Introduction: Infertility affects about 15% of reproductive-age couples globally and is a highly stressful experience, especially for women facing psychological, social, and cultural impacts. Employment status may influence how women cope with infertility stress. Objective: To compare perceived mental stress levels between working and non-working infertile women attending selected infertility centres in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and to identify associated socio-demographic, reproductive, and social factors. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study from January to December 2022 was conducted at Mohammadpur Fertility Services and Training Center and BSMMU, Dhaka. It involved 110 infertile women (55 working, 55 non-working), aged 20-49, with primary infertility, selected via purposive sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with a pretested semi-structured questionnaire including the PSS-10. Height and weight were measured for BMI. SPSS v25 was used for analysis, employing descriptive stats, t-tests, chi-square, Fisher's exact tests, and regression, with p<0.05 as significant. Results: Working women had higher education (43.6% graduates vs 16.4%, p=0.001) and income (39,845 BDT vs 26,735 BDT, p=0.001), married later (22.16 vs 19.99 years, p=0.011), and shorter infertility duration (4.72 vs 6.05 years, p=0.022). Among working women, 61.8% had moderate stress and 36.4% low stress, while among non-working women, 89.1% had moderate stress and 7.3% had low stress (p=0.001). Marriage duration was linked to stress only among non-working women (p=0.031), with >5 years married experiencing higher stress. Caffeine intake correlated with stress only among non-working women (p=0.041). Social stigma was more common among non-working women (60.0% vs 49.1%). Conclusion: Non-working infertile women face higher moderate mental stress than working women. Employment acts as a protective factor via financial independence, social identity, and coping resources. Support services should target non-working women, who encounter greater social stigma, longer infertility duration, and fewer coping resources.

Background: Pediatric ameloblastoma is an uncommon odontogenic tumor that demonstrates clinicopathologic characteristics distinct from adult cases. Precise delineation of demographic distribution, anatomic predilection, radiographic presentation, and histopathologic subtypes is essential for risk-adapted surgical planning and improved long-term outcomes. Objective: To characterize the demographic, clinical, radiographic, and histopathological features of ameloblastoma in children and adolescents treated at a tertiary referral center in Lagos State, Nigeria, and to evaluate predictors of biologic tumor type. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 63 patients younger than 18 years diagnosed with ameloblastoma between 2013 and 2025. Data collected included age, sex, duration of symptoms, tumor site, radiographic appearance, and histopathologic classification according to the 2022 WHO criteria. Associations between biologic type [unicystic vs. conventional] and clinical variables were examined using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of conventional ameloblastoma among 59 cases with specified classification. Results: The majority of patients were aged 11–15 years [42.9%], followed by 16–18 years [38.1%]; no cases occurred below 6 years. Males predominated [63.5%]. Tumors overwhelmingly involved the mandible [90.5%], with maxillary lesions accounting for 3.2%. Conventional ameloblastoma constituted 49.2% of cases, unicystic ameloblastoma 44.4%, and 6.3% were unspecified. Plexiform architecture predominated among conventional tumors [25.4% of total cohort], whereas the mural variant was most frequent among unicystic lesions [22.2%]. Radiographic appearance demonstrated a strong association with biologic type: 96.4% of unicystic tumors were unilocular, while 96.8% of conventional tumors were multilocular [p < 0.001]. On multivariable analysis, increasing age [OR 1.328 per year; 95% CI 1.067–1.654; p = 0.011], male sex [OR 4.208; 95% CI 1.516–11.681; p = 0.006], and multilocular radiographic pattern [OR 133.2; 95% CI 12.61–1407.3; p < 0.001] independently predicted conventional ameloblastoma. Duration of symptoms was not significantly associated with biologic type. Conclusion: Pediatric ameloblastoma in this cohort demonstrated teenage predominance, significant male preponderance in conventional tumors, and marked mandibular localization. Conventional ameloblastoma slightly exceeded unicystic ameloblastoma. Multilocular radiographic appearance, older age, and male sex were strong independent predictors of conventional histology. These findings underscore the importance of integrating demographic and imaging features with histopathologic classification to guide surgical decision-making in pediatric patients.

This article critically examines the incorporation of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms into the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on the reformist objectives underlying their adoption and the absence of a coherent structural and legal foundation to support their effective implementation. While the integration of ADR is intended to decongest courts, promote restorative justice, and enhance access to justice, Nigeria’s criminal justice system remains predominantly adversarial and retributive. This structural orientation generates significant tension between entrenched procedural norms and emerging reformist aspirations. The article identifies persistent legislative gaps, institutional weaknesses, procedural ambiguities, and inconsistencies in policy and practice that undermine the operational viability of ADR in criminal proceedings. It further interrogates the suitability and enforceability of ADR outcomes, particularly in cases involving serious offences where public interest considerations and victims’ rights are paramount. Employing doctrinal and empirical methodologies, the study argues that, in the absence of comprehensive legal reform, institutional capacity building, and normative reorientation of justice sector actors, the adoption of ADR in criminal justice constitutes a largely symbolic reform. The article concludes by proposing a structured framework for the principled integration of ADR into Nigeria’s criminal justice system, grounded in legislative coherence, institutional accountability, and restorative justice values, with a view to ensuring its long-term effectiveness and legitimacy.

