Characterization of biosurfactant-producing bacterial strains isolated from agro-industrial wastes in southwestern, Nigeria

Introduction. The difficulty of managing trash and cleaning up the environment prompted interest in biosurfactants and surface-active proteins made by microbes. The study aims to augment bacterial isolates from agro-industrial wastes targeted for possible mass production of biosurfactants. Methods. Six agro-industrial wastes from Cassava, Palm kernel, and Sawdust from six agro-industrial sites within Ijebu area in Ogun State were collected for standard laboratory analyses in the Biotechnology Unit of the Federal Industrial Institute for Research, Oshodi (FIIRO). Five screening methods; blood hemolysis, lipase activity, blue agar hydrolysis, oil spreading, and emulsification index (EI24) were carried out to confirm biosurfactant production. Isolates with the highest hyper-production were subjected to 16rRNA molecular identification. Results. The study justified efficient biosurfactant production from 4 bacterial isolates out of 26 screened bacterial isolates from hydrocarbon degraders and 29 heterotrophic screened bacterial isolates, making a total of 55 screened bacterial isolates. Screening results reveal the emulsification capacities of identified Pseudomonas putida strain SG1, Acinetobacter baumanii strain MS14413, Bacillus zhangzhouensis strain cdsV18, and Burkholderia cepacia strain 717. Conclusion. Biosurfactant bacteria produced in all agricultural and industrial wastes considered in this study are capable of mass production.

Trends in vaginal hysterectomy in a Nigerian teaching hospital: A 14-year review

Background: The procedure of vaginal hysterectomy is a fast disappearing art. This study looks at 14 years’ experience of vaginal hysterectomy in Ile‑Ife, Nigeria.Objectives: To determine and compare the rate, indications, and complications of vaginal hysterectomy over a 14-year period at Ile‑Ife, Nigeria.Methods: The medical records of patients managed with vaginal hysterectomies performed from 1st January 2005 to 31st December 2018 were reviewed. The demographics and indications for vaginal hysterectomy were extracted. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Service Solutions – IBM version 22. Frequencies and percentages were calculated and associations compared where applicable using Chi‑square with level of significance set at <0.05.Results: Pelvic organ prolapse accounted for 0.8% of gynecological admissions and vaginal hysterectomy accounted for 2.3% of major  gynaecological operations. The mean age was 66.1 ± 9.2 years with a mean age of menopause of 15.2 ± 7.1 years. The mean parity was 6.2 ± 1.6. Pelvic organ prolapse was the commonest indication. The mean blood loss at surgery was 314.2 ± 184.8 ml. The modal post‑operative complication was post‑operative anemia, and hypertension was the commonest comorbidity. The mean duration of surgery was 3 ± 0.9 h and the mean duration of admission was 5.4 ± 2.7 days.Conclusion: The rate of vaginal hysterectomy is on the decline. This may be due to case under reporting, limiting of family size, or low uptake of farming occupation in our society. Key words: Comorbidities; complications; incidence; indications; vaginal hysterectomy

Coping strategies of Nigerian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: This study assessed the coping strategies of Nigerian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design: We conducted an online descriptive cross-sectional study among medical and dental students attending three of the largest Colleges of Medicine in the Southwestern zone of Nigeria.Settings: Our study involved students across the pre-clinical and clinical levels of the three Colleges of Medicine.Participants: We selected the respondents through a purposive sampling technique and disseminated questionnaires applied using an online survey platform (Google forms https://forms.gle/19yfEzehJKwsme759). A total of 1010 par-ticipants out of 2404 eligible students completed the questionnaires accurately, giving a response rate of 42%.Methods: The Brief-COPE questionnaire assessed the participants' coping strategies (approach and avoidant) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a bivariate analysis using the chi-square test and multiple regression analysis (p< 0.05) to determine the predictors of avoidant coping strategies.Results: Respondents mean age was 21.8±2.9 years, results were presented as Odds Ratios(OR) at 95% confidence intervals(CI). About 95% of respondents employed an approach coping strategy, while the minority(5%) adopted an avoidant coping strategy. Females were three times more likely to employ an avoidant coping strategy (OR=3.32 (95% CI 1.67-6.21) compared to male students.Conclusion: This study reveals that the majority of the respondents employed an approach coping strategy towards the COVID-19 pandemic. Females were more likely to employ an avoidant coping strategy. We recommend gender-specific programs to help medical students cope with the COVID-19 pandemic

Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil ameliorates Bisphenol‐A‐induced adipokines dysfunctions and dyslipidemia

