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Purpose – This study aims to examine the mediating role of social influence on the relationship between key predictors of E-pharmacy adoption among young consumers based on the unified theory of adoption and use of technology (UTAUT). Design/methodology/approach – This study employs a quantitative correlational research design. Based on cluster sampling, data was collected from 306 university students from three public universities in southwestern Nigeria. Data was analysed using partial least square structural equation modeling. Findings – The primary determinant driving the adoption of e-pharmacy is performance expectancy. Social influence plays a partial mediating role in linking performance expectancy to e-pharmacy adoption. In contrast, it fully mediates the relationship between effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and the adoption of e-pharmacy services. Research limitations/implications – This study provides theoretical clarity on recent issues within the UTAUT framework. Findings highlight the complexity of how social factors interact with individual beliefs and external conditions in determining technology acceptance. Practical implications – Research includes information relevant to access the impact of e-pharmacy services on healthcare accessibility, affordability and quality in developing countries. Originality/value – The findings extend the adoption of technology literature in healthcare and offer a new understanding of adoption dynamics. The results emphasize the importance of performance expectancy in driving e-pharmacy adoption, providing a clear direction for stakeholders to enhance service quality and user experience of e-pharmacy. Additionally, the mediating effect of social influence highlights the significance of peer recommendations, celebrity endorsements and social media campaigns in shaping consumer adoption of e-pharmacies among young people.

ABSTRACT Background and Aims There is a lack of population‐based studies focusing on guideline‐based prognostic models for stroke. This study aimed to develop and validate a prognostic model that predicts mortality following a first‐ever acute ischemic stroke. Methods The study included 899 adult patients ( ≥ 18 years) with confirmed diagnosis of first‐ever acute ischemic stroke enrolled in the Malaysian National Stroke Registry (NSR) from January 2009 to December 2019. The primary outcome was mortality within 90 days post‐stroke (266 events [29.6%]). The prognostic model was developed using logistic regression (75%, n = 674) and internally validated (25%, n = 225). Model performance was assessed using discrimination (area under the curve (AUC]) and calibration (Hosmer‐Lemeshow test [HL]). Results The final model includes factors associated with increased risk of mortality, such as age (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 1.06 [95% confidence interval, CI 1.03, 1.10; p

BackgroundHealth-promoting universities are dedicated to fostering learning environments and organizational cultures that support the physical and mental well-being of students, faculty, and staff. As students constitute the largest group within the university community, any policy intervention targeting them is likely to have a significant impact on the university as a whole. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the health status and needs of Qatar University (QU) students using a comprehensive and holistic definition of health, informed by the perspectives of students, faculty members, and key informants. The ultimate goal is to inform evidence-based policies and services designed to improve students’ physical and mental well-being. MethodsAn explanatory sequential mixed-methods research design will be used to conduct a comprehensive assessment of students’ health status and needs. This assessment will consist of a quantitative component (a web-based health survey) administered to a convenience sample of students, and a qualitative component, including focus groups with students and faculty members, as well as interviews with key informants. Priority health issues and their determinants, identified through the quantitative assessment, will inform and guide the qualitative assessment to provide a deeper understanding of the various contexts and factors shaping them. Descriptive analyses (eg, proportions or means with SDs), comparative analyses (eg, t tests or chi-square tests), and association analyses (eg, linear, logistic, or Poisson regression models) will be used to analyze the quantitative data. Thematic analysis will be used in the qualitative assessments. Additionally, an environmental scan will be conducted to assess relevant facilities, services, and programs at the QU campus and the QU Primary Healthcare Corporation Center, as well as to review university policies and regulations that may affect students’ health and well-being. Together, the needs assessment and environmental scan will inform the design of multilevel interventions, including health education and promotion programs, health services orientation, and proposed policy changes. ResultsBetween March and December 2022, 812 students completed the web-based health survey. Data have been extracted, cleaned, and harmonized. Analyses to assess the extent of selection bias and the calculation of weights to account for this in all subsequent analyses have been completed (by December 2023). Following the completion of all quantitative data analyses (expected by the end of 2024), focus groups, interviews, and the environmental scan will begin in January-December 2025. ConclusionsThis project will help identify and prioritize the health needs of QU students and their determinants, and inform relevant services and policies targeting these needs. By using comprehensive and context-appropriate methods, this project will contribute to QU’s strategic efforts to become a Health-Promoting University. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/58860

Microbes such as bacteria and fungi play important roles in nutrient cycling in soils, often leading to the bioavailability of metabolically important mineral elements such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). Examples of microbes with beneficial traits for plant growth promotion include mycorrhizal fungi, associative diazotrophs, and the N2-fixing rhizobia belonging to the α, β and γ class of Proteobacteria. Mycorrhizal fungi generally contribute to increasing the surface area of soil-root interface for optimum nutrient uptake by plants. However, when transformed into bacteroids inside root nodules, rhizobia also convert N2 gas in air into ammonia for use by the bacteria and their host plant. Thus, nodulated legumes can meet a high proportion of their N requirements from N2 fixation. The percentage of legume N derived from atmospheric N2 fixation varies with crop species and genotype, with reported values ranging from 50–97%, 24–67%, 66–86% 27–92%, 50–92%, and 40–75% for soybean (Gycine max), groundnut (Arachis hypogea), mung bean (Vigna radiata), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and Kersting’s groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum), respectively. This suggests that N2-fixing legumes require little or no N fertilizer for growth and grain yield when grown under field conditions. Even cereals and other species obtain a substantial proportion of their N nutrition from associative and endophytic N2-fixing bacteria. For example, about 12–33% of maize N requirement can be obtained from their association with Pseudomonas, Hebaspirillum, Azospirillum, and Brevundioronas, while cucumber can obtain 12.9–20.9% from its interaction with Paenebacillus beijingensis BJ-18. Exploiting the plant growth-promoting traits of soil microbes for increased crop productivity without any negative impact on the environment is the basis of green agriculture which is done through the use of biofertilizers. Either alone or in combination with other synergistic rhizobacteria, rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have been widely used in agriculture, often increasing crop yields but with occasional failures due to the use of poor-quality inoculants, and wrong application techniques. This review explores the literature regarding the plant growth-promoting traits of soil microbes, and also highlights the bottle-necks in tapping this potential for sustainable agriculture.

Abstract In most legumes, the rhizobial symbionts exhibit diversity across different environments. Although common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the important legumes in southern Africa, there is no available information on the genetic diversity and N2-fixing effectiveness of its symbionts in Malkerns, Eswatini. In this study, we assessed the phylogenetic positions of rhizobial microsymbionts of common bean from Malkerns in Eswatini. The isolates obtained showed differences in morpho-physiology and N2-fixing efficiency. A dendrogram constructed from the ERIC-PCR banding patterns, grouped a total of 88 tested isolates into 80 ERIC-PCR types if considered at a 70% similarity cut-off point. Multilocus sequence analysis using 16S rRNA, rpoB, dnaK, gyrB, and glnII and symbiotic (nifH and nodC) gene sequences closely aligned the test isolates to the type strains of Rhizobium muluonense, R. paranaense, R. pusense, R. phaseoli and R. etli. Subjecting the isolates in this study to further description can potentially reveal novel species. Most of the isolates tested were efficient in fixing nitrogen and elicited greater stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rates in the common bean. Relative effectiveness (RE) varied from 18 to 433%, with 75 (85%) out of the 88 tested isolates being more effective than the nitrate fed control plants.

