Pragmatic approach to halt preventable maternal and neonatal deaths in Nigeria

Objectives: The objective of the paper is to promote a pragmatic approach to stem high maternal and neonatal mortality in Nigeria as it is becoming increasingly evident that ending preventable maternal and neonatal deaths goes beyond counting the numbers.Methods: A literature search was performed of Pub Med, HINARI, Google scholar using keywords in the review to build a set of search terms. Reference lists of all the included studies were scanned to identify additional relevant studies.Results: Facility-based death review, review of near-miss and clinical audit are quality improvement methods and on their own are health care interventions.Conclusion: Though findings from reviews and audit provide actionable information, the commitment of health care providers to act on the information is key to achieving the purpose of reviews and audits. There is need to invest in health system researches that focus on quality improvements in maternal and neonatal care in Nigeria.Keywords: audit, review, quality, improvemen

Specialisation patterns of medical graduates, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre

A CAJM journal article.Objective: To describe specialization patterns of medical graduates of the University of Malawi College of Medicine. Design: Cross sectional study. Subjects: Medical graduates of the University of Malawi College of Medicine. Setting: University of Malawi College of Medicine. Main Outcome Measures: Specialty choices, sources of funding for training, employer at time of graduate studies and country where specialist training obtained. Results: Between 1991 and 2000,60 (35.5%) of the 169 graduates of the College of Medicine of the University of Malawi have obtained or are in specialist training, 38/60 (63.3%) with training institutions either in the United States or the United Kingdom, 10 (16.7%) had gone to South Africa, 8% Kenya, 5% to the Republic of China (Taiwan) and 3.3% to Uganda. Other countries are; Uganda, Australia and Finland. The preferred specialties were; Public Health 17 (28.8%), Internal Medicine 12 (20%) and Paediatrics 10 (16.7%). Most of the funding was provided by agencies/institutions in the USA and UK. At the time of their training fellowship, 33 (55%) of the candidates were employed by the College of Medicine, 24 (40%) by the public service and the rest, three (5%) by other institutions. Conclusions: Most Malawian medical graduates are obtaining their specialty training overseas funded mostly by institutions/agencies in the UK and USA. There is need to explore ways on how training could be provided regionally. Malawi and her neighbors must develop post graduate specialty training locally and regionally

The reproduction of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus) in Opa reservoir, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Oreochromis niloticus is one of the commercial fish species in Opa reservoir. It bred throughout the period of study in the reservoir. The fish species is a maternal mouth brooder with the female specimens carrying eggs and alevins in their mouths. The sex ratio of O. niloticus was 1:1 and the maximum fecundity recorded was 1810 eggs. The fecundity increased as the fish length increased. The relatively high fecundity of the fish species in the reservoir is an indication of the suitability of the small reservoir in contributing to fish productio

The distribution and feeding habits of a cichlid fish Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus) in Opa Reservoir, Ile-Ife

The distribution of Oreochromis niloticus was studied in Opa reservoir (Nigeria) using a graded set of gillnets while the food and feeding habits were studied using a castnet to collect the fish samples. About 90% of the fish specimens were caught near the reservoir bottom while about 69% of the specimens were caught within the inshore area of the reservoir. The species fed mainly on detritus, algae and higher plants. Feeding rhythm in O. niloticus started around 6.00 a.m. and reached a peak by 3.00 p.m. but then declined gradually until 6.00 p.m. These results can be utilized for the proper management of the fish species in the reservoi

Epidemiology and mortality of burns at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital Blantyre, Malawi

A CAJM journal article.Objectives: To determine the most common causes, population most at risk and the pattern of mortality of burn injuries at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre,Malawi’ Design: Retrospective cross sectional study. Setting: Burns Unit, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Blantyre, Malawi

