Actinic keratosis: a case of sun damage in the Tropics

A clinical report on a tropical health issue caused by extreme exposure to ultra-violet light in Nigeria.46 year old Nigerian farmer previously a timber merchant presented at the dermatological clinic of our Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He was referred from a private hospital for an expert’s evaluation and management. He gave a six year history of a progressively growing mass on the left thumb. This started as an itchy hypo-pigment patch on the left palm and gradually spread to involve the dorsui.. and palmar surface of the thumb. There was no preceding history of burns or any other form of trauma. The patient later noticed a painful growth on the hypo-pigment scarred patch and this continued to increase in size creating an ugly spiky mass. There were no systemic symptoms but the embarrassment and incapacitation caused by the craggy mass made him desperate to seek expert care. Previous treatment he received included topical applications of sulfur and penicillin ointments and also a course of systemic penicillin

The impacts of first line highly active antiretroviral therapy on serum selenium, cd4 count and body mass index: a cross sectional and short prospective study

Introduction: The relationship that exists between body weights, serum selenium and immunological markers of HIV/AIDS continue to provoke more researches in the recent times. The objectives of this study were to examine baseline body mass index, CD4 count and serum selenium and to prospectively assess the impacts of HAART on same parameters 48 weeks post HAART among HIV patients. Methods: A cohort comprising 140 newly diagnosed HIV positive were prospectively studied. Anthropometric measurements, serum selenium and CD4 count were assessed at diagnosis and 48 weeks post HAART. Results: The mean age for patients was 35±8.8 years; 68% was female. Patients' mean weight was 56.79±10.22kg, BMI; 21.59±3.53, serum selenium; 0.55 ± 0.45μmol/L and CD4 count; 288.36 ± 232.23 at the baseline. At diagnosis, 47 (33.6%) were in stage 1, 49 (35.0%) in stage 2, 26 (18.6%) and 18 (12.9%) were in stage 3 and 4 respectively. Similarly, most patients had normal body mass index, 94 (67.14%), 26 (18.57%) were underweight, (12.86%) were overweight and two (1.43%) were obese at diagnosis. At 48 weeks post HAART, the mean weight, BMI, serum selenium and CD4 count were significantly increased. Conclusion: HAART repleted CD4 count and serum selenium, Post HAART overweight was associated with lesser CD4 count reconstitution and selenium repletion. A renew call for weight monitoring in HAART era.Key words: HIV/AIDS, Selenium, CD4 count, BMI, HAAR

COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF EGG YOLKS FROM DIFFERENT POULTRY BREEDS ON VIABILITY OF REFRIGERATED SPERMATOZOA FROM WEST AFRICAN DWARF BUCKS

Egg yolk from avian species is used as a common component of most semen extenders because of its wide availability, beneficial effect on sperm viability and protective effect on acrosome against temperature-related damage during semen preservation. This study was carried out to determine the comparative effects of egg yolks from different poultry breeds on viability of refrigerated spermatozoa of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks. Pooled semen from five intact WAD bucks was diluted with extender containing egg yolks from Normal feather (NF), Nickel neck (NN), Frizzle feather (FF), Nera black (NB), Oba Marshall black (OB) and Yaffa brown (YB) chickens. Following dilution, the semen samples were assessed subjectively after in vitro storage at 5oC for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours as regards progressive sperm motility, acrosome status and abnormalities using a phase-contrast microscope. The results showed that the ability of these egg yolks to sustain progressive motility ranked in this order: OB > NN > NF >YB > NB > FF. Intact acrosome was comparable during the 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of storage and followed similar trend across the egg-yolk types in the extender. Extender containing YB had the highest percentage abnormality at the end of this study. The findings of this study reveal that OB, NN and NF have better protective ability to maintain motility of refrigerated spermatozoa of WAD bucks.Â

Young Single Widow, Dynamics of In-Laws Interference and Coping Mechanisms: Simplicity–Parsimony Approach

The incidence of short marital duration due to the demise of a husband that often exposes young widows to in-laws’ exploitation of the asset of the deceased spouses, without regard for negative health consequences and potential vulnerability to poverty has not been exhaustively investigated, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where 16% of adult women are widows. The study examined the coping mechanisms among the young widow (aged � 40) who have experienced short conjugal relationships (�5 years) and burdensome from in-laws. The research design followed a qualitative approach with the aid of semi-structured in-depth interviews among 13 young widows selected through snowballing and informant-led approaches in the purposively selected communities. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and a thematic approach. The findings, among others, shows the median age of young widow as 29 years. All participants, except one, have faced exploitation from their in-laws over their husbands’ assets. All the participants desired to re-marry in order to: have a father figure for their children, have their own children or have more children. There is an absence of government support, but a few have received support from religious organisations. The author proposed attitudinal-change campaigns targeting the in-laws through accessible media and legislature that could challenge the exploitation of widows and unhealthy widowhood rites

Foreign Direct Investment, Electricity Power Supply and Economic Growth in Nigeria

