Morphological evaluation and clinical significance of proximal femoral dimensions among Southern Nigerian population

Background: Anthropometric studies are vital in evaluation and description of morphological characteristics of body tissues of living individuals or dead remains. This study was done to evaluate proximal femoral dimensions and to describe sexual or bilateral dimorphism among Southern Nigerians.Methods: This study involved 500 pelvic radiographs showing proximal aspects of right and left femurs of Southern Nigerians (including 250 males and 250 females) between ages 25 to 55 years. Measurements taken on radiographs include transverse diameter and vertical diameter of femoral head, neck diameter (ND), neck length (NL) and proximal shaft diameter. Bilateral measurements were recorded and average values evaluated. Data were analyzed using IBM-statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) (version 20) and statistical comparison was done using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with p<0.05 regarded as statistically significant level.Results: Proximal femoral dimensions showed non-significant bilateral differences with right side having higher values in all parameters except NL in males and ND in females. Also, mean values for TD (5.39±0.25 and 4.28±0.21), VD (5.01±0.21 and 4.58±0.19), ND (4.03±0.22 and 3.61±0.18), NL (2.08±0.11 and 1.79±0.10) for male and females subjects respectively showed sexual dimorphism in all parameters with males having significantly (p<0.05) higher values than females.Conclusions: The femur is an important bone in human body that plays crucial morphological and physiological role and offers prominent anthropometric value

Learning Style Preference: Impact on Academic Performance of Preclinical Medical Students, a Nigerian Survey

Background: Understanding the differences in learning styles among medical students and their impact on the learning processes may enhance better learning and knowledge acquisition that is necessary for improving learning outcomes. This study aimed at the determination of the learning style preferences of the University of Nigeria preclinical medical students and the impact they have on their academic performance. Materials and Methods: The study involved 158 third-year medical students (102 males and 56 females). Each student completed the VARK questionnaire (Version 7) comprising 16 questions that identified four different learning style preferences, namely V – visual, A – aural, R – read–write, and K – kinesthetic. The academic performance of the students was obtained from the results of their second MBBS professional examination. Analysis of data was done using Statistical Package for the Social sciences (SPSS) version 21; the percentages and charts of distribution for each VARK component were determined. The presence/absence of significant interactions between academic performance and learning style preferences was determined using Chi-square test. Results: The results showed that 30.4% of the students were unimodal (V-2.5%, A-7%, R-17.1% and K-3.8%), while 69.6% were multimodal in learning. With respect to gender, the males (70.6%) and females (67.9%) preferred multimodal learning, and both genders showed similar patterns in their preferences (read–write, followed by aural, kinesthetic, and visual). Visual learners exhibited the highest scores among unimodal learners, followed by kinesthetic, aural, and read–write learners, although the mean performance of multimodal learners (65%) was higher than those of unimodal learners (54%) (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: A blend of V‑A‑R‑K instructional techniques would benefit most students. Students who are strongly unimodal in learning need to be specifically targeted with their unique learning style. Keywords: Anatomy, Nigeria, learning style. academic performance, preclinical students, V-A-R-

Ultrasound Findings in the Gallbladder of Sickle‑Cell Patients: A Cross‑Sectional Study in Enugu, Nigeria

Background: Sickle‑cell disease (SCD) causes chronic and recurrent hemolysis which is a recognized risk factor for gallbladder (GB) disease. The prevalence of GB disease in SCD is high and increases with age. Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis are relatively common GB diseases in SCD. They are important causes of acute abdominal pain in SCD and also increase morbidity. Ultrasound is a cheap and noninvasive means of evaluating the GB; it has a high degree of accuracy and is widely available. Aims: The aim of this study is to sonographically evaluate the GB of SCD patients in steady state at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku‑Ozalla, Enugu, and to determine the prevalence of specific GB diseases in SCD patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross‑sectional study of 130 known SCD patients attending sickle‑cell clinics at UNTH and 130 controls. Ultrasound of the GB was done after at least 6 h fast, using a Dp2200 mindray mobile ultrasound machine equipped with a 2.5–5 MHz convex probe. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 16. Results: The GBs of 130 consecutive SCD participants and 130 control group were sonographically evaluated. The prevalence of cholelithiasis in SCD was 10.8%, whereas the prevalence of cholelithiasis in the control group was 3.1%. No other GB diseases were seen. The mean dimensions of theGB for the study group were length (65.78 ± 9.85 mm), width (29.15 ± 6.01 mm), depth (25.58 ± 5.81 mm), wall thickness (1.59 ± 0.74 mm), and volume (26.52 ± 11.18 cm3). Conclusion: The prevalence of cholelithiasis in sickle cell disease in southeast Nigeria is 10.8% while the prevalence of cholelithiasis in the control population is 3.1%. Keywords: Cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, gallbladder, sickle cell disease, ultrasoun

