A review on emerging pathogenesis of COVID-19 and points of concern for research communities in Nigeria

Background: COVID-19 remains an emerging pandemic that continuously poses an alarming threat and challenge to economic, social and well-being of the people throughout the world. It also remains an evolving disease which complete pathogenesis that translates into clinical features is only just emerging by each second of the day. There have been observations about the emerging trends of the disease in Nigeria like in any other country in the world where there is outbreak. This study examined from evidence-based literature the emerging pathogenesis of COVID-19 and important points of concern of the disease in Nigeria.Materials and Methods: The paper reviewed published articles in PubMed and Google Scholar using search terms „COVID-19” and “SARS-CoV-2”, as well as searched for general COVID-19 information on internet.Results: The result summarized literature on emerging pathogenesis of COVID-19 and important points of concern as well as research questions as to the peculiar trends of the disease in Nigeria.Conclusion: Pathogenesis of COVID-19 remains an emerging knowledge and there are many important research questions that need to be scientifically answered for a successful containment of COVID-19 in Nigeria. It is recommended that all members of intellectual research communities should join the fight against COVID-19 pandemic

A REVIEW ON EMERGING PATHOGENESIS OF COVID-19 AND POINTS OF CONCERN FOR RESEARCH COMMUNITIES IN NIGERIA

Background: COVID-19 remains an emerging pandemic that continuously poses an alarming threat and challenge to economic, social and wellbeing of the people throughout the world. It also remains an evolving disease which complete pathogenesis that translates into clinical features is only just emerging by each second of the day. There have been observations about the emerging trends of the disease in Nigeria like in any other country in the world where there is outbreak. This study examined from evidence-based literature the emerging pathogenesis of COVID-19 and important points of concern of the disease in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The paper reviewed published articles in PubMed and Google Scholar using search terms ‘COVID-19” and “SARS-CoV-2”, as well as searched for general COVID-19 information on internet. Results: The result summarized literature on emerging pathogenesis of COVID-19 and important points of concern as well as research questions as to the peculiar trends of the disease in Nigeria. Conclusion: Pathogenesis of COVID-19 remains an emerging knowledge and there are many important research questions that need to be scientifically answered for a successful containment of COVID-19 in Nigeria. It is recommended that all members of intellectual research communities should join the fight against COVID-19 pandemic

Lower Pitch Voice Produce by Effort Sound in Previously Uvulectomized Children

The palatine uvula is conic projection composing of soft connective tissue which has a number of racemose glands. It hangs from the posterior edge of the middle of the soft palate of the roof of the mouth. It has circular muscle fibres at its base and helps in closing the nasopharynx during deglutition. Copious secretion from the uvula helps moisten the larynx and vocal cord to maintain quality speech. In the Hausas’ culture in Northern Nigeria, the uvula is highly demonized and blamed for a lot of health problems and risk of death and so all infants must ‘proactively’ undergo uvulectomy on the 7th day after birth, with few exceptions.  This study aims at evaluating the effect of uvulectomy on pitch quality of effort sounds of young children between 2 to 11 years of age. Eighty subjects were divided into two groups of 40 uvulectomized and 40 non-uvulectomized children which were further subdivided into various age ranges of equal mix of male and female. Audio frequency analyzer software is used to conduct the test and the result shows a reduction in frequency of the sounds produced by uvulectomized subjects, p<0.05. Uvulectomy does affect the quality of sound produced in children giving a significant lower pitch quality. Keywords: Uvula, Uvulectomy, Effort Sound, Frequency, Pitch DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/90-01 Publication date:June 30th 202

Effect of caffeine on serum tumour necrosis factor alpha and lactate dehydrogenase in Wistar rats exposed to cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury

Summary: Caffeine is known to confer neuro-protection via A1 and A2A adenosine receptor antagonism in which adenosine neuro-modulates excitotoxic release of glutamate. Currently, it is unclear whether caffeine modulates inflammation in ischaemic stroke model. The present study examined effects of caffeine following ischaemia-reperfusion injury on neuro-inflammatory tumour necrosis alpha (TNF-α), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as effect of caffeine against brain ischaemic damage on histology. Thirty three adult male Wistar rats (180-300 g) were used in this study. They were randomly divided into four groups (n=5 each): Group I (Control) that received neither the operation nor any treatment; Group II (Sham/Water) received a pseudo-ischaemic-reperfusion and 1ml water for injection; Group III (BCCO/Water) that received complete bilateral common carotid occlusion (BCCO) and 1ml water for injection; Group IV (BCCO/Caffeine) that received complete BCCO and caffeine solution intraperitoneally at a dose of 50% LD50 value (144mg/kg); and thirteen rats were used for LD50 assessment. Sensory and motor functions significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the rat following ischaemia-reperfusion injury when compared to pre-injury state on Garcia neurological score. Caffeine reduced brain ischaemic injury and significantly reduced (p<0.05) TNF-α activity. While no significant effects (p>0.05) of caffeine was observed on LDH activity. This study has shown neuro-protective roles of caffeine against ischaemia-reperfusion damage to brain tissue, inflammatory TNF-α activity, but not on LDH activity.Keywords: Caffeine, ischaemia-reperfusion injury, cerebral ischaemia, neuro-inflammation, strok