Acute mechanical bowel obstruction among adults see at the Lake Akintola

No Abstrac

A Retrospective Study of Rabies Cases Reported at Vom Christian Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria, 2006 – 2010

Rabies is a zoonosis of public health importance in Nigeria. Exposure to bites of rabid dogs is the cause of over 99% of human cases of rabies worldwide. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is a vital aspect of clinical rabies prevention in humans The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of rabies disclosure among dogbite victims (DBVs) and their compliance with a PEP regimen. We reviewed patient records of DBVs who were treated at the Vom Christian Hospital, Plateau State, from 2006 – 2010, obtained information on patient demographics and rabies status of implicated dogs from patients' hospital records. A trend of reported rabid dog bites in children was determined. We assessed compliance of DBVs with the recommended dosage regimen for PEP which is local wound treatment followed by vaccine therapy on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 30. Over the five-year period, 713 DBVs were reported; 377(52.9%) were children <15 years, 404(56.7%) were males and 299 (41.9%) were bitten by laboratory-confirmed rabid dogs.Rabid dog-bites among children increased exponentially from 2007(6/1,000,000) to 2009(41/1,000,000) with a steep decline in 2010 (24/1,000,000). Of all DBVs, 677 (95%) first sought veterinary care. Of all implicated dogs, 305(42.8%) were tested and 299 (98.0%) were positive for rabies. Nearly all (99.6%) DBVs were treated using human diploidcell rabies vaccine, while only 49.1% completed the recommended doses. Of the 299 DBVs bitten by rabies-positive dogs, 59.2% completed the regimen and were likely to be PEP compliant than those bitten by untested dogs (p<0.01). No mortalities among DBVs were reported to the hospital. Rabies in dogs is a serious public health problem in Plateau State, in which children constitute the highest proportion of rabid DBVs reported. We recommend joint sensitization of physicians and veterinarians about the need for detailed DBV and animal information for rabies management.Keywords: Rabies, Dog bite victims, Post Exposure Prophylaxis, NigeriaNigerian Veterinary Journal, VOL:32 (4) 366-37

Artificial intelligence in the construction industry: A review of present status, opportunities and future challenges

© 2021 The Authors. The growth of the construction industry is severely limited by the myriad complex challenges it faces such as cost and time overruns, health and safety, productivity and labour shortages. Also, construction industry is one the least digitized industries in the world, which has made it difficult for it to tackle the problems it currently faces. An advanced digital technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), is currently revolutionising industries such as manufacturing, retail, and telecommunications. The subfields of AI such as machine learning, knowledge-based systems, computer vision, robotics and optimisation have successfully been applied in other industries to achieve increased profitability, efficiency, safety and security. While acknowledging the benefits of AI applications, numerous challenges which are relevant to AI still exist in the construction industry. This study aims to unravel AI applications, examine AI techniques being used and identify opportunites and challenges for AI applications in the construction industry. A critical review of available literature on AI applications in the construction industry such as activity monitoring, risk management, resource and waste optimisation was conducted. Furthermore, the opportunities and challenges of AI applications in construction were identified and presented in this study. This study provides insights into key AI applications as it applies to construction-specific challenges, as well as the pathway to realise the acrueable benefits of AI in the construction industry.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK (Grant Reference No. EP/S031480/

Fusarium graminearum in a Papilloma Virus Infected Friesian Bull in Vom, Nigeria: Case Report

