bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of rSs-NIE-1 and rSs-IR Recombinant Antigen-Based Immunoblot for Detection of Antibody to Strongyloides stercoralis
Authors: De Souza Joelma Nascimento , Langford I’Isha , Wang Yong , Soares Neci Matos , Handali Sukwan 
Published: April 2021

Abstract.Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil-transmitted nematode that can cause life-threatening conditions in immunocompromised persons. In the United States, strongyloidiasis should be considered mainly in immigrants, refugees, or travelers. The confirmatory laboratory diagnosis is usually performed by detecting larvae from the stool, duodenal material, and sputum. In persons who are immunocompromised with severe strongyloidiasis, adult worms and eggs can be detected from duodenal material. For serological diagnosis, most assays use crude antigens to detect anti-S. stercoralis IgG. Recently, recombinant proteins such as rSs-NIE-1 and rSs-IR have been used to detect IgG antibodies. We used rSs-NIE-1 and rSs-IR recombinant antigens to develop a biplex Western blot assay to detect the IgG4 antibody in individuals with strongyloidiasis. The sensitivities of rSs-NIE-1 and rSs-IR were 97.4% and 90.8%, respectively, whereas the specificities were 97.6% and 98%, respectively. In conclusion, the biplex rSs-NIE-1 and rSs-IR immunoblot performs well in detecting IgG4 antibody in S. stercoralis-infected persons.
The Newcastle satisfaction with nursing scales in a Mexican Oncology Hospital
Authors: Rodríguez-Herrera Cecilia , López-Jiménez José de Jesús , Del Toro-Valero Azucena , Magdalena Torres-Carrillo Nora , Torres-Carrillo Norma , Alberto Godínez-Peña Carlos , Cecilia Méndez-Magaña Ana , Guadalupe Herrera-Godina Melva , Lilia Fletes-Rayas Ana 
Published: April 2021

Objectives: The principal aim of this study was to identify whether the Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales (NSNS) could be used on cancer patients.
Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out on cancer patients (n = 298).
Results: We found that a majority of cancer patients were around 50 years old (hospitalized patients [HP]: 49.5 ± 14.9; chemotherapy outpatients [COP]: 49.4 ± 12.7), were female (HP: 74%; COP: 63.5%), and had received education at least up to elementary level (HP: 70%; COP: 80%). Breast cancer was the principal type of cancer (>34%) in both groups (HP and COP). The groups were comparable in age, sex distribution, place of origin, educational qualification, and type of cancer. Among HP, the experience and satisfaction scales of the NSNS showed good internal consistency (n = 235, α >0.9, r > 0.7), while among COP, only the satisfaction scale showed good internal consistency (n = 62, α = 1.00). Most patients’ perceptions (level of satisfaction) of hospitalization and chemotherapy services were positive (98% and 97%, respectively).
Conclusion: An NSNS instrument specifically designed for ambulatory care cancer patients is necessary for it to be useful in assessing cancer patients' perception of nursing care. This will help improve the quality of care in Mexico. The presence of cancer by itself could modify the patients’ satisfaction level. Further large-scale studies are required to inves- tigate the patients’ perceptions of nursing care using the NSNS on different cancer patient groups.
Keywords: Spanish satisfaction tool; hospital; patient satisfaction; oncology nursing; health care evaluation mechanisms.
Medical mortality in an emergency department in Nigeria: the transition is obvious!
Authors: Olusegun-Joseph AD , Akande O , Otrofanowei E , Nwoye EO , Olopade OB , Ajuluchukwu JN 
Published: April 2021

