bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Allium sativum aqueous extract does not have chemo-protective effect on etoposide induced therapy-related DNA damage leading to Acute Myeloid Leukemia in albino-wistar rats
Authors: F Ndiokwelu Ugochi , A Ogunkanmi Liasu , B Minari Joseph , C Uzoma Ijeoma 
Published: August 2021

Background: Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) is a well-recognized clinical syndrome occurring in a signif- icant fraction of patients who have undergone previous chemotherapy for a solid tumour.
Objectives: We aim to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of fresh Allium sativum cloves on haematological parameters, bone marrow and DNA of etoposide treated albino wistar rats. Decoction method was used to prepare plant extracts and the rats were weighed and divided into experimental and control groups. Blood and bone marrow sample were analysed and DNA fragment analysis was carried out.
Results: There was progressive increase in the weight of animals that received distilled water only for the duration of the experiment while those that received etoposide only showed a sharp decrease in weight by the end of week 3. There was no significant difference in the mean of the haematological parameters in the test and control groups except for platelet count. The bone marrow smears showed no prevention of erythroblast fragmentation by the extract, in the same vein, DNA dam- age was not abated.
Conclusion: Aqueous extract of fresh Allium sativum cloves may not be the option for the prevention of etoposide induced acute myeloid leukemia.
Keywords: Allium sativum aqueous; chemo-protective effect; acute myeloid leukemia; albino-wistar rats.
Level of utilization and provider-related barriers to the use of hydroxyurea in the treatment of sickle cell disease patients in Jos, North-Central Nigeria
Authors: OD Ofakunrin Akinyemi , S Okpe Edache , O Afolaranmi Tolulope , R Olaosebikan Rasaq , U Kanhu Patience , Adekola Kehinde , Dami Nantok , S Sagay Atiene 
Published: August 2021

Background: Hydroxyurea is underutilized by sickle cell health-care providers in Nigeria despite available evidence of its effectiveness in reducing the manifestations and complications of sickle cell disease (SCD).
Objectives: To assess the level of utilization and provider-related barriers to the use of hydroxyurea in SCD therapy in Jos, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among 132 medical doctors providing care for SCD patients. Data on so- cio-demographics, utilization and barriers to hydroxyurea use were obtained. The barriers were fed cumulatively into the logistic regression model as predictors of utilization.
Results: Of the 132 care providers, 88 (67%) had been in medical practice for ≥6years. The level of utilization of hy- droxyurea was 24.2%. The significant barriers that predicted the non-utilization of hydroxyurea included lack of expertise (OR=5.1; 95% CI=2.65–9.05), lack of clinical guidelines (OR=3.84; 95% CI=2.37-14.33), fear of side-effects (OR=0.50; 95% CI=0.22–0.68) and doubt about its effectiveness (OR=0.30; 95% CI=0.20–0.90).
Conclusion: The level of utilization of hydroxyurea in the treatment of SCD among the care providers is sub-optimal with the lack of expertise in its use identified as the most prominent barrier. There is an urgent need for the training of sickle cell care-providers and the development of clinical guidelines on hydroxyurea use.
Keywords: Hydroxyurea utilization; barriers to hydroxyurea; sickle cell disease; Nigeria.
Psycho-social problems of adolescents with sickle-cell anaemia in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Authors: Omotosho Adegboyega Lateef 
Published: August 2021

