Social Media Use And Real-life Social Relationships: (A Study of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Undergraduates)

This qualitative survey was conducted to ascertain whether social media use by undergraduate students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigerian have in anyway influenced their real-life social relationships and interaction, as well as identify the social and psychological consequences of social media use on social interaction of these young students. Merton's Functionalist theory and Symbolic Interactionism theory underpinned this study. The two basic questions asked in this study were;1 Whether social media use has influenced real-life social relationships of these undergraduate students?2 What are the social and psychological consequences of social media use on the social interaction of these youths?Questionnaire schedule, FGDs and interviews were used to generate data which were qualitatively analyzed. Study result shows that there are more negative influences associated with social media use as a means of social interaction and relationships than with real-life social interaction and relationships. The study recommends that government and policy makers should set up machinery that will encourage and supervise social media network service providers to monitor the adequacy of content generated and shared on their social media networking sites.Key Words: Social Media, Real-Life Social Relationships, Social Interaction, Relationships and Influence

The Pattern and Obstetric Outcome of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Nnewi, Nigeria

BACKGROUND:Hypertension is a common medical complication of pregnancy. It is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Early detection, close surveillance and timely delivery are necessary to reduce complications associated with the condition.OBJECTIVES: To determine the pattern, risk factors, maternal and fetal outcomes in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.METHODOLOGY:This was a descriptive retrospective study of the pattern and obstetrics outcome of hypertensive disorders in Nnewi.. The Obstetric variables from 148 women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, from the 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2008 were analyzed. Stastical analysis was done using Epi Info version 3.3.2. The level of statistical significance was set at P<0.05.RESULTS: of the 4021 deliveries in the hospital during the period under review, 148(3.7%) were managed for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Only 138 folders were used for analysis. The mean age of the women was 31.3±5.7years. Majority of the women were unbooked (57.2%). Pre-eclampsia was the commonest type of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (46.4%) with the majority presenting with severe disease. The level of proteinuria was significant in 74.6% of cases of preeclampsia. The mean gestational age at delivery was 35.3±1.5weeks. The mean birth weight was 1.6±0.3kg. Twenty-four intra uterine deaths were recorded giving a stillbirth rate of 17.4%. The perinatal mortality rate was 20.9%.  Diagnosis was made in the ante-partum period in 92.0% of the cases while 55.2% of the women delivered through Caesarean section. Eight maternal deaths were recorded, giving a case fatality rate of 5.8%. CONCLUSION: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are associated with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in Nnewi, Nigeria. Antenatal care will help in early diagnosis and timely intervention of the cases. There is need for strengthening of communication and referral systems in the healthcare.KEY WORDS: Hypertensive disorders, pattern, obstetrics outcome.Erratum Note: Mbachu 1, Udigwe GO, Okafor CI, Umeonunihu OS, Ezeama C, Eleje GU on the article “The Pattern and Obstetric Outcome of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Nnewi, Nigeria” on Page Nig. J. Med 2013. 117-122. Should read: Mbachu II, Udigwe GO, Okafor CI, Umeonunihu OS, Ezeama C, Eleje GU

Characterization of Genome-Wide Association-Identified Variants for Atrial Fibrillation in African Americans

Despite a greater burden of risk factors, atrial fibrillation (AF) is less common among African Americans than European-descent populations. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for AF in European-descent populations have identified three predominant genomic regions associated with increased risk (1q21, 4q25, and 16q22). The contribution of these loci to AF risk in African American is unknown.We studied 73 African Americans with AF from the Vanderbilt-Meharry AF registry and 71 African American controls, with no history of AF including after cardiac surgery. Tests of association were performed for 148 SNPs across the three regions associated with AF, and 22 SNPs were significantly associated with AF (P<0.05). The SNPs with the strongest associations in African Americans were both different from the index SNPs identified in European-descent populations and independent from the index European-descent population SNPs (r(2)<0.40 in HapMap CEU): 1q21 rs4845396 (odds ratio [OR] 0.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.13-0.67, P = 0.003), 4q25 rs4631108 (OR 3.43, 95% CI 1.59-7.42, P = 0.002), and 16q22 rs16971547 (OR 8.1, 95% CI 1.46-45.4, P = 0.016). Estimates of European ancestry were similar among cases (23.6%) and controls (23.8%). Accordingly, the probability of having two copies of the European derived chromosomes at each region did not differ between cases and controls.Variable European admixture at known AF loci does not explain decreased AF susceptibility in African Americans. These data support the role of 1q21, 4q25, and 16q22 variants in AF risk for African Americans, although the index SNPs differ from those identified in European-descent populations

