Africa plays a central importance role in the human origins, and disease susceptibility, agriculture and biodiversity conservation. Nigeria as the most populous and most diverse country in Africa, owing to its 250 ethnic groups and over 500 different native languages is imperative to any global genomic initiative. The newly inaugurated Nigerian Bioinformatics and Genomics Network (NBGN) becomes necessary to facilitate research collaborative activities and foster opportunities for skills’ development amongst Nigerian bioinformatics and genomics investigators. NBGN aims to advance and sustain the fields of genomics and bioinformatics in Nigeria by serving as a vehicle to foster collaboration, provision of new opportunities for interactions between various interdisciplinary subfields of genomics, computational biology and bioinformatics as this will provide opportunities for early career researchers. To provide the foundation for sustainable collaborations, the network organises conferences, workshops, trainings and create opportunities for collaborative research studies and internships, recognise excellence, openly share information and create opportunities for more Nigerians to develop the necessary skills to exceed in genomics and bioinformatics. NBGN currently has attracted more than 650 members around the world. Research collaborations between Nigeria, Africa and the West will grow and all stakeholders, including funding partners, African scientists, researchers across the globe, physicians and patients will be the eventual winners. The exponential membership growth and diversity of research interests of NBGN just within weeks of its establishment and the unanticipated attendance of its activities suggest the significant importance of the network to bioinformatics and genomics research in Nigeria.

Chronic conditions are associated with worse physical function and commonly develop during midlife. We tested whether the presence of 8 chronic conditions, or the development of these conditions, is associated with declines in physical function among midlife women as they transition into early late life.

Participants (

 = 2283)were from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Physical function was assessed at 8 visits starting at the study’s fourth clinic visit in 2000/2001 through follow-up visit 15 (2015/2017) using the Short Form-36 Physical Function subscale. Chronic conditions included diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, stroke, heart disease, cancer, and depressive symptoms. Repeated-measures Poisson regression modeled associations between 1) prevalent chronic conditions at analytic baseline (visit 4) and longitudinal physical function, and 2) change in physical function associated with developing a new condition. Models were adjusted with the total number of other chronic t the severe effects of these conditions on physical function shows the need for a greater focus on cardiovascular health during midlife. Women who develop chronic conditions during midlife may be at particular risk for poor physical function as they age, warranting disability prevention efforts focused on this population.

Initial prevalent conditions related to the musculoskeletal system were associated with worse initial physical function, with some evidence of accelerated decline in physical function with osteoarthritis. Stroke and heart disease are less common than osteoarthritis in this age group, but the severe effects of these conditions on physical function shows the need for a greater focus on cardiovascular health during midlife. Women who develop chronic conditions during midlife may be at particular risk for poor physical function as they age, warranting disability prevention efforts focused on this population.

Pleural effusion is common among critically ill patients and associated with clinical consequences; however, the benefits of draining pleural effusion remain debatable. selleck chemical Thus, we aimed to investigate pleural drainage effectiveness by focusing on preprocedure patient status.

We retrospectively analyzed 22 patients with pleural effusion. Gas exchange, ventilator settings, vital signs, inflammatory response, and nutrition status were examined preprocedure and 24h and 1week postprocedure. Data were analyzed using the non-parametric test and discriminant analysis with receiver operating characteristic curves.

The partial arterial oxygen pressure (PaO

) to fraction of inspiratory oxygen (F

O

) (P/F) ratio at 24h was higher postdrainage than predrainage (250±87 versus 196±84,

<0.05); however, no significant difference between the P/F ratio predrainage and 1week postdrainage was noted. Patients were classified into effective and ineffective groups according to a 110% increase in the P/F ratio 1week postdrainage compared with predrainage. The predrainage P/F ratio was lower in the effective group than in the ineffective group (165±91 versus 217±74,

<0.05). Discriminant analysis showed the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.72; the cut-off value of the predrainage P/F ratio (divided into effective and ineffective groups) was 174.

Pleural drainage could be effective in patients who have lower preprocedure P/F ratios.

Pleural drainage could be effective in patients who have lower preprocedure P/F ratios.

Over the last two decades an increasing number of countries have legalized euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EAS) leading to considerable debate over the inherent ethical dilemmas. Increasing numbers of people with personality disorders, faced with unbearable suffering, have requested and received assistance in terminating their lives. EAS in people with personality disorders has, however, received very sparse attention from clinicians and researchers. In this paper, we examine the literature on the practice and prevalence of EAS in people with personality disorders to date and discuss the associated challenges for research and practice.

Narrative review of the literature combined with the authors’ collective experience and knowledge of personality disorders.

In six of the eight countries where EAS is currently legal, mental disorders are accepted as disorders for which EAS may be granted. In four of these countries, EAS in minors with mental disorders is also accepted. Our literature search resulted in 9 papers on the subject of EAS in people with personality disorders.