Background: Sickle-cell disease comprises a group of genetic disorders characterized by the inheritance of sickle haemo- globin from both parents. Sickle-cell disease carries a huge psycho-social burden which has impacts on the physical, psycho- logical, social and occupational well-being as well as levels of independence on adolescents.
Objective: To investigate the psycho-social problems of adolescents with sickle-cell anaemia in Ekiti State. The study also examined whether the variables of age and educational level would influence the psycho-social problems of adolescents with sickle-cell anaemia in Ekiti State.
Methods: Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to draw a total of 121 respondents. A questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Mean and rank order was used to answer the research question while Analysis of Variance was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance.
Results: Findings revealed that psycho-social problems of adolescents with sickle-cell anaemia are limited in the choice of career, find it difficult to get suitable partner in marriage and SCD adolescents usually manifest emotional upset, misbehav- iour, and have learning problems. Findings also revealed that there were significant differences in the psycho-social problems of adolescents with sickle-cell anaemia based on age and educational level.
Conclusion: Majority of the respondents attested to the psycho-social problems facing adolescents with sickle-cell anaemia. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that social workers should be employed in health sectors; govern- ment should offered standard health care for all adolescents with sickle cell disease.
Keywords: Psycho-social problems; sickle-cell anaemia; adolescents.
Genetic influence of Apolipoprotein E gene ε2/ε3/ε4 isoforms on odds of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Xu Tao , Zhang Hui , Qiu Xueliang , Meng Yuping 
Published: August 2021

Objective: The potential correlation between the ε2/ε3/ε4 variants of the ApoE (Apolipoprotein E) gene and the odds of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy was investigated.
Methods: The database searching for eligible studies was performed in October 2020. A series of pooling analyses were conducted.
Results: We enrolled a total of twelve case-control studies for pooling. Within the pooling analysis of ε4, there was an in- creased risk of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy in cases under the models of carrier ε4 vs. ε3, ε3ε4 vs. ε3ε3, and ε3ε4+ε4ε4 vs. ε3ε3 [P < 0.05, odds ratio (OR) > 1], compared with controls. Moreover, we observed similar positive results in the subgroup analyses of “China” and “Population-based control” under the genetic models of ε4 (P < 0.05, OR > 1). Nevertheless, we did not detect the significant difference between the mesial temporal lobe epilepsy cases and controls in the pooling analyses of ε2 (all P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The ε3ε4 genotype of ApoE seems to be linked to the risk of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy for patients in China. More sample sizes are required to confirm the potential role of ApoE isoforms in the susceptibility to diverse types of epilepsy from different origins.
Keywords: Epilepsy; ApoE; isoforms; susceptibility.
Bacterial profile and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in patients admitted at MaddaWalabu University Goba Referral Hospital, Ethiopia: a cross sectional study
Authors: Mitiku Gemechu Meseret , Assefa Tadesse Tesfaye , Negash Takele Getahun , Solomon Bisetegn Fithamlak , Alem Gesese Yonas , Zenebe Zelelie Tizazu 
Published: August 2021

Background: Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are one of the global concerns in resource limited settings. The aim of the study was to determine bacteria profile and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among patients admitted at surgical and medical wards.
Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to July 2017 in MaddaWalabu Uni- versity Goba Referral Hospital. Urine and wound swabs were processed and standard disk diffusion test was done to assess susceptibility pattern. Association among variables was determined by Chi-square test.
Results: Among 207 patients enrolled, 24.6% developed HAI, of which, 62.7% and 37.3% were from surgical and medical wards, respectively. The male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The age ranged from 19 to 74 years with a mean of 41.65(±16.48) years. A total 62 bacteria were isolated in which majority of the isolates were gram negative bacteria. Most isolates were re- sistance to most of the antibiotics tested but sensitive to Ceftriaxone, Norfloxacin and Ciprofloxacin.
Conclusion: Due to the presence of high level drug resistant bacteria, empirical treatment to HAI may not be effective. Therefore, treatment should be based on the result of culture and sensitivity.
Keywords: Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns; bacterial profile; hospital acquired infections.
Psychological ailments and their treatment protocols: a case study of Swati traditional healers in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
Authors: Ngobe Anastasia , Semenya Sebua , Sodi Tholene 
Published: August 2021

Background: Evidence suggests that South African traditional healers (THs) treat various mental complaints. However, there is little literature on Swati THs’ accounts on this subject. The current study therefore, sought to address this gap.
Methods: Data was gathered using qualitative research methods, namely semi-structured interviews with 10 purposely sampled Swati THs practicing in the Kanyamazane peri-urban township (Mpumalanga Province, South Africa). Data was thematically analysed.
Results: Results showed that THs treat seven psychological aliments, viz. adjustment disorders, depression, mental illness due to ancestral calling, mental illness due to bewitchment, mental illness due to breaking of taboos, psychotic disturbance and substance induced mental illness. Generally, an integrated treatment protocol was utilised by THs to treat and manage these disorders. Most of these procedures are acceptable from either folkloric or scientific viewpoint, and have demonstrat- ed certain level of efficacy in treating mental illness.
Conclusion: Taken together, the evidence presented indicates that Swati THs use different traditional methods to manage various mental complaints. In doing so, they carry a large share of the community caseload for mental health, whilst admit- ting patients in their homes for extended periods of time, and also referring some (patients) for additional care within the Western health sector.
Keywords: Mental illness; Mpumalanga; Swati; traditional healers; treatment methods; psychological ailments.
Availability of low vision services and barriers to their provision and uptake in Ghana: practitioners’ perspectives
Authors: Kyeremeh Sylvester , P Mashige Khathutshelo 
Published: August 2021

Background: Provision and uptake of low vision services are essential.
Objective: To assess the availability of low vision services and barriers to their provision and uptake in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions of Ghana from the perspective of eye care practitioners.
Methods: A descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study design using semi-structured questionnaires was used to collect information from eye care practitioners selected from 58 eye care facilities in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions of Ghana.
Results: Forty-four eye care practitioners from Ashanti region and 10 from Brong Ahafo region responded to the question- naire. Seventeen (34%) of the 50 eye care facilities who reported having patients seeking low vision services in their facilities provided such services. Lack of low vision devices (94.4%) and equipment (87%) were reported to be the main barriers to the provision of low vision services. Major barriers to low vision services uptake were lack of awareness (88.7%), high cost (70.4%) and social unacceptability of low vision assistive devices (59.3%).
Conclusion: Lack of adequate low vision services and barriers to their provision and uptake impact negatively on efforts to prevent visual impairment and blindness in Ghana.
Keywords: Low vision services; provision; barriers.
Hearing healthcare gaps in LMICS: snapshot from a semi-urban community in Nigeria
Authors: Adeyemo Adebolajo , Ogunkeyede Segun , Dania Oluyinka 
Published: August 2021

Background: Low and middle-income countries (LMICs) have high prevalence of hearing loss which are mainly due to pre- ventable causes. While urban communities in LMICs are likely to have functional hearing healthcare delivery infrastructure, rural and semi-urban communities may have different reality.
Objectives: This study aimed to provide: (i) a snapshot of the burden of ear diseases and (ii) a description of available hearing healthcare resources in a semi-urban Nigerian community.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of households selected by multistage random sampling technique. Seventy-four partici- pants: 39 males and 35 females with mean age of 34 years ± 5.24 were recruited and answered a structured questionnaire. In addition, the availability of hearing healthcare services in 15 health centers within the community were determined.
Results: All participants reported recent occurrence of ear complaints or gave similar history in a household member. Com- mon complaints were ear discharge, ear pain and hearing loss. Medical intervention was sought from patent medicine stores, hospitals and traditional healers. None of the assessed hospitals within the study site was manned by an ENT surgeon or ENT trained nurse.
Conclusion: Despite the heavy burden of ear complaints there is inadequate hearing healthcare delivery in a typical LMIC community. This highlights the need for urgent improvement of hearing healthcare.
Keywords: Hearing loss; healthcare delivery; disease burden; ear diseases; developing countries.
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy findings in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Eastern Uganda: a 10-year retrospective analysis
Authors: J Doe Matthew , Bua Emmanuel , SO Obbo John , Bisso Fred , Olupot-Olupot Peter 
Published: August 2021