This study proposes a method of gradually loading plate load on-site using lever arms to squeeze out pore water from clayey soils, allowing the soil to settle. Several types of tests were conducted, including a conventional field plate load test (CFPLT), a numerical field plate load test (NFPLT) and an innovative field plate load test (IFPLT) proposed in this study. Three trial pits with soils of varied engineering properties were studied using CFPLT, which employed the use of a heavy jack for load application, the NFPLT test using PLAXIS and an IFPLT, which employed a lever arm to magnify the applied static load. Disturbed soil samples collected from these trial pits were tested for index properties while the undisturbed soil samples were tested using the undrained triaxial compression test (UTCT) and laboratory consolidation tests. The results of the index properties classified these three clay soils as silt of low plasticity (ML) for clay from site 1, and clay of low plasticity (CL) for clay from site 2 and 3. The cohesion and angle of internal friction from the UTCT recorded cohesion values were 28, 29 and 37 kN/m2 for sites 1, 2 and 3, respectively, while the angle of internal friction values were 13, 8 and 6° for sites 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The plate load testing using the three methods showed similar graph pattern except that the allowable load occurred at approximately 350 kN/m2 for the CFPLT and 150 kN/m2 for the IFPLT. The high value of bearing capacity in CFPLT is due to the short period of time taken to load from a jack, which allowed the test to be completed within a short period of time. The ultimate bearing capacities computed from the laboratory test have values of 315.0, 231.0 and 270.0 kN/m2 for sites 1, 2 and 3, respectively. These values agree closely with the bearing capacities obtained for CFPLT but higher than the values recorded for the IFPLT. This is probably due to the long period of sustained loading during testing, which allowed for dissipation of pore water during each loading. Settlements obtained using the IFPLT were close to 25 mm, which is recommended as minimum settlements for building structures BS 8004, 1986.

This study applies a simple financial model to compare the profitability of selected grain storage protection technologies (PICS and Poly sacks) in Ghana. To address the objectives, market survey data of soybean traders who represent a section of the soybean supply chain was used. Per the model, the price seasonality for profitable soybean storage was estimated by accounting for costs related to storage (protectants, maintenance, supervision, and labor), the opportunity cost of capital, and storage technologies (PICS and Poly sacks). Results indicated that the profitability associated with poly sacks was higher than the PICS bags over the entire support of seasonal harvest prices and consistent across the different trader types. Secondly, less than 20% of the traders were willing to invest in storage protection technologies since the value of their storage losses is higher than the value of the investment cost.

A surfactant-modified coal fly ash was developed as a multifunctional adsorbent for the removal of organic pollutants from wastewater. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used to modify the surface of coal fly ash (CFA). The modified CFA was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface porosity analyzer, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results showed that loading CFA with SDS not only improved the functionality and surface morphology of the raw ash for the adsorption of organic pollutants, but also enhanced its thermal stability. The efficiency of the modified fly ash was tested in terms of removal of two non-polar organic pollutants namely chlorobenzene (CB) and nitrobenzene (NB) from aqueous phase. The maximum uptake capacity of chlorobenzene and nitrobenzene with SDS-modified coal fly ash (SCFA) was 225 mg/g and 90 mg/g, respectively. The kinetic analysis was done by controlled kinetic models, i.e., pseudo first and second order kinetic models. The results showed that adsorption of CB and NB onto SCFA followed a pseudo second order kinetic model. The adsorption of chlorobenzene was exothermic over the modified adsorbent while nitrobenzene showed an endothermic behavior. The isotherm analysis depicted the multilayer adsorption of both pollutants onto the surface of the surfactant modified adsorbent. This work has shown that surface modification using surfactants can be a viable option to enhance the adsorption capacity of fly ash for pollutants removal. HIGHLIGHTS An adsorbent was synthesized from waste fly ash for the abatement of pollutants from water.; Surface modifications of ash based adsorbent were analyzed through several characterization techniques.; Detailed parametric study is done to explore the adsorption behavior of nitro benzene and chlorobenzene pollutants.; Modification of ash with sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant proves to be beneficial and it enhances the uptake capacity manifold.;

Abstract This study assessed the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of rhizobial isolates obtained from root nodules of groundnut, jack bean and soybean planted in different locations within Eswatini. Seventy-six rhizobial isolates were studied using ERIC-PCR (enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus) fingerprinting and PCR amplification of 16S rRNA, housekeeping genes (atpD, dnaK, glnll and rpoB) and symbiotic genes (nifH and nodC). The dendrogram generated from the ERIC-PCR banding patterns grouped the test rhizobial isolates into 16 major clusters (Cluster I–XVI), with three isolates, namely TUTAHeS60, TUTGMeS3 and TUTAHeS127, forming outgroups of Clusters IV, VI and IX, respectively. Furthermore, the 76 test isolates were grouped into 56 ERIC-PCR types at 70% similarity level. The phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and multilocus sequence analysis of four housekeeping (atpD, dnaK, glnII and rpoB) and two symbiotic (nifH and nodC) genes showed that all three legumes (groundnut, jack bean and soybean) were nodulated by bacterial symbionts belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium, with some isolates exhibiting high divergence from the known reference type strains. The results also showed that B. arachidis, B. iriomotense and B. canariense were the closest type strains to the groundnut isolates, while B. pachyrhizi and B. elkanii were the closest relatives to the bacterial symbionts associated with the nodulation of both jack bean and soybean. This study is the first report to describe of the bacterial symbionts nodulating jack bean in African soils.

Abstract Background Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) could cause adverse drug events leading to poor health outcomes. This burden is addressed through deprescribing practice. However, data on deprescribing practices are lacking in Nigeria, where the healthcare systems are fragile. Aim This review aimed to summarise the literature on the burden of polypharmacy and PIMs and identify the need for deprescribing practice in Nigeria. Method A systematic search of the literature was conducted on MEDLINE through PubMed (Public Medline), Google Scholar, and a manual search of included articles to identify information on deprescribing, polypharmacy, and PIMs in Nigeria from the inception of the database to date. Relevant information from the articles was summarised and presented as subsections in the manuscript. Results In this review, we reported the burden of polypharmacy, PIMs, and the need for deprescribing practice in Nigeria. The estimated prevalence of polypharmacy was up to 23.8% among older patients with chronic disorders. Polypharmacy and PIMs have been reported to be a significant cause of medication non-adherence, drug addiction, drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, hospitalisation, morbidity, and mortality. Thus, there is the need to consider deprescription practice in the country. Conclusion This review revealed that polypharmacy and PIMs are common in Nigeria. Therefore, there is a need for deprescribing practice to improve drug safety in the country. This could be achieved through patient education, increasing awareness of deprescribing practice among the healthcare professionals, and ensuring adherence to the core prescribing indicators of the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Standard Treatment Guidelines.

