The pattern and challenges of infertility management in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Infertility remains a threat to successful reproduction by couples desirous of pregnancy.Objective: To determine the pattern of infertility cases amongst infertile couples seeking care in Lagos University Teaching Hospital as well as challenges in their management.Methods: A review of the management of couples referred for infertility to the gynaecological outpatient clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Nigeria from 1st January 2005 to 31st December 2006.Results: The incidence of infertility was found to be 26.8% of the gynaecological consultations with a mean duration of infertility of 4.3 ± 3.4 years. The mean age of the women was 33.8 ± 5.2 years and 66.1% were nulliparous. Secondary infertility accounted for 80% of cases. Male factors only was the cause in 11.1%, female factor only in 37.8%, both male and female factors in 40% while no cause was identifiable in 11.1%. There was no association between tubal occlusion and a history of induced abortion in this study (p >0.05). There was a high rate of discontinuation of care by their large numbers lost to follow up.Conclusion: Infertility is still a public health problem in Lagos, Nigeria.Keywords: Infertility pattern: causes, incidence, outcome and challenges in careAfrican Health Sciences 2013; 13(4): 1126 - 112

Primary postpartum haemorrhage in Lagos, Nigeria

No Abstract

Sexual networking in Freetown against the background of the AIDS epidemic

West Africa, since the discovery of the HIV virus, has remained relatively unperturbed by the attendant AIDS epidemic sweeping through the other portions of the continent south of Sahara. The low level, of both the reported and the diagnosed cases of the epidemic at the onset, seem to explain the initial lukewarm and sometimes cynical attitude on the part of both the government and the populace. In recent times, however, emerging revelations from research on sexual behaviour in the region seem to be generating greater concerns about the possibility of continued containment of this scourge. So in many West African countries efforts are being made to generate baseline data to help in assessing the risk of this epidemic, given the background knowledge of the sexual behavioural correlates of AIDS gained elsewhere. However, not all the strategic points in this region have had such an inventory carried out or reported. Not only does Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, fall into this category, it is also confronted with certain challenges at the regional level, as well as some internal peculiarities which underscore the need for the present inventory

Computation of River Discharge from Formulated Rating Equation in Hydrological Catchments with Inadequate Data: River Omi, South Western Nigeria, as Case Study

River discharge is an important hydrological parameter in any water resources management. Most rivers in Nigeria, with sizeable catchment areas, are poorly gauged and are noted to have histories of frequent flooding experience. Since Stage or Gauge, which is the height of water surface at a relative datum, can be easily measured, it is possible to formulate a rating equation which can predict discharge with a known gauge-depth. This Paper develops a mathematical relationship between gauge heights and discharge, using River Omi, South Western Nigeria, as a case study. Series of gauge-discharge relationships were established on River Omi from measured values and past records. The water velocities were measured using ultrasonic current meter and geometrical parameters were measured at the gauging station. The stage-discharge relationship, over a period of time, was plotted and a rating equation generated. The generated rating equation: Q = 0.1828*(G-0.14)0.78, has a coefficient of regression of 97%. The formulated equation was calibrated and validated with discharge data obtained from 2007 to 2012. The rating equation performed better at depth below 0.6 m with less than 1% variation between the simulated and measured discharge. This formulated equation can be adapted to other river catchments with similar hydrological characteristics. It should be noted that below gauging depth of 0.14 m, the rating equation cannot be used. Keywords: River Discharge, Rating Equation, Gauge Depth, River Omi, Regression

Effect of normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies on plasma cholinesterase in Nigerian women

