Background: Neonatal hypoglycaemia is a common metabolic abnormality in newborns and may be associated with neurological injury and death, particularly in high-risk neonates. This study assessed the burden and clinical correlates of low blood glucose among neonates admitted to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed SCBU records from 1 January to 31 December 2024. Of 623 records identified, 219 neonates had sufficiently complete records and documented blood glucose values for analysis. Data were analysed with SPSS version 27. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and percentages, and associations were assessed using chi-square tests. Hypoglycaemia was defined in the source dataset as blood glucose ≤40 mg/dL, with values <30 mg/dL classified as severe and 31–40 mg/dL as moderate. Results: Of the 219 neonates analysed, 121 (55.3%) were male. Preterm low birth weight was the commonest recorded diagnosis (52.5%), followed by neonatal sepsis (37.4%) and neonatal asphyxia (10.0%). Severe hypoglycaemia occurred in 88 (40.2%) and moderate hypoglycaemia in 80 (36.6%), giving a prevalence of 76.7% among analysed neonates. Ninety neonates (41.1%) died. Blood glucose category was significantly associated with mortality (χ²=15.91, p=0.007) and diagnosis (χ²=24.21, p=0.0071), but not with gestational-age category (χ²=30.18, p=0.067) or sex (χ²=5.0, p=0.60). Conclusion: Low blood glucose was frequent among neonates with complete glucose records admitted to this tertiary SCBU and was associated with mortality and diagnostic category. The findings support early glucose surveillance and prompt management in high-risk admitted neonates, while the retrospective, selected-record design limits generalization of the prevalence estimate.

Prussian blue has crossed a variety of disciplines. Prussian blue was found by chance in Berlin at the beginning of the eighteenth century, and was then the first synthetic dye used on a large scale, leading to a revolution in artistic expression throughout Europe and Asia. It was deep, stable in color, which changed the way paintings, printmaking, and textiles were made, and in time influenced some of the greatest artworks of all time. The pigment was used in medicine as well as art. Max Perls, in 1867, modified the chemistry of Prussian blue to make it suitable as a stain for tissues for ferric iron, which is one of the longest-lasting stains used in diagnostic pathology. Perl's' Prussian blue stain is an essential part of the evaluation of iron overload disorders, pulmonary hemosiderosis, myelodysplastic syndromes, and forensic work today. Incredibly, Prussian blue is also an FDA approved therapeutic agent for radioactive cesium and thallium poisoning. Prussian blue's development from an accidental laboratory contaminant, a scientific curiosity, and an antidote is a testament to how one molecule can have a lasting impact on human knowledge through serendipity, curiosity, and interdisciplinary innovations. The review overviews the history and chemical basis, pathological uses, forensic importance, therapeutic uses, and future potential of Prussian blue.

Microplastics (MPs) are widespread pollutants in freshwater aquaculture systems, entering through the degradation of pond linings and nets, contaminated aquafeeds, agricultural runoff and atmospheric deposition. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) an omnivorous and intensively farmed fish, is heavily exposed to MPs however, the interaction between MPs, gut microbiota and mucosal immunity in this species has not been comprehensively assessed. In this review, we summarize recent evidence on the sources, uptake and accumulation of MPs and on how MP exposure causes gut dysbiosis, characterized by decreased alpha diversity, increased abundance of Proteobacteria and reduced levels of beneficial Firmicutes and Fusobacteria, which may affect short chain fatty acid biosynthesis. We then examine how dysbiosis and barrier dysfunction are linked to activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB, MAPK, JAK/STAT, Nrf2/Keap1 and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways and to oxidative and histopathological damage in the intestine and liver. Special attention is given to age dependent susceptibility, as juvenile fish show dysregulated inflammatory genes under conditions in which no effects are observed in adults. Candidate molecular, biochemical, hematological and non-invasive mucus-based biomarkers are discussed alongside the feasibility of multi omics approaches (metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics) for resolving host microbiota environment interactions. Mitigation strategies, including multi species probiotics, algal supplements, engineered biochar, feed management and biodegradable materials, are also evaluated. Key knowledge gaps remain in chronic low dose exposure, mixture effects, nanoplastics, reversibility of dysbiosis and methodological standardization. Addressing these gaps will be essential for developing resilient and sustainable tilapia aquaculture.