bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experiences of female clients in the assisted reproductive technology process in Nigeria
Authors: V Ezeome Ijeoma , O Akintola Simisola , S Jegede Ayodele 
Published: October 2023

Background: Though assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been a source of hope for many infertile couples, it is knownto be associated with physical, social, psychological, and ethical challenges in different settings.
Objective: The study objective was to explore the experiences of female clients who accessed services in ART clinics in Nigeria.
Methods: An exploratory qualitative design, using snowballing technique was employed. It involved in-depth interviews of eightwomen who had gone through the assisted conception process, using an interview guide. Data collection was from November 2019 to January 2020.
Results: The age range of the participants was 30 – 52 years with a mean of 41.88 years. Majority of the clients presented at advanced age to their ART providers because of lack of funds and ignorance. Other challenges were suboptimal risk disclosure, high cost of services, feelings of shame and stigmatization during and after the process.
Conclusion: Cost of ART remain unaffordable to most Nigerians hence the need for government subsidization and in-corporation of ART services into the National Health Insurance Scheme. Additionally, lack of adequate information disclosure, shared decision-making and gendered suffering are areas of great concern among the study participants. A national regulatory guideline will ensure uniform international standard of care.
Keywords: Experience; clients; assisted reproductive technology.
Clinical study on combined "lanzhou prescription" for the treatment of "syndrome of heat-toxin congestion and excessiveness" in children with acute aplastic anemias
Authors: Yu Niancheng , Huang Hong , Wu Fang 
Published: October 2023

Purpose: The clinical efficacy of "Lanzhou prescription" plus or minus combined with western medicine in the treatment of children with acute aplastic anemia, ‘excessive accumulation of heat toxin’, was comprehensively and objectively evaluated.
Methods: Sixty children diagnosed with acute aplastic anemia, ‘excessive accumulation of heat toxin’ were divided into observation group (lanzhou prescription plus or minus combined with immunosuppressive therapy) and control group (immunosuppressive therapy alone). The relief degree of clinical symptoms and signs and the change of laboratory indicators were taken as the evaluation criteria.
Results: (1) After treatment, the results of remission rate of two groups treated by western medicine shows that the remission rate of the observation group was significantly higher than the control group (P< 0.05). (2) the ‘cure rate’ of the observation group treated for 6 months was significantly higher than treated for 3 months (P<0.05). (3) After treated for 6 months, the indexes of CD34+ cells and FOXP3+ regulatory cells in bone marrow of observation group increased, while the CD8+ cells and B cells decreased significantly, and the indexes of CD3+ cells, CD4+ cells and NK cells decreased somewhat(P<0.05).
Conclusion: Compared with immunosuppressive therapy, lanzhou prescription plus or minus combined with immunosuppressive therapy can alleviate the clinical symptoms and signs of children more effectively, obviously improve the Traditional Chinese Medicine symptoms of children, and help bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells gradually restore hematopoietic function.
Keywords: Acute aplastic anemia in children; Lanzhou prescription; Traditional Chinese medicine combined with Western medicine; Clinical research.
Early perinatal outcomes of babies born to adolescent mothers at two maternity hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia
Authors: Orey Fartun , Ndeezi Grace , Mugalu Jamiir , Mohamud Luul , Nabukeera-Barungi Nicolette 
Published: October 2023

Background: Adolescent motherhood remains a major problem in developing countries. We set out to describe the perinatal outcomes of infants born to adolescent mothers and to determine factors associated with birth asphyxia among these infants in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved adolescent mothers who presented in labor. Sociodemographic and medical data was collected and mother-infant pairs were followed up at 24hrs. Poor perinatal outcomes were: low birth weight, birth asphyxia, death or hospitalization after 24 hours. Data was entered into Epi data 3.1 and analysed using STATA version 12.0.
Results: Of the 270 adolescents, mean age was 17.7 years (±1.19), 89% were married, 94% were unemployed and 54% had not received formal education. Of the 270 babies born, 70 (25.9%) had poor perinatal outcomes which included; 35 (12.9%) died; of whom 30 (11.1%) were stillbirths. Thirty-two infants (13.3%) had birth asphyxia and 18 (6.7%) had low birth weight. Prolonged labor (p-value=<0.001) and preterm birth (p-value=0.023) were significantly associated with birth asphyxia while living in Mogadishu was protective (p- value=0.018).
Conclusions: About one in four adolescent mother’s babies had poor perinatal outcomes. Prolonged labor and preterm delivery and were associated with birth asphyxia while residing closer to the facilities was protective.
Keywords: Adolescent mother; early perinatal outcome; poor perinata.
Job satisfaction among rehabilitation professionals employed in public health facilities in KwaZulu-Natal
Authors: N Makholwa , B Tlou , TP Dlungwane 
Published: October 2023

