Decoding neonatal chest radiographic patterns of disease: retrospective analysis from a tertiary care hospital

Background: To evaluate chest radiographic patterns in neonatal respiratory distress using a predesigned performa and algorithm and to correlate results with the clinical diagnosis.Methods: A retrospective review was done of bedside chest radiographs acquired over a month for respiratory distress from the neonatal intensive care unit. The radiographs were systematically evaluated according to a predesigned performa and algorithm. A presumptive radiographic diagnosis was assigned to each patient based on the combination of radiographic features. Radiographic diagnosis was compared with the clinical diagnosis. The most important diagnostic features were outlined.Results: The radiographic diagnosis correlated with clinical diagnosis in 93.3% of cases. Most common radiographic feature was pulmonary air space opacity (n=21). Air space opacity without any mediastinal shift in absence of any compensatory factors was a reliable diagnostic feature for pneumonic consolidation, which was the most common diagnosis (n=10). Bilateral granular lung fields were a specific indicator of respiratory distress syndrome. Flattening of domes of diaphragm was the most frequent feature for hyperinflation. Bilateral hyperinflation could be accurately used to diagnose bronchiolitis in all but one case (n=4/5). Pleural complications were accurately diagnosed.Conclusions: Systematic evaluation of neonatal chest radiographic patterns of disease has a high diagnostic accuracy

Urinary bladder agenesis with bilateral single system vaginal ectopic ureters in adult

Agenesis of urinary bladder is an extremely rare condition with only 60 cases and 22 live births being reported previously. Ureteric ectopia is a must for survival. We present a unique case of bladder agenesis detected in adulthood where bilateral single system ureters were draining ectopically in a grossly dilated vagina in normally developed female genital tract

MDCT angiography in evaluation of pediatric hemangiomas and peripheral vascular malformations

Background: To evaluate the role of MDCT angiography in peripheral hemangiomas and vascular malformations in pediatric patients.Methods: Total of 36 consecutive pediatric patients with clinically suspected peripheral hemangiomas and peripheral malformations were included in the study. MDCT angiography and doppler sonography was done for all patients. Final diagnosis was made by response to treatment and follow up. The statistical significance of various MDCT findings and post processing techniques was calculated. p value of <0.05 was considered significant.Results: Venous malformations were the most common. The MDCTA features which were significant in diagnosing venous malformations were phleboliths (p=0.039), peak enhancement in venous or delayed phase, absence of soft tissue mass, lacy tangle of vessels on maximum intensity projection and volume rendered images. Features significant in diagnosing arteriovenous malformations were tortuous arterial feeders, peak enhancement in arterial phase (0.0001), early draining vein (p=0.0001), venous phase wash out (p=0.0001), tense tangle of vessels on maximum intensity projection and volume rendered images (p=0.0003). Phleboliths (p=0.43) and venous or delayed phase peak enhancement (p=0.69) were overlapping features in congenital hemangiomas and venous malformations. Arterial phase enhancement (p=0.10) and early draining veins (p=0.39) were overlapping features in infantile proliferating hemangiomas and arteriovenous malformations. However, presence of soft tissue mass (p=0.0001) and lack of venous phase wash out (p=0.0003) were differentiating features for hemangiomas.Conclusions: MDCT angiography can be used as a highly accurate modality to diagnose hemangiomas and vascular malformations. It has an advantage over color Doppler in depicting entire extent of deep lesions

MANAGEMENT OF CONFLICT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON NIGERIAN PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS

The study sought to identify the causes of conflicts, the challenges encountered in managing organizational conflicts, and the appropriate strategies adopted by selected public sector organizations in Nigeria in managing organizational conflict. The study has population size of 75 out of which a sample size of 63 was realized using Taro Yamane’s formula at 5% error tolerance and 95% level of confidence. Instruments used for data collection were questionnaire and interview. A total number of 63 copies of the questionnaires were distributed while 55 copies were returned. The descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The hypotheses were tested employing Pearson chi-square using SPSS. The findings indicate that inadequacy of resources; personality differences and communication problems are the causes of conflict in Nigerian public sector organizations. Secondly, coping with change and effective implementation of strategy are the challenges encountered in managing organizational conflict. Thirdly, collaboration style, accommodation style and avoidance style are the strategies adopted by public sector organizations in managing conflict. The study recommends that managers should develop appropriate strategies such as collective bargaining and negotiation, to resolve and manage conflicts as they arise before escalating to unmanageable level.  Article visualizations

