Matrix Science Medica (MSM)

Hormonal imbalance is an important biological factor that can affect emotional regulation, psychological stability, and mood disorder burden across different stages of life. Because endocrine changes occur during adolescence, reproductive age, postpartum, midlife, and later adulthood, their influence on mood may vary by age and hormonal pathway. Existing literature has shown strong links between thyroid dysfunction, reproductive hormone imbalance, postpartum endocrine change, and mood-related outcomes such as depression, anxiety, irritability, and emotional instability. However, much of the current research has focused on specific hormonal conditions or isolated life stages, which has limited a broader understanding of how hormonal imbalance affects mood disorders across age groups in an integrated way. This study was therefore conducted to provide a more age-sensitive understanding of the problem. The article examines major hormonal imbalance categories, compares their emotional effects across life stages, and discusses how endocrine disruption contributes to mood disorder burden in different age groups. Overall, the study concludes that hormonal imbalance has a clear but age-dependent influence on mood disorders, and that age-based endocrine interpretation is important for stronger clinical understanding.

Fertility was a major concern for human beings at early stages of existence. The fundamental reason for this was both an increase in the race and the survival of the nation. According to their entrenched belief that all successful steps necessitate the God’s blessing, fertility, similarly, was seen as a sign of blessing. In some other Mesopotamian and Mediterranean regions, the fertility goddess was represented by such symbols as the genital organs of the woman, such as rhombs, the obvious genital shapes, and pubic triangle. The data collection was based on archeological works carried out by teams from the Directorate of Antiquities in Duhok, a city in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region in 2019. The discovery of numerous mother goddesses refers to the important role that God’s blessing in fertility plays in the life of the people settled in this region until today. This belief is also present in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In ancient Kurdistan region of Iraq, we observed a number of fertility goddesses and the God of desire, which reflects the importance of reproduction concept among those nations, who lived in this region.

Depression is a major mental health challenge, and its early-stage diagnosis is difficult because initial symptoms are often mild, mixed, and not clearly visible. This creates a need for screening methods that can detect early depressive change through more objective indicators. Existing studies have shown that biomarkers such as neural and inflammatory signals, along with behavioral indicators such as speech, facial response, and expressive change, can support depression detection. However, earlier work has examined these signals separately, which limits the ability to capture the full pattern of early-stage depression. This research was therefore needed to address the gap between single-domain models and the clinical need for a more integrated screening framework. In this article, a multimodal methodology is presented that combines biomarker screening, behavioral indicator extraction, feature integration, and early-stage depression classification within one structured framework. The results showed that the integrated model performed better than biomarker-only and behavior-only models, indicating that early depression is better recognized when biological evidence and behavioral signals are examined together. Overall, the study concludes that multimodal screening provides a more complete and clinically useful direction for the early diagnosis of depression.

Bell’s palsy is the most frequent cause of unilateral peripheral facial nerve palsy with an acute onset. Although the exact cause of Bell’s palsy is unknown, there is evidence that it is likely related to viral infections such herpes zoster virus and herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). Bell’s palsy symptoms usually peak in the first week and then progressively go away over the course of three weeks to three months. It often occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus and in pregnant women. Diagnosis of Bell’s palsy is purely on clinical basis. Management of Bell’s palsy aims to achieve complete recovery and reduce negative sequelae of patients that do not resolve spontaneously. Treatment should be started early in the course of the disease and within 72 hours of onset. Both antiviral and corticosteroids are used as treatment strategies. Patients who get corticosteroids alone had better results than those who just receive antivirals, Additionally, antiviral medications are no more effective than a placebo.