Background: Job satisfaction is essential in stimulating productivity and efficiency in the health sector. Dissatisfied employees are likely to leave, which places an added burden considering the shortage of health workers. Rehabilitation professionals form a critical component of the public health workforce.
Objective: The aim of the study was to document the level of job satisfaction and factors associated with job satisfaction among rehabilitation professionals employed in public health facilities in KwaZulu-Natal.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized. A Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to assess associations and to identify factors associated with job satisfaction. A p-value less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.
Results: Most participants (59%) reported a low level of overall job satisfaction. The participants were dissatisfied about not getting recognition for work related to their specific professions (61.3 %) and not being considered for career advancement (74.3 %). In addition, inadequate financial rewards (87.2%) and benefits (71.3%) were also linked to low job satisfaction.
Conclusion: Participants displayed a low level of job satisfaction. Rehabilitation services should be prioritized, and appropriate recognition should be granted to rehabilitation professionals in order to enhance job satisfaction.
Keywords: Job satisfaction; rehabilitation professionals; public health facilities.
Health-related quality of life associated with different cervical cancer therapies received by patients in two Nigerian tertiary hospitals
Authors: Samaila Aliyu , A Biambo Aminu , Usman Nuruddeen , M Aliyu Usman , Abdullahi Adamu , O Adibe Maxwell 
Published: October 2023

Background: There are important consequences from cervical cancer (CC) disease and its treatment among survivors, especiallythe impact on quality of life (QoL).
Objective: To evaluate the health-related QoL associated with different CC therapies received by patients in two Nigerian tertiaryhospitals.
Methods: This study employed a prospective longitudinal design. It was conducted at Usmanu Danfodiyo University TeachingHospital, Sokoto and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, North-Western Nigeria. Data of all the 157 eligible CCpatients were collected at baseline and after therapy. Data analysis was done with appropriate descriptive and inferential statisticsusing SPSS V. 20 for windows. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Chemotherapy (CT) was the major therapy option received by 78(49.7%) of the patients. Patients who received chemoradiation therapy (CRT) and adjuvant chemotherapy (CTS) had the highest increase in mean overall health-related QoL of 0.138(t=8.456, p<0.001) and 0.138 (t=6.489, p<0.001) higher than their respective baseline scores. Patients who received CT had theleast increase in mean overall health-related QoL of 0.095 (t=4.574, p<0.001) from baseline.
Conclusion: Chemoradiation therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy were associated with highest increase in mean overallhealth-related QoL. Chemotherapy was associated with the least increase in mean overall health-related QoL.
Keywords: Cervical cancer; quality of life; therapies.
The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on Tuberculosis (TB) case notification in Ogun State, Nigeria
Authors: J Daniel Olusoji , O Bamidele Janet , D Alabi Adekunle , A Tijani Musibau , A Akinleye Callistus , S Oritogun Kolawole , O Soyinka Festus , A Adejumo Olusola 
Published: October 2023

