Correlations between antibiotic intake and resistance of some enteric gram negative bacilli to antibiotics

Some enteric Gram negative bacteria were isolated over a three – year (2006 – 2008) period from two human populations designated as population on therapy (OD) and population not on therapy (ND). Isolates were analyzed forsusceptibility to a panel of ten antibacterial agents. Results showed that OD isolates were generally more resistant to test drugs than ND isolates but the differences were not significant at both 0.01 and 0.05 levels. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the correlation in resistances among the OD and ND isolates was systematic and significant at both 0.01 and 0.05 levels, suggesting that resistance emergence and sustenance may not be an exclusive consequence of intake and misuse of antibiotics

Patterns of superficial venous arrangement in the cubital fossa of adult Nigerians

Background: The cubital fossa is a common site for the removal of venous blood for analysis, transfusion, and intravenous therapy. The superficial venous return from the upper limb follows two or three major superficial veins, which are extremely variable; these include the cephalic, basilic, median cubital, and antebrachial veins and their tributaries.Objective: This anthroposcopic study was to determine the patterns of superficial venous arrangement in the cubital fossa of adult Nigerians.Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty.five subjects (100 males and 35 females), aged between 20 and 27 years, were studied. The judgment sampling technique was employed. A tourniquet was firmly tied at the midarm level and the conspicuous superficial veins were diagrammatized and photographed with a camera.Results: Ten types of venous pattern arranged in six groups were noted. The most common pattern observed was the median antebrachial vein, dividing into median cephalic and median basilic veins, which join the cephalic and the basilic veins, respectively, with a variation. The result showed bilateral difference between the incidence of each type in males and females with the male values being statistically higher (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Appreciation of these venous patterns is useful to the medical and paramedical workers, especially in conditions that require venepuncture.Key words: Arrangement, cubital fossa, superficial vein

Audit of Childbirth Emergency Referrals by Trained Traditional Birth Attendants in Enugu, Southeast, Nigeria

Background: The essence of training traditional birth attendants (TBAs) is to attend to women in uncomplicated labor and to refer them immediately to hospitals when complications develop.Aim: The aim was to audit childbirth emergency referrals by trained TBAs to a specialist hospital in Enugu, Nigeria.Subjects and Methods: A retrospective study of 205 childbirth emergencies referred to Semino Hospital and Maternity (SHM), Enugu by trained TBAs from August 1, 2011 to January 31, 2014. Data analysis was descriptive and inferential at 95% confidence level.Results: Most of the patients (185/205, 90.2%) were married and (100/205, 48.8%) had earlier booked for antenatal care in formal health facilities. There were obstetric danger signs or previous bad obstetric histories (pregnancies with unfavourable outcome) in 110 (110/205, 53.7%) women on admission at SHM. One hundred and fifteen (115/205, 56.1%) women walked into the hospital by themselves while 50 (50/205, 24.39%) could not walk. The fetal heart sounds were normal in 94 (94/205, 45.6%), abnormal in 65 (65/205, 31.8%) and absent in 42 (42/205, 20.4%) of the women on admission. Five healthy babies were delivered by the TBAs before referring their mothers. Delays of more than 12 h had occurred in 155 (155/205, 76.6%) of the women before referrals. Prolonged labor (100/205, 48.8%), obstructed labor (40/205, 19.5%), attempted vaginal birth after previous cesarean delivery (40/205, 19.5%) and malpresentation (30/205, 14.6%) were the common indications for referrals. The maternal mortality and perinatal mortality ratios were 610/100,000 live births and 228/1000 total births respectively.Conclusion: Delays at TBA centers are common before referral and most patients are referred in poor clinical state. Further training and re‑training of the TBAs with more emphasis on recognition of obstetric danger signs and bad obstetric histories may help in screening high‑risk patients for prompt referral to hospitals before complications develop. Keywords: Childbirth emergencies, Delay, Outcomes, Referrals, Trained traditional birth attendant

ZRANB3 is an African-specific type 2 diabetes locus associated with beta-cell mass and insulin response

Abstract: Genome analysis of diverse human populations has contributed to the identification of novel genomic loci for diseases of major clinical and public health impact. Here, we report a genome-wide analysis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in sub-Saharan Africans, an understudied ancestral group. We analyze ~18 million autosomal SNPs in 5,231 individuals from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. We identify a previously-unreported genome-wide significant locus: ZRANB3 (Zinc Finger RANBP2-Type Containing 3, lead SNP p = 2.831 × 10−9). Knockdown or genomic knockout of the zebrafish ortholog results in reduction in pancreatic β-cell number which we demonstrate to be due to increased apoptosis in islets. siRNA transfection of murine Zranb3 in MIN6 β-cells results in impaired insulin secretion in response to high glucose, implicating Zranb3 in β-cell functional response to high glucose conditions. We also show transferability in our study of 32 established T2D loci. Our findings advance understanding of the genetics of T2D in non-European ancestry populations

Urban, semi-urban and rural difference in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Shaanxi province, northwestern China : a population-based survey

