This disease is “not for hospital”: myths and misconceptions about cancers in Northern Nigeria

Cancers are one of the major chronic diseases in Nigeria, with over 100,000 new cases and 70,000 cancer deaths recorded annually. Notwithstanding the public health significance of cancers in Nigeria, there is a dearth of evidence relating to cancers in the country, with most of the few available studies conducted in the Southern regions. This paper aimed to highlight some longstanding myths and misconceptions about cancers in the Northern Nigerian region. We consulted key stakeholders including individuals, local leaders, traditional medicine practitioners, and healthcare professionals. The most common myths and misconceptions about cancers in Northern Nigeria include the following: people get cancers from mystical sources originating in the forests or bush; western medication or hospital treatment worsens cancers; and, witchcraft can be used to transmit cancers to people. Understanding the traditional beliefs and local perceptions of non-communicable diseases is invaluable for informing sustainable and effective interventions. Thus, our paper will be useful for epidemiological, anthropological, and social research into effective preventive measures for cancers in Northern Nigeria and other regions with similar entrenched traditional beliefs about cancers

Comprehensive analysis of security issues in cloud-based Internet of Things: A survey

The Internet of Things (IoT )has emerged as the largest computing platform, enabling IoT devices to sense real-world conditions such as temperature, humidity, pressure, and cloud prediction. However, the security of IoT systems is crucial due to their direct impact on human life. With the expansion of processing and communication capabilities to numerous devices, IoT has become a vast network where connectivity is ubiquitous. This paper focuses on the security issues of cloud-based IoT, specifically access control, network security, data security, and privacy, which are the four main components of cloud-based IoT. By analyzing and comparing existing research papers on security in cloud IoT and IoT in general, we identify proposed solutions. Most researchers have concentrated on a single component, while only a few have addressed two components. Consequently, our research aims to bridge the gap in Cloud IoT security by focusing on more than two components. We propose the utilization of methods such as Machine Learning and blockchain to enhance security, drawing on the strengths highlighted in previous works. Our future focus will involve exploring potential attacks in cloud IoT and developing a comprehensive method that encompasses atleast three security components of cloud IoT security

Modulatory role of rutin on 2,5-hexanedione-induced chromosomal and DNA damage in rats: validation of computational predictions

<p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the potentials of rutin on 2,5-hexanedione-induced toxicities. Two successive phases were involved using <i>in silico</i> and <i>in vivo</i> approaches. The <i>in silico</i> was adopted for potential oral toxicity and docking. The <i>in vivo</i> was carried-out in two stages for two weeks; the ameliorative (stage 1, first week), preventive, and curative studies (stage 2, extended to second week). In stage 1, rats were divided into four groups of seven each (distilled water, 3% (v/v) 2,5-hexanedione, 10 mg/kg rutin, and co-administration). In stage 2, the experimental groups were given either rutin or 2,5-hexanedione and treated in reverse order. Lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl, and DNA fragmentation in tissues and bone marrow cells micronucleus were determined. The predicted Median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of >5000 mg/kg and toxicity class of five (5) indicates the safety of rutin when orally administered. 2,5-Hexanedione comfortably docked in to the active sites of SOD (−22.857Kcal/mol; <i>KI</i> = 0.9621 µM), GPx (−11.2032Kcal/mol; <i>KI</i> = 0.9813 µM), and CAT (−16.446Kcal/mol; <i>KI</i> = 0.9726 µM) with strong hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions. However, only strong hydrophobic interaction was observed in the case of DNA (−3.3296Kcal/mol; <i>KI</i> = 0.9944). <i>In vivo</i> findings revealed deleterious effects of 2,5-hexanedione through induction of oxidative and chromosomal/DNA damage characterized by higher level of malondialdehyde, micronuclei formations, and DNA fragmentation. These have invariably, validates the findings from <i>in silico</i> experiments. Furthermore, rutin was able to ameliorate, protect, and reverse these effects, and was relatively non-toxic corroborating toxicity predictions. Rutin exhibited counteractive effects on 2,5-hexanedione-induced oxidative, chromosomal, and DNA damage.</p