Socio Demographic Factors Determining the Adequacy of Antenatal Care among Pregnant Women Visiting Ekiti State Primary Health Centers.

A cross sectional study was conducted in Primary Health Centers among pregnant women to elucidate adequacy of antenatal care across different socio demographic variables. Four hundred respondents were proportionately selected from 18 primary health centers using simple random sampling. Exit interviews were conducted using the adapted antenatal care exit interview form of the Safe Motherhood Needs Assessment package. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi square test. Adequacy of antenatal care in this study was measured by the single adequacy indicators which are duration of pregnancy at entry into antenatal care and number of antenatal visits; which are particularly suitable for developing countries. Age of respondents, means of transportation to the PHCs, occupation, location and level of education of the respondents were found to be determinants of whether the pregnant women attended their first antenatal visit in the first trimester, similarly, age of the respondents was a predictor of whether the women made up to four antenatal visits by their third trimester. Occupation and level of education were determinants of whether or not the pregnant women made their first antenatal visits at the first trimester. More respondents who were not working and those who were unskilled workers made their first antenatal visit at the first trimester compared to those who were skilled workers; work place policies and the fact that antenatal booking are made on weekdays and at work hours may hinder or be discouraging to the working class mothers

Equilibrium and kinetics studies of metal ion adsorption on dyed coconut pollens

Batch equilibration studies were conducted to determine the nature of adsorption of Zn (II) and Cu (II) onto dyed coconut pollens. The nature of adsorption of metal ions was explained using the Langmuirequation. The calculated values of equilibrium parameter indicated favourable adsorption by the adsorbents. Also the calculated values of fractional attainment of equilibrium , the intraparticle diffusion rate constant, Ka show that adsorption of metal ions is particle diffusion controlled. The adsorbent produced from coconut fibre can be used to remove heavy metals from aqueous solution with high efficiency

Studies on dyed coconut (Cocos nucifera) pollens for removal of Cu (II) and Zn (II) from aqeoues solution

The ability of undyed and dyed coconut pollens to remove Cu(II) and Zn(II) from single ion solutions was been studied. The experiments were carried out using coconut pollens (1.0 g) undyed coconut pollens, UDCP, and dyed coconut pollens, DCPI, DCPII and DCPIII of different particle sizes: 0.40, 0.63 and 0.80 mm, respectively. The amount of Cu(II) adsorbed on UDCP, DCPI, DCPII and DCPIII were 69.20, 97.90, 94.70 and 93.10%, respectively, while that of zinc adsorbed on these adsorbents were 87.15,98.30, 92.55 and 90.05%, respectively. These results show that dyed coconut pollens is effective in removing Cu(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions

Myasthenia gravis following chicken pox infection in a Nigerian primary school girl

We report a case of myasthenia gravis occurring post Chicken pox infection in a 9 year old Nigerian girl. The girl was growing and seeing normally until 2weeks after a chicken pox infection when she observed progressive drooping of both upper eye lids which worsens as the day progresses and has persisted for more than one year. There was good response to Neostigmine

Obesity: An emerging disease

Obesity is rapidly becoming an emerging disease in developing countries due to the increasing westernization of societies and change in the lifestyle. The etiology of obesity is said to be multifactorial, with a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Literature has been extensively reviewed to provide a broad overview of obesity. Data for this review were obtained from original articles, review articles and textbooks. Internet search engines were also employed. The years searched were from 1993 to 2008. Obesity, classified in terms of the body mass index and the waist–hip ratio, has several associated co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, degenerative osteoarthritis and infertility. In Nigeria, there is limited information on obesity. A literature review on obesity is necessary to improve the knowledge about obesity in developing countries, its prevention and its management

Factors associated with undernutrition and overweight in elderly patients presenting at a primary care clinic in Nigeria

Background: Undernutrition and overweight are commonly overlooked health problems of the elderly, often due to the implicit assumption that undernutrition is a rare occurrence in old age and overweight is an invariable consequence of ageing. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 500 patients aged 60 years and above who presented consecutively at the general outpatient department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, between September and October 2009, was undertaken. The main outcome measures were prevalence of nutritional problems (undernutrition and overweight), healthcare utilisation pattern and morbidities. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool was used to assess undernutrition, while body mass index was used to assess body weight. Results: The prevalence of undernutrition and overweight was 7.8% and 54.1%, respectively. Previous hospital admission (p < 0.001) and chronic morbidities like hypertension (p < 0.001), osteoarthritis (p < 0.001) and psychosomatic disease (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with undernutrition, but not with overweight. Logistic regression analysis showed that previous hospital admission (OR = 2.105, 95% CI 1.479-2.996) and hypertension (OR = 0.122, 95% CI 0.048-0.306) were the most important factors contributing to the development of undernutrition. Conclusion: Nutritional problems were prevalent among the elderly in this setting. Co-morbidities in the elderly constitute risk factors to be addressed in order to reduce the occurrence of nutritional problems. Health workers should always assess the elderly for nutritional problems, together with other morbidities with which they may present, and institute appropriate management.Keywords: elderly; primary care, Nigeria; overweight; undernutritio

