Shock tube pyrolysis of selected low molecular weight aliphatic hydrocarbons

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Post -Episiotomy Morbidity amongst Parturients at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Background: Episiotomy, a commonly performed obstetric operation is associated with complications following its administration and care. These complications largely go unnoticed because of the deviation of attention after a successful delivery and subsequent loss of follow up of parturients after delivery. The objective of this study is to identify the morbidities associated with episiotomies and factors associated with such morbidities.Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive study among females who were attended to at the Obstetric Department of the st University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between 1st of January and 31st of May 2010. The study population consisted of patients who had episiotomies in their previous confinements attending either the antenatal clinic or the post natal clinic in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.Results: Majority of the subjects were in the 31-35 year age group. Post operative pain was the commonest complication and dyspareumia accounted of 70% of sexual complications. Majority of episiotomies were performed on subjects in their first confinement and repair performed by  interns.Conclusion: There is need to have a review of the pain management of patients with episiotomies and surgical techniques of interns repairing episiotomies. A restrictive use of routine episiotomy amongst  primigravidae is advised to reduce the rate of episiotomy amongst this group.Keywords: Post Episiotomy; Morbidity; Port Harcourt

Socio-demographic and clinico-pathological analysis of cervical cancer patients at a tertiary care centre in South-south Nigeria

Background: Cervical cancer is a significant public health burden in low- and middle-income countries where access to screening and treatment is limited. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women in Africa, often due to late presentation and diagnosis. Aim of this study was to determine the socio-demographic and clinical profile of cervical cancer patients and their relationship with tumour related factors. Methods: This was a retrospective review of all cases of histologically confirmed cervical cancer patients managed at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, over a 5-year period. A data collection form was used to obtain socio-demographic characteristics and clinical profile from the patients’ case records. Results: The mean age of the women was 53.3±8 years, with the highest prevalence in the 55-64 age group 26 (33.3%). Majority 59 (74.4%) of the women were multiparous, and 50 (64.1%) were married. Most 32 (41%) had primary education and about one-third 24 (30.8%) were farmers. The most common clinical features were vaginal bleeding, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, and weight loss 46 (59%), while squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the predominant histological type 56 (71.8%). Only 9 (11.5%) had any form of screening for early detection of cervical cancer. Most 31 (39%) of the patients presented with stage III disease, with a median hemoglobin level of 6.8 (2.3) g/dl before treatment. About two-third 54 (69%) of them had severe anaemia. There was significant association between marital status and histological type (X2 = 42.096, p-value = 0.001).  Use of oral contraceptive pills (X2 = 7.602, p-value =0.04) and menopausal state (X2 = 6828, p-value =0.05), were significantly associated with cancer stage. Conclusions: There is an urgent need to scale up advocacy for regular screening for cervical cancer and vaccination, to ensure increased awareness, early detection, and prevent the progression of early disease.

Obstructed labour in a Nigerian tertiary health facility: a mixed-method study

Background: Obstructed labour remains a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to determine the incidence, causes, complications and outcomes of obstructed labour at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria.Methods: A mixed methods approach was employed for this study. A 10-year retrospective review of all cases of obstructed labour managed at the OAUTHC, between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2017, was done. Ten in-depth interviews were conducted for some selected patients. The quantitative data was analysed using SPSS version 24, while the qualitative data was analyzed with NVivo version 12.Results: The incidence of obstructed labour was 1.99%. Most of the patients were unbooked (217, 90.4%), primigravid (138, 57.5%), and either had no formal or only primary/secondary education (120, 50%). Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) was the commonest cause of obstructed labour (227, 94.6%). The most common maternal complication was wound infection (48, 20%). There were three maternal deaths, giving a case fatality rate of 1.25%. The most common foetal complication was birth asphyxia (85, 34.7%). The perinatal mortality rate was 18.8 %. From the qualitative arm of the study, reasons given by parturients who suffered obstructed labour, for avoiding hospitals for delivery, included religion, finance, fear of hospitals, faith/belief in mission homes/maternity houses, and proximity.Conclusions: Obstructed labour remains an important obstetric problem in our environment, contributing significantly to the burden of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity.

Performance of broilers on furazolidone additive

One hundred and twenty Anak broiler chicks of both sexes were fed furazolidone (additive) in feed to study their growth/weight gain response. The birds were grouped into four, A, B, C, and D of 30 chicks each Treatments B, C and D were administered with furazolidone in feed at the following dosage rates: 0.008%, 0.004% 0.002% respectively. Group A served as control in which furazolidone was not added in the feed All the groups, (except in feed intake where the control differed significantly) had no significant differences in body weight gain, feed efficiency, and feed intake. It was concluded that it is not necessary to rise furazolidone as a growth promoter in broiler feeds.Keywords: Broilers, furazolidone, feed additiv

Acute uterine inversion complicating mid-trimester unsafe abortion in a teenage Nigerian girl

Uterine inversion is a rare but life-threatening obstetric emergency, complicating 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 50,000 deliveries. Very rarely, this condition also complicates unsafe abortion. A case of acute complete (fourth-degree) uterine inversion, with gangrene of the uterus in an 18-year-old nulliparous girl who presented to the Gynaecologic Emergency Unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in hypovolemic shock from massive haemorrhage following unsafe mid-trimester termination of unwanted pregnancy is reported. She was adequately resuscitated, and a vaginal hysterectomy was performed. The patient was discharged following an uneventful postoperative period. This case highlights the consequences of the high unmet need for family planning and the restrictive abortion laws in Nigeria, limiting access to effective contraception and safe abortion services, thereby increasing the risk of maternal mortality and morbidity from complications of unsafe abortion

Vulva Haematoma following Sexual Assault in an Adolescent Nigerian Girl: A Case Report

Non-obstetric vulva haematomas are uncommon, with an incidence of 3.7% accounting for less than 1% of gynaecologic emergencies. Non-consensual sexual intercourse constitutes the most common aetiology. A 15-year-old adolescent Nigerian girl, who presented to the Gynaecologic Emergency Unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, with vulva haematoma following sexual assault, is presented. She had surgical management, screening and prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infections, emergency contraception, and psychosocial therapy and was discharged after 24 hours, following an unremarkable postoperative period. This case is being reported to draw attention to the serious global public health problem of adolescent sexual abuse, highlight that though rare, vulva haematomas, which could be life-threatening, can be a complication of sexual assault, and review the literature on its management

CRM 4 UNI Final Report - EE pilot - Birkbeck College

The primary product that the CRM4UNI project has created is the Pareto Analytics CRM Tool. In summary, this tool analyses data within a CRM system outputting a barchart visualisation for business managers that provides an overview of the businesses and organisations that are spending the most money within the HE institution (otherwise known as the "Pareto Principle" or "80/20 rule"). This tool is not in itself an automatic way to discover financial data about business interactions within institutions, rather this tool is an opportunity for HE institutions to set up their CRM system in such a way that financial data about businesses and organisations can be entered into a CRM and then abstracted to inform overall University strategies with their business community. This tool is only strategically effective if the institution actively seeks business partners and then enters data about the relationship with these business partners into the CRM system in a specific way