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Objective: To investigate the prevalence and rifampicin resistance of tuberculosis among presumptive patients in Nasarawa state, Nigeria. Methods: Patient data collected from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively computed from the register at the tuberculosis laboratory of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia. A total of 91884 patient records were analyzed to determine tuberculosis prevalence, rifampicin resistance, and patients’ characteristics using Chi-squared test. Results: An overall prevalence of 8.0% was recorded among presumptive patients over the three-year period with a decreasing trend in prevalence from 10.0% (2019) to 6.5% (2021), though the number of samples progressively increased each year and more than doubled in 2021. Most of the patients tested for tuberculosis were females (52.6%) and were mostly older than 15 years (84.1%). Conversely, a higher resistance to rifampicin was observed among tuberculosis positive male patients (55.6%) than in females (44.4%). Similarly, tuberculosis positive patients older than 15 years (84.6%) showed greater resistance to rifampicin than those younger than 15 years (15.4%). Statistically, no relationship was established among age, sex, year of sampling and tuberculosis prevalence or rifampicin resistance rate. Conclusions: Despite the downward trends in tuberculosis prevalence and rifampicin resistance rate observed in this study, measures at maintaining the gains achieved in the fight against tuberculosis must remain paramount as the race towards reducing tuberculosis incidence and mortality by 2025 continues.

Objective: To investigate the effect of taxifolin added to rabbit semen on freezing-induced cold-shock damages in spermatozoa. Methods: Semen was collected from six adult New Zealand rabbits once a week by artificial vagina. The collected semen was pooled at 38 °C and divided into four equal volumes. They were diluted with 0, 50, 100 and 200 μM taxifolin-containing Tris + egg yolk extender at 38 °C and their temperatures were lowered to 4 °C. Following equilibration, semen drawn into 0.25 mL straws were frozen in an automatic semen freezing device and stored in liquid nitrogen container at -196 °C. Samples were thawed in 38 °C water for 25 s and the analyses of motility, kinematic parameters, morphological deformities, changes in membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, dead-live ratio, acrosomal damages and as well as oxidative stress analyses were performed in semen. Results: Addition of 50 μM taxifolin significantly improved motility (total, progressive, rapid and static), high mitochondrial membrane potential and the ratios of spermatozoa with acrosomal damage compared to the control group. Compared to the control group, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the 50 and 100 μM taxifolin groups were significantly lower, while the MDA level was high and viable spermatozoa ratio was low in the 200 μM taxifolin group. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of kinematic parameters, morphological deformities, membrane integrity and antioxidant levels. Conclusions: The low dose of taxifolin (50 μM) has a positive effect and the high dose (200 μM) has a negative effect. Therefore, it is concluded that the addition of low-dose (50 μM) taxifolin to the extenders would be a useful additive in reducing cold-shock damage that occurs during freezing of rabbit semen.

Background: Prediabetes is a strong hazard for developing of both cardiovascular disorders and diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistant predisposes to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus that all are strongly correlated with development of cardiovascular disorders. Recently, the triglyceride glucose index, its modified indices and the ratio of triglyceride/ high density lipoprotein-cholesterol have been suggested as sensible surrogate markers of insulin resistant. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the triglyceride glucose index, its modified indices and triglyceride/ high density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio among individuals with prediabetes compared to healthy control. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out as a case control among 120 participants, 60 prediabetic individuals and 60 apparently healthy individuals as a control group. Prediabetic individuals were obtained from relatives of patients with diabetes mellitus visiting Endocrinology Unit at Azadi Teaching Hospital and 60 healthy individuals were chosen from medical staffs of Azadi Teaching Hospital. Results: There were statistically significant higher mean level of indices in individuals with prediabetes with exception of triglyceride/ high density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio that was insignificantly higher. There was a significant positive correlation of abnormal homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance with triglyceride/ high density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio (r = 0.651), and triglyceride glucose index (r = 0.390) whereas insignificant positive correlation with its modified index. Conclusion: The mean level and prevalence of abnormal TyG index, TyG-BMI and TyG-WC were significantly higher in prediabetic individuals, whereas, TG/HDL-c was insignificantly higher compared to control individuals.

