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.

Mobile money services: A factor altering the savings of fisherfolks in Anafo community

Undergraduate thesis submitted to the Department of Business Administration, Ashesi University, in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, May 2020Since its inception, mobile money service has had a positive impact on the economy of countries that have adopted it. The service has given room to the banked and unbanked population to be able to have access to financial services. This study looks at the impact of mobile money services on the savings of fisherfolks in fishing communities in Ghana using Anafo community as a test case. It sought to investigate the following: the impact of mobile money services on the savings of fisherfolks in Anafo Community; their preferred saving methods and the motivation(s) for their choice of saving method; whether fisherfolks have adequate income to save after paying for their expenses; and lastly, the challenges fisherfolks face in saving. Adopting a mixed method, the data for this study were collected from the fisherfolks of Anafo using questionnaires and interviews and processed through descriptive and inferential analysis. The findings indicate that fisherfolks use mobile money services for different purposes, from sending and receiving money to saving money. Also, the majority of these fisherfolks are not using mobile money services to save due to insufficient incomes and cases of fraud associated with using these services. But, for the few who manage to save money, the mobile money service has increased their savings. It is recommended that, in order to boost the patronage of mobile money services by the fisherfolks, especially for savings, the service providers should educate them to use the service effectively, especially regarding fraud.Ashesi Universit

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

Coroner Autopsy Findings Among Children and Adolescents of Rivers State of Nigeria

Background Children I adolescents face avoidable deaths in Nigeria. This 11-year retrospective study of coroner autopsies carried out on children I adolescents aged between 0-19 years, evaluated the pattern, causes and demographic features of childhood deaths in Rivers state, Nigeria.Methods A retrospective remew of case records of decedents' gender, age, and circumstances were of death and autopsy-defined causes of death in Port Harcourt were analyzed.Results Children I adolescents constituted 11.4% of 1,987 cases reviewed. The age range was 3 weeks to 19 years and the mean was 14.4 years. Adolescents, 15-19 years were most affected constituting 65.5% of cases. Male female ratio was 1. 7:1. Accidents with 39.8% were the commonest manner of death followed by homicides (38.5%) and sudden natural deaths (12.8%). Maternal deaths and suicides constituted 7.1% and 1.8% respectively. Accidents, mainly of the road traffic type and homicides resulting from firearm injuries are significant causes of sudden deaths among children and adolescents of Rivers state.Conclusion Instituting measures aimed at improving care of children and adolescents, especially during out-door activities will reduce the largely preventable deaths observed among this age group.Keywords Coroner autopsies; childhood and adolescents; accidents and homicides; Rivers State; Nigeria

Bulk Raw Materials Handling and Blending Techniques of Sinter Plant: A Case Study of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Kogi State, Nigeria

Bulk raw materials handling plant and sintering plant preparatory plants are established to receive, blend, stockpile, prepare and supply specified grades of raw materials for smooth operations of iron making plant (Blast furnace), steel making plant (Basic oxygen converter) and lime Plant(calcinations plant). The study discusses bulk raw materials handling and some general problem of scientific analysis and documentation of basic equipment details, stockyard facilities, bulk materials transport systems and sinter processes, for the general knowledge and operational procedures of these plant for effective and efficient operational processes for optical results. Iron ore concentrate supplied from the mines to some extent fluctuate in their chemical composition as a result of the nature of the deposit with various factors controlling beneficiation processes and addition of metal-bearing materials collected as a waste product from the Rolling Mills, Blast Furnace and Sinter Plant which must be recycled through Iron ore concentrate stockyard. The part of the sinter mixture is melted at a temperature about 1300-1480 ° C and a sequence of reactions shaping the sinter cake to be loaded into the blast furnace to produce iron from a pig

The Study on the Corrosion Behaviour of Welded and Unwelded Medium Carbon Steel in Sodium Chloride (Nacl) Solutions

The research work was based on the study of the corrosion behaviour of the welded and un-welded medium carbon steel in sodium chloride solutions. The Sodium chloride solutions used are 1ml, 2ml, 3ml and 4ml for both welded and un-welded medium carbon steel in NaCl. The experiments were conducted in two ways, the weight loss analyses of measurements and using the electrochemical analyzer workstation to determine the potential dynamic of the samples. The samples for the weight loss measurements were prepared from rolled products obtained at the foundry shop. Two medium carbon steel materials were sourced with different chemical compositions as sample A and B. The materials were prepared to accommodate the experiments for the determination of welded and un-welded medium carbon steel. A total of sixty-eight (68) samples were produced, prepared and used for the weight loss measurements /analyses the experiments. Thirty-four of the samples each were prepared for both the welded and un-welded experiments. All the samples were produced and prepared through the use of various machining processes with the use of a lathe machine for planning, milling. Thirty-four (34) of the sample preparation were further welded in readiness of the experiments. Sixty -eight breakers were sourced for and used. Ten (10) other samples were used for the determination with the use of the electrochemical analyzer. The chemical compositions of the medium carbon steel were determined with the use of SPECTRO Analytical Instruments. A metallurgical inverted optical microscope was used to determine the microstructures of the materials. The Scanning Electron Microscopy with EDS was used to determine the morphologies of the materials. The thirty-four of the samples were welded this process was performed to determine the effects of welding on the material surrounding the weldments. These materials were made into sizes with the use of power hacksaw (i.e. 2cm by 2cm). Other materials were prepared to 1cm x 1cm thickness from the same materials. The Tafel plot experiments and that of the open Circuit Potential Time (OCPT) were carried out with the use of Electrochemical Analyzer/ Workstation. The Medium carbon steel materials were exposed for fifty-four (54) days, with an interval of 3days. The corrosion rates analyses were determined and the graphs of the corrosion rates (mm/yr.) and other parameters were used plotted against No of days exposed

