Awareness and Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Workers in an Agro-allied Company in Nigeria

Cardiovascular diseases have significantly increased in the last century becoming the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Work,worksite situations and practices are known to influence cardiovascular risk factors, hence the aim of this study to assess the awareness and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among workers in an agro-allied industry in Nigeria. A descriptive cross sectional survey was carried out to find out those with cardiovascular risk factors. Data were collected using an interviewer-assisted questionnaire developed using the WHO STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk surveillance. The mean age of the respondents was 34 ± 9.7 years. More than half 303 (59.4) of the respondents had high awareness of cardiovascular risk factors. Of the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, 6.9% were current daily smokers, 15.1% abuse alcohol, 89.8% engaged in unhealthy diet, 66.5% do not engage in moderate/vigorous physical activities, 14.5% had family history of cardiovascular diseases, 17.8%% were overweight/obese and 37.1% were hypertensive. Overall, 64.5% of the respondents were classified as having low risk of developing cardiovascular diseases while about 30.4% had moderate risk and 2.7% had high risk. We recommend that health education regarding cardiovascular diseases risk factors be delivered periodically

Clinicoepidemiological Presentation of Sinonasal Mass in A Nigerian Tertiary Health Care Centre

Background: Sinonasal masses are common worldwide with clinical entity ranges from simple sinonasal polyps to malignancy. This study aimed at determining the prevalence, Sociodemographic features, clinical characteristics, clinical presentation, and management outcome of sinonasal masses. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with sinonasal masses in ear, nose and throat department of our center over a period of ten years (from November 2008 to October 2018). Data were retrieved from the clinic register and hospital medical record. Information on sociodemographic features, the clinical presentation of presentation, examination findings, CT Scan findings, diagnosis and treatment outcomes were retrieved. Data obtained were collated and analysed by using SPSS version 18.0. Results: The total number of patients seen over the studied period was 4,678 Male accounted for 62.9% with male to female ratio of 1.7:1. Sinonasal masses were bilateral in 44.3%, left-sided in 32.0% and rightsided in 23.7. Multiple grapelike sinonasal masses accounted for 50.5% while single sinonasal masses accounted for 49.5%. Commonest anatomical origin was ethmoid sinuses in 50.5%. Main clinical features were nasal blockage 83.5% and nasal discharge 63.9%. Masses extension was into 52.6% Intranasal/sinuses and 34.0% orbital extension. Main histological diagnosis were ethmoidal (simple) nasal polyps in 49.5%, squamous cell carcinoma in 17.5%, antrochoanal polyp in 9 3% and inverted papilloma in 9.3%. Histological examination showed simple inflammatory nasal polyps in 58.8%, benign tumour in 13.4% and malignant tumour in 23.7%. Patients were managed by 76.3% surgery, 16.5% surgery and radiotherapy and 7.2% chemoradiotherapy. Recurrent masses and death from malignancy were 8.2% and 2.1% respectively. Conclusions: Sinonasal masses are perceived and presented as a simple disorder with nasal obstructions and discharge. It consists of polyps and malignant tumour. Nasal Polyps are commoner than the neoplasti

EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF VERNONIA AMYGDALINA DELILE LEAVES IN ALLOXAN - INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

This present study investigates the effect of the Vernonia amygdalina Delile (Bitter leaf) on some biochemical parameters such as fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profile, serum electrolytes, activities of the transaminases and alkaline phosphatase, in alloxan - induced diabetic rats. Twenty adult albino rats were used and grouped into four of five (5) rats each: control, diabetic untreated rats, diabetic rats administered with V. amygdalina (400 mg/kg) and normal rats fed with V. amygdalina (400 mg/kg) daily respectively. All rats except those in control and normal rats fed with V . amygdalina (400 mg/kg) group were induced intraperitoneal with a single dose of 150 mg/kg of alloxan. Aqueous extract of V. amygdalina leaf had hypoglycaemic effect when monitored as there was significant increase in the diabetic control groups (5.07 ± 0 .15 mmol/L) when compared with diabetic treated groups. Also, the effect of the V. amygdalina extract on the activities of the transaminases and the alkaline phosphatase reveals a considerable increase in the diabetic control group compared to the diabetic treated group. From our study, the V. amygdalina leaf extract proved to have hypoglycaemic effect by significantly reducing the blood glucose level in diabetic treated rats as it has a great potential of serving as a supplementary therapy to oral hypoglyc aemic drugs