Background: Oral cancer (OC) is a cancer of the mucosal lip, oral cavity, and tongue and is linked to drinking, smoking, or both. After lymphoma and leukemia, oral cancer is the third most common malignancy in Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical study was conducted in the Jazan province. We used an online qustionnare and the sample was selected in a random, multistage manner, with a total of 400 members from both genders. A representative subregion was randomly selected from each sector, including Baish, Samtah, Faifa, Sabya, Abu Arish, and Jizan. Results: Almost all of the participants in the study appeared to be aware of oral cancer. Oral cancer is not a contagious disease, according to 65% of respondents. Sniffing is a risk factor for oral cancer, according to 85% of respondents; yet, 61.7% believed that it can be healed. Majority of the study participants believed that sun exposure and alcohol consumption are both risk factors for mouth cancer. Chemotherapy, radiation surgery, and mouth augmentation surgery are all options for treating oral cancer. Seventy percent felt that oral self-examination can help detect oral cancer, and that early discovery can speed up treatment. Conclusion: We conclude that the research participants lacked sufficient understanding of early clinical signs and treatment options for oral cancer. A community-wide educational initiative might help to increase awareness and knowledge about oral cancer. Furthermore, additional research should be undertaken to determine the efficacy of the intervention.

Objective: Measures are ongoing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and treat it with medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE). However, there has been considerable controversy surrounding treatments such as hydroxychloroquine with misinformation fuelling prices hikes and suicides. Shortages have also appreciably increased costs of PPE, potentially catastrophic among lower- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria with high copayment levels. Consequently, a need to investigate changes in availability, utilization, and prices of relevant medicines and PPE during the pandemic in Nigeria. Methods: Exploratory study among community pharmacists with a survey tool comprising four sections including questions on changes in consumption, prices, and shortages of medicines and PPE from the beginning of March 2020 to the end of June 2020. In addition, suggestions from community pharmacists and co-authors on ways to reduce misinformation. Findings: 30 out of 34 pharmacists participated giving a response rate of 88.2%. Significant increases were seen (3-fold or more increase) in the consumption of hydroxychloroquine (100%), vitamins/immune boosters (96.7%) and antibiotics (46.7%) as well as PPE (100%). Considerable price increases (50% increase or greater) also seen for antimalarials (96.7%), antibiotics (93.3%), vitamins/immune boosters (66.7%), and PPE (100%). Shortages are also seen for hydroxychloroquine and vitamins/immune boosters but most severe for PPE (80% of pharmacies). Conclusion: Encouraging to see increases in the utilization of vitamins/immune boosters and PPE. However, a considerable increase in the utilization and prices of antimicrobials is a concern that needs addressing including misinformation. Community pharmacists have a key role in providing evidence-based advice and helping moderate prices.

Almost all countries are struggling with a pandemic created by infection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 virus. Health professionals are overstretched and are estimating to treat millions of peoples infected by this virus. However, we see the gainful employment of new technologies to provide fewer human interaction benefits to prevent the transmission of this virus. Here, in this paper, the capabilities of new technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles, data analysis, three-dimensional (3D) printing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are used to develop a model to the limit of their autonomous functionalities. We have proposed an automated COVID-19 pandemic emergency response system using the above modern technologies. These technologies are used efficiently to supply essential items in the required location and minimize the need for transportation. Advanced digital technologies are used to observe the crowd in different cities. It can identify people who are not wearing masks in public places. Further, 3D printing technology is used to manufacture personal protective equipment for COVID-19, and drones are used to deliver these items in the required places. The integrated deployment of new technologies can help us to fight this virus in a better way. This model can help through intelligent population screening, improved medical help, timely notification, and suggestions about infection control. It uses an innovative platform supported through different software and machine learning techniques. Furthermore, doctors, analysts, governments, and researcher can take its advantage to analyze the level of infection by the virus.

