Evaluation of the inner thigh as site for mantoux test among children in Owerri South Eastern Nigeria

Background: Mantoux test, a type IV hypersensitivity reaction, is commonly used to screen children for possible tuberculosis. It is applied on the volar surface of forearm. Sunlight ultraviolet rays (UV) have recently been shown to induce immunosuppression that alters the skin response to Mantoux test negatively.Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the inner thigh as a possible site for Mantoux test in children attending Federal Medical Centre Owerri whom their primary attending Physicians requested a Mantoux test.Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted between June and October 2011. Concomitant intradermal injection of 0.1ml of purified protein derivative on the volar aspect of the forearm and the inner thigh was carried out. Induration was measured concurrently in 106 consecutive children, between the ages of 3months and 15 years. Using volar surface of forearm as gold standard, values of inner thigh induration at a set cut-off was determined. Students’t test, Pearson correlation coefficient and the Chi square were used to compute data.Results: The mean diameter of induration on the inner thigh (12.51 ±3.44mm) was higher than mean diameter of induration on the volar surface of the arm (11.03±6.34mm). This is however not statistically significant. There were (29) children who had reactive induration on the inner thigh whilst 19 had similar induration on the volar surface of the forearm. In the presence of factor(s) that negatively affects the response of the skin to Mantoux test; the inner thigh induration yield was higher. There was a strong positive correlation between the two site measurements.Conclusions: The inner thigh as a site for Mantoux test in children has shown potential for higher yield.Keywords: Sunlight, Inner thigh, Mantoux test, TB, Childre

The role of blood transfusion on the prevalence of hepatitis c virus antibodies in children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in Enugu, south East Nigeria

Background: The hepatitis C Virus (HCV) has become an important cause of chronic liver disease and liver cancerworldwide. Blood transfusion is one of the importantmodes of transmission. There is need to study the prevalence among those at risk such as sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients. Such information will broaden knowledge of the problemamong SCA patients transfusedwith blood in this part of the country. Objective: To determine the prevalence of HCV antibodies among children with SCA transfused with blood in Enugu, compared with their non transfused counterparts as well as the roles of blood transfusion and traditional surgery in the prevalence of HCV infection. Methodology: The study was conducted among 269 children with SCA attending the paediatrics sickle cell clinic at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu,with 136 transfused SCA patients as subjects and 133 age and sexmatched non-transfused SCA who served as controls.Results: The results showed an HCV antibody prevalence of 6.6% among the transfused and 5.3% among the non-transfused (controls) SCA patients (P=0.610). There was positive association between number of transfusions and HCV seropositiviy, such that thosewho had received 4 ormore units of blood had a prevalencerate of more than 50% (P = 0.001). The influence of scarifications on the prevalence of antibodies to HCV (antiHCV) for the non transfused (controls)was statistically significant (P= 0.001). Conclusion: HCV infection is not uncommon in children with SCA. The prevalence of HCV infection in transfused SCA patients is not significantly higher than their age/sexmatched controls. Keywords: Blood transfusion,HepatitisC, Sickle cell anaemia

Demographic and Sociocultural Characteristics of Sickle Anaemia Children with Positive Hepatitis B Surface Antigenaemia in a Tertiary Health Facility in Enugu

Hepatitis B virus infection is contracted through contact with body fluid of infected persons. Patientswith sickle cell anaemia (SCA), a common haematological disorder inNigeria, have tendencies to visit traditional healerswho administer scarifications and ritualmarks thatmay expose themtoHBVinfection. To determine the demographic and socio-cultural characteristics of children with SCA infected withHBVat theUniversity ofNigeriaTeachingHospital Enugu. Two hundred and twenty one children aged 6months to 17years with SCA were recruited consecutively from October 2004 to April 2005. They were screened for HBsAg using ELISA method. There was no statistically difference in hepatitis B surface antigenaemia among different age group (P=0.907). Social class did not significantly influence the prevalence of HBsAg among subjects (p=0.887). Socio-cultural practices like circumcision and scarification did not influence the prevalence of HBsAg, (p=0.636) (p=0.771) respectively.Significantly highernumber of people fromlowest socioeconomic class  practice scarification (p=0.0001). Demographic and sociocultural factors do not appear to influence the prevalence of HBsAg among childrenwith SCAinEnugu,Nigeria. Sickle cell anaemia; Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia, Demographic, Sociocultural characteristicKeywords: Sickle cell anaemia; Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia, Demographic, Sociocultural characteristics

Implications of Indoor Air Pollution in Business Buildings in Nigeria

 Globally, the majority of individuals spend 90 percent of their daily routine time indoors. Outside air pollution adds to the toxins created in interior spaces owing to heating and cooling, which has a substantial impact on person healthiness (illness that results in mortality and morbidity) and productiveness. This study investigates the implications of air pollution on interior air quality in commercial buildings such as event centres in Kogi State, Nigeria. Descriptive research approach was used with a questionnaire administered to 120 participants chosen through a random sampling procedure in business buildings. Findings indicated that inadequate window and tiny door size, including absence of mechanical cooling devices linked favourably with higher temperature in the interior but negatively with its moistness. The results show that indoor air quality has negatively impacted on the workforce performance and productivity of the customers, and also on the efficiency of their activities in the event centres. Implication for practice is that designs of apertures should be large enough to allow for cross ventilation while mechanical cooling systems should be included in the design for optimal interior air quality. The study recommends synergistic interventions from academics, policymakers, and occupational practitioners to improve national standard and its implementation for the management and regulation of indoor air quality in inside settings in Nigeri

