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  Citation statistics : Table of Contents
   2014| January-March  | Volume 17 | Issue 1  
    Online since March 20, 2014

 
 
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ORIGINAL ARTICLES
The profile of infertility in a teaching Hospital in North West Nigeria
Abubakar A Panti, Yusuf T Sununu
January-March 2014, 17(1):7-11
DOI:10.4103/1118-8561.129145  
Background: Infertility is a global health problem and a socially destabilizing condition for couples carrying several stigmas and a cause of marital disharmony. We determined the prevalence, causes, and clinical pattern of infertility at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study conducted at the Gynecological Department of UDUTH Sokoto between 1 st January, 2011 and 31 st July, 2011. All the patients that presented with infertility within the study period were recruited into the study. Relevant demographic, clinical, and laboratory/radiological data were documented using a structured questionnaire. The patients had their case folders tagged and followed up to 31 st December 2011 (6 months). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 11. Results: A total of 1,264 new gynecological cases were seen during the study period, and 198 infertile patients were evaluated. The prevalence of infertility was 15.7%. Primary infertility constituted 32.8%, while secondary infertility was 67.2%. Previous history of evidence of genital infection including lower abdominal pain (78.8%) and vaginal discharge (76.6%) were common. Female gender-related causes of infertility accounted for 42.9%; male causes accounted for 19.7%. Both partners contributed to infertility in 16.7%, while no cause was found in 20.7% of patients. Conclusion: The study shows a dominance of secondary infertility with probable genital tract infection being a major contributor. Early presentation and prompt treatments of genital tract infections may reduce the prevalence of infertility in the study population.
  17 24,971 1,839
Pattern of blood transfusion request and utilization at a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital
Abubakar U Musa, Mohammed A Ndakotsu, Abdul-Aziz Hassan, Ayatollah Kilishi, Ibrahim K Kwaifa
January-March 2014, 17(1):19-22
DOI:10.4103/1118-8561.129149  
Introduction: Provision of adequate safe blood is challenging in developing countries due to paucity of voluntary blood donors, poor facilities for storage and blood component preparation as well as inappropriate blood ordering and utilization. Appraisal of pattern of blood transfusion requests and utilization helps highlight shortcomings that could be addressed toward judicious use of blood. Aims: To determine the pattern of blood transfusion requests and utilization at a Nigerian Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: Blood request forms and cross-match worksheets at the blood bank of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto were analyzed over a 3-month period. Number of blood units requested, cross-matched, or transfused and the cross-match to transfusion ratio (CTR) for clinical units were computed. Results: Of the 1703 units of blood requested for 986 patients, 94.42% (1608) were cross-matched but only 34.51% (555) were transfused giving a CTR of 2.90 for the hospital. The CTR for the various clinical units were: O and G - 3.40, Surgery - 3.11, Trauma center - 2.74, Emergency - 2.61, Medicine - 2.02, and Pediatrics - 1.97. Conclusions: The overall CTR of the hospital is high indicating suboptimal transfusion practice. Introducing transfusion guidelines and type and screen with abbreviated cross-match method can help toward apt requisition and utilization of blood thereby reducing wastages.
  12 7,480 673
Prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen in children with sickle cell anemia
Baba Jibrin, Nma M Jiya, Hamid Ahmed
January-March 2014, 17(1):15-18
DOI:10.4103/1118-8561.129147  
Background: Hepatitis B virus is known to be endemic in Africa. The seroepidemiological studies of HBV have shown that infection commonly occurs in childhood in Africa resulting in an increased tendency to chronicity. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among pediatric patients with homozygous hemoglobin S. Materials and Methods: Three hundred sickle cell anemia children aged 6 months-15 years (both in steady state and in crises) attending the SCA clinic and on admission in emergency pediatrics unit and pediatrics medical ward, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria, were screened for hepatitis B infection using HBsAg as marker of infection. The sensitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method was used for detection of the marker. Three hundred children with minor illness attending pediatrics outpatient department and on admission in EPU/PMW for various treatment in the same hospital served as gender- and age-marched controls cohorts. Results: The sero-prevalence of HBsAg seropositivity for hepatitis B virus infection among SCA children was 17.3% (52/300) compared to 10.7% (32/300) of the control (P = 0.0875). The peak prevalence age group for HBV infection among SCA children was in the age group 1.1-5.0 years (6%) compared to 10.1-15.0 years (4.7%) in the control. Risk factors for HBV infection such as blood transfusion, traditional scarification/circumcision/uvulectomy, and tattooing did not significantly affect the prevalence of HBV infection in both SCA children and controls. Conclusion: Hepatitis B infection is common in Sokoto. The need for strict adherence to HBV immunization and further community-based studies on the risk factors are recommended.
