CURRENT ISSUE

ABSTRACT: Background: Cancer is a public health challenge in Nigeria, with cases rising in recent times. Research shows that dietary patterns play a substantial yet underestimated role in cancer incidence and death. Some Nigerian diets, which feature high consumption of red and processed meats, deep-fried foods, and the use of plastic bags when preparing, have been identified as culprits in the increased exposure to dietary carcinogens and elevation of cancer risk. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains possess cancer-protective properties; however, their intake remains inadequate in combating diet-related cancers.
Aim: This review examines the relationship between diet and cancer in Nigeria, focusing on the current cancer burden of Nigeria, carcinogenic risks linked to food preparation, and preventive nutritional strategies.
Methods: Information was sourced from PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate, alongside reports from global health agencies. Search terms included “diet,” “cancer,” “Nigeria,” “food,” “carcinogens,” and “prevention.” Only articles written in English language and that met predefined inclusion criteria were included.
Results: Evidence suggests that the consumption of carcinogens formed through traditional cooking methods increases the risk of cancer. Notable concerns include barbecue-style cooking, repeated use of cooking oils, and heavy metal contamination in local alcoholic beverages. Protective effects were observed in diets rich in fruits and vegetables.
Conclusion: Dietary practices in Nigeria significantly shape cancer risk. Targeted interventions promoting nutrition education, protective food intake, and safer cooking methods are essential to reduce carcinogen exposure and lower the national cancer burden.

ABSTRACT: Background: Small-molecule drugs have transformed oncology, but conventional inhibitors are limited by resistance, restricted target scope, and declining durability.
Methods: We reviewed emerging small-molecule modalities—molecular glues, covalent inhibitors, and radiotheranostics—focusing on their mechanisms, clinical applications, and translational challenges. Key clinical trials and representative examples were identified from recent oncology literature.
Results: Molecular glues enable targeted degradation of previously undruggable proteins, with clinical success in multiple myeloma (IMiDs). Covalent inhibitors achieve durable suppression of oncogenic drivers such as KRAS^G12C and BTK, as shown in CodeBreaK100 (sotorasib; N=126; ORR 37%). Radiotheranostics combine imaging and therapy, exemplified by VISION (PSMA-617; N=831; OS HR 0.62) and NETTER-1 (Lutathera; N=229; PFS HR 0.21). Collectively, these modalities expand the druggable proteome, improve durability, and advance precision oncology.
Conclusion: Emerging small-molecule approaches mark a paradigm shift from inhibition alone to targeted degradation, durable covalent engagement, and diagnostic–therapeutic hybrids. Future priorities include improving selectivity, biomarker integration, scalable manufacturing, and equitable global access.

ABSTRACT: Microbial biofilms represent a growing yet often overlooked public health concern, particularly in resource-limited settings where they exacerbate the burden of persistent infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Nigeria, fragile healthcare infrastructure, poor funding, and a continuous loss of skilled medical professionals compound the difficulty of managing biofilm-associated infections. These microbial communities, embedded in self-produced extracellular matrices, exhibit remarkable resistance to antimicrobials and host immune defenses, leading to chronic and recurrent infections that further strain an already overstretched health system. This review synthesizes evidence published between 2010 and 2025 to examine the burden, challenges, and opportunities surrounding biofilm control in Nigeria. Literature was systematically retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, complemented by reports from WHO and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control. Findings indicate that biofilms not only complicate clinical treatment outcomes but also persist in environmental reservoirs, particularly water systems, serving as hidden amplifiers of resistance and infection transmission. To address these challenges, the review explores low-cost and context-appropriate strategies such as harnessing Nigeria’s biodiversity for the discovery of plant-derived antibiofilm compounds, implementing decentralized engineering solutions for water treatment, and promoting community-based infection prevention initiatives. It further emphasizes the importance of local innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and policy support within a One Health framework that integrates human, animal, and environmental health. By spotlighting the Nigerian experience, this review calls for urgent investment and global attention to biofilm-related infections in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

