Diagnostic evaluation of primary cervical adenopathies in a developing country

pectively. Hodgkin's lymphoma occurred most commonly in young male adults. Metastatic tumours constituted 80 (22.4%) cases and was the predominant cause of cervical lymphadenopathy above the age of 45 years. Non specific reactive lymphadenitis constituted 56 (15.7%) cases. CONCLUSION: Chronic lymphadenopathy in our environment has a high incidence of tuberculosis. We recommend urgent lymph node biopsy in significantly enlarged nodes not responding to treatment

Trends in the Pattern of Leukaemia Incidence in a Tertiary Health Center in Nigeria: 1990-2004

Leukaemia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and trend in the pattern of adult leukaemia over a period of 15 years in Benin City, Nigeria. The case records of 253 cases that attended the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria from 1990-2004 with a diagnosis of leukaemia were analyzed. Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) was the more frequent variety (27.7%), followed by chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and prolymphocytic leukaemia (PLL) with equal proportions of 21.3% each. Time trend analysis by 5-year calendar periods revealed an increasing number and incidence of patients with leukaemia. There was also an increased incidence of leukaemia among the youths (21-40years) whereas that of the older patients (61-70years) has decreased. There was a statistically significant association between age and number of leukaemia cases at presentation for the various years (P = 0.023). A positive correlation with a significant linear trend was also obtained (r = 0.3507; P = 0.0048) such that there was a predominance of young patients (21-40 years) in latter years (2000-2004) compared to a decline in the older patients (> 60 years) for the period studied. There was increased incidence of leukaemia especially among the younger age groups

Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) in Patients with Haematological Malignancies in Niger Delta-region of Nigeria

Introduction: Haematological malignancies (HM) are malignant disorders involving the haemopoietic system. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the development and evolution of these disorders. To measure total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in patients with HM and to determine if any, the relationship between TAC and total lipid in these patients.Presentation of the case: This is a multicentre cross sectional study. Patients were sampled with self administered questionnaire that documented their biodata and the various types of haematological malignancies they had.  Blood samples from 31 patients with HM and 11 controls were assessed for TAC and total lipids using RelAssay and TECO diagnostic kits respectively. Difference between means was compared using student T-test. The relationship between TAC and TL was measured using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.Total antioxidant capacity was significantly lower in patients with HM. The mean total lipid concentrations of the cancer patients were higher than in the controls but this was not statistically significant (p0.05). A negative correlation was found between TAC and total lipids in patients with HM.Conclusion: This study has further affirmed that patients with HM have a significantly lower antioxidant activity. However, further investigations are required to fully elucidate the mechanism and clinical implications of reduced TAC in these patients

Pharmacological strategies for the management of cancer pain in developing countries

Pain associated with cancer is often under treated especially in the developing countries where there are problems of poor economy, poor purchasing power of the citizens, absence of effective national health insurance schemes, poor manpower, fake adulterated and expired drugs, poor drug storage conditions; adverse temperature conditions combined with poor power supply which may affect drug efficacy. There is also poor understanding of the physiopharmacology of cancer pain management by health care providers. Assessment of the severity of the pain by location, oncological type, as well as psychosocial, emotional and environmental factors are necessary. The pain often occurs from malignancy, from procedures done to diagnose, stage and treat the malignancy, and from the toxicities of therapy used in treating the cancer. The first priority of treatment is to control pain rapidly and completely, as judged by the patient. The second priority is to prevent recurrence of pain. Analgesic drugs are given ¿by the ladder,¿ ¿by the clock¿ and ¿by the appropriate route¿ using the analgesic ladder guideline proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The pharmacological aspects of various drugs used in the management of cancer pain are discussed

Pharmacological strategies for the management of cancer pain in developing countries

Pain associated with cancer is often under treated especially in the developing countries where there are problems of poor economy, poor purchasing power of the citizens, absence of effective national health insurance schemes, poor manpower, fake adulterated and expired drugs, poor drug storage conditions; adverse temperature conditions combined with poor power supply which may affect drug efficacy. There is also poor understanding of the physiopharmacology of cancer pain management by health care providers. Assessment of the severity of the pain by location, oncological type, as well as psychosocial, emotional and environmental factors are necessary. The pain often occurs from malignancy, from procedures done to diagnose, stage and treat the malignancy, and from the toxicities of therapy used in treating the cancer. The first priority of treatment is to control pain rapidly and completely, as judged by the patient. The second priority is to prevent recurrence of pain. Analgesic drugs are given ¿by the ladder,¿ ¿by the clock¿ and ¿by the appropriate route¿ using the analgesic ladder guideline proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The pharmacological aspects of various drugs used in the management of cancer pain are discussed

Trends in the Pattern of Leukaemia Incidence in a Tertiary Health Center in Nigeria: 1990-2004

Leukaemia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and trend in the pattern of adult leukaemia over a period of 15 years in Benin City, Nigeria. The case records of 253 cases that attended the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria from 1990-2004 with a diagnosis of leukaemia were analyzed. Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) was the more frequent variety (27.7%), followed by chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and prolymphocytic leukaemia (PLL) with equal proportions of 21.3% each. Time trend analysis by 5-year calendar periods revealed an increasing number and incidence of patients with leukaemia. There was also an increased incidence of leukaemia among the youths (21-40years) whereas that of the older patients (61-70years) has decreased. There was a statistically significant association between age and number of leukaemia cases at presentation for the various years (P = 0.023). A positive correlation with a significant linear trend was also obtained (r = 0.3507; P = 0.0048) such that there was a predominance of young patients (21-40 years) in latter years (2000-2004) compared to a decline in the older patients (> 60 years) for the period studied. There was increased incidence of leukaemia especially among the younger age groups

Medicamentos y tentativas de suicidio en Benin city (Nigeria) de 1991 a 2000.

Objetivo: Determinar la incidencia de los intentos de suicidio en Benin city e identificar los agentes (especialmente los medicamentos) comúnmente utilizados y los factores de riesgo de estos intentos. Métodos: Se revisaron las fichas de los casos de intentos de suicidio vistos en la Clínica de Especialidades del Hospital Universitario de Benin entre 1991 y 2000. Se recogieron los siguientes datos: genero, edad, ocupación, estado civil, agente utilizado, método usado, motivo, tratamiento y resultado del tratamiento. Resultados: De los 198.587 pacientes admitidos en el hospital, había 111 casos de intento de suicidio. La tasa bruta de intentos de suicidio por 100.000 habitantes fue de 2,5. La relación mujer:hombre fue de 1:1,09. El agente más frecuentemente utilizado fueron los medicamentos (64%), especialmente el diazepam (45%). El grupo de edad mas afectado fue de 20 a 24 años (37,84%). Los estudiantes fueron los primeros (36,1%). Los factores predisponentes al suicidio más importantes fueron el conflicto ton los padres (30,6%) y el fracaso (11,7%). Conclusión: Estos hallazgos claman por medidas restrictivas en la distribución, venta y uso de medicamentos, frecuentemente utilizados en tentativas de suicidio. El farmacéutico, especialmente, y otros profesionales de la salud juegan un papel clave para prevenir los intentos de suicidio