ABSTRACT
Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with chronic haemolysis, immuno-suppression and susceptibility to infections, which may trigger infection-associated haemolysis (IAH). SCD patients are vulnerable to anaemic effect of IAH due to vicious interaction between pre-existing 'inherited' chronic haemolysis and 'acquired' IAH. IAH in SCD manifests as febrile haemolytic crisis with clinical and laboratory features of severe anaemia or pancytopenia. Clinico-pathological perspectives of IAH in SCD are fragmented. This review presents a comprehensive but concise overview of pathogenesis, management and prevention of IAH in SCD. Methodology and results: Online literature search using search terms such as 'sickle cell disease, viral, bacterial, parasitic, fungal, infections, hyperhaemolytic crisis, haemophagocytic syndrome, severe anaemia, pancytopenia' in various combinations was done on PubMed/Medline, Google, Google-Scholar and Bing. Overall, 112 relevant publications were retrieved, which included 109 peer reviewed journal articles, 2 World Health Organization (WHO) technical reports, and 1 edited text book. A range of bacterial (Bartonella spp, Mycoplasma spp., Mycobacterium avium complex), viral (Dengue, SARS-CoV-2, Parvovirus-B19, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus), parasitic (Plasmodium spp., Babesia spp.), and fungal (Histoplasma spp.) infections were associated with IAH in SCD. There are two broad types of IAH in patients with SCD;infection associated extra-medullary haemolysis (IAEMH) and infection associated intra-medullary haemolysis (IAIMH). While IAEMH is associated with severe anaemia due to intravascular haemolysis caused by red cell invasion, oxidative injury, auto-antibodies, and/or pathogen-haem interaction, IAIMH is associated with haemophagocytic tri-lineage destruction of haematopoietic precursors in the bone marrow. Conclusion(s): Various microbial pathogens have been associated with IAH in SCD. SCD patients with fever, severe anaemia or pancytopenia should be investigated for early diagnosis and prompt treatment of IAH, which is a life-threatening haematological emergency for which transfusion therapy alone may not suffice. Prompt and sustainable termination of IAH may require therapeutic combination of transfusion, anti-microbial chemotherapy, and immune modulation therapy. SCD patients should also receive counselling on hygiene, barrier protection against vectors, routine chemoprophylaxis for locally endemic diseases, and immunization for vaccine-preventable infections as a long-term preventive strategy against IAH. Copyright AJCEM 2022.
ABSTRACT
The hospitality industry in Nigeria is going through a process of transition due to the pandemic effect of the coronavirus (Covid-19). A new policy has been given by the government as a result of coronavirus, which required certain structural changes that demand employees to be more proactive and flexible to maintain efficiency in operations. Thus, hotel organizations in Nigeria must be flexible to quickly react and adapt to internal and external changes influencing their operation. Due to the close interaction between employees and customers, there can be direct effects of the change process on customers' patronage when certain structural changes occur. Therefore, this study examines structural change and its influence on employee satisfaction in selected privately owned hotels in Abuja, Nigeria. A closed-ended questionnaire was administered to a sample of 397 employees online. A 5-point Likert scale was designed to capture and measure employees’ perceptions on variables relating to structural change and employee satisfaction. Regression analysis was used to analyze the data and test the hypothesis. Findings indicated that structural change significantly and positively influences employee satisfaction. The study concludes that effective and efficient management of every change is very crucial for organizational success and for enhanced positive employee attitude and behavior that translate into improved operational efficiency. © 2022, World Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The economic recession in Nigeria and the effect of COVID-19 on quoted companies has brought to fore the need for an effective working capital management. Managers need to understand the dynamics of investing, financing and managing of working capital in achieving business sustainability and maximization of shareholders’ wealth. It is against this backdrop that this study assessed the link between working capital management (WCM), working capital policy (WCP) and corporate profitability of listed non-financial firms in Nigeria. We used a sample of 109 Listed Non-financial Firms on the Nigeria Exchange Group from 2011 through 2020. The purpose of this paper is to establish a relationship that is statistically significant between profitability, Working Capital Management Policy and its components for listed firms in the NSE which was estimated by the static panel regression model computed in STATA 14 statistical software. The results of our research showed that there is statistical significance between profitability, measured through return on capital employed, and the components of working capital management (WCM): cash conversion cycle and working capital investment policy. Although, a negative and no statistical relationship is observed between profitability, measured through return on capital employed and working capital financial policy which is the proxy for working capital policy (WCP). Managers should take advantage of the effect observed by keeping CCC in a well-controlled and reasonable period as the level of impact achievable is based on management strategy. Furthermore, the study has shown that if firms invest more in current assets their profit will be significantly affected. Managers should however put into account the nature of their business and identify the optimal level that brings the highest return as the associated cost of holding current assets may outweigh the gain later. © 2022, World Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society. All rights reserved.