Nutritional deficiencies are increasingly recognized as important contributors to both mood disturbance and cognitive decline. Because the brain depends on adequate vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids for neurotransmission, energy metabolism, and neuronal stability, poor nutritional status may weaken both emotional and cognitive health. Existing literature has linked deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, folate, and related micronutrients with depression, anxiety, fatigue, memory weakness, and reduced cognitive clarity. However, much of this research has examined mood and cognition separately or has focused on single nutrients, which limits an integrated understanding of their combined effects. Synthesizing evidence in a clinically relevant and interconnected way was the primary objective of this study. The article examines the primary nutritional deficiencies and their mood-related and cognitive outcomes and describes the remaining evidence. The article shows how these deficiencies may overlap and suggests multiple emotional and mental processes may be most adversely impacted by deficiencies of vitamin D, vitamin B12, and omega-3. This article stresses the importance of assessing nutrition when evaluating mental and cognitive health.

Senna obtusifolia is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat diseases in Africa. This study was undertaken to investigate the potential of the phytochemicals in S. obtusifolia as drug candidate for treatment of aflatoxin synthesis. 20 compounds through a GC-MS analysis and their 2D structures were extracted from Pubchem server. The 3D structure of polyketide synthase A, a poisonous and carcinogenic chemical substance, produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which is the target protein was obtained from RCSB PDB server, and were utilized for analysis of molecular binding affinity of the drug-like compounds. Bioavailability radar was used for a rapid assessment of drug-likeness in which physicochemical properties such as: lipophilicity, size, polarity, solubility, flexibility and saturation were taken into consideration. The result showed inhibition of the target protein polyketide synthase A. The molecular interactions and in silico pharmacokinetics profiling of the best binding five compounds from the molecular docking process were assessed. The docking results showed that cis-oleic acid, methyllinolelaidate, stearic acid, methyl-11-octadecenoate, and methyl-n-octadecanoate, showed superior inhibitory potential through their respective docking scores: -9.214, -9.213, -8.688, -8.343 and -8.303 kcal/mol, in addition to good pharmacokinetics profiles compared to palmitic acid -a natural substrate which has a docking score of -8.097. In bioavailability radar, physicochemical range on each axis was depicted as a pink area in which the radar plot of the molecule has to fall entirely to be considered drug-like. This study showed that S. obtusifolia can serve as phytotherapy in treatment of health problems caused by aflatoxin.

α1-antitrypsin (A1AT) levels in active TB is not consistent and performance in routine Nigerian care is not well defined . A cross-sectional, three-arm case–control study with N = 75 (25 Non-TB; 25 NewDx; 25 Treated TB) was conducted. Serum A1AT measured by immunoassay. We compared groups via ANOVA and Welch post-hoc with Hedges g; and estimated ROC AUCs with bootstrap 95% CIs. A1AT was highest in NewDx TB (293.7 ± 73.9 mg/dL) vs Non-TB (151.5 ± 25.9) and Treated TB (160.0 ± 22.6); ANOVA p < 0.001. Discrimination for Non-TB vs NewDx: AUC 0.928 (95% CI 0.833–1.000), threshold ~220 mg/dL, sensitivity 0.88, specificity 1.00; for Non-TB vs All-TB: AUC 0.772 (0.667–0.869), threshold ~167 mg/dL, sensitivity 0.68, specificity 0.80. In Nigerian care, A1AT provides excellent triage discrimination for newly diagnosed TB and moderate discrimination when treated cases are included. A1AT-guided referral to confirmatory testing warrants multi-site validation, quality assurance, and cost-effectiveness evaluation.

A 60‑year‑old, right‑handed female patient with no past medical history was found unresponsive at home by her husband. She was taken to the regional hospital. On presentation, her Glasgow Coma Scale was 10, not fully awake, temperature of 38.5°C, tachycardia, and tachypnea. Her serum glucose was over 400 mg/dl which later confirmed to be new onset diabetes mellitus. She was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics and admitted to the intensive care unit. An emergent echocardiogram obtained due to positive blood cultures for Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus later that day. Echocardiogram showed moderate mitral valve stenosis with mean gradient of 8.8 mmHg. Mitral annulus was severely calcified. The posterior leaflet showed minimal mobile 0.8 cm × 0.9 cm vegetation consistent with acute bacterial endocarditis. She was changed to nafcillin infusion for MSSA endocarditis. Due to her neurological status, an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain obtained, which showed small acute or early subacute infarcts scattered throughout different vascular territories affecting both cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres, the brainstem and left thalamus.

