Integrating the crowdsourced image-based morbidity hotspot surveillance for neglected tropical diseases (CIMS-NTDs) into Nigeria's healthcare system: a mixed methods study.

Background: Traditional surveillance systems for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) often suffer from underreporting, delays and limited reach, hindering effective disease control. This study describes the integration process of crowdsourced image-based morbidity hotspot surveillance for NTDs (CIMS-NTDs) into the government-led NTD program and assesses its operational performance and stakeholder experience.

Methods: A mixed methods study embedded in an implementation research framework was conducted in Ondo State, Nigeria.

Antibacterial activity and mechanistic insights of gallium-based nanoparticles: an emerging frontier in metal-based antimicrobials.

The global rise of antimicrobial resistance has intensified the search for novel therapeutic agents that act through non-conventional mechanisms. Gallium-based nanoparticles (GaNPs) represent a promising yet underexplored class of metal-based antimicrobials. Owing to their unique ability to mimic iron(iii), GaNPs disrupt key bacterial metabolic processes, particularly those dependent on iron acquisition and utilization.

Computational exploration of aphrodisiac potential: identifying inhibitors from ., and targeting human phosphodiesterase 5.

Unlabelled: Impotence, also referred to as Erectile Dysfunction (ED), is a sexual health condition that affects a large number of men globally. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends Sildenafil citrate (Viagra®, Pfizer, New York, NY, USA) as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. Regretfully, heart failure, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, irregular heartbeat, dyspepsia, and priapism have been reported as the main adverse effects of using Sildenafil citrate.

Digital health tools for hypertension self-management: evaluating user experience and effectiveness in referral hospital in Imo state.

Background: The research aimed to pinpoint the user experiences, factors influencing adoption of digital health tools and the effectiveness of these tools in hypertension self-management. This study was conducted in a selected referral hospital in Imo State, Nigeria.

Methods: This is a descriptive study design conducted in hospital setting with three hundred and thirty five (335) persons serving as the respondents.

The resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria: economic impact, challenges, and strategic public health interventions.

Lassa fever remains a persistent public health challenge in Nigeria, with annual outbreaks expanding across the country. Between 2018 and 2023, the disease spread from 20 to 34 of Nigeria's 37 states, underscoring its endemic nature. Recent data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) indicates 1,171 suspected cases, 290 confirmed cases, and 53 deaths between January 6 to 26, 2025, with a case fatality rate of 18.

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anaemia among Chronic Heart Failure Patients in Owerri, Nigeria.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is defined as a clinical syndrome with symptoms and/or signs caused by a structural and/or functional cardiac abnormality and corroborated by elevated natriuretic peptide levels and/or objective evidence of pulmonary or systemic congestion. Iron deficiency (ID) and erythropoietin dysfunction have been demonstrated as the two basic mechanisms for anaemia in HF. Iron deficiency in chronic heart failure (CHF) is defined as serum ferritin < 100 μg/l or serum ferritin 100-299 μg/l +Transferrin saturation < 20%.

Mechanistic insight and in-vitro validation of ampicillin/scoparone-functionalized ZnO nanoparticles as antioxidant, and antimicrobial therapeutics against antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to the global health sector. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized with aqueous crude extract of Azadirachta indica, and the phytochemical compositions determined using Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). They were further characterized using advanced spectroscopes and microscopes.

Investing in traditional medicine: leveraging evidence and innovative research to strengthen the fight against malaria in Nigeria.

Traditional medicine (TM) has been a cornerstone of healthcare across various cultures, especially in Africa, where it has played an integral role in the management of diseases such as malaria. Despite the popularity and historical significance of TM, scientific validation remains a key challenge, hindering its widespread acceptance in modern healthcare systems. This study explores the potential of traditional African medicine, particularly in the context of Nigeria, as a vital resource in the fight against malaria.

Implementation of integrated disease surveillance and response systems in West Africa: lessons learned and future directions.

The Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) framework, introduced by the WHO in 1998, aimed to unify disease surveillance across West Africa, replacing fragmented systems. However, challenges such as limited real-time reporting, inadequate data collection and workforce shortages continue to impede disease control and outbreak response. The resurgence of infectious diseases like Ebola, cholera, COVID-19 and monkeypox highlights the need to strengthen IDSR systems for effective public health management.

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system optimization of natural rubber latex modified concrete's mechanical Properties.

The study investigates the optimization of Natural Rubber Latex Modified Concrete (NRLMC) using an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) to enhance predictive accuracy and material performance. Traditional laboratory testing for concrete properties is often time-consuming, costly, and prone to variability due to environmental and procedural inconsistencies. Machine learning techniques, such as ANFIS, offer a robust alternative by effectively modelling complex, nonlinear relationships in material behavior based on experimental data.

Association between educational attainment and mental health conditions among Africans working and studying in selected African countries.

Mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and stress, are a growing global public health concern, with their prevalence influenced by various sociodemographic and contextual factors. Among these, the role of educational attainment in shaping mental health outcomes has received limited attention, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Given the potential impact of education on psychological well-being, this study examines the prevalence of mental health conditions.

Eliminating malaria in Nigeria: insights from Egypt's success and pathways to sustainable eradication.

Malaria remains a critical public health challenge in Nigeria, with the country bearing the highest global burden of the disease. Despite ongoing efforts, malaria continues to exact significant health, economic, and social tolls. Inspired by Egypt's successful malaria elimination strategies, this study explores actionable interventions that Nigeria can adapt to achieve sustainable malaria eradication.

