Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of General Medical Practitioners In Port Harcourt Towards The Prevention Of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV.

Background: Pregnant women living with HIV infection are at risk of transmitting HIV to their babies. Most of this transmission occurs during labour and delivery and during breast feeding. About 45% of all deliveries are conducted in private clinics. This study aims to access the knowledge, attitude and practice of general medical practitioner in Port Harcourt toward the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.Methods: A questionnaire survey was carried out on two hundred and twenty four private medical practitioners in Port Harcourt. Data  management was carried out using ® SPSS 15 for windows statistical software.Results: Only 50% of respondents had read the national guideline on PMTCT while 48.2% had three or more sources of information on PMTCT. Majority of the respondents (95.5%) identified prevention of HIV in the pediatric age group as the primary aim of PMTCT. Labour was identified by 80%of respondents as the time of transmission of MTCT of HIV while 48.2% preferred a specialist unit for HIV positive pregnant women. Forty two percent would screen pregnant women without consent. About half (46.6%) do not offer antenatal or delivery services to HIV positive women. Of the doctors that offer those services 58.7% could name 2 or more drugs to prevent MTCT of HIV during pregnancy. Of the respondents, 74% would offer HIV positive women elective caesarean section. Most of the respondents (89.3%) agreed that their knowledge, attitude and practice of PMTCT was deficient and 90.1% were willing to attend an update course.Conclusion: The Private General Practitioners were not well informed on practical aspects of prevention of MTCT of HIV/AIDS. They showed a discriminatory attitude towards HIV positive pregnant women.Key words: Private Practitioners, HIV, PMTCT

Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification (Fahr’s disease) in a 9-year-old Nigerian child

Fahr’s disease is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by deposition of calcium on the walls of blood vessels of the Basal ganglia and Dentate nuclei of the Cerebellum. Patient can present with diverse array of symptoms including but not limited to seizure, extrapyramidal symptoms and mental retardation. We report a case of a 9-year-old female child with history of recurrent seizure. Brain CT showed symmetrical calcification in the basal ganglia

Microbiological Effects of Gas Flaring on Agricultural Soil at Izombe Flow-station, Imo State, Nigeria

The microbiological effects of gas flaring on the agricultural soil from Izombe Flow-Station in Imo State were investigated. The physical and microbiological properties of the soil samples were analyzed. The microbiological analysis of the soil samples were conducted by serially diluting and then inoculating the soil samples on different growth media. Several microbiological and biochemical methods were applied in order to isolate and identify the microorganisms accustomed to the soil samples. An unpolluted soil sample from a farmland outside the Flow-Station served as control. The results showed that temperature increased with increase in distance towards the flare while moisture contents decreased as distance increased towards the flare, indicating that flaring exerts adverse ecological effects on the soil. The pH value at the flare site was acidic (4.0) compared with the near neutral obtained from the control (pH 6.8).  Results also showed a decrease in microbial load of the soil samples as distance approaches the Flow-Stack. The total bacterial counts were low (3.0 x 101 cfu/g) when compared with 2.9 x 105 cfu/g obtained from the control. The total coliform counts were also adversely affected by the flare. A value as low as 2.0 x 101 cfu/g was obtained 10m from the flare stack compared with 6.0 x 104 obtained from the control. The bacteria isolated from the soil samples were species of Staphylococcus spp, Bacillus spp, Escherichia coli, Pseudomona spps, Norcadia spp, Micrococcus spp, Enterobacter spp and Streptomyces spp while species of fungi identified were Aspergillus spp, Fusarium spp, Penicillium spp and Mucor spp. Acid deposition and intense heat from the flare likely have deleterious effects on the soil ecosystem and therefore should be discouraged. Keywords: Gas flaring, microbiological effects, physical properties, Microbial load, Flow-Station

Impact of a quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY glycoconjugate or a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine on meningococcal carriage: an observer-blind, phase 3 randomised clinical trial

