Erratum: Authors’ names correction

Erratum: Authors’ names correctionThis corrects the article “Management of acute kidney injury with encephalopathy in a5-year-old male using improvised peritoneal dialysis in University of Uyo TeachingHospital, Uyo, Nigeria”. A Case Report " in Niger J Paediatr 2019; 46(2): 68-72Ikpeme E was listed as the author.The correct Authors list should be: Ikpeme EE, Dixon-Umo OT, Kan KM, Hogan EJAnd the article should be cited as. Ikpeme EE, Dixon-Umo OT, Kan KM, Hogan EJ.“Management of acute kidney injury with encephalopathy in a 5-year-old male using improvisedperitoneal dialysis in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria”. A Case Report "In Niger J Paediatr 2019; 46(2): 68-7

Rigid Pavement as an Alternative to Flexible Pavement Failure in Ogbaru Swampy Area

The study deals on the influence of rural road construction and connectivity as one of the key components of Millennium Development goals, that creates access to economic and social service, promoting poverty alleviation by generating increased agricultural produce and employment opportunities in the rural areas. Rigid pavement stops the incessant incident of non accessibility of agricultural produce by deplorable state of flexible pavement of rural roads in Ogbaru Swampy area. Keywords: Rigid, flexible pavement, highway base course, subgrad

Haematologic Indices in Pulmonary Tuberculosis with or without HIV Co-Infection in South Eastern Nigeria

To evaluate the changes in haematologic indices in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) with or without Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) co-infection in South Eastern Nigeria. The study population included 116 subjects (60 = males; 56 = females), recruited from 2 study centers: mile 4 Hospital Abakaliki Ebonyi State and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Teaching  Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, both in Nigeria. PTB + HIV (n = 20); PTB infection ( n = 27) and HIV sereopositive (n = 28). The PTB and HIV negative; control subjects were 41 (n = 41). Blood samples collected from subjects in Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) container were used for the analysis of the Haemtological cells count,  packed cell volume (PCV) and Haemoglobin estimation using routine methods as described (Dacie and Lewis, 1984). HIV screening was done with Stat pak kit and confirmatory test by Western blot method. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was by Westergren method. Haemoglobin estimation (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) values were significantly lower in patients with PTB (11.27±1.62 g/dl, 0.35±0.04 l/l) compared with control values (13.67±1.46 g/dl 0.41 ± 0.05 l/l) (p < 0.05). Patients with HIV seropositive showed significantly low PCV values of (0.36 ± 0.04 l/l) compared with the control subjects (0.41 ± 0.05 l/l) (p < 0.05). PTB patients showed higher TWBC counts (6062.5 ± 1481.83109/l) when compared those with HIV infection (3841.38±735.58 x 109/l) as well as normal control value (4363.64±551.66 x 109/l) (p < 0.05). Male and female values compared in this work showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). The results showed that the effect of PTB and HIV infection have caused some haematological deregulation. It also showed that sex has little or no effect on the studied parameters. Keywords: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB); Human ImmunoDeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hematologic Indice

Travel-Related Monkeypox Outbreaks in the Era of COVID-19 Pandemic: Are We Prepared?

Several neglected infectious pathogens, such as the monkeypox virus (MPXV), have re-emerged in the last few decades, becoming a global health burden. Despite the incipient vaccine against MPXV infection, the global incidence of travel-related outbreaks continues to rise. About 472 confirmed cases have been reported in 27 countries as of 31 May 2022, the largest recorded number of cases outside Africa since the disease was discovered in the early 1970s

Media exposure, behavioural risk factors and HIV testing among women of reproductive age in Papua New Guinea: a cross-sectional study

Background: Reproductive health remains a major health concern in developing countries such as Papua New Guinea (PNG). The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in PNG is the highest in the Southern Pacific region, with women having a higher risk of contracting the infection. Hence, there have been several policies aimed at mitigating the spread of the disease. One of these policies include the use of mass media as a health promotion tool to educate the population on the risk of the disease. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the association of mass media to HIV testing among women. Methods: Data were obtained from the PNG Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of 2019. A total of 15,005 reproductive-age women was included in this analysis. Results: The results showed that women with low (aOR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.39, 1.90) and high (aOR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.36, 1.72) media exposure were more likely to undertake HIV testing compared to those with no media exposure. Compared to no education, women with incomplete primary (aOR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.40), complete primary (aOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.30, 1.87), incomplete secondary (aOR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.85, 2.58), complete secondary (aOR= 2.33, 95% CI: 1.77, 3.09) and higher (aOR = 3.38, 95% CI: 2.57, 4.46) education were more likely to undertake HIV testing. Compared to women with the poorest wealth index, women with richer indexes were more likely to undertake HIV testing. Women living in rural areas were less likely to undertake HIV testing (aOR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.82). However, marital status, knowledge of transmission and religion were not associated with HIV testing. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study provides strong evidence that mass media exposure increases the likelihood of HIV testing in women of reproductive age in PNG. Mass media campaigns would serve as a cost-effective health promotion tool against the spread of disease

