Humeroradioulnar Synostosis in an African Child: A Case Report

This is a report of humeroradioulnar synostosis at left elbow, in a girl from Sokoto, Nigeria in whom there is no history of hereditary/congenital diseases. This case is the thirtieth reported in literature. This defect was not solitary. Plain radiography revealed other deformities: In the right upper limb, the  humerus, radius and ulna were well developed. There were three metacarpals and three fingers. In the left upper limb, there was humeroradioulnar  synostosis and partial radial hemimelia. There were two metacarpals and three fingers. Treatment was offered but the child was not brought back to the hospital. This is the first case of humeroradioulnar synostosis reported from Africa.Keywords: Humeroradioulnar synostosis

Comparative Efficacy of Powders and Water Extracts of Chromolaena Odorata (L) and Annona Senegalensis (Pers) in Management of Root-Knot Disease of Pepper

Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita is an important pest of pepper. Various control measures have been employed in managing root-knot disease of pepper. The problems arising from chemical control have resulted in a search for plant toxicants for nematode control. This study investigated the performance of powders and water extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Annona senegalensis in the management of Meloidogyne incognita infection on pepper.Pepper cultivar Ex-Sam-St was raised in the nursery and transplanted into polypots and fields, inoculated with 5000 M. incognita eggs extracted with the sodium hypochlorite method. After inoculation, dry powders at 80 kg/ha, water extracts at 100,000 mg/kg, carbofuran 3G at 3 kg ai/ha and water were applied in pot and field experiments. Gallings on roots rated, final nematode population and reproductive factor were calculated. The data were log-transformed, analyzed with ANOVA, means separated with LSD at 5% probability level.Annona senegalensis leaf powder and its water extract were the most outstanding in performance next to carbofuran in reducing final nematode population, reproductive factor and galling index. Dry powders were more effective than water extracts in reducing the nematode infection. These botanicals can be used as alternatives to synthetic nematicides in the management of the nematode. Keywords: Botanicals, Final nematode population, Galling Index, Inoculation, Reproductive Factor, Root damage

Malnutrition amidst plenty: An assessment of factors responsible for persistent high levels of childhood stunting in food secure western Uganda

In spite of favourable natural and human resource capacity, malnutrition remains an important health and welfare problem in Uganda especially among children below 5 years. Western Uganda has persistently registered highest levels of childhood malnutrition despite being referred to as gthe food basketh of the country. This study sought to establish the causes of persistent child undernutrition to guide design of effective nutritional  policies and interventions. This was a cross-sectional study that used both quantitative and qualitative methods. Multistage random sampling and stratified sampling were used to select study areas and households with children 6.59 months, respectively. Stunting levels were determined using anthropometric measurements of height-for-age using the US National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Reference Standards, which were  approved for use in developing countries by the World Health Organization (WHO). The main causes of malnutrition were determined by logistic regression analysis. Almost half (46%) of children below 5 years were stunted, which is comparable to national prevalence of 47.8% for Western Uganda and this is unacceptably high. The major causes of stunting at (p .0.05) were improper health and sanitation, poor child feeding practices, poor access to appropriate knowledge for health and nutrition, poor socio-economic variables of access to food, type of employment, distance to main roads and markets, housing facility, income flow regime, gender disparities and access to fuel for cooking. Overall, there is low intake of animal protein and generally constrained access to adequate amount of food required for normal growth and development. At multivariate level, the main risk factors included; lack of information on child health feeding, socio-economic capacity of household, poor hygiene practices, and preparation of special foods for children. Results suggest that more emphasis needs to be put on community nutrition and health education with a focus on diet, hygiene, sanitation, social-economic and livelihood programs, improvement of health care services and diversification of interventions especially into poverty alleviation programs with a nutrition focus.Key words: Stunting, young children, nutrition, Ugand

Screening of Siam Weed (Chromolaena Odorata) and African Custard Apple (Annona Senegalensis) for Nematicidal Activity

Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) and closely related species of Annona senegalensis had been investigated for nematicidal activity for the control of nematodes. This study was carried out to provide some information on the phytochemical constituents in these plants for nematode management. Chromolaena odorata leaves and roots, Annona senegalensis leaves and bark collected, air-dried and ground into powder, were taken to The Central Laboratory, University of Ibadan for Infrared (IR) analysis. Phytochemical analysis was carried out in the Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Ibadan. The IR revealed that functional groups were alcohols, alkenes, carbonyl, carboxylic acids and phenols. The phytochemicals were tannins (46.2 ± 17.9 mgg-1), saponins (81.5 ± 76.8 mgg-1), alkaloids (12.6 ± 0.7 mgg-1), flavonoids (5.3 ± 2.6 mgg-1), phenols (43.7 ± 1.6 mgg-1), cardenolides and anthraquinones. Saponins were of the highest concentrations, followed by tannins, phenols.The phytochemicals identified have been reported to be nematicidal in activity. Keywords: constituents, dry powders, functional groups, nematode management, phytochemicals

An HIV-1 infected patient with Neurofibromatosis type 1: A case report

Background: Although HIV-1 infection predisposes an individual to well defined neoplasia, neurofibromas have not been reported as some of the typical ones. The association between HIV-1 infection and neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic disorder, should be of interest because HIV infection could alter the natural biology of its cutaneous manifestations. However, reports on simultaneous occurrence of these conditions in an individual are rare.Method: The case records of a 30 year old HIV 1 positive female receiving care at the Jos University teaching hospital centre and a review of the relevant literature was utilised.Result: We present a 30 year old HIV positive woman with florid cutaneous lesions of familial neurofibromatosis type  1 who had adequate response to antiretroviral therapyConclusion: HIV infection and treatment did not seem toaffect the clinico- pathological features of the neurofibromatosis lesions.Key Words: Neurofibromatosis type 1, HIV Infection, cutaneous lesions, HAAR