Research efforts to develop alternatives to chemical-based fertilizers for sustainable crop production has led to renewed interest in beneficial soil microbes such as rhizobia and plant growth promoting biostimulants such as the seaweed (Ecklonia maxima). This study assessed the interactive effect of the co-application of seaweed extract with two Bradyrhizobium strains (Inoculant 1 and Inoculant 2) on the growth, symbiotic performance and nutritional composition of three cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) genotypes (IT97K-390-2, Songotra and TVU13998) grown under glasshouse conditions. The response of cowpea to the treatments was genotype dependent, such that the combined application of inoculant 2 plus seaweed extract increased nodule dry matter in genotype Songotra, and together with sole inoculant 2 increased the parameter in genotype IT97K-390-2, just as the inoculation plus seaweed extract treatments increased the parameter in genotype TVU13998 when compared to their respective counterparts receiving other treatments. Sole inoculation or inoculation plus seaweed extract treatments increased shoot dry matter in all varieties (2.0 to 7.2 g.plant-1) relative to the control plants receiving sole nitrate (0.5 to 1.2 g.plant-1), sole seaweed extract (0.3 g.plant-1), nitrate plus seaweed extract (1.2 to 1.6 g.plant-1) or the absolute control (0.2 g.plant-1). Due to N2 fixation in the inoculated plants, their leaf δ15N (-2.66‰ to -1.20‰) were markedly lower (p≤0.001) than values recorded by the control plants (+3.30‰ to +510‰) which had no nodules; consequently, leaf N accumulation was greater in the inoculation-based treatments (41.2 to 258.2 mg.plant-1) relative to the uninoculated controls (1.7 to 24.7 mg.plant-1). In most instances, the sole inoculation and inoculation plus seaweed extract treatments increased leaf photosynthetic rates (except for genotype TVU13998 treated with inoculant 1 + seaweed extract), water use efficiency (δ13C) (except in genotype TVU13998) and the concentrations of macro and micronutrients in leaves (except for K in Songotra treated with inoculant 1 or inoculant 1 + seaweed extract as well as Mn in TVU13998 treated with inoculant 1 among others) of the cowpeas relative to the controls. We highlight the potential benefits of the synergistic interactions between rhizobia and seaweed extract for enhancing plant growth and nutrient accumulation in cowpea leaves.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability globally. Clinical models have been reported to predict stroke outcomes and thus, potentially guide clinical decisions. This study aimed to describe the global trends of research in clinical prediction models of stroke outcomes. A bibliometric analysis was conducted on clinical prediction models of stroke outcomes publications reported in Scopus from 2010 to 2019. Bibliographic data were extracted, quantitatively analysed, and visualized using VOSviewer software. A total of 6,364 publications were included in the final analysis. The number of published studies had steadily increased since 2010. “Stroke” and “Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases” were the journal with the most publications and citations. The most cited publications were by Lip et al. (2010) and Berkhemer et al. (2015). The United States of America (USA), China together with their institutions contributed most to the pool of publications in the field. Our study showed a steady increasing research activity in the clinical prediction of stroke outcomes since 2010, with saturation in recent years. The top articles were published in high-quality stroke-related journals and by high-income countries. There is a need to reinforce research capacities in the field by developing collaborative networks.

Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a common neglected tropical disease in rural communities of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Among the several challenges besetting the control of SBE is inadequate access to high-quality care by snakebite victims, partly contributed by inadequate knowledge of SBE among healthcare professionals (HCPs). This narrative review examined the existing literature on the knowledge of snakebites among HCPs, the factors associated with their knowledge of snakebites and their training needs. Data on the knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding snakebites appeared scanty and were predominantly from studies done in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. We found that the proportion of health workers with adequate knowledge of local medically important snakes could be as low as 20.2% in some settings in India, while as much as three-quarters of health workers still recommend tourniquets and Blackstone as first aid in some settings in India and Rwanda, respectively. In addition, the mean knowledge score of local snake-induced clinical syndromes could be as low as 46.2% in some settings in Ghana, while 52.7% of tertiary hospital doctors in northern Nigeria recommend antivenom in all snakebite cases. Similarly, 23% of Bhutan health workers have adequate overall knowledge of snakebite management. Furthermore, several sociodemographic characteristics of the HCPs (such as increasing age, years of experience, work setting, medical specialty, health profession and previous involvement in snakebite management) are associated with adequate snakebite knowledge. Moreover, most studies have consistently reported a lack of training on snakebites as a challenge. Therefore, the knowledge gaps identified could be incorporated into training programs and regional policies on SBE treatment protocols.

A 22-year-old university student presented to our hospital with a 7-year history of recurrent palpitation and easy fatigability, with occasional dry cough and no history of fever or weight loss. Examination revealed the presence of machinery murmur, and echocardiography revealed isolated patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). She had left thoracotomy and double ligation of the uncalcified PDA. Chest drain was inserted and she did well postoperatively, and she was discharged home on the 5th postoperative day. Postoperative echocardiography revealed no residual PDA.

Abstract Background The plant Olax subscorpioidea Oliv (Olacaceae) is a shrub that is widely available in Africa. It has been used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases including asthma, pain, inflammation, gastrointestinal and central nervous system (CNS) disorders, cough, diabetes mellitus, cancer, infectious diseases, hepatic diseases, and many other diseases. Several phytochemical and pharmacological investigations were conducted on this plant. However, comprehensive information on this medicinally important plant is not available in the literature. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to provide comprehensive and critical information on all the reported ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and potential toxicity of Olax subscorpioidea to highlight its therapeutic potentials based on traditional usage and identify research gaps as a basis for further investigations to develop novel therapeutic compounds. Main body The available information about the plant was retrieved from the online bibliographic databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) and published PhD dissertation using the search terms Olax subscorpioidea, traditional uses, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and safety. Phytochemical studies have shown that the plant contains several bioactive compounds such as rutin, morin, quercetin, caffeic acid, santalbic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid, squalene, nonacosane, hentriacontane, and many more compounds. Also, pharmacological investigations revealed that Olax subscorpioidea has antidepressant, antiepileptic, anti-Alzheimer’s, cytotoxic, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, analgesic, antiinflammatory, antiarthritic, antidiabetic, anticancer, antiulcer, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, apoptotic, antiprotease, and other CNS effects. Conclusion Several pharmacological studies on Olax subscorpioidea have established its ethnopharmacological uses. However, there are limited phytochemical and pharmacological studies to validate other folkloric claims of the plant. Therefore, extensive phytochemical and further pre-clinical efficacy and safety evaluations to fully establish its therapeutic potentials and elucidate its mechanisms of pharmacological actions could be necessary. Graphical abstract

Abstract Identification and symbiotic characterization of indigenous rhizobial isolates are the basis for inoculant formulations needed for sustainable grain legume production. This study screened for morpho-genetic diversity of indigenous cowpea nodulating rhizobia in farmers’ fields across two contrasting agroecological zones of Northern Mozambique. The photosynthetic function induced by the isolates in their homologous cowpea was assessed. The results showed high genetic variability among the isolates based on morphology and ERIC-PCR fingerprinting. The trap cowpea genotype did not influence the diversity of isolates collected from the two different agroecologies, suggesting that the cowpea-rhizobia compatibility may be conserved at species level. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene assigned representative rhizobial isolates to species in the Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium genera, with some isolates showing high divergence from the known reference type strains. The isolates from both agroecologies highly varied in the number and biomass of nodules induced in the homologous cowpea, resulting in variable plant growth and photosynthetic activities. A total of 72% and 83% of the isolates collected from the agroecological zones 7 and 8 were respectively classified as highly effective candidates with > 80% relative effectiveness compared to plants fertilized with nitrate, indicating that elite native strains populated the studied soils. Moreover, the top 25% of high N2-fixing isolates from the two agroecologies recorded relative effectiveness ranging from 115 to 154%, values higher than the effectiveness induced by the commercial Bradyrhizobium sp. strain CB756. These strains are considered as having potential for use in inoculant formulations. However, future studies should be done to assess the ecologically adaptive traits and symbiotic performance under field conditions.