  8 7,535 569
Awareness of diabetes amongst undergraduates in a Nigerian University, South West Nigeria
Olubukunola Omobuwa, Olutayo Christopher Alebiosu
January-March 2014, 17(1):29-33
DOI:10.4103/1118-8561.129151  
Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease of global public health importance whose prevention and control may be largely influenced by improved knowledge amongst populations. This study set out to examine the level of awareness, knowledge, and some risk factors for developing DM among students of the Osun State University, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted amongst students of the Osun State University in South-western Nigeria. Study participants were recruited using multistage sampling technique. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on respondents' socio-demographics; awareness, knowledge and perception of DM and lifestyle characteristics such as dietary habits, physical activity, use of alcohol, and tobacco smoking. Results: A total of 166 students participated in the study, 75.9% of whom have heard of DM and 40.4% of them correctly defined the condition. Seventy-two (43.4%) of the study participants erroneously associated excessive intake of sugar with development of DM. Nearly one-third (30.1%) of them did not know any preventive measure for DM. Fourteen (56%) of the 25 respondents who had a diabetic relative said the diabetic person was their first degree relative. Sixty-one (36.7%) subjects engaged in daily consumption of soft drinks, and only 8.5% engaged in regular physical exercise. Only 6.0% of the participants had ever heard of body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: This study showed high awareness level of DM among participants but the knowledge and attitude toward DM was relatively poor.
  3 8,715 740
CASE REPORTS
Lupus vulgaris associated with Scrofuloderma
Isha Preet Tuli, Shikha Verma, Binod Kumar Thakur, Deepti Joshi
January-March 2014, 17(1):34-36
DOI:10.4103/1118-8561.129152  
Lupus vulgaris is a rare manifestation of tuberculosis. It is even rarer for it to complicate scrofuloderma. We report a case of a 27-year-old man who had undergone a successful treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis presenting with scrofuloderma with lesions of lupus on the overlying skin. The Mantoux test was positive and initial chest X-ray did not show any active features of tuberculosis. Discharge from the lesion stained positive for acid fast bacilli. Multiple fine needle aspirations were inconclusive. However the histopathology of biopsied lesion revealed tuberculoid granuloma with Langhans giant cells. TThe patient improved with antitubercular therapy. We are presenting this case as a rare coexistence of scrofuloderma with lupus vulgaris.
  1 5,499 330
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Reproductive health problems and health seeking behavior of female sex workers in Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Zaria, Nigeria
LO Omokanye, AG Salaudeen, AS Yusuf
January-March 2014, 17(1):23-28
DOI:10.4103/1118-8561.129150  
Background: The sexual and reproductive health needs of sex workers have been neglected both in research and public health interventions. Among the reasons for this are the condemnation, stigma and ambiguous legal status of sex work in Nigeria. This study was aimed at determining the reproductive health problems and health-seeking behavior of brothel-based female sex workers (FSW). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among brothel-based FSW in Sabon-Gari Local Government in Zaria, Nigeria between 1 st January 2011 and 31 st June 2011. A total of 208 FSW were randomly selected and information was obtained with the use of the semi-structured questionnaire. Data entry was done with the help of structured codes in Microsoft Excel. Descriptive analysis was carried out using the statistical package (SSPS 16-University of Bristol). Results: Majority 90.7% of the respondents had experienced reproductive morbidity in the last 3 months. Frequently experienced symptoms were vaginal discharge (63.8%), acute lower abdominal pain (57.5%), menstrual irregularities (37%) and genital ulcer (32.3%). Genital tear occurred in only 25 (9.8%) respondents. Furthermore, 178 (63.6%) had a termination of unwanted pregnancies. Most (32.3%) sought care for their reproductive health problems from chemist shops; followed by the private hospitals in 23.6% of respondents. Others took self-medication for their ailments. Post-treatment success was the most frequently mentioned reason for the choice of place of treatment, followed by finance. Conclusion: The most commonly reported reproductive health problem among FSW was vaginal discharge and many of them have poor health seeking behavior. Health promotion and client sensitive health care services specifically targeting FSW should be developed, packaged and delivered to improve reproductive health of FSW. There should be concerted efforts by the government and other stakeholders in reproductive health to develop a policy framework to addressing the challenges in health of FSW.
