The preference of radiology as a postgraduate medical specialty among final year medical students of Usmanudanfodiyo University, Sokoto

Background: Recruitment into medical specialties outside the core clinical departments remains a stumbling block to advancing medical practice in Nigeria. We set out to determine the factors influencing choice of diagnostic radiology as a field of specialization by the final year medical students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University College of Health Sciences, Sokoto.Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study was done. All the 2015/2016 session final year medical students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University were administered a structured questionnaire by the authors. SPSS version 20.0 was used for the result analysis. Univariate and bivariate analyses were done where appropriate to describe variables.Results: A total of 62 out of 65 final year medical students responded. Fifty one (82.3%) had interest in specializing after school. However, only 4(6.5%) of the students had interest in radiology. Male sex was found to be a predictor for the choice of radiology.Conclusion: Career guidance/re-orientation and clarification of general misconception about radiology is necessary to avoid shortage of trained radiologists in the near future.Keywords: Career choice, Radiology, Medical student

The challenges of running magnetic resonance imaging services in the tertiary health centers of Nigeria

The field of diagnostic radiology has emerged and expanded to become an integral part of healthcare worldwide. Nigeria, as a country is keeping pace with the global trend. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now becoming standard clinical care in many tertiary health centers of Nigeria. The technique has great advantages and some setbacks in a country likeNigeria. Here, we review some of the challenges involved in the practice of MRI, including recommendations on the way forwardfor overall advancementof MRI services in the country.Method: Literature search were done using keywords described above on Medline, PubMed, HINARI and Advanced Google search. Relevant articles were pooled and information wasextracted and appropriately referenced. Books and Journal hardcopies were also obtained from the Library of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. These were referenced accordingly. Results: The introduction of MRI as a radiological modality in Nigeria revolutionized the field of medicine. MRI gives different, reliable, safer and superior information when compared with Xrays (radiography) and computed tomography (CT) scans especially as regards soft tissue differentiation. The foremost challenges of MRI in Nigeria are; high economic cost, poor power supply issues and technical maintenance. Conclusion: We recommend a multi stakeholder approach in areas of procurement, installation, training and maintenance of MRI machine. The national health insurance scheme and other hospital based welfare schemes should be expanded to significantly accommodate high cost investigations like the MRI

Effect of Guanidium Hydrochloride on the Stability of Horse Skeletal Muscle Myoglobin

The stability of the three dimensional structure of horse skeletal muscle myoglobin was investigated using visible spectroscopy. Guanidium hydrochloride (GuHCl) of concentrations 0.4 – 0.8M have no observable effect on the three dimensional structure as indicated by monitoring the absorbance at 420nm. However, higher concentrations (1.0-3.0M) resulted in unfolding of the protein as indicated by the dip in absorption from 0.535 to 0.350.The requirement for high denaturant concentration to perturb the structure of myoglobin indicates the high stability of the protein. We conclude that high concentrations of the denaturant GuHCl, disrupts the 3-dimensional structure of myoglobin causing its unfolding, in a two- state process, due to weak binding to the protein, which can be studied spectrophotometricall

CQD-Based Composites as Visible-Light Active Photocatalysts for Purification of Water

The unique physicochemical properties of carbon quantum dot-(CQD)-based photocatalysts, notably their exceptionally good light absorption in the UV and near-visible region, tunable photoluminescence, extraordinary upconversion photoluminescence, outstanding electron affinity, and photoinduced electron transfer, and electron mobility, have attracted considerable attention in different photocatalytic applications. In this review, we summarized the fundamental mechanism and thermodynamics of heterogeneous photocatalysis of aqueous pollutants and the fundamental multifaceted roles of CQDs in photoredox process. Furthermore, we discussed the recent developments in the use of CQD-based materials as visible-light active photocatalysts in water purification. Finally, the challenges and future direction of CQD-based materials as photocatalytic materials for environmental decontamination were highlighted

Biochemical and Haematological Indices of Weanly Albino Rats Fed Millet and Maize Based Complementary Weaning Food

Malnutrition is a public health problem in Nigeria accounting for more than 50% of all childhood death. The current work evaluated some nutritional, biochemical and haematological indices of weanly albino rats fed millet and maize based complimentary weaning foods for 3 weeks. Two diets, MLMX and MZMX were compared on one hand and on the other with millet alone (MLA). Maize alone (MZA) diets was used as negative control and Frisocream (PC) as positive control.. The mineral profiles of the two groups of rats were significantly (

Masjid as an Institution of Reforming Almajiri Education System: A Policy Option for State Governments in Northern Nigeria