Background: Endoscopy is required for formal diagnosis of many upper gastrointestinal (UGI) conditions including oe- sophageal cancer (OC). There is a paucity of data on endoscopy findings in East Africa as access to testing is challeng- ing for patients. We describe the findings of 10 years of UGI endoscopy in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH).
Method: Records of patients that underwent UGI endoscopy in MRRH, November 2009 – March 2019 were retrospective- ly analysed. Indication, macroscopic findings, histology and patient demographics were retrieved. Sub-group analyses were performed on those with a histological diagnosis of oesophageal cancer.
Results: 833 eligible patients received single UGI procedures during the study period. Mean age was 54.8 years, range 16-93 years and 56.9% of patients were male. The main indication was dysphagia (42%) and the most common findings OC (34%) and gastritis (28%). 151 patients had histologically proven OC with a median age of 60 years and a 2:1 male to female ratio. 145/151 (96%) of samples tested revealed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Conclusion: Those undergoing endoscopy in MRRH are most commonly male patients presenting in their 5th decade with dysphagia. There is a high proportion of significant findings including gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and oesophageal cancer.
Keywords: Gastrointestinal; OGD; LMIC; oesophageal cancer.
Case Report: Levodopa - induced creative awakening in a patient with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: George Sanju , Chacko Jacob , Cyriac Sheetal 
Published: August 2021

Parkinson’s disease is primarily a neurodegenerative disorder and presents with neurological symptoms but it can also have accompanying psychiatric symptoms. In addition, in some patients with Parkinson’s disease there can be an awakening of their creativity, which can take several forms. Such creativity can be seen in art-naïve patients or in whom the creativity lay dormant. Although the precise mechanism for this phenomenon is not understood, treatment with levodopa and dopamine agonists have been considered responsible in some cases. Here, we describe a patient with Parkinson’s disease in whom levodopa treatment triggered a latent creative skill that was dormant since childhood. Through the patient’s own and his wife’s eyes, we discuss the clinical benefits of this phenomenon.
Impacts of population growth in relation to changes in aquaculture and fisheries prices
Authors: Garba A.A. 
Published: August 2021

The paper reviewed the impacts of population growth and the ways it affects aquaculture and fisheries prices. As the world population continues to grow arithmetically, great pressure is placed on arable lands, water, energy, and biological resources to provide an adequate supply of food while maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem. In 2010, FAO projected the world population to double from 6.2 billion in October, 1999 to 12.5 billion in the year 2050. This had created serious negative impacts on the aquaculture and fisheries prices. At present fertile crop lands had been lost at an alarming rates while some abandoned during the past 50 years because erosions made it unproductive. Other vices such as food crisis, political unrest and war (Mexico, Uzbekistan, Turkistan, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Morocco and Sudan), civil strife and multiple years of draught (Niger, Mauritania and Senegal), impacts of HIV/AIDS Ebola, Lassa fever and Coronavirus the world over, clashes between cattle rearers and farmers and boko haram issues (Nigeria) as well as kidnapping and corruptions have severely affected aquaculture and fisheries production and accompanied prices. Thus, this review was conducted to raise a cry for farmers and citizens to engage and participate in intensive culture and fisheries practices in order to fill the demand - supply gap so as to make fish food products available for the teeming masses.
Effect of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Jatropha tanjorensis on parasitaemia and haematological parameters in mice infected with Plasmodium ber ghei
Authors: Ebenyi L.N. , Yongabi K.A. , Ali F.U. , Ominyi M.C. , Anyanwu C.B. , Benjamin E. , Ogbanshi M.E. 
Published: August 2021

