Igbinedion University Okada

Corporal punishment is a prevalent form of discipline in Nigerian schools, despite international and national efforts to protect children's rights. Rooted in cultural norms and traditional practices, physical punishment is widely accepted by parents, educators, and community leaders as an effective disciplinary tool. It has remained deeply ingrained in Nigerian schools, with significant attention paid to its prevalence, detrimental effects, and the sociocultural factors that perpetuate its use. We conducted a literature review of 57 studies published over the past two decades, revealing alarmingly high rates of corporal punishment across different regions of Nigeria, with Northern Nigeria reporting the highest prevalence (85%) and Southern Nigeria the lowest (70%). Younger students, particularly those in primary school, are most frequently subjected to such disciplinary measures. Common forms include caning (60%), slapping (45%), and flogging (25%), all of which have significant physical, psychological, and emotional impacts - ranging from injuries to increased anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Traditional beliefs and societal attitudes normalize these practices, complicating the enforcement of protective laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015. Our analysis underscores the pressing need for concerted efforts to eliminate corporal punishment in Nigerian schools. We recommend strengthening legal reforms, promoting alternative disciplinary approaches, engaging communities to shift cultural norms, and implementing effective monitoring mechanisms. By fostering positive discipline practices, Nigerian schools can create a safe and supportive environment that prioritizes the well-being and dignity of children.

Our review examined recent evidence on asthma management, focusing on updated clinical guidelines, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment strategies, and population-specific considerations. Particular attention was given to the Global Initiative for Asthma and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines.

We included peer-reviewed articles, clinical guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and cohort studies published in English from January 2018 to August 2024. Studies not focused on asthma management published before 2018 that were not in English or lacked relevant clinical content were excluded. Literature was identified via PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library searches. The GRADE framework assessed evidence quality across study design, consistency, and applicability. Due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes, a narrative synthesis was conducted.

Sixty-two studies met inclusion criteria, including clinical guidelines (n = 4), systematic reviews/meta-analyses (n = 14), randomized controlled trials (n = 18), cohort studies (n = 11), and expert reviews (n = 15). These addressed pharmacologic therapy, biologics, digital health tools, and care in specific populations. High-certainty evidence supports inhaled corticosteroid-based stepwise therapy and biologics for severe asthma. Moderate-certainty evidence supports digital tools and lifestyle interventions, while alternative therapies have low-certainty support. Biologics like dupilumab and benralizumab showed consistent reductions in severe asthma exacerbations.

Evidence was limited by heterogeneity, potential bias in lower-quality studies, and inconsistent outcome reporting. Findings affirm guideline-based therapy as foundational while highlighting the growing role of biologics and digital innovations.

Our review received no external funding and was not registered in a systematic review registry.

The discovery and subsequent evolution of the Ouabain-Na+/K+ pump endocrine system have profoundly impacted our understanding of cellular physiology and disease mechanisms. Initially identified as a cardiotonic steroid with potent effects on the Na+/K+ ATPase, Ouabain has been implicated in various physiological and pathological processes. The Na+/K+ pump, a crucial component of cellular physiology, maintains electrochemical gradients essential for nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and cellular volume regulation. Since Jens Christian Skou’s Nobel Prize-winning discovery in 1957, research has unveiled its broader role in cellular homeostasis and disease. A significant breakthrough was the identification of Ouabain as an endogenous ligand of the Na+/K+ pump, transforming the pump’s role from a mere ion transporter to a receptor within a hormonal signaling pathway. This discovery has linked the Na+/K+ pump to complex intracellular signaling pathways, with implications for hypertension, heart failure, and cancer. However, emerging evidence suggests that its role extends beyond cardiovascular dysfunction to neurological disorders such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. In epilepsy, dysregulation of the Na+/K+ pump contributes to altered ion homeostasis and hyperexcitability. At the same time, in Alzheimer’s disease, its dysfunction has been associated with disrupted calcium signaling, oxidative stress, and amyloid-beta accumulation. Similarly, alterations in Na+/K+ pump activity have been linked to dopaminergic neuron vulnerability in Parkinson’s disease. This paradigm shift offers exciting therapeutic possibilities for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and depression, redefining the pump’s significance across multiple disciplines of medicine.