Duplication cyst of the bowel causing ileal volvulus. A case report

A10 month old male infant presents to us with features of acute intestinal obstruction and a palpable abdominal mass of five days duration. A prior ultrasound report had made a diagnosis of intussusception. Subtle butimportant details in history and examination cast doubts on the ultrasound diagnosis. Exploratory laparotomy revealed ileal volvulus secondary to duplication cyst. This case is reported because of its rarity and to show thestrength of sound clinical evaluation even in the face of technological advancements.Keywords: Duplication cyst, alimentary tract, ileal volvulu

Evaluation of inquiry-based Learning in high school earth science and biology classrooms: learning environment and attitudes

This evaluation of inquiry-based teaching involved 1396 high-school biology and earth science students from Los Angeles County. Inquiry teaching was perceived by students to be more effective than traditional methods in terms of greater teacher support and student involvement. Also inquiry-based instruction was equally effective for male and female student

Global Financial Crisis and African Economies (With Sub Saharan Specifics)

The illusion that African countries have escaped the adverse consequences of the global financial and economic crisis is becoming transparent, judging from the dire aftershocks of the global downturn, although the ultimate effects on individual countries are still inconsistent and unpredictable. The medium-term reactions of trade partners, donor countries, and private investors are still unknown. Today, the impact on Africa appears to centre around three major channels: global trade, capital flows, and policy responses. Efforts to mitigate Africa’s pain should be continent specific; the international community may choose specific actions to address the fiscal, balance-of-payments shocks and the gaps in private capital. Regardless of steps taken externally, African leaders should seize the opportunity to develop homemade strategies to address her problems. In the mean time monetary control must continue to prioritize its mandates of inflation targeting or growth in a way that complement regulation. Regulatory duties should be more innovative on its core mandate of financial stability. JEL Classification: G28, E58, N1 Keywords: Govt., Policy and Regulation; Central Banks and their Policies, Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Growth and Fluctuation

Interrogating Radical Theatre and Social Injustice in Sam Ukala’s Break a Boil

The Judicial system in Nigeria, from the local to the federal level, needs to experience radicalism because perverted justice is gradually becoming the new order of the day. Radicalism is one phenomenon that has remained prominent across ages because it continues to take one form or the other in shaping the realities prevalent in any given generation. A radical artist is an aggressive personality because he/she boils with a burning passion for bringing some degree of change to a given society. He/she employs the most viable means available to make this dream come true no matter what it takes. Due to the strong positions artists occupy in our society today, revolutionaries among them activate their role as social critics, commentators, and changers to speak the language of radicalism through art. In its unusual approach, this paper tends to evaluate the role of some of such artists in contemporary African society with emphasis on Nigeria. This qualitative study draws its framework from the radical theatre aesthetics embedded in creative masterpieces with the ideology of motivating contemporary African artists to join in the crusade of using the surest means in bringing the desired change to our immediate society. This study, therefore, limits its scope to Sam Ukala’s Break a Boil as a revolutionary masterpiece, as it portrays the creative artist as one of the revolutionary artists of our time.

Interrogating Radical Theatre and Social Injustice in Sam Ukala’s Break a Boil

The Judicial system in Nigeria, from the local to the federal level, needs to experience radicalism because perverted justice is gradually becoming the new order of the day. Radicalism is one phenomenon that has remained prominent across ages because it continues to take one form or the other in shaping the realities prevalent in any given generation. A radical artist is an aggressive personality because he/she boils with a burning passion for bringing some degree of change to a given society. He/she employs the most viable means available to make this dream come true no matter what it takes. Due to the strong positions artists occupy in our society today, revolutionaries among them activate their role as social critics, commentators, and changers to speak the language of radicalism through art. In its unusual approach, this paper tends to evaluate the role of some of such artists in contemporary African society with emphasis on Nigeria. This qualitative study draws its framework from the radical theatre aesthetics embedded in creative masterpieces with the ideology of motivating contemporary African artists to join in the crusade of using the surest means in bringing the desired change to our immediate society. This study, therefore, limits its scope to Sam Ukala’s Break a Boil as a revolutionary masterpiece, as it portrays the creative artist as one of the revolutionary artists of our time.

A histopathological study of carcinoma of the prostate in port Harcourt, Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the incidence of prostate cancer in Port Harcourt and the surrounding towns whose residents patronize the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital for tertiary health care, histologically characterize the patterns of these cancers, and grade them according to the Gleason scheme.Materials and Methods: Blocks and slides of prostate specimens received at the Department of Anatomical Pathology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between January 1997 and December 2006 were retrospectively selected for this study. The slides were studied using a binocular Olympus light microscope. Patients’ age at presentation, presenting symptoms, and clinical diagnosis were sorted out from the request cards and the department’s archival register.Results: Carcinoma was diagnosed in 198 specimens (37.4%) of the 529 cases reviewed. Of these, 164 (82.8%) were clinical carcinoma (having been found in clinically suspected carcinoma cases for which trucut biopsies were undertaken), while 34 (17.2%) were incidental carcinoma cases (being found in prostatectomy biopsy cases of patients clinically diagnosed with nodular hyperplasia). All of the clinical carcinomas were adenocarcinomas predominantly moderately differentiated and of large acinar pattern. Also, all of the incidental carcinomas were adenocarcinomas predominantly well differentiated and of large acinar pattern. The Gleason scores (GSs) were varied but predominantly of high values, particularly with clinical carcinoma cases. The age range was 42 to 90 years and the mean was 70 years with a peak of 70 to 79 years.Conclusion: The incidence of prostate cancer in Port Harcourt is high relative to other Nigerian centers where similar studies have been carried out and compares well with the high incidence found among African American men. Histologically, all cases are acinar adenocarcinomas. Most patients present late with high GS carcinoma and therefore have poor prognosis. There is a need for enlightenment of the male populace on the high incidence of this deadly disease as well as for screening to reduce the number of patients presenting late and therefore improve prognosis