Introduction: The emergency department (ED), a major entry point into the hospital, provides an insight to the type of cases seen, the quality of care and mortality spectrum in a health institution. We aim to identify the spectrum of medical causes of mortality in our ED, the demographic pattern and duration of stay before death.
Method: This is a retrospective study that looked at medical mortality in the ED from January 2004 to December 2009. We obtained data on the demographics and causes of death from the medical records and case notes of the deceased.
Results: A total of 16587 patients were admitted during the period under review, of these 1262 (7.61%) died in the ED. The male to female ratio was 1.58:1.0 [772 males (61.2%), and 489 females (38.8%)]. Mortality was highest among the 20-45years age range, followed by 46-65 years, >65years and < 20 years in decreasing frequency [589(46.7%), 421(33.4%), 186 (14.8%) and 66(5.2%) respectively]. The three most common causes of death were stroke 315(25%), HIV related illness- es 126(10.0%), and heart failure 123(9.7%). Most deaths occurred less than 24hours of admission, 550(43.6%), followed by one day (36.0%) and two days (10.8%) post admissions respectively.
Conclusion: The commonest cause of death in the ED was stroke. The burden of death was highest in the younger age group, with most occurring less than 24 hours of admission.
Keywords: Emergency department; duration; mortality.
Association of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and T941G polymorphism of monoamine oxidase (MAO-A) gene with aggression in Pakistani subjects
Authors: Sarwar Sumbal , Shabana  , Hasnain Shahida 
Published: April 2021

Background: Human behavioral traits are known to be significantly heritable. Certain individuals have a greater tendency of negative behavioral aspects including aggression. The quest to identify tunderlying genetic causes has led to identification of a number of genetic markers, one of them is the monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) gene.
Objective: We aimed to genotype a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) in the promoter region and a functional SNP within this gene (T941G, dbSNP ID: rs6323) in the recruited cohort of 482 subjects.
Methods: After DNA isolation, genotyping was done by PCR-RFLP and the results were confirmed by sequencing.
Results: For VNTRs, the results showed, highest frequency of 3.5 repeats in males and 4 repeats in females in the promoter region. The genotype frequencies for the SNP in cases were GG=16.3%, TG=20.6% and TT=63.1%, while in controls, the frequencies were GG=12.7%, TG=6.3%, and TT=81.0%. The allele frequencies were significantly different between cases and controls (p=0.015; OR=1.51; CI=1.085-2.102).
Conclusion: The selected VNTR and SNP appeared to be significantly associated with aggression. These VNTRs and SNP have not been studied previously in the Pakistani population, hence they represent a unique ethnic group. These results, however, would have to be replicated in larger cohorts.
Keywords: Aggression; MAO-A gene; VNTRs; T941G; rs6323; Pakistan.
Early hearing threshold changes and peculiarities of audiometric assessments among patients in a drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment center
Authors: A Sogebi Olusola , O Adefuye Bolanle , A Ajayi Ebenezer 
Published: April 2021

Background: Hearing threshold changes occurred relative to baseline at both one and two weeks after onset of aminogly- coside therapy.
Objectives: To assess changes in audiometric hearing thresholds between pre-treatment values and two weeks into therapy. To document observed changes, and occurrence of ototoxicity within the period.
Methods: Prospective analytical cohort study on drug-resistant tuberculosis patients. Basic demographic parameters were taken. Three-point audiometric assessments within two weeks into therapy were done. Percentage of patients with ototoxic- ity were calculated. Pure tone threshold changes between the three audiometric values were compared.
Results: Audiograms of 53 patients comprising 56.6% males; age range was 13 to 91 years. Both air and bone conduction hearing thresholds significantly worsened between baseline and one week into therapy (p=0.011, and 0.015 respectively), and between baseline and two weeks into therapy (p=0.003 and 0.042 respectively). Minimal insignificant reduction occurred between both air and bone conduction hearing values of week 1 and week 2 of therapy (p= 1.000 and 0.856 respectively). By audiometric criteria, 4 patients (7.5%) developed ototoxicity within two weeks of treatment.
Conclusion: Audiometric assessments within two weeks into therapy with anti-tuberculous therapy may not represent baseline audiometry. 7.5% of the patients developed ototoxicity within two weeks of therapy.
Keywords: Early hearing threshold changes; audiometric assessments; tuberculosis treatment center.
The impact of selenium administration on severe sepsis or septic shock: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Kong Lin , Wu Qing , Liu Bo 
Published: April 2021

