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Background. There is no conclusive evidence on the association between interleukin- (IL-) 6 gene polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM). Thus, this study is aimed at evaluating the role of rs1800795 and rs1800796 polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of type 2 DM among Ghanaians in the Ho Municipality. Materials and Methods. We recruited into this hospital-based case-control study 174 patients with type 2 DM (75 DM alone and 99 with DM+HTN) and 149 healthy individuals between 2018 and 2020. Demographic, lifestyle, clinical, anthropometric, and haemodynamic variables were obtained. Fasting blood samples were collected for haematological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. Genomic DNA was extracted, amplified using Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) technique, and genotyped for IL-6 gene polymorphism. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between IL-6 gene polymorphism and type 2 DM. Results. The minor allele frequency (MAF) of the rs1800795 and rs1800796 polymorphisms was higher in DM alone (57.5%, 62.0%) and DM with HTN groups (58.3%, 65.3%) than controls (33.1%, 20.0%). Carriers of the rs1800795GC genotype (aOR = 2.35 , 95% CI: 1.13-4.90, p = 0.022) and mutant C allele (aOR = 2.41 , 95% CI: 1.16-5.00, p = 0.019) as well as those who carried the rs1800796GC (aOR = 8.67 , 95% CI: 4.00-18.90, p < 0.001) and mutant C allele (aOR = 8.84 , 95% CI: 4.06-19.26, p = 0.001) had increased odds of type 2 DM. For both polymorphisms, carriers of the GC genotype had comparable levels of insulin, HOMA-IR, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) with those who carried the GG genotype. IL-6 levels were higher among carriers of the rs1800796GC variant compared to carriers of the rs1800796GG variant (p = 0.023). The rs1800796 polymorphism, dietary sugar intake, and exercise status, respectively, explained approximately 3% (p = 0.046), 3.2% (p = 0.038 , coefficient = 1.456), and 6.2% (p = 0.004 , coefficient = − 2.754) of the variability in IL-6 levels, suggesting weak effect sizes. Conclusion. The GC genotype and mutant C allele are risk genetic variants associated with type 2 DM in the Ghanaian population. The rs1800796 GC variant, dietary sugar intake, and exercise status appear to contribute significantly to the variations in circulating IL-6 levels but with weak effect sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: : Treatment outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) in children are rarely evaluated by most national TB programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the treatment outcomes of children treated for TB in Lagos State, Nigeria.Methods: A retrospective review of programme data of the Lagos state TB and the Leprosy control programme in Nigeria from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012. Treatment outcomes were categorized according to the national TB guidelines.Results: A total of 535 cases of childhood TB were notified in 2012, representing 6.3% of the total TB cases notified in Lagos state in 2012. The prevalence of TB/HIV co-infection was 29%. The treatment success rate was 79.2% in TB/HIV-negative children compared with 73.4% in TB/HIV-positive children (p = 0.1268). Children <1 year had the worst treatment outcomes (p < 0.001).Conclusion: There is a need to intensify effort at improving notification and treatment outcomes in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Vaccine hesitancy is a global phenomenon and vaccination efforts against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be hampered by it. This study assessed the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination at different hypothetical efficacy and safety levels in Nigeria. Methods: This web-based study was conducted among a selected Nigerian population between the month of February and May 2021 using an online self-administered structured questionnaire hosted by Survey Monkey. WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook were used to disseminate the invitation to take the poll. Results: The finding of this study revealed that a larger proportion of the participants were males (53.9%), within the age group of 31-40 years (25.6%) and earn an average income of less than $500 per month. Individuals between the ages of 21 and 30 years and 31 to 40 years showed the highest levels of acceptability for the COVID-19 vaccine at 95% efficacy and 5% adverse effects. The older age group (>51 years and above) had the least vaccine acceptance rate (3.3%) at 75% vaccine efficacy and 20% side effect. Respondents who held the belief that vaccinations are essential for their health had a higher chance to accept the COVID-19 vaccine with OR: 0.76; 50%CI (0.00-0.00), OR: 95%CI (0.000-0.000), OR: 1.23; 95%CI (0.193-7.860) and OR: 0.696; 95%CI (0.048-10.047) based on religion, the occurrence of diabetes, pulmonary disease, and