Background: Neonatal sepsis continues to be a significant cause of illness and death among neonates in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where antimicrobial resistance complicates management. Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence, bacterial etiologies, susceptibility patterns, and associated risk factors of laboratory-confirmed neonatal sepsis in a tertiary hospital in south-eastern Nigeria. Methods: This retrospective observational study reviewed medical and laboratory databases of neonates admitted between January 2021 and December 2024. The blood culture method was BacT/ALERT system. Isolates were identified, and antibiotics sensitivity testing was done using standard methods. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25, and strength of associations tested by binary logistic regression at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: A total of 331 neonatal sepsis cases had blood cultures done and 105 (31.7%) had positive cultures. Early-onset sepsis accounted for 79% of cases, and 54.3% occurred in preterm neonates. Gram-negative isolates (51.4%) slightly predominated Gram-positives (48.6%). The leading pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (28.6%), Klebsiella spp (18.1%), and Escherichia coli (13.3%). Gram-positives were most susceptible to clindamycin (83.3%), cefoxitin (75%), and amikacin (72.2%), while Gram-negatives showed the highest susceptibility to piperacillin/tazobactam (88.5%), meropenem (81.6%), and cefepime (71.8%). Ceftriaxone resistance was noted in 41% of Gram-negatives. Preterm neonates were significantly associated with Gram-negative infections (OR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.09–0.48, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Neonatal sepsis in this setting is common, with Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp , and Escherichia coli as major pathogens. The high level of resistance to 3 rd generation cephalosporins suggests the need to revise empirical treatment guidelines.
Background: During pregnancy, low back pain (LBP) is frequent and affects daily activities and sleep. Fetal safety concerns limit pharmacological options, increasing the use of non-pharmacological approaches such as exercise and kinesio taping (KT). Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise combined with KT or sham KT on clinical outcomes in pregnant women with LBP. Methods: This randomized controlled study included pregnant women with low back pain between 20 and 32 weeks of gestation and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score of ≥3. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (exercise with KT) or a control group (exercise with sham KT). Pain intensity, sleep quality, and functional disability were assessed using VAS, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Results: Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in pain intensity (experimental: P < 0.001; control: P = 0.003), with greater reductions observed in the experimental group compared with the control group ( P = 0.044). Sleep quality improved in both groups (PSQI: P < 0.001 and P = 0.008). However, functional disability scores increased significantly in both groups (Roland–Morris: P < 0.001). Conclusion: Exercise combined with KT was associated with improvements in LBP and sleep quality during pregnancy, although functional disability increased over time in both groups, likely reflecting the natural progression of pregnancy. KT may be a supportive non-pharmacological option for pregnancy-related LBP.
Background: Simpler generalized scores such as POSPOM (PreOperative Score to Predict Post-Operative Mortality) may appear attractive because they can be derived from routinely available variables and applied across surgical specialties, although their reliability in cardiac surgery remains uncertain. Aim: To compare the performance of POSPOM and EuroSCORE-II scores for predicting in-hospital mortality among patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study was conducted at a single tertiary university cardiac surgery center. A total of 320 adult patients (≥18 years) who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, valve surgery, or combined procedures between 2021 and 2024 were included. Discrimination was assessed using ROC and precision–recall curves with DeLong’s test. Calibration was evaluated using calibration-in-the-large, calibration slope, Hosmer–Lemeshow testing, and GiViTI calibration belts. Agreement was analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC), Bland– Altman plots, and Passing–Bablok and Deming regression. Results: In-hospital mortality was 7.5% (24/320). POSPOM showed poorer discrimination than EuroSCORE-II (AUC 0.611 vs. 0.745; P = 0.012) and lower PR-AUC (0.115 vs. 0.287). Both models showed imperfect calibration, and agreement between scores was weak (ICC 0.283), with systematic differences observed between predicted mortality estimates. Exploratory segmented regression suggested that inter-model divergence increased with age, with an estimated breakpoint near 59 years. POSPOM did not improve reclassification (continuous NRI –0.31), and decision curve analysis favored EuroSCORE-II. Conclusion: POSPOM showed poorer predictive performance than EuroSCORE-II for in-hospital mortality after cardiac surgery. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously in light of the limited number of mortality events, retrospective reconstruction of POSPOM, and the need for external validation.
Corneal cross-linking (CXL) has been suggested as an adjunctive therapeutic option in refractory fungal keratitis. We report the clinical course and outcomes of two female patients with progressive fungal keratitis unresponsive to maximal topical and systemic antifungal therapy who were treated with adjunctive CXL using the Dresden protocol. In the first case, yeast-related fungal keratitis demonstrated progressive stromal infiltration despite intensive medical treatment. Following CXL, a transient early enlargement of the lesion was observed, followed by gradual regression, stromal stabilization, and corneal scarring with improvement in best-corrected visual acuity. The second case involved Fusarium keratitis developing after ocular trauma, which showed no clinical response to aggressive antifungal therapy. After CXL, rapid clinical improvement occurred, with regression of the corneal ulcer and formation of a stable corneal scar. In both cases, CXL appeared to halt stromal melting and prevent further progression, avoiding the need for therapeutic keratoplasty. These findings suggest that adjunctive CXL may be considered in selected cases of refractory fungal keratitis; however, larger studies are required to better define its efficacy, safety, and optimal timing.
Background: AI tools are increasingly used in medical education for learning, clinical reasoning, and examination preparation, but there is limited data from Nigeria. Aim: To examine AI use and attitudes among Nigerian medical students to inform policy. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among medical students in three Nigerian medical schools from December 2025 to February 2026. The questionnaire covered demographics, awareness, and use of AI tools, perceived benefits and risks, attitudes toward integration, and barriers to adoption. Items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used to analyze data. Results: A total of 328 responses were received. Respondents demonstrated generally positive attitudes toward AI use, although concerns regarding accuracy, academic integrity, and regulation were identified. 53.8% were males, (70.8%) aged 20–24, (55.7%) fourth-year students, and (43.1%) from the University of Nigeria. Smartphones (94.5%) and ChatGPT (98.2%) were mostly used. AI was useful for understanding difficult concepts (92.9%), self-directed learning (83.1%), and saving study time (81.2%). Concerns included misinformation (75.1%), academic dishonesty (60.7%), and reduced critical thinking (47.4%). Barriers included subscriptions (71.4%), poor connectivity (69.2%), and high data costs (66.8%). There was no statistically significant association between AI use and level of study ( P = 0.78), age group ( P = 0.12), and gender ( P = 0.82). Conclusion: AI tools are widely adopted by medical students in Nigeria without clear guidelines for use, despite concerns regarding accuracy, dependence, and academic integrity. Curricula integration, along with clear guidelines and training, is recommended for responsible use.