Background The ongoing rapid urbanization in China offers rural population opportunities not only for economic improvement but also for substantial health risks. Albeit some researches related to rural-urban difference of metabolic syndrome (MS), there lacks studies focusing on this point in undeveloped provinces in China. Methods The survey, as part of China National Diabetes and Metabolic disorders Study, was conducted in Shaanxi province from June 2007 to May 2008. A total of 3,297 adults aged 20 years or older were included, of which 1,467 individuals were from urban areas, 839 from semi-urban areas, and 890 from rural areas. The MS was defined according to the 2009 Joint Interim Statement. Results The age-standardized prevalence of MS was significant higher in rural residents than in urban counterparts (29.0% vs. 25.9%, P = 0.017), in particular among females (30.2% vs. 24.4%, P = 0.003). After adjusted for the listed risk factors, rural residents had a 27.6% increased risk of having MS than urban residents. With respect to MS components, the crude prevalence of raised fasting glucose and raised blood pressure was significantly greater in rural than in urban participants. However, no significant difference in the prevalence of MS was observed between semi-urban and urban participants. Conclusions Rural residents in Shaanxi province, northwest China, were at increased risk of MS, which could be partly explained by sociodemographic and lifestyle differences. In addition, the gap between urban and semi-urban areas seemed to be minimized in related to MS prevalence. Much more attention should be paid to and intervention strategies were needed to address the rural-urban disparities in China

Maternal and child health interventions in Nigeria: a systematic review of published studies from 1990 to 2014

BACKGROUND: Poor maternal and child health indicators have been reported in Nigeria since the 1990s. Many interventions have been instituted to reverse the trend and ensure that Nigeria is on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. This systematic review aims at describing and indirectly measuring the effect of the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) interventions implemented in Nigeria from 1990 to 2014. METHODS: PubMed and ISI Web of Knowledge were searched from 1990 to April 2014 whereas POPLINE® was searched until 16 February 2015 to identify reports of interventions targeting Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health in Nigeria. Narrative and graphical synthesis was done by integrating the results of extracted studies with trends of maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and under five mortality (U5MR) derived from a joint point regression analysis using Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data (1990-2013). This was supplemented by document analysis of policies, guidelines and strategies of the Federal Ministry of Health developed for Nigeria during the same period. RESULTS: We identified 66 eligible studies from 2,662 studies. Three interventions were deployed nationwide and the remainder at the regional level. Multiple study designs were employed in the enrolled studies: pre- and post-intervention or quasi-experimental (n = 40; 61%); clinical trials (n = 6;9%); cohort study or longitudinal evaluation (n = 3;5%); process/output/outcome evaluation (n = 17;26%). The national MMR shows a consistent reduction (Annual Percentage Change (APC) = -3.10%, 95% CI: -5.20 to -1.00 %) with marked decrease in the slope observed in the period with a cluster of published studies (2004-2014). Fifteen intervention studies specifically targeting under-five children were published during the 24 years of observation. A statistically insignificant downward trend in the U5MR was observed (APC = -1.25%, 95% CI: -4.70 to 2.40%) coinciding with publication of most of the studies and development of MNCH policies. CONCLUSIONS: The development of MNCH policies, implementation and publication of interventions corresponds with the downward trend of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria. This systematic review has also shown that more MNCH intervention research and publications of findings is required to generate local and relevant evidence

In vitro Effects of Three Metallic Salts and Carbon Black (Soot) on the Growth of Five Species of the Dermatophytes

The antifungal effects of zinc chloride (Zn Cl2) calcium chloride (CaCl2), magnesium chloride (MgCl2) as well as soot collected from a local kitchen were tested on five isolated species of the dermatophytes from cases of human dermatophytoses. Of these three metallic salts, ZnCl2 showed the highest inhibitory effect on the dermatophytes. At a concentration of 0.01M it showed 100% inhibitory effect on these fungi. Although the other two metallic salts showed some inhibitory effect on these fungi, CaCl2 at concentration between 0.01M and 1.0M showed only 50% inhibitory effect while MgCl2 at concentration between 0.1M and 1.0M showed less that 50% inhibitory effect on the fungi. Also soot inhibited the growth of all the dermatophytes tested at concentration between 0.1 and 2%. Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum audouinii appeared to be most sensitive to these compounds than the other three species which include T. tonsurans and M. gypseum. Jnl Med. Investigation & Practice Vol. 3 2001: 31-3

Measurement of Lipase Activity of Pityrosporum Ovlae Isolated from infected human scalp

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An Assessment Of Postanaesthetic Morbidity In Day-Case Surgical Patients In Enugu, Nigeria

Aim: To examine the incidence of post-anaesthetic morbidity in day-case surgical patients in Enugu, Nigeria. The study was undertaken to assess what happened to patients when they left hospital after day-case surgery under general anaesthesia. Materials And Method: A total of 120 outpatients who received general anaesthesia for minor surgical and diagnostic procedures at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu from January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2000 were studied. Before discharge, outpatient questionnaires were distributed to the patients to fill and return to the outpatient clinics a week after operation. Results: Thirty-six (30%) of patients travelled home unaccompanied by a responsible person. Seventy percent of care owners drove within 24 hours of the operation. Fifty persons hail symptoms. Postoperative symptoms of drowsiness (25%), headache (20%), Nausea (20%), vomiting (15%), dizziness (10%), and sorethroat (5%) were recorded. A higher incidence of symptoms was recorded when surgery exceeded 20 minutes. There was no major morbidity. Conclusion: The study showed that there was a high incidence (42%) of minor morbidity after general anaesthesia for minor day-case surgical procedures. It is therefore, recommended that outpatients should adhere strictly to preoperative instructions. Keywords: Postanaesthesia morbidity, day-case surgerTropical Journal of Medical Research Vol. 10 (2) 2006: pp. 9-1