Hypertension, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this research indicate that vaccine acceptance rates are negatively correlated with participants' ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Vaccine hesitancy is a global phenomenon and vaccination efforts against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be hampered by it. This study assessed the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination at different hypothetical efficacy and safety levels in Nigeria. Methods: This web-based study was conducted among a selected Nigerian population between the month of February and May 2021 using an online self-administered structured questionnaire hosted by Survey Monkey. WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook were used to disseminate the invitation to take the poll. Results: The finding of this study revealed that a larger proportion of the participants were males (53.9%), within the age group of 31-40 years (25.6%) and earn an average income of less than $500 per month. Individuals between the ages of 21 and 30 years and 31 to 40 years showed the highest levels of acceptability for the COVID-19 vaccine at 95% efficacy and 5% adverse effects. The older age group (>51 years and above) had the least vaccine acceptance rate (3.3%) at 75% vaccine efficacy and 20% side effect. Respondents who held the belief that vaccinations are essential for their health had a higher chance to accept the COVID-19 vaccine with OR: 0.76; 50%CI (0.00-0.00), OR: 95%CI (0.000-0.000), OR: 1.23; 95%CI (0.193-7.860) and OR: 0.696; 95%CI (0.048-10.047) based on religion, the occurrence of diabetes, pulmonary disease, and Hypertension, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this research indicate that vaccine acceptance rates are negatively correlated with participants' ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a vaccine-preventable disease amongst all ages; however, parental attitudes, perceptions and concerns towards children's vaccination can hamper immunization efforts and leave this vulnerable group of the society unprotected. The aim of this study is to assess the attitude, perception and concern towards children's vaccination amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic among selected workers in a Nigerian population. Methods: This web-based study was conducted among a selected Nigerian population between the month of February and May 2021 using an online self-administered structured questionnaire hosted by Survey Monkey. The invitation to take part in the poll was sent out to a total of 180 persons through social networking platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp. Version 25 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data collected and results presented using tables, bar charts and pie charts. The cutoff point was established at a level of significance equal to P < 0.05. Results: Vaccine hesitant score on childhood acceptance rates shows that 28 (15.6%) had low acceptance rates, 125 (69.4%) had moderate acceptance rates, and 27 (15.0%) had high acceptance rates. There was significant association between age and overall vaccine hesitance on children's vaccination acceptance rates at χ² = 16.804, P = 0.032. Conclusion: More than two-thirds of study participants supported children's vaccination. Those with low compliance may lack a realistic perception of infection risk, poor-quality information about immunizations and the disease, and general understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, the death rate arising from the cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is high. This study assessed the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) among staff of the Babcock University., Methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study. Weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure measurements were taken. Venous blood was collected for glucose and lipid profile analysis after an overnight fast. The prevalence of smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, general and abdominal obesity were determined., Results: A total of 140 participants were recruited into the study. The average age of the participants was 41.7 ± 9.4 years. The male: female ratio was 1:0.8. About 24% of the participants had no CRF, but 24.3%, 27.1%, 16.4% and 10% had 1, 2, 3 and 4 CRFs, respectively. Majority had abdominal obesity (48.6%) and dyslipidaemia (47.1%). The prevalence of hypertension, obesity and smoking was 32.9%, 31.4% and 11.4%, respectively. None of the participants had diabetes mellitus. More males smoked cigarette (20% vs. 0%) and had hypertension (50% vs. 10%) than that of females (P < 0.001), but a higher proportion of females (63.3% vs. 37.5%) had abdominal obesity (P = 0.002)., Conclusion: The prevalence of CRFs among the apparently healthy staff of the Babcock University was high. Urgent measures are needed to prevent the development of CVD in this population., Competing Interests: None