Background: Pre-eclampsia can be devastating and life-threatening for both mother and baby, particularly in developing countries. It is a major cause of maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity. Early diagnosis and management are very important to the reduction of mortality and morbidity. A sensitive diagnostic and prognostic marker will therefore be of great value. There is paucity of data on the effect of pre-eclamptic pregnancy on plasma cholinesterase activity especially in Nigerians. Objective: Our aim was to determine the changes in plasma cholinesterase concentration in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies in Nigerians. Setting: Antenatal Clinic and Prenatal Diagnostic and Therapy Centre in a Tertiary University Teaching Hospital in Lagos. Patients and Methods: Plasma cholinesterase concentration was determined using a colorimetric method in 30 healthy non-pregnant, 30 healthy pregnant, 30 and 27 pregnant women with mild and severe pre-eclampsia, respectively, between 28 and 41 weeks of gestation. Cholinesterase activity was re-assessed 6 weeks postpartum. Results: The mean plasma cholinesterase levels in healthy non-pregnant women, women with normal pregnancy, pregnant women with mild pre-eclampsia and those with severe pre-eclampsia were 3594±1042, 2135±422, 1781±330 and 1630±326 (m/L), respectively. Six weeks postpartum, the mean cholinesterase levels in the normal pregnant, mild eclamptic and severe eclamptic groups were 3212±346, 3157±750 and 2864±700 (/L), respectively. Conclusions: Our study suggests that normal pregnancy, mild and severe pre-eclampsia cause a significant (p< 0.01) reduction in plasma cholinesterase activity compared to non-pregnant state, with the greatest decrease in severe pre-eclamptic pregnancy. This decline does not return to normal non-pregnant state in subjects with severe pre-clampsia within six weeks postpartum. The place of plasma cholinesterase concentration as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in pre-eclamptic and eclamptic pregnancies should be further explored. Keywords: Cholinesterase, Eclampsia, Pre-eclampsia, Pregnancy, Succinylcholine

An Empirical Analysis of the Relationship between Key Macroeconomic Variables and Economic Growth in Nigeria (1980-2021)

This study adopts the Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model to analyze the relationship between key macroeconomic variables and economic growth in Nigeria, Using time series data sourced from the World Bank Development Indicators (WDI), for the period 1980 to 2021. The key macroeconomic variables analyzed are inflation, exchange rate and money supply. The result gives an average high R2 of 0.7000 which connotes that the overall model is a good fit. The result of the VAR analysis at lag two indicates that the variables are dynamically interacted. Starting with the growth (GDP) equation, a 1% increase in the previous year values of exchange rate, GDP, inflation, and money supply lead to a 0.3% increase, 33% increase, 3% increase, and 26% increase in current GDP respectively. Here, GDP and money are positively related. The money supply shows that a 1% increase in the previous year values of exchange rate, GDP, inflation and money supply lead to a zero per cent decrease, 8% decrease, 7% decrease and 91% increase in current money supply. The result is consistent with monetary policy given that the relationship between money supply and inflation. The equation of inflation shows that a 1% increase in the previous year values of exchange rate, GDP, inflation and money supply lead to 9% decrease, 33% decrease, 68% increase and 15% increase in the current level of inflation. The consequences of a growing inflation and high exchange rate phenomenon are so damning that Nigeria cannot afford them. Such implications are glaring in the economy of Nigeria where many negative developments were traceable to the non-availability or insufficiency of foreign exchange for businesses especially small and medium enterprises (SME’s) with a frequent rise in general price level. Therefore, the need to aptly address this ugly development by the monetary and fiscal authority cannot be overemphasized. Keywords: Money supply; economic growth; VAR model, Inflation and exchange rate. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/14-8-06 Publication date: April 30th 202

Needs Assessment in Intervention Programs for Rural Development

This paper offers an essential and précis introduction to the subject matter: needs assessment and practice. It expounded the term needs assessment, and showed the indispensable nature of the process and why it must beundertaken for success of government or donor funded intervention and projects that have relevance to rural development in all sphere. The article also delved into germane subtopics as: when and why to conduct a needs assessment; methods to conducting a needs assessment; stages involved in carrying out needs assessment; and models of needs assessment. Italluded to the fact that needs assessments have impacted positively to the success of most agricultural development cum rural development projects, but advocated for it to be complemented with other relevant project management processes in light of present realities. The authors suggest that governments, project sponsors, development partners, and other relevant bodies make it obligatory for implementing agencies to conduct credible, verifiable, and inclusive needs assessment before releasing funds for Projects and intervention purposes.Keywords: Needs assessment, Intervention, Rural development,  Technology needs, Training Need