A fracture model in rats for the study of secondary bone healing was described. Standard open midshaft transverse metatarsal fracture was produced with bone cutting forceps in 28 rats. The commonly open and close fracture models utilized for bone and mineral researches are associated with varying degree of complications ranging from a high degree of fracture comminution to severe associated soft tissue injury which interferes with the healing process. We hypothesized that fracture model in rat third metatarsal bone could be associated with low -post-surgical complications and could be a reproducible model. To test this, open mid-shaft transverse fractures were created on the metatarsals of 28 rats. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the fracture complications, to determine the nature of fracture produced, evaluate the fracture consolidation during healing periods, and to assess the histological and radiographic healing of the fracture. The fracture produced in the mid metatarsal shaft of all rats was 100% transverse, 73% located at the midshaft. Minimal fracture angulations were recorded (0.48 ± 0.09o; 0.78 ± 0.17o) for anterior-posterior and lateral views respectively. Minimal soft tissue injury was recorded immediately post-surgery, but no infection and the delayed union was observed. Varying degrees of weight-bearing lameness was also recorded but seized at day six onward post-operative. Callus index observed was peaked at week 2 and 3 (2.02 ± 0.1, 1.99 ± 0.13) respectively but declined to 1.10 ± 0.04 at week 7 during the consolidation period. The fracture line disappeared completely at week 7. The histological and radiographic healing scores were (3.5 ± 0.13 and 3.75 ± 0.25) respectively (out of the maximum healing score of 4) at week 7 post-operative. There was a positive correlation between the histological and radiographic healing scores. The metatarsal fracture model is considered to be a suitable model for in vivo study of secondary fracture healing. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2020-0204-2 Full Text: PDF

Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a neglected public health problem, especially in Asia, Latin America and Africa. There is inadequate knowledge of venom toxicokinetics especially from African snakes. To mimic a likely scenario of a snakebite envenoming, we used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) approach to study the toxicokinetic parameters in rabbits, following a single intramuscular (IM) administration of Northern Nigeria Naja nigricollis venom. We used a developed and validated non-compartmental approach in the R package PK to determine the toxicokinetic parameters of the venom and subsequently used pharmacometrics modelling to predict the movement of the toxin within biological systems. We found that N. nigricollis venom contained sixteen venom protein families following a mass spectrometric analysis of the whole venom. Most of these proteins belong to the three-finger toxins family (3FTx) and venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2) with molecular weight ranging from 3 to 16 kDa. Other venom protein families were in small proportions with higher molecular weights. The N. nigricollis venom was rapidly absorbed at 0.5 h, increased after 1 h and continued to decrease until the 16th hour (Tmax), where maximum concentration (Cmax) was observed. This was followed by a decrease in concentration at the 32nd hour. The venom of N. nigricollis was found to have high volume of distribution (1250 ± 245 mL) and low clearance (29.0 ± 2.5 mL/h) with an elimination half-life of 29 h. The area under the curve (AUC) showed that the venom remaining in the plasma over 32 h was 0.0392 ± 0.0025 mg h.L−1, and the mean residence time was 43.17 ± 8.04 h. The pharmacometrics simulation suggests that the venom toxins were instantly and rapidly absorbed into the extravascular compartment and slowly moved into the central compartment. Our study demonstrates that Nigerian N. nigricollis venom contains low molecular weight toxins that are well absorbed into the blood and deep tissues. The venom could be detected in rabbit blood 48 h after intramuscular envenoming.

To evaluate cowpea genotypic differences in response to inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. strains BR 3267 and CB756 in the field, 15 genotypes were assessed for N2 fixation using 15N natural abundance and assays of xylem N solutes (ureides, nitrates, and amino-N). Carbon isotope discrimination (δ13C) was used as a surrogate for water use efficiency and grain yield determined at maturity. Within each location, the tested cowpeas elicited contrasting responses to inoculation with either Bradyrhizobium strains. For example, inoculating Apagbaala and IT90K-277-2 with strain BR 3267 doubled N-fixed and grain yield at Nyankpala when compared to inoculation of the same genotypes with strain CB756, whereas the inoculation of Padituya with strain CB756 increased those same parameters relative to non-inoculation. Similar contrasting results were also obtained at Savelugu and Gbalahi, where bacterial inoculation with each strain resulted in up to a five-fold increase in N-fixed and a four-fold increase in grain yield depending on the cowpea/inoculant combinations used and the planting location. The main effect of genotype showed that the percent N derived from N2 fixation (%Ndfa) by the test cowpeas ranged between 74.4 and 89.8%, 11.7 and 50.5%, and 71.9 and 90.3% at Nyankpala, Savelugu, and Gbalahi, respectively. The genotypes grown at Savelugu generally exhibited low %Ndfa which was augmented by greater soil N uptake leading to grain yield increases, a finding supported by significant positive correlations when N-fixed and N content were each plotted against grain yield within locations. The inverse relationship between symbiosis and soil N uptake was also supported by negative correlations between xylem nitrate concentration and relative ureide N abundance (RU-N), and between xylem nitrate concentration and %Ndfa measured from 15N natural abundance. Some high yielding genotypes also elicited greater water use efficiency (δ13C), a trait that could be exploited for increased cowpea production in water limiting environments. This study demonstrates the presence of genotypic differences in cowpea response to inoculation in the field and contributes to the literature regarding the factors influencing legume inoculation response in the tropics.

