How effective are trained role model caregivers in prompt presumptive treatment of malaria of under 5 children in Kaduna state, North western Nigeria?

Objective: Malaria is Africa's leading cause of under 5 mortality, constituting 10% of the overall disease burden. A major strategy for reducing the burden of malaria is prompt access to effective antimalarials. Community Case Management of malaria (CCMm) can be used to achieve the 80% treatment target of uncomplicated malaria within 24 hours of onset of symptoms. CCMm aims to train selected community members to recognize symptoms of malaria and give appropriate early and prompt treatment. We conducted this study to assess CCMm in trained Role Model caregivers (RMCs) of under fives in Kaduna state, Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross sectional survey in Kaduna state. A sample of 308 RMCs were selected by multistage sampling and interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire had questions on sociodemographic characteristics, malaria transmission and treatment. Results: Mean age (SD) of RMCs was 35.34 years (±8.67). Females were 294(95.5%) and 285(92.5%) were literate. Out of 308, 294 (95.5%) correctly identified that malaria was transmitted by mosquitoes. Two hundred and sixty three (85.4 %) RMCs had treated a child under five years for presumptive malaria in the two weeks preceding the survey. Out of 267 children, 232 (88.2%) received the correct dose of antimalarials and 220 (84.3%) were treated within 24 hours of onset of symptoms. Level of education was significantly found to affect receiving the correct dose of antimalarials.(

Antimicrobial susceptibility of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae causing urinary tract infections in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Objective: To determine the frequency of extended-spectrum beta lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL) and other antibioticsresistant bacteria in urinary tract isolates.Study Design: prospective and experimental study.Methodology: Place and duration of study :YalgadoOuedraogo University Hospital Center, Charles De Gaulle Pediatric Hospital Center, Saint Camille Hospital and National Public Health Laboratory, Ouagadougou, from November 2014 to October 2015.AllEnterobacteriaceaestrains isolated from urinary samples of patients were identifiedusing API 20E chemical gallery (BioMerieux, France). All strains were subjected to an array of 14 antibiotics to study their drug susceptibility by using Kirby- Baeurdisk diffusion method. Detection of ESBL was carried out by double disk diffusion technique. Statistical analysis was performed by Microsoft Excel and Anova one-way GrapPad Prism version 5.01. Chi-square (χ2) test was used to determine significance. A p˂ 0.05was considered to be statistically significant.Results: A total of 324 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae were identified during the study period, including211(65%) E. coli, 75 (23%)Klebsiella spp., 18 (6%) Enterobacter spp., 11 (3%)Proteus spp., 5 (2%) Citrobacter spp., Serratia spp. 3 (1%).All the clinical isolates were susceptible to imipenem. Resistance to amikacinwas 14% (45/324); gentamicin 54% (175/324); tobramycin 58% (187/324); nalidixic acid 72% (234/324),ciprofloxacin 63% (204/324) and to cotrimoxazole 83% (269/324).The overall rate of the EBSL producing strains was 35% (114/324). Their susceptibility to antibiotics was (imipenem,amikacin, cefoxitin and fosfomycin) 100% (114/114), 93% (106/114), 74% (84/114) and 84% (96/114) respectively. ESBL positivity within individual organism group was highest inEscherichia coli 64% (73/324) followed byKlebsiellaspp. 28% (32/324), Enterobacterspp. 3% (4/324), Proteus spp. and Citrobacterspp. 2% (2/324).Conclusion: The results showeda high frequency of ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae, especially Escherichia coli and Klebsiellaspp. The data points to theneed of routine detection and surveillance of ESBL producing bacteria in Burkina Faso.Keywords: Antimicrobial susceptibility, Enterobacteriaceae, Urine, Burkina Fas

Total and CD4+ T- lymphocyte count correlation in newly diagnosed HIV patients in resource-limited setting

