Introduction: This study was prompted by the eagerness of adolescents to gain information concerning the physical and physiological changes they observe in their bodies and aimed to help adolescents understand these changes. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among students in Kofai Government Secondary School in Jalingo between February 2021 and November 2021. Two hundred thirty-three students were selected by stratified and simple random techniques. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire and analyzed using the special package for social sciences (SPSS) 23.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago II, USA). Results: The results obtained were summarized by frequencies and percentages. The demographic characteristics revealed that male students comprised 51.5% of the respondents, while female students comprised 48.5%. Students within the age range of 16-20 formed more than half (52.8%) of the respondents. Additionally, 53.2%, that is, more than half of the respondents, were in junior secondary school. The students had a high (more than 80%) understanding of the changes that take place in their bodies. A moderate (< 80%) understanding of `what sexual intercourse is' was also revealed in the results, in addition to a high (> 90%) understanding of their sexual emotions/feelings. Conclusion: It is therefore recommended that sex education be made a compulsory subject so that the concept of sexuality will be explored fully and to enable students/adolescents to obtain accurate and current information.
Introduction: Co-infections during Tuberculosis infection are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. These infections are a major public health problem among patients in most developing countries, including Cameroon. One of the important public problems in coendemic areas is co-infection with TB in humans. Moreover, there is no adequate research hitherto that provides information on the level of co-infection in Tuberculosis patients. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and intensity of co-infections in newly diagnosed Tuberculosis patients prior to their enrollment to the Direct Observed Treatment (DOT) program in Buea, Limbe and Douala Tuberculosis treatment centers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to November 2020 using a purposive sampling technique. A fresh sputum sample was collected, processed, and examined through a smear microscopy and culturing technique. Blood samples were collected through finger pricking for the detection of blood parasites using thin and thick blood smears. Stool samples were also collected and processed using a direct wet mount, and Kato-Katz and Modified Ziehl Neelsen staining methods. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. A Chi-square test was done to assess the prevalence of co-infection among all TB patients recruited for this study. Results: A total of 200 newly diagnosed TB-positive patients were recruited from the three study sites. Out of the total participants recruited, 29.0% were diagnosed positive for blood parasites, 2.0% for intestinal parasites and 15.0% for viral infections, bringing the overall prevalence of co-infection to 46.0%. When specific infections were considered, malaria, filaria, intestinal parasites, HIV and HBV constituted 28.0%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 14.5% and 0.5% respectively. When dual-infection was considered, the results were 0.5% malaria/filaria, 1.5% malaria/intestinal parasites and 2.0% malaria/HIV. The mean parasite densities for all samples diagnosed positive for malaria, filarial and intestinal parasites were 107.0 ± 338.8 parasites/uL, 25.7 ± 356.4 mf/mL and 85.0 ± 85.4 EPG, respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate that there is an overlap of co-infections in TB patients with their interactions expected to lead to complications and difficulty when managing the TB patients, calling for more research and recommending more assessment for co-infection in TB patients before starting treatment.
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a slew of mental illnesses due to a lack of cures and vaccinations, as well as concerns about students’ well-being and satisfaction with life, resulting in psychological symptoms and dissatisfaction with their lives. As students are highly susceptible to mental health issues, researchers discovered that perceived SWL and MWB decreased. The present study investigated the prevalence and determinants of mental well-being and satisfaction with life among university students in Bangladesh.Methods An e-survey based cross-sectional study was carried out from February to April 2021 among 660 students. A purposive sampling technique was utilized in the study. Self-reported mental well-being and satisfaction with life psychological tools were also used. The e-questionnaire survey was conducted with informed consent and questions were related to socio-demographics, satisfaction with life, and mental well-being scales. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were performed. The data were rechecked and analyzed with the R programming languageResults The prevalence estimates of mental well-being and satisfaction with life were 27% and 13%, respectively. In a total of 660 participants, 58.2% of them were male and the rest of them were female (41.8%). Among the participants, 22.5% suffer the worst conditions regarding their financial conditions, and 16.5% badly seek a job for livelihood.Conclusion The present findings revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic and longtime educational institution closure significantly affect the students mental health. Students’ mental well-being was in vulnerable conditions and their satisfaction with life was extremely poor. A comprehensive student psychological support service should be expanded to help students’ mental health.### Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.### Funding StatementThis study did not receive any funding### Author DeclarationsI confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.YesThe details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:This study was approved by the respective Ethical Review Committee of Uttara Adhunik Medical College[Ref: UAMC/ERC/27/2021].I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.YesI understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).YesI have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable.YesAll data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors.
Background: Recurrent spontaneous abortion is a health issue that occurs in about 1 — 5% of all women of reproductive age. Experimental evidence suggests that COX-2 plays an important part in blastocyst implantation but rarely is the role of COX-2 recognized in recurrent spontaneous abortions. Methods: This is a descriptive analytical case-control hospital study that was carried out at the Research Laboratory of the National Center for Neuroscience in Khartoum, Sudan from April to September 2021. The study intended to detect cyclooxygenase-2 gene polymorphism among Sudanese women with RSA. Women with more than three recurrent miscarriages were included in this study as the sample cases and women with no history of abortion at child-bearing age were included as the controls. From each of the subjects, three ml of venous blood was gathered in sterile containers with Ethylene Diamine Tetra-acetic Acid (EDTA). The DNA was isolated using the standard phenol chloroform extraction method. The COX-2 gene was amplified using conventional PCR. The products of the PCR were sent to the Macro Gene Laboratory for sequencing. Results: In the current research, 230 bp of C0X-2 gene was disclosed using gel electrophoresis after PCR. The results for the detected gene from all subjects were analyzed. The X2-test showed that there were significant differences in the gene expression and distribution between the case and control groups (p value 0.001). The sequence results analysis showed that there was a change in C>A at Location 1:633149 (Rs1481253765) and a change in G> T cDNA position 427 at Location 1:633183 (Rs1232472838). Conclusion: This study showed that there was a consequential difference in the COX-2 allele between the case and control groups. The mutant gene is a potential new clarification point regarding recurrent spontaneous abortion in several cases.
The end of the first quarter of the 21st century will be known as when there was a deadly pandemic due to COVID-19 infection. The four subfamilies of a, b , △, g have a genetic variation ranging between 26 to 32 kb. Patients with COVID-19 have more than 140 inflammatory cytokines activated and this relates to the disease severity, progression, and the hyperactivation of T cells. In viral diseases, an abnormal pro-inflammatory factor release damages the lung physiology and causes oxygen deprivation. This is primed by the unregulated fabrication of a high risk of inflammatory factors like interleukin members, as well as also increasing the level of CRS and chemokines. Cytokines activate the JAK-STAT and Ras-MAPK pathways and stimulate the CRP value, the clear marker used to show infection in the body. On the other hand, for cytokines, an interleukin member is required for lymphocyte growth and development. Treatments which have been shown to effectively reestablish lymphocyte count in a variety of viral infections have been safely delivered to septic shock patients with lymphocyte abnormalities comparable to those seen in COVID-19. Many therapies have been approved and some are under trial for the effective treatment of viral infections including Tocilizumab and Siltuximab.