Introduction: The efficacy of selenium administration to treat severe sepsis or septic shock remains controversial. We con- duct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the impact of selenium administration on severe sepsis or septic shock.
Methods: We search PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through May 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of selenium administration on severe sepsis or septic shock. Me- ta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model.
Results: Five RCTs involving 1482 patients are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control group in septic patients, selenium administration is not associated with reduced 28-day mortality (RR=0.93; 95% CI=0.73 to 1.19; P=0.58), but results in substantially decreased all-cause mortality (RR=0.78; 95% CI=0.63 to 0.98; P=0.03) and length of hospital stay (MD=-3.09; 95% CI=-5.68 to -0.50; P=0.02).
Conclusion: Selenium administration results in notable decrease in all-cause mortality and length of hospital stay, but shows no substantial influence on the 28-day mortality, length of ICU stay, duration of vasopressor therapy, the incidence of acute renal failure, adverse events, and serious adverse events for septic patients.
Keywords: Selenium administration; septic shock; randomized controlled trials.
Caesarean delivery rate and indications at a secondary healthcare facility in Ibadan, South Western Nigeria: a five-year review
Authors: O Ismail Waheed , S Bello Ibrahim , A Olowookere Samuel , O Ibrahim Azeez , A Agbesanwa Tosin , A Adekunle Wulaimat 
Published: April 2021

Background: Caesarean delivery is an essential surgical skill within the primary care setting aimed at reducing maternal morbidity and mortality.
Objectives: To determine the rate and indications for caesarean deliveries with a view to improving on the service delivery in the study area.
Methods: A retrospective review of all caesarean deliveries over a five-year period, January 1st, 2012 to December 31st, 2016.
Results: A total of 2321 deliveries were recorded during the study duration and 481 of them were through caesarean sec- tion (CS) giving a caesarean section rate of 20.4%. The rate was higher in the multigravida 255 (53.1%). The commonest indication for caesarean section was previous caesarean section 131 (27.2%). Emergency caesarean delivery accounted for 278 (57.8%). Only 16 (3.3%) stayed more than five days postoperatively while the rest, 465 (96.7%), stayed less than five days. There was a gradual yearly increase in rate from 12.1% in 2012 to 19.5% in 2016.
Conclusion: The rate of CS in this study has shown a gradual yearly increase with emergency CS having a higher percentage. Early diagnosis and referral of high-risk pregnancies from peripheral hospitals could reduce emergency CS among the study population.
Keywords: Caesarean section; rate; secondary healthcare; Nigeria.
A possible model for estimating birth length of babies from common parental variables using a sample of families in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Adewumi Taiwo Idowu , Adeleye Adenike , Chinwe Uzoma Ijeoma 
Published: April 2021

Background: Length at birth is important for evaluating childhood growth and development. It is of interest in Pediatrics because of its implications for perinatal and postnatal morbidity and mortality. Predicting birth length will be useful in an- ticipating and managing possible complications associated with pregnancy and birth of babies with abnormal birth length.
Objective: The aim was to identify easily accessible parental determinants of baby’s birth length in Lagos, Nigeria, using a sample of patients attending a government hospital.
Methods: Parental anthropometrics and other data were obtained from 250 couples by actual measurements, oral interviews and questionnaires. Baby’s birth length was measured immediately after delivery by qualified, a well-trained obstetric nurse, and association between parental and offspring parameters were assessed.
Results: Weight gain, maternal weight, parity and mid-parental height were the significant parental explanatory variables of offspring birth length. They were the most suitable variables for a generated model for predicting babies’ birth length from parental variables in the study.
Conclusion: A model that might be useful for predicting babies’ birth length from easily accessible parental variables was produced. This model may complement ultrasonographic data for predicting baby’s birth length with a view to achieving better perinatal and postnatal care.
Keywords: Parental anthropometrics; birth length; association; model; correlation.
The impact of motherless paternity testing in a South African population
Authors: A De Kock André , JF Kloppers Jean 
Published: April 2021

