The Role of School Libraries in Promoting Reading Culture among Secondary School Students in Benue State

This study examined the role of school libraries in promoting reading culture among Secondary School Students in Benue State. Four objectives were achieved. The study population was 136 subjects comprising of Senior Secondary School 1 and 2 students was used as sample size. The instrument for the study is a structured questionnaire titled ‘Role of School Libraries in Promoting Reading Culture among Secondary School Students Questionnaire (RSLORCSSSQ)’. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics, precisely mean. Research question 1 was on the purpose of library use by students. Findings revealed that the students read in the library to catch funs, for personal intellectual development, to while away time, for personal intellectual development and to hide from school works. Findings revealed that students read once a week in the library. Findings also revealed that students spend less than an hour reading in the library. It was found that students prefer poetry, newspapers and magazines, novels and story books and comics. The study also found that the hours for opening the libraries is not convenient for students, most of the school library materials are outdated and are not relevant for students, the school always closes libraries and the school lacks library periods. The study concluded that concludes that non-integration of the library in the school curriculum, and catch funs were the major causes of poor reading culture. It was recommended that school administrators should encourage students to read to pass examinations, have vast knowledge about the world and development their personal intellectual, students should learn how to spend enough time of at least 2-3 hours reading in the library as it will enable them cover wide in their books and integration of school library activities into the school curricula should be suitable for students to enable them make good use of school library

Effectiveness of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) on the Public Acceptability of Unsafe Abortion Solutions

Context: Public health measures suggested to curb the menace of unsafe abortions in developing countries include liberalization of abortion law, family life education and family planning. However public acceptability of these solution options are poor. Objective: To examine the efficacy of information, education and communication (IEC) on the public acceptability of unsafe abortion solution options of contraception, family life education including sex education and liberalization of abortion laws. Our aim was to use IEC to improve public acceptability of the recommended solutions. Methods: Trained questionnaire administrators interviewed randomly selected civil servants in Ilorin, Nigeria to asses the level of their acceptability of the various options. There were 95 respondents for the baseline interviews and 93 respondents for the post IEC interviews. The responses were compared pre- and post-IEC to assess the effectiveness of the IEC. Results: Contraception for adults was the most acceptable solution to the public both pre- and post-IEC, the acceptability doubling (46.3% to 93.4%) after IEC. Contraception for adolescents, and family life education showed appreciable improved acceptability post IEC (25.3% to 40.2% and 40% to 67.4%) respectively Liberalization of abortion law also appreciated marginally in the amount of yes answers (14.8% to 18.5%). Ironically, the percentage of rejecters also appreciated from 78.9% to 79.3%, giving a very weak correlation coefficient of 0.42. Conclusion: IEC is effective in improving public acceptability of unsafe abortion solutions. The need for an extension and sustenance of this intervention strategy to all segments of the society for effective advocacy is an imperative Key Words: Unsafe Abortions, Information, Counselling, Education [Trop J Obstet Gynaecol, 2002, 19: 12-16]

Activated ovarian endothelial cells promote early follicular development and survival

Abstract Background New data suggests that endothelial cells (ECs) elaborate essential “angiocrine factors”. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of activated ovarian endothelial cells in early in-vitro follicular development. Methods Mouse ovarian ECs were isolated using magnetic cell sorting or by FACS and cultured in serum free media. After a constitutive activation of the Akt pathway was initiated, early follicles (50–150 um) were mechanically isolated from 8-day-old mice and co-cultured with these activated ovarian endothelial cells (AOEC) (n = 32), gel (n = 24) or within matrigel (n = 27) in serum free media for 14 days. Follicular growth, survival and function were assessed. Results After 6 passages, flow cytometry showed 93% of cells grown in serum-free culture were VE-cadherin positive, CD-31 positive and CD 45 negative, matching the known EC profile. Beginning on day 4 of culture, we observed significantly higher follicular and oocyte growth rates in follicles co-cultured with AOECs compared with follicles on gel or matrigel. After 14 days of culture, 73% of primary follicles and 83% of secondary follicles co-cultured with AOEC survived, whereas the majority of follicles cultured on gel or matrigel underwent atresia. Conclusions This is the first report of successful isolation and culture of ovarian ECs. We suggest that co-culture with activated ovarian ECs promotes early follicular development and survival. This model is a novel platform for the in vitro maturation of early follicles and for the future exploration of endothelial-follicular communication. Capsule In vitro development of early follicles necessitates a complex interplay of growth factors and signals required for development. Endothelial cells (ECs) may elaborate essential “angiocrine factors” involved in organ regeneration. We demonstrate that co-culture with ovarian ECs enables culture of primary and early secondary mouse ovarian follicles

Intravenous leiomyomatosis with intracardiac extension: a single-institution experience

The aim of this study was to outline the surgical management and outcomes for patients diagnosed with intravenous leiomyomatosis with intracardiac extension at a single institution. This was a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with intravenous leiomyomatosis with intracardiac extension between 2002–2008. Four patients were identified. The surgical approach in 3 (75%) patients was a single-stage operation. Four (100%) patients presented with cardiac symptoms: 3 (75%) with syncope and 1 (25%) with an abnormal electrocardiogram. Mean age at presentation was 48 years (range, 42–58 years). Complete resection of tumor was obtained in 1 (25%) patient and 3 (75%) patients experienced incomplete resection. Mean follow-up, including surveillance imaging, was 25.5 months (range, 8–57 months) and all 4 patients (100%) are currently free of recurrence. Surgical excision remains an effective therapy for treating patients with benign metastasizing leiomyomatosis. Incomplete surgical resection may result in favorable response