Medical school students' perspectives on virtual anatomy education in a developing country.

Understanding the fundamental role anatomy education plays in medical training and taking into consideration the nascence of online education in Nigeria, this study evaluated the perceptions of medical and allied-health students toward online anatomy education both during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria and for the future. For this study, Google Form questionnaires were distributed via different social and academic platforms to medical and allied-health students in Nigeria between September 28 and December 17, 2020. A total of 954 students participated in the study and 947 valid responses were recorded. The results showed that 77.6% of the students had reported computer/IT skills and 12.1% admitted that they had never attended an online class. Interestingly, 60% of the respondents disapproved of online learning approaches as effective tools for instructions in the anatomical sciences. Majority of the students (84%) agreed that their performance in anatomy would have been better if the classes were face-to-face, while 55% found the online anatomy classes uninteresting. Furthermore, 91.5% agreed that anatomy educators needed advanced skills for online education, while 94.2% agreed that anatomy online teaching needs more advanced technology to be implemented in Nigeria. This study revealed an overall negative perception about the suitability and effectiveness of online anatomy education in Nigerian medical/health training. This study recommends further investigations into the challenges that were presented during online anatomy education at the peak of the pandemic. This will help direct the development and implementation of a workable and sustainable online education model for anatomical sciences in Nigeria.

Immunopotentiating significance of conventionally used plant adaptogens as modulators in biochemical and molecular signalling pathways in cell mediated processes.

Natural products are of great surge in the identification of chemopreventive agents and biologically active molecules for the development of new promising therapeutic agents. These agents influence the cascade of biochemical and molecular signalling pathways involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes. The natural agents combat the dogma associated with the most dreaded, unconquered health concern and a multigenic disease- cancer. A category of plants known as adaptogens maintain perturbed homoeostasis, augment adaptations to noxious stimuli (exposure to cold, heat, pain, general stress, infectious organisms) and offer endurance to attenuate several disorders in human beings. The well known adaptogens and immunomodulators such as Rhodiola rosea, Withania somnifera, Tinospora cordifolia, Bacopa monnieri, Emblica officinalis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Asparagus racemosus, Ocimum sanctum and Panax notoginseng claimed to have significant antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties due to the presence of various biologically active chemical compounds. Their immunopotentiating activity is mediated through the modulation of T-cell immunity biochemical factors, transcription factors, some genes and factors associated with tumor development and progression. The combinatory formulation of active immunostimulating constituents from these plants may provide better homeostasis. These immunostimulant factors suggest their potential therapeutic significance in adjuvant or supportive therapy in cancer treatment.

Depression in adult Nigerians: results from the Nigerian Survey of Mental Health and Well-being.

BACKGROUND: Community-based studies of the rates and profile of depression among Africans are still sparse. METHODS: As part of the World Mental Health Surveys initiative, a clustered multi-stage sampling of households in 21 of Nigeria's 36 states (representing 57% of the national population) was implemented to select adults aged 18 years and over (N=6752) for face-to-face interviews using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0). Diagnosis of major depressive episode (MDE) was based on the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th edition. RESULTS: Lifetime and 12-month estimates of MDE were 3.1% (standard error 0.3) and 1.1% (s.e. 0.1), receptively. Increasing age was associated with higher estimates of positive responses to stem (screen) questions for depression and of lifetime disorders among stem-positive respondents. The mean age of onset was about 29.2 years. The median (inter quartile range, IQR) duration of an episode among lifetime cases was 1.0 (2.0-2.4) year and the median (IQR) number of lifetime episodes was 1.5 (2.0-2.8). MDE was highly comorbid with anxiety disorders, musculoskeletal conditions, chronic pain and ulcer. The odds ratio of lifetime suicide attempt among persons with lifetime MDE was 11.6 (95% confidence interval, 3.9-34.9). Over 25% of 12-month cases were rated as severely disabled in the performance of usual roles. Only 16.9% (s.e. 5.0) of 12-month cases had received any treatment. LIMITATIONS: All data were based on self-reports. CONCLUSION: MDE, defined according to DSM-IV, is a risk factor for mental and physical comorbidity as well as disability in Nigerians. Age-related telescoping or denial may partly explain the low rates in this young population.