expected. It is recommended that workshop should be organised periodically to enlighten the producers of sandcrete blocks. The importance of adhering to standard specifications should be emphasised and strict penalties be meted out to erring producers by the Nigerian Industrial Standard Organisation.Keywords: sandcrete blocks, compressive strength, Kano State, British standard, mix rati

Parathyroid hormone secreting metaplastic breast carcinoma: a case report of paraneoplastic syndrome

Paraneoplastic syndrome (PNS) is a distant neurological manifestation of an underlying tumour. Humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy is a form of paraneoplastic syndrome where there is an increased in calcium levels. In this article we report a 48 year old lady, with no known medical illness and presented with symptomatic hypercalcaemia. She presented to our institution complaining of a fungating and ulcerating mass over the right breast, measuring 11 X 15 cm and associated with gradual paraxial body weakness. Further investigations revealed the lesion to be an invasive breast carcinoma with metaplastic features. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a locally advanced breast carcinoma with right axillary node metastasis, without evidence of distant metastasis. Serum calcium, i-PTH together with SPECT has confirmed the patient to have a humoral hypercalcaemia malignancy with elevated ectopic parathyroid hormone level. Bone scan did not reveal any evidence of metastasis. High volume intake and loop diuretics were employed in the management of hypercalcaemia, which was eventually resolved following mastectomy with axillary clearance of the ipsilateral side. Currently she’s she is under oncologist’s follow up for further management

Dry powder inhalation of macromolecules using novel PEG-co-polyester microparticle carriers

This study investigated optimizing the formulation parameters for encapsulation of a model mucinolytic enzyme, α-chymotrypsin (α-CH), within a novel polymer; poly(ethylene glycol)-co-poly(glycerol adipate-co-ω-pentadecalactone), PEG-co-(PGA-co-PDL) which were then applied to the formulation of DNase I. α-CH or DNase I loaded microparticles were prepared via spray drying from double emulsion (w1/o/w2) utilizing chloroform (CHF) as the organic solvent, l-leucine as a dispersibility enhancer and an internal aqueous phase (w1) containing PEG4500 or Pluronic® F-68 (PLF68). α-CH released from microparticles was investigated for bioactivity using the azocasein assay and the mucinolytic activity was assessed utilizing the degradation of mucin suspension assay. The chemical structure of PEG-co-(PGA-co-PDL) was characterized by 1H NMR and FT-IR with both analyses confirming PEG incorporated into the polymer backbone, and any unreacted units removed. Optimum formulation α-CH-CHF/PLF68, 1% produced the highest bioactivity, enzyme encapsulation (20.08 ± 3.91%), loading (22.31 ± 4.34 μg/mg), FPF (fine particle fraction) (37.63 ± 0.97%); FPD (fine particle dose) (179.88 ± 9.43 μg), MMAD (mass median aerodynamic diameter) (2.95 ± 1.61 μm), and the mucinolytic activity was equal to the native non-encapsulated enzyme up to 5 h. DNase I-CHF/PLF68, 1% resulted in enzyme encapsulation (17.44 ± 3.11%), loading (19.31 ± 3.27 μg/mg) and activity (81.9 ± 2.7%). The results indicate PEG-co-(PGA-co-PDL) can be considered as a potential biodegradable polymer carrier for dry powder inhalation of macromolecules for treatment of local pulmonary diseases

Impacts of land use change on peatland degradation: a review

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Changes in STI and HIV testing and testing need among men who have sex with men during the UK's COVID-19 pandemic response.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the impact of COVID-19-related restrictions on sexual behaviours, STI and HIV testing and testing need among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the UK. METHODS: We used social media and dating applications to recruit to three cross-sectional surveys (S1-S3) during the UK's pandemic response (S1: 23 June-14 July 2020; S2: 23 November-12 December 2020; S3: 23 March-14 April 2021). Surveys included lookback periods of around 3-4 months (P1-P3, respectively). Eligible participants were UK resident men (cisgender/transgender) and gender-diverse people assigned male at birth (low numbers of trans and gender-diverse participants meant restricting these analyses to cisgender men), aged ≥16 years who reported sex with men (cisgender/transgender) in the last year (S1: N=1950; S2: N=1463; S3: N=1487). Outcomes were: recent STI/HIV testing and unmet testing need (new male and/or multiple condomless anal sex partners without a recent STI/HIV test). Crude and adjusted associations with each outcome were assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Participants' sociodemographic characteristics were similar across surveys. The proportion reporting a recent STI and/or HIV test increased between P1 and P2 (25.0% to 37.2% (p<0.001) and 29.7% to 39.4% (p<0.001), respectively), then stabilised in P3 (40.5% reporting HIV testing). Unmet STI testing need increased across P1 and P2 (26.0% to 32.4%; p<0.001), but trends differed between groups, for example, unmet STI testing need was higher in bisexually-identifying (vs gay-identifying) MSM across periods (adjusted OR (aOR): P1=1.64; P2=1.42), but declined in HIV-positive (vs HIV-negative/unknown) MSM (aOR: P1=2.06; P2=0.68). Unmet HIV testing need increased across P1 and P2 (22.9% to 31.0%; p<0.001) and declined in P3 (25.1%; p=0.001). During P3, MSM reporting a low life-satisfaction level (vs medium-very high) had greater unmet need (aOR: 1.44), while from P2 onwards HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis users (vs non-users) had lower unmet need (aOR: P2=0.32; P3=0.50). CONCLUSION: Considerable unmet STI/HIV testing need occurred among MSM during COVID-19-related restrictions, especially in bisexually-identifying men and those reporting low life satisfaction. Improving access to STI/HIV testing in MSM is essential to prevent inequalities being exacerbated

