Usefulness of an accelerated transoesophageal stress echocardiography in the preoperative evaluation of high risk severely obese subjects awaiting bariatric surgery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Severe obesity is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Bariatric surgery is an effective procedure for long term weight management as well as reduction of comorbidities. Preoperative evaluation of cardiac operative risk may often be necessary but unfortunately standard imaging techniques are often suboptimal in these subjects. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility, safety and utility of transesophageal dobutamine stress echocardiography (TE-DSE) using an adapted accelerated dobutamine infusion protocol in severely obese subjects with comorbidities being evaluated for bariatric surgery for assessing the presence of myocardial ischemia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Subjects with severe obesity [body mass index (BMI) >40 kg/m²] with known or suspected CAD and being evaluated for bariatric surgery were recruited.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty subjects (9M/11F), aged 50 ± 8 years (mean ± SD), weighing 141 ± 21 kg and with a BMI of 50 ± 5 kg/m²were enrolled in the study and underwent a TE-DSE. The accelerated dobutamine infusion protocol used was well tolerated. Eighteen (90%) subjects reached their target heart rate with a mean intubation time of 13 ± 4 minutes. Mean dobutamine dose was 31.5 ± 9.9 ug/kg/min while mean atropine dose was 0.5 ± 0.3 mg. TE-DSE was well tolerated by all subjects without complications including no significant arrhythmia, hypotension or reduction in blood arterial saturation. Two subjects had abnormal TE-DSE suggestive of myocardial ischemia. All patients underwent bariatric surgery with no documented cardiovascular complications.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>TE-DSE using an accelerated infusion protocol is a safe and well tolerated imaging technique for the evaluation of suspected myocardial ischemia and cardiac operative risk in severely obese patients awaiting bariatric surgery. Moreover, the absence of myocardial ischemia on TE-DSE correlates well with a low operative risk of cardiac event.</p

Teaching of Information Literacy Skills in Nigerian Universities: A Theoretical and Practical Perspectives from Federal University Minna, Nigeria

This study is a theoretical and practical examination of the role of information literacy in teaching and learning process. The study appreciates the tremendous challenges facing both staff and students in the face of declining academic productivity. A questionnaire was used to collect data for this study. Interviews and focus group discussion (FGO) were also used to complement the information collected with questionnaire. Frequency, count and simple percentage were used to analyse the data collected. The results showed that most of the staff and students had no clear understanding of information literacy. Factors identified to enhance information use included availability of information resource which ranked highest (75.5%), qualified instructors (60.5%), adequate training (57.3%), infrastructure (57.5%) and appropriate lecture method (40%). We suggest that early training of both staff and students be emphasized; also, government should make more funds available for the acquisition of resources necessary for information literacy training and learning.Key Words: Teaching, information, literacy, skills, University

Effect of Information Communication Technology Facilities on Students’ Performance: A Comparative Study of Federal Government College and Bosso Secondary School, Minna, Nigeria

This study examined the effect of ICT facilities on students’ performance by comparing Federal Government College with ICT facilities and Bosso Secondary without ICT facilities,. The comparison was conducted using subtests of English language and Mathematics on 62 JSS students from the two secondary schools both in Minna metropolis, Nigeria. Results indicated a significant difference in performance in both tests between Federal Government College and Bosso Secondary School. Differences in mean score were statistically significant in English language (t = 2.60) and Mathematics (t = 4.96). The study recommended that government should make available ICT facilities in all secondary schools to enhance teaching and learning.Key words: ICT, students’ performance, secondary school, ICT, Nigeria

The Imperative Of Literature Search For Research In Nigeria

The paper examined the necessity for the use of the Literature to support research-whether in an educational setting or within industry. Using the literature to support research involves much more than a single search, the thought and preparation before hand is a vital part of the process while the problem of obtaining, recording, reading and citing the literature can be as daunting as the search itself. The paper while advancing reasons for literature search described how the library can assist in literature search. It finally discussed the various approaches and levels of search especially on the web and the problems researchers are most likely to encounter. Keywords: Research, Literature Search, Nigeria. The Information Technologist Vol. 5 (2) 2008: pp. 150-15

