Women's role in reproductive health decision making and vulnerability to STD and HIV/AIDS in Ekiti, Nigeria

An exploratory study of women’s role in reproductive decision making in Ekiti shows that women in the state are increasingly taking active decisions on matters affecting their daily lives. More women than ever before believed that they could take decisions on family size, when to have a baby and choice of spacing period. The cultural barrier against short postpartum abstinence appeared to have diminished and sex during lactation was not considered a major cultural and religious taboo. Knowledge of contraception has become universal in recent years, and the majority of women take decisions on the method and timing of family planning. All women who used family planning considered their decision in this regard very important. The ability of women to take decisions on these issues may not only enhance their bargaining power but also reduce their vulnerability to STDs including AIDS from diseased or high-risk partners

Organisational Transparency and Teachers’ Job Performance in Ogun State Public Secondary Schools

This study investigated Organisational transparency as determinant of teachers’ job performance in public secondary schools in Ogun State Nigeria. The study also sought to determine how organizational transparency affects the job performance of male and female teachers in the state. A total of 1037 teachers selected through multistage sampling procedure throughout 20 educational zones in Ogun state participated in the study. Data were collected with three instruments which were adapted, pilot tested and found to be reliable and valid. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the data collected. The results showed that Organisational transparency determined teachers’ job performance to a large extent. The variable was significant (P<0.05). Organisational transparency significantly determined teachers’ job performance. The variable also significantly determined male and female teachers’ job performance in Ogun state public secondary schools. The study therefore recommended that the principal should improve his openness, be honest, be beneficial to his/her workforce to gain their acceptance and trust in his/her school. Also principal should engage in activities that can enhance Teachers’ trust in principal. Organisational transparency as demonstrated by principals’ dealings is a vital factor in achievement of organisational goals. Keywords: Organisational transparency, Male teachers, female teachers, teaches’ job performance, secondary school

Epidemiological profile of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Nigeria, July-September 2014

Introduction: In July 2014, Nigeria experienced an outbreak of Ebola virus disease following the introduction of the disease by an ill Liberian Traveler. The Government of Nigeria with the support of Technical and Development Partners responded quickly and effectively to contain the outbreak. The epidemiological profile of the outbreak that majorly affected two States in the country in terms of person, place and time characteristics of the cases identified is hereby described. Methods: Using field  investigation technique, all confirmed and probable cases were identified, line-listed and analysed using Microsoft Excel 2007 by persons, time and place. Results: A total of 20 confirmed and probable cases; 16 in Lagos (including the index case from Liberia) and 4 in Port Harcourt were  identified. The mean age was 39.5 ± 12.4 years with over 40% within the age group 30-39 years. The most frequent exposure type was direct physical contact in 70% of all cases and 73% among health care workers. The total case-fatality was 40%; higher among healthcare workers (46%) compared with non-healthcare workers (22%). The epidemic curve initially shows a typical common source outbreak, followed by a propagated pattern. Conclusion: Investigation revealed the size and spread of the outbreak and provided information on the characteristics of persons, time and place. Enhanced surveillance measures, including contact tracing and follow-up proved very useful in early case detection and containment of the outbreak

Investigating the multitargeted anti-diabetic potential of cucurbitane-type triterpenoid from <i>Momordica charantia</i>: an LC-MS, docking-based MM\GBSA and MD simulation study

Type 2 diabetes accounts for the largest percentage of all diabetic cases worldwide. Cucurbitane-type triterpenes are mainly found in Momordica charantia and possess excellent pharmacological activities. This study was designed to identify cucurbitane-type triterpene from Momordica charantia using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, examine its anti-diabetic property with molecular docking against diabetes enzymes (alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, dipeptidyl dipeptidase IV and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma). The stability and interactions of the docked complexes were investigated using molecular dynamics simulation, while the pharmacokinetic and toxicity profile of the ligand was examined using an ADMET server. (23E)-Cucurbita-5,23,25-triene-3,7-dione (CUB) was identified from the LC-MS profiling of the methanolic extract of M. charantia. The molecular docking studies showed that the identified phytochemical elicited good binding energy against all the target receptors. The RMSD and RMSF plots obtained from the 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation showed that the ligand was stable and established substantial interactions with the amino acid residues of the diabetes enzymes which were confirmed by the MM\GBSA computations. The pharmacokinetic and toxicity properties of the ligand showed it was safer as an anti-diabetic drug candidate. Extensive isolation, in vitro and in vivo studies of the ligand against the diabetic enzymes is recommended. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma</p