Background: Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a high-priority, neglected, tropical disease that affects millions of people in developing countries annually. The only available standard drug used for the treatment of SBE is antisnake venom (ASV) which consists of immunoglobulins that have been purified from the plasma of animals hyper-immunized against snake venoms. The use of plants as alternatives for treatment of poisonous bites particularly snakebites is important in remote areas where there might be limited, or no access to hospitals and storage facilities for antivenom. The pharmacological activity of some of the medicinal plants used traditionally in the treatment of SBE have also been scientifically validated. Method: A systematic review will be conducted according to the Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies checklist for study quality in animal/ in vivo studies. The tool will be modified and validated to assess in vitro models and studies that combine in vivo and in vitro studies. The systematic review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. English published articles on African medicinal plants used in the treatment of snakebite envenoming will be searched in Medline, Embase, and Scopus from 2000 to 2021. Dissemination: The findings of the study will be communicated through publication in peer-reviewed journal and presentation at scientific conferences. Medicinal plants have been important sources for the development of many effective drugs currently available in orthodox medicine. Botanically derived medicines have played a major role in human societies throughout history. Plants components used in traditional medicine gained much attention by many toxinologists as a tool for designing potent antidotes against snake envenoming. Our systematic review will provide a synthesis of the literature on the efficacy of these medicinal plants. We will also appraise the prospects of African medicinal plants with pharmacologically demonstrated activity against snakebite and envenoming.

Lessertia frutescens is a multipurpose medicinal plant indigenous to South Africa. The curative ability of the medicinal plant is attributed to its rich phytochemical composition, including amino acids, triterpenoids, and flavonoids. A literature review of some of the phytochemical compounds, particularly amino acids, in L. frutescens shows a steady decrease in concentration over the years. The reduction of the phytochemical compounds and diminishing biological activities may be attributed to drought and salt stress, which South Africa has been grappling with over the years. Canavanine, a phytochemical which is associated with the anticancer activity of L. frutescens, reduced slightly when the plant was subjected to salt stress. Like other legumes, L. frutescens forms a symbiotic relationship with plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria, which facilitate plant growth and development. Studies employing commercial plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria to enhance growth and biological activities in L. frutescens have been successfully carried out. Furthermore, alleviation of drought and salt stress in medicinal plants through inoculation with plant growth-promoting-rhizobacteria is well documented and effective. Therefore, this review seeks to highlight the potential of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria to alleviate the effect of salt and drought in Lessertia frutescens.

Objectives: This study aims to examine medical waste management (MWM) practices and identify the challenges of optimal MWM at the primary healthcare (PHC) level in Kebbi State, Nigeria. Study design: This study was a cross-sectional survey of 265 primary healthcare workers (PHCWs) and health facilities (HFs) in Kebbi State. Methods: The study tool used was a questionnaire adapted from the WHO rapid assessment tool on MWM and water sanitation. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 20 software. Results: Data generated from 257 HWs were used in this study. Amidst other findings, only 65 (25%) HFs had MWM guideline or policy document; out of these 65HFs, only 19 (7%) of them had problem with its implementation. Only 42 (16%) HFs had a compensation package or a health insurance policy to take care of their health workers in case of MWM-associated hazards while 22 (9%) HFs had specific budgetary allocation for MWM. Only 105 (41%) HFs had trained staffers on MWM. Sharps, blood/body fluids and domestic wastes were the top three (3) wastes generated among the surveyed HFs. Medical waste treatment was on-site in 124 (48%) HFs and burn-and-bury method was the adopted method of medical waste disposal in 198 (77%) HFs. However, the majority (76%) of the surveyed HWs expressed dissatisfaction about the waste treatment practices adopted in their HFs. Conclusion: Our study revealed a poor level of MWM practices in Kebbi State, Nigeria. The state government and partners need to urgently address the identified operational and policy gaps in MWM in Kebbi State, Nigeria. Furthermore, our study revealed the negative implication of fragmented governance and leadership structure at the PHC level on policy, practice and administration of medical waste management in the Kebbi State, Northwestern Nigeria. Addressing the gaps found in this study would contribute to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities and contribute to poverty eradication.

Here, we report on the symbiotic N2 fixation and water use efficiency (δ13C) of Kersting's groundnut, an important but underutilized grain legume in Africa, in response to inoculation with Bradyrhizobium strains 3267 and CB756. The 15N natural abundance and xylem ureide techniques were used to quantify N2 fixation. The landraces in this study derived variable levels of their N requirements from symbiosis, which translated into marked differences in the amounts of N-fixed by the landrace–inoculant combinations across the test locations. In most instances, the landrace-strain combinations that elicited higher shoot biomass also recorded greater N-fixed and/or ureide-N in xylem sap as well as grain yield. Although some landraces coupled increased grain yield with higher water use efficiency (shoot δ13C), a trait that could be tapped for crop improvement, others recorded lower yields despite eliciting relatively high shoot δ13C values, indicating genotypic variations in adaptation to the different environments. Grain yield of the test landraces showed marked variation and ranged from 131 to 1349.8 kg ha−1 depending on the landrace–strain combination used and the planting location. The high symbiotic dependence by landraces in this study could explain why Kersting's groundnut thrives in the low nutrient soils that are prevalent in its cultivation areas. These results provide more insights into the literature regarding the Kersting's groundnut–rhizobia symbiosis as well as the crop's water use efficiency.

Abstract Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) is an indigenous, drought-tolerant, underutilized African food legume, with the ability to fix atmospheric N2 in symbiosis with soil bacteria called rhizobia. The aim of this study was to assess the morpho-physiological, symbiotic and phylogenetic characteristics of rhizobia nodulating Bambara groundnut in Ghana, Mali and South Africa. The morpho-physiologically diverse isolates tested were also found to exhibit differences in functional efficiency and phylogenetic positions. Based on Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC)-PCR banding patterns, the isolates were grouped into eight major clusters. The concentrations of Ca, Na and K in soils had a significant (p ≤ 0.01) effect on the distribution of rhizobia. Though many isolates were symbiotically very effective, the effectiveness index varied markedly (p ≤ 0.05) among them. Moreover, the isolates also exhibited tolerance to a wide range of NaCl (0.5–7%), streptomycin (50–500 µg.ml−1), and kanamycin (25–150 µg.ml−1) concentrations. Additionally, these isolates could produce 0.02 to 69.71 µg.ml−1 of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in tryptophan-supplemented medium, as well as solubilize tri-calcium phosphate. Phylogenetic analysis of these rhizobial isolates using 16S rRNA, atpD, glnII, gyrB, recA and symbiotic (nifH and nodC) gene sequences revealed distinct and novel evolutionary lineages related to the genus Bradyrhizobium, with some of them being very close to Bradyrhizobium vignae, B. kavangense, B. subterraneum, B. elkanii and B. pachyrhizi.

This study aimed to explore knowledge, attitude, perceptions, and willingness regarding vaccination among university students in Pakistan. This cross-sectional study was carried out using an open online self-administered survey via Google Forms. The survey data were collected between the 15 to 30 of October 2022. A total of 946 respondents participated in the study, of which the majority were female (514, 54.3%). Most students belonged to a medical background, specifically pharmaceutical sciences. Most of the respondents did not know about monkeypox before 2022 (646, 68.3%). Regarding overall knowledge of monkeypox, most of the respondents had average knowledge (726, 76.7%), with very few having good knowledge (60, 6.3%). Regarding overall attitudes towards monkeypox, most of the respondents had neutral attitudes (648, 68.5%). There was a significant association between knowledge of Monkeypox with the type of academic degree (p < 0.001), type of discipline (p < 0.001), and region of respondents (p < 0.001). The willingness to vaccinate among the population was (67.7%). The current study pointed out that the overall knowledge of monkeypox was average in most respondents, with considerable knowledge gaps in most aspects. The overall attitude towards monkeypox was neutral. Further, the knowledge about monkeypox was strongly associated with academic degree, study discipline, and region of respondents. Our findings emphasize the need to raise public awareness by educating students on the monkeypox virus. This will improve adherence to preventative recommendations.

