Behavioral problems of siblings of epileptic children in Enugu

Background and Objective: The existence of a psychosocial dysfunction in the siblings of children with chronic illness has been documented. There are very few reports on siblings of children with epilepsy. The aim of this study is to investigate to what extent the children’s epilepsy has affected their healthy siblings in our own center.Materials and Methods: Epileptic patients who consecutively referred to the Pediatric Neurology Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, from October 1999 to September 2000 were recruited. Demographic data were obtained, with a questionnaire administered to the parents. Information on the behavior of the school-age siblings and control was obtained by the class teachers using Rutter’s behavior scale (B2) for children (Teacher’s Scale).Results: One hundred and fifty-six children with epilepsy, of age four to fifteen years, 124 males and 32 females, with a Male: Female ratio of 4: 1, were recruited; and 156 school-age siblings of the epileptic children (index children) and 156 controls were studied. Prevalence of behavioral problems was 38.5 and 15.4%, respectively, among the index and control children (P < 0.001). There was no significant sex difference in the two groups. There was a significant difference in the distribution of the types of behavior problems between the index and controls (P < 0.05). The duration of epilepsy did not affect the prevalence of behavior problems (P < 0.05), but seizure control had a significant effect on the prevalence of behavior problems (P < 0.001).Conclusions: Siblings of children with epilepsy have more behavioral disturbances than controls. A strong association was found between poor seizure control and the prevalence of behavioral problems

Health Problems of the Under-Five Children in an Urban Slum in Enugu

Objective: To determine the health problems common among under-five children in a typical urban slum in Nigeria and assess the treatment patterns commonly offered to these children.Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in May-July 2010. A cluster sampling technique was used to select 245 children from 140 households and an interviewer-administered questionnaire were used on mothers of these children.Result: Majority of the mothers (89.2%) had primary/secondary education and 69.4% were traders. Most commonly reported symptoms among the children were fever, diarrhoe, cough and fast breathing (acute respiratory symptoms). Diarrhoeal (40%) and acute respiratory symptoms ( 37.6%) occuring singly or as a comorbidity were the most common illnesses while fever without any other appreciable symptoms was documented in 25.4% of the children. While 50.4% of the households visited only orthodox health facilities for treatment, 14.6% and 6.9% use only self-medication and traditional health practitioners respectively. As regards immunization, 22.7% of the children were not fully immunized. A total of 69 deaths mostly from febrile illness were reported from 58 households. There was a strong association between morbidity and some socio-demographic factors such as accommodation pattern and toilet facility. Childhood morbidity and mortality remains high in the slum in our environment.Keywords: Under-five morbidity, childhood mortality, diarrhoea, Slu

Currency Exchange Forecasting Using Sample Mean Estimator and Multiple Linear Regression Machine Learning Models

In recent time, there is an increasing growth in the amount of trading taking place in the currency exchange market. However, effective analysis and simulation tools for performing accurate prediction of these exchange rates are lacking. To alleviate this challenge, this work presents a hybrid machine learning and prediction model by suitably combining the Sample Mean Estimator (SME) simulation architecture with the multiple linear regression technique-based training of feed-forward parameters. The developed model has the capability to overcome prediction inaccuracy, inconsistent forecasting, slow response due to computational complexity and scalability problems. The SME method is used to overcome the problems of uncertainty and non-linearity nature of the predictive variable as it’s always affected by economic and political factors. The implementation of the proposed currency exchange rate forecasting system is achieved through the use of a developed in-house Java program with Net Beans as the editor and compiler. Performance comparison between the present system and two baseline methods which are the Autoregressive Moving Average and the Deep Belief network techniques demonstrates that the present forecasting model out-performed the baseline methods studied. The experimental result shows that the precision rate of the present system is equal to or greater than 70%. Therefore, the present foreign exchange predictive system is capable of providing usable, consistent, efficient, faster and accurate prediction to the users consistently at any-time

The frequency of various indications for plain chest radiography in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi (Nauth)

Background: With soaring advances in the field of medicine, the place of older radiologic imaging modalities is being reduced to basic screening tools. Yet the modern imaging modalities like computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and nuclear medicine are hardly available.Study Objectives: To study the frequency of various indications of plain chest radiography, remind us of its uses and to enhance the preparedness of the department to maximally accomplish the ideals of this investigation.Methodology: A total of 1476 consecutive patients for chest radiography in the department of radiology, NAUTH, Nnewi from the period of February 2009 and whose request form contain adequate data were recruited for this study. These data were analyzed using SSPS.Results: A total of 1476 patient were included in this study. There was female preponderance with male to female ratio of 1.3:1. Mean Age of the patients is 39.32 years (std19.56). The most frequent indication for chest radiography is certain infections and parasitic diseases (40.9% and the greatest source of referral for this study is General outpatient (GOPD)/family medicine department.Conclusion: The most frequent indications for chest radiography in the study are certain infection and parasitic diseases. Chest Radiography is the most frequent plain radiography study in our environment where infectious diseases are still very rampant. This makes chest radiography an important study for screening patient for possible diagnosis and classifying the need for further radiographic investigation of our patients.Keywords: Frequency, indications, infections, plain chest radiograph, screeningNigerian Journal of Clinical Practice • Oct-Dec 2013 • Vol 16 • Issue