Performance of students in anatomy in the 2nd MBSS examinations in some Nigerian universities

Aim: The aim of our study was to compare the pass rates of medical students in anatomy with those of medical biochemistry and physiology. Method: The 2nd MBBS (Part I MBBS) examination results of some medical schools in Eastern Nigeria over a variable period of 3-5 years were obtained. The schools were those of Abia State University (ABSU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) and University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC). The performance of students in anatomy, medical biochemistry and physiology were compared. Result: ABSU and NAU had relatively smaller populations of students than UNIPORT and UNEC The percentage passes in anatomy in ABSU, NAU, UNIPORT and UNEC were 78.31%, 79.3%, 41.24% and 54.7% respectively. The performance of students in schools with small populations was better in anatomy than in either medical biochemistry or physiology. The reverse was the case in schools with large populations of students.Conclusion: Class size plays an important role in the performance of students in anatomy. The lower the population of students, the greater the chances of adequate exposure of students to the study materials, and consequently the better the performance. Orient Journal of Medicine Vol. 18(1&2) 2006: 11-1

Complementary roles of hysterosalpingography and transabdominal ultrasonography in the assessment of the uterus among women with infertility in a developing nation

Background: The uterus plays a vital role in female infertility. In our environment, it is commonly separately examined with either transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS) or hysterosalpingography (HSG) which are cheap and readily available. A concurrent use of the two procedures might have a complementary effect with a good outcome especially in a developing economy where three dimensional (3-D) ultrasound, sonohysterography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which are more sensitive are neither readily available nor affordable.Objectives: To document the uterine, tubal and adnexal lesions diagnosed using each of the two procedures and to check if the procedures can complement each other in a poor resource economy.Methodology: This is a six month, paired group and analytical observational study of 200 women with infertility. HSG was booked in keeping with the ten-day rule and TAUS was performed on the same day before HSG. Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 21 was used for the analysis. Ρ ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: With TAUS evaluation, 158(79%) of the subjects appeared normal. Fibroids were detected in 39(19.5%) subjects, and in 37(94.9%) of this subset, they were localized. Intrauterine adhesions were seen in 0(0%), endometrial polyp in 1(0.5%), and endometrial hyperplasia in 2(1%). With HSG, 149(74.5%) appeared normal. Fibroids were detected in 27(13.5%) and in 19(70.4%) of this subset, they were localized. Intrauterine adhesions were seen in 23(11.5%), endometrial polyp in 1(0.5%) and endometrial hyperplasia in 0(0%). With HSG, tubal occlusion was seen in 63(31.5%), peritubal adhesions in 34(17%), hydrosalpinges in 5(2.5%) and loculated spill in 7(3.5%). None of these were seen with TAUS. With TAUS adnexal masses were in 12(6%) and with HSG they were demonstrated in 2(1%). There was significant difference between TAUS and HSG findings with regard to detection of fibroids, localization of fibroids, detection of tubal lesions and detection of adnexal lesions.Conclusion: The two modalities played important complementary roles since TAUS was able to detect more lesions on the wall of the uterus and in the adnexae, while HSG was able to detect more intracavitory and tubal lesions. The combined study is recommended especially in a poor resource economy where other more sensitive modalities are neither available nor affordable