The adherence of doctors to brain CT referral criteria: a service evaluation survey from Basrah teaching hospital

Background: CT scans are increasingly utilised in outpatient and emergency departments due to their ability to facilitate swift diagnosis and treatment planning. However, inappropriate use of CT scans, particularly CT scans of the brain, can have negative consequences. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the adherence of Basrah Teaching Hospital doctors to the international referral criteria for brain CT scans. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted to investigate the utilisation of brain CT scans in the radiology departments of Basra Teaching Hospital for two months and involved 108 referrals. The medical records were thoroughly reviewed to extract relevant information related to the indications of referral, referring doctor, referring place, brain CT results, and assessing the request form completions. The standard referral criteria were extracted from the United Kingdom and European brain CT referral guidelines. Results: Most of the referrals (75.9%) met the referral criteria, and most of the doctors, regardless of their levels, met the referral criteria; however, the highest rate was among the junior doctors (88.9%), followed by specialists and senior resident doctors. Moreover, most of the units adhered to the referral criteria, but the highest adherence rate was among those referrals from inpatient wards (91.7%). Furthermore, the majority of the doctors and most of the referring wards completed their request forms; however, the highest completion was in specialty and consultant doctors’ groups (77.8%). The results also showed that about half of positive brain CT results are due to neurological causes (46%), followed by head trauma referral (34.6%). Conclusions: The majority of the doctors at Basrah Teaching Hospital met the international standards for brain CT referrals, and most of the referral wards followed these guidelines

Sexual behaviour, STI and HIV testing and testing need among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men recruited for online surveys pre/post-COVID-19 restrictions in the UK.

OBJECTIVES: We examined sexual behaviour, sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV testing and testing need, and identified associated factors, among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the UK after COVID-19 restrictions ended, and compared these with 'pre-pandemic' estimates. METHODS: We analysed survey data from GBMSM (N=1039) recruited via social media and Grindr in November-December 2021. We then compared Grindr-recruited 2021 participants (N=437) with those from an equivalent survey fielded in March-May 2017 (N=1902). Questions on sexual behaviour and service use had lookback periods of 3-4 months in both surveys. Unmet testing need was defined as reporting any new male and/or multiple condomless anal sex (CAS) partners without recent STI/HIV testing. Participants were UK residents, GBMSM, aged ≥16 years who reported sex with men in the last year. Multivariable logistic regression identified associated sociodemographic and health-related factors with unmet STI/HIV testing need in 2021, and then for 2017/2021 comparative analyses, adjusting for demographic differences. RESULTS: In 2021, unmet STI and HIV testing need were greater among older GBMSM (aged ≥45 years vs 16-29 years; adjusted OR (aOR): 1.45 and aOR: 1.77, respectively), and lower for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users (vs non-PrEP users; aOR: 0.32 and aOR: 0.23, respectively). Less unmet STI testing need was observed among HIV-positive participants (vs HIV-negative/unknown; aOR: 0.63), and trans and non-binary participants (vs cisgender male; aOR: 0.34). Between 2017 (reference) and 2021, reported sexual risk behaviours increased: ≥1 recent new male sex partner (72.1%-81.1%, aOR: 1.71) and ≥2 recent CAS partners (30.2%-48.5%, aOR: 2.22). Reporting recent STI testing was greater in 2021 (37.5%-42.6%, aOR: 1.34) but not recent HIV testing, and there was no significant change over time in unmet STI (39.2% vs 43.7%) and HIV (32.9% vs 39.0%) testing need. DISCUSSION: Comparable community surveys suggest that UK resident GBMSM may have engaged in more sexual risk behaviours in late 2021 than pre-pandemic. While there was no evidence of reduced STI/HIV service access during this time, there remained considerable unmet STI/HIV testing need

Difficulty accessing condoms because of the COVID-19 pandemic reported by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in the UK: findings from a large, cross-sectional, online survey.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 restrictions severely reduced face-to-face sexual health services, an important access point for condoms. We examine whether gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the UK had difficulty accessing condoms during the first year of the pandemic, and if so, which groups were most affected. METHODS: Questions about difficulty accessing condoms were asked as part of a short, online cross-sectional survey of GBMSM undertaken November/December 2021, recruited via social media and Grindr. Eligible participants were UK-resident GBMSM (cis/trans/gender-diverse person assigned male at birth [AMAB]), aged ≥16 years who were sexually active (reported sex with men in the last year). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine if and how reporting this outcome varied by key sociodemographic, health and behavioural factors independent of the potential confounding effect of numbers of new male sex partners. RESULTS: Of all participants (N = 1039), 7.4% (n = 77) reported difficulty accessing condoms due to the pandemic. This was higher among younger GBMSM (aged 16-29 years vs. ≥45; 12.8% vs. 4.9%; aOR: 2.78); trans/gender-diverse AMAB participants (vs. cis gender males; 24.4% vs. 6.6%; aOR = 4.86); bisexually-identifying participants (vs. gay-identifying; 11.1% vs. 6.5%; aOR = 1.78); and those without degree level education (vs. having a degree; 9.8% vs. 5.6%; aOR = 2.01). CONCLUSIONS: A minority of sexually active GBMSM reported difficulty accessing condoms because of the pandemic, however, this was more common amongst those who already experience a disproportionate burden of poor sexual health. Interventions are needed to address these inequalities in accessing this important primary STI/HIV prevention measure