Background:Co-infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is common as both viruses share common routes of transmission. HIV significantly affects the natural history of HBV, hence the need to determine the prevalence of co-infection.Materials and Methods:This was a retrospective study between 2005 and 2009, in which is a total of 2018 subjects who reported at our University Teaching Hospital blood bank and human immunodeficiency virus clinic were studied. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was tested for using a one step lateral flow rapid chromatographic immunoassay (Acumen labs and diagnostic centre, Bangalore, India) and HIV 1/2 was tested using two kits, Determine (made by Abbot, Japan for Inverness Medical, Japan).Results:A total of 2018 subjects were studied out of which 1176 were HIV positive (964 males and 212 females) and 842 (334 males and 508 females) were negative. The prevalence of HBsAg positivity in the study population was 5.9%. It was 6.3% and 5.6% in the HIV-infected and un-infected population, respectively. Although the prevalence was higher in those who are HIV infected, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.52). Males who were HIV positive were found to be more likely to have co-infection than females (8.7% vs. 4.2%, P=0.02, OR=1.917).Conclusion:This study showed that in south-eastern Nigeria, infection with HBV is relatively common in both HIV-infected and un-infected individuals. Routine screening for HBV should be done for all HIV positive individuals.

BackgroundMany studies on transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) had been undertaken to explore its pain relieving efficiency on several medicals/surgical conditions but none, specifically, had been carried out to determine the effect it has on post-injection sciatic pain (PISP) which comes about from wrong administration of intramuscular pain. This study aims to assess the effects of TENS in the management of PISP.MethodsA total of 72 PISP subjects comprising 40 test subjects and 32 control subjects participated in a non-randomized controlled clinical trial in the current study. Participants were recruited from Department of Physiotherapy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi and Landmark Physiotherapy Services, Nnewi. The participants were however blinded to the intervention method they will receive before being allotted conveniently to test/experimental group (TG) or control group (CG). A written informed consent was obtained from participants before enrollments in the study. TENS and sham TENS (STENS) was applied to 40 test and 32 subjects respectively, 3 times a week, and 1 hour per session for the 10 weeks the study lasted. The Visual Analogue Scale was used to collect baseline data as well as those of 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th weeks after TENS and STENS interventions. The data analysis was performed with the Descriptive statistic of Mean ± SD, mean comparison test, repeated analysis of variance and paired wise t-test. Statistical level of significance was set at P < 0.05.ResultResults of repeated measure ANOVA showed that the pain level among participants in the treatment group at the end (after 10 weeks) of the intervention was significantly lower than that of their counterparts in the control group (F = 16.26; p = 0.01); with the intervention accounting for the 19% of the variance. The effect size (partial eta squared) = 0.19.ConclusionThe outcome of this research has proved the effectiveness of TENS in the management of PISP and is being recommended in the management of PISP.Trial registrationPan Africa Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR201805003408271). The study was registered retrospectively on the 29th May, 2018.

Our data provide additional support that widely evaluable and assessable hematological parameters such as PCV and WBC can be used as indices to predict SCD outcome in African patients. This is likely to impart positively on individualized therapy.

Background Community reintegration is one of the most important elements of disability rehabilitation globally. Hence, there is need for availability of psychometrically-sound and culturally-specific instruments for its measurement. Most of the available community reintegration measures were developed and validated in developed countries and might therefore not be suitable for use in developing countries. This study was aimed at cross-culturally adapting and validating the original English visual analogue scale version of the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI) into Igbo Language and culture among people with mobility disability in Igbo land, Southeast Nigeria. The English version of the RNLI was cross-culturally adapted to Igbo following the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ guideline. The RNLI was translated into Igbo Language, synthesized, back translated, and subsequently subjected to expert panel review, pretesting and cognitive debriefing interview. The final Igbo version of the RNLI was tested for internal consistency and construct validity in a sample of 102 consenting participants (61.8% males; 46.92 ± 20.91 years) recruited from conveniently sampled clinics and rehabilitation centres in Anambra and Enugu States of South-Eastern Nigeria. The construct (concurrent) validity was evaluated using Spearman rank correlation, scatter plot and Mann-Whitney U test while the internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha at alpha level of 0.05. Results The RNLI was successfully cross-culturally adapted to Igbo with all the 11 items still retained. The mean total score of the participants on the RNLI was 58.62 ± 21.25. The internal consistency coefficient (α = 0.84) of Igbo version of the RNLI was excellent. The Spearman correlation coefficients between the participants’ total, subscale and domain scores on the Igbo and the English versions of the RNLI (r = 0.81–0.95) were excellent. There was no significant difference between corresponding scores in the English and Igbo versions of the RNLI. Conclusion The Igbo version of the RNLI is a valid and reliable outcome measure among Igbo people living with mobility disabilities in Southeast Nigeria. It is therefore recommended for use among this group.

Background Symptoms of depression are prevalent in people living with human immune deficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (PLWHA), and worsened by lack of physical activity/exercises, leading to restriction in social participation/functioning. This raises the question: what is the extent to which physical exercise training affected, symptoms of depression, physical activity level (PAL) and social participation in PLWHA compared to other forms of intervention, usual care, or no treatment controls? Method Eight databases were searched up to July 2020, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol. Only randomised controlled trials involving adults who were either on HAART/HAART-naïve and reported in the English language, were included. Two independent reviewers determined the eligibility of the studies, extracted data, assessed their quality, and risk of bias using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) tool. Standardised mean difference (SMD) was used as summary statistics for the mean primary outcome (symptoms of depression) and secondary outcomes (PAL and social participation) since different measuring tools/units were used across the included studies. Summary estimates of effects were determined using a random-effects model (I2). Results Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria with 779 participants (n = 596 participants at study completion) randomised into the study groups, comprising 378 males, 310 females and 91 participants with undisclosed gender, and with an age range of 18–86 years. Across the studies, aerobic or aerobic plus resistance exercises were performed 2–3 times/week, at 40–60 min/session, and for between 6-24 weeks, and the risk of bias vary from high to low. Comparing the intervention to control groups showed significant difference in the symptoms of depression (SMD = − 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) − 1.01, − 0.48, p ≤ 0.0002; I2 = 47%; 5 studies; 205 participants) unlike PAL (SMD = 0.98, 95% CI − 0.25, 2.17, p = 0.11; I2 = 82%; 2 studies; 62 participants) and social participation (SMD = 0.04, 95% CI − 0.65, 0.73, p = 0.91; I2 = 90%; 6 studies; 373 participants). Conclusion Physical exercise training could have an antidepressant-like effect in PLWHA but did not affect PAL and social participation. However, the high heterogeneity in the included studies, implies that adequately powered randomised controlled trials with clinical/methodological similarity are required in future studies. Trail Registration number INPLASY202040048.