Pattern of cleft lip and palate in Benin City, Nigeria

A CAJM article on the pattern of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in Benin City, Nigeria.Objective: To study the pattern of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in Benin City, Nigeria and to compare the findings with reports from other parts of the world. The results of this study may be used to improve the welfare of affected patients. Design: A descriptive study. Setting: The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Subjects: 103 ethnic Nigerian patients with cleft lip and/or palate. Main Outcome Measures: Consecutive ethnic Nigerian patients presenting with CL/P were studied. Patients’ data collected included age, sex, ethnic group, type of CL/P and the laterality pattern. Descriptive statistics were generated for all the variables recorded. Results: There were 49.5% females and 50.5 % males; 95.1% were children and 4.9% were adults. The ethnic groups most often affected were Urhobo 29.1%, Bini 27.1% and Ibo 17.4%. The combined cleft lip and palate 60.2% was the commonest type of cleft. There were 28.2% patients with cleft lip only. More (7.8%) females were affected by the isolated cleft palate deformity. Twenty five patients had exceeded the time of repair. Their reasons were ignorance (36%) and financial constraints (64%) Conclusion: The data from this study is consistent with studies from other parts of the world. However, a high proportion of patients did not have access to early treatment due to ignorance and financial constraints. Public enlightenment and financial assistance for the indigent patient is recommended

Gender and Oral Manifestations of HIV Infection Among Adult Nigerians

Oral manifestations were studied in 305 adult Nigerians with HIV infection. Data collected were demographic (age, sex, marital status, educational status and occupation) and clinical (mode of transmission, general manifestations and oral manifestations of HIV infection). The chi- square test was used in test for significance between variables and p values less than 0.05 were regarded as significant. A total of 47.5% patients had oral manifestations. There were 67.6% females and 32.4% males (p 0.05). The study concluded that similar demographic and clinical characteristics were observed in the occurrence of oral manifestations of HIV infection in both male and female Nigerians. African Journal of Reproductive Health Vol. 10 (2) 2006: pp. 81-8

Evaluation of Antibiotic Resistant Gene in Abattoir Environment

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous gram-negative pathogen with susceptibility to cause opportunistic infections in humans. Among the total of 75 isolated presumptive Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by cultural and morphology characteristic, 55 were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the specie-specific primer employing PCR assay which was more sensitive for confirmation of the isolates. Fifty-five Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were screened using PCR for the presence of integrons and associated resistance gene cassette. Thirty-four isolates harbored class 1 integrons (61.8%), of which 27 isolates (79.4%) carried gene cassettes. PCR was performed targeting the presence of these genes:- blaOXA 11(32.4%); blaIMP 5(14.7%); blaAMPC 5(14.7%); blaTEM 4(11.8%); and TetC 2(5.8%). Some of these genes were only recently described from clinical isolates, demonstrating genetic exchange between clinical and environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa stains. Multiresistance was observed in the isolates, revealing strong correlation between integron presence and multi-resistance. These results demonstrate that abattoir milieu is potential reservoirs of various antibiotics resistance genes, thus constituting a serious health risk to the communities dependent on the receiving water bodies.Keywords: Abattoir, Class 1 integron, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Multi-resistance, Gene cassett

Maxillofacial trauma due to road traffic accidents in Benin City, Nigeria: a prospective study

Background: The incidence and causes of road traffic accidents (RTAs) vary with geographical location. The economic and social costs of RTAs are enormous. The knowledge of aetiologic factors and associated injury patterns may be important in planning for prevention and treatment. The aim of this study was to document the aetiological factors and the frequency of maxillofacial injuries due to RTAs. Methods: Over a six-month period, 312 patients with facial trauma due to RTAs were prospectively studied. The demographic parameters, the cause of the RTA, the vehicle type, the use of seat belts, helmets, and other safety devices were recorded. Distribution of maxillofacial bone and soft tissue injuries by vehicle type as well as associated injuries were documented. Results: The minibus was the vehicle type most often involved (36.2%) and tyre blowout (21.2%) was identified as the most common contributory factor. Males 117 (37.5%) in the 21 – 30 year- age range were most often involved. The forehead was most often the site of soft tissue injury (37.3%) while the mandible was the facial bone most often fractured (29.2%). Head injury (55.8%) was the commonest associated injury. Conclusion: The low utilization of safety devices like seat belts and air bags as well as the absence and non-enforcement of road traffic legislation were identified as aetiological factors. Keywords: Aetiologic factors, maxillofacial trauma, road traffic accidents Annals of African Medicine Vol.2(2) 2003: 58-6

The multidisciplinary approach to the management toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome (TENS) – a case report

Toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome (TENS) is a severe idiosyncratic reaction, most commonly triggered by medications, and characterized by fever and mucocutaneous lesions leading to necrosis and sloughing of the epidermis. A case of TENS in a sixteen year old boy following polypharmacy is presented. Complete haematological and biochemical tests were carried out and management was symptomatic. This report shows the multidisciplinary approach to the management and highlights the role of the dental surgeon in the management. It concludes that multidisciplinary approach to healthcare provision will be of benefit to the recipients and suggests that awareness be created on drug use and pharmacovigilance

