Phyloevolutionary analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Nigeria.

Phyloepidemiological approaches have provided specific insight into understanding the emergence and evolution of infection. Knowledge on the outbreak and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Nigeria would assist in provision of preventive measures to reduce transmission among populations at risk. This study aimed to investigate the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Nigeria. A total of 39 complete genomes of SARS-CoV-2 were retrieved from the GISAID EpiFlu™ database on 29 March 2020 to investigate its evolution in Nigeria. Sequences were selected based on the travel history of the individual and the collection date. Other sequences were not selected because they were short, contained artefacts, were not from an original source or had insufficient information. Evolutionary history was inferred using the maximum likelihood method based on the general time reversible model. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to determine the common ancestor of each strain. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the strain in Nigeria clustered in a monophyletic clade with a Wuhan sublineage. Nucleotide alignment also showed a 100% similarity indicating a common origin of evolution. Comparative analysis showed 27 972 (93.6%) identical sites and 97.6% pairwise identity with the consensus. The study evidently showed the entire outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Nigeria stemmed from a single introduction sharing consensus similarity with the reference SARS-CoV-2 human genome from Wuhan. Preventive measures that can limit the spread of the infection among populations at risk should be implemented.

Lipid composition of some commonly consumed traditional Nigerian dishes.

BACKGROUND: Lipids in the diet have been associated with the rising prevalence of many chronic diseases. The present study aimed to provide information on total lipid, free fatty acids, triacylglycerol and cholesterol contents of some dishes consumed in northern, southern, western parts of Nigeria, as well as dishes generally consumed in all parts of Nigeria. This would result in a resource that would be used by nutritionists and dietitians in meal planning. METHODS: The present study is analytical in nature. The composite dishes included a blend of cereals, roots and tubers, legumes, fat and oil and vegetables and were analysed for total lipid, free fatty acids, triacylglycerol and cholesterol contents spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: Burabisko (a millet based dish) had the lowest free fatty acid (0.1 mg per 100 g) and cholesterol (1. 9 mg per 100 g) contents, yam with eggs (7.1 mg per 100 g) and miyan-kuka with semovita (415.9 mg per 100 g) contained the highest amounts of free fatty acid and cholesterol, respectively. The total lipid and triacylglycerol content were lowest in gbegiri with eko (2.6 g per 100 g) and 3.1 mg per 100 g respectively. Stewed beans with fried plantain, however, had the highest total lipid (86.5 g per 100 g) content and yam with eggs had the highest triacylglycerol (122.5 mg per 100 g) contents. The moisture content of the dishes ranged between 59.68 and 81.73% in melon seed with vegetable soup and burabisko, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, we have provided the lipid profile of standardised traditional dishes consumed in Nigeria. These dishes contribute a significant proportion of lipids to the diet of Nigerians, which are essential for assessing the nutrient intake of Nigerians.

Antioxidants and reactive oxygen species in follicular fluid of women undergoing IVF: relationship to outcome.

BACKGROUND: The role of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in female reproductive function is still unclear. The present study was designed to investigate their relationship with ovulation, fertilization and conception. METHODS: Follicular aspirates obtained from women undergoing IVF following controlled ovarian stimulation were evaluated using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay for baseline total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Both the baseline TAC and the decline in TAC over 72 h (two-point assay) were used as markers of oxygen radical activity. RESULTS: A total of 303 follicular aspirates from 63 women were analysed. Two hundred and eighteen (71.9%) yielded oocytes, 169 (77.5%) of these fertilized and 134 (79.3%) of these embryos survived until the time of embryo transfer. Baseline TAC was no different in follicular fluid whether the follicle contained an oocyte or not, but was significantly higher in fluid from follicles whose oocyte successfully fertilized and significantly lower in fluid from follicles where the resultant embryo survived to transfer. The decline in TAC was lower when the oocytes fertilized and higher in association with embryo viability, but the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide further evidence that ROS play a role in female reproductive function.

Elective hysterectomy at Ilorin, Nigeria-4 year review.

This study reviews all cases of hysterectomy performed at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin over a 4-year period between 1 April 1984 and 31 March 1988. There were 155 elective hysterectomies out of 1828 elective major gynaecological procedures with a prevalence rate of 8.5%. An analysis of 128 case notes available for review revealed that 100 (78%) of the patients had total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) while the remaining 28 (22%) had vaginal hysterectomy (VH). Uterine fibroids were the leading indication for TAH while all the VH were for utero-vaginal prolapse. In spite of routine use of prophylactic antibiotics, febrile morbidity and wound sepsis were among the leading complications. Unnecessary blood transfusions were frequent. Mortality rate in elective hysterectomy was 0.78%.

Procured abortion in Ilorin, Nigeria.

A prospective study of the maternal mortality and morbidity and other related social problems among 144 cases of procured abortion in Ilorin, Nigeria over a 24-month period is presented. A mortality rate of 90.3 per thousand procured abortions was recorded. Genital sepsis, haemorrhagic anaemia, gut injury, uterine perforation and vesico vaginal fistulae (VVF) were encountered. Poor referral system, late presentation, poor blood transfusion services and inadequate availability of drugs had adverse effects on the patients. The implications (the menace and frequency) of these and possible measures like improving the literacy level, the moral standards, contraceptive practice and family life education (sex education) are discussed.

PIP: A review of the cases of 144 women who presented to the University of Ilorin (Nigeria) Teaching Hospital between July 1992 and June 1994 with complications of illegal abortion underscores the health hazards associated with this procedure. There were 13 deaths (90.3/1000 procured abortions) in this series. 77 of the abortion patients were teenagers; another 35 were 20-24 years old. Teenagers were more likely than women in the older age groups to obtain their abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy. 85 women were single. Major occupations represented in the group included students (32 women), house girls/maids (23 women), and business/trading (20 women). The desire to remain in school or retain employment were the reasons most commonly cited for terminating the pregnancy. Sepsis occurred in 39 women, while 18 experienced hemorrhagic anemia. The causes of death included generalized septicemia (3 cases), sepsis with anemia (3 cases), sepsis with jaundice (2 cases), peritonitis with abscess (2 cases), uterine perforation with peritonitis (2 cases), and endotoxic shock (1 case). The maternal mortality and morbidity associated with illegal abortion in Nigeria suggest a need to make family planning services more available to adolescents and single women and to ensure that the scope of family life education is expanded.