Misoprostol versus oxytocin in preventing postpartum hemorrhage: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To compare low dose sublingual misoprostol with the standard 10 IU of intramuscular oxytocin in active management of third stage of labor.Materials and Methods: A total of 104 women with term pregnancy were randomized to receive either 200 μg misoprostol sublingually or 10 IU oxytocin intramuscularly after vaginal delivery. Primary outcome measured was mean blood loss and incidence of primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Secondary outcome measured included duration of third stage of labor, side effects of drugs and need for additional oxytocics to treat life‑threatening hemorrhage.Results: A total of 104 women with term pregnancy in two groups of 52 were studied. The mean blood loss with sublingual misoprostol and oxytocin groups was 320.58 ± 244.12 vs. 253.27 ± 171.74 ml; P = 0.11. There was no significant differences between the misoprostol and oxytocin groups with regard to the incidence of PPH (19.2% vs. 13.5% respectively; P = 0.43). More women in the misoprostol group experienced side effects compared with those in oxytocin group; however, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.26). The mean duration of third stage of labor was similar and the difference was statistically not significant (6.65 ± 3.47 vs. 6.08 ± 3.07 minutes) (P = 0.38), as well as need for additional oxytocics (13.5% vs. 5.8% P = 0.18) misoprostol and oxytocin, respectively.Conclusion: Sublingual misoprostol has similar efficacy to standard intramuscular oxytocin in preventing PPH following vaginal birth. Misoprostol at 200 μg with its thermostability may be an effective alternative to intramuscular oxytocin in active management of third stage of labor.Keywords: Primary postpartum hemorrhage; misoprostol; uterotonic

Effects of Na2Cr2O7 Inhibitor on the Corrosion Potential Response of Steel Reinforced Concrete in Saline Medium

Electrochemical monitoring method of the open circuit potential was used to investigate the effect of the concentrations of Na2Cr2O7 on the corrosion potential response of steel reinforced concrete in sodium chloride medium. In the study, five different concentrations of Na2Cr2O7 admixtures were employed in a system of replicated samples of steel-reinforced concrete specimens partially immersed in 3.5% NaCl to simulate marine and saline environments. Forty days measured responses from these were subjected to the statistical analyses of the Normal and the Weibull distribution functions and tested using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness of fit criteria. Results obtained from the analyses identified 4 g Na2Cr2O7 with optimal averaged potential response inhibition performance by the Normal model which showed better agreements in its models of Na2Cr2O7 potential test data than that obtained from the Weibull model of the same data. These bear pertinent implications on the need for suitability studies of appropriate statistical distribution for studying performance of corrosion inhibitors even as suggestions were proffered for addressing results conflicts among replicates of steel reinforced concrete samples employed

Prognostic factors affecting outcome of intrauterine insemination procedures at a fertility center in Ondo, South West Nigeria

Background: There is a recent resurgence in the use of intrauterine insemination (IUI) in Nigeria. However, there is a need for a rational use of the procedure so that couples do not waste time and money on ineffective therapy if it is not indicated.Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the possible prognostic factors affecting outcome of IUI among patients undergoing the procedure.Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective review of the case files and treatment protocols of fifty consecutive couples who had IUI procedure following the established diagnosis of Infertility at the Paramount Fertility Center of Paramount Specialist Hospital Ondo, Nigeria, over a period of 1 year (February 2016 to January 2017).Results: There were ten (20.0%) pregnancies recorded, of which three (6%) clients had first‑trimester miscarriages (between the 5th and 13th weeks), one (2%) had an ectopic pregnancy, whereas six (12%) were carried to the age of viability and delivered. Forty (80%) clients did not achieve pregnancy. The postwash concentration of sperm was noticed to be the only parameter significantly affecting the rate of pregnancy in our treatment cycles with P < 0.05. There was also a trend toward a reduction in pregnancy after the age of 40.Conclusion: This study shows that the postwash sperm count and age of the female have the most predictive value for IUI clinical pregnancy outcome in our center.Keywords: Infertility; intrauterine insemination; prognostic factor

Upright or dorsal? childbirth positions among antenatal clinic attendees in Southwestern Nigeria

