Utilisation of Library information resources by Undergraduates of Public University in Ogun State

The library has the singular function of collecting, organising, preserving, conserving and making information accessible to potential users in different formats. This study examined the correlation between utilisation of print and electronic resources by Undergraduates of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and Tai solarin University, Ijagun, Ogun State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from 380 students from the total population 39,256 of the undergraduates in the institutions, while for the qualitative data the researcher interviewed the Heads of Automation and Readers’ Services Units of the three universities studied. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Results revealed that 59. 6% of the respondents in the three universities were female, 57.2% were between 21-25 years of age. The types of information resources available by the undergraduates were text books ( =2.84) for print information resources and internet material ( =2.65) for non-print information reources. The most often used of the library information resources were text books ( =4.23). Results further revealed that the purpose of use of library and information resources by the undergraduates of state universities in Ogun state, Nigeria. It reported that self-study ranked highest as the major purpose of using information resources with a mean score of ( =3.76), and was followed by preparation for examination ( =3.73) and assignment purpose ( =3.70). In conclusion, the most utilised information resources was text book and e-books of non-print formats. The study recommended that university libraries should invest more in the acquisition of current and updated textbooks and e-books

What Does Serum Adiponectin Portend in Obese Nigerian Type 2 Diabetes Subjects

Background: Adiponectin is a protein hormone whose levels have been found to correlate with glycaemic control and lipid profile in patients with Type 2 DM. This study evaluates the relationship of adiponectin in Obese and non - obese Nigerian T2DM patients. Method: This cross-sectional hospital-based study included two groups of 60 Obese T2DM and 60 non-obese T2DM subjects. All study participants had clinical assessment, and blood samples collected and assessed  for serum Adiponectin, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein. Results: Obese T2DM subjects had lower levels of adiponectin than Non-obese T2DM subjects (p > 0.05). In both groups, 65% and 77% of the Obese non-Obese diabetic group had good glycemic status, which poorly correlated with serum adiponectin levels, with higher adiponectin values seen in the groups with poorly controlled glycemic status. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels correlated positively with serum Adiponectin levels in both Obese and non-Obese diabetic groups, however this was significant only in the Obese diabetic group (r = 0.30, p = 0.02). Adiponectin correlated negatively with Triglycerides only in the non-Obese diabetic group (r = -0.12, p = 0.37), and also correlated negatively with atherogenic index (r = -0.092, p = 0.316), though not statistically significant. Conclusion: Adiponectin  is a poor marker for glycaemic control, and does not correlate with lipids such as TG, through its anti-atherogenic properties it may be associated with reduced risk of atherosclerosis as evidenced by its weakly positive and direct correlation with HDL among Nigerian Type 2 DM subjects

Transforaminal epidural steroid injections for the treatment of lumbosacral radicular pain in a Nigeria tertiary hospital: observational study

Background: Lumbosacral radicular pain is a common cause of chronic low back pain. Despite published reports of effectiveness of transforaminal epidural steroid for lumbosacral radicular pain, it is underutilised in many tertiary hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed the clinical effects of transforaminal epidural steroid injections in patients with lumbosacral radicular pain at a major tertiary health facility in Nigeria.Methods: This is a prospective observational study carried out between March 2012 and February 2016. Under fluoroscopy, the epidural space was accessed through the neuroforamen using 22G spinal needles in 47 adult patients with lumbosacral radicular pain; and a mixture of 10 mg triamcinolone acetonide and 0.25% plain bupivacaine (2 mLs per level) was injected. Pain intensity and functional impairment were assessed with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores respectively at three and six months.Results: The pain and ODI scores at baseline and at six months’ follow-up improved significantly; 8.49 ± 1.28 vs. 3.6 ± 1.5 (p = 0.002) and 45.1 ± 11.5 vs. 32.4 ± 11.5 (p = 0.001) respectively.Conclusion: Transforaminal epidural steroid injections provided significant pain relief and improved function in patients with lumbar radicular pain due to intervertebral disc herniations.Keywords: herniated intervertebral disc, lumbosacral radicular pain, Nigeria, pain relief, transforaminal epidural steroid injectio

Prevalence and clinical relevance of thyroid autoantibodies in patients with goitre in Nigeria

Background: Thyroid autoimmunity was thought to be rare in Africans but there is evidence that its prevalence is increasing. Since undetected autoimmune thyroid disease carries considerable morbidity, this study set out to determine the proportion of patients with goitre who have thyroid autoantibodies and the relationship, if any, between the presence of thyroid autoantibodies, thyroid function and thyroid size. Methods: The study was cross-sectional and conducted over a 12-month period. It involved 100 subjects with goitre and 50 apparently healthy controls without goitre, matched for age and sex. Thyroid dysfunction was assessed by history, clinical examination and biochemical tests, thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies. The size of the thyroid gland was assessed by ultrasound. Results: Fifty-seven percent (57%) of study subjects were euthyroid, 38%were hyperthyroid, while 2%were hypothyroid. The overall prevalence of elevated thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) in the subjects with goitre was 35% and 8% in the controls (p < 0.001). Elevated thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) was found in 24% of subjects with goitre and 12% of controls (p = 0.083). Elevated TPOAb was found in 76.3% of subjects who were hyperthyroid, 7% of subjects who were euthyroid and 100% of subjects who were hypothyroid (p < 0.001). Elevated TgAb level was present in 36.8%, 15.8% and 50% of subjects with hyperthyroid, euthyroid and hypothyroid goitre respectively (p = 0.068). A positive correlation was observed between TPOAb and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.582, p < 0.001) and TgAb and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.176, p = 0.08). The correlation between TPOAb and thyroid volume (r = –0.139, p = 0.167) and that of TgAb and thyroid volume (r = –0.119, p = 0.238) was not significant. Conclusion: The prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in patients with goitre is high in Nigeria. Thyroid peroxidase antibody ismoreprevalent than thyroglobulin antibody in thyroid disorders and appears to be a better marker than thyroglobulin antibody in detecting autoimmune thyroid dysfunction

