Tympanotonus fuscatus - its potential and abundance in the mangrove swamps of the upper Bonny River, River State

The Shellfish Tympanotonus fuscatus fisheries was studied in the upper Bonny River of River State. Abundance and size distribution were evaluated through collection of the Shellfish from 4 sampling stations along the River System. Shell size differences were observed between the sampling stations. The periwinkles, which were harvested heavily by local women, were smaller. The results do suggest that the population of Tympanotonus fuscatus in the Mangrove swamps of the upper Bonny River Creeks are strongly influenced by the harvestin

Climate Change Implications for the Aquaculture Industry in the Rivers State, Niger Delta Area of Nigeria

Rivers State is a coastal community in the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria encompassed by a network of tributaries, inland and the Atlantic Ocean at its Southern tip.  The communities of the Rivers State are largely dependent on the coastal wetlands for aquaculture and fisheries activities, which are their main economic activity.  Several other economic activities especially oil prospecting and exploration activities by numerous companies, land fills, and reclamation, and human activities such as deforestation of the mangroves of the wetlands among others responsible for global climate change are high in the Rivers State. Also, certain climate change activities have been observed recently. Thus a review was carried out to determine the likely implications of climate change on the aquaculture industry, and subsequently the livelihood of the  fish farmers, and recommendation/suggestion have been made to this effect. This review is aimed at understanding and creating an awareness as regards the climate change implications for the aquaculture industry for all stakeholders in the Rivers State and proffering a solution to this anomaly. Keywords: Aquaculture, Economic Activity, Climate Change,

Poverty and Ignorance as Correlates of Youths Social Restiveness Behaviour in Rivers and Bayelsa States of Nigeria: Implication for Counselling

This study investigates poverty, ignorance and gender as correlates of youths social restiveness behavior in Bayelsa and Rivers States of Nigeria. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Correlational research design was used for the study. The population consists of all youths (male and female) from ten local government areas of Bayelsa and Rivers states of Nigeria (5 local government areas from Bayelsa and 5 local government areas from Rivers respectively) estimated to be about 5000 youths. The sample size of 500 youths was used for the study selected through purposive random sampling technique from the selected local government areas. Researcher self made questionnaire titled “Youth Social Restiveness Behaviour Questionnaire (YSRBQ) was used for data collected from the subjects. Regression analysis statistics was used to answer and analyze the two research questions and two hypotheses formulated for the study at 0.05 level of significance. The result shows that poverty and ignorance are significant predictors of youth social restiveness behaviour though, poverty is stronger. Gender was not significant. Conclusions were reached, implication for counselling made and recommendations stated

Case Report: Synchronous dehiscence of the abdominal and uterine wounds

Two primigravida patients presented with obstructed labour and intrauterine foetal deaths. Caesarean section was done to deliver the dead fetuses. In each, intrauterine sepsis was noted during the procedure. The uterine wounds were closed in two layers with No.2 chromic catgut. The abdomen was closed in mass with nylon. The abdominal and uterine wounds subsequently dehisced synchronously at about 7 days after the operations. Resuture was done using chromic catgut for the uterine wounds and nylon to the abdominal fascia without tension sutures. One patient developed further wound infection but the deep wounds remained intact at about 3 months review. The importance of deep wounds infection in abdominal wound dehiscence is emphasized by these two cases. A subsequent complication of secondary infertility from pelvic infection will take time to evaluate. Keywords: wound dehiscence, synchronous, abdomen, uterus Mary Slessor Journal of Medicine Vol. 5 (1), 2005: 77-8