Few clinical settings in resource-limited countries perform CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts required as a baseline test for antiretroviral therapy. We investigated CD4 count in newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients attending our treatment centre and evaluated suitability of total lymphocyte count (TLC) as a surrogate marker for CD4+T-lymphocyte count required as a yardstick for initiating antiretroviral therapy. Usefulness of TLC as a surrogate marker for CD4+T-lymphocyte counts <200, ≤350 and <500cells/µL for HIV-positive patients in our facility was evaluated by 180 pairs of TLC and CD4 counts from 180 newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients and results were compared by linear regression and Spearman’s correlation analytical tools. Approximately 72.8% of our patients were diagnosed late as revealed by CD4 count ≤350cells/µL. An overall good correlation was noted between TLC and CD4+Tcell counts (r=0.65, slope=0.69), m ean total lymphocyte count of 1.04 ± 0.81, 1.39 ± 1.06 and 1.57 ± 1.13 x 10⁹/L correspond to CD4 lymphocyte counts of <200, ≤350 and < 500cells/µL respectively. When considering initiating HAART for HIV-infected Nigerian clients, TLC can be considered as an inexpensive and easily accessible surrogate marker for predicting CD4+T-lymphocyte at two clinically important CD4 thresholds of CD4 count of ≤350 cells/µL and <500cells/µL

Sorghum head-bugs and grain molds in West and Central Africa: I. Host plant resistance and bug–mold interactions on sorghum grains

A regional sorghum head-bug and grain mold resistance trial was conducted in 1996 and 1997 at 15 and 13 research stations located in 10 West and Central African countries, respectively. Two cultivars namely IS 14384 and CGM 39/17-2-2 exhibited consistently high levels of resistance both to head-bugs and grain molds over years and localities. Eurystylus oldi was the dominant head-bug species at all localities except in Benin, Chad and Guinea. Sorghum grain mycoflora varied little between sites with genera Phoma and Fusarium dominating, followed by Curvularia. Efficiency of the insecticidal treatment on head-bug incidence partially confirmed the critical role played by head-bugs in aggravating mold infectio

Management and outcomes of gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low, middle and high income countries: Protocol for a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Introduction Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of death in children <5 years of age globally, contributing an estimated half a million deaths per year. Very limited literature exists from low and middle income countries (LMICs) where most of these deaths occur. The Global PaedSurg Research Collaboration aims to undertake the first multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of a selection of common congenital anomalies comparing management and outcomes between low, middle and high income countries (HICs) globally. Methods and analysis The Global PaedSurg Research Collaboration consists of surgeons, paediatricians, anaesthetists and allied healthcare professionals involved in the surgical care of children globally. Collaborators will prospectively collect observational data on consecutive patients presenting for the first time, with one of seven common congenital anomalies (oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation and Hirschsprung''s disease). Patient recruitment will be for a minimum of 1 month from October 2018 to April 2019 with a 30-day post-primary intervention follow-up period. Anonymous data will be collected on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions and outcomes using REDCap. Collaborators will complete a survey regarding the resources and facilities for neonatal and paediatric surgery at their centre. The primary outcome is all-cause in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes include the occurrence of postoperative complications. Chi-squared analysis will be used to compare mortality between LMICs and HICs. Multilevel, multivariate logistic regression analysis will be undertaken to identify patient-level and hospital-level factors affecting outcomes with adjustment for confounding factors. Ethics and dissemination At the host centre, this study is classified as an audit not requiring ethical approval. All participating collaborators have gained local approval in accordance with their institutional ethical regulations. Collaborators will be encouraged to present the results locally, nationally and internationally. The results will be submitted for open access publication in a peer reviewed journal

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Trichomoniasis among pregnant women in Ifako Ijaiye, Shomolu and Agege Local Government Areas of Lagos State, Nigeria

