Reimagining Nigeria's educational system: Improving academic performance through high stakes standardized testing.

This 328-page book titled "Reimagining Nigeria's Educational System: Improving Academic Performance Through High Stakes Standardized Testing" discusses the beginnings of the Nigerian educational systems, its current challenges, and the possibility of improving its performance through high stakes standardized testing. The author, Professor Joseph A. Balogun, is a Nigerian-American academic, and a retired Professor of Physiotherapy at Chicago State University, USA. He previously lectured at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ife-Ife, Southwest Nigeria and has had a distinguished academic career spanning over forty years. He introduces the book by reminiscing on the glorious education system of Nigeria in the 1970s and 1980s. This is followed by the discussion of the current dismal state of the Nigerian educational systems where the best Nigerian Universities barely appear among the ten best universities in Africa.

Performance evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic tests in Nigeria: A cross-sectional study.

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged health systems globally. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard for detecting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples. Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits for COVID-19 have been widely used in Nigeria. This has greatly improved test turnover rates and significantly decreased the high technical demands of RT-PCR. However, there is currently no nationally representative evaluation of the performance characteristics and reliability of these kits. This study assessed the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of ten RDT kits used for COVID-19 testing in Nigeria. This large multi-centred cross-sectional study was conducted across the 6 geo-political zones of Nigeria over four months. Ten antigen (Ag) and antibody (Ab) RDT kits were evaluated, and the results were compared with RT-PCR. One thousand, three hundred and ten (1,310) consenting adults comprising 767 (58.5%) males and 543 (41.5%) females participated in the study. The highest proportion, 757 (57.7%), were in the 20-39 years' age group. In terms of diagnostic performance, Lumira Dx (61.4, 95% CI: 52.4-69.9) had the highest sensitivity while MP SARS and Panbio (98.5, 95% CI: 96.6-99.5) had the highest specificity. For predictive values, Panbio (90.7, 95% CI: 79.7-96.9) and Lumira Dx (81.2, 95% CI: 75.9-85.7) recorded the highest PPV and NPV respectively. Ag-RDTs had better performance characteristics compared with Ab-RDTs; however, the sensitivities of all RDTs in this study were generally low. The relatively high specificity of Ag-RDTs makes them useful for the diagnosis of infection in COVID-19 suspected cases where positive RDT may not require confirmation by molecular testing. There is therefore the need to develop RDTs in-country that will take into consideration the unique environmental factors, interactions with other infectious agents, and strains of the virus circulating locally. This may enhance the precision of rapid and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Association Between Urinary Parabens and Sperm Quality in Nigerian Men: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Parabens, which are chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, have been reported to be associated with low sperm quality in animal and human models. Despite the high exposure of men to paraben-containing products in Nigeria, there are no known studies that investigate the association of parabens with sperm quality in the country. Objective: To determine the association of urinary levels of metabolites of parabens with sperm count and quality. Design/Setting: A multicenter case-control study among fertile and infertile men in five hospitals in southern Nigeria. A total of 136 men diagnosed with male infertility (cases) were compared with 154 controls with normal fertility. Urinary levels of parabens (ethyl-paraben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben) were measured using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, while semen analysis and hormone assays were carried out using World Health Organization standards and radioimmunoassay, respectively. Data were analyzed with non-parametric statistics and non-parametric linear regression. Results: The results showed high levels of parabens in both cases and controls. However, there was no statistically significant difference in urinary levels of ethyl-paraben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben between cases and controls. In contrast, propylparaben had a decreasing association with total motility in both groups, but the effect was only statistically significant in the case of male infertility. The results of the regression analysis showed that a unit increase in propylparaben significantly decreased total motility in the cases (infertile men). Similarly, a unit increase in propylparaben decreased morphology significantly in the unadjusted model for infertile men. Only serum testosterone showed an insignificant correlation with urinary parabens. Conclusion: We conclude that urinary parabens are associated with features of poor sperm quality - motility, morphology, and volume. Measures to reduce exposure of men to agents containing parabens in Nigeria may reduce the prevalence of male infertility in the country.