Background: Upright childbirth positions are associated with better delivery outcomes. These positions such as kneeling and squatting were the norm for childbirth in indigenous Nigerian custom. However, westernization has largely replaced them with supine positions.Objective: This study was conducted to compare the knowledge, attitude and experience regarding childbirth positions between antenatal clinic attendees in southwest and northwest Nigeria.Materials and Methods: A mixed methods design was employed. Quantitative data were obtained using a structured questionnaire in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile‑Ife (n = 201) and Federal Medical Centre, Katsina (n = 104). Knowledge was graded as poor, fair or good whereas attitude toward each position was graded as favoured, indifferent or against. The resulting proportions were compared using Chi‑square. Qualitative data were obtained through key‑informant interviews.Results: Knowledge of childbirth positions was generally poor. Overall, only to women (0.6%) had good knowledge, whereas 60 (19.7%) had fair knowledge and the rest (79.7%) had poor knowledge. More women in Katsina than Ile‑Ife knew the squatting position (32.7% vs. 16.4%; P < 0.001) and favoured it (25.0% vs. 7.5%; P < 0.001), whereas more Ile‑Ife women knew the lithotomy position (42.3% vs. 26.9%; P = 0.01). Attitudes towards the remaining positions were comparable between them. Key‑informant interviews of the midwives revealed that they were trained to conduct delivery exclusively in the supine positions. They were, however, interested in learning the use of upright positions.Conclusion: Knowledge about childbirth positions was very poor. Women in northwestern Nigeria were more aware and favorably disposed to childbirth in their customary squatting position. Training of Nigerian midwives on upright childbirth positions is recommended.Keywords: Childbirth position; knowledge; labour duration; practice; preference; Yoruba wome

Prevalence, predictors, and perceived susceptibility to placental malaria parasitemia among pregnant women in a tertiary hospital in South-Western Nigeria

Objective: Is to determine the prevalence and predictors of placental malaria among pregnant women.Methodology: The study was cross-sectional in design. It was carried out over six months. We administered Pretested questionnaire to 300 eligible subjects. The researchers took maternal peripheral blood for malaria parasites while cord and placental blood sample at delivery for neonatal packed cell volume (PCV) and Malaria parasite. Data were analyzed using STATA 10.Result: One hundred and forty-four (48%) participants had placental malaria parasitemia, while 173 (57.7%) had peripheral malaria parasitemia. Maternal age less than 20 years (P=0.008), low parity, and hemoglobin type AA (P=0.002) were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of placental parasitemia. Maternal secondary and tertiary education (P=0.013), perceived susceptibility to placental malaria and IPT use (p=0.014) were significantly associated with lower prevalence.Conclusion: This study has shown that placental parasitemia is a significant problem in pregnancy as it is strongly associated with certain maternal factors. There is the need to intensify control efforts aimed at reducing malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria, and mothers with increased risk factors should receive more focused attention. Keywords: Prevalence, risk factors, placental malaria, pregnanc

METHODS OF ASTM G16 AND CONFLICTS IN CORROSION TEST DATA: CASE STUDY OF NANO2 EFFECTIVENESS ON STEEL-REBAR CORROSION

In this paper, applications of the methods of ASTM G16 for addressing inherent conflicts in laboratory measurements of corrosion test data were studied, using the inhibiting effect of NaNO2 on the corrosion of concrete steel-rebar for the case study. For this, electrochemical monitoring techniques were employed for studying effectiveness of different concentrations of NaNO2 admixture in replicated concrete samples immersed in NaCl and in H2SO4 media for an experimental period of sixty-eight days. The corrosion test data from this experimental setup were subjected to the probability density fittings of the Normal and the Weibull functions as well as to significance testing methods of ASTM G16-99 R04 specifications. Results identified 10g (0.1208M) NaNO2 admixture with optimal inhibition efficiency model, η = 88.38±4.62%, in the saline/marine simulating environment and the 8 g (0.0966M) NaNO2 admixture with optimum effectiveness, η = 13.51±83.48%, in the acidic environment. The techniques of ASTM G16 adequately identified and addressed conflicting effectiveness from the test data of NaNO2 admixtures in the studied test environments

Corrosion and wear properties of Ni-Sn-P ternary deposits on mild steel via electroless method