One of the critical issues bedeviling the Muslim community in Northern Nigeria is the current trend of the Almajiri system of education where children at tender age are made to excruciatingly fend for themselves in the name of search of Islamic knowledge. This has become a source of concern as the children are not only deprived of their basic rights of healthy and decent living, but are also prone to many misdemeanors. Numerous governmental and (non-) faith-based organizations have been struggling to transform the system. This paper highlights the crucial role of Masaajid as a rallying point for Muslims; for prayers, study cycles, holding meetings, conflict resolution, contracting marriages, offering charity, provision of shelter to the destitute, among others. Hence, the paper brings into limelight ways in which Masaajid in Northern Nigeria can be used through zakah and waqf, contribution of philanthropists and other stakeholders in reforming the Almajri system of education through the use of masaajid as alternative school system thereby implementing better ways of eradicating the scourge. The paper concludes that masaajid provide veritable alternatives for result-oriented learning in serene and descent atmosphere devoid of inhumane treatment and in conformity with the pristine teachings of Islam

Synthesis and analysis of Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes of Schiff base derived from glycine and isatin

No Abstract

Assessing the Effectiveness of Adhoc-Network and Electronic Government in Abuja, Nigeria

E-Government is the use of information and communication Technologies (ICT) such as internet, smart phones,telecommunication, mobile company among others to interact between government and the citizens in running the affairs of the country such as decision making etc. The impact and potential of ICTs have not been fully exploited in the Nigerian context,leaving government in a weak position to formulate policy comprehensively and implement plans effectively. In addition to the implementation of e-government in some part of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria Abuja, but its effectiveness is not impressive. The citizens connection to the government is limited it can be improved more easily using electronic means of communication, A reduction in corruption cases as accountability and transparency can also be increased, Equal opportunity will be given to all to access information irrespective of the person’s physical location or disability and the elimination of the bureaucracy experienced in government offices. This research work is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of e-government in federal capital territory of Nigeria Abuja using Seoul Metropolitan Government as a yard stick for measuring the effectiveness.Questionnaire was used as a primary method of data collection, internet and library as secondary data. The data obtained from the questionnaire has been analyzed using frequency table and percentage. The findings of this work shows that 41.91% of the respondents agree e-government initiatives have decreased civil servants corruption in Abuja, 46.81% of the respondents agree that E-government services has increased citizens trust in Abuja, 58.11% of the respondents believe that E-government initiative have increased the accessibility to the government in Abuja however 37.11% agree that Lack of Information Technology (IT) infrastructure is the major problem affecting E-government in Abuja

Injection safety practices in a main referral hospital in northeastern Nigeria

Background: No adherence of safe injection policies remains a major challenge, and, worldwide, annually, it leads to 21 million new hepatitis B cases and 260,000 HIV infection cases. This descriptive observational survey was conducted to determine the level of adherence to universal precaution for safe injection practices in the hospital.Materials and Methods: The study units were selected using a simple random sampling of injection services provider/ phlebotomist in 27 units/wards of the hospital. The study instruments were observation checklist and interviewer administered questionnaires. EPI info (version 3.5.2) software was used for data entry and generation of descriptive statistics was done with units of analysis (units/wards) on injection safety practices of health workers, availability of logistics and supplies, and disposal methods.Results: Only 33.3% of the units (95% CI, 16‑54) had non‑sharps infectious healthcare waste of any type inside containers specific for non‑sharps infectious waste and 17 (77.3%) of the observed therapeutic  injections were prepared on a clean, dedicated table or tray, where contamination of the equipment with blood, body fluids, or dirty swabs was unlikely. Absence of recapping of needles was observed in 11 (50.0%) units giving therapeutic injections. Only 7.4% of units surveyed had separate waste containers for infectious non‑sharps.Conclusions: This study depicts poor knowledge and a practice of injection safety, inadequate injection safety supplies, and non‑compliance to injection safety policy and guidelines.Key words: Injection waste management, safe injections practices, tertiary health care facilit

Prevalence of HBsAg Among Prospective Blood Donors and Pregnant Women in Kebbi State, Nigeria

This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among prospective blood donors and pregnant women in Kebbi State, Nigeria. Three hundred and sixty one (361) apparently healthy prospective blood donors were recruited and screened for HBsAg using HBsAg rapid test kit. Those that tested positive for HBsAg (16.6%) were further assessed for liver function. The prevalence by gender was 23.4% and 13.1% for male and female subjects respectively. Prevalence by the three senatorial zones of the state is in the order Kebbi South (21.8%) > Kebbi North (15.1%) > Kebbi Central (13.6%). Subjects within the age group 26-30 years had the highest HBsAg prevalence of 20.9% compared to the other age groups. Single males have higher prevalence (26.1%) of HBV infection than their married counterparts (16.7%). Local government workers had highest prevalence (29.2%) followed by self-employed (27.6%) and then state government employees (14.3%). In females, occupational exposure (healthcare worker) and polygamy are risk factors with highest prevalence of 40.0% and 23.2% respectively. The levels of serum liver enzymes and bilirubin were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in HBsAg positive subjects compared to the HBsAg negative subjects. The reverse was, however, the case for albumin. Our result suggests that Kebbi State is one of the HBsAg hyper-endemic areas in Nigeria.Keywords: Hepatitis B, Prevalence, Liver function test, Kebbi State