Anti-diabetic, anti-pancreatic lipase, and anti-protein glycation potential of Irvingia gabonensis stem bark extracts: in vitro and in silico studies.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism. Targeting these metabolic derangements can optimize the therapeutic strategies for this disease. Utilizing in vitro and in silico models, this study investigated the ability of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Irvingia gabonensis to inhibit α-amylase, α-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase, and protein glycation. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify the compounds found in the stem bark of I. gabonensis. In silico analysis determined the binding mode and mechanism of interactions between the enzymes and phytochemicals. With an IC50 value of 11.47 µg/ml, the aqueous extract demonstrated higher inhibitory efficacy against α-amylase compared to the ethanol extract (IC50 19.88 µg/ml). However, the ethanol extract had stronger inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase, and protein glycation compared to the aqueous extract (IC50 values of 3.05, 32.85, 0.0014 versus 25.72, 332.42, 0.018 µg/ml respectively). Quercetin ranked highest in binding energy with α-amylase (-6.6 kcal/mol), α-glucosidase (-6.6 kcal/mol), and pancreatic lipase (-5.6 kcal/mol). This was followed by rhamnetin (6.5, 6.5, and 6.1 kcal/mol respectively). Hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and pi-pi stacking are forces responsible for the binding of quercetin and rhamnetin to these enzymes. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that the lead phytochemicals formed stable and energetically stabilized complexes with the target proteins. This study showed that the extracts of I. gabonensis stem bark had significant in vitro anti-diabetic, anti-pancreatic lipase, and anti-protein glycation activities. The strong binding affinities of some of the identified compounds could be responsible for the inhibitory potential of the extracts. I. gabonensis stem bark could be further explored as a natural remedy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications.

Association of Urinary Mycotoxins with Sperm Quality: A Case-Control Study in Southern Nigeria.

The objective of this study was to determine the association between mycotoxins and the quality of spermatozoa in Nigeria. We designed a prospective case-control study involving 136 men diagnosed with reduced sperm count and quality in five infertility clinics in southwest Nigeria and 154 normal fertile controls. Sperm analysis was conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health OrganizationWHO, while Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry was used to assay three metabolites of mycotoxins (zearalenone, ochratoxin A, and deoxyvinelol) in the urine samples of cases and controls. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics and non-parametric linear regression. The results showed no overall significant difference in levels of these metabolites between the cases and control groups. In contrast, higher levels of zearalenone and ochratoxin A significantly decreased sperm motility in the cases. Similarly, an increase in the level of ochratoxin A decreased sperm morphology in the unadjusted model in the cases. We conclude that exposure to mycotoxins reduces the quality of spermatozoa (motility and morphology) in Nigerian men but may have no effect on sperm count. Efforts to reduce the exposure of men to mycotoxins are important interventions to improve sperm quality and reduce the prevalence of male infertility in the country.

Lived experiences of recovered COVID-19 persons in Nigeria: A phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: Numerous publications have documented the mode of transmission and prevention of COVID-19 but little or no evidence exists on the experiences of people who survived the infection. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the specific experiences of persons who were infected with COVID-19, but have recovered completely. A secondary objective was to identify essential elements in the lived experiences of such persons, which would be useful in designing appropriate policies and programs for managing the virus in Nigeria. METHOD: The data were collected using in-depth interviews with 21 persons who were diagnosed with the virus and recovered. The data were transcribed and analyzed qualitatively using NVivo software. The experiences of the survivors of COVID-19 were examined under six themes: compliance with prevention measures before being infected, perceptions on how they contracted the virus, the symptoms they experienced, the management of the disease, their experiences with the healthcare system, their emotional experiences, and their recommendations on specific strategies to prevent and manage the virus based on their experiences. RESULTS: The commonly perceived means of contracting the virus were through colleagues, patients, and friends who were infected. The most commonly experienced symptoms were anosmia and fever. The health providers were described as courteous but some of the respondents observed avoidance and fear. Not all the interviewees knew the drugs they were treated with, but some, particularly the medical personnel, identified hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, vitamin C, Augmentin, among others. Some of the participants used herbal remedies. While some respondents recounted good experiences in the isolation centre, others had unpleasant experiences. Direct and indirect encounters which were perceived as stigmatizing and discriminatory were reported by some respondents. CONCLUSION: We conclude that persons who recovered from COVID-19 in Nigeria had varied experiences relating to the mode of infection, the clinical features, methods of treatment, and psychosocial effects of the virus. These experiences would be useful for designing and implementing appropriate interventions, policies, and programs for managing the pandemic in the country.