Purification and characterization of cellulase from the wild-type and two improved mutants of Pseudomonas fluorescens

Cellulases from the wild-type (WT) and two improved mutants (catabolite repression resistant mutant 4 and 24, abbreviated CRRmt4 and CRRmt24, respectively) of Pseudomonas fluorescens were purified to apparent homogeneity by ammonium sulphate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE Sephadex A-50 and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. Purification fold of about 5 was obtained for the WT and CRRmt24 while purification fold of about 7 was achieved for CRRmt4 by ammonium sulphate precipitation. Ion exchange chromatography gave purification fold of about 24, 22 and 25 for WT, CRRmt4 and CRRmt24, respectively. Gel filtration chromatography step yielded a homogeneous preparation with a specific activity of 6.8, 5.9 and 6.9 units/mg protein for the WT, CRRmt4and CRRmt24, respectively. The purified cellulase gave a single protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of the three cellulases were estimated to be 36, 26 and 36 kDa for the wild-type,CRRmt4 and CRRmt24, respectively. Km values of 3.6, 3.1, and 5.3 mg/ml were obtained for the wild-type, CRRmt4 and CRRmt24, respectively. The optimum pH value for the purified cellulases was 6.5 &ndash; 7.0 andthe enzymes were optimally active at temperature of 35&deg;C. The activities of the purified cellulases were stimulated by low concentrations (10-30 mM) of Na+ and Mg++ while EDTA was found to inhibit enzyme activity at all concentrations

Viral infections among couples for assisted reproduction in a fertility clinic in Nigeria

Context: The risk of laboratory cross‑contamination may limit the availability of assisted conception for couples infected with chronic viruses. However, assisted conception is the standard of care for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to minimize risk of transmission or reinfection.Aims: To assess the burden of viral infection among couples that present for assisted reproductive technology (ART) with a view to evaluating implications for their care.Settings and Design: A cross‑sectional descriptive study carried out among 138 couples at a private fertility clinic in Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Screening for HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus were carried out among these clients. The males’ seminal parameters were analyzed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.Statistical analysis Used: Statistical Package for Social Sciences was employed. Analysis was by Chi‑square test; statistical significance was set at 0.05.Results: Viral infections were found in 10/138 women (7.2%) and 15/138 (10.9%) men. The most prevalent infection was HBV. Twenty‑one couples were sero‑discordant. Two couples had concordant HIV and HBV infections, respectively. There was no significant association between sperm quality and chronic hepatitis infection.Conclusion: Nearly a fifth of the couples had at least one partner infected with a chronic virus – a proportion significant enough to demand attention. Apart from separate laboratory and storage facilities, basic principles to minimize transmission are recommended: HBV vaccination in sero‑discordant partners of HBV carriers (and immunoprophylaxis for the baby) and antiretroviral therapy for HIV‑positive partners to reduce the viral load before fertility treatment is commenced.Key words: Assisted reproduction, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency viru

Intranasal Endoscopic Repair of Bilateral Choanal Atresia in a Male Newborn with Crouzon's Syndrome

No Abstract

Changes in some biochemical parameters of kidney functions of Plasmodium berghei infected rats administered with some doses of artemether

This study aimed at determining changes in urine concentrations of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) of Plasmodium berghei infected rats during a week of intramuscular administration of artemether (12.5 to 50.0 mg/kg/day) and one week thereafter. Their concentrations and that of creatinine and urea in the plasma were also determined at the end of the study. The observed changes were related to the effects of artemether on the kidneys of the rats. The urine levels of the two electrolytes decreased significantly during treatment (P&lt;0.05). One week post-treatment with 12.5 mg/kg of artemether, the urine concentrations of the electrolytes increased to values that were not significantly different from that of day 0. At 25 and 50 mg/kg, their urine concentrations still remained significantly lower than day 0 values (P&lt;0.05). Plasma concentrations of the electrolytes one week post-treatment increased, but they were only significant at 25 mg/kg for K+. A significant increase in the plasma level of creatinine was observed at all the doses of the drug at one week post-treatment. A dose-dependent degeneration of the renal tissue of all the experimental rats was also observed. We concluded that high doses of artemether caused progressive degeneration of the renal tissue of P. berghei infected rats.Key words: Artemether, electrolytes in urine, plasma creatinine concentration, Plasmodium berghei