Cross-National variations in mental health: A cross-sectional study on depression, anxiety, and stress among university staff and students in Sub-Saharan African.

Purpose: Mental health disorders are global concerns, but their impact varies across regions. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the influence of country-specific factors on mental health is under-researched. This study investigates the influence of country of origin on the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions among university students and staff across select SSA countries.

Antibiotic use among university students: insights from a Nigerian institution.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance, anticipated to cause 10 million deaths and cost $100.2 trillion by 2050, is particularly severe in West Africa. While bacteria naturally resist antibiotics over time, their misuse intensifies resistance.

Deciphering the molecular mechanism of coumestrol activity for uterine fibroids remedy: a promising estrogenic target drug candidate.

Uterine fibroids (UF) are reproductive conditions that occur as tumours in the womb. It is a gynecological outgrowth of diverse sizes often allied with infertility risks that might require surgery to reduce the complication in the worst-case scenario in women. Recent studies have uncovered that estrogen can induce and facilitate other target pathways' action on target cells for UF's pathogenesis, among the targets probed for pharmaceutical intervention.

Unveiling the future of cancer stem cell therapy: a narrative exploration of emerging innovations.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), are a critical subpopulation within tumours, and are defined by their capacity for self-renewal, differentiation, and tumour initiation. These unique traits contribute to tumour progression, metastasis, and resistance to conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often resulting in cancer recurrence and poor patient outcomes. As such, CSCs have become focal points in developing advanced cancer therapies.

Experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS in selected hospitals in Imo state, Nigeria, regarding the usability and satisfaction of reminders using M-health features: a qualitative study.

HIV presents an ongoing, serious issue within the global public health domain, with prevalence across all nations. Mobile health (m-Health) is the use of mobile and wireless devices to improve health outcomes, health care services, and health research has been shown to have the capacity to improve medication adherence. Good adherence to ART is beneficial to patients and the public.

Systematic Study of Silicon Carbide Detectors and Beam Current Transformer Signals for UHDR Single Electron Pulse Monitoring.

The use of ultra-high dose rate beams (UHDR) (> 40 Gy/s) for radiotherapy, despite its advantage of exhibiting the FLASH effect that improves the sparing of healthy tissues, faces challenges in dosimetry and beam monitoring since standard dosimeters like the ionization chamber experience saturation effects at such high dose rates. Silicon carbide (SiC) detectors have recently been demonstrated to be dose-rate independent with low-energy pulsed electron beams up to an instantaneous dose rate of 5.5 MGy/s, and has emerged as a reliable alternative technology for dosimetry in FLASH-RT.

A qualitative systematic review of umbilical cord care practices in Nigeria.

Background: Umbilical cord care is an important aspect of newborn health, and different practices exist around the world, often influenced by cultural, healthcare infrastructure, and socioeconomic factors. The objective of this systematic review is to synthesize current literature on umbilical cord care practices in Nigeria, with an emphasis on the impact of cultural beliefs, healthcare infrastructure, and socioeconomic factors.

Methods: A comprehensive search for literature was performed across PubMED, MEDLINE and Google scholar for studies published between 2010 and 2023.

Valorization of mixed blackwater/agricultural wastes for bioelectricity and biohydrogen production: A microbial treatment pathway.

The management of wastewater and agricultural wastes has been limited by the separate treatment processes, which exacerbate pollution and contribute to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. Given the energy demands and financial burdens of traditional treatment facilities, there is a pressing need for technologies that can concurrently treat solid waste and generate energy. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of producing bioelectricity and biohydrogen through the microbial treatment of blackwater and agricultural waste using a dual-chamber Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC).

Relativistic bound state solutions and quantum information theory in D dimensions under exponential-type plus Yukawa potentials.

The bound-state solution of the radial Klein-Gordon equation has been obtained under the interaction of an exponential-type and Yukawa potential functions. The Greene-Aldrich approximation has been used to overcome the centrifugal barrier and enable the analytical solutions of the energy and wave functions in closed form. The momentum space wave function in D dimensions has been constructed using the Fourier transform.

Designing and deploying caller tunes on mobile phones to promote malaria vaccine uptake in Africa: can the technology acceptance model (TAM) help?

Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, with millions of cases and high mortality rates annually, especially in low-income countries. Africa bears a substantial burden, with direct costs of malaria among children under five reaching millions of dollars in countries like Ghana, Tanzania, and Kenya. In 2021, over 610,000 malaria-related deaths were reported, 96% of which occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.

Advancements in tantalum based nanoparticles for integrated imaging and photothermal therapy in cancer management.

Tantalum-based nanoparticles (TaNPs) have emerged as promising tools in cancer management, owing to their unique properties that facilitate innovative imaging and photothermal therapy applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in TaNPs, emphasizing their potential in oncology. Key features include excellent biocompatibility, efficient photothermal conversion, and the ability to integrate multifunctional capabilities, such as targeted drug delivery and enhanced imaging.

Brief communication: Effect of mobile health intervention on medication time adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS receiving care at selected hospitals in Owerri, Imo State Nigeria.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact of Mobile health (M-health) on medication time adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Methods: The study included all PLWHA who were receiving care at the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri (FUTH) and Imo State Specialist Hospital (ISSH) Umugumma during the study duration. The test group (FUTH) received a 2-way text message sent three times a week and a once-a-week phone call, while the control group (ISSH) received only the standard care.