Causes and Risk Factors for Male Infertility: A Scoping Review of Published Studies.

Background: Despite the evidence of declining sperm counts worldwide and the increasing prevalence of male infertility, there has been limited documentation of the potential causes and risk factors for male infertility. With limited methods of primary treatment of male infertility, understanding the causes and risk factors will pinpoint specific lines of prevention. Objective: We reviewed published studies on causes and risk factors for male infertility and identify gaps in the literature enabling more focused research and innovations. Design/Setting: The study was a scoping review. The review included studies on the causes and risk factors of male infertility published in scientific/academic publications. It was not limited to any region or date. The following databases were searched: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Wiley online, HINARI, Science Direct, PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, and the WHO Repository. In total, 1295 articles were identified. After removing 357 duplicates, 938 articles were screened, and 71 articles were identified for inclusion, while 60 articles met the inclusion criteria. Results: Four broad causes and risk factors of male infertility identified were 1) biological/physiological/genetic causes, 2) behavioral/lifestyle risk factors, 3) environmental factors, and 4) socio-demographic risk factors. However, no substantive results on actual causes under each category were identified, leaving gaps for further research and experimentation. Conclusion: The results indicate limited knowledge of the actual causes of male infertility in published studies. The gaps in knowledge that need to be bridged to enable a fuller understanding of the actual causes of male infertility were highlighted.

Community perceptions on causes of high dizygotic twinning rate in Igbo-Ora, South-west Nigeria: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Dizygotic (DZ, non-identical) twinning rates vary widely across different regions in the world. With a DZ twinning rate of 45 per 1000 live births, Igbo-Ora Community in South-west Nigeria has the highest dizygotic (DZ) twinning rate in the world. Although several postulations exist on the causes of high DZ twinning rates in Igbo-Ora, no study has yet been conclusive on a definite causative agent. OBJECTIVE: Using qualitative methods, this study explored the perceptions and beliefs of Igbo-Ora residents about the causes of high DZ twinning rates. METHODS: Focus group discussion sessions and key informant interviews were organized among fathers and mothers of twins, those without twins, and health care providers. Key informant interviews were also held with persons considered to be custodians of culture who may have knowledge relevant to twinning such as traditional rulers, and traditional birth attendants; as well as health care providers, mothers and fathers of twins, and adult twins. RESULTS: The results showed three factors featuring as the leading perceived causes of twinning in the community. These included twinning being an act of God, hereditary, and being due to certain foods consumed in the community. Contrary to reports that the consumption of a species of yam (Dioscorea rotundata) may be responsible for the DZ twinning in this Community; yam was not prioritized by the respondents as associated with twinning. In contrast, participants repeatedly mentioned the consumption of "ilasa" a soup prepared with okra leaves (Abelmoschus esculenta) with water that is obtained from the community, and "amala" a local delicacy produced from cassava (Manihot esculenta) as the most likely dietary factors responsible for twinning in the community. CONCLUSION: Since the same foods are consumed in neighboring communities that have lower rates of twinning, we conjecture that nutritional and other environmental factors may produce epigenetic modifications that influence high DZ twinning rates in Igbo-Ora community. We conclude that more directed scientific studies based on these findings are required to further elucidate the etiology of the high rate of DZ twinning in Igbo-Ora.

Antimalarial, hematological, and antioxidant effects of methanolic extract of Terminalia avicennioides in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.

Terminalia avicennioides Guill. & Perr. (Combretaceae) is used traditionally to treat malaria in Nigeria. To establish its efficacy, methanolic extract of T. avicennioides bark was investigated for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei (NK-65) in mice. Twenty-five mice in five groups were used for this study. Group 1 was uninfected normal control. Twenty mice infected with P. berghei were grouped as untreated negative control (group 2), 5 mg/kg b.w. p.o. artesunate-treated positive control (group 3), and 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w. p.o. T. avicennioides-treated infected mice (groups 4 and 5, respectively). Four-day suppressive effects on P. berghei and hematological and oxidative statuses of the mice were assessed. Suppression of parasitemia by artesunate and methanolic extract of T. avicennioides (at 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w.) after 1 day of treatment was 10, 18, and 11% respectively; at day 5, the level of suppression was 77, 82, and 84% respectively. P. berghei infection decreased hemoglobin, red blood cell, and lymphocyte counts and increased neutrophil count; artesunate and medicinal plant treatment restored these parameters to normal control levels. Also, artesunate and medicinal plant treatment of infected mice significantly (p < 0.05) increased serum and liver superoxide dismutase activities and significantly (p < 0.05) reduced serum malondialdehyde concentration compared to untreated infected mice. The antimalarial effect of T. avicennioides is comparable to that of artesunate. The restoration of oxidative and hematological statuses, to normal values by T. avicennioides, may provide better protection against the malaria severity and complications.

