Assessment of Emergency Obstetric Care Services in Ibadan- Ibarapa Health Zone, Oyo State, Nigeria

Nigeria’s high maternal mortality has been attributed to poor utilization of obstetric care services to handle complications of pregnancy and childbirth. But how available are standard emergency obstetric care services? This facility based cross sectional study assessed the availability and accessibility of emergency obstetric care services in Oyo State, Nigeria. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 61 primary and 10 secondary health care facilities were selected. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire from the heads of the maternity units. Spatial mapping of the facilities was also produced. Results showed availability of comprehensive emergency obstetric care (CEmOC) facilities (0-3.9/500,000 population) was adequate, however a gross lack of basic emergency obstetric care (BEmOC) facilities (0-5.4/500,000 population) was observed, where available, they were clustered in the urban settlements. Prompt action needs to be taken to upgrade basic emergency obstetric care facilities accessible to the larger rural population dwellers to improve maternal health indices. Keywords: Maternal Mortality, Comprehensive, Basic, Emergency obstetric car

Frailty and mortality among older patients in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Background: This study determined the frailty status and its association with mortality among older patients.Design: A prospective cohort design.Setting: Study was conducted at the medical wards of University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Participants and study tools: Four hundred and fifty older patients (>60 years) were followed up from the day of admission to death or discharge. Information obtained includes socio-demographic characteristics and clinical frailty was assessed using the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) scale. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out using SPSS version 21 at a p <0.05.Results: Overall, frailty was identified in 285 (63.3%) respondents. Mortality was significantly higher among frail respondents (25.3%) than non-frail respondents (15.4%) p=0.028. Logistic regression analysis showed factors associated with frailty were: male sex (OR=1.946 [1.005–3.774], p=0.048), non-engagement in occupational activities(OR=2.642 [1.394–5.008], p=0.003), multiple morbidities (OR=4.411 [1.944–10.006], p<0.0001), functional disability (OR=2.114 [1.029–4.343), p=0.042], malnutrition (OR=9.258 [1.029–83.301], p=0.047) and being underweight (OR=7.462 [1.499–37.037], p=0.014).Conclusion: The prevalence of frailty among medical in-hospital older patients is very high and calls for its prompt identification and management to improve their survival.Keywords: Frailty, Mortality, Older patients, in-hospital, NigeriaFunding: The study was self-funded by the author

Corporate Social Responsibility as Strategy for Environmental Preservation and Control of Youth Restiveness: The Experience from South-West Nigeria

Corporate social responsibility, a concept that has been around for well over 50 years has become prominent again recently. It is discussed in the context of organizations been socially responsible for the environment in which they operate. The strategy of impacting on these communities is referred to as corporate social responsibility. The study was designed to assess the strategies adopted by selected organizations in the Food and Beverage Industry in South-West Nigeria to preserve the environment in which they operate and control youth restiveness.Survey research design was adopted. The population consisted of communities in Lagos, Ogun and Osun States, namely: Ikeja, Apapa, Otta, Imagbon and Ilesa. A sample size of 600 (six hundred) respondents was drawn from the communities through the accidental and purposive sampling methods. The questionnaires were validated and their reliabilities confirmed through the analysis which resulted in Cronbach Alpha value of 0.957. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple regression.Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between corporate social responsibility, environmental preservation and the control of youth restiveness in the communities studiedThe study concluded that where firms get involved in corporate social responsibility, tendency is that communities will benefit immensely, it will lead to the enhancement of lives and general welfare of individuals, groups and society at large. It will equally assist in poverty alleviation. The study recommended that corporate social responsibility policies and practices should be more regulated and the need for the development of a legal framework for corporate social responsibility in Nigeri

Seminal Histone Deacetylase, Fructose and Serum Reproductive Hormones as Diagnostic Marker in Sub-Groups of Infertile Males

Accurate diagnosis of the cause of infertility assists in the choice of treatment modalities and amelioration of the associated psychosocial problems. The research was carried out using 75 infertile males and 75 males with proven fertility as controls. The anthropometrics (weight, height) were measured and body mass index (BMI) computed. Venous blood was collected from each participant, allowed to clot, and centrifuged to obtain the serum which was analysed for testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations. Semen was collected by masturbation and analysed for sperm quality, seminal fructose concentration, and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activities. A non-significant difference (P>0.05) in weight, height, and BMI; a significant increase (P<0.05) in ejaculated volume, serum LH, FSH, seminal fructose concentrations and HDAC activities; and a decrease in sperm count, sperm motility, serum testosterone concentration was observed among subgroups of infertile men. A direct and significant correlation exists between seminal HDAC activities and fructose concentration. Also, an inverse non-significant correlation exists between HDAC activities and spermatozoa motility. Base on the result obtained from this study, it can be concluded that measuring seminal fructose and HDAC activities in addition to routine biochemical and biophysical parameters will assist in diagnostic work up in subgroups of male infertility