Role of combined wash-in and wash-out threshold criteria on dynamic multislice CECT for solitary pulmonary nodule characterisation: data from Indian tertiary care hospital

Background: To prospectively assess the accuracy of combined wash-in and washout characteristics at dynamic contrast material–enhanced multi– detector row computed tomography (CT in distinguishing benign from malignant solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN).Methods: Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. The study included 30 patients (16 men, 14 women; mean age, 52 years; range, 25-80 years) with SPN. After unenhanced CT (1.25mm collimation) scan, dynamic CT was performed (series of images obtained throughout the nodule, with 0.6mm collimation, at 30, 60, 90, and 120 seconds and 4, 5, 9, 12, and 15 minutes) after intravenous injection of contrast medium (120 mL). The HU value of nodule was noted at each of the scans. Data was analyzed for dynamic enhancement characteristics. FNAC from the nodule was done in all patients. The data were correlated with the cytopathological and follow –up results. The significance of various dynamic enhancement features and different threshold criteria for wash-in and wash-out of contrast medium for differentiation between benign and malignant nodules were derived.Results: There were 16 malignant and 14 benign nodules. When diagnostic criteria for malignancy of both wash-in of 25 HU or greater and washout of 5-34 HU were applied, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for malignancy were 100%, 92.8% and 96.7% respectively.Conclusions: Evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodules by analyzing combined wash-in and washout characteristics at dynamic contrast-enhanced multi– detector row CT showed 96.7% accuracy (p<0.001) for distinguishing benign nodules from malignant nodules

Potential haematopoietic properties of crude methanolic seed extract of Pentaclethra macrophylla in Wistar rats

Numerous medicinal properties have been attributed to the seeds of Pentaclethra macrophylla (P. macrophylla) whereas its haematological properties have received little attention. This study was designed to evaluate the haematopoietic effects of crude methanolic seed extract of P. macrophylla in wistar rats. Thirty Wistar rats in five groups, labeled A to E were acclimatized for two weeks and used for this study. Groups A to D were administered orally with graded-doses of crude methanolic extract of P. macrophylla seeds (100, 200, 300 and 400) mg/kg body weight respectively for 28 days whereas Group E served as control. Blood sample was collected and haematological parameters were determined. Extracts of P. macrophylla significantly (p&lt;0.05) increased the Hb, Hct, RBC and TWBC in a dose-dependent pattern in the treated groups compared to the control. The platelet count was however decreased in the treated groups compared with the control, although not in a dose-dependent pattern, with Group D having the least count (p&lt;0.05). Thin blood films of the treated groups revealed normocytic and normochromic red blood cells and relative lymphocytosis. Administration of crude methanolic seed extract of Pentaclethra macrophylla demonstrated dosage-dependent significant increase in some haematological variables, while decreasing platelet count. This study suggests that the seed extract may possess haematopoietic, antimicrobial and immunity boosting potentials, and could be developed for future clinical use in managing blood-related conditions.Keywords: Graded-doses; Oral administration; Pentaclethra macrophyll

Numerical investigation of flow field of a non-circular cylinder

The study of the base flow field or the flow field in the wake region is not accessible by using only a theoretical method; mostly this study has been done experimentally. The problem statement of this study is to know the effect of flow past of a non-circular cylinder on the drag. At high Reynolds number, the flow past a bluff body is characterized by a large wake zone. Therefore, drag reduction of the flow field is an interesting problem with a wide range of application. The present paper presents the numerical simulation of the flow field of a non-circular cylinder. The shielding effect of the square-plate front body on the flow field of drag reduction and the pressure distribution of a three-dimensional bluff body is simulated by using a numerical method. The results obtained from the simulation are compared with the experimental results. The results indicate that the side faces and the rear faces are subjected to low pressure, whereas the front face is experiencing high positive pressure. With this flow pattern, the pressure drag coefficient assumes a substantially significant value in the range of 1.0-1.42. Such a high value of drag coefficient is particularly valid for bluff bodies with noncircular cross-sections with sharp corners. © 2019 PENERBIT AKADEMIA BARU. All rights reserved

