Editoral Comment: Innovation as a Multidimensional Solution Tool to Solving Nigeria’s Challenges

No Abstract

Tackling Unemployment: The Research Internship Initiative

No Abstract

Editorial Comment

The unfortunate ‘ebola ambush’: a need to fund research in Afric

Editorial comment: Accepting the Truth about Herbal Medicine

No Abstract

Human diseases and histories of treatment-drug lacunae: An Ebola induced reflection

No Abstract

Editorial Comment

Nigeria: why not fight corruption like the ‘ebola war’

Health Establishments: The Paucity of Effective Laboratory Research

No Abstract

Severe Mitracarpus scarber juice induced facial skin discolourations: A case report

This is a case report on a 24-year old dark-skinned lady with incidence of facial skin discolorations secondary to the application of Mitracarpus scaber (MS) juice for the purpose of treating an emerging but unclassified facial skin blemishes. Investigations showed that after several failed attempts to treat the blemishes with two known antifungi creams, she was advised by friends to use the MS juice. She macerated some leaves of MS between her palms to obtain its juice and then applied it on her face. Minutes after, she experienced a burning sensation on her face which subsequently resulted in obvious facial discolourations 48 hours later; forcing her to stop the MS juice application. She was then advised by friends to use a combination herbal therapy comprising honey and Aloe vera. The combination therapy proved to be effective as the discolorations disappeared by the 5th day from onset. Although the precise type of skin blemish and the mechanisms associated with the observed skin discoloration were not determined, the bioactive constituents in Mitracarpus scaber juice may have played a major role; prompting this reminder that self-medication must be avoided  especially the use of herbal medications if their appropriate doses have not been determined.Key words: Facial Skin, Discoloration, Herbal therapy, Mitracarpus scaber, Self-Medication

The incidence of human induced community road dilapidation: A case study of Ekpoma, Edo- Nigeria

The manner by which community roads are been excavated without concerted efforts to seal them up properly, has indeed become a worrisome phenomenon. The irony is the fact that requisite government agencies and community leaders/youths are apparently indifferent to this phenomenon; especially in this era whereby communities across Nigeria are groaning over the general lack of basic amenities, dilapidated  infrastructures, poor social welfare, endemic corruption, leadership crisis, political instability, insecurity and hopelessness. It is based on the obvioushuman and economic consequences of this trend that we set out to  investigate such incidence in Ekpoma –a semi urban town in Edo State, Nigeria, known for her characteristic good road network. An on-the-spot assessment of the roads was conducted and our findings revealed that many roads in Ekpoma town have been excavated and left at the mercy of natural forces without tangible effort to seal them up properly. It is our recommendation therefore, that relevant government agencies/community leaders should be alive to their responsibilities, while perpetrators areencouraged to do the needful when the need for road excavation arises. Like the saying goes, a bird at hand is worth millions in the air and a stitch in time saves nine.Key Words: Human development, Optic fibre cables, Street lights, Road dilapidatio

The incidence of Hepatits B virus infection among patients at the specialist teaching hospital, Irrua, Edo state, Nigeria

This cross sectional retrospective study was designed to review the medical records of patients admitted at the Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria, between 1st June, 2010 and 1st June, 2013, to ascertain the incidence pattern of Hepatitis B infection among the patients. A total of 4536 patient’s medical records were reviewed and the data obtained were analyzed using the computer statistical package for social sciences (SPSS Version 16). The results showed that out of the 4536 patients admitted during the period under review, only 34 (0.7%) of the patients had hepatitis B virus infection as against 4502 pateints (99.3%) without the infection. Also, among those with HBV infection, 21 of them (61.8%) were males, while 13 (38.2) were females; with majority of them (32.4%; n=34) within the age group of 36-45. Most of the infected patients were traders (23.5%) and/or educated up to the secondary school level only (38.2%), while a few of them (8.8%) were unemployed and/or had only primary level of education (26.5%). These findings undoubtedly affirm the calim that HBV infection is endemic in populations across Sub-Saharan Africa; including Nigeria and with ‘tints’ of age, gender, and educational level variations.Key words: Carriers, Hepatitis B, Patients, ISTH Irru