The human gut harbors microbial ecology that is in a symbiotic relationship with its host and has a vital function in keeping host homeostasis. Inimical alterations in the composition of gut microbiota, known as gut dysbiosis, have been associated with cardiometabolic diseases. Studies have revealed the variation in gut microbiota composition in healthy individuals as compared to the composition of those with cardiometabolic diseases. Perturbation of host–microbial interaction attenuates physiological processes and may incite several cardiometabolic disease pathways. This imbalance contributes to cardiometabolic diseases via metabolism-independent and metabolite-dependent pathways. The aim of this review was to elucidate studies that have demonstrated the complex relationship between the intestinal microbiota as well as their metabolites and the development/progression of cardiometabolic diseases. Furthermore, we systematically itemized the potential therapeutic approaches for cardiometabolic diseases that target gut microbiota and/or their metabolites by following the pathophysiological pathways of disease development. These approaches include the use of diet, prebiotics, and probiotics. With the exposition of the link between gut microbiota and cardiometabolic diseases, the human gut microbiota therefore becomes a potential therapeutic target in the development of novel cardiometabolic agents.

Background The year 2020 Lassa fever (LF) outbreak had the greatest disease burden and this can place an enormous strain on the already overstretched healthcare system and can potentially increase morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases. Therefore, having a knowledgeable healthcare workforce with appropriate skills and competencies to prevent and manage outbreaks of a neglected infectious disease such as LF in Nigeria will potentially enhance public health. Thus, this survey assessed the level of knowledge of LF and its prevention and control (PC) measures amongst the healthcare workers (HCWs) during a LF outbreak in Katsina state, Nigeria. Methodology/Principal findings During this cross-sectional survey, HCWs complete a validated 29-item questionnaire comprising 18 items on the knowledge of LF and its PC measures and an item on global self-evaluation of their LF knowledge. Psychometric properties of the questionnaire were evaluated. Chi-square and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. Out of 435 HCWs invited, a total of 400 participated in the study (92% response rate). The majority of participants (51.8%) demonstrated inadequate LF knowledge, with 62.9% of those scoring low having a high self-perception of their LF knowledge with the global scale. This LF knowledge over-estimation was predicted by LF training status (odds ratio (OR) 2.53; 95% CI: 1.49–4.30; p = 0.001). The level of LF knowledge and its PC measures among the study participants was low (11.60±8.14, 64.4%) and predicted by participants’ LF training status (OR 2.06; 95% CI: 1.19–3.57; p = 0.009), place of work (OR 1.82; 95% CI: 1.07–3.08; p = 0.03) and their designations (OR 2.40; 95% CI: 1.10–5.22; p = 0.03). Conclusion The level of knowledge of LF and its PC measures among the HCWs surveyed was suboptimal and participants’ LF training status, place of work and occupational category were the significant predictors. In addition, LF knowledge overestimation on a global scale was observed among a majority of HCWs and this was also predicted by LF training status. Therefore, there is a critical need for health authorities in Nigeria to prioritize continuous on-the-job training of HCWs on priority neglected tropical diseases such as Lassa fever.

The most prevalent joint disease is osteoarthritis (OA), which affects an estimated 240 million individuals worldwide. Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the top 10 causes of disability worldwide. The aim of this study is to systematically evaluate the effect of circuit training (CT) on patients with KOA. We searched through PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, and Google Scholar up to 12 February 2022. We used random-effects statistical analysis for continuous variables and reported the results as a standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95 percent confidence intervals (CI). Seven trials involving 346 patients were included. A significant improvement in the intervention group was observed for the parameter, pain level (SMD −0.96, 95% CI −1.77 to −0.14; p = 0.02; seven trials, 346 participants; high quality evidence), while no significant improvement was found in physical function (SMD 0.03, 95% CI −0.44–0.50; p = 0.89; five trials, 294 participants; high-quality evidence), quality of life (SMD −0.25, 95% CI −1.18–0.68; p = 0.60; three trials, 205 participants; high-quality evidence), the activity of daily living (SMD 0.81, 95% CI −0.85–2.48; p = 0.34; three trials, 223 participants; high-quality evidence), and knee stiffness (SMD −0.65, 95% CI −1.96–0.66; p = 0.33; two trials, 71 participants; high-quality evidence). The findings in this meta-analysis suggest that CT could effectively complement the conventional treatment of KOA, particularly in alleviating pain. However, comprehensive data on the guidelines for the CT approach would be needed to adequately examine the effects of CT on quality of life and biochemical markers in patients with KOA.

Background International restrictions were enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to limit social interaction and viral transmission. These measures had a negative impact on physical activity (PA), creating changes in students’ health and lifestyles. The present study aimed to evaluate the levels of PA among undergraduate students in three different universities in Mogadishu after the relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown using the international physical activity questionnaire-long version (IPAQ-L) and its potential associated factors. Methods This study is a multicentral study conducted at Somali International University, Horn of Africa University, and Daha International University. A total of 1,189 respondents were asked to answer the online questionnaire provided via a link shared using their social media. Results After COVID-19 restrictions approximately ≥ 150 minutes of PA per week was reported by 500 men (97.3%) and 652 women (96.6%) at work. While 7 (1.4%) of men and 20 (3%) of women participate in < 150 minutes each week, respectively. Furthermore, only seven (1.4%) of males and three (0.4%) of women reported to have not performed any PA at work. Conclusion The majority of the undergraduate students at the selected universities in Mogadishu were physically active after the relaxation of COVID-19 rules in Somalia. Such a high level of PA is a significant advantage to public health.