Availability and functionality of sphygmomanometers at health care institutions in Enugu, Nigeria

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the availability of functional blood pressure monitors at health care institutions in Enugu, Nigeria.Methods: During repeated surveys of 15 (primary, secondary and tertiary) health care institutions in Enugu between 2007 and 2012, records were made of the availability and functional status of sphygmomanometers in the clinics and wards. We also assessed the degree of agreement between measurements by institutional staff and measurements by trained observers using the same or the standard sphygmomanometer.Results: Apart from three institutions, there was inadequate availability of fully functional sphygmomanometers: 61 staff attending to outpatients were sharing 35 sphygmomanometers, 6 of which were faulty i.e. needing repairs. Wards invariably had only one or two functional sphygmomanometers, regardless of bed occupancy. Institutional staff ignored recommended guidelines for blood pressure measurement. The overall mean difference in blood pressure measurements between institutional staff and a trained observer (1.6 mmHg; 95% confidence interval, CI: -0.3 to 3.4; P = 0.1) was greater and more significant than the mean difference between the two observers (0.1 mmHg; CI: -1.5 to 1.7; P = 0.9) and the mean difference between institutional and standard sphygmomanometers (-0.2 mmHg; CI: -1.7 to 1.3; P = 0.8).Conclusion: There has been a notable lack of reporting on the availability of blood pressure measuring devices in third world health care institutions. Our surveys have shown inadequate availability of functional sphygmomanometers in the institutions, but satisfactory agreement between measurements by institutional staff and trained observers. In view of recent guidelines and recommendations, there is need to supplement office readings with mercury devices with oscillometric home or automated office blood pressure recording.Keywords: Blood pressure measurement, healthcare quality, hospital care, mercury devices, Nigeria, sphygmomanometer

Potential haematopoietic properties of crude methanolic seed extract of Pentaclethra macrophylla in Wistar rats.

Numerous medicinal properties have been attributed to the seeds of Pentaclethra macrophylla (P. macrophylla) whereas its haematological properties have received little attention. This study was designed to evaluate the haematopoietic effects of crude methanolic seed extract of P. macrophylla in wistar rats. Thirty Wistar rats in five groups, labeled A to E were acclimatized for two weeks and used for this study. Groups A to D were administered orally with graded-doses of crude methanolic extract of P. macrophylla seeds (100, 200, 300 and 400) mg/kg body weight respectively for 28 days whereas Group E served as control. Blood sample was collected and haematological parameters were determined. Extracts of P. macrophylla significantly (p&lt;0.05) increased the Hb, Hct, RBC and TWBC in a dose-dependent pattern in the treated groups compared to the control. The platelet count was however decreased in the treated groups compared with the control, although not in a dose-dependent pattern, with Group D having the least count (p&lt;0.05). Thin blood films of the treated groups revealed normocytic and normochromic red blood cells and relative lymphocytosis. Administration of crude methanolic seed extract of Pentaclethra macrophylla demonstrated dosage-dependent significant increase in some haematological variables, while decreasing platelet count. This study suggests that the seed extract may possess haematopoietic, antimicrobial and immunity boosting potentials, and could be developed for future clinical use in managing blood-related conditions

Research onFlows for NACA 2412 airfoil using computational Fluid dynamics method

The comparison between incompressible and compressible flow for aerodynamic coefficients and flow characteristics has been made for NACA 2412 airfoil. The FEM is used to obtain results. The fluid domain of 10C has been constructed to initialize the boundary conditions of incompressible and compressible flow conditions. The structured mesh has been applied in order to achieve accurate results. The Spallart-Allmaras turbulence model has been used to solve both incompressible and compressible flow conditions. The method validation that has been conducted at incompressible flow has shown close agreement between numerical and experimental lift coefficient. From velocity magnitude and static pressure, contours, the compressible flow has the highest-pressure distribution compared to incompressible flow. Therefore, it has been proven that the coefficient of force at ninety degrees to the direction of the flow direction of the airfoil subjected to a variable density flow was much higher compared to incompressible flow