Background: Paternity investigations play an important role in determining biological relatedness, and in South Africa, the outcome of these investigations impacts medical, judicial and home affairs decisions. Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis is utilised to perform paternity and kinship analysis, due to the polymorphic nature of STR loci. The cost associated with paternity testing is high, and there is a demand for motherless testing.
Objectives: This study aims to determine what the impact of motherless testing would have been by evaluating 6182 pa- ternity trio cases.
Methods: The AmpFLSTR™ Identifiler™ PCR Amplification kit was used to profile each of the trio cases. A scenario was created where the mother was eliminated from the test results to determine if the paternity outcome would change.
Results: Putative fathers were excluded in 27% of all cases, and in 2.5% of those cases, putative fathers would have been falsely included, had the mother not been tested. These false inclusions are attributed to coincidental STR loci that are shared between the mother and the putative father. The addition of loci to the STR profiling kit may resolve the issue; however, comparable STR data with more loci will have to be evaluated to ensure it overcomes the issue of coincidentally shared loci between unrelated individuals.
Conclusion: We would recommend that within our setup and within similar setups, the mother always be included for test- ing, except in extreme scenarios such as death. False inclusion of putative fathers could have serious legal implications for testing laboratories.
Keywords: Motherless paternity testing; South African population.
Prevalence and determinants of asphyxia neonatorum among live births at Debre Tabor General Hospital, North Central Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Alebachew Bayih Wubet , Gashaw Tezera Tadesse , Yeshambel Alemu Abebaw , Mesfin Belay Demeke , Shimelis Hailemeskel Habtamu , Yibeltal Ayalew Metadel 
Published: April 2021

Background: More than one third of the neonatal deaths at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Debre Tabor General Hos- pital (DTGH) are attributable to birth asphyxia. Most of these neonates are referred from maternity ward of the hospital. However, there is no recent evidence on the prevalence and specific determinants of birth asphyxia at DTGH. Besides, public health importance of factors like birth spacing weren’t addressed in the prior studies.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on a sample of 240 newborns at delivery ward. The collected data were cleaned, coded and entered into Epi -data version 4.2 and exported to Stata version 14. Binary logistic regression model was considered and statistical significance was declared at P< 0.05 using adjusted odds ratio.
Results: The prevalence of asphyxia neonatorum was 6.7 % based on the fifth minute APGAR score. From multi-variable logistic regression analysis, antenatal obstetric complications (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI: 3.75, 14.29), fetal malpresentation (AOR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.21, 15.20), premature rupture of fetal membranes (AOR = 6.56, 95% CI: 3.48, 18.12) and meconium stained amniotic fluid (AOR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.76, 14.59) were significant predictors.
Conclusion: The prevalence of fifth minute asphyxia neonatorum was relatively low. Fortunately, its predictors are modifi- able. Thus, we can mitigate the problem even with our limited resources such as enhancing the existing efforts of antenatal and intra-partum care, which could help early detection and management of any obstetric and neonatal health abnormality.”
Keywords: Birth asphyxia; asphyxia neonatorum; prevalence; determinants; Ethiopia.
Wildlife collections of Royal Palace Museums in The West Region of Cameroon with a Focus on wildlife conservation
Authors: Poumie Mohamed Mounir Mfonden , Coals Peter , Meutchieye Félix , Fokam Olivier Miantsia 
Published: April 2021

The royal palace museums of the Grassfields’ Kingdoms of West Region of Cameroon are well recognized for the preservation of culturally significant objects and practices. To date, the role of palace museums in wildlife conservation has received little consideration. Herein, a preliminary study into the animalbased artefacts of palace museums from a wildlife conservation perspective is presented. A total of 11 chiefdom palace museums in the West Region of Cameroon were surveyed and the animal species represented in their exhibitions recorded. Parts of 32 different animal species, including locally extinct large mammals such as lion, cheetah, chimpanzee, and elephant were found. The primary purpose for inclusion of specimens in palace museums was for preservation of culture. However, potential wildlife conservation focused uses to which palace museums may also put their collections are discussed herein.
KeyWords: Grassfields, Bamileke, Bamoun, Culture, Education, Mammals.

