Serum testosterone levels of HbSS (sickle cell disease) male subjects in Lagos, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infertility is a major problem in sickle cell disease patients, especially in males. In addition to low serum testosterone, other abnormalities involving the accessory sex organs, such as the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland, as well as marked decrease in ejaculate volume may be observed in male HbSS patients. Hence, the need to study the role of sex hormones as a cause of infertility in male HbSS patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An unmatched case-control study was performed using seventy-five consenting subjects from Lagos University Teaching Hospital. These included 47 patients with haemoglobin phenotype SS from the Sickle cell clinic and 28 volunteered medical students and members of staff with haemoglobin phenotype AA. Demographic data were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 5 mls of blood was collected from each subject between 9.00 am & 11.am, and assayed for serum testosterone concentration.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The concentrations of serum testosterone in HbSS patients ranged from 0.2 to 4.3 ng/ml with a mean of 1.28 ± 0.72 ng/ml whilst the values in HbAA controls ranged from 1.2 to 6.9 ng/ml with a mean of 2.63 ± 1.04 ng/ml. Seven (25.0%) of the 28 controls had serum testosterone concentration lower than the quoted reference (normal) range whereas 44 (93.6%) of the 47 HbSS subjects had serum testosterone concentration lower than the reference range.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Overall, subjects with HbSS have significantly lower mean serum testosterone than HbAA controls.</p

The incidence of electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities in critically ill patients using point of care testing (i–Stat portable analyser)

Background: Electrolytes and acid-base disorders are common challenges seen in the intensive care unit (ICU) resulting in difficulty in weaning patients off the ventilator, prolonged admission periods, preventable cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. These require prompt lab results most of which are done serially, ideally a point of care test (POCT), as most central hospital lab result's turnaround time (TAT) sometimes might not meet up with the urgency of clinical decision making in the ICU.Objective: To determine the incidence of electrolytes and acid-base abnormalities using i-Stat portable analysers in the ICU of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).Method: The i-STAT Portable Clinical Analyzer, a POCT system consisting of a hand-held analyzer and single-use cartridges that measure different panels of analytes in 65–100 μl of blood using an EC8+ cartridge type analyzer for sodium, potassium, chloride, urea, glucose, pH, blood gases [TCO2, pO2, pCO2]) and heamatocrit was used. Results: Over 66.78% of the patients had multiple electrolytes and acid-base abnormalities. Azotemia in 20%, hypoglycaemia in 13.33%, and hyperglycaemia in 53.33% of patients.Conclusion: it is concluded from this study that electrolyte and acid base abnormalities is not uncommon in the intensive care unit of LUTH and the i-STAT Portable Clinical Analyzer was helpful in facilitating early diagnosis and treatment.Key words: Electrolytes, acidosis, alkalosis, Critically-illpatient

Effect of health education on knowledge and attitude of tertiary school students towards sexually transmitted infections

Background: In order to make good decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, young people need reliable information. This study assessed the effect of health education on the knowledge and attitude of tertiary school students towards sexually transmitted infections. Methods: The study employed a quasi-experimental study design in which students of the two Colleges of Education in Lagos, Nigeria were selected by multistage sampling technique. These colleges were randomized into intervention and control groups. Health education sessions were given to students in the intervention groups, while the control group did not receive any health education session. Results: At post-intervention, respondents with poor knowledge reduced from 187 (74.2%) to 135 (53.1%) and those with good knowledge of STIs increased from 18 (7.1%) to 44 (17.2%) in the intervention group (p &lt; 0.0001). However, respondents with poor knowledge in the control group reduced from 191 (74.6%) to 175(68.1%) and those with good knowledge increased from 12 (4.7%) to 17 (6.6%); p = 0.25. Respondents with poorattitude towards condom use increased from 37.3% to 50.2% in the intervention group (p =0.12) and reduced from 38.3% to 35% in the control group (p = 0.44). The poor attitude towards abstinence increased from 19.8% to 36.1% and from 18.8% to 29.2% in the intervention and control groups; p = 0.004 and 0.14 respectively.Conversely, those with good attitude towards abstinence reduced from 36.5% to 36.1% and from 30% to 29.6% in both intervention and control groups respectively. Conclusion: Educational intervention results in significant knowledge about sexually transmitted infections but produced little or no change in attitude and practice. There is a need for more research in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections among students of tertiary institutions.Keywords: Attitude, Education, Knowledge, Sexually Transmitted Infections High Med Res J 2013;13:31-3

Pattern of herbal medicine utilization among secondary school students

Background: The use of traditional herbs and remedies are relatively common and the understanding of the rationale for health choices among adolescent will enable health care practitioners to guide them in the selection of efficient and safe health care options. This study assessed the pattern of utilization of herbal concoctions among secondary students.Methods: This is a descriptive cross sectional study of both junior secondary (JSS) and senior secondary (SSS) students were interviewed using a pretested semi- structured questionnaire.Results: About half of the respondents were females 196 (50.3%) and the majority 252 (64.5%) of the students were 15 years and below. Most 352 (90%) of the respondents were aware of herbal drugs and the prevalence of herbal use is  88.1%. The most common source of herbal drugs 229 (74%) is the herbal drugs hawkers. The majority (53.4%) of the students who use herbal drugs used it to prevent illness. The main ailments for which herbal drugs were used were fever (85%) and hemorrhoids (13.1%). About a third 102(32.9%) combines herbal drugs with orthodox drugs. The majority of the students who utilize herbal drugs 193 (62.3%) preferred it to orthodox drugs and 71(38.4%)of these students responded that herbal drug is more effective. There is no statistically significant association between age, gender of students, educational level of sponsor and utilization of herbal drugs(p&gt;0.05). However, there is a statistically significant association between ethnic group, religion and utilization of herbal drugs(p&lt;0.05).Conclusion: Herbal drugs utilization among the students is very high and many of the students combine it with orthodox drugs. The school health programme should be strengthened and the students guided in the health care decision making process.Keywords: Herbal medicines, Students, Utilization, Unorthodox medicine

Knowledge and practice of emergency preparedness by Lagos residents

Background: Since no one can predict when an emergency will occur, it is necessary to be prepared. Taking personal responsibility in preparing for and responding to emergency situations is an effective means of curbing damages.Methods: This study was a cross sectional study where pretested semi structured questionnaires were administered to 395 respondents selected using a multistage sampling technique.Results: The majority 209 (52.9%) of the respondents were males. The mean age was 30± 7 with the majority (55.4%) of the respondents less than 40yrs of age. Two third 264 (66.8%) of the respondents were aware of emergency preparedness. The most common emergency situation experienced by respondents was fire (61.3%). Most of respondents had good knowledge 351 (88.9%) and positive attitude 373 (94.4%). Overall, the majority 230 (58.3%) of the respondents had poor practice of emergency preparedness. Factors associated with the practice of emergency preparedness were age of respondents (p=0.001) and education (p= 0.001).Conclusion: Knowledge and attitude of respondents towards emergency preparedness was good, while the actual preparation for emergencies was poor. There is a need for public enlightenment to mitigate disaster and further enhance the community preparedness for emergencies.Keywords : Knowledge, Communiity, Emergency Preparednes