Genetic factors in the clinical management of male infertility

Background: Infertility is a common gynecological problem. Most literatures are about female infertility with emphasis on infection sequelae and other factors such as anovulation. More recent studies reveal significant contribution from the males presenting as severe oligospermia and azoospermia.Objective: This literature reviews the genetic factors that contribute to male infertility, in the form of genic problem in the genes on the Y chromosome (primary) or sequelae of other genetic problems (secondary). They are discussed as pre- and post–spermatogenic. The common ones such as Y-chromosome microdeletions in the azoospermia factor (AZF) locus, Klinifelter syndrome 47XXY and Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations leading to congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD) are discussed. Other less common causes include Prader Willi syndrome, Kennedy disease, Katergener syndrome and Polycystic kidney disease.Source: Medline search of local and non local articles, as well as standard text on human genetics were used for the reviewConclusion: Genetic factors play an important role male infertility and knowledge about them forms the basis for the rational management of males with severe oligospermia and azoospermia especially in developing countries.Keywords: Genetic, Male infertility, Clinical, Assisted Reproductive techniques, Seme

Community Based Fishery Management: A Case Study Of Acadja Method Of Fishing On The Badagry Creek, Ogun State, Nigeria

The objective of the study was to elucidate and analyze key conditions for communal acadja system on the Badagry creek in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State. A sample size of 120 respondents was used for the study. Data were collected with structured questionnaires and analysed with the use of descriptive statistics such as means and percentages. The study revealed that most (86.9%) of the respondents were fully involved in the communal acadja with only 9% of them participated primarily for income generation while the larger percentage of the respondents involved for subsistence. It was observed that the fishers have some degree of tenure on the area of installation because of traditional regulatory mechanism in place. However, some constraints faced by the fishers as a result of implantation of acadjas include abandon of certain fishing gears, changing of fishing grounds, small fishing grounds and destruction of fishing gears. It was therefore recommended that acadja systems should be planned and implanted in the context of multiple uses of water body that integrated acadja systems with fishing and migration. Keywords: Acadja, , Community, Creek, fishery.Journal of Agriculture and Social Research Vol. 8 (1) 2008: pp. 28-3

Prevalence of Low Back Pain Among Traffic Wardens in Lagos State, Nigeria

Low back pain (LBP) has been found to be common among workers in certain industries and occupations. However, little is known about the prevalence of low back pain among traffic wardens in Nigeria, who are perceived to belong to the group of workers that are exposed to high  occupational risks. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of low back pain and its associated risk factors among traffic wardens. The study design was a cross-sectional descriptive survey. All subjects were  evaluated using a 32-item questionnaire to collect information on the demographic characteristics, years of involvement in working as a traffic warden, history of LBP in the last 12 months, possible causes and management of LBP, and the effect of LBP on work and the activities of daily living. The intensity of the pain was assessed using a verbal ratingscale. The prevalence of low back pain over a 12-month period was observed to be 69.5%. The intensity was described as moderate (49.2%), mild (11.8%), or severe (8.6%). Eighty (61.5%) of the traffic wardens agreed that LBP constitutes some form of impediment to their job  activities. There was a relationship between age and prevalence of low back pain, with age 35 – 54 years having the highest level of prevalence. Years of involvement in regulating traffic also has a significant influence on the severity of LBP. A higher prevalence was identified among males compared to females This study concluded that low back pain is prevalent among traffic wardens and the female wardens are more susceptible than their male counterparts. Also, age and years of involvement in regulating trafficsignificantly influence prevalence of LBP.KEY WORDS: low back pain, traffic warden, occupational healt

Effect of Traditional smoking Method on Nutritive Values and Organoleptic Properties of Sarotherodon galilaeus and Oreochromis niloticus

Fish deterioration or spoilage is one of the greatest problems facing the fishing industry in Nigeria, and since ancient times, smoking has been used to preserve fish products and improve their taste, aroma and colour. The present study was carried out to determine and compare the effects of traditional smoking kiln on nutritional properties and sensory characteristics of Sarotherodon galilaeus and Oreochromis niloticus. A drum type smoking kiln was used for fish smoking. Raw and smoked fish samples were subjected to nutritional analysis and sensory evaluations. Nutritional analysis showed that the crude protein value of smoked O. niloticus (47.69 + 0.13%) was significantly (P<0.05) lower than the smoked S.galilaeus (50.12 +0.31%) while the crude fat values of S.galilaeus was slightly higher than the O. niloticus. The value of nitrogen free extract of S.galilaeus was higher than the value of O.niloticus with mean values of 18.00+ 0.02% and 0.32±0.01% recorded respectively while the metabolizable energy value of S. galilaeus was significantly (P<0.05) higher than O.niloticus . Sensory evaluation results revealed that smoked S. galilaeus was better in terms of juiciness and overall acceptability while O. niloticus had higher values in term of flavour, tenderness and texture. Based on the results of the study, smoked S. galilaeus and O. niloticus were nutritionally comparable. The results also showed that traditional smoking method is an important preservation method which could enhance the nutritive values of fishes and possibly reduce post-harvest losses.Keywords: Proximate composition, Sarotherodon galilaeus, Oreochromis niloticus, smoking, sensory evaluation

