Prevalence of renal tuberculosis among patients presenting with active pulmonary tuberculosis in Ilorin - Nigeria

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major healthproblem world-wide, especially in tropicaldeveloping countries involving major organs in thebody. The kidney is usually affected throughhaematogenous spread from a primary focus. Renaltuberculosis is the commonest form of extrapulmonary TB particularly among the Caucasians butthought to be rare in Blacks. Due to the paucity ofdata on the prevalence of renal TB. A prospectivestudy was undertaken to investigate the prevalence ofrenal TB in cases of active pulmonary TB (PTB) inllorin - Nigeria.Confirmed cases of active PTB patients wereconsecutively recruited from the Pulmonary Clinicand the PTB Ward over a one year period. Theinclusion criteria were sputum acid fast baccili (AFB)positivity on two or more occasions and radiologicalevidence of PTB. Patients fullfilling the abovecriteria were investigated by urine analysis for sterileacid pyuria, Z-N stain, plain abdominal x-rays, renalultrasound, intravenous urogram and renal biopsy.A total of 148 acti ve PTB patients were studied (91males, 57 females). Male to female ratio was 3:2.The mean age of the males and females with renal TBwas 40 and 29 years respectively.The prevalence rates of AFB in urine and sterile acidpyuria were 9.5% and 8.8% respectively. Only 2.7%had both AFB in urine and sterile pyuria.Renal histology was abnormal in 70% of the biopsiedkidneys with sterile pyuria. The combination of AFBin urine and histologic evidence of renal TBincreased the prevalence of renal TB to 14% in thestudy.The study shows that renal TB in active PTB may be similar in Black and White populations. The diagnosis is difficult and a high index of clinical suspicion with combined diagnostic tools are required to identify the lesion

Mortality patterns among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Ilorin, Nigeria

Objective: People living with diabetes mellitus (DM) are prone to varied forms of complications which often lead to their premature death. The vulnerability has the greatest impact in type 2 DM because of larger numerical strength, insidious onset and late recognition especially in resourcepoor nations like Nigeria. This study is designed to provide information on current trends in mortality among type 2 DM patients.Design: The study was a 10-year retrospective analysis of causes of death and contributing factors in type 2 DM patients. Information was obtainedfrom case files and the hospital death register.Setting: It was carried out in adult medical wards and the accident/emergency unit of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.Subjects: The study subjects were type 2 DM patients who were admitted from the diabetic clinic and/or accident and emergency units of the hospital. Data analysis was done using SPSS, version 16.Outcome measures: The study is an attempt to provide insight into preventive measures against complications that culminate in the premature death of Nigerians with type 2 DM. The findings may form a basis for future research on characteristics of type 2 DM in our environment Results: The overall mortality rate was 32.5% with mean age at diagnosis and death being 53.43 + 15.07 and 57.07 + 14.29 respectively. Systemic hypertension was present in 50% of the study population with male and female rate of 55% and 43% respectively. The highest number of admissions were due to diabetic hyperglycaemic emergencies, septicaemia and diabetic foot syndrome (DFS). Mortality rates were highest in thosethat presented with hypoglycaemia, stroke and diabetic foot syndrome. There was gender disparity in the first three major causes as more malesdied from DFS and stroke while females accounted for the majority of deaths from diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).Conclusion: Type 2 DM is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. The contributory factors to high mortality were ignorance, poor hygiene, infections, lack of foot care and inadequate glycaemic/blood pressure control. There is a need to improve hygiene and provide education programmes targeted at DM patients on proper foot care and good glycaemic and blood pressure control. We should emphasise the importance of early diagnosis of diabetes and proper management.Keywords: causes of death; longevity; type 2 diabetes; Nigeri

Global Foreign Exchange: Cracking the Code

The Foreign Exchange Global Code comes to the fore against a backdrop of ethical drift, which has affected the foreign exchange markets of late. In précising recent market scandals, this article outlines why the Code is needed, before assessing the drafts which emerged out of the Code’s first and second developmental phases in May 2016 and May 2017, respectively. Under particular scrutiny is their substantive content, the parties which contributed to their drafting and also the strategies being proposed for the Code’s implementation

Internal Control System and Quality Audit Work

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reported that the backward development in the Nigeria banking sector is attributable to the weaknesses in the internal control systems and poor audit work of the banks. This has clearly pointed out the picture of how fraud has penetrated in the financial strength of Nigerian Banks. In a nut-shell, the damage which this menace, called fraud has done to the banks is innumerable and needs urgent attention. Therefore, the attempt to put an end to this economic degradation, gave rise to the topic of this research study the internal control system and quality audit work in the banking sector in Nigeria with Access Bank PLC as a case study. However, this study verifies the conception that an effective and efficient internal control system has a greater influence on the quality of audit work. Data captured for this study, were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The descriptive analysis involves the use of tabulation and percentages. While the inferential statistical method involved the use of the chi-square. This study reveals that internal control system has a great influence on the operations of the bank and consequently on their quality audit work. Base on the above point, it was recommended that a good internal control system should be employed by the management of every organization. Keywords: Internal control, fraud, audit quality, banking secto

Overview Of Losses And Solutions In Power Transmission Lines

Growing popupulations and industrilization creat huge need for electrical energy. Unfortunately, electricity is not always used in large demand in the same location it is been generated. So, long cables or wires are used to transmit the generated electricity either through Underground or Overhead system method, which is reffereed to as Transmission of Electrical Energy. This transmission those not take place without encoutering loses, which is the soul aim of this report. Studying the various types of loses encouted during electrical transmission. The losses are either Technical losses or Non-technical Losses. The technical losses, which includes the; Corona loss, Juole effect, Magnetic Losses, and skin effect. While the Non-technical (commercial ) losses include, theift of electricity, vandalism to electrical substatio ns, poor meter reading, poor accounting and record keeping, etc. There could be no best way, by explaining the various methods of Analysing calculations on how to solve this technical losses, and also explaining measures to be taken to makesure that transmission losses can be reduced to bearess minimum. KEYWORDS----- Transmission Line, Losses, Energy, Electricity, Distribution Line, Voltage, Power Station, Corona Effect, Resistive Effect,  Technical Losses, and Electrical Power

Prevalence of Non-communicable Diseases and its Awareness among Inhabitants of Sokoto Metropolis: Outcome of a Screening Program for Hypertension, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus and Overt proteinuria

Introduction: Developing countries confront double jeopardy of prevalent infectious disease and increasing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) with imminent projected epidemic proportions. Nigeria has witnessed tremendous socio-economic changes and rural to urban migration culminating in emergence of NCD. The impact of these diseases on the lives of people is enormous when measured in terms of outcomes. We initiated a screening program among inhabitants of Sokoto metropolis in an attempt to unravel the prevalence and pattern of NCD.Methods: This is a descriptive cross sectional study involving 535 participants who were randomly selected during World Kidney Day Screening in Sokoto. Health promotion talk was organized for the participants before commencing the screening. We took anthropometric measurements and calculated body mass index (BMI) and waist/hip ratio for all individuals. We also checked blood pressure and blood glucose levels and performed urinalysis for all participants.Results: There were 535 participants including 332 males and 203 females with a mean age of 37±17 years. Over-weight, obesity and morbid obesity were found in 12.3%, 6.7% and 0.9% of participants respectively. About 11% had waist/hip ratio greater than 1. The prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension was 8.5% and 30.2% respectively. Elevated random blood glucose levels were found in 6% of participants while 17.9% had at least 1+ of proteinuria in urinalysis.Conclusion: Non-communicable diseases are common in our environment and the level of awareness is low. Regular health education and screening programs are necessary in order to reduce the menace.Key words: Non- communicable disease; Prevalence; Screening; Sokot

Analgesic and antioxidant activities of the methanolic extract of Operculina turpethum leaves in mice

Background: Operculina turpethum Linn. (Convolvulaceae) is commonly called “Trivrit” or “India jalap” in English. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with purplish stem and milky-white exudates. This study was aimed at evaluation of the analgesic and antioxidant effects of the methanolic extract of O. turpethum leaves in mice.Methods: The acute oral toxicity of the extract was evaluated using up and down method. The analgesic effects were assessed using acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing reflex and tail flick methods, while the antioxidant activity (AA) was assayed using photometric 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay method.Results: The extract produced a concentration-dependent increase in the AA with inhibitory concentration 50% >400 µg/ml. The extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) and aspirin (100 mg/kg) produced a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent reduction in the number of abdominal constriction induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid in treated mice when compared to the distilled water treated mice. The extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) and pentazocine (3 mg/kg) caused a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent increase in the pain reaction time in the treated mice groups, when compared to the distilled water treated groups.Conclusion: The study showed that O. turpethum possesses analgesic and antioxidant properties and confirmed the folkloric use of O. turpethum leaves in the traditional pain management

Antimalarial drug resistance markers in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative adults with asymptomatic malaria infections in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: In Nigeria, indiscriminate use of antimalarial drugs may contribute to the threat of drug resistance, but this has not been evaluated among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS: HIV-positive adults attending a university hospital HIV clinic and HIV-negative adult volunteers from the university hospital community with a positive blood film were treated with artemether-lumefantrine. Parasite DNA from before and after treatment was polymerase chain reaction amplified to identify molecular markers of drug susceptibility. RESULTS: The pfcrt76T genotype was prevalent among both HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants (78.6% and 68.2%, respectively). Three new mutations in the pfmdr1 gene-F73S, S97L and G165R-and the uncommon pfdhps S436F variant were detected, whereas pfdhps K540E and pfdhfr I164L were absent. The A437G allele of pfdhps predominated (62/66 [94%]). The I431 V mutation was found in 19 of 66 pretreatment pfdhps sequences (28.8%). The pfmdr1 86N allele was significantly more common at day 3 post-treatment than at baseline (odds ratio 8.77 [95% confidence interval 1.21 to 380]). CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence of continued chloroquine use among HIV-positive individuals. Selection for the pfmdr1 86N after artemether-lumefantrine treatment was observed, indicating a possible threat to antimalarial efficacy in the study area. The complexity of pfdhps haplotypes emphasises the need for careful monitoring of anti-folate susceptibility in Nigeria

Prevalence and pattern of hyperuricemia in a survey among inhabitants of Sokoto metropolis, north western Nigeria

Objective. Hyperuricemia is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular, metabolic and renal diseases. Studies have revealed links between urate, cardiovascular events and metabolic syndrome with considerable ethnic and geographical variation. Although clinical features may develop in persons with hyperuricemia, more than 60% remain symptomatic. There are no definite criteria for therapeutic intervention in patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia. The study attempts to determine the prevalence and pattern of hyperuricemia among inhabitants of Sokoto in a bid to identify associated factors and threshold for rational therapy.Methods. A cross sectional survey of 161 adults in which demographic indices including physical examination, anthropometric measurements were obtained with urine and blood samples taken for analysis. Statistical evaluation was done, using SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL)Results. Hyperuricemia was documented in 20.5%, with male to female ratio of 2:1 and higher mean urate level in males. Urate level increased with age; ranging from 5.0mmol/L±1.8 among 20-29 years to 6.5mmol/L±1.6 in those aged 50-59 years. Systemic hypertension, type 2 DM, Obesity and kidney dysfunction were commoner among normouricemic than hyperuricemic subjects.Conclusions. Hyperuricemia is common, especially among male gender and advancing age. The association between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular events remains a contentious issue as prevalence of type 2 DM, obesity and kidney dysfunction were similar in hyperuricemic and normouricemic subjects. We could not determine threshold to commence treatment for elevated uric acid level. A larger population and multicentre research is required to prove a link between hyperuricemia and some components of metabolic syndrome.Keywords: Hyperuricemia, Prevalence, Pattern, Sokoto, Nigeri