Correlation of ultrasound measured testicular volume with waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio and conicity index in Nigerian adults

Background: Accurate testicular volume measurement is one way to assess testicular function. Some obese males exhibit altered levels of circulating sex steroids; decreased levels of total testosterone (T) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and increased estrogens levels. Some anthropometric measurements are markers for obesity.Objective: This study aims to evaluate the correlation of testicular volume measured by ultrasound with some anthropometric measurements: Waist circumference, Hip circumference, Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), and Conicity Index in adult males.Methodology: One hundred and twenty-five adult male subjects comprising staff and students of a University Teaching Hospital, were recruited. The subjects' height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference were measured and used to calculate the WHR and Conicity Index. Ultrasound measurement of the length, width and height of both testes were done and used to calculate the volumes.Results: The age of the subjects ranged from 19 to 29 years with a mean of 23.48±2.26. The mean ultrasound testicular volumes for the right and left testes were: 15.38±3.29ml and 15.29±3.89ml using the first formula; 22.86±5.43ml and 23.54±6.88ml for second formula; 21.20±5.28ml and 20.87±5.35ml for the third formula respectively. The calculated mean for height, weight, Waist circumference, Hip circumference, WHR and Conicity Index were: 174.64±6.36cm, 68.68±8.25kg, 77.51±5.44cm, 88.76±4.46cm, 0.87±0.40 and 1.14±0.05 respectively. The left, right and combined testicular volumes showed weak negative correlation with the Waist circumference, Hip circumference, WHR and Conicity Index.Conclusion: Ultrasound measured testicular volume showed weak negative correlation with the Waist circumference, Hip circumference, WHR and Conicity Index in Nigerian adults.Key words: Ultrasound, testicular volumes, waist-hip ratio, conicity index, Nigerian adult

Factors affecting compliance to treatment among children with epilepsy attending at a paediatric neurology clinic of a tertiary hospital in Enugu

BACKGROUND:This study aimed to determine the factors affecting compliance to treatment among children with epilepsy in Enugu,Nigeria.METHODS: Children with diagnosis of epilepsy were consecutively recruited.Their 6 months retrospective and 1 month prospective data were collected;and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 (p < 0.05).RESULTS: Fifty six children with epilepsy (mean age= 9.7 ± 4.1 years) were studied. Generalized tonic clonic epilepsy was noted in 41.1% (23/56) of them.Thirty six (64.3%) complied strictly with the treatment regimen. Polytherapy, high cost of drugs, multiple drug dosages and drug related side effects affected compliance. Majority (79.4%, 27/34) of patients on monotherapy and a few (27.2%, 6/22) on poly-therapy had good seizure control (p<0.001).CONCLUSION: Poor drug compliance is a major constraint to adequate seizure control in children with epilepsy in our setting.Addressing the problem of poor compliance will enable them to achieve optimal seizure control.KEY WORDS: Epilepsy, Treatment Compliance, Associated Factors;Childre

Pattern of health seeking behaviour of mothers for common childhood illnesses in Enugu metropolis south east zone Nigeria

TheObjective of the study is to assess the Health Seeking Behaviour ofmotherswhen their children presentwith the common aliments and their preferred treatment options. A cross sectional survey of 300 women that brought their children for routine immunization and growthmonitoring to three health institutions in Enugumetropolis was carried out using an interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Majority of the mothers, 208(69.3%) used self treatment for their children at home when they presented with common illnesses.Atotal of 146(48.7%) made use of government health institutions, 117(39. 0%) attended private health institutions while 21(7.0%) consulted an elder woman and 9 (.0%) patronized prayer house.Only 3(1%) respondents sought the help of traditional healers. In this study, the greater percentage of mothers used self medication for treatment of common childhood illnesses.The implication of this is that themajority of themothersmay not know the right treatment to institute at any point in time. This situation could lead to more complications of the illnesses or even loss of life.As a result,mothers should be educated on how best to take care of their sick children athome and be able to recognizewhen to seek appropriate help.Keywords: Health SeekingBehavior,Mothers,CommonChildhood Illnesse

Validating measures of driver behavior’s training factors for prime decision-making