Les musées du palais royal des royaumes des Grassfields de la région de l’Ouest Cameroun sont bien connus pour la préservation d’objets et de pratiques culturellement significatifs. À ce jour, le rôle des musées de palais dans la conservation de la faune a été peu pris en compte. Ici, une étude préliminaire des collections animales de ces musées du point de vue de la conservation de la faune est présentée. Onze musées de palais de chefferies de la région de l’Ouest Cameroun ont été étudiés et les espèces animales représentées dans leurs expositions ont été enregistrées. Des parties de 32 espèces animales différentes, y compris de grands mammifères localement disparus comme le lion, le guépard, le chimpanzé et l’éléphant ont été découverts. Le but principal de l’inclusion de spécimens dans les musées du palais est la préservation de la culture. Cependant, les utilisations potentielles axées sur la conservation de la faune auxquelles les musées de palais peuvent également mettre leurs collections sont discutées ici.
Mots clés:
The effects of oil palm leaf meal-based diets on the growth performance and haematological indices of Red Sokoto goats
Authors: Ukanwoko A.I. , Alfred C.T. 
Published: April 2021

An experiment was carried out to determine the growth performance and haematological indices of Red Sokoto goats placed on oil palm leaf meal (OPLM)-wheat offal based diet. Six goats aged 12-18 months, weighing 15 – 20kg were randomly assigned to three treatments, comprising two animals each in a Completely Randomized Design. Each animal received 1kg of the diet daily for 56 days and weighed weekly. Results showed that final body weight was significant (P<0.05) with goats on T3 having the highest (21.50kg). The feed intake, body weight gain and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were significantly different (P<0.05). T3 had the highest feed intake (305.35g/d), highest body weight gain (90.84g/d) and the best FCR (3.36). Significant differences (P <0.05) were observed in the Red Blood Cell (RBC), Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Haemoglobin (Hb) counts, ranging between 3.12 - 4.20x106ml; 23.00 -30.50% and 7.70 - 10.15g/dl respectively with goats on T3 having the highest. The inclusion of OPLM enhanced body weight gain, FCR, RBC, PCV, and Hb counts of the goats. Therefore the oil palm leaf meal diets are recommended for better goat production.
Key word: Growth performance; Oil Palm Leaf meal., Blood profile., Creatinine., Red Sokoto Goat.
Exploring the impacts of religious tourism on development: (A case study of Redemption Camp, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria)
Authors: Adejimi E.I. , Aremu D.A. 
Published: April 2021

The Redemption Camp is unarguably one tourism destination that has fascinated many among the Christian and non-Christian folks. Religious sites are among the most visited tourism destinations in the world; people have visited Redemption Camp in their thousands and millions in recent times more than any known tourism destination in Nigeria. The evidence for these realities is attributed to the selfsustainable status the Camp has attained over the years and the increased rate at which it continues to attract visitors. Development in terms of infrastructure and socio-economic activities in Redemption Camp and the neighbouring host communities is evident, arising primarily from tourism activities. This reality underpins the impacts of religious tourism on the development. The study x-rays development, as enhanced by the activities of religious tourism in the Redemption Camp, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria. The research employs participant observation, unstructured interviews and key informants interviews. The key informant interviews elicited facts on Redemption Camp as a religious tourism destination while the unstructured interviews examined visitors’ attitude as religious tourists. The study specifically identifies the role religious tourism played and is still in the development of Redemption Camp as wellas the spill over effects on the residents and the host communities. Factors that enhanced religious tourism activities in the Camp include the provision of efficient transportation mode, stable electricity, comfortable accommodation and clean water supply. Tourismattractions within the camp which have earned the camp its self-sustaining reputation are: the Redemption Resort, The Redeemer’s High School. Redeemer’s Maternity Centre, Banking Institutions, Open Heavens International Centre, Emmanuel Park and the main auditorium which sits over two million attendees. It is recommended that, with the growing spate of expansionary activities in the Redemption Camp, the management should ensure necessary precautionary measures in place to guard against disrupting the environmental harmony the redemption camp is known for.
Key words: Tourism, Religious tourism, Development, Redemption Camp