Traumatic rupture of the diaphragm

Background and aim: Blunt injury of the chest is the most common form of thoracic trauma. The resulting deceleration injury can cause a life threatening damage to any intra-thoracic structure. We therefore, aimed to highlight the importance of a high index of suspicion while examining patients involved in a road traffic accident or other serious thoracic trauma. Methodology: All the case notes of patients who presented from 1994 to 2004 with blunt injuries to the chest following road traffic accident were reviewed. Those treated for traumatic rupture of the diaphragm were selected and analyzed for age, gender, cause of injury, associated injuries sustained and mode of treatment. They were all treated at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and a private clinic in Port Harcourt. Results: 12 patients had traumatic rupture of the diaphragm. All were males and aged between 16 and 46 years (mean 32 years). 10 cases (83.3%) were left sided and 2 (16.7%) were right-sided and there were no bilateral cases. The right-sided cases all died. There were associated injuries in all cases and they involved the spleen, rib fractures, liver and lungs. All the cases were repaired by laparotomy with the exception of the right-sided cases that died from severe haemorrhage. Conclusion: A high index of suspicion combined with repeated and selective radiological evaluation is necessary for early diagnosis and treatment. Keywords: blunt trauma, diaphragmatic rupture Sahel Medical Journal Vol. 8(1) 2005: 9-1

Pregnancy-associated breast cancer; A management dilemma in Nigeria

Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is uncommon. Its management is sometimes controversial and may present ethical problems. This paper presents cases treated in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital from 1990 to 2002. The case records of patients treated for pregnancy-associated breast cancer were retrieved, studied and are presented with a limited review of the literature on the current management of the disease. There were 5 nulliparous young women aged between 26 and 32 years with breast cancer involved in 6 pregnancies. One patient had sequential bilateral mastectomy for carcinoma of the breast in pregnancy at two pregnancies, three had the cancer affecting one breast in pregnancy and one had the mastectomy but while on chemotherapy became pregnant and delivered successfully. One patient with advanced disease, refused biopsy and treatment. The diagnosis in 5 instances was intraductal carcinoma. The disease is uncommon but evokes significant emotion in patients and their doctors. The prognosis appears similar to that in non-pregnant women. The treatment of PABC is similar to that in non-pregnant women except that radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be contraindicated at certain trimesters. KEY WORDS: Breast cancer, Pregnancy, Management dilemma. Sahel Medical Journal Vol.7(2) 2004: 69-7

CASE REPORT - Rectal prolapse in pregnancy: a case report

Rectal prolapse occurs when a mucosal or full thickness layer of rectal tissue slides through the anal orifice. It is relatively infrequent and occurs commonly in elderly women. This report is to bring to focus the possibility of a rectal prolapse being misdiagnosed as haemorrhoids in pregnancy. A case of a 35-year-old woman, gravida 4, para 3+0, found to have a large rectal prolapse but misdiagnosed as prolapsed haemorrhoids at 34 weeks gestation is reported. Although rectal prolapse is not a common condition during childbearing years, it is instructive for obstetricians and midwives to be vigilant in all cases of pregnant women presenting with rectal protrusion or bleeding

Effects of Different Inclusion Levels of Shrimp Meal with Fish Meal in Oreochromis Niloticus Diet.

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion of different levels of shrimp meal with fish meal on growth, feed utilization, water quality and cost implication of the diet O. niloticus fingerlings. A total of two hundred and four (204) fish with an initial weight of 2.93+ 0.55g were stocked in twelve (12) tanks of dimension 1.8 x 1.3 x 0.36m3 for 12 weeks. Four diets (D1, D2, D3 and D4) contained 100% SM, 70% SM and 30% FM, 50% SM and 50% FM, 30% SM and 70% FM respectively, were fed twice daily to satiation. Final weight gain was 4.65±1.72g, 3.89±0.96g, 3.58±0.65g, 3.73±0.80g for the treatments respectively. The highest mean weight gain (4.98±0.31g) and specific (4.57±0.69%) growth rates were in fish fed with 100% SM (D1) and lowest (3.59±0.15g, 17.7±0.17% respectively) in fish fed 50% SM and 50% FM (D3). Protein efficiency ratio was highest in D1 and lowest in D4. Feed conversion ratio was lowest in diet D1 and highest in D4. Survival rate was good in all the treatments having the highest in D2 and lowest in D1. Diet 1 had the best growth followed by D2, D4 and D3 respectively. Cost implication and water quality parameters showed no significant differences (p>0.05) among the diets. Results showed that SM could replace FM by 100% without having any negative effect on the growth and tend to be uneconomically efficient at such inclusion level