The antiplasmodial activity of Anogeissus leiocarpus and its effect on oxidative stress and lipid profile in mice infected with Plasmodium bergheii.

Methanolic extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus has been considered locally to have the same antimalarial activities as artemisinin derivatives. This work studied the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of methanolic extracts of A. leiocarpus and its effect on oxidative stress and lipid profile in mice infected with Plasmodium bergheii. Mice used for this study were divided into five groups; four of the groups were infected with P. bergheii. The first group was not infected with the parasite. The second group was infected with parasite but not treated with antimalarial drugs (negative control). The third group was infected and treated with artesunat at 5 mg/kg body weight (positive control), while the fourth and fifth groups were infected and treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of extract of stem bark of A. leiocarpus, respectively. The rate of parasite clearance was higher in the group treated with 200 mg/kg body weight of extract of A. leiocarpus when compared with the groups treated with artesunat. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the serum of negative control as compared with other groups which have received treatment. MDA level was moderately higher in the liver homogenates of infected mice treated with artesunat than in other groups. There were significant increases (P < 0.05) in the levels of serum and liver superoxide dismutase of infected mice treated with 200 mg/kg body weight of A. leiocarpus when compared with other groups. Serum low density lipoprotein, total triglyceride, and total cholesterol were moderately higher in the group treated with artesunat than other groups, while high density lipoprotein (HDL) level was higher in the two groups treated with A. leiocarpus as compared with the group treated with artesunat. This study shows that the methanolic extract of A. leiocarpus has high antimalarial activities, high antioxidant property, and capable of boosting HDL level in malaria-infected organisms.

Antioxidant effects of heated garlic juice on cadmium-induced liver damage in rats as compared to ascorbic acid.

The antioxidant efficacy of heated garlic juice (HGJ) in liver was evaluated with that of ascorbic acid (AA) in rats exposed to acute dose of cadmium (4 mg kg(-1) bd. wt). The rats were either given HGJ (100 mg kg(-1) bd. wt) orally, daily for 4 weeks or AA (100 mg kg(-1) bd. wt) orally, daily for 4 weeks or both or cadmium (4 mg kg(-1) bd. wt) intraperitoneally for 3 days. Another group of rats was given cadmium (4 mg kg(-1) bd. wt) intraperitoneally for 3 days after pretreatment with either HGJ (100 mg kg(-1) bd. wt) or ascorbic acid (100 mg kg(-1) bd. wt) for 4 weeks and the liver excised. The results obtained show that AA and HGJ significantly reduced the level of liver malondialdehyde (MDA) induced by cadmium compared to control (p < 0.05) but AA tends to be more potent when compared with HGJ. The presence of either HGJ or AA also significantly reduced the levels of ROS in the presence of cadmium (Cd). The presence of either AA or HGJ pre-treatment produced significant increase in liver SOD and Catalase activities when compared with rats treated with Cd alone. There was no significant reduction in the activities of these enzymes in the presence of cadmium compared to control. Western blot shows that the expressions of Nrf2 and NQO1 in the liver were significantly increase by 3 and 1.7-fold respectively in the AA pretreated mice when compared with Cd. However no significant changes were seen in HGJ pretreated rats. The expression of HO-1 was not significantly increase in the AA pretreated rats. The results show that though both ascorbic acid and HGJ are efficient in preventing Cd-induced damage in the rat liver, ascorbic acid appeared to be a more powerful antioxidant than heated garlic juice in preventing cadmium-induced oxidative damage in liver and its action may be mediated in parts via Nrf2-keap1 pathway.