Determination Of The Significance Level Of Environmental And Economic Effects Of The Road Failure Of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway Southeastern Nigeria On The Road Users.

Considering the implications of the problem of road failure to man and the failure of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway which has been lingering for many years now, this work was borne with the aim of evaluating the stand of the road users on the Economic, Health and Environmental effects of the road failure of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway on them. To this effect, population of the road users was determined by volumetric analysis and their opinions were harnessed using questionnaire survey method. The data obtained was analyzed using Student-T test in which the available options were grouped into 2, namely agree and disagree. The test was done separately for economic, health and environmental effects respectively. It was found that there exist differences in the percentage of agreement and disagreement for each effect with the percentage of respondents in agreement being greater in all. The statistical analysis confirmed that there is significant difference. The work therefore concluded that the failure of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway has significantly negative economic, health and environmental effects on the road users.  The work thus recommended an immediate intervention of the government to hasten the contractors and all concerned to repair this failed road in order to minimize these negative effects

Tissue Harvester with Functional Valve (THFV): Shidham's device for reproducibly higher specimen yield by fine needle aspiration biopsy with easy to perform steps

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) cytology has been a highly effective methodology for tissue diagnosis and for various ancillary studies including molecular tests. In addition to other benefits, FNAB predominantly retrieves the diagnostic loosely cohesive cells in the lesion as compared to the adjacent supporting stroma with relatively higher cohesiveness. However, FNAB procedure performed with currently available resources is highly skill dependent with inter-performer variability, which compromises its full potential as a diagnostic tool. In this study we report a device overcoming these limitations. METHODS: 'Tissue Harvester with Functional Valve' (THFV) was evaluated as part of a phase 1 National Institute of Health (NIH) research grant under Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. Working prototypes of the device were prepared. Each of the four cytopathologists with previous cytopathology fellowship training and experience in performing FNAB evaluated 5 THFV and 5 hypodermic needles resulting in 40 specimens (20 with THFV, 20 with hypodermic needles). A piece of fresh cattle liver stuffed in latex glove was used as the specimen. Based on these results a finished design was finalized. RESULTS: The smears and cell blocks prepared from the specimens obtained by THFV were superior in terms of cellularity to specimens obtained with hypodermic needles. The tissuecrit of specimens obtained with THFV ranged from 70 to 100 μl (mean 87, SD 10), compared to 17 to 30 μl (mean 24, SD 4) with conventional hypodermic needles (p < .0001, Student t-test). The technical ease [on a scale of 1 (easy) to 5 (difficult)] with THFV ranged from 1 to 2 as compared to 2 to 3 with hypodermic needles. CONCLUSION: The specimen yield with the new THFV was significantly higher when compared to hypodermic needles. Also, the FNAB procedure with THFV was relatively easier in comparison with hypodermic needles. The final version of Shidham's THFV device would improve the FNAB specimen yield by eliminating the skill factor. The increased specimen yield by this device would also facilitate wider application of FNAB specimens for various ancillary tests, including molecular tests

Proceedings of a Sickle Cell Disease Ontology workshop - Towards the first comprehensive ontology for Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a debilitating single gene disorder caused by a single point mutation that results in physical deformation (i.e. sickling) of erythrocytes at reduced oxygen tensions. Up to 75% of SCD in newborns world-wide occurs in sub-Saharan Africa, where neonatal and childhood mortality from sickle cell related complications is high. While SCD research across the globe is tackling the disease on multiple fronts, advances have yet to significantly impact on the health and quality of life of SCD patients, due to lack of coordination of these disparate efforts. Ensuring data across studies is directly comparable through standardization is a necessary step towards realizing this goal. Such a standardization requires the development and implementation of a disease-specific ontology for SCD that is applicable globally. Ontology development is best achieved by bringing together experts in the domain to contribute their knowledge. The SCD community and H3ABioNet members joined forces at a recent SCD Ontology workshop to develop an ontology covering aspects of SCD under the classes: phenotype, diagnostics, therapeutics, quality of life, disease modifiers and disease stage. The aim of the workshop was for participants to contribute their expertise to development of the structure and contents of the SCD ontology. Here we describe the proceedings of the Sickle Cell Disease Ontology Workshop held in Cape Town South Africa in February 2016 and its outcomes. The objective of the workshop was to bring together experts in SCD from around the world to contribute their expertise to the development of various aspects of the SCD ontology

An Investigation of Potable Water Supply Problems in Akinima Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) recognizes clean water as a major factor that determines development and promotes livelihood and human well-being, thus it set time-bound target for overcoming non –availability and non-potability of drinking water. A Scenario that is prevalent in developing countries including Nigeria. The aim of this paper is to investigate the potability of drinking water in Akinima Community, a rural community in Ahoada West Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State. The community like many other rural communities in Nigeria has no pipe-borne water supply. The major sources of drinking water are harvested rainwater, water from boreholes, and rivers. These sources are indentified to have varied problems of contamination and pollution, which range from high levels of chemical and microbiological contamination of harvested rainwater and rivers respectively, to saline intrusion into river water sources. Point sources and non-point sources of water contamination/pollution are common. With the current state of affairs meeting the MDGs target of “Halving, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water” is a mirage. The research design for the study is basically survey design and experimental design. The instruments used for investigation are questionnaire survey, face to face interview and observation. Experimentation was done in the laboratory to investigate physical, chemical and microbiological samples of drinking water from the households in Akinima community. Both primary and secondary data are applied for the study. The sample size is statistically determined using Taro Yamani’s formula for a finite population. The basic sampling unit (BSU) is the household. Sampling techniques applied are both systematic sampling and random sampling for selection of house-types and households respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics are applied to investigate the data. Major findings revealed that the three major drinking water sources are not safe for drinking, because the values are significantly difference from the National Drinking Water Quantity Standard (NDWQS) 2007. The paper recommends the development of technologies that should harness rainwater harvesting and the introduction of active Civil Society Organization (CSOs) interventions/participation in rural water supply in Akinima Community among others

Sickle cell disease genomics of Africa (SickleGenAfrica) network: ethical framework and initial qualitative findings from community engagement in Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania

Objectives To provide lay information about genetics and sickle cell disease (SCD), and to identify and address ethical issues concerning SickleGenAfrica covering autonomy and research decision-making, risk of SCD complications and organ damage, returning of genomic findings, biorepository, data sharing, and healthcare provision for patients with SCD. Design Focus groups utilising qualitative methods. Setting Six cities in Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania within communities and secondary care. Participants Patients, parents/caregivers, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and government healthcare representatives. Results Results from 112 participants revealed similar sensitivities and aspirations around genomic research, an inclination towards autonomous decision-making for research, concerns about bio-banking, anonymity in data sharing, and a preference for receiving individual genomic results. Furthermore, inadequate healthcare for patients with SCD was emphasised. Conclusions Our findings revealed the eagerness of patients and parents/caregivers to participate in genomics research in Africa, with advice from community leaders and reassurance from health professionals and policy-makers, despite their apprehensions regarding healthcare systems