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in disruptions in delivery of Tuberculosis services especially, in resource-limited settings. Provisional data by the WHO from 84 countries indicates that about 1.4 million fewer people received care for tuberculosis in 2020 than in 2019. This study assessed the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis case notification rates in Ogun state, Nigeria
Methods: A retrospective review of presumptive TB and diagnosed TB cases that were notified in 2019 and 2020. Analysis was done using Epi-info version 7.2.3.1. Level of statistical significance was p < 0.05
Results: A total of 3102 and 3326 confirmed cases were reported in 2019 and 2020 respectively with an increase of 7.2%. There was significant decline in total number of cases notified in Q2, 2020 compared to 2019 (p=0.001) with a significant increase in proportion of TB cases notified by private facilities from 11.65% in 2019 to 20.27% in 2020.
Conclusion: Total TB cases notified in Ogun state increased during the covid-19 pandemic. There was significant decline in TB cases during the lockdown but an increase in proportion of TB cases notified by private facilities demonstrating that private facilities can withstand disruptions to TB case notifications due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Keywords: Tuberculosis; COVID-19; case notification; private-public mix; private sector.
Clinical value of CVP+VIVC in predicting fluid resuscitation in patients with septic shock
Authors: Zhang Haitao , Liu Chang , Cao Aiping , Hang Qiong 
Published: October 2023

Objective: To explore the clinical value of central venous pressure (CVP) + inferior vena cava respiratory variability (VIVC) in fluid resuscitation in spontaneously breathing patients with septic shock.
Methods: In retrospective observational study, during October 2019 to December 2021, 145 patients with septic shock treated in our hospital were enrolled by the method of observational study. According to the change rate of cardiac output (△ CO) ≥15% or △ CO<15% after 30 minutes, they were assigned into volume-responsive and volume-unresponsive group depending early fluid resuscitation in sepsis. The clinical value of combination of CVP and VIVC in predicting fluid resuscitation in patients with septic shock was compared.
Results: The CVP of the study group was higher at 12h and 24h after fluid resuscitation, and the VIVC level of the study group at 6h, 12h and 24h after fluid resuscitation was higher (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis indicated that CVP, and VIVC levels were noticeably correlated with fluid resuscitation in patients with septic shock (P<0.05). The area under curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of CVP for predicting fluid resuscitation in septic shock patients was 0.694 and the cut-off value was 0.932, the sensitivity was 46.9%, and the specificity was 87.5%. VIVC predicted fluid resuscitation in septic shock patients with an AUC of 0.776, which was a cut-off value of 0.688, a sensitivity of 50.0%, and a specificity of 90.0%. Combination of CVP and VIVC predicted fluid resuscitation in septic shock patients with an AUC of 0.948, which was a cut-off value of 1.420, a sensitivity of 90.6%, and a specificity of 87.5%.
Conclusion: Combination of CVP and VIVC may have a good effect on the evaluation of volume responsiveness in patients with septic shock, which is better than single CVP and VIVC. Combination of CVP and VIVC can be adopted to predict fluid responsiveness volume responsiveness in septic shock patients, which is of great significance for guiding clinical fluid responsiveness therapy.
Keywords: Septic shock; fluid resuscitation; CVP; VIVC.
Treatment of tibial traumatic osteomyelitis with negative pressure closure drainage combined with open bone grafting or bone migration and its effect on the levels of CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum
Authors: Wang Xinqiang , Wu Liangbang , Zhang Yuehong , Hou Zhenhai , Zheng Longbao , Gu Zenghui 
Published: October 2023

Objective: To observe the effect of negative pressure closure drainage combined with open bone grafting or bone migration inthe treatment of tibial traumatic osteomyelitis.
Methods: Eighty-six (86) cases of tibial traumatic osteomyelitis admitted to Hospital of the Chinese people's Liberation Armyfrom September 2017 to September 2018 were randomly divided into control group and observation group, forty-three (43)cases each. Debridement, open bone grafting or bone migration was given to the control group.The observation group was treated with negative pressure closed drainage on the basis of the control group. In addition, the serumcomponents such as CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 of the control group and observation group were detected respectively after surgery.
Results: Observation group granulation cover wound, fracture healing time was shorter than the control group, fracture healingrate was better than the control group, the difference has statistical significance (P<0.05). By comparing serum CRP, TNF-α,IL-6 levels before and after treatment in the two groups, it was found that the observation group was lower than the controlgroup (P<0.05, respectively). Serum CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 levels were significantly (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The treatment of tibial traumatic osteomyelitis with negative pressure closure drainage combined with open bonegrafting or bone displacement has a good effect on fracture healing and is worth popularizing.
Keywords: Bone removal; CRP; IL-6; Negative pressure closure drainage; Tibia; TNF-α; Traumatic osteomyelitis.
A feasibility study of 70 kV double low-dose coronary imaging technique in abdomen-fatty patients using dual-source CT
Authors: Chen Lei , Ge Shang , Chen Yuan , Zhang Ting-Ting , Zhang Ting-Ting , Zhu Zhao-Huan 
Published: October 2023

