Retroperitoneal and Genital Lymphangioma Therapeutic Challenges in a Developing Country

Background: Lymphangiomas occur most commonly in the head and neck region, while other sites are rarely affected. A combination of retroperitoneal and genital lymphangioma is very rare indeed. Though congenital, it may persist into adulthood due to missed diagnosis and inadequate or total lack of treatment. Materials and methods: A report of a 22-year-old male student who presented with recurrent multiloculated genital, thigh, groin and retroperitneal lymphangioma. He underwent surgical excision and adjuvant sclerotherapy using ethylene-diamine tetra acetic acid. Results and Conclusions: There was an initial recurrence after surgery which responded satisfactorily to sclerotherapy. Complete surgical excision of lymphangioma may be precluded by vital structures but sclerotherapy produces satisfactory resolution. The difficulties in management with limited facilities for diagnosis and treatment are highlighted

Serum zinc levels as a predictor of clinical features and outcome of paediatric acute lower respiratory infections in Nigeria

Background: Malnutrition, especially macronutrient deficiency, has been shown to be interrelated with ALRI-related morbidity and mortality. However the import of zinc deficiency has only recently become the focus of research attention.Objective: The current study was carried out in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria to determine the relationship between serum zinc levels, clinical features and outcome in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory infections(ALRI).Method: A descriptive crosssectional hospital-based study involving 120 children aged two months to five years with ALRI. Socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data were obtained. The serum zinc was analyzed with a Jenway™ spectrophotometer after initial preparation with theQuantiChrom™ zinc assay kit.Results: Children with tachypnoea and crepitations had significantly lower mean serum zinc levels compared to the corresponding values in those without these features (each p<0.05). Significantly higher mean serum zinc level was recorded in children with grunting respiration compared with thosewithout grunting (p=0.028). Agerelated tachypnoea, grunting, and crepitations remained significant (each p<0.05) following a linear  regression analysis. The mean serum zinc level in children with multiple complications was significantly lower than the corresponding level recorded in children who had one complication, p=0.020. No significant differencewas found between the mean serum zinc level of the children who were discharged compared with the corresponding level recorded in those that died, p=0.589.Conclusion: The presence of crepitations had the strongest clinical association with a low serum zinc level. Children managed for ALRI would benefit from post-treatment zinc supplements and appropriate zinc-rich sources of food at discharge.Keywords: Children zinc respiratory infection

Surveillance for Avian Influenza H 5 Antibodies and Viruses in Commercial Chicken Farms in Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract: Outbreaks of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza occurred previously for 3 consecutive years, 2006, 2007 and 2008, in Kano State, Nigeria, causing heavy economic losses to farmers and the government. It was against this background that Avian Influenza (AI) surveillance study in commercial poultry farms in the State was conducted. Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) test was conducted to determine the presence of AI H 5 antibodies in 1,160 sera obtained from flocks in 33 Avian influenza affected (AF) and 25 Non Avian influenza-affected (NAF) farms. To complement the study, 320 cloacal swabs obtained from flocks in farms that were serologically positive for AI H 5 antibodies, were further subjected to Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), to determine if the chickens were shedding AI viruses. Of the 1,160 sera tested, 150 (12.9%) were positive for AI H 5 antibodies, with flocks in 16 (27.6%) of the farms being positive. Prevalence rates of 14.1 and 11.4% and mean antibody titres of 5.4±0.2 and 4.6±0.1 log 2 for AI H 5 antibodies were obtained for AF and NAF farms, respectively. The RT-PCR results showed that all the 320 cloacal swabs tested were negative for AI H 5 viruses. The antibodies detected between flocks in the AF and NAF farms might be attributed to vaccination and the titres determined were above the minimum protection level recommended by the OIE. It was recommended that vaccination of chickens against AI should be discouraged because it may interfere with the stamping out policy adopted by Nigeria in the control and eradication of the disease

Computational Biology and Bioinformatics in Nigeria

Over the past few decades, major advances in the field of molecular biology, coupled with advances in genomic technologies, have led to an explosive growth in the biological data generated by the scientific community. The critical need to process and analyze such a deluge of data and turn it into useful knowledge has caused bioinformatics to gain prominence and importance. Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary research area that applies techniques, methodologies, and tools in computer and information science to solve biological problems. In Nigeria, bioinformatics has recently played a vital role in the advancement of biological sciences. As a developing country, the importance of bioinformatics is rapidly gaining acceptance, and bioinformatics groups comprised of biologists, computer scientists, and computer engineers are being constituted at Nigerian universities and research institutes. In this article, we present an overview of bioinformatics education and research in Nigeria. We also discuss professional societies and academic and research institutions that play central roles in advancing the discipline in Nigeria. Finally, we propose strategies that can bolster bioinformatics education and support from policy makers in Nigeria, with potential positive implications for other developing countries. © 2014 Fatumo et al.SAF was supported by H3ABioNet NABDA Node, Abuja, Nigeria with NIH Common Fund Award/NHGRI Grant Number U41HG006941 and Genetic Epidemiology Group at Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.Published versio