Superficial fungal infections are common in the tropics particularly in the rural areas where children are predisposed. The causative organisms include dermatophytes, yeasts and non-dermatophyte moulds. To determine the prevalence and risk factors of superficial fungal infections among primary school pupils aged 5- 16 years in Oke-Oyi, Kwara State. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from April through July 2017 among 602 pupils aged 5-16 years in Oke-Oyi, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State. Out of the 602 pupils screened during the study, 180 pupils were suspected clinically to have superficial fungal infection and a total of 180 skin specimens were collected from the pupils. The prevalence of clinically suspected fungal infection was 29.9% (180/602), dermatophytes accounted for 16.7% (30/180), while non-dermatophyte moulds accounted for about half of the isolates, 51.7% (93/180). Some of the factors that were significantly associated with the risk of acquisition of dermatophytic infections include age, past history of similar lesions, over-crowding, normal sweat pattern and unkempt socks worn by the pupils among others. This study has shown that superficial fungal infections are common among pupils in Oke-Oyi in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State and the risk factors include among others, young age, past history of skin infections, overcrowding and unkempt socks worn by pupils. Therefore sociodemographic and behavioural factors influence the occurrence of superficial fungal infections in the study area.

Coronavirus disease 2019 is a severe communicable pulmonary medical problem that has been a challenging disease for everyone in the globe, but vaccines development and administration against this severe acute respiratory syndrome-inducing disease (coronavirus disease 2019) are currently yielding fabulous results. The mean duration of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic for this study spanned from 2020 until 2022. These manifestations are accompanied by symptoms of respiratory tract illnesses such as non-productive cough, sore throat, and nasal discharge. Relevant reviews on coronavirus disease 2019 manifestations and outcomes, consisting mainly of the infections/outbreaks, experimental information, and pre- and post-serovaccination details that occurred, were described. After a typical vaccination course, the study aims to summarize and understand more about the effectiveness of exercise on the pre-and post-coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination and its implementations. Physical activity is an immunological function adjuvant to decrease communicable disease risk and enhance immunity post-viral infection vaccination. Moderate-intensity resistance exercisesession directly before getting the influenza vaccine decreases vaccine responses in older adults, such as redness, pain, or inflammation at the injection spot or other adverse consequences compared to the inactive circumstance. However, it was reported that exercise after a shot is generally safe as long as vaccinated people feel well enough. Though exercise before or after vaccination has no negative impact on the protection afforded by the vaccine, people can exercise immediately after receiving the vaccine, as any changes in blood flow will not affect the vaccine’s response. One episode of light-to-moderate-intensifying exercise after vaccination may improve the antibody reactions to influenza or the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine. Vaccination administered pre- and post-regular exercise is an effective approach for boosting antibody responses due to its immunostimulant effects. Future research should investigate how different vaccine antibodies respond to low, moderate, and high physical activity levels.

Background: The authorities of the world had to take extraordinary containment measures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic spreading across the globe. The only way to stay active during the pandemic was at-home physical activity (PA). The current study evaluates how these preventative measures impacted the PA and well-being of students. Methods: This study is multicentral and was conducted in Malaysia, India, Cambodia, and Saudi Arabia; participants were recruited from four different regions to answer the online questionnaire provided via a link shared using their personal WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Twitter social media. Results: The means of vigorous, moderate, and light PA (min/day) between the active and inactive groups were significantly different (p = 0.001, 0.007, and 0.001), respectively. In comparison with pre-COVID-19, the participants reported that it became more challenging to engage in regular exercise since the onset of social distance, associated with a lack of motivation followed by “less confidence”, “less enjoyment”, “less support, and fewer opportunities to engage in exercise”; moreover, it was “difficult to maintain close relationships” and “hard to voice their options on contentious matters” (p = 0.001). Public health measures affected the PA and well-being of active and inactive students; this demonstrates that health promotion strategies aimed at enhancing levels of PA in inactive students may be necessary to improve students’ well-being.

Safe and effective vaccination remains the mainstay of control of COVID-19 because there is still no universally recommended treatment. This strategy is however being threatened by vaccine hesitancy and resistance due to fear of adverse events and safety concerns. It is, therefore, necessary to study post-vaccination adverse events (AE) in various populations and geographical areas. The objective of this study was to analyze the adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination in five major immunization centers of Kwara State Nigeria. A retrospective descriptive study of the adverse events following AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination that were reported from five immunization centers of Kwara State, North-central Nigeria from March to July 2021 was carried out. Statistical Package for Social Science version 26 was used for analysis. Adverse event classification and severity were compared based on age, gender, and time to onset of adverse event and vaccine dose type using the Chi-square test. The incidence of COVID-19 vaccine AE was 1.6%. There was female predominance (51.6%) and a mean age of 41.6±13.7 years. Most of the AE (95.8%) were systemic and mild (81.1%) without a requirement for any therapeutic intervention. Fatal outcome was not reported in any of the AE and the time to outcome of AE was 2 days in most cases (45.3%). No significant association was found between the variables studied and the adverse event type and severity. The low incidence and mild nature of adverse events reported in this study will add to the body of knowledge regarding vaccine adverse events and may eventually impact vaccine uptake.