Portfolio management in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas industry is critical for optimizing asset performance, mitigating operational and financial risks, and ensuring long-term profitability. Given the capital-intensive and high-risk nature of upstream petroleum operations, a structured framework integrating asset allocation, diversification, risk governance, performance monitoring, and investment screening is essential. This study examines portfolio management practices within Nigeria’s upstream sector, with emphasis on economic feasibility evaluation tools including Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Payback Period, Profitability Index, and Break-even Oil Price analysis. The study further analyses key portfolio components such as goal setting, action planning, capital allocation, rebalancing, reporting, and risk management within the context of Nigeria’s regulatory and fiscal environment. The findings highlight the importance of integrated financial and strategic decision-making in enhancing investment resilience, optimizing resource utilization, and promoting sustainable sector growth. The study provides a practical framework for policymakers, regulators, and upstream operators seeking to strengthen portfolio performance in a volatile energy market.

This study focused on demonstrating the inhibitory activity of essential oils from four aromatic plants, Cymbopogon citratus, C. giganteus, Eucalyptus globulus, and Syzygium aromaticum, on strains of Candida albicans and Microsporum spp. in the Kisangani region. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and the antifungal activity was evaluated by aromatogram. The results revealed that, on the C. albicans strain, the average inhibition diameter was 3 mm for C. citratus essential oil, 1 mm for C. giganteus and E. globulus essential oils, and 24 mm for S. aromaticum essential oil. Furthermore, on the Microsporum spp. strain, the average inhibition diameter was 16 mm for C. citratus essential oil, 15.5 mm for C. giganteus essential oil, 8 mm for E. globulus essential oil, and 12 mm for S. aromaticum essential oil. This study shows that the inhibition diameters of the essential oils of the plant species studied have different activities on the two fungal strains (C. albicans and Microsporum spp.) tested. However, using Student's t-test, the probability obtained is p-value = 0.01, indicating a very significant difference in sensitivity between the two strains tested.

Background: Saddle block anesthesia is widely used for perianal surgeries; however, postoperative analgesia remains limited when local anesthetics are used alone. This study aimed to compare the effects of intrathecal dexmedetomidine and fentanyl as adjuvants to hyperbaric bupivacaine in saddle block for perianal surgeries Methods: This observational study in the Department of Anaesthesia, Analgesia, and Intensive Care Medicine at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital enrolled 64 adults (ASA I–II, 40–60 years) undergoing perianal surgery under saddle block, randomly receiving hyperbaric bupivacaine 7.5 mg with fentanyl 15 μg or dexmedetomidine 5 μg; outcomes included duration of analgesia, pain, sensory and motor block, hemodynamics, patient satisfaction, and adverse events, analyzed using SPSS v23.0. Results: Among 64 patients (mean age 45.3 ± 8.5 years; 48 males, 75%), postoperative VAS scores were lower in the dexmedetomidine group at all time points (peak 4 h: 2.75 vs 3.75). Duration of analgesia was longer with dexmedetomidine (278.5 ± 16.2 min) than fentanyl (198.7 ± 25.2 min, P = 0.0001). Motor and sensory block durations were also prolonged (162.5 vs 126.5 min and 292.1 vs 205.6 min, respectively). Hemodynamics remained stable, and adverse events were minimal (hypotension 2/32 vs 0/32; nausea/vomiting 5/32 vs 8/32; pruritus 4/32 vs 0/32). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine in perianal surgeries under saddle block offers longer analgesia, lower pain scores, and faster sensory block onset than fentanyl.

Background: Pilonidal sinus is a chronic disease of the sacrococcygeal region, commonly seen in young adults, and is characterized by midline pits in the natal cleft associated with hair. This study was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of the Limberg flap procedure in the treatment of primary pilonidal sinus, including postoperative complications, duration of hospital stay, and time to return to work. Methods: This prospective observational study at the Department of Colorectal Surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh (July 2019–August 2020), included 18 adults with primary pilonidal sinus. Excluding acute abscess and recurrent cases, patients underwent Limberg flap surgery under spinal anesthesia. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were recorded, with follow-up at 2 weeks, and 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 9th months. Data were analyzed using SPSS® 24. Results: Among 18 patients undergoing Limberg flap repair, mean age was 26.9 ± 5.2 years, 88.9% were male, and most had BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m². Single external opening was present in 83.3%. Mean operative time was 88.8 ± 12.7 minutes, hospital stay 4.17 ± 0.7 days, drain removal 3.4 ± 0.7 days, suture removal 12.9 ± 1.7 days, and return to work 12.7 ± 1.8 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 5 patients (27.7%), with no recurrences. Four of 5 overweight patients developed complications (r = 0.93, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Limberg flap is a safe and effective treatment for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus, offering low recurrence, minimal complications, and rapid recovery.