Urinary bladder calculus is an uncommon presentation in the tropics, especially in children. Large (>2.5 cm) or giant bladder stones are rare and are more common in males due to higher incidence of lower urinary tract obstruction. Ultrasonography and plain radiography play an important role in the diagnosis of urinary bladder stone as well as evaluation for complications that may be associated with this condition. A 6-year-old boy presented with a 3-month history of abdominal pain and dysuria. He was treated with antibiotics on several occasions in a rural health center with no satisfactory improvement of his symptoms. Ultrasound and intravenous urography showed a huge oval urinary bladder calculus measuring 4.5 cm × 4.2 cm × 4.0 cm with moderate bilateral hydronephrosis. We presented a rare case of large bladder calculus in a 6-year-old boy with recurrent urinary tract infection highlighting the role of ultrasonography and excretory urography in the management.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a noncicatricial alopecia affecting any hair-bearing area. Although AA is considered to be an autoimmune disease, oxidative stress has been shown to be an important factor in the etiology of AA. Trace elements are highly essential for humans since they form the building blocks of large molecules, function as the cofactors of enzymes, and have some key biological functions. The aim of this study was to investigate serum levels of heavy metals like iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in patients with AA. Materials and Methods: The study included a patient group of 30 with AA and a control group of 31 healthy individuals. Serum levels of heavy metals were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: The 30 patients included 17 (56.7%) men and 13 (43.3%) women with a mean age of 33.8 (range, 19–48) years. Serum Zn and Mn levels were significantly lower and serum Cd, Fe, Mg, Pb, Co, and Cu levels were significantly higher in the patient group compared to that of the control group (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: The results indicated that low levels of Zn and Mn are associated with AA while other metals were normal. So Zn supplementation may have some beneficial effect in AA while Fe prescription is fruitless.

Background: Despite a multitude of studies, etiology of primary chronic telogen effluvium (TE) remains incompletely understood. Essential heavy metals are associated with beneficial effects in humans as well as in other living organisms. However, they may lead to toxic effects when the exposure exceeds the higher tolerable limits. We wanted to assess the heavy metal and trace element levels in patients with chronic TE. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 subjects with chronic TE were included in the study, and 30 healthy women served as control. General and dermatological examinations were taken up in all individuals. Those patients with positive hair pull test were evaluated with the help of a trichogram. The presence of >20% telogen hair as documented by trichogram was a requirement for the study inclusion. UNICAM-929 spectrophotometry device was used for determining serum trace element and heavy metal concentrations. Results: In spite of an absence of significant differences in terms of average Zn concentration, weight, or height between patients and controls, significant differences were noted for Cd, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb, Co, and Cu (P

Background: Traumatic injuries are common dental problems in pediatric dentistry that may influence the children's quality of life. Aim: the aim of this study is to assess the impact of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among Egyptian schoolchildren aged 11–14 years. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving a sample of 11700 schoolchildren from public and private schools of Mansoura city, Egypt. OHRQoL was assessed using Child Perceptions Questionnaire. Clinical examination included the presence and type of TDI, malocclusion status, and dental caries in anterior teeth (decayed, missing, and filled teeth). Results: The prevalence of TDI was 13.6%. Untreated TDI was more likely to have a negative impact on the children's daily living regarding pain, functional, emotional, and social aspect than treated injuries and control children. Pearson's correlation test indicated significant association between trauma and malocclusion and dental caries. Conclusion: Untreated dental injury has a negative impact on quality of life regarding social, functional, and emotional aspects. However, treated injured teeth appear to improve social and emotional aspects of the OHRQoL of school children, whereas functional limitations may continue because of the pulpal and periodontal effects of the injury.

Background: Mentoring is vital to the maturation of individuals, especially early in their careers and aids professional growth. This study was conducted to find out the views of final year students of Bayero University Medical School on mentoring. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study. The students were given a self-administered questionnaire after a careful explanation and consent obtained. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 using Chi-square (χ2) and Fischer exact test (F) with a P< 0.05 considered to be significant. Results: There were a total of 84 students with a male:female ratio of 3.4:1. The age range was between 22 and 42 years with a mean age of 26.4 ± 2.99 years. All the students had formal mentors assigned to them, but none had mentors in the 1st year of school, and only two (2.3%) were assigned mentors in the 2nd year of study. Religion, ethnicity, gender, or specialties of the mentors were not considered important characteristics of mentors by majority of the students, and there was no gender difference in these views. Developing career goals and time management were the priority mentor topics. During the initiation of formal mentoring, only 7 (8.3%) of the students were asked for their goals before being assigned to mentors. Conclusion: Mentoring should be commenced in the 1st year of study, and mentoring goals should be clearly defined for a successful mentee – mentor relationship.

