Outcomes and challenges in the management of gestational trophoblastic disease in a tertiary institution in Nigeria

Context: Gestational Trophoblastic Diseases are a spectrum of interrelated diseases disorders that arise from abnormal pregnancy and are characterized by excessive elevation of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophins. They include both benign and malignant forms; hydatidiform mole, Invasive mole, Placental Site Trophoblastic (PSTT) tumour and Choriocarcinoma.Objective: The objective of this study was to present the outcomes and challenges encountered in the management of GTDs in a tertiary centre in South-western part of Nigeria.Study Design, Setting and Subjects: This was a retrospective study of the cases of gestational trophoblastic disease managed at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching hospitals complex, Ile Ife between 2009 and 2013. Data were retrieved from the case records and telephone calls were put across the patients to enquire about the state of health of the patients. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20.Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures were the incidence of GTDs, outcomes and challenges encountered in the management of patients with gestational trophoblastic disease.Results: A total of 27 women were managed for GTDs; 22 had hydatidiform moles and 5 were managed for choriocarcinoma. The mean age of the patients was 31.9 years SD 6.94, mean parity 2 SD 1.53; mean duration of amenorrhoea was 15.7 weeks SD 4.92. The most common presenting symptom was vaginal bleeding in 81.5% of cases. Non-adherence to prescribed treatment was high as over half of the patients with molar pregnancy was lost to follow up after molar evacuation. Mortality was also high among patients with GTDs as 60% of the patients with choriocarcinoma died during treatment

EDXRF analysis of tantalite deposit of Mai-Kabanji, North-western Nigeria

The tantalite deposits of Mai-Kabanji area of Zamfara State Nigeria was studied for the elemental compositions by Energy dispersive x-ray fluoresce (EDXRF) spectrophotometry, physical properties and anionic composition by standard methods. The results indicated high concentrations of tantalum oxide, Ta 2 O 5 (31.990%±0.83) and other valuable oxides of niobium, Nb 2 O 5 (0.029%), titanium, TiO 2 (1.702%±0.42) and iron, Fe 2 O 3 (1.702%±0.30) were also high. Physical properties tested showed high resistance on ignition (LOI 3.00%) and low alkalinity (8.51), grey colour, specific gravity range (7.2 -8.0) and an average size of 0.12 mm. Sample was generally richer in tantalum oxide and other valuable mineral oxides of niobium, titanium, iron and manganese than other samples it was compared with, hence, it is economically valuable for exploration

Effect of operational parameters, characterization and antibacterial studies of green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Tithonia diversifolia

Background There is a growing interest in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extract because the technique is cost effective, eco-friendly and environmentally benign. This is phasing out the use of toxic and hazardous chemical earlier reported. Tithonia diversifolia is a wild sunflower that grows widely in the western part of Nigeria with a proven medicinal benefit. However, several studies carried out have left doubts on the basic operational parameters needed for the green synthesis of AgNPs. The objective of this work was to carry out green synthesis of AgNPs using T. diversifolia extract via an eco-friendly route through optimization of various operational parameters, characterization, and antimicrobial studies. Method Green synthesis of TD-AgNPs was done via bottom-up approach through wet chemistry technique using environmentally benign T. diversifolia plant extract as both reducing and stabilizing agent. Phytochemical Screening of the TD plant extract was carried out. Experimental optimization of various operational parameters—reaction time, concentration, volume ratio, and temperature was investigated. TD-AgNPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR Spectroscopy, SEM/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antimicrobial studies against multi drug resistant microorganisms (MDRM) were studied using the agar well diffusion method. Results This study reveals the importance of various operational parameters in the synthesis of TD-AgNPs. Excellent surface plasmon resonance peaks (SPR) were obtained at optimum experimental factors of 90 min reaction time under room temperature at 0.001M concentration with the volume ratio of 1:9 (TD extract:Ag ion solution). The synthesis was monitored using UV–Vis and maximum wavelength obtained at 430 nm was due to SPR. The morphology and elemental constituents obtained by TEM, SEM, and EDX results revealed a spherical shape of AgNPs with prominent peak of Ag at 3.0 kV in EDX spectrum. The crystallinity nature was confirmed by XRD studies. FTIR analysis proved presence of biomolecules functioning as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents. These biomolecules were confirmed to be flavonoid, triterpenes, and saponin from phytochemical screening. The antimicrobial studies of TD-AgNPs were tested against MDRM—Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enterica, and Bacillus subtilis. Discussion The variation of reaction time, temperature, concentration, and volume ratio played substantive and fundamental roles in the synthesis of TD-AgNPs. A good dispersion of small spherical size between 10 and 26 nm was confirmed by TEM and SEM. A dual action mechanism of anti-microbial effects was provided by TD-AgNPs which are bactericidal and membrane-disruption. Based on the antimicrobial activity, the synthesized TD-AgNPs could find good application in medicine, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and food science

