Features of Neonatal Jaundice at Irrua Specialist Hospital, Irrua, in Edo State, Nigeria

Thirty of the 75 (2-7 day-old) jaundiced neonates delivered at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, in, Edo State were studied. Of the males, 55.6% were kernicteric, compared to 41.7% of the females. Two neonates who had sepsis had mean weight of 2.51 ± 0.86kg, indicating low birth-weight associated with malnutrition. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean weights of the male and female neonates (P > 0.05). There was high haemoglobin concentration as well as total, conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin levels in the neonates, indicative of pathologic hyperbilirubinaemia. The cause of the neonatal icterus may be due to haemolytic jaundice and ABO incompatibilty. Phototherapy, exchange blood transfusion and drugs were used in treating the jaundiced neonates. These and other adjunctive treatments achieved 96% survival rate. Immediate post-natal screening of neonates is necessary to improve their chances of survival. Key words: neonatal jaundice, case study, diagnosis, treatment Journal of Medical Laboratory Science Vol.13(1) 2004:36 - 4

The Study Of Serum Prostate Specific Antigen And Phosphatase Isoenzymes Activity As Diagnostic Parameters In Patients With Prostate Cancer In Nigeria

Serum activities of Acid Phosphatase (ACP) and Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP) are still employed in most hospitals in Nigeria for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, because of lack of resources for prostate specific antigen (PSA) assay. Serum PSA and activities of phosphatase isoenzymes ACP and PAP, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Heat stable Alkaline Phosphatase (HSAP) were studied in 71 apparently healthy male controls and 47 proven prostate cancer patients. There were statistically significant increases in the mean serum levels of PSA, PAP, ACP, ALP and HSAP in the prostate cancer patients compared to the controls (P<0.001). PSA level was increased above the cut-off level in 85.1% of patients, PAP in 66.0%, ACP in 57.5%, ALP in 34.0% and HSAP in 21.3% of cases. Serum levels of PSA, ACP and PAP were lower and of ALP and HSAP higher in patients with longer duration of the disease (P<0.05). The study confirms the relevance of PSA assay over ACP, PAP, ALP and HSAP in the diagnosis of prostate cancer patients. It highlights the need for the inclusion of PSA assay in hospitals for accurate diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma