An experiment was conducted in 2006/07 dry season to evaluate the effect of mulching, nitrogen and irrigation interval on the nutritional quality of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) at Shika, Nigeria. Treatments consisted of three mulching (no mulch, rice-straw mulch and black polythene mulch) four nitrogen rates (0, 45, 90 and 135kgN ha -1 ) and three irrigation intervals (5, 10 and 15 days). Mulching significantly increased the dry matter, protein and carbohydrate contents in fruits, but decreased the crude fiber content. In most cases rice-straw mulch appeared a better mulching material. N rate of 45kg ha -1 had more dry matter content over control, but higher values for protein and carbohydrate contents were with 90kg ha -1 . The 135kgN ha -1 rate depressed carbohydrate content. Irrigation interval of 10 days recorded more dry matter and crude fiber while highest fruit carbohydrate contents was attained at 15 day irrigation interval over the 5-day interval. Delaying irrigation significantly depressed fruit protein content. Rice-straw mulch + 90kgN ha -1 or polythene mulch in combination with 45kgN ha -1 had more carbohydrate in fruits.

Objectives To evaluate the symptoms’ resolution, adverse events (AEs) profile and 1-year survival rate associated with different cervical cancer (CC) therapies among patients receiving care in two Nigerian tertiary hospitals. Methods This study employed a prospective longitudinal design with a 12-month patient follow-up. It was conducted at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto in Sokoto state and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria in Kaduna state, North-Western Nigeria. Data of all the 157 eligible CC patients who came to the Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology clinics of the hospitals were collected at baseline and after the first, third and last treatment courses/radiation fractions. Data analysis was done with appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS V. 20 for windows. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Key findings Patients who received chemoradiation therapy (CRT), 29 (100.0%), adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRTS), 9 (100.0%), adjuvant chemotherapy (CTS), 6 (100.0%) and chemotherapy (CT), 27 (28.1%) (P < 0.001) reported per vaginal bleeding (PVB) to have been completely stopped after therapy. Patients who received CT 4 (9.8%) experienced grade 3 anaemia, leucopaenia was experienced by patients who received CT 27 (54.0%) and CRT 20 (52.6%), P = 0.004. Grade 2 creatinine increase was observed in patients who received CRT 3 (8.1%) and CT 2 (3.1%), P = 0.013. There was no significant association between the therapy option received and 1-year survival rate of the patients within the clinical stage at P < 0.05. However, age (OR = 0.257, P = 0.042), number of comorbidities (OR = 0.123, P = 0.039) and number of complications (OR = 0.013, P < 0.001) were found to be the independent predictors of survival. Conclusions Chemoradiation and adjuvant therapies were found to be associated with the best resolution of symptoms. CT and CRT had high frequencies and severities of AEs. Therapy options received by the patients were not associated with their 1-year survival rates within clinical stages.

Introduction Cervical cancer (CC) treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were found to be among the major reasons for treatments delays and medication non-adherence. Knowledge and practice of self-care management of these AEs are therefore needed to complement the pharmacotherapeutic interventions. Instruments for assessing CC patients’ knowledge and practice of self-care management of treatment-related Adverse Events (AEs) are lacking. Hence, the rational for this study. Methods A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on CC patients receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both, with or without surgery in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto, a tertiary hospital in North-Western Nigeria. A panel of 14 experts judged the content validity of the items initially selected. Purposive sampling technique was used, 31 CC patients were recruited and interviewed for the questionnaire pre-testing. Descriptive statistics and psychometric analysis were conducted using SPSS Version 20.0 for Windows. A Cronbach’s alpha coefficient ≥0.70 was considered acceptable. Results A 12-domain questionnaire instrument was developed. Eight (57.1%) of the expert panelists rated the questions’ items as “Very good for the study” and none of them rated any of the content “not relevant for the study”. The reliability studies showed that the overall knowledge and practice questions response rates were 71.0% and 77.4% and Cronbach's alpha (α) values were 0.956 and 0.913, respectively. Conclusion A reliable, 12-domain cervical cancer patients’ knowledge and practice of self-care management of treatment-related adverse events questionnaire was developed. Further research on the psychometric qualities of the instrument is needed.

Background: High treatment costs pose a lot of economic burden on cervical cancer (CC) patients and their family members. Studies on cost-utility and cost-consequences analysis of CC therapies are lacking in Nigeria. Objective: To evaluate the cost-utility and cost-consequence of different CC therapies received by patients in two Nigerian tertiary hospitals. Method: This study employed a prospective longitudinal design with a 12-month patient follow- up. It was conducted at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, North-Western Nigeria. Data of all the 157 eligible CC patients were collected at baseline, after therapy and at 12 months follow up. Data analysis was done with appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS V. 20 for windows. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean total cost of therapy per patient for adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRTS) was the highest (₦663,497±164,690). The incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) for adjuvant chemotherapy (CTS) was the lowest (₦529,042 per QALY), while CRT had the highest ICUR, ₦9,511,087 per QALY. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RTS) had ₦452,009±10,619 mean total cost per patient against best symptoms’ resolution and survival; unfortunately, fertility not preserved. Conclusion: Adjuvant chemotherapy (CTS) was found to be the most cost-effective therapy option, while CRT was found to be least cost-effective therapy option received by the patients. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RTS) had a moderate mean total cost per patient with the best symptoms’ resolution and survival; unfortunately, fertility not preserved.

Background: Chemotherapeutic agents are among the mainstay of managing cancer patients. However, they are associated with various degrees of toxicity. Objectives: To evaluate the toxicity profile of chemotherapeutic agents among cancer patients receiving care in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. Method: Retrospective cross-sectional design and systematic random sampling were used in selecting the records of patients that met the eligibility criteria for the study. Five-year records (2014–2018) of Full Blood Count (FBC), Serum Electrolyte Urea and Creatinine (SrEUCr) and Liver Function Test (LFT) were evaluated for changes from baseline to the end of chemotherapy. The data were compared with standards and analysed using descriptive, t-test and correlation analyses at p<0.05. Results: The mean age of the 260 patients evaluated was 47.1±16.3 years. T-test analysis showed that the percentage changes in the patients’ parameters under FBC and SrEUCr tests were normal while the ones under LFT were abnormal. Patients on platinum-based combinations especially Cisplatin+Fluorouracil+Paclitaxel (87.5±87.4%) and Carboplatin+Paclitaxel (68.4±114.5%) had the highest percentage increase in their overall LFT results while those on Doxorubicin+Cyclophosphamide+Vincristine (4.8±18.7%) and Doxorubicin+ Cyclophosphamide+ Paclitaxel (12.3±27.9%) had the least. The number of chemotherapy cycles was weakly correlated with Hepatotoxicity (r=0.165, p=0.046). Conclusion: The patients had essentially normal FBC and SrEUCr results, however, LFT was abnormal due to the elevation of liver enzymes. Platinum-based combinations especially Cisplatin + Fluorouracil + Paclitaxel and Carboplatin + Paclitaxel had the highest elevation in liver enzymes while Doxorubicin+Cyclophosphamide+Vincristine and Doxorubicin+Cyclophosphamide+Paclitaxel had the least. These findings should be considered by clinicians in managing cancer patients to minimise their medication-related toxicities.