Assessment of health communication practice on hepatitis B in Southwest Nigeria

In line with the Sustainable Development Goal 3:3 of ending the epidemic of hepatitis by year 2030, there is a global call for strategic information to understand viral hepatitis. Existing studies on hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Nigeria have primarily focused on health practitioners and their patients, to the neglect of detailed empirical data on health communication practice, especially as it relates to semi-urban and urban demographic information. The study set to find out the communication strategies employed by government and non-government organisations working on HBV, as well as the preferred health communication channels for hepatitis B by semi-urban and urban residents. The study adopted a mixed method. The qualitative method assessed the communication strategies employed by government and non-government health-related agencies in informing people on HBV in Nigeria while, the survey examined the preferred health communication channels for HBV management among 582 semi-urban and urban residents in Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun States, Southwest Nigeria. Bivariate analyses were performed on demographic variables and preferred health communication channels for HBV by states. This study found that government agencies and non-government organisations working on hepatitis B predominantly make use of interpersonal communication in getting the people informed of HBV. Also, residents of Southwest Nigeria (elderly, 71.4% (Lagos), married couples, 53.7% (Ogun)) preferred the internet as a health communication source for hepatitis B information as against traditional means of television, radio and print platforms

Genic SNP markers and legume synteny reveal candidate genes underlying QTL for Macrophomina phaseolina resistance and maturity in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.]

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Macrophomina phaseolina </it>is an emerging and devastating fungal pathogen that causes significant losses in crop production under high temperatures and drought stress. An increasing number of disease incidence reports highlight the wide prevalence of the pathogen around the world and its contribution toward crop yield suppression. In cowpea [<it>Vigna unguiculata </it>(L) Walp.], limited sources of low-level host resistance have been identified, the genetic basis of which is unknown. In this study we report on the identification of strong sources of host resistance to <it>M. phaseolina </it>and the genetic mapping of putative resistance loci on a cowpea genetic map comprised of gene-derived single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Nine quantitative trait loci (QTLs), accounting for between 6.1 and 40.0% of the phenotypic variance (R²), were identified using plant mortality data taken over three years in field experiments and disease severity scores taken from two greenhouse experiments. Based on annotated genic SNPs as well as synteny with soybean (<it>Glycine max</it>) and <it>Medicago truncatula</it>, candidate resistance genes were found within mapped QTL intervals. QTL <it>Mac-2 </it>explained the largest percent R²and was identified in three field and one greenhouse experiments where the QTL peak co-located with a SNP marker derived from a pectin esterase inhibitor encoding gene. Maturity effects on the expression of resistance were indicated by the co-location of <it>Mac-6 </it>and <it>Mac-7 </it>QTLs with maturity-related senescence QTLs <it>Mat-2 </it>and <it>Mat-1</it>, respectively. Homologs of the <it>ELF4 </it>and <it>FLK </it>flowering genes were found in corresponding syntenic soybean regions. Only three <it>Macrophomina </it>resistance QTLs co-located with delayed drought-induced premature senescence QTLs previously mapped in the same population, suggesting that largely different genetic mechanisms mediate cowpea response to drought stress and <it>Macrophomina </it>infection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Effective sources of host resistance were identified in this study. QTL mapping and synteny analysis identified genomic loci harboring resistance factors and revealed candidate genes with potential for further functional genomics analysis.</p

Relationship Between Nutritional Status and Intensity of Common Intestinal Helminths Among Children in Enugu, South‑East Nigeria

Background: Intestinal helminthiasis is associated with malnutrition in children.Aim: The objective of this study was to determine the intensity and effect of the common intestinal helminths on the nutritional status of children in Enugu, Nigeria.Subjects and Methods: A cross‑sectional study of 460 children conducted in Enugu metropolis, south‑east Nigeria between August and September 2003. Their stools were analyzed at the research laboratory of the Federal Ministry of Health, National Arbovirus and Vector Research Center, Enugu. The intensity of the common intestinal helminths was determined using the standard Kato‑Katz method of fresh stool samples. The classification intensity of helminthic infestation was according to the World Health Organization classification. Data were analyzed using Statistical Software for Social Sciences version 11.0 (Chicago IL, USA). P &lt; 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: 452 of 460 children (98.3%) had normal height for age, weight for age and weight for height Z‑scores. Six of the 460 children (1.3% were wasted), 1/460 stunted (0.2%) and 1/460 wasted and stunted (0.2%). 150 out of 460 (32.6%) studied were infected with helminths. There was no significantrelationship between the intensity of helminth infection and the nutritional status of the children. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of helminthiasis in children in Enugu was high, intensity of helminthiasis in these children was mainly mild. Hence, majority of them had normal weight and height measurements for age and sex.Keywords: Anthropometry, Children, Helminthic infectio

Root nitrogen concentration of sorghum above 2% produces least Striga hermonthica seed stimulation

A series of pot and laboratory experiments was carried out to assess the effects of N status of sorghum roots and timing of N application (as NH4NO3) on the germination of Striga hermonthica seeds. Root N concentrations varied from 10 to 26 mg N g−1. The cut root and the root exudates technique used in assaying S. hermonthica seed germination gave similar results. However, the cut root technique was easier to handle and more discriminating at low germination levels. S. hermonthica seed germination per unit sorghum root mass followed a broken-stick model. It decreased with increasing root N concentrations, reaching lowest levels at a root N concentration of 19.5 mg N g−1, after which no further reduction occurred. It was not possible to reduce S. hermonthica seed germination to a zero level. Timing of N application influenced the time a higher N concentration is reached, not the S. hermonthica seed germination. Both timing and rate of N application are important in maintaining root N concentrations above 19.5 mg N g−1, thereby potentially reducing S. hermonthica germination in the field. Translation of results to reductions in infection levels and yield losses is hampered by density-dependent relations after the S. hermonthica germination stage