Prevalence, Risk Factors and Management of Ocular Rhabdomyosarcoma (ORMS) in Africa: A Systematic Review.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common paediatric orbital malignancy, accounting for about 10% of orbital tumours. Reported survival varies widely, ranging from as low as 10% with unimodal treatment to over 70% with multimodal therapy. Data from Africa remain sparse, with studies showing wide variations in methodology and treatment protocols.

Equity and social justice perspectives on disability inclusion in healthcare services in Nigeria.

This Perspective explores equity and social justice perspectives on disability inclusion in Nigerian health care services. We note the physical, economic, and cultural barriers that limit persons with disabilities (PWDs) access. While national laws such as the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act (2018) and international guidelines such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD,2006) are available, access to health care among PWDs remains low in Nigeria.

Willingness of secondary school adolescents to get vaccinated against Malaria: a cross-sectional study in Enugu, South-East Nigeria.

Background: Malaria is a serious public health challenge both in children and adolescents.

Objectives: This study was aimed to document the willingness of the adolescents to accept vaccine and its associated factors.

Methodology: This was an observational and cross-sectional study on four hundred and ninety-six secondary school adolescents in six secondary schools in Enugu from June 2023 to September 2023.

Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Different studies conducted on the effects of Parkinson's Disease (PD) on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) have presented contradictory outcomes, with the underlying domains of HRQoL requiring additional studies. Thus, the objective of this systematic review is to evaluate, by comparing and contrasting, the disease-specific HRQoL in PD. To attain the stated objective, a systematic review of various online databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and MEDLINE, was conducted.

Exploring the Critical Environmental Optima and Biotechnological Prospects of Fungal Fruiting Bodies.

Fruiting body development is a principal mechanism in fungal morphogenesis, which often involves complex interplays of hormonal regulation, gene expression, and metabolic immobilisation influenced by environmental interactions, ultimately leading to the differentiation of multicellular structures. In fungal communities, including ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, fruiting body development ensures protection and facilitates the dispersal of ascospores. Constrained by environmental factors that vary across morphogenetic stages, a thorough synthesis of the critical ecological optima, which primarily regulate the multi-omics footprint encompassing diverse molecular perspectives characterising fruiting body formations, is key.

Prevalence and Correlates of Clinical Nephropathy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes at Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Center, Umuahia, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Clinical nephropathy is a prevalent and serious microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), contributing substantially to increased morbidity and mortality among affected individuals. It often progresses insidiously, leading to end-stage renal disease if not promptly detected and managed. Despite its growing public health importance, there is a paucity of region-specific data on the prevalence and correlates of clinical nephropathy in patients with T2DM, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Redox Signaling Disruption and Antioxidants in Toxicology: From Precision Therapy to Potential Hazards.

Antioxidants play a vital role in neutralizing oxidative stress and maintaining cellular homeostasis. However, emerging evidence highlights their paradoxical nature, while beneficial in regulated doses, excessive or inappropriate supplementation may contribute to disease progression, chemoresistance, and redox signaling disruption. This narrative review examines both the protective and potentially harmful roles of antioxidants in toxicology, with a focus on therapeutic challenges and clinical implications.

Speech Disorders in Children with Congenital Heart Disease Attending a Tertiary Institution in South East Nigeria.

Background: Speech problems are neurodevelopmental disorders rarely reported in children with congenital heart defects (CHD). This study aimed to elicit various speech disorders in children with CHD compared to controls.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study involved 50 children with CHD and 50 children without CHD (control group).

Determinants of Left Ventricular Mass Among Apparently Normal Children in Enugu State.

Background: The left ventricular mass (LVM) index is a very crucial index used for risk stratification among children. This work aimed to document the LVM values among children and delineate the prevalence of LVH among healthy children in Southeast Nigeria. It elicited the correlation between Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and age, gender and height.

Polymorphic Distribution of Human Homeostatic Iron Regulator Gene H63D rs1799945 and Clinico-Hematological Parameters of Sickle Cell Anemia Patients: A Case-Control Study in Northern Ghana.

Background And Aim: The study assessed the polymorphic distribution of H63D rs1799945 of HFE gene and clinico-hematological parameters of SCA patients.

Methods: Sixty sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients and 30 healthy controls without sickle cell disease between the ages of 2-38 years were selected for this case-control study from March to July, 2023 in the Northern Ghana. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-anticoagulated blood samples were used for complete blood count estimation using a 5-part hematology autoanalyzer (URIT-5250 China).

Endogenous Plant signals and human Health: Molecular mechanisms, ecological functions, and therapeutic Prospects.

Endogenous plant signals, including phytohormones, secondary metabolites, and volatile organic compounds, play pivotal roles in plant growth, defense, and ecological interactions. Signals are crucial in plant responses to both biotic and abiotic stressors, as well as in the biosynthesis of therapeutic compounds. Jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and ethylene are crucial signaling molecules that regulate internal and external communication, including herbivore defense and microbial interactions.

Bridging the gap: telemedicine as a solution for HIV care inequities in rural and vulnerable communities.