Community-based infant hearing screening in a developing country: parental uptake of follow-up services

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Universal newborn hearing screening is now considered an essential public health care for the early detection of disabling life-long childhood hearing impairment globally. However, like any health interventions in early childhood, parental support and participation is essential for achieving satisfactory uptake of services. This study set out to determine maternal/infant socio-demographic factors associated with follow-up compliance in community-based infant hearing screening programmes in a developing country.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>After health educational/counselling sessions, infants attending routine childhood immunisation clinics at four primary care centres were enrolled into a two-stage infant hearing screening programme consisting of a first-stage screening with transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions and second-stage screening with automated auditory brainstem response. Infants referred after the second-stage screening were scheduled for diagnostic evaluation within three months. Maternal and infant factors associated with completion of the hearing screening protocol were determined with multivariable logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No mother declined participation during the study period. A total of 285 out of 2,003 eligible infants were referred after the first-stage screening out of which 148 (51.9%) did not return for the second-stage, while 32 (39.0%) of the 82 infants scheduled for diagnostic evaluation defaulted. Mothers who delivered outside hospitals were significantly more likely to return for follow-up screening than those who delivered in hospitals (Odds ratio: 1.62; 95% confidence intervals: 0.98 – 2.70; p = 0.062). No other factors correlated with follow-up compliance for screening and diagnostic services.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Place of delivery was the only factor that correlated albeit marginally with infant hearing screening compliance in this population. The likely influence of issues such as the number of return visits for follow-up services, ineffective tracking system and the prevailing unfavourable cultural perception towards childhood deafness on non-compliance independently or through these factors warrant further investigation.</p

Herpes Zoster in a 5-month-old healthy looking infant

Herpes zoster occurs due to reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus and is usually a disease of the elderly. Childhood herpes zoster is believed to be rare, though recent studies suggest increasing incidence in children. We report a case of herpes zoster, occurring in a 5 month old otherwise healthy female infant seen at a tertiary health facility in Bida, Niger state, Nigeria. Keywords: herpes zoster, child, health

Effects of two in-organic fertilizers on volatile oil and biomass yields of Cymbopogon citratus (dc) stapf., in ile-ife, Nigeria

Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf (Poaceae) was cultivated in a randomized completely block design experiment, (RCBD) in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Effects of twoinorganic fertilizers on the oil yield and biomass production were evaluated. NPK (4.63ml/kg and 3.91ml/kg at 12 and 24 weeks respectively) applicationleads to higher oil yield than Urea (4.40ml/kg and 4.09ml/kg at 12 and 24 weeks respectively, while. NPK (2.49kg/6.48m2, 8.36kg/6.48m2 at 12 and 24weeks respectively) application gave a higher biomass than Urea (1.91kg/6.48m2, 5.68kg/6.48m2 at 12 and 24 weeks respectively)

Comparative disease resistance to Newcastle disease in Nigerian local ecotype chickens: Probable genetic influence

A study was conducted to determine the genetic resistance of two Nigerian ecotypes chicken and exotic breed cockerel (black Nera) to Newcastle disease by evaluating their clinical, haematological and humoralresponses to experimental Newcastle disease virus infection.. The chicks from the three genotypes were infected with 1ml of 105 ELD50 of Hertz 33 Newcastle disease virus inoculums orally. Their responses to infection weremonitored through clinical signs and mortality, haematological parameters and antibody titres values on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 post infection. There was no adverse clinical manifestation and mortality in all the chicks throughout the experimental period. There was also no significant difference (p&gt;0.05) between the mean packed cell volume of all the three genotypes from day 0 up to day 21 post infection though Fulani ecotypes had the highest value at day 21. Lymphocyte counts did not show any significant difference (p&gt;0.05) on day 0 and 3 but there was significant difference (p&lt;0.05) in the count from day 7 to 21 with Yoruba ecotypes having the highest count. The antibody titres of exotic breed was significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) than that of the local ecotypes on day 0)but on day 3, 7, 14 and 21 Yoruba ecotype antibody titres was significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) than the other two genotypes. Decrease was observed in the antibody titres level of all the genotypes on day 21 with exotic breedhaving the least value. From this study, it was shown that Yoruba ecotype chicken had higher immune response to Newcastle disease virus than Fulani ecotype and exotic breed and that the mean antibody titre of log21.5 and log22 provided protection to the chicks against Newcastle disease as none of the infected chicks show clinical signs and died. Furthermore, it was safely assumed based on the results that Yoruba ecotype chickens are early responder to Newcastle disease and hence are more resistant to Newcastle disease than the other two genotypes