Upper Gastro-Intestinal Endoscopy in Port Harcourt, Nigeria: An Audit

Background: Accurate diagnosis of disease conditions using laboratory, imaging or endoscopic investigation is essential for appropriate treatment. There is paucity of data on upper GI endoscopy in Port-Harcourt. This audit of our early experience is intended to provide data on the pattern of endoscopy findings which is needed to improve the quality of patient care. The study aims to report the pattern of presentation as well as the endoscopic and pathologic findings of symptomatic upper gastro-intestinal disease conditions.Method: All consecutive patients presenting to the endoscopy unit of a private hospital from February 2012to October 2018 were prospectively studied. The sociodemographics, indications, endoscopic findings and histopathologic report for biopsies were collated. Data was statistical analyzed using SPSS version20.Results: There were 44 OGDsin 87 patients performed during the study period. Twenty-one were males and 16 females. A male: female ratio of 1.8:1 and age range from 5-86years(mean 46.4±18.5 years).The major indications were dyspepsia 28(52.8%) and dysphagia 8(18%).Nonulcerative gastritis was the most common endoscopic finding seen in 16 (82%) cases and more than one pathologic condition was seen in 8(18%)cases.Conclusion: Peptic ulcer is not the most common cause of dyspepsia. Gastritis and multiple nonulcer pathologies in a patient are more common thus the need for thorough endoscopic investigation in symptomatic upper GI disease.Keywords: Upper gastro-intestinal tract, endoscopy, audi

Comparability, diagnostic validity and completeness of Nigerian cancer registries.

BACKGROUND: Like many countries in Africa, Nigeria is improving the quality and coverage of its cancer surveillance. This work is essential to address this growing category of chronic diseases, but is made difficult by economic, geographic and other challenges. PURPOSE: To evaluate the completeness, comparability and diagnostic validity of Nigeria's cancer registries. METHODS: Completeness was measured using children's age-specific incidence (ASI) and an established metric based on a modified Poisson distribution with regional comparisons. We used a registry questionnaire as well as percentages of death-certificate-only cases, morphologically verified cases, and case registration errors to examine comparability and diagnostic validity. RESULTS: Among the children's results, we found that over half of all cancers were non-Hodgkin lymphoma. There was also evidence of incompleteness. Considering the regional completeness comparisons, we found potential evidence of cancer-specific general incompleteness as well as what appears to be incompleteness due to inability to diagnose specific cancers. We found that registration was generally comparable, with some exceptions. Since autopsies are not common across Nigeria, coding for both them and death-certificate-only cases was also rare. With one exception, registries in our study had high rates of morphological verification of female breast, cervical and prostate cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Nigeria's registration procedures were generally comparable to each other and to international standards, and we found high rates of morphological verification, suggesting high diagnostic validity. There was, however, evidence of incompleteness

The role of hospital-based cancer registries in low and middle income countries-The Nigerian Case Study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cancer continues to rise all over the world and current projections show that there will be 1.27 million new cases and almost 1 million deaths by 2030. In view of the rising incidence of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, urgent steps are needed to guide appropriate policy, health sector investment and resource allocation. We posit that hospital based cancer registries (HBCR) are fundamental sources of information on the frequent cancer sites in limited resource regions where population level data is often unavailable. In regions where population based cancer registries are not in existence, HBCR are beneficial for policy and planning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen of twenty-one cancer registries in Nigeria met the definition of HBCR, and from these registries, we requested data on cancer cases recorded from January 2009 to December 2010. 16 of the 19 registries (84%) responded. Data on year hospital was established; year cancer registry was established, no. of pathologists and types of oncology services available in each tertiary health facility were shown. Analysis of relative frequency of cancers in each HBCR, the basis of diagnosis recorded in the HBCR and the total number of cases recorded by gender was carried out. RESULTS: The total number of cancers registered in these 11 hospital based cancer registries in 2009 and 2010 was 6484. The number of new cancer cases recorded annually in these hospital based cancer registries on average was 117 cases in males and I77 cases in females. Breast and cervical cancer were the most common cancers seen in women while prostate cancer was the commonest among men seen in these tertiary hospitals. CONCLUSION: Information provided by HBCR is beneficial and can be utilized for the improvement of cancer care delivery systems in low and middle income countries where there are no population based cancer registries