Fetoplacental transmission and placental response to SARS-CoV-2: Evidence from the literature

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a dreadful novel coronavirus with global health concerns among pregnant women. To date, the vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy remains controversial. We briefly report recent findings of placental response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and updates on vertical transmission. We systematically searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases according to PRISMA guidelines for studies reporting the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the placenta and possibility of vertical transmission. We identified 45 studies reporting 1,280 human placentas that were analyzed by molecular pathology methods and 11,112 placenta-derived cells from a publicly available database that was analyzed using bioinformatics tools. The main finding of this study is that the SARS-CoV-2 canonical entry receptors (ACE2 and TMPRSS2) are abundantly expressed on the placenta during the first trimester, and this expression diminishes across gestational age. Out of 45 eligible studies identified, 24 (53.34%) showed no evidence of vertical transmission, 15 (33.33%) supported the hypothesis of very rare, low possibility of vertical transmission and 6 (13.33%) were indecisive and had no comment on vertical transmission. Furthermore, 433 placentas from 12 studies were also identified for placental pathology investigation. There was evidence of at least one form of maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM), 57/433 (13.1%), fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM), 81/433 (18.7%) and placental inflammation with excessive infiltration of CD3+ CD8+ lymphocytes, CD68+ macrophages and CD20+ lymphocytes in most of the eligible studies. Decidual vasculopathy (3.2%), infarction (3.2%), chronic histiocytic intervillositis (6.0%), thrombi vasculopathy (5.1%) were also observed in most of the MVM and FVM reported cases. The results indicated that SARS-CoV-2 induces placenta inflammation, and placenta susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 decreases across the pregnancy window. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 infection in early pregnancy may adversely affect the developing fetus

Community knowledge, attitude and practice of childhood immunization in Southwest Nigeria: Data from a Paediatric Association of Nigeria town hall meeting

Background: Vaccine preventable diseases account for 22% of under-five deaths in Nigeria and poor knowledge and attitude have been responsible for non-vaccination of children. This study aimed to assess the knowledge,attitude and practice of childhood immunization among community members in Ile-Ife.Methods: Quantitative data (using an interviewer-administered questionnaire) was collected from a convenience sample of 36 adultresidents who attended a town hall meeting with the PaediatricAssociation of Nigeria. Two focus group discussions were also conductedamong sub-samples of male and female respondents.Results: The mean age of respondents was 43.2 ± 11.9 years with amale to female ratio of 1:0.7. Most had secondary education (63.9%)and had children (91.7%). Most of the respondents understood whatimmunization was and knew the benefits but were unaware of severalof the specific types of immunization. There were erroneous beliefs about the contraindications for immunization and mothers were entrusted with the sole responsibility of getting children immunized. Although most of therespondents had immunized their children, they identified laziness ofmothers, negative attitude of health workers and logistics problemsat facilities as barriers to patronage of immunization services.Conclusion: This study identified knowledge gaps and negative attitudestowards childhood immunization. We therefore recommend a community-wide health education intervention with emphasis on substantial male involvement in immunizations and improvement inimmunization service delivery.Key words: Community, knowledge, attitude, childhood immunization

Assessment of background ionizing radiation exposure levels in industrial buildings in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: Increased exposure from background radiations and the attendant health effects have in recent times drawn the attention of researchers. This study aimed to assess the indoor and outdoor background radiation levels in selected offices/industrial buildings in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: Forty buildings in the four villages of Nnewi were surveyed using a calibrated international medicom CRM 100 radiation monitor. Radiation readings were obtained in counts per minute and converted to micro-sieverts per hour (µSv h-1). The indoor annual effective dose rate (IAEDR), outdoor annual effective dose rate, excess lifetime cancer risk, and organ doses were calculated using recommended occupancy and conversion factors.Results: The mean IAEDR and OAEDR were respectively 0.8060±0.056 mSv y-1 and 0.2281±0.020 mSv y-1 with estimated ELCR of 2.822x10-3 and 0. 799x10-3 respectively. The testes received the highest dose (0.843 mSv y-1) followed by bone marrow (0.710 mSv y-1).Conclusions: The study revealed that the mean background radiation exposures in and outside offices in Nnewi, Anambra State were below the UNSCEAR and ICRP recommended doses for the general public

Lung microbiota dysbiosis and the implications of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy

There are a great number of beneficial commensal microorganisms constitutively colonizing the mucosal lining of the lungs. Alterations in the microbiota profile have been associated with several respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and allergies. Lung microbiota dysbiosis might play an important role in the pathogenic mechanisms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as well as elicit other opportunistic infections associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). With its increasing prevalence and morbidity, SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant mothers is inevitable. Recent evidence shows that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) act as an entry receptor and viral spike priming protein, respectively, for SARS-CoV-2 infection. These receptor proteins are highly expressed in the maternal-fetal interface, including the placental trophoblast, suggesting the possibility of maternal–fetal transmission. In this review, we discuss the role of lung microbiota dysbiosis in respiratory diseases, with an emphasis on COVID-19 and the possible implications of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnancy outcome and neonatal health