Importation of exotic cattle to improve the yield and productivityof the local 'White Fulani' breed of cattle has been on the rise inNigeria. The problem most farmers faces with the Friesian hasalways been the adaptation to the weather and endemic diseaseconditions in Nigeria. Fungal infections represent an importantcomplication for immunosuppressed animals and are associatedwith high morbidity and mortality (De Pauw and Meunier, 1999).Fusarium is one of the most important fungal genera, whichincludes many species that are pathogenic to plants and responsible for a broad range of diseases while others are highly mycotoxigenic (Viquez et al., ) and some cause opportunistic infections in humans and in farm animals. Fusarium graminearum (Gibberella zeae) is an importantpathogen of commercial crops such as wheat, maize, and rice.Infection with F. graminearum causes yield losses in grains anddegrades their nutritive, physical and chemical qualities, resultingin their being used for animal feed rather than for human consumption (Charmley et al., 1994). A contaminated crop can be salvaged by feeding it to livestock or poultry, but further losses may be incurred due to the negative effects of mycotoxins on animal performance. Potent toxins such as the estrogenic toxin zearalenone (F-2) have been reported by Vesonder and Hesseltine, (1980) but the most common mycotoxins produced byF. graminearum are deoxynivalenol (DON, also known as vomitoxin), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, and nivalenol belonging to a group of compounds known as trichothecenes (Homdork et al., 2000; Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, CAST, 2003). These mycotoxins are known to diminish feed consumption in domestic livestock, especially swine (CAST 2003). Because of their apparent tolerance for higher levels of dietary DON, Fusarium-infested grains are often fed to cattle or sheep asopportunity feeds. This may be due to little or insufficient information describing the pathogenesis and the ability of this plant pathogen to survive as they move through the gastrointestinal tract of cattle or on a compromised skin (Kedar and Gemerlyn, 2008)

Clinical Spectrum of Benign Breast Diseases In Osogbo, Nigeria.

No Abstract Availabl

Self-Reported Physical Activity among Health Care Professionals in South‑West Nigeria

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is a key requirement for maintaining good health. There is growing evidence of declining PA worldwide. Physical inactivity is linked with the global obesity pandemic and increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in developing countries. A barrier to PA counseling by health care providers (HCPs) is personal PA habits. Information regarding PA among HCPs in Nigeria is limited. We aimed to determine the adequacy and predictors of PA among HCPs of a tertiary health care facility in Lagos, Nigeria.Methods: A cross‑sectional study was carried out with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Using the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline, PA was categorized as adequate or inadequate. Predictors of PA were explored with multivariate logistic regression.Results: A total of 300 HCPs were recruited, comprising 47.7% doctors and dentists, 43.3% nurses and 9.0% other HCPs. Mean age was 39.9 (9.0 years), 79.2%, 9.7% and 11.1% of the HCPs had low, moderate or high PA levels respectively. Thus, only 20.8% had adequate PA. 71.3% had body mass index (BMI) above the recommended value. BMI of ≥ 25 kg/mS2 was associated with inadequate PA (Adjusted Odds Ratio-2.1, P = 0.018).Conclusion: Majority of the HCPs had inadequate PA levels according to WHO guidelines. BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 was associated with inadequate physical inactivity. The low level of PA implies that these HCPs are at risk for NCDs. This will have a negative impact on availability of human resource for health. There is an urgent need to establish programs to increase PA among HCPs.Keywords: Body Mass Index, Health Care Professionals, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Nigeria, Physical Activit

The Acceptance and the Perception of Mastectomy by Males whose Spouses are Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in South Western, Nigeria: Are male spouses an obstacle?

Of several modalities of treatments available for breast cancers, mastectomy is the most dramatic and traumatic. This is because it involves the removal of an organ of a woman's sexuality and with the attendant risk of marital disharmony. This study investigated the perception and the acceptance of mastectomy among male spouses of female patients with breast cancers. We prospectively recruited 108 participants from two teaching hospitals and a private hospital in South Western, Nigeria. The study recruited spouses of female patients newly diagnosed with breast cancers that were yet to have surgery. Relevant data were obtained through interview of the participants by the authors. The mean age of participants in the study was 44.34(±5.7) years. Less than half (48.1%) of the participants accepted the procedure for their female spouses prior to counseling which rose up to 84.3% after counseling. The main reason for declining mastectomy was disfigurement. Age greater than 65 years (p=0.0274), previous knowledge of mastectomy (p=0.0107) and counseling (p<0.001) were associated with higher acceptance rate while educational status, religion and social class showed no statistical significant difference. Spouses of patients with locally advanced diseases accepted mastectomy more readily for their female partners as compared to those with early and metastatic diseases (p<0.001). About 79% of those who accepted the procedure prior to counseling would exhibit negative behavior toward their partners. Majority of male spouses of females with breast cancers would not readily accept mastectomy for their female spouses and would have negative perception of their partners after mastectomy. We thus recommend that health care workers should involve men in breast cancer related education.Keywords: Acceptance, mastectomy, male spouse, female breast cancer and obstacl