Introduction: Anti-snake venom (ASV) is the standard therapy for the management of snakebite envenoming (SBE). Therefore, the knowledge of ASV among healthcare practitioners (HCPs) is essential for achieving optimal clinical outcomes in snakebite management. This study aimed to assess knowledge of ASV among the HCPs in northern Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving eligible HCPs from different healthcare settings in northern Nigeria. The participants were recruited into the study using a combination of online (via Google Form) and face-to-face paper-based survey methods. The ASV knowledge of the respondents was measured using a validated anti-snake venom knowledge assessment tool (AKAT). Inadequate overall knowledge of ASV was defined as scores of 0–69.9%, and 70–100% were considered adequate overall knowledge scores. The predictors of ASV knowledge were determined using multiple logistic regression. Results: Three hundred and thirty-one (331) eligible HCPs were included in the study analysis (310 from online and 21 from paper-based survey). Overall, an estimated 12.7% of the participants had adequate knowledge of ASV. Adequate ASV knowledge was higher among physicians compared with other HCPs (21.7%; χ 2 = 8.1; p = 0.04). Those without previous training on ASV (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18–0.73; p = 0.004) and who have not previously administered/dispensed ASV (aOR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.15–0.63; p

This article describes the dataset for the elucidation of the possible mechanisms of antidiarrhoeal actions of methanol leaves extract of Combretum hypopilinum (Diels) Combretaceae in mice. The plant has been used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhoea in Nigeria and other African countries. We introduce the data for the antidiarrhoeal activity of the methanol leaf extract of Combretum hypopilinum at 1,000 mg/kg investigated using charcoal meal test in mice with loperamide (5 mg/kg) as the standard antidiarrhoeal agent. To elucidate the possible mechanisms of its antidiarrhoeal action, naloxone (2 mg/kg), prazosin (1 mg/kg), yohimbine (2 mg/kg), propranolol (1 mg/kg), pilocarpine (1 mg/kg) and isosorbide dinitrate (150 mg/kg) were separately administered to different groups of mice 30 minutes before administration of the extract. Each mouse was dissected using dissecting set, and the small intestine was immediately removed from pylorus to caecum, placed lengthwise on moist filter paper and measured the distance travelled by charcoal relative to the length of the intestine using a calibrated ruler in centimetre. Besides, the peristaltic index and inhibition of charcoal movement of each animal were calculated and recorded. The methods for the data collection is similar to the one used to investigate the possible pathways involved in the antidiarrhoeal action of Combretum hypopilinum in mice in the research article by Ahmad et al. (2020) “Mechanisms of Antidiarrhoeal Activity of Methanol Leaf Extract of Combretum hypopilinum Diels (Combretaceae): Involvement of Opioidergic and (α1 and β)-Adrenergic Pathways” (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113750) [1]. Therefore, this datasets could form a basis for in-depth research to elucidate further the pharmacological properties of the plant Combretum hypopilinum and its bioactive compounds to develop standardized herbal product and novel compound for management of diarrhoea. It could also be instrumental for evaluating the plant's pharmacological potentials using other computational-based and artificial intelligence approaches, including predictive modelling and simulation.

Palm oil processing generates enormous amount of wastewater, the palm oil mill effluent (POME), containing various recalcitrant pollutants. The biological processes commonly employed to treat POME often fail to achieve treatment levels required for safe disposal or recycling of the effluent, prompting the need to develop polishing technologies. In this work, we investigated the possibility of polishing biologically-treated POME using palm kernel shell activated carbon (PKSAC) derived from a solid waste generated during palm oil processing. The rationale is to provide impetus towards adopting cleaner production in the palm oil industry through recycling both wastewater and solid wastes generated from palm oil processing. The PKSAC was impregnated with iron oxide to produce a magnetic adsorbent that could be easily separated after the treatment. The adsorbent was characterized using BET, SEM/EDX, FTIR and VSM analyses. The adsorbent exhibited high specific surface area (611.85 ​m2/g), excellent magnetic property (15.16 emu/g) and various surface functional groups. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to investigate the suitability of the adsorbent to polish biologically-treated POME. To investigate the effect of operational parameters (initial pH, adsorbent dosage and contact time) on the adsorption, response surface methodology using Box-Behnken Design was employed. Under the optimum condition (initial pH ​= ​3.5, adsorbent dosage ​= ​9.9 ​g/L and contact time ​= ​3.4 ​h), 99.7% of the initial color and 85.0% of the initial COD were removed. The initial pH and adsorbent dosage are the most significant parameters affecting the adsorption. The adsorbent maintained excellent adsorption performance over 4 cycles, with the removal efficiency reducing by less than 2% after the 4th cycle. This study has shown that palm kernel shell can be used as an effective adsorbent for POME polishing, indicating a potential for wastes recycling within the palm oil industry. The use of palm kernel shell to treat POME, which could be subsequently recycled, represents a significant step towards enhancing the sustainability of palm oil industry.

The symbiotic interaction between rhizobia and legumes that leads to nodule formation is a complex chemical conversation involving plant release of nod-gene inducing signal molecules and bacterial secretion of lipo-chito-oligossacharide nodulation factors. During this process, the rhizobia and their legume hosts can synthesize and release various phytohormones, such as IAA, lumichrome, riboflavin, lipo-chito-oligossacharide Nod factors, rhizobitoxine, gibberellins, jasmonates, brassinosteroids, ethylene, cytokinins and the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase that can directly or indirectly stimulate plant growth. Whereas these attributes may promote plant adaptation to various edapho-climatic stresses including the limitations in nutrient elements required for plant growth promotion, tapping their full potential requires understanding of the mechanisms involved in their action. In this regard, several N2-fixing rhizobia have been cited for plant growth promotion by solubilizing soil-bound P in the rhizosphere via the synthesis of gluconic acid under the control of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) genes, just as others are known for the synthesis and release of siderophores for enhanced Fe nutrition in plants, the chelation of heavy metals in the reclamation of contaminated soils, and as biocontrol agents against diseases. Some of these metabolites can enhance plant growth via the suppression of the deleterious effects of other antagonistic molecules, as exemplified by the reduction in the deleterious effect of ethylene by ACC deaminase synthesized by rhizobia. Although symbiotic rhizobia are capable of triggering biological outcomes with direct and indirect effects on plant mineral nutrition, insect pest and disease resistance, a greater understanding of the mechanisms involved remains a challenge in tapping the maximum benefits of the molecules involved. Rather than the effects of individual rhizobial or plant metabolites however, a deeper understanding of their synergistic interactions may be useful in alleviating the effects of multiple plant stress factors for increased growth and productivity.