Attenuation of Vanadium-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rat Hippocampal Slices (In Vitro) and Mice (In Vivo) by ZA-II-05, a Novel NMDA-Receptor Antagonist

Exposure to heavy metals, such as vanadium, poses an ongoing environmental and health threat, heightening the risk of neurodegenerative disorders. While several compounds have shown promise in mitigating vanadium toxicity, their efficacy is limited. Effective strategies involve targeting specific subunits of the NMDA receptor, a glutamate receptor linked to neurodegenerative conditions. The potential neuroprotective effects of ZA-II-05, an NMDA receptor antagonist, against vanadium-induced neurotoxicity were explored in this study. Organotypic rat hippocampal slices, and live mice, were used as models to comprehensively evaluate the compound’s impact. Targeted in vivo fluorescence analyses of the hippocampal slices using propidium iodide as a marker for cell death was utilized. The in vivo study involved five dams, each with eight pups, which were randomly assigned to five experimental groups (n = 8 pups). After administering treatments intraperitoneally over six months, various brain regions were assessed for neuropathologies using different immunohistochemical markers. High fluorescence intensity was observed in the hippocampal slices treated with vanadium, signifying cell death. Vanadium-exposed mice exhibited demyelination, microgliosis, and neuronal cell loss. Significantly, treatment with ZA-II-05 resulted in reduced cellular death in the rat hippocampal slices and preserved cellular integrity and morphological architecture in different anatomical regions, suggesting its potential in countering vanadium-induced neurotoxicity

Sero-epidemiological survey and risk factors associated with bovine brucellosis among slaughtered cattle in Nigeria

Bovine brucellosis is endemic in Nigeria; however, limited data exist on nationwide studies and risk factors associated with the disease. Using a cross-sectional sero-epidemiological survey, we determined the prevalence of and risk factors for brucellosis in slaughtered cattle in three geographical regions of Nigeria. Serum samples from randomly selected unvaccinated cattle slaughtered over a period of 3 years (between December 2010 and September 2013) from northern, southern and south-western Nigeria were tested for antibodies to Brucella abortus using the Rose Bengal test. Data associated with risk factors of brucellosis were analysed by Stata Version 12. In all, 8105 cattle were screened. An overall seroprevalence of 3.9% (315/8105) was recorded by the Rose Bengal test, with 3.8%, 3.4% and 4.0% from the northern, southern and south-western regions, respectively. Bivariate analysis showed that cattle screened in northern Nigeria were less likely to be seropositive for antibodies to Brucella spp. than those from south-western Nigeria (odds ratio = 0.94; 95% confidence interval: 0.73–1.22). However, logistic regression analysis revealed that breed ( p = 0.04) and sex ( p £ 0.0001) of cattle were statistically significant for seropositivity to Brucella spp. The study found that brucellosis was endemic at a low prevalence among slaughtered cattle in Nigeria, with sex and breed of cattle being significant risk factors. Considering the public health implications of brucellosis, we advocate coordinated surveillance for the disease among diverse cattle populations in Nigeria, as is carried out in most developed countries. Keywords: Bovine brucellosis, RBT, Epidemiology, Public Health, Nigeri

Bioactive Hydrogel Substrates: Probing Leukocyte Receptor–Ligand Interactions in Parallel Plate Flow Chamber Studies

The binding of activated integrins on the surface of leukocytes facilitates the adhesion of leukocytes to vascular endothelium during inflammation. Interactions between selectins and their ligands mediate rolling, and are believed to play an important role in leukocyte adhesion, though the minimal recognition motif required for physiologic interactions is not known. We have developed a novel system using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels modified with either integrin-binding peptide sequences or the selectin ligand sialyl Lewis X (SLe(X)) within a parallel plate flow chamber to examine the dynamics of leukocyte adhesion to specific ligands. The adhesive peptide sequences arginine–glycine–aspartic acid–serine (RGDS) and leucine–aspartic acid–valine (LDV) as well as sialyl Lewis X were bound to the surface of photopolymerized PEG diacrylate hydrogels. Leukocytes perfused over these gels in a parallel plate flow chamber at physiological shear rates demonstrate both rolling and firm adhesion, depending on the identity and concentration of ligand bound to the hydrogel substrate. This new system provides a unique polymer-based model for the study of interactions between leukocytes and endothelium as well as a platform to develop improved scaffolds for cardiovascular tissue engineering

Plasma lipid profiles discriminate bacterial from viral infection in febrile children

Fever is the most common reason that children present to Emergency Departments. Clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of bacterial infection ar