ABSTRACT: Parasitic diseases continue to represent a significant public health challenge, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, where they disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries. Despite significant advancements in global collaborations, diseases such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and leishmaniasis continue to present substantial challenges. This study evaluates the role of international collaborations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Fund, alongside bilateral and multilateral initiatives, including the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) in managing, preventing, and eliminating parasitic diseases, highlighting the successes, challenges, and potential areas for improvement within these partnerships. Critical challenges to effective collaborations, such as political instability, economic disparities, cultural barriers, and resource inequities were identified. Additionally discussed are the necessity of developing local skills, promoting innovative financing methods for projects, and ensuring their sustainability. Moreover, the necessity of a unified global health governance framework and sustained commitments to ensure that multinational collaborations yield enduring impacts were emphasized. However, policy recommendations such as prioritizing equity, and addressing the root causes of parasite infections aimed at enhancing international cooperation should be embraced in order to achieve sustainable health improvements. The findings suggest that ongoing global cooperation, combined with improvements in technology, funding, and resource allocation, is crucial for the total elimination of parasitic diseases and the advancement of health equity worldwide.

ABSTRACT: Immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are increasingly used in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, yet their effects on student engagement, cognitive load, and transfer of learning remain fragmented. This systematic review synthesized empirical research on AR and VR in STEM learning environments to examine how these technologies influence behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement; intrinsic, extraneous, and germane cognitive load; and near- and far-transfer outcomes. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we searched major education and psychology databases for studies involving AR/VR STEM interventions with quantified engagement, cognitive load, or transfer measures. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Across the sample, immersive technologies consistently enhanced student engagement, particularly by increasing interest, enjoyment, and time-on-task, although effects on deeper cognitive engagement were more variable. Augmented reality frequently reduced extraneous cognitive load by integrating digital information directly into physical learning tasks, whereas fully immersive virtual reality sometimes increased overall mental effort when environments were perceptually rich or navigation demands were high. Transfer of learning outcomes was generally positive but modest: most studies reported gains in near transfer, defined here as applying what was learned to tasks or problems that closely resemble the original learning context, while evidence for far transfer, defined as applying learning to novel, more complex, or substantially different situations, was limited and inconsistently assessed. Taken together, the findings indicate that immersive technologies most reliably improve student engagement and near-transfer learning in STEM when instructional design deliberately manages cognitive load, rather than relying on immersion alone to produce learning gains. These results underscore the importance of aligning immersive features with targeted learning goals and providing structured guidance and reflection to support meaningful transfer of learning.

ABSTRACT: Background: Cardiotoxicity, defined as damage to cardiac muscle resulting from exposure to toxic substances, is a growing concern in both environmental and medical contexts. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a widely used food additive, has been implicated in cardiac toxicity through mechanisms involving inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Beetroot (Beta vulgaris), rich in nitrates, betalains, and flavonoids, possesses strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may counteract MSG-induced cardiac damage.
Objective: This study investigated the cardioprotective potential of beetroot fruit powder (BFP) against MSG-induced cardiotoxicity in male Wistar rats by evaluating its effects on inflammatory, oxidative, apoptotic, cardiac functional markers, and DNA fragmentation index.
Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats (185–205 g) were randomly divided into five groups: control, MSG-only, MSG + low-dose BFP (0.18 g/kg), MSG + high-dose BFP (0.36 g/kg), and MSG recovery group. MSG was administered orally (6 g/kg) for 21 days. BFP treatments were co-administered with MSG. On day 22, cardiac tissues were harvested and analyzed for inflammatory markers (MPO, NO, CRP, TNF-α, IL-1β, NF-κB), oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx, GST), cardiac enzymes (LDH, SDH, CK, GGT), caspase-3 activity, and DNA fragmentation (TUNEL assay). Histological examination was also performed.
Results: MSG exposure significantly elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, caspase-3 activity, and cardiac dysfunction markers, alongside pronounced DNA fragmentation and histological alterations. BFP co-treatment, particularly at the high dose, significantly attenuated these changes by reducing pro-inflammatory markers, restoring antioxidant enzyme levels, normalizing cardiac enzyme activities, and lowering DNA fragmentation index. Histology confirmed structural recovery of cardiac tissue in BFP-treated groups. These results underscore the potential of BFP as a dietary intervention to mitigate chemically induced myocardial injury. While the MSG dose used exceeds typical human exposure, this model provides valuable mechanistic insights. Future studies should explore chronic, lower-dose MSG exposure, gene-level regulatory mechanisms, and translational trials in humans.
Conclusion: Beetroot fruit powder demonstrates a potent cardioprotective effect against MSG-induced toxicity by modulating oxidative, inflammatory, apoptotic, and functional biomarkers. These findings highlight its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for mitigating chemically-induced cardiac injury.