Background: Meningococcal conjugate vaccines protect individuals directly, but also confer herd protection by interrupting carriage transmission. This Phase III observer-blind, randomised, controlled study evaluated the effects of meningococcal quadrivalent (ACWY) glycoconjugate (MenACWY-CRM) or serogroup B (4CMenB) vaccination on meningococcal carriage rates in young adults. Methods: University students (aged 18–24 years) from ten sites in England were randomised to receive two vaccinations one month apart: two doses of Japanese Encephalitis vaccine (controls), two doses of 4CMenB (4CMenB), or one dose of MenACWY-CRM then placebo (MenACWY-CRM). Meningococci were isolated from oropharyngeal swabs collected before vaccination and at five scheduled intervals over one year. Primary analysis was cross-sectional carriage one month after the vaccine course; secondary analyses included comparison of carriage at any time point after primary analysis until study termination. Findings: 2954 subjects were randomised (control, n=987; 4CMenB, n=988; MenACWY-CRM, n=979); approximately one-third of each group was positive for meningococcal carriage at study entry. By one month, there was no significant difference in carriage between controls and 4CMenB (Odds Ratios (OR) [95% CI]; 1·2 [0·8−1·7]) or MenACWY-CRM (OR [95% CI], 0·9 [0·6–1·3]) groups. From three months after dose two, 4CMenB vaccination resulted in significantly lower carriage of any meningococcal strain (calculated efficacy 18·2% [95% CI: 3·4–30·8]) and capsular groups BCWY (calculated efficacy 26·6% [95% CI: 10·5–39·9]) compared to control vaccination. Significantly lower carriage rates were also observed in the MenACWY-CRM group compared with controls: calculated efficacies 39·0% [95%CI: 17·3-55·0] and 36.2% [95%CI: 15·6-51·7] for serogroups Y and CWY, respectively. Interpretation: MenACWY-CRM and 4CMenB vaccines reduced meningococcal carriage rates over 12 months post-vaccination and, therefore, may affect transmission where widely implemented

Funding Source and Research Report Quality in Nutrition Practice-Related Research

BACKGROUND: The source of funding is one of many possible causes of bias in scientific research. One method of detecting potential for bias is to evaluate the quality of research reports. Research exploring the relationship between funding source and nutrition-related research report quality is limited and in other disciplines the findings are mixed. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether types of funding sources of nutrition research are associated with differences in research report quality. DESIGN: A retrospective study of research reporting quality, research design and funding source was conducted on 2539 peer reviewed research articles from the American Dietetic Association's Evidence Analysis Library® database. RESULTS: Quality rating frequency distributions indicate 43.3% of research reports were rated as positive, 50.1% neutral, and 6.6% as negative. Multinomial logistic regression results showed that while both funding source and type of research design are significant predictors of quality ratings (χ2 = 118.99, p≤0.001), the model's usefulness in predicting overall research report quality is little better than chance. Compared to research reports with government funding, those not acknowledging any funding sources, followed by studies with University/hospital funding were more likely to receive neutral vs positive quality ratings, OR = 1.85, P <0.001 and OR = 1.54, P<0.001, respectively and those that did not report funding were more likely to receive negative quality ratings (OR = 4.97, P<0.001). After controlling for research design, industry funded research reports were no more likely to receive a neutral or negative quality rating than those funded by government sources. CONCLUSION: Research report quality cannot be accurately predicted from the funding source after controlling for research design. Continued vigilance to evaluate the quality of all research regardless of the funding source and to further understand other factors that affect quality ratings are warranted

Examining the Link Between Religion and Corporate Governance: Insights From Nigeria

This article examines whether the degree of religiosity in an institutional environment can stimulate the emergence of a robust corporate governance system. This study utilizes the Nigerian business environment as its context and embraces a qualitative interpretivist research approach. This approach permitted the engagement of a qualitative content analysis (QCA) methodology to generate insights from interviewees. Findings from the study indicate that despite the high religiosity among Nigerians, religion has not stimulated the desired corporate governance system in Nigeria. The primary explanation for this outcome is the presence of rational ordering over religious preferences thus highlighting the fact that religion, as presently understood and practiced by stakeholders, is inconsistent with the principles underpinning good corporate governance

Group B Streptococcus vaccine development: present status and future considerations, with emphasis on perspectives for low and middle income countries.