Three hundred pregnant women between ages 15-60 years and attending antenatal clinics in Lagos State, Nigeria were screened for trichomoniasis in 2015. High vaginal swab samples obtained from the participants were examined by direct wet mount microscopy to determine prevalence of infection. Questionnaires were administered to capture socio-demographic data of study participants and their level of awareness. An overall prevalence of 11.3% was obtained in the study. Peak prevalence was recorded among women in the 21-30 years age-group 15 (44%) while those aged &gt;40 years had the least prevalence (3%) and this was statistically significant (p&lt;0.05). Women with only basic primary education 25 (74%) had the highest infection rate compared to other educational groups (p&lt;0.05). Other statistically significant risk factors included polygamous family type, traders and the third trimester of pregnancy (p&lt;0.05). Only 20 (7%) of the respondents were aware of trichomoniasis as a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and this was significantly associated with the prevalence rate at p&lt;0.05. This study indicates trichomoniasis is a public health concern, and recommends routine screening of pregnant women during antenatal visits, since the infection is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.Keywords: Trichomoniasis; pregnant women; knowledge, attitude and practice; Lagos; Nigeri

A GIS based assessment of the relationship between housing conditions and rental value in government built housing Estates in Minna

Housing management decisions require consideration of location and space. There is a constant need for more technology and training in the industry and Geographic Information System (GIS) is not known to have been used in tackling the problems of housing conditions and related problems in Minna. This study examines the relationship between housing conditions and rental value of selected housing estates in Minna with the aid of GIS. Census sample technique was adopted where all the houses in the housing estates were sampled. Satellite images of M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate, Bosso Estate and Oduoye Housing Estate were geo-referenced and maps were produced for various analysis. Conventional geo-database was created for conditions of houses in the housing estates and from it geo-statistical analyses was carried out which produce kriging and spatial autocorrelation analysis. In addition, correlation analysis was used to analyse the impact of building conditions on rental value. It was found out among others that building conditions has weak relationship with rental values in the housing estates. It was therefore recommended amidst others that Geo-statistical tools should be an instrument for measuring and monitoring of residential property development

CHARACTERIZATION OF PARTIALLY PURIFIED TYROSINASE ISOLATED FROM BITTER KOLA (GARCINIA KOLA)

Objective: Tyrosinase is a glycosylated, copper-containing oxidase that catalyzes the first two steps of mammalian melanogenesis as well as enzymatic browning events in damaged fruits during post-harvest handling and processing. Human skin hyperpigmentation and enzymatic browning in fruits are both undesirable. In this study, the properties and inhibitory effect of some compounds on bitter kola tyrosinase were investigated. Methods: Bitter kola tyrosinase was isolated and characterized using standard protocols. Partial purification was carried out on Sephadex G-100 loaded column chromatography.&nbsp; Results: Bitter kola tyrosinase was purified with a specific activity of 3.5 U/mg protein, purification fold of 2.4 and a yield of 34%. The optimum pH value was found to be 6.0 while the optimum temperature value for maximum enzyme activity was observed at 60°C. The enzyme was stable at 40oC for 20 minutes. Metals such as NaCl, KCl, MgCl2 and CaCl2 had inhibitory effect on the activity; though MgCl2 and CaCl2 had minimal effect. Also, EDTA, β-marcaptoethanol and glutathione greatly inhibited the enzyme activity at all the tested concentration. Conclusion: The properties of bitter kola tyrosinase compare very well with the tyrosinase from other sources. Also, the study was able to establish the inhibitory effect of some compounds and this could be applied in food processing industries. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Peer Review History: Received: 2 November 2021; Revised: 11 December; Accepted: 25 December, Available online: 15 January 2022 Academic Editor:&nbsp; Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency.&nbsp; Received file:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewers: Dr. Nazim Hussain, North East Frontier Technical University, Arunachal pradesh, India, [email protected] Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia, [email protected] Prof. Dr. Ali Gamal Ahmed Al-kaf, Sana'a university, Yemen,&nbsp;[email protected] Similar Articles: PHYTOCHEMICAL PURIFICATION OF ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS ISOLATED FROM ROOT OF THE MEDICINAL HERB, CARALLUMA QUADRANGUL