Challenges of Managing Orbital Floor Blow–out Fracture in a Developing Country

Background: Orbtal blow-out fracture can be associated with ocular injuries which may involve the anterior or posterior segments of the eye. This can present significant morbidity to patients which can impact on the quality of life.Objective: To evaluate cases of orbital floor blow-out fractures seen at two centres.Methodology: A retrospective study of patients seen with a diagnosis of orbital blow-out fracture between July 2009 and March 2010 was done. Diagnosis was based on history, clinical examination and computerised tomography (CT) scan. The patients had lower lid incision – transcutaneous or transconjunctival. Silicone and bone implants were used to reconstruct the defects.Results: Five patients – 3 males and 2 females were reviewed, age range between 21 to 26 years. The fracture occurred as a result of road traffic injury in 3 patients (60%), and the involved eye had poor visual acuity on presentation, but no associated ocular injury was noticed in 3 (60%) of the patients. The interval between injury and presentation ranged from 9 to 120 days. Vertical limitation of ocular motility and significant enophthalmos were noticed in all the 5 patients; 2 had diplopia and hypoesthesia in the distribution of the infraorbital nerve. The average time interval between injury and surgery were 49 days and 3 of the patients (60%) had repairs after 14 days of presentation. Postoperatively, slight improvement in ocular motility was observed.Conclusion: The challenges of managing orbital fracture include late presentation, lack of synthetic implant materials, increased morbidity with graft harvesting, and poor cosmetic outcome.Keywords: Challenges, enophthalmos, road traffic injur

Malaria Diagnosis And Treatment Practices By Patent And Proprietary Medicine Vendors In Bauchi Metropolis, Bauchi State in North Eastern Nigeria

Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria with about 50% of the population having at least an episode of clinical malaria each year. Patent medicine vendors are the first and most common source of malaria treatment in Nigeria. This study assessed malaria diagnosis and treatment practices by Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) in Bauchi metropolis, Bauchi L.G.A., Bauchi State, Nigeria. This study was a cross sectional analytical study involving PPMVs in Bauchi metropolis. A total of 396 PPMVs were recruited into the study. The data was collected using 40 items questionnaire and were analyzed with frequencies, percentages and chi-square. The hypotheses postulated were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The data was analyzed by using SPSS Version 16.0.Respondents consisted of 253 (63.9%) health professionals (HPs) and 143 (36.15) non professionals (NHPs). About two third of the respondents; 99 (69.2%) among HPs and NHPs 88(61.3%) have good knowledge about malaria transmission. Only few respondents used Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) in identifying malaria; 12 (8.7%) among NHPs and 22 (12.6%) among HPs. The difference is not statistically significant (P-value 0.217). Moreover, 121 (47.8%) and 48 (33.6%) for both NHPs and HPs respectively reported lack of skills as the reason for not using RDT. Majority of the respondents are still dispensing Chloroquine (CQ) for malaria with 68.4% and 69.2% among NHPs and HPs respectively. The used of RDT by the respondent is poor. There is need to train PPMVs on current national policy onmalaria, especially malaria identification using RDT kits and used of Artemisinin –based Combination Therapy (ACT) in treatment of malaria. The RDT kits should also be made available.Keywords: Malaria, Diagnosis, RDT, Patent Medicine Vendors, Bauchi metropolis