Background: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection, with an estimated 128 million new cases annually. While its high global prevalence, particularly in young people, and its often-asymptomatic nature are well-known, localized data, especially in high-risk populations, remains scarce. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of CT and its associated risk factors among patients at the Cité-Verte District Hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Methods: From March to July 2025, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 210 patients seeking care for urogenital issues or undergoing STI screening. Anti-Chlamydia trachomatis IgG antibodies were detected in blood samples using an ELISA kit to indicate past or chronic infection. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0 to identify associations.

Results: The seroprevalence of C. trachomatis was high, with 23% (49/210) of participants testing positive. While a broader analysis of risk factors on a subsample of 74 participants didn't yield significant associations, an exploratory multivariate regression revealed a strong link between inconsistent condom use and CT positivity. Specifically, those who never used condoms had an 11-fold higher risk of infection (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 11.00; 95% CI: 1.50–17.00) compared to those who always used them. A history of a diagnosed STI also showed a suggestive association (AOR = 2.90; 95% CI: 0.40–16.10). The study also noted a higher prevalence in males (33.3%) than females (28.3%).

Conclusion: The high CT seroprevalence highlights a significant public health burden in this hospital-based population. The strong association with inconsistent condom use underscores the critical need for targeted public health campaigns promoting consistent condom use. Future research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these findings and better understand the behavioural determinants of CT infection.

Ten samples of cuts and wounds were taken randomly from Students around the school premises (Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka). These samples were serially diluted, cultured at a temperature of 37° C. These isolates were characterized based on their morphological appearance, gram staining, Catalase test, Oxidase test, Methyl red test, Voges Proskauer test, Iodine test, Glucose test, Sucrose test, and Maltose test. the Organisms were identified as Candida albicans Spp, Klebsiella Spp, Enterobacter Spp, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas Spp. These isolates were further sub cultured into mueller-hinton agar specifically disk diffusion test. The antimicrobial susceptibility or resistance of the organism to honey and aloe vera were tested. The zones of inhibition displayed shows that some of the isolates were resistant or sensitive to Honey and Aloe vera. Honey shows great sensitivity towards inhibiting the growth of Klebiessia spp and Escherichia coli spp respectively while aloe vera shows no sensitivity towards Candida albicans spp and Enterobacter spp.

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, of breastfeeding working class mothers in Zenith Bank branches in southern part of Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The sample size consisted of 195 women who work with Zenith Bank within southern part of Nigeria and have given birth to at least one child. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0 was used to analyses the data. Maternal attitude was measured using a five-point Likert scale. Mean scores were calculated for maternal knowledge and attitude. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Majority of the mothers (80.45%) were very knowledgeable on exclusive breastfeeding, 89.74% knew that colostrum should be given, while 89.22% knew that breast feeding should be initiated within one hour of giving birth. Most mothers had a positive attitude towards aspects of exclusive breastfeeding: baby should be breastfed exclusively for six months (79.48%); giving colostrum (89.74%); breast feeding should be initiated within one hour (71.79%).. In conclusion, mothers in this study had good knowledge and positive attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding, but the practice of exclusive breastfeeding for six months is lower than WHO recommendation.

Background: Dyspnea is a prevalent, debilitating symptom in advanced Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), often driven by complex hydro-mechanical and uremic pathways. While pharmacological volume management is standard, fluid removal alone frequently fails to rapidly resolve respiratory distress, highlighting an unmet need for multimodal clinical interventions.

Objective: This prospective observational pilot case series evaluated the clinical utility and mechanical efficacy of pairing rigorous fluid kinetics tracking (via serial daily weights) with structured chest physiotherapy (CPT) to relieve dyspnea and optimize oxygenation in hospitalized advanced CKD patients.

Methods: Ten consecutive patients with advanced CKD (Stage 3, n =4 ; Stage 4, n=6 ) presenting with severe dyspnea (Modified Medical Research Council [mMRC] Grade ≥3 ) were observed over a 5-day standardized protocol. Patients underwent a comprehensive diagnostic battery (radiology, echocardiography, and sputum analysis) and were managed using a dual-track protocol: Track A involved calibrated daily morning weight checks to monitor fluid shifts, and Track B comprised twice-daily CPT sessions (high-Fowler’s positioning, diaphragmatic/pursed-lip re-education, and incentive spirometry).

Results: The protocol successfully tracked a mean weight loss of 3.84±0.89 kg  by Day 5, reflecting systemic interstitial fluid clearance. Concurrently, the cohort demonstrated significant respiratory stabilization: the mean modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score decreased from 3.4±0.52  to 1.0±0.67 , mean respiratory rate dropped from 26.8±3.1  to 17.4±1.5  breaths per minute, and mean room-air SpO2  improved from 89.2%±2.4%  to 96.5%±1.6% . Notably, 80% (n=8 ) of patients reported immediate subjective relief within 30 minutes of their initial positioning and breathing session, preceding maximum physical fluid loss.

Conclusion: Monitoring serial weight fluctuations provides a reliable, real-time assessment of fluid velocity in advanced CKD. When paired with targeted chest physiotherapy, this non-invasive, interdisciplinary approach offers safe, immediate, and sustained relief from dyspnea by unloading diaphragmatic restriction and improving alveolar recruitment. These pilot findings generate a strong clinical rationale for larger randomized controlled trials.

Background: Viral infections remain a major global health challenge due to their high transmissibility, emerging variants, and increasing resistance to conventional antiviral therapies. The search for safe, effective, and affordable antiviral agents has renewed interest in traditional medicinal systems. The Siddha system of medicine, one of the oldest healthcare traditions of South India, utilizes a wide range of medicinal plants with documented antiviral, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Recent scientific investigations have provided evidence supporting the antiviral potential of several Siddha medicinal plants against a variety of viral pathogens.

Objective: To critically review the current evidence on the antiviral activities of Siddha medicinal plants, elucidate their mechanisms of action, and explore their future prospects in antiviral drug development and integrative healthcare.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, and the AYUSH Research Portal. Relevant studies published between 2000 and 2025 were screened. Classical Siddha texts, government publications, experimental studies, clinical investigations, molecular docking studies, and review articles reporting antiviral activities of Siddha medicinal plants were included and critically analyzed.

Results: The review identified several Siddha medicinal plants with significant antiviral potential, including Andrographis paniculata (Nilavembu), Tinospora cordifolia (Seenthil), Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi), Phyllanthus emblica (Nellikai), Azadirachta indica (Veppam), Withania somnifera (Amukkara), and Piper longum (Thippili). These plants exhibited antiviral effects against influenza virus, dengue virus, chikungunya virus, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis viruses, and SARS-CoV-2 through multiple mechanisms such as inhibition of viral entry, suppression of viral replication, interference with viral protein synthesis, and modulation of host immune responses. Additionally, many of these medicinal plants demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities that may reduce virus-induced tissue damage and improve disease outcomes.

Conclusion: Siddha medicinal plants represent a promising source of bioactive compounds with broad-spectrum antiviral potential. Their ability to combine direct antiviral activity with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects supports their traditional use in infectious disease management. Although current experimental and preliminary clinical evidence is encouraging, further standardization, mechanistic studies, pharmacological evaluations, and large-scale randomized clinical trials are required to establish their efficacy and safety. Future integration of Siddha medicinal knowledge with modern drug discovery approaches may facilitate the development of novel plant-based antiviral therapeutics.