This study examined the stimulation of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows through constant electricity power supply for economic growth in Nigeria, by engaging time series data sourced from the world development indicators (WDI) for the period 1986-2017 and employed the Autoregressive distribution lag econometric approach to co-integration. The gross domestic product growth rate per capita was the proxy for economic growth and the dependent variable, while the independent variables include FDI, labour force participation rate, gross fixed capital formation and electricity power supply. The result from the study showed that, in the long-run, increased FDI inflows, gross fixed capital formation, electricity power supply, have the potency of increasing economic growth by 30%, 20% and 6%, respectively. Therefore, based on the results obtained, the study recommended that there should be constant electricity power supply to keep pace with productivity for efficient economic growth in Nigeria

A descriptive cross-sectional survey of prevalence, knowledge and perceptions of acne vulgaris among secondary school students in Nigeria

Acne vulgaris is a pilosebaceous gland disorder affecting mostly teenagers. Most Nigerian youths attend secondary schools during the teen-age period yet information on the prevalence, knowledge and perceptions of acne vulgaris among them is scanty. The present study was designed to evaluate the prevalence, knowledge and perceptions of acne vulgaris among secondary school students in Nigeria. A standard pre-tested questionnaire on acne was administered to consenting secondary school students in 3 urban towns of Nigeria. The questionnaire measured acne knowledge, beliefs and perception. Respondents who claimed to have acne had visual facial examination to confirm their self-assessment. Responses were matched with demographic data. Responses from 1777 students were analysed. Six hundred and fifty nine of 1552 students who responded to the presence of acne (42.5 %) had acne. Mildly severe acne was the predominant type with over 80% respondents having knowledge of acne and 60% had family history. Many respondents were conscious of their facial appearance, believed that acne patients should be empathized and avoid certain occupation. On the other hand, acne sufferers were not bothered by the disorder and only a few had ever sought medical help. This study thus established that Acne is well recognized by Nigerian secondary school students. Health education program on acne is needed to improve the understanding of some youths about the condition. Keywords: prevalence, acne knowledge, students, Nigeria Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 48(3) 2005: 73-7

Widerspread Hypopigmentation Secondary to the Prolonged use of Highly Potent Steroidal Cream in Lichen Planus.

A 24-year old Nigerian woman presented at our clinic with extensive hypopigmentation following the use of very potent steroidal cream in widerspread lichen planus. She was treated with intramuscular injection of triamcinolone acetonide and the associated secondary bacterial infection was treated with an antibiotic. The cosmetic result at 18 months follow-up was impressive. (Key words: Lichen planus, triamcinolone acetonide, hypopigmentation). Sahel Med. J. Vol.6(3) 2003: 91-9

EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS A PREDITOR OF FIRMS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

C01porate Social Responsibility is an ethical but voluniC!ry donation/ It is a service an organisation gives back . to the community or the environment wherein they do operate .(ti1(l benefits .fl·om. The aim of this study is to empiricallyanalyze corporate social responsibility and its e.fj'ect:\~ on firms 'pe,formance. Other objectives of the study include to examine how philanthropic responsibility aff'ects return on assetand to determine how economic responsibility of aflnn influences return on equity. The study jiJrther examlned the moderating effect of perceived organizational culture on th1! relations!ujJ between. corporate social re.sponsibility and firm performance. A Nigerian bank which had been active at CSR' was used to predict the extents of corporate social responsibility on firm pe1jOrmance. A total Number of J83copies of questionnaire were administered but 173 copies of questionnaire 'were returned ancj, found useable. Regression andcorrelatio11. analyses were employed for the test of hypotheses. It was discovered that c01porare social responsibility, such as economic responsibility and philanthropic responsibility;'' is a significant predictor of financial performance. It was further discovered that corporate<ii';f.ture moderates the relationship between co1porale social responsibility and firm performance. Based on 7hese findmgs, lt was recommended that banks should embrace corporate social responsibility as a strategic tool far enhancing the image of their firm thereby leading to their improved performance

Sexually transmitted infections in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria: A decade of clinic experience

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain cosmopolitan in all societies of the world and in some cases assume epidemic proportions. These infections are common infectious diseases nowadays, with an annual incidence of more than 200 million cases a year. Venereal pathogens continue to increase in number and the spectrum of pathogens has limitless elasticity. While genital discharge and ulceration are common presenting symptoms, unusual findings on examination and investigation are not uncommon. We assessed our clinic experiences during the first ten years in an STI clinic. Salient findings are that 85% of all patients seen have an STI. The breakdown of infections revealed that Candida albicans was the most common venereal pathogen accounting for 24% while Neisseria gonorrhoeae accounted for about 18.0%. Sarcoptes scabiei and Phthirus pubis causing scabies and pediculosis accounted for 1.8% and 0.3% respectively. As commonly established, the age bracket 19 to 39 years was clearly the age group in which sexually transmitted infections were mostly diagnosed. In a control programme, this age group should be targeted, while there is the need to continue to stimulate awareness of both the general public and health workers at all levels on the problems of sexually transmitted infections, the scourge of all ages. Key Words: Sexually transmitted infections, venereal pathogens, clinic experience, control awareness Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. Vol.6(1) 2005: 64-6