Evaluation of Service-Quality Dimensions during Antenatal care in Primary Health Care Centers, Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, Nigeria

Shortage of qualified health care providers, weak health systems characterized by deficiencies of functioning equipment and essential medications, attitude of health workers as well as a range of physical, cultural, and financial barriers have been implicated for inaccessibility of quality care to many women. Poor acceptance of antenatal care is due to pervasive poverty, subordinate role of women, low literacy levels and the non-existent social systems in most developing countries. A cross-sectional, descriptive research design was used and a total of 296 respondents (pregnant women) who met the inclusion criteria participated in the study. A multistage sampling technique was used in selecting the required facilities and sample were selected in proportion with the inflow of clients in the facilities. Data were collected with the aid of questionnaires adapted from  Parasuraman etal (1988) and mean of 2.5 was used to ascertain satisfaction on the Likert scales. PHCs in southern Kaduna Senatorial district arevery accessible to the Clients (2.574±0.540) both financially and geographically as well as the opening hours of the clinics. The Clients have full confidence in the health care givers (2.977±0.483). Clients were satisfied with the level of empathy exhibited by the health care givers toward them during antenatal care (3.346±0.688) and that PHCs Centres' care was reliable (3.017±0.346). The mean score (3.043±0.375) shows satisfaction with the responsiveness of the Health care givers to the need of the Clients' during ANC. Clients were satisfied with the general appearance of the health facilities (3.103±0.364). Keywords: Evaluation, Service, Quality, Dimensions, Antenata

In- Vitro Studies on the Nematicidal Potential of Extracts of Seeds of Some Members of Family- Fabaceae in Jos

In-vitro nematicidal potentials of varying concentrations of extracts from seeds of three leguminous plants i.e. Erythrina senegalensis, Leucaena leucocephala and Senna siamea were investigated in juvenile mortality of the second stage larva of Meloidogyne species at the botanical nursery of the University of Jos, between the months of March and April, 2010. The nematodes were extracted from galled roots of tomato obtained from four different farms in Jos, while seeds of the legumes were collected dry from The University of Jos andenvirons. Nematicidal test was carried out with different concentrations of the extract (40g/ml, 60g/ml, 80g/ml; 100g/ml) while distilled water served as control. All the treatments were repeated three times. Live nematodes were counted every twenty-four (24) hours for six (6) days. Phytochemical screening of the seed extracts was also carried out. The results revealed that all the seeds used had nematicidal properties but to varying degrees. Erythrina senegalensis exhibited the highest nematicidal activity while Leucaena leucocephala recorded the least

Toward an Understanding of Disengagement from HIV Treatment and Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Qualitative Study

Background: The rollout of antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa has brought lifesaving treatment to millions of HIV-infected individuals. Treatment is lifelong, however, and to continue to benefit, patients must remain in care. Despite this, systematic investigations of retention have repeatedly documented high rates of loss to follow-up from HIV treatment programs. This paper introduces an explanation for missed clinic visits and subsequent disengagement among patients enrolled in HIV treatment and care programs in Africa. Methods and Findings: Eight-hundred-ninety patients enrolled in HIV treatment programs in Jos, Nigeria; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Mbarara, Uganda who had extended absences from care were tracked for qualitative research interviews. Two-hundred-eighty-seven were located, and 91 took part in the study. Interview data were inductively analyzed to identify reasons for missed visits and to assemble them into a broader explanation of how missed visits may develop into disengagement. Findings reveal unintentional and intentional reasons for missing, along with reluctance to return to care following an absence. Disengagement is interpreted as a process through which missed visits and ensuing reluctance to return over time erode patients' subjective sense of connectedness to care. Conclusions: Missed visits are inevitable over a lifelong course of HIV care. Efforts to prevent missed clinic visits combined with moves to minimize barriers to re-entry into care are more likely than either approach alone to keep missed visits from turning into long-term disengagement

Vδ2+ T cell response to malaria correlates with protection from infection but is attenuated with repeated exposure.

Vδ2+ γδ T cells are semi-innate T cells that expand markedly following P. falciparum (Pf) infection in naïve adults, but are lost and become dysfunctional among children repeatedly exposed to malaria. The role of these cells in mediating clinical immunity (i.e. protection against symptoms) to malaria remains unclear. We measured Vδ2+ T cell absolute counts at acute and convalescent malaria timepoints (n = 43), and Vδ2+ counts, cellular phenotype, and cytokine production following in vitro stimulation at asymptomatic visits (n = 377), among children aged 6 months to 10 years living in Uganda. Increasing age was associated with diminished in vivo expansion following malaria, and lower Vδ2 absolute counts overall, among children living in a high transmission setting. Microscopic parasitemia and expression of the immunoregulatory markers Tim-3 and CD57 were associated with diminished Vδ2+ T cell pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Higher Vδ2 pro-inflammatory cytokine production was associated with protection from subsequent Pf infection, but also with an increased odds of symptoms once infected. Vδ2+ T cells may play a role in preventing malaria infection in children living in endemic settings; progressive loss and dysfunction of these cells may represent a disease tolerance mechanism that contributes to the development of clinical immunity to malaria