  1 6,287 376
Rheumatological manifestations of type 2 diabetes and its relationship to glycemic control and duration of diabetes
Sumesh Raj, GV Rajan, Rajesh Vijayan, Reshma Sugathan
January-March 2014, 17(1):12-14
DOI:10.4103/1118-8561.129146  
Background: While so much emphasis is given to micro and macro vascular complications of diabetes, other long-term complications especially musculoskeletal are often overlooked and underappreciated. This study investigates the prevalence of joint complications among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to examine their relationship with duration of diabetes and glycemic control. Materials and Methods: The presence of various rheumatological complications were assessed in 763 type 2 diabetes patients and their age and sex-matched non-diabetic controls. The relationship between these complications and duration of diabetes and long-term glycemic control was determined. Results: Frozen shoulder (15.6%), LJM syndrome (30.1%), carpal tunnel syndrome (10.2%), trigger finger (9%), DISH (26%) and dupuytren's contracture (12%) were significantly more prevalent in the diabetic than the control group. Prevalence of OA did not show any significant difference between the two groups. The risk of rheumatological complications increased with deteriorating glycemic control. Conclusion: Periarthritis, diabetic cheiroarthropathy, dupuytren's contracture, carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger and DISH are the most prevalent rheumatological complications n the study diabetic population.
  1 4,986 487
CASE REPORTS
Adenocarcinoma of the lung presenting as retinal detachment
Kaushik Saha, Koushik Bose, Arnab Saha, Subhasis Jana
January-March 2014, 17(1):37-39
DOI:10.4103/1118-8561.129153  
Retinal detachment is a rare presentation of lung cancer. A young female presented with blurring of vision in her right eye for the last 10 days without any history of trauma. On indirect ophthalmoscopy, there was a presence of right sided retinal detachment which was treated with oral prednisolone (60 mg/day). After 1 month of continuous treatment, she came back with dry cough left sided chest pain and deterioration of her eye symptoms. Chest X-ray showed left lung mass. Computed tomography guided fine needle aspiration cytology and with immunohistochemistry confirmed adenocarcinoma of the lung. She was treated with 6 cycles of chemotherapy with paclitaxel and gemcitabine.
  - 4,180 247
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Pulmonary tuberculosis mimicking reactive airway disease
Ibrahim Aliyu
January-March 2014, 17(1):40-40
DOI:10.4103/1118-8561.129155  
  - 3,217 242
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Antimicrobial efficacy of chlorine dioxide against Candida albicans in stationary and starvation phases in human root canal: An in-vitro study
Shirur Krishnaraj Somayaji, Shobha Karabylu Lakshminarayana, Mohandas Rao Kappettu Gadahad
January-March 2014, 17(1):1-6
DOI:10.4103/1118-8561.129144  
Introduction: Candida albicans (C. albicans) is the most commonly isolated fungal pathogen from dental root canal. C. albicans forms biofilm and develops resistance against root canal irrigants . This study determines the fungicidal efficacy of 13.8% chlorine dioxide in extracted human teeth at stationary and starvation phases of C. albicans. Materials and Methods: Teeth were decoronated and coronal portion of the roots were prepared into blocks, which were incubated at 37°C with C. albicans for five days. The samples were treated with chlorine dioxide for 12 and 20 minutes. Total of fifty blocks were taken in the study. Colony-forming units were counted in Sabourauds dextrose agar and scanning electron microscopic observation was done. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Bonferoni's post hoc test. Results: Teeth at stationary phase (12 min) showed mean colony count of 28,000 ± 1814 which is significantly (P < 0.001) less than control group. Teeth at starvation phase (12 min) showed colony count of 65,600 ± 1912 which is also significantly (P < 0.001) less than control group. Teeth irrigated at stationary phase (20 min) showed mean colony count of 23,400 ± 1776 (P < 0.001). Teeth irrigated at starvation phase (20 min) showed mean colony count of 48,100 ± 1663 which is also significantly (P < 0.001) less than that of control group. Conclusion: Treatment of chlorine dioxide reduces the C. albicans count in root canals of extracted human teeth at stationary and starvation phases. Efficacy of chlorine dioxide against C. albicans is relatively higher in stationary phase than that of starvation phase.
  - 8,424 368
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