Chemical treatment enhances skipping of a mutated exon in the dystrophin gene

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal muscle wasting disease caused by a loss of the dystrophin protein. Control of dystrophin mRNA splicing to convert severe DMD to a milder phenotype is attracting much attention. Here we report a dystrophinopathy patient who has a point mutation in exon 31 of the dystrophin gene. Although the mutation generates a stop codon, a small amount of internally deleted, but functional, dystrophin protein is produced in the patient cells. An analysis of the mRNA reveals that the mutation promotes exon skipping and restores the open reading frame of dystrophin. Presumably, the mutation disrupts an exonic splicing enhancer and creates an exonic splicing silencer. Therefore, we searched for small chemicals that enhance exon skipping, and found that TG003 promotes the skipping of exon 31 in the endogenous dystrophin gene in a dose-dependent manner and increases the production of the dystrophin protein in the patient's cells

Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis Surveillance in Nigeria From 2010 to 2016, Prior to and During the Phased Introduction of the 10-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Historically, Nigeria has experienced large bacterial meningitis outbreaks with high mortality in children. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus), and Haemophilus influenzae are major causes of this invasive disease. In collaboration with the World Health Organization, we conducted longitudinal surveillance in sentinel hospitals within Nigeria to establish the burden of pediatric bacterial meningitis (PBM). METHODS: From 2010 to 2016, cerebrospinal fluid was collected from children <5 years of age, admitted to 5 sentinel hospitals in 5 Nigerian states. Microbiological and latex agglutination techniques were performed to detect the presence of pneumococcus, meningococcus, and H. influenzae. Species-specific polymerase chain reaction and serotyping/grouping were conducted to determine specific causative agents of PBM. RESULTS: A total of 5134 children with suspected meningitis were enrolled at the participating hospitals; of these 153 (2.9%) were confirmed PBM cases. The mortality rate for those infected was 15.0% (23/153). The dominant pathogen was pneumococcus (46.4%: 71/153) followed by meningococcus (34.6%: 53/153) and H. influenzae (19.0%: 29/153). Nearly half the pneumococcal meningitis cases successfully serotyped (46.4%: 13/28) were caused by serotypes that are included in the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. The most prevalent meningococcal and H. influenzae strains were serogroup W and serotype b, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccine-type bacterial meningitis continues to be common among children <5 years in Nigeria. Challenges with vaccine introduction and coverage may explain some of these finding. Continued surveillance is needed to determine the distribution of serotypes/groups of meningeal pathogens across Nigeria and help inform and sustain vaccination policies in the country

EVALUATION OF EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE SCHEME ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN ONDO STATE

This study was carried out to see how well the objectives of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Scheme had been achieved in Ondo State. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 insured farmers from two local government areas and a well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the farmers. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The analysis shows that accessibility to credit was the only reason the farmers participated in the insurance scheme. However, the farmers affirmed that there was increase in investments which brought about increases in their output. Thus, their accessibility to farm credit could be said to be responsible for these increases. Hence, some of the objectives of the agricultural insurance scheme to increase agricultural production and accessibility to credit had been achieved

Quantitative Determination of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Onion Leaves

The concentration (mg/kg dry weight) of Cd, Cr and Pb were determined in onion leaves samples using the atomic absorption spectrometry. A total of 16 onion leaves each were collected from both the study and control sites for analysis. The heavy metals, Cd, Cr and Pb in onion leaves of study sites were found in the range of 0.667 – 0.933, 3.870 – 7.870 and 5.870 – 7.537mg/kg respectively, while the results of control sites showed values ranging from 0.583 – 0.700, 0.447 – 0.842 and 3.833 – 7.333mg/kg for Cd, Cr and Pb respectively. The trend of abundance of heavy metals in both sites followed the same sequence: Pb > Cr > Cd. The metals levels in both sites are higher than WHO/EU recommended limits with exception of Cd. The high levels of the metals suggest that effluent water irrigated fields could be indicative of bio-accumulation of the metal

Quantitative Determination of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Onion Leaves

ABSTRACT: The concentration (mg/kg dry weight) of Cd, Cr and Pb were determined in onion leaves samples using the atomic absorption spectrometry. A total of 16 onion leaves each were collected from both the study and control sites for analysis. The heavy metals, Cd, Cr and Pb in onion leaves of study sites were found in the range of 0.667 -0.933, 3.870 -7.870 and 5.870 -7.537mg/kg respectively, while the results of control sites showed values ranging from 0.583 -0.700, 0.447 -0.842 and 3.833 -7.333mg/kg for Cd, Cr and Pb respectively. The trend of abundance of heavy metals in both sites followed the same sequence: Pb &gt; Cr &gt; Cd. The metals levels in both sites are higher than WHO/EU recommended limits with exception of Cd. The high levels of the metals suggest that effluent water irrigated fields could be indicative of bio-accumulation of the metals in the leaves, consequently putting the consumers of this vegetable crop are at health risk

Sexuality, contraceptive choice and AIDS awareness among Nigerian undergraduates

A survey of 2388 Nigerian undergraduates revealed that 87% were sexually active and 66% had more than one sexual partner, while 17.5% have had clandestine abortions. All respondents were quite knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS but few sexually active ones took precautions to prevent HIV transmission. Majority (87.5%) were knowledgeable about contraception and approved of its use, but only 34.2% were current users of contraceptives. About 58% of these cited pharmacy shops as their source of contraceptives. The attitudes of the students were below expectation. Specially designated centres for the provision of appropriate contraceptive services to students by trained personnel are needed in the institutions in order to tackle their reproductive health problems. (Afr J Reprod Health 2002; 6[2]: 60-70