Diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are public health issues worldwide, and their comorbidities trigger the progress to severe disease and even death in such patients. Globally, DM has affected an estimated 9.3% adults, and as of April 18, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 141,727,940 COVID-19 confirmed cases. The virus is spread via droplets, aerosols, and direct touch with others. Numerous predictive factors have been linked to COVID-19 severity, including impaired immune response and increased inflammatory response, among others. Angiotensin receptor blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 have also been identified as playing a boosting role in both susceptibility and severity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Specifically, in DM patients, both their control and management during this pandemic is herculean as the restriction periods have markedly hampered the maintenance of means to control glycemia, hypertension, and neuroendocrine and kidney diseases. In addition, as a result of the underlyin cardio-metabolic and immunological disorders, DM patients are at a higher risk of developing the severe form of COVID-19 despite other comorbidities, such as hypertension, also potentially boosting the development of higher COVID-19 severity. However, even in non-DM patients, SARS-CoV-2 may also cause transient hyperglycemia through induction of insulin resistance and/or pancreatic β-cell injury. Therefore, a strict glucose monitoring of DM patients with COVID-19 is mandatory to prevent life-threatening complications.

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Introduction: Plasmodium falciparum infection remains a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, causing about 3,000 daily deaths. This study intended to document the prevalence, and the associated factors of P. falciparum infection among febrile patients attending Federal the Medical Centre Keffi, Nigeria. Methods: After ethical clearance, 400 whole blood samples were collected from patients who gave informed consent and completed a self-structured questionnaire from July 2015 through January 2016. The blood samples were examined for the parasitic infection and hematological parameters, using standard laboratory techniques. Results: The overall prevalence of P. falciparum infection was 227/400 (56.8%). The prevalence with respect to patient's categories was children (68.1%), pregnant women (67.0%), male adult (47.1%) and female adult (42.0%). The infection was high among genotype AA (83.0%), blood group A (90.8%), females (57.7%), rhesus factor positive (57.7%), age < 15 years (72.4%), those who use insecticide-treated mosquito nets (55.8%) and those with PCV range 20-25 (86.7%). Genotype, blood group, and age were statistically associated with P. falciparum (p < 0.05). In this study, categories of patients, gender, rhesus factor, use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) and packed cell volume (PCV) ranges were not associated statistically with the infection (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study reported a high prevalence of P. falciparum among patients and as such further studies on molecular characterization of the parasite should be carried out in the population. General awareness and continuous laboratory screening of the public to stop the acquisition of the parasite among population are strongly suggested.

The increasing menace of antimicrobial resistance in many pathogenic microbes has led to the search for long lasting remedy. The aim of this study was to examine the phytochemical and antimicrobial properties of extracts of Psidium guajava leaves against some clinical bacterial isolates. The plant leaves were extracted in three solvents namely; water, ethanol and methanol. The pathogenic bacterial isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae all isolated from urine samples. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides and terpenoids in different proportions. The mean antibacterial activity of the extracts in vitro showed that the ethanolic extract was most efficacious at 25 mg concentration, inhibiting P. aeruginosa (9.50 mm), E. coli (9.00 mm), S. pneumoniae (10.50 mm) and K. pneumoniae (9.50 mm). The aqueous extract at 100 mg concentration inhibited E. coli (12.50 mm), S. aureus (14.50 mm) and S. pneumoniae (9.00 mm). This study has revealed that the leaves extract of P. guajava contains antibacterial and phytochemical substances which can be harnessed in satiation of human quest for better and healthier living.

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