Awareness and knowledge about diabetes mellitus and hypertension amongst adolescents in secondary schools, Oyo State, Nigeria – an interventional study by the SIDCAIN Research Group

Background: Epidemic of obesity has propelled type 2 diabetes into an emerging health problem. Alongside hypertension, diabetes is now a foremost non communicable disease (NCD) in Nigeria. Aims & Objectives: This paper reports the outcome of school health club awareness program amongst school children in Oyo State. Methods: Health clubs were formed with the aim of making adolescents aware of NCDs, and their risk factors through health educational programs over a three year period (2010 – 2013). Data was obtained on awareness, knowledge, and traditional beliefs amongst club members and compared to responses from non-club members. SPSS version 17 was used for data analysis, and the level of statistical significance was set at (

Relationship between Thyroid Hormone levels and Hyperthyroid Signs and symptoms

Objective: Assessment of thyrotoxic patients often involves laboratory and clinical evaluation. We have therefore investigated the relationship between the magnitude of hyperthyroid symptoms and thyroid hormone levels in a set of newly diagnosed thyrotoxic patients. Methods: Fifteen subjects with untreated, newly diagnosed thyrotoxicosis were prospectively studied to investigate the relationship between symptom severity and the degree of hormone elevation. Two standardized symptom rating scales the “Waynes score” (WS) and the “Hyperthyroid symptom score” (HSS) as well as laboratory tests of serum T3, T4 and TSH was employed. Results: Four (26.6%) subjects were men, while 11 (73.3%) were women. The mean age of subjects was 43.9±13.3 years. 12 (80%) had Graves disease while 3 (20%) had toxic multinodular goiter. All subjects had elevated thyroid hormones and Waynes score but HSS was normal in 6 940%) patients. WS corrected positively with HSS (r=0.66,

Development of an ICT-based framework towards sustainable optimal diabetes management in Nigerian health sector

This study aims at assessing the importance of incorporating HIT tools into the Nigerian health sector, especially for diabetes management. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used in this study. Quantitative methods involve questionnaire administration, while qualitative methods comprise observation method and semi structured key informant interviews, used to complement the findings from the questionnaire data collection. AYDOT was developed to customize and adapt the international HIT standard, which can identify patients at risk and physicians could quickly attend to them in real-time through mobile text messages. The conditions used for ‘At-risk’ patients are if: the Blood pressure>140/80  mmHg, the sugar level before meal>7mm0/L; the Sugar level 2 h after meal>11.1mm0/L, the Body Mass Index BMI (W/H2) >= 25 kg/m2 and diabetes duration>10 yrs. The results from this study imply that for any diabetes management project to be successful, there is a need to move from paper-based to HIT-based system in the entire organization, as optimal management of diabetes relies on the availability and usability of Health Information Technology (HIT) applications. Keywords: Diabetes management, ICT, Nigerian health secto

Identification of hazards and risk assessment for a 40kVA diesel powered lighting set.

The process of installing, operating and maintaining power sets carries with them occupational hazards, the hazards and risks associated with installation, operation and maintenance of diesel powered generator using a 40kVA generator was identified. The findings reveal that five major jobs or tasks were associated with the events of installation, operation and maintenance of any typical industrial standby generator. Hazards of varying degrees were identified with every section and jobbing of the whole activities. The associated risk was classification, about 60 percent high risk to 40 percent medium risk. The most hazardous tasks include, engine operation, electrical wiring and connection to the generator. The receipt and installation of the generator with preparation of foundation and engine maintenance were identified

Serum C-reactive protein in Nigerians with type II diabetes mellitus

Background: C-reactive protein  is  an  acute-phase proteins, produce in the liver, its release is stimulated by cytokines (interleukin 6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha). Elevated level of it is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Baseline levels of C-reactive protein in apparently healthy men and women predict long-term risk of a first myocardial infarction. Diabetics are at increased risk for coronary heart disease, data from the Framingham Study showed a two-to three-fold elevation in the risk of clinically evident atherosclerotic disease in patients with type II diabetes compared to those without diabetes. However, but data regarding CRP in Nigerian diabetic is lacking.Objectives: The study was to determine serum C-reactive protein in Nigerian with Type II diabetes mellitusMethods: The study design was cross-sectional conducted among patients attending out patient clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals complex (OAUTHC) Ile Ife, Osun State south western Nigeria. Measurement of C- reactive protein was based on the principle of solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: A total of 125 consecutive subjects were recruited comprising 75 patients with type II diabetes mellitus with or without hypertension and 50 apparently healthy age-and-sex comparable controls. There was a significant difference between the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the patients and controls. The fasting blood glucose and C-reactive protein  were  significantly higher  in  diabetics  compared  to  controls. There was a positive and significant correlation between FBG and CRP in both patients and controls.Conclusion: This study showed that diabetics have significantly higher serum C-reactive protein compared to the apparently controls. Also there was a positive and significant correlation between C-reactive protein and fasting blood glucose among both patients and controls.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, C-reactive protein, Coronary heart diseas