Evaluation of Escherichia coli as indicator of point-of-use chlorination efficiency of drinking water

In this study, the relevance of the presence of Escherichia coli in drinking water as an indicator of point-of-use chlorination efficiency is examined. The survival of clinical isolates of human enteric pathogenic bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis and Vibrio cholerae) as well as E. coli was monitored as a function of effective germicidal concentration and contact time. The  inactivation kinetics indicated that the minimum effective dose for three-log units (99.9%) inactivation of E. coli (C·T99.9% = 10 mgl-1-min) can sufficiently  eliminate the other pathogens (C·T99.9% ranged from 5.6–10.5 mgl-1-min); the exception being K. pneumoniae, which required more than 1.4-times higher dose. In general, the results implied that the branded hypochlorite solution should effectively inactivate almost all vegetative  bacteria in household drinking water at the manufacturer’s recommended dosage of 0.5 mgl-1 after at least 30 minutes contact time. The application of point-of-use chemical disinfectants to drinking water in households will significantly reduce the incidence of water-borne infections  particularly in rural communities where central treatment of water is mostly unavailable.Keywords: Effective dose; Point-of-use disinfectants; Indicator bacteria; Pathogen; Escherichia coli; Chlorinatio

Evaluation of Antibiotic Resistant Gene in Abattoir Environment

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous gram-negative pathogen with susceptibility to cause opportunistic infections in humans. Among the total of 75 isolated presumptive Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by cultural and morphology characteristic, 55 were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the specie-specific primer employing PCR assay which was more sensitive for confirmation of the isolates. Fifty-five Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were screened using PCR for the presence of integrons and associated resistance gene cassette. Thirty-four isolates harbored class 1 integrons (61.8%), of which 27 isolates (79.4%) carried gene cassettes. PCR was performed targeting the presence of these genes:- blaOXA 11(32.4%); blaIMP 5(14.7%); blaAMPC 5(14.7%); blaTEM 4(11.8%); and TetC 2(5.8%). Some of these genes were only recently described from clinical isolates, demonstrating genetic exchange between clinical and environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa stains. Multi- resistance was observed in the isolates, revealing strong correlation between integron presence and multi-resistance. These results demonstrate that abattoir milieu is potential reservoirs of various antibiotics resistance genes, thus constituting a serious health risk to the communities dependent on the receiving water bodies

Development of Naphthalene Catabolism in Al and Fe contaminated soil

Metals have the potential to affect the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mixed contaminated soils. This investigation considered the effects of Al and Fe (50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg) on 14C-naphthalene biodegradation in soil over 63 d contact time. The presence of Al at low concentrations (50 and 100 mg/kg) stimulated (p < 0.05) naphthalene biodegradation in fresh Al amendments; however, naphthalene mineralisation was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in 500 mg/kg aged Al amendment, but this reduction only occurred at 1 and 21 d in 500 mg/kg fresh Al. Naphthalene mineralisation was stimulated (p < 0.05) in the highest Fe concentration (500 mg/kg) in both aged and fresh Fe amendments at 42 d. This suggests that Al has a greater impact than Fe on the development of PAH catabolism in soil. Studies on metal-PAH impact in soil facilitates the assessment of risk, hazard and bioremediation potential at sites contaminated with both contaminants

Maxillofacial Trauma Due to Road Traffic Accidents in Benin City, Nigeria: A Prospective Study

Background: The incidence and causes of road traffic accidents (RTAs) vary with geographical location. The economic and social costs of RTAs are enormous. The knowledge of aetiologic factors and associated injury patterns may be important in planning for prevention and treatment. The aim of this study was to document the aetiological factors and the frequency of maxillofacial injuries due to RTAs. Methods: Over a six-month period, 312 patients with facial trauma due to RTAs were prospectively studied. The demographic parameters, the cause of the RTA, the vehicle type, the use of seat belts, helmets, and other safety devices were recorded. Distribution of maxillofacial bone and soft tissue injuries by vehicle type as well as associated injuries were documented. Results: The minibus was the vehicle type most often involved (36.2%) and tyre blowout (21.2%) was identified as the most common contributory factor. Males 117 (37.5%) in the 21 - 30 year- age range were most often involved. The forehead was most often the site of soft tissue injury (37.3%) while the mandible was the facial bone most often fractured (29.2%). Head injury (55.8%) was the commonest associated injury. Conclusion: The low utilization of safety devices like seat belts and air bags as well as the absence and non-enforcement of road traffic legislation were identified as aetiological factors

Modification of cell surface properties of Pseudomonas alcaligenes S22 during hydrocarbon biodegradation

Biodegradation of water insoluble hydrocarbons can be significantly increased by the addition of natural surfactants one. Very promising option is the use of saponins. The obtained results indicated that in this system, after 21 days, 92% biodegradation of diesel oil could be achieved using Pseudomonas alcaligenes. No positive effect on the biodegradation process was observed using synthetic surfactant Triton X-100. The kind of carbon source influences the cell surface properties of microorganisms. Modification of the surface cell could be observed by control of the sedimentation profile. This analytical method is a new approach in microbiological analysis