Dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria: Report of a sporadic case in a Nigerian child

Dyschromatosissymmetricahereditaria (DSH) is one of a group of reticulate pigment disorders of the skin. It is a rare autosomal dominantly inheritedgenodermatosis, presenting as mottled admixtures of hypopigmented and hyperpigmented macules on the dorsa of the extremities. It is predominantly found among persons of Oriental origin. We hereby  document the first case of dyschromatosissymmetricahereditaria in a four year old Nigerian boy who presented with progressive symmetric dyschromic lesions on the dorsa of the hands and feet, with no family history of similar lesions. The diagnosis was confirmed by the typical histologic finding of basal hyperpigmentation with normal number of melanocytes and absence of melanin incontinence from a hyperpigmented lesionKeywords: DyschromatosisSymmetricaHereditaria, Nigerian, Sporadi

Bats Avoid Radar Installations: Could Electromagnetic Fields Deter Bats from Colliding with Wind Turbines?

Large numbers of bats are killed by collisions with wind turbines, and there is at present no direct method of reducing or preventing this mortality. We therefore determine whether the electromagnetic radiation associated with radar installations can elicit an aversive behavioural response in foraging bats. Four civil air traffic control (ATC) radar stations, three military ATC radars and three weather radars were selected, each surrounded by heterogeneous habitat. Three sampling points matched for habitat type and structure, dominant vegetation species, altitude and surrounding land class were located at increasing distances from each station. A portable electromagnetic field meter measured the field strength of the radar at three distances from the source: in close proximity (<200 m) with a high electromagnetic field (EMF) strength >2 volts/metre, an intermediate point within line of sight of the radar (200–400 m) and with an EMF strength <2 v/m, and a control site out of sight of the radar (>400 m) and registering an EMF of zero v/m. At each radar station bat activity was recorded three times with three independent sampling points monitored on each occasion, resulting in a total of 90 samples, 30 of which were obtained within each field strength category. At these sampling points, bat activity was recorded using an automatic bat recording station, operated from sunset to sunrise. Bat activity was significantly reduced in habitats exposed to an EMF strength of greater than 2 v/m when compared to matched sites registering EMF levels of zero. The reduction in bat activity was not significantly different at lower levels of EMF strength within 400 m of the radar. We predict that the reduction in bat activity within habitats exposed to electromagnetic radiation may be a result of thermal induction and an increased risk of hyperthermia

Search for K+ decays to a muon and invisible particles

The NA62 experiment at CERN reports searches for K+ → μ+N and K+ → μ+νX decays, where N and X are massive invisible particles, using the 2016–2018 data set. The N particle is assumed to be a heavy neutral lepton, and the results are expressed as upper limits of O(10−8) of the neutrino mixing parameter |Uμ4|2 for N masses in the range 200–384 MeV/c2 and lifetime exceeding 50 ns. The X particle is considered a scalar or vector hidden sector mediator decaying to an invisible final state, and upper limits of the decay branching fraction for X masses in the range 10–370 MeV/c2 are reported for the first time, ranging from O(10−5) to O(10−7). An improved upper limit of 1.0×10−6 is established at 90% CL on the K+ → μ+ννν¯ branching fraction

Severity and impact of acne vulgaris on the quality of life of adolescents in Nigeria

Evelyn E Ogedegbe,1 Eshan B Henshaw2 1Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria; 2Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria Background: Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition, which affects most adolescents at some point in their lives. It has been found to have a significant impact on their psychological well-being and has been associated with depression and suicide ideation. Many studies have assessed the impact of acne vulgaris on the quality of life (QoL) in different population subgroups around the world, but there is a dearth of reports from the African subcontinent. This study thus seeks to assess the severity of acne vulgaris and determine its effect on the QoL of adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey employing a two-stage sampling method, the severity of acne vulgaris and its impact on the QoL of adolescents attending a senior secondary school in Lagos, Nigeria was assessed using the Global Acne Grading Scale (GAGS) and the Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI), respectively. The correlation between the results of the GAGS and CADI was also determined. Results: One hundred and sixty adolescent students with acne were recruited, with males accounting for 51.9% and females 48.1%. The mean and standard deviation of the GAGS severity scores were 11.3&plusmn;5.4 for males and 11.9&plusmn;5.4 for females. Only one student had severe acne vulgaris (GAGS, 31&ndash;38), 10% moderate (GAGS, 19&ndash;30), and 89.4% mild (GAGS, 1&ndash;18). The overall CADI score was 3.4&plusmn;3.0, which suggests mild impairment in QoL; however, the solitary student with severe acne had severe QoL impairment. There was a weak positive correlation between the GAGS and the CADI score. Conclusion: Most adolescents in our study had mild acne vulgaris, and the overall impact on their QoL was mild. However, the correlation between the psychosocial impact and acne severity was weak. There is a need for similar studies in other parts of the country and for further studies to determine the adequacy of the existing instruments in assessing the impact of acne vulgaris in Nigerian adolescents. Keywords: CADI, GAGS, skin disease, teenage dermatosis, psychosocial impac

Dermatologic conditions in teenage adolescents in Nigeria

Eshan B Henshaw,1 Olayinka A Olasode,2 Evelyn E Ogedegbe,3 Imaobong Etuk4 1Dermatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, 2Department of Dermatology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, 3Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, 4Department of Pediatrics, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria Background: Skin disorders are common in adolescents, and the impact on quality of life can be enormous, particularly when viewed against the backdrop of the visibility of skin diseases and the psychologically vulnerable period of adolescence. However, few studies have documented the magnitude of skin disorders in this subset of individuals. We therefore estimated the point prevalence and pattern of dermatologic conditions in adolescents attending various secondary schools in Calabar, Southern Nigeria. Methods: Using a structured questionnaire, relevant sociodemographic information was obtained from 1,447 teenage adolescents from eight secondary schools. Thereafter, a whole body examination was conducted to determine the presence and types of skin disorders seen. Results: Skin diseases were seen in 929 students. The point prevalence was higher in males (72.1%) than in females (58.3%). Private schools had a higher prevalence than public schools. The six most common dermatoses were acne vulgaris, pityriasis versicolor, nevi, tinea, miliaria, and keloid/hypertrophic scars, and accounted for over 80% of the dermatoses seen. Conclusion: The point prevalence of dermatoses in senior secondary school adolescents was 64.2%. Although a large number of skin disorders were observed, only a handful accounted for a significant proportion of the diseases seen. This increases the ease of training community health workers in the recognition and treatment of common skin diseases. Age, race, and climatic factors are important determinants of skin diseases in adolescents in Nigeria. Keywords: skin diseases, adolescents, Nigeri