Globally, group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains the leading cause of sepsis and meningitis in young infants, with its greatest burden in the first 90 days of life. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) for women at risk of transmitting GBS to their newborns has been effective in reducing, but not eliminating, the young infant GBS disease burden in many high income countries. However, identification of women at risk and administration of IAP is very difficult in many low and middle income country (LMIC) settings, and is not possible for home deliveries. Immunization of pregnant women with a GBS vaccine represents an alternate pathway to protecting newborns from GBS disease, through the transplacental antibody transfer to the fetus in utero. This approach to prevent GBS disease in young infants is currently under development, and is approaching late stage clinical evaluation. This manuscript includes a review of the natural history of the disease, global disease burden estimates, diagnosis and existing control options in different settings, the biological rationale for a vaccine including previous supportive studies, analysis of current candidates in development, possible correlates of protection and current status of immunogenicity assays. Future potential vaccine development pathways to licensure and use in LMICs, trial design and implementation options are discussed, with the objective to provide a basis for reflection, rather than recommendations

Effect of a quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY glycoconjugate or a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine on meningococcal carriage: an observer-blind, phase 3 randomised clinical trial

Background: Meningococcal conjugate vaccines protect individuals directly, but also confer herd protection by interrupting carriage transmission. This Phase III observer-blind, randomised, controlled study evaluated the effects of meningococcal quadrivalent (ACWY) glycoconjugate (MenACWY-CRM) or serogroup B (4CMenB) vaccination on meningococcal carriage rates in young adults.Methods: University students (aged 18–24 years) from ten sites in England were randomised to receive two vaccinations one month apart: two doses of Japanese Encephalitis vaccine (controls), two doses of 4CMenB (4CMenB), or one dose of MenACWY-CRM then placebo (MenACWY-CRM). Meningococci were isolated from oropharyngeal swabs collected before vaccination and at five scheduled intervals over one year. Primary analysis was cross-sectional carriage one month after the vaccine course; secondary analyses included comparison of carriage at any time point after primary analysis until study termination.Findings: 2954 subjects were randomised (control, n=987; 4CMenB, n=988; MenACWY-CRM, n=979); approximately one-third of each group was positive for meningococcal carriage at study entry. By one month, there was no significant difference in carriage between controls and 4CMenB (Odds Ratios (OR) [95% CI]; 1·2 [0·8−1·7]) or MenACWY-CRM (OR [95% CI], 0·9 [0·6–1·3]) groups. From three months after dose two, 4CMenB vaccination resulted in significantly lower carriage of any meningococcal strain (calculated efficacy 18·2% [95% CI: 3·4–30·8]) and capsular groups BCWY (calculated efficacy 26·6% [95% CI: 10·5–39·9]) compared to control vaccination. Significantly lower carriage rates were also observed in the MenACWY-CRM group compared with controls: calculated efficacies 39·0% [95%CI: 17·3-55·0] and 36.2% [95%CI: 15·6-51·7] for serogroups Y and CWY, respectively.Interpretation: MenACWY-CRM and 4CMenB vaccines reduced meningococcal carriage rates over 12 months post-vaccination and, therefore, may affect transmission where widely implemented

The effect of culture on Corporate Governance Practices in Nigeria

This study focuses on the effect of culture on the application of corporate governance practices in Nigeria. Corporate governance has been receiving serious attention in emerging markets over the past two decades. But relatively little attention has been given to the study on corporate governance in a country study. The current situations in Nigerian public and private sectors such as the corporate scandal resulting from Lever Brothers Nigeria plc, Siemens, Shell, Halliburton, and Cadbury Nigeria plc, have shown that the issue of fraud, corruption, and corporate scandals cannot be overlooked. Most top management, as this study argues, bring in beliefs acquired from their early childhood into their senior management roles and responsibilities. This study adopts a grounded theory and reports on the effect of culture on the implementation of corporate governance in Nigeria. Based on the interview with 32 staffs, this study identifies the effect of culture that shapes corporate governance and they include abuse of power by top management, weak legal framework, poor recruitment and ineffective control. Although having efficient corporate governance is worth pursuing, this depends on the power of top management, the strength of internal control procedures and the legal framework put in place by management