Men use aphrodisiac substances during sex for a mix of psychological, physiological, social, and cultural reasons. Using aphrodisiac substances whether herbal, pharmaceutical, or recreational—can affect male psychological health in several ways. These effects depend on frequency of use, underlying health conditions, expectations about sexual performance, and the type of substance used. Many men may begin to believe that sexual performance is impossible without the substance and his can lead to: decreased natural sexual confidence, reliance on external aids and anxiety about sexual failure if the substance is unavailable. This psychological dependency can be as impactful as physical addiction. This study is aim to evaluate the Psychological Factors Associated with the Frequent Use of Aphrodisiacs During Sexual Activity Among Men in South-South Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study involving 250 women. A well-structured questionnaire was administered to participants. The study lasted for a period of 2 months. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 25.0 and p < 0.05 was significant. The results revealed that 75% of the participants were addicted to the use of aphrodisiac substance, 64% had anxiety, 72% were ashamed of constant erection, 68% were confused, 76% were depressed, 86% isolated themselves.

Background: CHAPLE syndrome (Complement Hyperactivation, Angiopathic Thrombosis, and Protein-Losing Enteropathy) is an extremely rare and life-threatening monogenic disease caused by loss-of-function mutations of CD55 leading to dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway. The clinical pattern characterized by PLE and chronic inflammatory disease is frequently misattributed to idiopathic bowel disease (IBD) with consequent inappropriate and prolonged treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. Methods: We report on a 6-year-old boy with early-onset chronic diarrhea, failure to thrive and steroid-dependent PLE that was initially identified as IBD. To resolve the diagnostic confusion, a fulminant biochemical and genetic lookups were performed. Results: This patient's sustained biochemical abnormalities severe hypoalbuminemia (15-22 g/L), profound thrombocytosis (platelets> 800 x 10⁹/l) and dimorphic anaemia were unrelated to traditional IBD. Genetic central sequencing demonstrated a homozygous deleterious CD55 variant, confirming the diagnosis of CHAPLE syndrome. This diagnosis provided the pathophysiological explanation for complement activation. Discussion: Treatment was consequently changed from corticosteroids to pozelimab, a complement C5 inhibitor monoclonal antibody. This therapy resulted in a prompt normalization of serum albumin and relief from gastrointestinal symptoms with subsequent prolonged clinical remission. Conclusions: We report a case, which highlights that a particular combination of biochemical aberrations in a previously well individual with refractory IBD should bring to mind monogenic causes including CHAPLE syndrome. Genetic testing is the best and most accurate way to diagnose a disorder. It is a revolution in the treatment of disease: away from nonspecific suppression of the immune system and toward targeted biologic therapy aimed at its precise cause — with dramatically better outcomes. Identification of these patterns and advising on confirmatory testing is a responsibility of clinical biochemists.

β-thalassemia minor is a hereditary hemoglobinopathy characterized by a reduction in β-globin synthesis, usually presenting as mild, microcytic anemia. Although generally asymptomatic, pregnant women with this condition may pose anesthetic challenges due to altered hematologic and physiological states. In this case, a patient with β-thalassemia minor underwent a cesarean section under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia without complications. The anesthetic technique provided effective sensory blockade and stable hemodynamics, demonstrating that regional anesthesia can be safely administered when accompanied by appropriate preoperative evaluation, vigilant intraoperative monitoring, and effective blood conservation strategies. This case underscores the importance of individualized anesthetic planning for patients with hemoglobinopathies undergoing obstetric surgery.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), or Ogilvie’s syndrome, is characterized by dilation of part or all of the colon and rectum in the absence of any intrinsic or extrinsic mechanical obstruction. It predominantly affects people around the age of 60, with a male predominance. Its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. It often occurs in debilitated individuals. Although rare, it is serious, with a mortality rate of about 15% when treated early and appropriately, but increasing to 36–44% in cases of perforation or intestinal ischemia. Treatment may be medical, endoscopic, or surgical. Surgery is indicated when medical management fails or if there is suspicion of colonic perforation. Surgical options include cecostomy or possibly peroperative transanal pan-colorectal intubation using a multi-perforated tube via laparotomy. We report the case of an 18-year-old patient admitted for surgical management of acute intestinal obstruction due to Ogilvie’s syndrome lasting more than 24 hours, treated with a decompressive colostomy.

Pulmonary aspergillosis is an opportunistic infection caused by species of the genus Aspergillus, encompassing a broad clinical spectrum, from saprophytic colonization to potentially fatal invasive disease. Among its chronic forms, aspergilloma represents an intracavitary fungal mass, usually associated with pre-existing pulmonary cavities due to tuberculosis, emphysema, or other structural lung diseases. Although classically considered non-invasive, it may cause severe complications in specific clinical settings. Pulmonary Aspergillus infection can present atypically, especially in immunocompromised patients. Thrombotic events, including pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), have been described as rare but possible complications in these patients.

This review paper, conducted between January and March 2025 and based on a comprehensive analysis of previous studies, investigates the function of members of the PAX gene family in human illnesses. PAX genes serve as critical regulators in the development of various tissues and organs, and mutations in these genes have been linked to a broad spectrum of genetic disorders and cancers. The research focused on the functions of individual PAX genes and their associations with disease phenotypes. For instance, mutations in PAX9 are linked to tooth agenesis, with the severity of dental anomalies depending on the mutation’s impact on DNA-binding capacity. Mutations in PAX2 have been associated with renal and ocular malformations, notably papillorenal syndrome, characterized by renal hypoplasia and optic nerve defects. Additionally, PAX4 and PAX6 are essential for the differentiation of pancreatic endocrine cells, and their mutations are implicated in various forms of diabetes. Moreover, aberrant expression of PAX genes is observed in several cancer types. PAX3 and PAX7 expression correlates with melanoma and sarcoma progression, while PAX2 and PAX8 are frequently expressed in Wilms tumor, a pediatric kidney cancer. These genes can influence tumor initiation, progression, or resistance mechanisms, though their exact oncogenic roles remain to be fully defined. The findings highlight the necessity for detailed characterization of PAX gene isoforms, mutation effects, and tissue-specific functions. Future investigations should also address the roles of PAX genes in adult tissue regeneration and further elucidate their contributions to developmental disorders and cancer biology.

Opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) and thromboembolic complications are frequent and well-known manifestations in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Their simultaneous presentation as the initial HIV diagnosis in a previously healthy patient is rare and represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to its potentially fatal nature.