Objective: To investigate the aplication of low contrast agent concentration and low tube voltage in coronary CTA on patientswith high BMI (26kg/m2<BMI≤28kg/m2) and ultra-high BMI (BMI>28kg/m2).
Methods: 60 patients with high BMI (26kg/m2<BMI≤28kg/m2) and 60 patients with ultra-high BMI (BMI>28kg/m2) wererandomly divided into two groups: double low group A (n=30, tube voltage = 70 KV), double low group B (n=30, tube voltage= 70 KV), processed by SAFIRE iterative reconstruction with 270 mgI/ml contrast agent. Conventional group a (n=30, tubevoltage = 120 KV), conventional group b (n=30, tube voltage = 120 KV), with filtered back projection (FBP) and 370 mg I/mlcontrast agent. the image excellent index (FOM), the effective radiation dose (ED), mean CT value, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR),and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) between corresponding groups were compared.
Result: There was no significant difference in subjective scores of coronary artery image quality between the two high BMIsubgroups (P>0.05).The ED of group A (1.103±0.101 mSv) was significantly lower than that of group a (4.663±0.412 mSv)(P<0.001).There was no significant difference in mean CT value, SNR and CNR between the two subgroups (P>0.05).The imageexcellent index (FOM) of group A was higher than that of group a (P<0.05).The total iodine content and iodine injectionrate in group A were lower than those in group a (P<0.001).The difference of subjective scores of coronary artery image qualitybetween the two ultra-high subgroups was significant. The mean CT value, SNR and CNR of group B were lower than those ofgroup b (P<0.05). The images of 14 patients in group B could not meet the diagnosis demand.
Conclusion: It is feasible to reduce the tube voltage to 70KV in patients with abdominal BMI with high BMI (26Kg/m2<BMI≤28Kg/m2). For patients with abdominal obesity with ultra-high BMI (BMI>28Kg/m2), under the same conditions, the70KV can not meet the daily diagnosis requirement.
Keywords: Radiation dose; tomography; coronary artery; iterative reconstruction; contrast agent; abdominal obesity.
Correlates of somatic symptom disorder among internally displaced persons in Ogoja displacement settlements, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Maurice-Joel Ugbe Ugbe , Babatunde Esu Ekpereonne , Chiezey Onwusaka Obiageli , Muji Bisongedam Marvin , Libuo-Beshel Nji Elizabeth , Ajah Efut Joseph , Irom Ekpo Ofem , Ubi Okoi Faith 
Published: October 2023

Background: Experiences of displacement have been associated with the prevalence of mental health disorders owing to certainfactors.
Objectives: This study aimed to identify the correlates of Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) among internally displaced adultsin Ogoja displacement settlements, Nigeria.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 335 respondents. SSD was assessed using the SOM-SCL section of the CommonMental Disorder Questionnaire while a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic and displacement-related factors. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and multivariable logistic regression.
Result: The prevalence of somatoform disorder was 59.1%. Factors found to be significant in each bivariate Chi-square analysiswere modelled for the mental disorder. The multivariate analysis revealed that being married (AOR=2.80; p=0.020) prolongeddisplacement (AOR=3.29; p=0.003), discrimination (AOR=2.25; p=0.010), disease outbreak (AOR=1.92; p=0.030), loss ofloved ones (AOR=1.34; p=0.028), overcrowded households (AOR=2.30; p=0.008), and fear of reprisals (AOR=2.05; p=0.026)were significantly associated with somatoform disorder.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that the high prevalence of the studied outcome is related to several stressors and eventsamong Internally displaced persons. Evidence-based mental health support efforts by different bodies in creating and routinelyarranging mental health clinical interventions for this population is recommended.
Keywords: Somatoform; somatic symptom disorder; internally displaced adults.
Medical ethics and compliance amongst physician groups: a self-assessed survey in a hospital in Southeast Nigeria
Authors: Godfrey Ochonma Ogbonnia , Olive Chjioke Udunma , Agorye  Ingwu Justin , Adolf Nwankwor Chikezie , Henry-Arize Ifeyinwa 
Published: October 2023

Background: Being a doctor remains a moral enterprise as he is expected to make some medical decisions based on ethical principles during encounter with patients.
Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge and application of medical ethical principles amongst physician groups in a Hospital in Enugu, Nigeria.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional self-assessed study conducted amongst medical doctors in five specialty groups in a teaching hospital in Enugu, Nigeria.Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize the items and determine whether significant differences on knowledge and application of medical ethics existed amongst the physician groups in the treatment of patients.
Findings: Observance and compliance with medical ethical conduct was highest among doctors that were aged 55 years and above. In sex, male doctors had higher ethical conduct compliance than female doctors. Comparing the doctors by rank, medical officers, consultants and senior registrars respectively had the highest ethical conduct.
Conclusions: Knowledge and practice of medical ethics were mostly deficient among younger Nigerian and female doctors. Remedying the situation will require better curricula both at the undergraduate and post-graduate medical school programmes for doctor trainees. Requiring certification in bioethics for license renewal will also help in resolving and improving the knowledge gap.
Keywords: Professional; ethical; conduct; doctors; patients; survey; Nigeria; hospital.
Morphological variations of the pterion among skulls at the Galloway Osteological Collection in the Department of Human Anatomy Makerere University
Authors: Nabukalu Joyce , James Kiwanuka , Michael Okello , Gonzaga Kirum G. , Mwaka Erisa , Ochieng Joseph 
Published: October 2023

Background: The pterion is an important anatomical landmark in anatomy, neurosurgery, radiology, and forensic examinations. The region is prone to damage following blunt trauma of the head. Although the structure varies with age, sex and ethnicity, this has not been documented in the Ugandan setting. The study set out to describe the morphological variations of the pterion among skulls in the Galloway Osteological Collection at the Department of Anatomy, Makerere University.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that examined human skulls for the type of pterion, the distance between the center of the pterion and mid zygomatic arch, and the distance between the center of the pterion and the frontozygomatic suture. The measurements were conducted using a digital Vernier caliper. Data was analyzed using the Welch t-test and student t-test.
Results: A total of 65 skulls were studied, the sphenoparietal type of pterion was the commonest 65.4%. The pterion in females was located more posteriorly from the frontozygomatic suture compared to that of males, however the p-value was 0.10. The distance from pterion to zygomatic arch and frontozygomatic suture showed variations with age and nationality.
Conclusion: The Pterion exhibited variations which need to be considered during examinations and operations of the region.
Forced convection heat transfer in micro heat sinks with square and circular configuration
Authors: Godi N. Y. , Zhengwuvi L. B. , Petinrin M. O. 
Published: October 2023

This paper reports the results of three-dimensional numerical optimisation of microchannel heat exchanger with square and circular cooling channels. The objective of the optimisation is to maximise the global thermal conductance or minimise global thermal resistance. Response surface optimisation methodology (RSM) is used in the numerical optimisation. A high-density heat flux (2.5×106W/m2) is imposed at the bottom surface of the unit cell microchannel and numerical simulation carried out using ANSYS Fluent commercial software package.The elemental volume and axial length N=10mm of the microchannel were all fixed, while the width was free to morph. The cooling technique employs single-phase water which flows through the rectangular block microchannel heat sink to remove the heat at the bottom of the microchannels in a forced convection laminar flow regime. The velocity of the fluid pumped across the microchannel axial length is the range 400≤Rew≤500. Finite volume method (FVM) is used to descretised the computational domain and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) code employed to solve a series of governing equations. The effect of channel hydraulic diameter and Reynolds number of water-flow on peak wall temperature and minimised temperature are investigated and reported. The numerical results show that the microchannel with square cooling channel has the highest maximised global thermal conductance than the micro heat sink with circular configuration. The result of the numerical study agrees with what is in the open literature.