Use of the Internet by Students in Nigerian Universities: A Case Study of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria

This study examined the use of internet resource by students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. The survey technique was used for this study because it involved a large number of people. The studied population was students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna Nigeria. One thousand five hundred out of the 15,000 students of the university were sampled during the 2006/2007 academic session for study, using stratified random sampling. The result showed that the students made use of internet resources such as World Wide Web (www), Electronic mail (E-mail) and Discussion Groups (DG). The most common way of locating information for leaning according to the students, is the E-mail. Based on findings from this study, it was recommended that the University authority and government should make access to internet readily available, by encouraging private sector involvement and provision of broadband internet access.Key words: Internet, students, University, Nigeria

Limitations to the use of Information and Communication Technologies for Research in Nigerian University Libraries

This study examined the problems the University library users encounter in the use of ICT facilities for sourcing information for research. The research design adopted for this study was survey type. A total of 12 university libraries drawn from the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria were involved as sample for this study Questionnaire with structured and open-ended questions were used as instrument for data collection. The result showed that inhibitors to the use of ICT facilities for research in our university libraries include: irregular power supply, lack of skilled library staff to assist users, frequent breakdown of equipment, difficulty of access, poor support infrastructure, etc. It is recommended that University libraries and government should encourage public-private partnership to promote ICT implementation in the libraries, and to form consortia at various levels in order to share resources.Key word: Limitation, information utilization, ICT, Research, University libraries, Nigeria

Effect of treatment with single total-dose intravenous iron versus daily oral iron(III)-hydroxide polymaltose on moderate puerperal iron-deficiency anemia

Chukwuemeka Anthony Iyoke,1 Fausta Chioma Emegoakor,1 Euzebus Chinonye Ezugwu,1 Lucky Osaheni Lawani,2 Leonard Ogbonna Ajah,1 Jude Anazoeze Madu,3 Hyginus Uzo Ezegwui,1 Frank Okechukwu Ezugwu4 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, 3Department of Haematology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, Enugu State University, Enugu, Nigeria Background: Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional cause of anemia in pregnancy and is often responsible for puerperal anemia. Puerperal anemia can impair postpartum maternal and neonatal well-being. Objective: To determine the effect of treatment of moderate puerperal iron-deficiency anemia using a single intravenous total-dose iron dextran versus daily single dose oral iron(III)-hydroxide polymaltose. Methodology: A randomized controlled study in which postpartum women with moderate iron-deficiency anemia were randomized into treatment with either a single total-dose intravenous iron dextran or with daily single doses of oral iron(III)-hydroxide polymaltose tablets for 6 weeks. Effects on hemoglobin concentration using either method were compared at 6 weeks postpartum. Analysis was per protocol using SPSS version 17 for windows. P-values &le;0.05 were considered significant. Results: Two hundred eighty-four women were recruited for the study: 142 women received single total dose intravenous infusion of iron dextran while 142 received daily oral iron(III)-hydroxide polymaltose tablets. Approximately 84.0% (237/282) completed the study and were analyzed including 81% (115/142) of those randomized to injectable iron therapy compared to 85.9% (122/142) of those randomized to oral treatment. The proportions of women who had attained hemoglobin concentration of at least 10 g/dL by the 6 weeks postpartum visit did not differ significantly between cases and controls (95.7% vs 94.3%; P=0.73). Similarly, the mean increases in hemoglobin following either therapeutic route were comparable (1.03&plusmn;0.56 g/dL for intravenous iron and 0.97&plusmn;0.46 g/dL for the oral group; P=0.42). Conclusion: Single total-dose intravenous iron for treatment of puerperal iron-deficiency anemia was as effective as daily single doses of ferric iron tablets. For puerperal patients with iron-deficiency anemia in whom compliance with and tolerability of oral iron are not certain, a single total-dose intravenous iron can be safely offered. Keywords: effect, intravenous, iron, puerperal, anemi