Simultaneous Quantification of Ciprofloxacin, Quinine and 3-hyrdoxyquinine in Human Plasma using a HPLC Method

Malaria has been shown to strongly predispose patients in areas of malaria endemicity to bacteremia with severe outcomes, thus justifying the use of antibiotics in combination with antimalarial therapy in patients with severe malaria. This study describes a High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) method for simultaneous determinations of Ciprofloxacin (CPN), Quinine (QN), and its major metabolite, 3-Hydroxyquinine (3-HQN), in human plasma. Following a simple precipitation with acetonitrile, chromatographic separation was achieved on a reversed-phase Agilent Zorbax (CN) column (5 µm, 150 X 4.6 mm i.d) using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile: potassium dihydrogen phosphate (pH = 2.8; 0.02 M) (42:58, v/v). Retention times for CPN, 3-HQN, IS and QN were 2.7, 3.3, 3.6 and 4.9 minutes respectively. The limits of detection and validated lower limits of quantitation were 30 and 70 ng/ml for both QN and 3-HQN while the corresponding values were 50 and 100 ng/ml for CPN, respectively. The new HPLC method here developed, when compared with previous methods for the analysis of either or both drugs is simple, rapid, selective, reproducible and costeffective. It is also suitable for conducting a simultaneous therapeutic monitoring of quinine and ciprofloxacin in patients when concomittantly administered as demonstrated in five healthy volunteers

Heat Transfer Analysis in Internal Combustion Engine Piston Using Comsol Multiphysics: A Case Study of Tri-Cycle

This present study is aimed at analyzing the heat transfer rate of an internal combustion engines piston using finite element methods (FEM).The transient nature of heat flowing involving more than single variable, complicated method of measuring temperature across the length of the liner and ambiguous boundary conditions pose serious problems for the analysis of heat transfer rate on the piston of an internal combustion engine using FEM (Finite Element Method). This present study analyzed the heat transfer rate on the piston of a Tri-cycle engine. The studied piston was selected based on its applications in automobile and other engineering applications. The analysis was basically on the transient state forced-convection and conduction heat transfer. As initial condition, the temperature distributions were considered along the piston at a range of 523K – 673K. The parameter used for the simulation were liquid (Gasoline), Gases (Air) and Aluminium silicon UNSA96061 (Piston). The modeling and simulation were performed by using COMSOL-Multiphysics 4.3a software. The mesh optimization was undertaken by using FEM techniques to predict the maximum and mimimum temperature on the piston at every stages of simulation with time dependent. It was discovered that the temperature along the piston of the try-cycle varies with respect to time. The transient analysis revealed that the temperature of the piston at the TDC (Top Dead Center) in the first power stroke is higher compare to the subsequent power strokes, which is an indication that more heat is transfer at subsequent power strokes. Probable recommendations were later made.Self-sponsore

Comparative of Ziegler Nichols, Fuzzy Logic and Extremum Seeking Based Proportional Integral Derivative Controller for Quadcopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Stability Control

Unmanned aerial vehicle is potentially recognized in autonomous sectors where intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance missions, power line inspection, aerial video, search and rescue monitoring devices are required. It is essential in modern era control and monitoring especially a rotary unit where quadcopter performed a crucial task. However, the flight behavior of a quadcopter is determined by the synchronous speed of each of the motors as the speed changes with load torque variations. The dynamics model equation of the system, external disturbances and its parameters variation of the motor makes it difficult for the manual tuning techniques employed into the system to perform its stability operation. The purpose of this work is to employ adaptive controllers to enhance the stability performance so as to prevent the risk of human lives and financial implication that may arise from improper monitoring of the system. Therefore, Ziegler Nichols, fuzzy logic and extremum seeking controllers were employed to auto-tuned the parameters of proportional integral derivative (PID) gains controller to optimize and give a satisfactory performance of motor speed control at different operating condition. The altitude, pitch, roll and yaw parameters of the quadcopter are simulated using the x-plane II flight simulator MATLAB tools. The simulation results presented in this work show better performance for extremum seeking-PID in terms of decrease in rise time, settling time and overshoot relative to Zigler-Nichols-PID and Fuzzy-PID controllers