The Impact of OTT Services in Nigeria: Regulators, Operators and Customers Perspective

Advancement in the field of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has led to creation of new technologies, one of such is Over-The-Top technology. This new technology offers low-cost delivery of digital information content and services which includes VoIP services, instant messaging services and so on to consumers. The Over-TheTop services do not have a network system of their own but instead rely on of telecommunication operator networks and other Internet Service providers for the delivery of their services, without any policy or lease agreement with these operators. This work focuses on considering the perspectives of the regulatory board, the telecommunication operators and the consumer has it relates to this technology. We also analyse the impact of the Over the Top technology has on the Nigerian economy also

Prevalence of mecA gene among staphylococci from clinical samples of a tertiary hospital in Benin City, Nigeria

Background: The staphylococci have increasingly been associated with infections worldwide and anti-microbial resistance has  made these versatile pathogens more recalcitrant in the hospital setting.Objectives: This study sought to investigate the occurrence and distribution of Staphylococcus species as well as determine the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) among clinical samples from University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin City.Methods: Ninety one (91) clinical isolates comprising S. aureus and Coagulase Negative staphylococci (CoNS) were recovered from routine clinical specimens and anti-microbial susceptibility tests were carried out. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was thereafter carried out on these isolates to detect mecA gene.Results: Staphylococcus species had its highest prevalence from infected wounds of patients (28.8%) while urine samples showed the least (5.4%). The highest level of resistance was to ceftazidime (S. aureus - 68%, CoNS - 75.6%) while the least resistance was observed for meropenem (S. aureus- 26%, CoNS- 46.3%). Using phenotypic method (with 1μg oxacillin antibiotic disc), the distribution of MRSA and MRCoNS was 44.0% and 46.3% respectively. PCR analysis showed that 38.0% of S. aureus and 41.5% of the CoNS had mecA gene respectively; wound swabs showed the highest prevalence with 30.5% of staphylococcal isolates being mecA gene positive. There was also no significant association between the Staphylococcal isolates and their isolation rate, isolation site and mecA gene distribution (p > 0.05).Conclusion: This study draws attention on the increase in the prevalence of mecA gene (39.6%) and an increase in multidrug resistant staphylococci when compared to previous studies in our country; it recommends laboratory guidance and periodic review to stem the tide of resistance.Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), mecA gene, methicillin-resistanc

Implications of Over-The-Top (OTT) Services on National Security

The telecom industry is an industry that has to deal with a continuous rapid changing business and technological environment, unlike other industries. Traditionally, the principal revenue streams for telecom operators have been the voice and messaging (SMS) with data coming in at a far third till recently. The internet explosion has led to the inception of diverse internet applications and services amidst which, OTT is one. The proliferation of Internet-based services and applications has given rise to data traffic increase for telecom operators. The growing impact of OTT services on telcos’ voice and messaging revenue is a widely accepted phenomenon that is making telecom operators lose revenue in a rapid manner. Other than the challenges OTT pose on telecom industries, the threat it also poses to national security as a result of its operation under net neutrality is a critical point that needs to be considered. This article highlights the wide adoption of OTT services, its’ devastating impact on telecom operators and its impact on national security. Keywords: Telecom, OTT, Net Neutrality, National Security

Adherence to Self-Care Management of Sickle Cell Disease Among Caregivers

The self-care management of sickle cell disease (SCD) improves mortality rate; however, compliance with SCD self-care management remains a problem. The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge and factors that influence compliance with SCD self-care management recommendations among caregivers of children with SCD. The health belief model was used as the theoretical foundation of this study, theorizing that caregivers\u27 perceived susceptibility, severity, and benefits of SCD self-care management will influence compliance. The study used a quantitative research design. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 100 caregivers of children with SCD attending sickle cell clinics in Lagos, Nigeria using convenience sampling. Information was obtained from participants using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and binary logistic regression techniques. Findings confirmed a high adherence rate but low knowledge of SCD self-care management among the caregivers of children with SCD. There was no significant correlation between knowledge of SCD self-care management and adherence. However, the findings from the multivariate analysis identified knowledge as a predictor of adherence and religiosity and total number of barriers as barriers to adherence. Parental health beliefs did not influence adherence to SCD self-care management. These findings have social change implications by guiding the work of health educators, health care providers, and public health practitioners to incorporate group counseling on SCD self-care management at every sickle cell clinic

Prevalence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) degrading bacteria in contaminated tropical soil in Lagos, Nigeria: involvement of plasmid in degradation

Recalcitrant pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are difficult to degrade and have been the focus for biodegradation. They form a class of pollutant on a global scale. In an attempt to contribute to the search for suitable microbial culture with potential to biodegrade low and high molecular weight PAHs, bacterial strains were isolated from engine-oil polluted sites in Lagos, Nigeria. These isolates were evaluated for possession of plasmid DNA and the role it played in PAH degradation. Out of sixteen strains isolated, two were Gram negative while the others were Gram positive isolates. They belonged to genera Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, Kurthia sp., Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Corynebacterium. All the isolates grew on the PAHs (anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene) at varying rates utilizing them as sole sourceof carbon and energy. All the isolates also possessed plasmid DNA ranging from 17.8 to 38.9 kbp. Subjection of plasmid cured isolates to PAHs biodegradation suggest that PAHs degradation may be plasmid and/orchromosomally mediated depending on the bacterial isolate and PAHs being degraded. This study has revealed that different compounds induce varied genetic changes in bacterial isolates in response to the stimuli

Prevalence of mecA gene among staphylococci from clinical samples of a tertiary hospital in Benin City, Nigeria.

Background: The staphylococci have increasingly been associated with infections worldwide and anti-microbial resistance has made these versatile pathogens more recalcitrant in the hospital setting. Objectives: This study sought to investigate the occurrence and distribution of Staphylococcus species as well as determine the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) among clinical samples from University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin City. Methods: Ninety one (91) clinical isolates comprising S. aureus and Coagulase Negative staphylococci (CoNS) were recovered from routine clinical specimens and anti-microbial susceptibility tests were carried out. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was thereafter carried out on these isolates to detect mecA gene. Results: Staphylococcus species had its highest prevalence from infected wounds of patients (28.8%) while urine samples showed the least (5.4%). The highest level of resistance was to ceftazidime (S. aureus - 68%, CoNS - 75.6%) while the least resistance was observed for meropenem (S. aureus- 26%, CoNS- 46.3%). Using phenotypic method (with 1\ub5g oxacillin antibiotic disc), the distribution of MRSA and MRCoNS was 44.0% and 46.3% respectively. PCR analysis showed that 38.0% of S. aureus and 41.5% of the CoNS had mecA gene respectively; wound swabs showed the highest prevalence with 30.5% of staphylococcal isolates being mecA gene positive. There was also no significant association between the Staphylococcal isolates and their isolation rate, isolation site and mecA gene distribution (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study draws attention on the increase in the prevalence of mecA gene (39.6%) and an increase in multidrug resistant staphylococci when compared to previous studies in our country; it recommends laboratory guidance and periodic review to stem the tide of resistance

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