Medicinal plants are proven sources of many useful drugs in our modern world. Jatropha tanjorensis, known as hospital too far, is consumed highly in Africa as herbal medicine. This research work was done to evaluate the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis on parasitaemia and haematological parameters in mice infected with Plasmodium ber ghei. The leaves of J. tanjorensis were extracted with distilled water and qualitative phytochemical analysis carried out. Acute toxicity studies were carried out using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guideline. The curative activity of the extract was examined using Rane’s test. A total of forty (40) mice were used for the study and they were infected with Plasmodium berghei. The infected mice were subdivided into five groups of six mice each and treated with different doses of standard drug (artemether/lumefantrine 25mg/kg) and extract (200, 400 and 800mg/kg body weight) for 4 days. After treatment, blood was collected and used for percentage parasitaemia, packed cell volume and hemoglobin concentration. The result of phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpe noids, cardiac glycosides and anthra quinones. The result of the acute toxicity showed the signs of neither neurological, behavioral nor mortality at concentrations of 2,000 and 5,000 mg/kg oral doses within the first 24 hours and during the 14 days study period. A dose- dependent increase was observed in Total haemoglobin (Hb) and Packed cell volume (PCV) levels which was collaborated with increase in weight as compared with negative control. The leaf extract of J. tanjorensis also revealed a significant (p<0.05) suppression activity and mean survival time at the doses of 400 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg when compared with the negative control. The extract of Jatropha tanjorensis showed reasonable levels of anti-anaemia and antimalarial activities with no signs of acute toxicity. Therefore this study may support its use as an anti-prophylactic and blood tonic nutraceutical.
Derivation of volatile fatty acids concentration-independent optimum trace elements configuration and elucidation of optimization kinetics of biomethanization processes
Authors: Ezebuiro N.C. 
Published: August 2021

Trace elements (TEs) requirements for improved volatile fatty acids (VFA) degradation during biomethanization depend on VFA concentration of a reactor and the temperature of the process. While temperature remains relatively constant, VFA concentrations change in the course of biomethanization and this implies that for efficient VFA degradation, different trace elements configurations (TEC) should be supplemented. While this is the most efficient approach, it is impractical and constitutes a challenge for the effective use of TEs in the optimization of biomethanization processes. To alleviate this challenge, we modelled the biomethanization efficiency of various VFA concentration-dependent (VCD) TEs configuration as scenarios and derived a TEs configuration that produced optimum biomethanization across a wider range of VFA concentrations. The study was carried out at 37oC using different concentrations of fixed VFA composition and TEs configurations as scenarios. Response surface model and desirability function were used to determine and compare the biomethanization efficiency of the scenarios, and to derive a VFA concentration-independent (VCI) TEs configuration. Michaelis-Menten kinetics for two parameters was used to ascertain that the mechanism by which TEs supplementation enhanced mesophilic biomethanization was through an increase in maximum reaction rate (MRR). However, the enhancement was accompanied by an insignificant decline in inverse affinity (IA).
Invest in Research Supervision, Enhance Timely Completion of Postgraduate studies
Authors: Noel Japheth , Wambua Benjamin Kyalo , Ssentamu Proscovia Namubiru 
Published: August 2021

Postgraduate research supervision and its impact on students’ completion of postgraduate studies continue to pose significant challenges to higher education managers, postgraduate students, university dons, funders of postgraduate education, and all stake holders. This literature review based article summaries the research findings across six dimensions of postgraduate research supervision: Student-supervisor relationship, Gender and research supervision, Allocating and matching students with supervisors, Pedagogy of research supervision, Roles and responsibilities of postgraduate students and supervisors and Effective supervision. Student- supervisor relationship is noted to have direct and indirect influence on all other dimensions of research supervision and consequently to timely students’ completion of postgraduate studies. It was found out that the reaction and impact of the other six dimensions would be driven by the student-supervisor relationship. Students perceived that good working relationships with their research supervisors have an impact on their research progress. Studies concerning gender and research supervision are limited but the few available indicated that female candidates were largely affected in their progress due to gender-related challenges. It was revealed that effective supervision has a positive impact on timely students’ completion of postgraduate studies. Implications for postgraduate students and supervisors, schools, faculties, and departments of postgraduate education were identified.