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The study examined the physicochemical parameters of selected fish pond in Asaba, Delta State using standard methods. Water samples were collected and analyzed for physical and chemical properties and heavy metal levels. The results showed that water temperature ranges from (24.0 – 32°C), dissolved oxygen (3.20 – 7.60mg/l), and nutrient levels (1.20 – 98.8mg/l) varied significantly between seasons. Most ponds had high levels of turbidity and suspended solids that exceeded international standards. Heavy metals such as cadmium (0.28 – 0.34 mg/l), lead (0.03 – 0.04 mg/l), chromium (0.09 – 0.12 mg/l), and iron (8.56 – 10.42 mg/) were found at levels above World Health Organization limits, with iron being particularly high in all ponds. This study reveals that fish ponds in Asaba, Oshimili LGA are significantly contaminated with heavy metal residue, posing health risks to both fish and humans who consume them. The study high lights the need for better management practices. Regular monitoring of water quality, responsible use and testing of water source and improved pond management are recommended to protect both the aquaculture industry and public health in Delta State.
Studied were the cerebral hemodynamics and various brain blood flow autoregulation circuits in patients with initial manifestations of the chronic cerebral ischemia (IMCCI) using Doppler sonography. Forty-eight patients (29 women and 19 men) in the age of 28 to 55 years with IMCCI caused by arterial hypertension (AH) in 30 patients, and by cerebral atherosclerosis (CA) in 18 patients were investigated. The controls were 25 healthy adults matching as to gender and age.
The cerebral hemodynamics was studied by measuring the linear blood flow velocity (BFV) in extra- and intracranial vesssels on a Doppler sonography. The state of various autoregulation circuits was carried out by functionally loading the patients with: hypercapnia, calculating the reactivity coefficient CrCO2, nitroglycerine, calculating the reactivity coefficient CrFNT, and orthostatic loading, determining the orthostatic instability. The investigation of cerebral hemodynamics has revealed isolated hemodynamically insignificant lesions of the carotids (63.7 %) or vertebral (36.3 %) arteries in 28.4 % patients with IMCCI accompanied by the BFV interhemispheric asymmetries (20-30 %) in the Willis’ arteries in 68 % of the patients. The investigation of CVR has shown that the patients with IMCCI have disorders of the autoregulative response as to metabolic and myogenic circuits with the tendency to hyperreactivity in the patients with AH and hyporeactivity in those with CA.
The patients also have the inverted reactions to nitroglycerine and orthostatic loads, this inversion being more pronounced in the patients with CA with the tendency to increase in the groups of older patients. The analysis of obtained data makes it possible to suppose that the CVR changes at various levels of autoregulation characterising the dysfunctioning of homeostatic range support mechanisms are the triggering mechanism of cerebral hemodynamic disorders in the patients with IMCCI. Unifying various values of the CVR as to the Doppler sonography data makes it possible to optimise diagnosing and treatment tactics for the patients with IMCCI.
Background: Chronic mechanical neck pain is frequently accompanied by altered cervical sensorimotor control, impaired joint repositioning accuracy, forward-head posture, pain, and activity limitation. Exercise-based rehabilitation may improve symptoms, while specific proprioceptive and sensorimotor training targets impaired cervical afferent processing more directly.
Objective: To determine whether cervical proprioceptive sensorimotor training combined with ergonomic postural correction produces greater improvements in cervical joint position error (JPE), postural alignment, neck pain, and functional performance than conventional cervical exercises in adults with chronic mechanical neck pain.
Methods: In this two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial template, 60 adults with chronic mechanical neck pain are allocated 1:1 to an experimental group receiving cervical proprioceptive sensorimotor training plus ergonomic postural correction or a control group receiving conventional cervical exercises. A 6-week intervention with three supervised sessions per week is proposed. Primary outcome is cervical JPE; secondary outcomes include craniovertebral angle, Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS).
Results: Illustrative results are provided only to demonstrate appropriate within-group and between-group reporting, tables, and graphs. The simulated pattern favors the combined intervention across the prespecified outcomes; no clinical inference should be made from these placeholder values.
Conclusion: The proposed trial directly tests whether combining cervical sensorimotor retraining with ergonomic correction provides additional benefit over conventional cervical exercise. Actual conclusions should be based exclusively on the final analyzed dataset.
Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major health problem. Awareness about their transmission, prevention, testing, and treatment is important, especially among young adults. This study aimed to assess STI awareness among adults in selected coastal communities of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 adults aged 18–30 years. Data were collected using a printed questionnaire administered in selected coastal communities. The questionnaire included questions about STI transmission, symptoms, prevention, testing, and treatment. The data were analysed using frequencies and percentages.
Results: The study included 62 (41.3%) males and 88 (58.7%) females. Among the participants, 60 (40%) were students, 40 (26.7%) were employed, and 50 (33.3%) belonged to other occupational groups. Of the recorded responses, 90 participants knew that condoms could help prevent STIs, and 75 knew that STI testing was available. However, some questionnaire responses were incomplete, so the overall level of STI awareness could not be clearly determined.
Conclusion: Awareness about STIs is important for preventing infections and encouraging early testing and treatment. Health education programmes may help improve STI awareness among young adults in coastal communities. Complete data are needed to draw clear conclusions.
Background: Thoracic hyperkyphosis and impaired sagittal alignment may be associated with reduced thoracic mobility, altered movement strategies, discomfort, and poorer quality of life. Exercise programmes can improve postural parameters, but the additional value of real-time smartphone feedback during a three-dimensional corrective exercise programme remains insufficiently established. Objective: To compare an eight-week Schroth-based corrective exercise programme combined with smartphone-based real-time postural feedback with a dose-matched conventional postural exercise programme in middle-aged adults with increased thoracic kyphosis. Methods: This assessor-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial model includes adults aged 40–60 years with increased thoracic kyphosis. Participants receive three 50-minute supervised sessions per week for eight weeks, plus 15 minutes of daily home practice. The primary outcome is thoracic kyphosis angle. Secondary outcomes include thoracic mobility, sagittal postural alignment, and quality of life. Assessments occur at baseline, week 4, week 8, and follow-up. Results: In the illustrative dataset, the combined Schroth and smartphone group shows larger numerical improvements in kyphosis, mobility, alignment, and quality of life than conventional postural exercise. These numerical findings are simulated and are not clinical evidence. Conclusion: The protocol provides a reproducible framework for testing whether immediate digital postural feedback adds benefit to a structured three-dimensional corrective exercise programme.