From Wiley via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2022-12-25, rev-recd 2023-01-07, accepted 2023-02-06, pub-electronic 2023-02-18Article version: VoRPublication status: PublishedThis study demonstrated the therapeutic potentials of Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil (CMSO) capable of alleviating BPA‐induced dyslipidemia and adipokine dysfunction. In this study, we evaluated the effects of CMSO on adipokine dysfunctions and dyslipidemia in bisphenol‐A (BPA)‐induced male Wistar rats. Six‐week‐old 36 albino rats of 100–200 g weight were assigned randomly to six groups, which received varied doses of BPA and/or CMSO. The administration of BPA and CMSO was done at the same time for 42 days by oral intubation. The adipokine levels and lipid profile were measured in adipose tissue and plasma using standard methods. BPA induced significant (p < .05) increases in triglycerides, cholesterol, leptin, LDL‐C, and atherogenic and coronary risk indices in adipose tissue and plasma, as well as a decrease in adiponectin and HDL‐C levels in Group II animals. BPA administration significantly (p < .05) elevated Leptin levels and reduced adiponectin levels. BPA plus CMSO reduced triglycerides, cholesterol, leptin, LDL‐C, and atherogenic and coronary risk indices while increasing adiponectin levels and HDL‐C in adipose tissue and plasma (p < .05). The results showed that BPA exposure increased adipose tissue as well as serum levels of the atherogenic index, triglycerides, cholesterol, coronary risk index, LDL‐C, leptin, and body weight with decreased adiponectin levels and HDL‐C. Treatment with CMSO reduced the toxicities caused by BPA in rats by modulating the body weight, adiponectin/leptin levels, and lipid profiles in serum and adipose tissue. This study has shown that CMSO ameliorates BPA‐induced dyslipidemia and adipokine dysfunctions. We suggest for further clinical trial to establish the clinical applications

Influence of Birth Preparedness, Decision-Making on Location of Birth and Assistance by Skilled Birth Attendants among Women in South-Western Uganda

Introduction: Assistance by skilled birth attendants (SBAs) during childbirth is one of the strategies aimed at reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in low-income countries. However, the relationship between birth preparedness and decision-making on location of birth and assistance by skilled birth attendants in this context is not well studied. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of birth preparedness practices and decision-making and assistance by SBAs among women in south-western Uganda

Global age-sex-specific fertility, mortality, healthy life expectancy (HALE), and population estimates in 204 countries and territories, 1950-2019 : a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Accurate and up-to-date assessment of demographic metrics is crucial for understanding a wide range of social, economic, and public health issues that affect populations worldwide. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 produced updated and comprehensive demographic assessments of the key indicators of fertility, mortality, migration, and population for 204 countries and territories and selected subnational locations from 1950 to 2019. Methods: 8078 country-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 938 surveys, 349 censuses, and 238 other sources were identified and used to estimate age-specific fertility. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate age-specific fertility rates for 5-year age groups between ages 15 and 49 years. With extensions to age groups 10–14 and 50–54 years, the total fertility rate (TFR) was then aggregated using the estimated age-specific fertility between ages 10 and 54 years. 7417 sources were used for under-5 mortality estimation and 7355 for adult mortality. ST-GPR was used to synthesise data sources after correction for known biases. Adult mortality was measured as the probability of death between ages 15 and 60 years based on vital registration, sample registration, and sibling histories, and was also estimated using ST-GPR. HIV-free life tables were then estimated using estimates of under-5 and adult mortality rates using a relational model life table system created for GBD, which closely tracks observed age-specific mortality rates from complete vital registration when available. Independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated by an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys and antenatal clinic serosurveillance and other sources were incorporated into the estimates in countries with large epidemics. Annual and single-year age estimates of net migration and population for each country and territory were generated using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model that analysed estimated age-specific fertility and mortality rates along with 1250 censuses and 747 population registry years. We classified location-years into seven categories on the basis of the natural rate of increase in population (calculated by subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate) and the net migration rate. We computed healthy life expectancy (HALE) using years lived with disability (YLDs) per capita, life tables, and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty was propagated throughout the demographic estimation process, including fertility, mortality, and population, with 1000 draw-level estimates produced for each metric. Findings: The global TFR decreased from 2·72 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2·66–2·79) in 2000 to 2·31 (2·17–2·46) in 2019. Global annual livebirths increased from 134·5 million (131·5–137·8) in 2000 to a peak of 139·6 million (133·0–146·9) in 2016. Global livebirths then declined to 135·3 million (127·2–144·1) in 2019. Of the 204 countries and territories included in this study, in 2019, 102 had a TFR lower than 2·1, which is considered a good approximation of replacement-level fertility. All countries in sub-Saharan Africa had TFRs above replacement level in 2019 and accounted for 27·1% (95% UI 26·4–27·8) of global livebirths. Global life expectancy at birth increased from 67·2 years (95% UI 66·8–67·6) in 2000 to 73·5 years (72·8–74·3) in 2019. The total number of deaths increased from 50·7 million (49·5–51·9) in 2000 to 56·5 million (53·7–59·2) in 2019. Under-5 deaths declined from 9·6 million (9·1–10·3) in 2000 to 5·0 million (4·3–6·0) in 2019. Global population increased by 25·7%, from 6·2 billion (6·0–6·3) in 2000 to 7·7 billion (7·5–8·0) in 2019. In 2019, 34 countries had negative natural rates of increase; in 17 of these, the population declined because immigration was not sufficient to counteract the negative rate of decline. Globally, HALE increased from 58·6 years (56·1–60·8) in 2000 to 63·5 years (60·8–66·1) in 2019. HALE increased in 202 of 204 countries and territories between 2000 and 2019