Background: Parasitic infections pose a significant health burden among school-age children in Nigeria. Aim and Objective: This study aimed to investigate the distribution of parasitic infections among pupils in Kwara State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 638 pupils from various primary schools in Kwara Central, Kwara South, and Kwara North senatorial districts were included in the study. Stool, blood, and urine samples were collected from each participant, and appropriate preservation methods were employed. Parasite identification was carried out using microscopy, staining techniques, and concentration methods described in previous studies. Results: The results revealed an overall prevalence of 19.4% among the pupils, with 80.6% found to be uninfected. The most common parasitic infections were Ascaris lumbricoides (55.6%), Schistosoma mansoni (11.2%), Plasmodium (10.5%), Entamoeba histolytica (8.9%), Hookworm (8.1%), Fasciola gigantica (4.0%), and Schistosoma haematobium (1.6%). Further analysis focused on the age distribution of parasitic infections. Among pupils aged 1–5 years, Plasmodium infection had a prevalence of 23.1%. In the 6–10 years age group, A. lumbricoides (59.4%), S. mansoni (74%), E. histolytica (45.5%), Hookworm (30.0%), F. gigantica (20%), and Plasmodium (61.5%) were prevalent. Among pupils aged 11–15 years, A. lumbricoides (40.6%), S. mansoni (28.6%), E. histolytica (54.5%), Hookworm (70.0%), F. gigantica (60.0%), Plasmodium (15.4%), and S. haematobium (1.6%) were observed. Pupils aged 16–20 years showed a lower prevalence of parasitic infections, with F. gigantica (20%) being the only detected parasite. Conclusion: The findings highlight the varying distribution of parasitic infections among different age groups, emphasizing the need for age-specific interventions. The high prevalence of certain parasites, such as A. lumbricoides, S. mansoni, and Plasmodium, indicates the importance of implementing targeted deworming programs, improved sanitation, hygiene practices, and malaria prevention strategies. These measures can effectively reduce the burden of parasitic infections and promote the health and well-being of pupils in Kwara State, Nigeria.

This review elucidates the pivotal role of patent medicine vendors (PMVs) in advancing community tuberculosis (TB) case finding in Nigeria, amidst the disruptions caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic. By synthesizing insights from in‑depth analyses, the article explores PMVs’ adaptability, knowledge, community trust, and contributions to TB case‑finding efforts during this unprecedented period. The study reveals that PMVs, despite varying levels of knowledge on TB symptoms and diagnosis, have demonstrated significant resilience and adaptability, incorporating innovative approaches such as virtual consultations to sustain case finding during the pandemic. Their substantial involvement in health-care delivery, especially in underserved areas, and the evident community trust in their services, positions them as crucial health-care resources in regions with limited access to formal health‑care services. However, the review also uncovers challenges, including the need for quality assurance and adherence to guidelines, and emphasizes the importance of tailored training programs to bridge knowledge gaps and empower PMVs to contribute more effectively to early TB detection. The study underscores the potential of PMVs to bridge gaps in health‑care access and advocates for strengthened collaborations between PMVs and formal health-care systems to optimize their role in identifying and referring suspected TB cases effectively. In conclusion, the article highlights the transformative contribution of PMVs in TB case finding in Nigeria, during the COVID‑19 pandemic and proposes recommendations to enhance their impact through capacity strengthening, integration into formal health‑care systems, and leveraging innovative technologies. The findings suggest that harnessing the potential of PMVs can significantly contribute to controlling TB and improving public health outcomes, especially in anticipation of further outbreaks, by fostering a more community‑centered approach to case finding.