Objectives: The aim was to evaluate pathologic diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of 125 patients with nontransitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Materials and Methods: A total of 3590 patients with bladder tumors operated in our clinic between September 1998 and May 2013 were retrospectively evaluated. A total of 125 patients (107 men and 18 women) with nontransitional cell bladder cancer, confirmed by histopathology, were included in this study. The patients′ characteristics, including age, gender, smoking history, tumor size, and localization, histological types, pathological tumor stages, treatment modalities, and survival rates were all recorded. Results: Of these tumors, 47 (37.6%) were adenocarcinoma (AC), 42 (33.6%) were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 23 (18.4%) were undifferentiated carcinoma (UC), 13 (10.4%) were other types of bladder carcinoma. Sixty-three (50.4%) patients had undergone radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy ± adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy [CT]/radiotherapy) and 52 (41.6%) patients received radiotherapy ± CT. The median survival time of patients with AC and SCC were significantly higher than patients with UC (AC vs UC, P = 0.001; SCC vs UC, P = 0.000; AC vs. SCC, P = 0.219). Median survival time was significantly higher in radical cystectomy ± adjuvant treatment group (P < 0.05) in all histological types. Conclusion: Prognosis of urinary bladder tumors was directly related to histological type and stage of the tumor. CT or radiotherapy has limited response rates. Early radical cystectomy should be performed to improve prognosis.

Aim: Debatable issues in the management of inguinal hernia in premature infants remain unresolved. This study reviews our experience in the management of inguinal hernia in premature infants. Materials and Methods: Retrospective chart review of premature infants with inguinal hernia from 1999 to 2009. Infants were grouped into 2: Group 1 had repair (HR) just before discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and Group 2 after discharge. Results: Eighty four premature infants were identified. None of 23 infants in Group 1 developed incarcerated hernia while waiting for repair. Of the 61 infants in Group 2, 47 (77%) underwent day surgery repair and 14 were admitted for repair. At repair mean postconceptional age (PCA) in Group1 was 39.5 ± 3.05 weeks. Mean PCA in Group 2 was 66.5 ± 42.73 weeks for day surgery infants and 47.03 ± 8.87 weeks for admitted infants. None of the 84 infants had an episode of postoperative apnea. Five (5.9%) infants presented subsequently with metachronous contralateral hernia and the same number of infants had hernia recurrence. Conclusions: Delaying HR in premature infants until ready for discharge from the NICU allows for repair closer to term without increasing the risk of incarceration. Because of low occurrence of metachronous hernia contralateral inguinal exploration is not justified. Day surgery HR can be performed in former premature infant if PCA is >47 weeks without increasing postoperative complications.

Background: This study was aimed to evaluate protective and therapeutic effects of a specific mixture, containing vitamin C, lysine, proline, epigallocatechin gallate and zinc, as well as alpha-1-antitrypsin protein on lung tumorigenesis induced by benzo(a) pyrene [B(a)P] in mice. Materials and Methods: Swiss albino mice were divided into two main experiments, experiment (1) the mice were injected with 100 mg/kg B(a)P and lasted for 28 weeks, while experiment (2) the mice were injected with 8 doses each of 50 mg/kg B(a)P and lasted for 16 weeks. Each experiment (1 and 2) divided into five groups, group (I) received vehicle, group (II) received the protector mixture, group (III) received the carcinogen B(a)P, group (IV) received the protector together with the carcinogen (simultaneously) and group (V) received the carcinogen then the protector (consecutively). Results: Total sialic acid, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, vascular epithelial growth factor, hydroxyproline levels, as well as elastase and gelatinase activities showed significant elevation in group (III) in the two experiments comparing to control group (P < 0.001). These biochemical alterations were associated with histopathological changes. Administration of the protector in group IV and group V causes significant decrease in such parameters with improvement in histopathological alterations with improvement in histopathological alterations when compared with group III in the two experiments (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The present protector mixture has the ability to suppress neoplastic alteration and restore the biochemical and histopathological parameters towards normal on lung carcinogenesis induced by benzo(a) pyrene in mice. Furthermore, the present mixture have more protective rather than therapeutic action.

Emergency department visits due to dermatologic disease is quite rare. Euphorbia helioscopia is a widely distributed plant in rural areas. E. helioscopia related contact dermatitis (Irritant contact dermatitis or allergic contact dermatitis) are known however only a few case reported in literature. We are reporting on three patients with contact dermatitis from E. helioscopia. Irritant contact dermatitis was occurred only one of these cases. This case refused to wash face with water. We recommend washing the face with water after contact with E. helioscopia. Keywords: Contact dermatitis, Emergency departments, Euphorbia, Clinic visit, Water