Antisnake venom (ASV) is the only specific and standard treatment for snakebite envenoming worldwide. The knowledge of antivenom dosage, mode of administration, availability, and logistics is essential to the healthcare practitioners (HCPs) in the management of snakebites. It is vital for the HCPs involved in the handling of ASVs to have its basic knowledge. The ASV contains proteins and can, therefore, easily get denatured if not handled appropriately, leading to poor therapeutic outcome. It is also essential for clinicians to be aware of the tendency of ASV to cause a severe life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction. There is currently no validated tool for assessing the knowledge of ASV among HCPs. Therefore, we developed and validated a tool for evaluating the HCPs knowledge of ASV. The items included in the tool were first generated from a comprehensive literature review. Face validity were conducted by presenting the drafted tool to ten experts on the subject matter. A validation study was conducted among doctors, pharmacists, nurses, pharmacy technicians, and the general public. The objectives of the study were to test the tool for content validity using the content validity index (CVI), construct validity using contrast group approach, difficulty index, readability, and reliability test using the test-retest method. We developed and validated a final tool containing thirty-three items. The tool was valid for face validity and had a scale-level (average) content validity (S-CVI/Ave) of 0.91. The ASV knowledge of pharmacists was higher than that of doctors, pharmacy technicians, nurses, and the general public (p

The identification and subsequent quantification of phenolic compounds in plants is the first step toward harnessing their associated nutritional and health benefits. Due to their diverse phenolic compound compositions, grain legumes are known for their high nutritional and health values. The aim of this study was to assess the inter-variations in chemical composition, phytochemical content, and antioxidant capacity of seed extracts from eight Kersting's groundnut [Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Marechal & Baudet] landraces. The chemical profiles were evaluated using UPLC-qTOF-MS. Total phenolics and flavonoids content were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. The antioxidant capacities in the forms of DPPH and ABTS were evaluated using spectrophotometric methods. Principal component analysis was used to define similarities/differences between the landraces. Based on untargeted metabolomics analysis, 57 metabolites were identified, with phenolics, triterpenes, fatty acids, and sphingolipids being the most predominant. The results showed that the black seeded KG1 (Puffeun) had the highest total phenolic (9.44 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (3.01 mg QE/g) contents, as well as antioxidant capacity (9.17 μg/mL and 18.44 μg/mL based on DDPH and ABTS assays, respectively). The concentrations of ferulic acid hexoside, procyanidin B2, eryodictyiol-7-rutinoside and quercetin pentoside ranged from 51.78–441.31, 1.86–18.25, 3.26–13.95 to 5.44–63.85 μg/mg, respectively. This study presents a useful report on the phytochemical characterization of Kersting's groundnuts and shows that the grains can be used as a source of nutraceuticals for human consumption.

Black Cotton Soil (BCS) collected from Guyuk, Adamawa State- North-eastern Nigeria, was treated with 0 to 100% Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in 10% steps to evaluate the microstructure and strength of the compacted mixtures. The index property results show that the BCS and RAP are classified under clay of high plasticity (CH) and poorly graded sand (SP) respectively, according to the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). An extraction test gave a RAP bitumen content of 5.99%, which is within the value of 5–6% recommended in the literature. An x-ray diffraction test carried out on both the BCS and RAP showed that the BCS predominantly consisted of quartz, microcline, albite and kaolinite, which is similar to the results obtained in the literature, while the RAP, however, consisted of quartz, albite, orthoclase, phylogopite and actinolite, which is slightly different to what is reported in the literature, probably due to the source of the bitumen. The results of compaction, at a modified energy level, conducted on the mixtures, show that the Maximum Dry Density (MDD) increased from 1.890 to 2.034 mg/m3 at 30% RAP content, after which the value fell to1.925 mg/m3 at 100% RAP content. The Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) however, decreased from 13.7% at 0% RAP, to 8.8% at between 40-60% RAP content, after which the value increased marginally to 9.5% at 90% RAP. Similar to the MDD, the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) increased from 11% at 0% RAP to a maximum of 35% at 30% RAP content, after which the value fell to 5% at 100% RAP content. 30% RAP is therefore the optimal mixture giving the highest strength and can be used as a sub-base material for roads with light traffic use, according to the Nigerian General Specification for Road and Bridge Works. Hence the 3.07% bitumen obtained for this mixture can be adopted as the fixation point for BCS-RAP mixtures. Durability was found to be far lower than the resistance to loss in strength of 80% suggested in the literature.

Background: Low-dose aspirin (LDA) is the backbone for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease, although limited by gastric toxicity. This study aimed to identify novel metabolites that could predict LDA-induced gastric toxicity using pharmacometabolomics. Methods: Pre-dosed urine samples were collected from male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were treated with either LDA (10 mg/kg) or 1% methylcellulose (10 mL/kg) per oral for 28 days. The rats’ stomachs were examined for gastric toxicity using a stereomicroscope. The urine samples were analyzed using a proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Metabolites were systematically identified by exploring established databases and multivariate analyses to determine the spectral pattern of metabolites related to LDA-induced gastric toxicity. Results: Treatment with LDA resulted in gastric toxicity in 20/32 rats (62.5%). The orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model displayed a goodness-of-fit (R2Y) value of 0.947, suggesting near-perfect reproducibility and a goodness-of-prediction (Q2Y) of −0.185 with perfect sensitivity, specificity and accuracy (100%). Furthermore, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) displayed was 1. The final OPLS-DA model had an R2Y value of 0.726 and Q2Y of 0.142 with sensitivity (100%), specificity (95.0%) and accuracy (96.9%). Citrate, hippurate, methylamine, trimethylamine N-oxide and alpha-keto-glutarate were identified as the possible metabolites implicated in the LDA-induced gastric toxicity. Conclusion: The study identified metabolic signatures that correlated with the development of a low-dose Aspirin-induced gastric toxicity in rats. This pharmacometabolomic approach could further be validated to predict LDA-induced gastric toxicity in patients with coronary artery disease.

In this work, quantum chemical analysis was used to predict the degradation potential of a recalcitrant dye, Acid blue 113, by hydrogen peroxide, ozone, hydroxyl radical and sulfate radical. Geometry optimization and frequency calculations were performed at ‘Hartree Fock’, ‘Becke, 3-parameter, Lee–Yang–Parr’ and ‘Modified Perdew-Wang exchange combined with PW91 correlation’ levels of study using 6-31G* and 6-31G** basis sets. The Fourier Transform-Raman spectra of Acid blue 113 were recorded and a complete analysis on vibrational assignment and fundamental modes of model compound was performed. Natural bond orbital analysis revealed that Acid blue 113 has a highly stable structure due to strong intermolecular and intra-molecular interactions. Mulliken charge distribution and molecular electrostatic potential map of the dye also showed a strong influence of functional groups on the neighboring atoms. Subsequently, the reactivity of the dye towards the oxidants was compared based on the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy values. The results showed that Acid blue 113 with a HOMO value -5.227 eV exhibits a nucleophilic characteristic, with a high propensity to be degraded by ozone and hydroxyl radical due to their lower HOMO-LUMO energy gaps of 4.99 and 4.22 eV respectively. On the other hand, sulfate radical and hydrogen peroxide exhibit higher HOMO-LUMO energy gaps of 7.92 eV and 8.10 eV respectively, indicating their lower reactivity towards Acid blue 113. We conclude that oxidation processes based on hydroxyl radical and ozone would offer a more viable option for the degradation of Acid blue 113. This study shows that quantum chemical analysis can assist in selecting appropriate advanced oxidation processes for the treatment of textile effluent.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a multifunctional role in lipid biosynthesis, calcium storage, protein folding, and processing. Thus, maintaining ER homeostasis is essential for cellular functions. Several pathophysiological conditions and pharmacological agents are known to disrupt ER homeostasis, thereby, causing ER stress. The cells react to ER stress by initiating an adaptive signaling process called the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, the ER initiates death signaling pathways when ER stress persists. ER stress is linked to several diseases, such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Thus, its regulation can provide possible therapeutic targets for these. Current evidence suggests that chronic hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia linked to type II diabetes disrupt ER homeostasis, thereby, resulting in irreversible UPR activation and cell death. Despite progress in understanding the pathophysiology of the UPR and ER stress, to date, the mechanisms of ER stress in relation to type II diabetes remain unclear. This review provides up-to-date information regarding the UPR, ER stress mechanisms, insulin dysfunction, oxidative stress, and the therapeutic potential of targeting specific ER stress pathways.