Systemic Analysis of Sudden Natural Deaths at Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Many cases of sudden unexpected natural deaths occur in individuals without known medical diseases. Relatives of such victims and the law enforcement agents often designate those as sudden and unnatural deaths (SUD), and call for coroners inquests.Aims: To analyze the anatomic causes of sudden natural deaths investigated by the Coroner at Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), and to classify them according to body systems and compare our findings with those of previous studies.Materials and methods: This is a nine-year retrospective study carried out in BMSH Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The reports of unlimited and standardized autopsies carried out on sudden and natural death victims were retrievedand analyzed. The causes of death were grouped according to the body systems involved. The cases were also analyzed according to age, sex, and circumstances of death.Results: Of the 9,164 bodies received, 2,415 (26.4%) were autopsied for varied reasons, out of which 249 (2.7%) were sudden natural deaths in persons without known significant medical history. Male: female ratio (MFR)was 2.2:1. The mean age was 39.7 years with a range of 3 weeks to 97 years. Peak age group was 30-39 years with 27.7%. Cardiovascular system pathologies were by far the commonest causes of death with 87.6%. The least cause of death was prematurity with 0.4%. Among the cardiovascular system pathologies, hypertensive heart disease was the commonest. All deathswere from natural causes.Conclusion: Cardiovascular system pathologies especially hypertensive heart disease remain the leading cause of sudden natural deaths in this study. Residents of Rivers state of Nigeria should be more conscious of their health and undergo regular medical check-ups for early detection and proper management of cardiovascular diseases especially systemic hypertension.Key Words: Sudden natural deaths, autopsy, coroner, hypertension, Port Harcourt

Malignant renal tumours seen in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Introduction: Malignant renal tumours (MRTs) pose significant morbidity and mortality.  In adults, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) constitutes about 90% of these tumours whereas in children, the majority are nephroblastomas. Males are generally more affected than females. Nuclear grade, tumour stage, size and histopathological subtype are prognostic factors. In our environment, patients with MRTs commonly present late.Methods: Clinical and demographic details of patients who had malignant tumours diagnosed on renal biopsy tissue between 2002 and 2013 at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, were extracted from pathology request forms. Slides were retrieved from the archives and reviewed. The tumours were classified according to WHO and ISUP criteria.Results: Kidney biopsies constituted 0.8% of the biopsy specimens processed within the period; 60% of these were malignant lesions. Half (51%) of the patients with MRTs were males and 81% were children (the majority aged 0–4 years).  Among children, the incidence decreased steadily with age. Seventy-three percent were nephroblastomas, exclusively occurring in children. Renal cell carcinoma constituted 19.4%, with papillary carcinoma being the commonest subtype, whereas non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and rhabdomyosarcoma constituted 6% and 1.5%, respectively. The mean gross weight of the tumour masses was 1.3 kg and the average duration of symptoms prior to presentation was 18.3 months. The majority presented with abdominal masses.Conclusion: Although the renal biopsy rate is generally low in our environment, we found that the most common renal malignancy was nephroblastoma in children. In adults, renal cell carcinoma, mainly of the papillary type, was predominant. Most cases present late.

Clinicopathological report of children and young adults with nephrotic syndrome undergoing renal biopsy at workshops in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Kidney biopsy is a procedure that is not commonly performed in Nigeria. This study reports the clinical and pathological findings in children who underwent renal biopsies during nephrology workshops held in Port Harcourt in 2014 and 2015.Methods: The native kidney biopsies were processed and evaluated with light microscopy only.Results: Nineteen patients (10 females) were biopsied. The mean age was 11.0 ± 6.5 years and the range was 1.8 to 21 years. Eleven patients had steroid-dependent  nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) while eight were steroid-resistant (SRNS). Hypertension and haematuria were present more often in SDNS. There were 11 cases (57.9%) with non-proliferative lesions, including minimal change disease (4 cases), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (4 cases) and collapsing glomerulopathy (3 cases). The proliferative lesions (8 cases) included membranoproliferative (mesangiocapillary) glomerulonephritis (MPGN, 5 cases), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (2 cases) and MPGN with collapsing glomerulopathy (1 case). Overall, the most common pathologic diagnosis was MPGN (26.3%). Hypertension was more common with proliferative than non-proliferative lesions (62.5% versus 36.4%).Conclusions: Although MPGN was the most common morphologic lesion among children with nephrotic syndrome, bigger studies are necessary to confirm this. Efforts should be intensified in acquiring the expertise and infrastructure for performing and interpreting renal biopsies in Port Harcourt order to optimize patient management

Design Insights from the Implementation of a Student Result Processing System in Nigeria

The design of digital technologies is often influenced by the infrastructural, economic, and social realities of the environment of the designer. Thus, the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) community emphasize various strategies to learn from and about target users (Brown et al., 2010). However, products that are designed with the amount of detail recommended by the HCI community require a significant amount of time, energy and skill and as a result are expensive. The high cost of these services force individuals and organizations to resort to commercial products and it is often the case that commercial products that are successful for one group of people might be unsuitable for another (Johns et al., 2002). To address this problem, user groups often adapt the technology to suit their needs, use the technology in unintended ways or ultimately reject them. In this paper we present a case-study where locally developed technology was preferred over commercial solutions. We draw design insights from this experience on how we might design educational technologies while considering the culture of the target users. Keywords: Education, Result computation in Higher Education, Educational Software Tools, Digital Tools in Higher Education DOI: 10.7176/DCS/9-8-05 Publication date: August 31st 2019