Congenital Hydrocephalus in mono and dizygotic twins

Background: Information regarding the occurrence of hydrocephalus (HC) in twins is important in establishing the significance of environmental factors as well as a genetic basis in congenital HC aetiology. This was the basis for this study.Methods: A single institution retrospective study was conducted between August 1, 2006 and July 31, 2008. Only those cases of hydrocephalus (based on clinical and radiological testscranial Computeried tomographic or Magnetic resonance imaging scan) that required placement of a ventricular shunt or endoscopic third ventriculostomy were included in the study. Data regarding the patient’s demographics, clinical history, examination and the maternal demographics were retrieved and analysed. DNA analysis was done to confirm the fraternity of the twins when applicable.Results: Fifty-eight patients with congenital hydrocephalus presented to the unit over the study period. We identified three sets of twins in the study. Only one set were identical (both male) and both had hydrocephalus. In the remaining two sets only one out of each pair had hydrocephalus (one male and one female). Two of the patients (1male, 1female) were twins with discordant HC. All the children had normal thumbs. DNA analysis confirmed identical twins in both the like sex twins. The mothers were not known diabetics, hypertensive or sickle cell patients neither did they smoke or take alcohol. There was no family history of hydrocephalus in all patients.Conclusion: Concordance for HC is likely if the twins are like sex and identical. Congenital hydrocephalus seems to be a multifactorial disorder, triggered by environmental factors in genetically predisposed individuals

Exclusive breastfeeding practices among women attending a private health facility in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Exclusive breast feeding (EBF) is an effective tool of child survival. While many mothers understand the importance of breast feeding, some circumstances may hinder the practice.Objective: To determine the pattern and factors influencing EBF among women attending a private health facility in Lagos, Nigeria.Methodology: One hundred and twelve mothers with children aged twelve months or less were interviewed through a questionnaire on their breastfeeding practices.Results: At the end of second month, two-fifths of the babies were still exclusively breastfed. This dropped to one-fifth by the end of the fourth month. At the end of six months, less than onetenth of subjects were still exclusively breastfed (3.6%). No association was found between breastfeeding pattern and variables such as gender of infants, place ofdelivery, maternal age, type of delivery and number of antenatal visits. On the contrary there was an association with following variables: birth order among mother siblings, prenatal and postnatal feeding advice.Conclusion: The rate of exclusive breast feeding among mothers forthe recommended six months was very low (3.6%). Antenatal and postnatal programmes that will encourage mothers to practice exclusivebreastfeeding should be strengthened.Key words: Exclusive breast feeding, survival analysis, practice, private hospital, mothe

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance.

Investment in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences that have been generated and used to track the pandemic on the continent, a number that now exceeds 100,000 genomes. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries that are able to sequence domestically and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround times and more-regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and illuminate the distinct dispersal dynamics of variants of concern-particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron-on the continent. Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve while the continent faces many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Case Report: Generalized Cutaneous Candidiasis in a Preterm Baby in Lagos

Background Generalised cutaneous candidiasis is rare in the neonatal period. When it does occur there is a risk of disseminated disease, particularly in preterm infants. Method A case report of a preterm baby who developed extensive cutaneous candidiasis Result A 45 day old product of 30 weeks gestation noticed to develop reddish discolouration involving the perineum, lower anterior abdominal wall, both axillae, both hands and face. Treatment with topical ketoconazole and cotrimaxazole resulted in recovery. Conclusions Generalised cutaneous candidiasis in neonates is a rare disorder that results from Candida spp infection. This is probably the first report of generalised cutaneous candidiasis in neonates from a Nigerian institution. It further draws attention to the importance of cutaneous candidiasis among the increasing population of preterm survivors in the country. Keywords: preterm baby, cutaneous candidiasi

Aluminium alkyl complexes supported by imino-phosphanamide ligand as precursors for catalytic guanylation reactions of carbodiimides

Herein, we report the synthesis, characterisation, and application of three aluminium alkyl complexes, [κ2-{NHIRP(Ph)NDipp}AlMe2] (R = Dipp (2a), Mes (2b); tBu (2c), Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, Mes = mesityl, and tBu = tert-butyl), supported by unsymmetrical imino-phosphanamide [NHIRP(Ph)NDipp]- [R = Dipp (1a), Mes (1b), tBu (1c)] ligands as molecular precursors for the catalytic synthesis of guanidines using carbodiimides and primary amines. All the imino-phosphanamide ligands 1a, 1b and 1c were prepared in good yield from the corresponding N-heterocyclic imine (NHI) with phenylchloro-2,6-diisopropylphenylphosphanamine, PhP(Cl)NHDipp. The aluminium alkyl complexes 2a, 2b and 2c were obtained in good yield upon completion of the reaction between trimethyl aluminium and the protic ligands 1a, 1b and 1c in a 1:1 molar ratio in toluene via the elimination of methane, respectively. The molecular structures of the protic ligands 1b and 1c and the aluminium complexes 2a, 2b and 2c were established via single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 2a, 2b and 2c were tested as pre-catalysts for the hydroamination/guanylation reaction of carbodiimides with aryl amines to afford guanidines at ambient temperature. All the aluminium complexes exhibited a high conversion with 1.5 mol% catalyst loading and broad substrate scope with a wide functional group tolerance during the guanylation reaction. We also proposed the most plausible mechanism, involving the formation of catalytically active three-coordinate Al species as the active pre-catalyst. © 2022 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Exclusive breastfeeding practices among women attending a private health facility in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Exclusive breast feeding (EBF) is an effective tool of child survival. While many mothers understand the importance of breast feeding, some circumstances may hinder the practice. Objective: To determine the pattern and factors influencing EBF among women attending a private health facility in Lagos, Nigeria. Methodology: One hundred and twelve mothers with children aged twelve months or less were interviewed through a questionnaire on their breastfeeding practices. Results: At the end of second month, two-fifths of the babies were still exclusively breastfed. This dropped to one-fifth by the end of the fourth month. At the end of six months, less than onetenth of subjects were still exclusively breastfed (3.6%).No association was found between breastfeeding pattern and variables such as gender of infants, place of delivery, maternal age, type of delivery and number of antenatal visits. On the contrary there was an association with following variables: birth order among mother siblings, prenatal and postnatal feeding advice. Conclusion: The rate of exclusive breast feeding among mothers for the recommended six months was very low (3.6%). Antenatal and postnatal programmes that will encourage mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding should be strengthened