Background: Despite advancements in HIV management, healthcare inequalities continue to exist, especially in rural and populations vulnerable to HIV, where factors such as distance, low income, prejudice, and a shortage of healthcare workers contribute to delayed diagnosis and inadequate care.

Objective: This commentary explores how telemedicine can close the healthcare disparity gap for HIV patients in rural and vulnerable settings by bringing care closer and decreasing stigma.

Methods: The study analyzed primary sources, such as articles from PubMed, Science Direct, the Web of Science, and WHO reports from 2020 to 2024, including case studies, to examine the role of telemedicine in global HIV care.

Natural product-based inhibitors of quorum sensing: A novel approach to combat antibiotic resistance.

The global rise of antibiotic resistance (AR) presents a critical threat to public health, prompting the search for innovative antimicrobial strategies. Quorum sensing (QS), a bacterial communication system that governs virulence, biofilm formation, and resistance, has emerged as a compelling non-lethal therapeutic target. This review explores the potential of natural product-based quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) derived from plants, microbes, and marine organisms.

Psychiatrists' and trainees' knowledge, perception, and readiness for integration of artificial intelligence in mental health care in Nigeria.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising healthcare globally, including in Nigeria. AI is promising in psychiatry, particularly in addressing the shortage of psychiatrists and rural healthcare gaps. However, research on AI adoption among Nigerian psychiatrists is unavailable.

Antibiotic resistance genes circulating in Nigeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis from the One Health perspective.

Background: The misuse of antibiotics in developing countries has created serious threats to public healthcare systems and reduced treatment options. Multidrug-resistant bacteria harbour antibiotic resistance genes that help them subdue the effectiveness of several available antibiotics. This review aimed to assess antimicrobial resistance genes circulating in Nigeria via a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Skin Neglected tropical diseases including leprosy and Buruli ulcer cause aesthetic and functional impairments due to late detection of the diseases. This study assessed the quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or Buruli ulcer in Nigeria.

Methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional study.

Ecological and public health dimensions of ESBL-producing in bats: A One Health perspective.

The emergence and global dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing represent a major public health concern. While antibiotic resistance in clinical and agricultural settings is well documented, the contribution of wildlife, particularly bats, to the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains underexplored. Bats possess unique ecological traits - such as long-distance flight, longevity, and adaptability - that facilitate their role as potential reservoirs and vectors of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

'I struggle to feel normal': phenomenological analysis of experience with living in crises resettlement camps in Nigeria.

Background: Nigeria has experienced several humanitarian crises and displacement over the years. The physical and psychological impact of these crises has been severe, with many experiencing trauma and stress-related disorders within internally displaced persons camps. To develop interventions that address the needs of settlers in camps, a comprehensive understanding of their experiences is essential.

Building healthcare capacity for neurodegenerative disease management in Nigeria: Challenges and opportunities.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are growing public health concerns worldwide, and their burden is particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. This perspective highlights the urgent need for tailored public health strategies to address the rising prevalence of these diseases, focusing on prevention, early detection, and management in the Nigerian context. With an aging population and limited healthcare infrastructure, Nigeria faces unique challenges in diagnosing and treating NDs.

Phytochemicals as modulators of ferroptosis: a novel therapeutic avenue in cancer and neurodegeneration.

Ferroptosis, a controlled cell death mechanism characterised by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, has become a significant factor in the pathophysiology of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Its dual role as a tumor suppressor and mediator of neuronal damage highlights its significance as a therapeutic target. Phytochemicals, natural bioactive molecules in plants, have attracted interest for their ability to modulate ferroptosis through diverse mechanisms, including regulation of oxidative stress, iron metabolism, and antioxidant defense systems.

Uncovering the truth about cat-scratch disease.

Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is a systemic infection caused by the facultative, rod-shaped, nonmotile, Gram-negative, intracellular zoonotic bacillus . The bacteria responsible for CSD were not discovered until decades after the condition was first characterized in 1931. The prevalence of CSD is more common in warm, humid areas and is typically seasonal, peaking in the fall and winter.

Antibiotic resistance profiles of and . isolated from chicken meat sold in traditional markets in Gresik District, East Java, Indonesia.

Background: Antibiotic resistance in the poultry industry poses a global threat. The occurrence of resistance in humans can occur through foodstuffs of animal origin, one of which is chicken meat, which is sold in traditional markets. Traditional markets are synonymous with dirty environments and poor sanitation and hygiene.

The global burden of swine influenza and its mitigation.

Swine influenza, often known as swine flu, is a respiratory disease caused by type A influenza virus (IAV) called swine influenza virus (SIV). There are currently multiple subtypes of IAV in pigs, including H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2. While the other subtypes of IAV were only detected in pigs, the H1N1 strain was isolated from infected people.

Molecular detection of blaSHV gene in multidrug resistance of isolated from chicken egg shell swab from a traditional market in Surabaya.

Background: Contamination with food ingredients, including eggs, causes various dangers because it threatens public health, because it acts as a multidrug resistance (MDR) bacteria, especially the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) strain. The ESBL SHV gene is part of a broad-spectrum ESBL that is often found in Gram-negative bacteria.

Aim: This study aimed to identify the ESBL SHV gene in MDR from chicken eggshells.