Awareness of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection among antenatal clients in Nnewi Nigeria

Objective: To determine the level of awareness of Human  Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection among antenatal clients in Nnewi Nigeria.Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study of six hundred consecutive antenatal clients attending the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital and five private specialist hospitals (run by Consultant Obstetricians) in Nnewi was conducted over a six-month period (1st September 2008 -28th February 2009). Anonymous, structured, pretested questionnaire designed to assess the awareness of HIV infection was used.Results: The mean age of all the 600 clients was 31.4 (SD 2.8) years, majority were married (94%) and in the third trimester of pregnancy (69%). Most (58%) attended secondary school while 0.83% had no formal education. Only 2% had complete knowledge of the modes of HIV  transmission while majority (96.5%) had partial knowledge. There was a statistically significant relationship between level of education and  knowledge of HIV (p&lt;0.00001). HIV test was done on 419(69.84%); 37 tested positive giving a seroprevalence rate of 8.83%. Among those tested, only 51.55% had counseling before testing.Conclusion: This study showed that the knowledge of HIV among women of child bearing age and the practice of voluntary counseling and testing are still poor in our environment. Improved public enlightenment and training of health workers are urgently needed.Key words: Antenatal, HIV, awareness, Counseling and Testing

Physical and functional properties of breakfast cereals from maize, African yam bean and coconut cake

The physical and functional attributes of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals produced from blends of maize (Zea mays), African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) (AYB), defatted coconut (Cocos nucifera) cake and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) malt extract, were evaluated, to generate essential data on the products. Six samples were formulated by mixing the AYB and maize composite flour with graded levels of defatted coconut (100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50), sugar, salt and water. The samples were mixed and toasted at 280°C for 5mins each in a non-stick metallic pan, cooled and packaged. The results revealed the following ranges of physical and functional properties; pH (4.70- 6.56), bulk density (0.29 - 0.71g/ml), water absorption capacity (68.31- 76.39%), oil absorption capacity (0.87- 1.32%), foam capacity (2.48- 3.49%), viscosity (19.73-31.08%), gelation temperature (121-157°C), emulsification capacity (5.79-9.86 g/100g), wettability (15.67-23.22 sec.) and invitro-protein digestibility (66.30- 82.2%). It is evident that there are significant variations of physical and functional attributes with addition of defatted coconut fibre in the formulations.Key words: Bulk density, water absorption capacity, foam capacity, viscosity, gelation capacit

Anasarca in a 35 year old man- A diagnostic dilemma

Anasarca is generalized swelling of the body following accumulation of fluid in the extracellular compartments. It may result from multiple aetiology mainly of renal, hepatic or cardiovascular origin. The aim of this case report is to highlight the challenges encountered in making diagnosis in a patient with anarsaca. We report a case of a 34 year old transporter who presented with anasarca. He had clinical features and risk factors suggestive of renal, hepatic and cardiovascular disease. However investigations ruled out renal, hepatic or cardiovascular diseases as the aetiology of the anarsaca. The anarsarca was also noted to be unresponsive to diuretics. The diagnosis of the disease causing the anarsaca was therefore a dilemma

Preliminary Evaluation of Nursery and Early Field Propagation Practices for Jatropha curcas L. at Owerri, Nigeria.

Jatropha curcas dubbed ‘the best source of biofuel production among the various plant - based fuel resources the world over’ is reputed to yield substantial quantity of seed oil which can be converted to biodiesel without refining. Though the Jatropha plant is found growing in semi arid, arid and tropical environments, around farms and compounds and often used as fence especially in Northern Nigeria, not much has been done to enhance its large scale production to ensure sustained availability. The Federal University of Technology, Owerri has keyed into the Jatropha initiative through its Centre for Agricultural Research. About 2 hectares of this plant have been successfully established in the University farm sourced from different locations (Ilorin, and Lafiagi in Kwara State and Mokwa in Niger State), all in Nigeria. So far, some nursery practices have been developed for this crop including the avoidance of heavy shades and seed dressing with Apron Star 42 WS® (20% Thiamethoxam + 20% Metalaxyl-M + 2% Difenoconazol). Field trials are currently going on to monitor the performance of the seedlings in the field.Key words: Jatropha, Nursery, Field Establishment, CAR, FU