The comparison between cytological and histological grading of breast cancers in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in Nigeria. The tumour grade is an important prognostic factor and is also important in treatment of patients. Fine needle aspiration cytology can be used as an initial diagnostic tool for planning definitive management. Grading of tumours on cytology further guides therapeutic decisions. The aim of this study is to compare the correlation between the cytological and histological grading of malignant breast lumps using the Robinson's cytological grading system and Nottingham histological grading system respectively. The Objectives are, to determine the age distribution of breast cancer in our environment, to grade breast cancers cytologically using the Robinson's cytological grading system and to grade breast cancers histologically using the Nottingham histological grading system.Methods: This was a one year prospective study that involved 30 patients who had malignant smears on fine needle aspiration cytology of their breast lump. These smears were graded using the Robinson's cytological grading system and compared with the Nottingham histological grading systems of same lumps obtained from either tissue biopsies or mastectomies.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 50.23±10.11 years with a range of 35-70 years. Most (56.7%) malignat smears were of cytologic grade 3. The histological grade was 2 in 16(53.3%) and 3 in 14(46.7%) of the same breast tissue samples. The grade 2 tumours had the highest concordance rate of 83.3%. The absolute concordance rate between Robinson's cytological and Nottingham histological grading system of breast cancers was 73.3%.Conclusion: The Robinson's cytological and Nottingham histological grading systems showed good correlation.Keywords: Breast Cancer, fine needle aspiration cytology, cytological grading, histological gradin

Tree Species Diversity and Abundance of Akure Forest Reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to examine the tree species diversity and abundance in a natural forest ecosystem in the Southwestern region of Nigeria. Data were collected from a four equal size sampling plot of 50×50m in a permanent sample plot section of Akure Forest Reserve. All living trees with DBH ≥ 10cm were measured and identified. A total of 956 trees were encountered. These trees were from 42 genera and 20 families. Celtis zenkeri belonging to the family of Ulmaceae was the species with the highest population distribution while Sterculiaceae was the dominant family in the study area. The Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (Hˈ) of 3.196 and species evenness of 0.84 were obtained from the study area. The high values of diversity indices obtained indicated that the forest is rich in biodiversity and hence should be protected from any forms of disturbance to enhance sustainability as well as protect the rare species in it from going into extinction

In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity of partially purified enterocin produced by Enterococcus faecalis and its application in wound healing

Background: The recent global upsurge in antibiotic resistance among bacteria associated with wounds has contributed to high treatment failures in wound management. Enterocin are produced by enterococci and has been reported to inhibit the growth of many bacteria including those associated with wound infections.Objectives: In this study, antibacterial and physico-chemical properties of partially purified enterocin (PPE) from Enterococcus faecalis was determined. Also, the possible application of the enterocin in wound management was evaluated.Materials and Methods: Eight different enterocin were tested and that with highest antibacterial (E3) was partially purified using standard methods. The molecular weight of the PPE was determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after which the in vitro anti-Staphylococcus aureus potential of the PPE was determined.Results: Enterocin (E3) was effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloaca, Listeria monocytogenes and Proteus vulgaris. The activity of the E3 was very prominent at pH of 4 and 8. The molecular size of the isolated enterocin was 5.5 KDa. The photomicrograph of the skin tissue of the skin treated with partially purified enterocin for day 7showed epidermis covered by atrophic stratified squamous epithelium. A synergistic interaction was noticed when Eusol was used with the enterocin.Conclusions: From this study, enterocin from E. faecalis has a low molecular weight and inhibited bacteria isolates from wound and also aids physiological healing of wound.The antibacterial potency of this bacteriocin indicates that it is an alternative therapeutic agent that can be employed in wound care and management.Keywords: Enterocin, Enterococcus faecalis, wounds, bacteriocin, Staphylococcus aureus, ski

High-speed optical packet switching over arbitary physical topologies using the Manhattan Street Network

Available from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN045843 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Epidemiology and mortality of burns at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital Blantyre, Malawi

Objectives: To determine the most common causes, population most at risk and the pattern of mortality of burn injuries at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre,Malawi’ Design: Retrospective cross sectional study. Setting: Burns Unit, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Blantyre, Malawi