Kersting's groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum Harms) is a neglected, endangered food and medicinal legume in Africa. Efforts to harness the benefits of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis have focused on few major legumes to the neglect of underutilized ones such as Kersting's groundnut. This study assessed plant growth, N-fixed and grain yield of five Kersting's groundnut landraces in response to inoculation with Bradyrhizobium strain CB756 at two locations in the Northern Region of Ghana. The transferability of cowpea-derived Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers to Kersting's groundnut was also assessed. The symbiotic results revealed significant variation in nodulation, shoot biomass, δ15N, percent N derived from fixation, amount of N-fixed and soil N uptake. The cross-taxa SSR primers revealed monomorphic bands with sizes within the expected range in all the Kersting's groundnut landraces. The results of the aligned nucleotide sequences revealed marked genetic variability among the landraces. Kersting's groundnut was found to be a low N2-fixer, with 28–45% of its N derived from fixation at Nyankpala and 15–29% at Savelugu. Nitrogen contribution was 28–50 kg N-fixed·ha−1 at Nyankpala, and 12–32 kg N-fixed·ha−1 at Savelugu. Uninoculated plants of the Kersting's groundnut landraces Puffeun, Dowie, Sigiri and Boli, respectively, contributed 22, 16, 13, and 15 kg N-fixed·ha−1 from symbiosis at Savelugu as opposed to 89, 82, 69, and 89 kg N·ha−1 from soil. Landrace Puffeun was highly compatible with the introduced strain CB756 if based on δ15N and %Ndfa values, while Dowie, Funsi and Boli showed greater compatibility with native rhizobia in Ghanaian soils. The unimproved Kersting's groundnut in association with soil microsymbionts could produce grain yield of 1,137–1,556 kg ha−1 at Nyankpala, and 921–1,192 kg ha−1 at Savelugu. These findings suggest the need for further work to improve the efficiency of the Kersting's groundnut-rhizobia symbiosis for increased grain yield and resource-use efficiency in cropping systems.

Objective: To report the experience with our technical modification of the trigone-bladder neck complex management in the prevention of bladder neck stenosis (BNS) following open simple retropubic prostatectomy. Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective review of data of patients that underwent open simple retropubic prostatectomy with technical modification of the trigone-bladder neck complex in two Nigerian tertiary hospitals, by a single surgeon, from January 2007 to December 2011. The data analysed included the demographic variables, the modes of presentation, need for blood transfusion, duration of catheterization and the duration of hospital stay. The primary end-point was the development or otherwise of BNS. Results: Eighty-seven patients' data were available for analysis from a total of 91 patients. The mean age (±standard deviation [SD]) was 65.14 years (±10.55). Preoperative urinary retention was present in 58% of the patients. The maximal flow rate (Qmax) was 12.05 ml/s among the 20 patients that had preoperative uroflowmetry. The transfusion rate was 35%, but almost two-third of them had only one unit of blood transfused. The mean weight (±SD) of the enucleated adenoma was 82.64 g (±36.63). Bladder irrigation was required in 14% of the patients, majority of the patients had urethral catheter removed after 96 h and the mean hospital stay was 6.52 days. No patient developed BNS after a mean follow-up duration of 16.39 months. Conclusion: Bladder neck stenosis can be a distressing complication of prostatectomy. The result of our technical modification of managing the trigone-bladder-neck complex looks promising for prevention or delaying the onset of BNS. A long-term observation and a prospective randomised control trial to ascertain this initial experience is needed.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of death worldwide. The cases of acute ischemic stroke are on the increase in the Asia Pacific, particularly in Malaysia. Various health organizations have recommended guidelines for managing ischemic stroke, but adherence to key performance indicators (KPI) from the guidelines and impact on patient outcomes, particularly mortality, are rarely explored. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of adherence to key performance indicators on mortality among patients managed for ischemic stroke. Methods: We included all first-ever ischemic stroke patients enrolled in the multiethnic Malaysian National Neurology Registry (NNeuR) - a prospective cohort study and followed-up for six months. Patients’ baseline clinical characteristics, risk factors, neurological findings, treatments, KPI and mortality outcome were evaluated. The KPI nonadherence (NAR) and relationship with mortality were evaluated. NAR>25% threshold was considered suboptimal. Results: A total of 579 first-ever ischemic stroke patients were included in the final analysis. The overall mortality was recorded as 23 (4.0%) in six months, with a median (interquartile) age of 65 (20) years. Majority of the patients (dead or alive) had partial anterior circulation infarct, PACI (43.5%; 34.0%) and total anterior circulation infarct, TACI (26.1%; 8.8%). In addition, DVT prophylaxis (82.8%), anticoagulant for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients (48.8%) and rehabilitation (26.2%) were considered suboptimal. NAR < 2 was significantly associated with a decrease in mortality (odds ratio 0.16; 0.02-0.12) compared to NAR>2. Survival analysis showed that death is more likely in patients with NAR>2 (p=0.05). Conclusions: KPI nonadherence was associated with mortality among ischemic stroke patients. The adherence to the KPI was sub-optimal, particularly in DVT prophylaxis, anticoagulant for AF patients and rehabilitation. These findings reflect the importance of continuous quality measurement and implementation of evidence recommendations in healthcare delivery to achieve optimal outcome among stroke patients.

A case of vesicocolonic fistula secondary to a missed abdominal injury is described. The patient, a 25-year-old male Hausa, Nigerian, was involved in a road traffic accident and sustained head injury with a fractured left femur and a missed blunt abdominal injury. He was referred to us about six months following the injury, on account of failure to micturate, recurrent passage of frequent watery stool, and recurrent fever and weight loss. A suspected diagnosis of intestinovesical fistula was confirmed on micturating cystography. He had a single stage repair of the vesico-colonic fistula. The repair of urethrocutaneous fistula was scheduled for a later date, which he later had. He was discharged but continued with orthopaedic consultation and management.