The rising necessity to improve corrosion and wear resistance of metals for engineering applications cannot be over emphasized. This has led to employing diverse models, method and techniques to obtain better corrosion and wear resistances for metallic materials and components which will otherwise fail during service. This work investigated the effect of Ni-P binary and Ni-Sn-P ternary electroless depositions on the corrosion and wear behavior of mild steel. Micro-structural examination using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows finer and more evenly distributed particle orientation across the substrate surface. The Ni-Sn-P ternary deposits on the mild steel displayed from the linear polarization analysis a better corrosion resistance with corrosion rate values of 0.000246 mm/yr as compared with that of the Ni-P binary deposits with 0.016672 mm/yr. Also the coefficient of friction of the unplated sample varies between 0 and 0.08 while for the plated samples the coefficient of friction was relatively lesser and ranged from 0 to 0.02. Significant improvement in corrosion resistance was also indicated by a positive shift in potential. Sliding wear analysis demonstrates consistently enhanced wear resistance of the ternary deposits as well as the binary deposits, with the ternary Sn addition showing better resistance to wear. This work has established that Ni-Sn-P electroless coating of mild steel can be used to improve the corrosion and wear resistance for engineering applications

Effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic disodium dihydrate and sodium nitrite admixtures on steel-rebar corrosion in concrete

This study investigates effect of different concentrations of ethylenediaminetetraacetic disodium dihydrate (EDTA-Na2: C 10H14N2Na2O8.2H 2O) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) admixtures, individually or in synergistic/partial NaNO2 replacement model, on the corrosion of concrete steel-rebar in NaCl and in H2SO4 media. Electrochemical monitoring techniques were employed for 48 steel-reinforced concrete samples immersed in the saline/marine and microbial/industrial simulating test environments for 96 days. These test data were subjected to the analyses of the Normal and the Weibull distribution fitting models, for each of which goodness of their fitting the electrochemical test data were studied using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test statistics. Analysed results showed that EDTA-Na2 admixture concentrations exhibited better inhibition effectiveness, with relatively good effectiveness in their synergistic admixtures, than their equal-mass NaNO2 counterparts in both corrosive environments. Also, post-electrochemical experiment subjection of the concrete samples to testing and analyses of ASTM C39/C39M-03 and ASTM C267-01 showed that use of the optimally inhibiting 8 g EDTA-Na2 (per 2 × 10-3m3 concrete) culminates in gross reduction in compressive strength of concretes in both test-media. However, lowered EDTA-Na2 concentrations exhibited better strength improvements with high corrosion inhibition in the test environments. These suggest suitability of EDTA-Na2 as an environmental-friendly NaNO2 alternative for inhibiting steel-rebar corrosion in saline/marine and microbial/industrial environments. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC

Inhibition and compressive-strength performance of Na2Cr2O7 and C10H14N2Na2O8·2H2O in steel-reinforced concrete in corrosive environments

This paper studied corrosion-inhibition and compressive-strength performances of Na2Cr2O7 (sodium dichromate) and C10H14N2Na2O8·2H2O (ethylenediaminetetraacetic disodium salt: EDTA-Na2) admixtures in steel-reinforced concrete immersed in NaCl and in H2SO4 corrosive environments. Electrochemical methods were used for studying corrosion responses of different concentrations of the individual admixtures and their synergies, in the model that partially replace the toxic Na2Cr2O7 by the environmentally-friendly C10H14N2Na2O8·2H2O, in steel-reinforced concretes. After the electrochemical experiment, the steel-reinforced concrete samples were subjected to the compressive-strength testing and analyses of ASTM C39/C39M-03 and ASTM C267-01(2012). Results showed that the use of environmentally-friendly EDTA-Na2 for partially replacing toxic Na2Cr2O7 chemical exhibited better corrosion-inhibition and compressive-strength improvement in the NaCl-immersed concretes, than in the H2SO4-immersed concretes. The 2 g Na2Cr2O7 + 6 g EDTA-Na2 admixture (representing partial replacement model of 6 g Na2Cr2O7 by 6 g EDTA-Na2) exhibited optimal corrosion inhibition efficiency (η = 99.0%) and very good compressive-strength improvement advantage in the NaCl-immersed concretes. In contrast, comparatively low compressive-strength reduction tradeoff with the good inhibition effectiveness of η = 79.9% support use of 6 g EDTA-Na2 admixture only (i.e., without Na2Cr2O7 addition) for inhibiting reinforcing-steel corrosion in the H2SO4-immersed concretes