This paper validates the Driver Behavior’s Training Instrument (BDTI) for measuring training factors that influence prime decision-making in a driving domain. First, the training factors were developed to evaluate Computational Rabi’s Driver Training (C-RDT) model for prime decision-making in driving. In order to validate the model, a three-phase validation method has been used in this paper. In the first phase, items were generated from the literature to measure driver behavior’s training factors. In the 2nd phase, 4 academic experts and 3 experts from a driving institution were consulted for face and content validity. A Content Validity Index (CVI) of both the items-level and the scale-level CVIs was conducted from the ratings of the seven (7) experts. Finally, the items were subjected to a reliability test and an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with Varimax rotation in the 3rd phase. The findings presented in this study revealed 10 valid scales for measuring driver behavior’s training factors namely; basic skills, basic practice, sensory ability, driving goal, driving intention, potential hazardous information, exposure to task complexity, perception about risk, driving knowledge, and involuntary/voluntary automaticity. The scales validated in this paper should assist other model developers; particularly driver behavior’s training modelers to validate their factors for prime decision-making. In literature the measures of driver behavior and training factors that influence drivers’ prime decision are limited. Hence, this paper considers the validation of driver behavior’s training instrument that measures the training factors for prime decision-making important

Dandy Walker malformation (variant): late presentation with childhood blindness

We present a rare case of Dandy Walker Syndrome in a child who presents with complaints of frontal headache, neck pain, fever, progressive visual impairment and multiple generalized tonic clonic seizures, inability to stand and urinary incontinence. Given the clinical and neuro-imaging findings, the diagnosis of Dandy Walker Variant was made. Post surgical recovery (Ventriculo peritoneal shunt) was remarkable. Unfortunately he never regained sight. The purpose of presenting this case report is to highlight the distinctive manifestation of Dandy walker syndrome to enhance early diagnosis, prompt intervention and better outcomeKeywords: Dandy Walker syndrome; congenital brain malformation; childhood blindness; hydrocephalu

Prehrana kokoši obogaćena sušenom ili svježe ubranom biljkom Talinum triangulare: učinak na proizvodnju i lipidni profil jaja

This study investigated the comparative effects of administration of dried and fresh Talinum triangulare (Tt) plant supplements on the egg production and egg quality of laying hens. Two hundred and ten pullets, purchased at the age of 18 weeks, were randomly assigned to seven study groups: A1 , A2 , A3 ; B1 , B2 , B3 ; and C. Aqueous extracts derived from a dried sample of Tt were administered at 62.5, 250, and 1000 mg/L doses for treatment of Group A (A1, A2, and A3 ); or from freshly harvested samples of Tt at 62.5, 250, and 1000 mg/L dose for treatment of Group B (B1 , B2 , and B3 ). Hens in Group C (CC) served as an un-supplemented experimental control group. Laying rate and egg lipid profile were determined at two-month intervals following standard procedures. Supplementation with Tt significantly enhanced egg production, with extended higher laying rates in groups A and B. A significant (P<0.05) reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration and an increase in the high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration of eggs were observed in the supplemented groups (A and B). Dietary supplementation with dried samples of Tt at doses of 250 and 1000 mg/L increased the number of eggs laid, and resulted in the production of eggs with lower LDL and higher HDL cholesterol. Further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms behind the hypolipidemic principle and egg production enhancement.U ovom su radu istraženi komparativni učinci dodatka prehrani sušene i svježe biljke Talinum triangulare (Tt) na proizvodnju i kvalitetu jaja kokoši nesilica. Ukupno je 210 kokoši u dobi od 18 tjedana nasumično podijeljeno u sedam pokusnih skupina: A1 , A2 , A3 , B1 , B2 , B3 te C. Vodeni ekstrakti dobiveni od sušene biljke Talinum triangulare primijenjeni su u dozama od 62,5, 250 i 1000 mg/L u skupini A (A1 , A2 , and A3 ), dok su ekstrakti dobiveni od svježe ubrane biljke Tt u istim dozama primijenjeni u skupini B (B1 , B2 , i B3 ). Kokoši u skupini C (CC) poslužile su kao kontrolna skupina i nisu dobile dodatak prehrani. Stopa nesivosti i lipidni profil jaja određeni su u dvomjesečnim intervalima prema standardnim postupcima. Dodatak ekstrakta Tt prehrani kokoši znakovito je povećao proizvodnju jaja uz povećanu stopu nesenja u skupinama A i B. Osim toga znakovito je smanjena (P<0,05) koncentracija lipoproteina niske gustoće (LDL), a povećana koncentracija lipoproteina visoke gustoće (HDL) u skupinama koje su dobivale dodatak prehrani (A i B). Prehrana s dodatkom ektrakta dobivenog od sušene biljke Tt u dozama od 250 i 1000 mg/L povećala je broj snesenih jaja i rezultirala proizvodnjom jaja s nižim LDL-om i višim HDL-om. Potrebna su daljnja istraživanja kako bi se razjasnili točni mehanizmi koji se nalaze u podlozi ovog hipolipidemijskog principa i povećanja proizvodnje jaja