Possible Abstraction Sites along Osun River Lower Course in Ogun and Lagos State, Nigeria For Sustainable Supply Of Potable Water

Water scarcity remains a major challenge in all the developing nations of the world; not because of paucity of surface water (rivers and streams) that could be abstracted for treatment, but, finding a suitable and sustainable abstraction site. The main objective of this research is to identify good locations, where water treatment plant could be sited along Osun River in Ogun and Lagos State for sustainable production of potable water. To achieve this, water quality of Osun River upstream Lekki lagoon was investigated at three sampling stations; Ogbere, Igbonla and Lekki. Water parameters such as physical (temperature, solids, turbidity) chemicals (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate, phosphate, chloride and sulphate, alkalinity, potassium, lead, chromium, iron) and bacteriological (feacal coliform) were determined using standard procedures. The results revealed that Ogbere and Igbonla stations are better locations where water could be abstracted from Osun River than Lekki stations due to low measured parameters (indicators of water pollution), which were within World Health Organization (WHO) acceptable limits. The findings also showed that while raw water abstraction from Osun River at Ogbere and Igbonla stations would require a conventional treatment, raw water from the Lekki lagoon (station) would require special treatment especially desalination due to high chloride and EC contents with expected cost implication

Pattern of presentation and management of lip injuries in a Nigerian hospital

Aim: Human lip injuries, although uncommon, present major challenges in terms of reconstructive options and the outcome of surgical management. The reconstructive techniques are usually varied but the ultimate objectives of treatment are to achieve healing, function, and aesthetics. The aim of this study was to report the etiology, pattern of presentation, and surgical management of lip injuries in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).Materials and Methods: A prospective study of consecutive cases of lip injury was conducted at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Data collected included age and sex of patients, etiology, pattern of presentation, and surgical techniques of repair.Results: A total of 13 patients with lip injury to the lip were included in the study (M = 6, F = 7). Human bite (11 cases) was the most common cause of injury followed by electric burns (2 cases). The most (81.8%) frequently affected site was the lower lip. Most patients presented within 72 hours after injury with infected wound. Treatment offered included thorough debridement and primary repair using various surgical techniques. A one-stage surgical technique was employed in all cases. Healing was uneventful in all cases and satisfactory.Conclusion: Most of the lip injuries in the present study were due to human bites with almost equal sex distribution. Lower lip was most commonly affected. All cases were successfully treated by debridement, broad spectrum antibiotic coverage, and one-stage surgical repair with a favorable outcome

Mandibular reconstruction: a new defect classification system

This paper presents a new mandibular segmental defect classification system (La-Co-CE) with a view to highlight the complexity and difficulty of the reconstruction with free autogenous bone grafts which the most frequently used method for surgeons practicing in developing countries. We submit that defect classification systems will continue to remain relevant if surgeons are to is pre-operatively classify the envisaged operative difficulty and objectively compare the outcome postoperatively. Key words: Mandibular reconstruction, defect, classification

Occupational cooling practices of emergency first responders in the United States: A survey

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Temperature on 29/07/2018, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/23328940.2018.1493907 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.© 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Despite extensive documentation directed specifically toward mitigating thermal strain of first responders, we wished to ascertain the degree to which first responders applied cooling strategies, and what opinions are held by the various agencies/departments within the United States. An internet-based survey of first responders was distributed to the International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Firefighters, National Bomb Squad Advisory Board and the USA Interagency Board and their subsequent departments and branches. Individual first responder departments were questioned regarding the use of pre-, concurrent, post-cooling, types of methods employed, and/or reasons why they had not incorporated various methods in first responder deployment. Completed surveys were collected from 119 unique de-identified departments, including those working in law enforcement (29%), as firefighters (29%), EOD (28%) and HAZMAT technicians (15%). One-hundred and eighteen departments (99%) reported heat strain/illness to be a risk to employee safety during occupational duties. The percentage of departments with at least one case of heat illness in the previous year were as follows: fire (39%) HAZMAT (23%), EOD (20%) and law enforcement (18%). Post-cooling was the scheduled cooling method implemented the most (63%). Fire departments were significantly more likely to use post-cooling, as well as combine two types of scheduled cooling compared to other departments. Importantly, 25% of all departments surveyed provided no cooling whatsoever. The greatest barriers to personnel cooling were as follows–availability, cost, logistics, and knowledge. Our findings could aid in a better understanding of current practices and perceptions of heat illness and injury prevention in United States first responders. Abbreviations: EOD: explosive ordnance disposal; HAZMAT: hazardous materials.This project is financially supported by the United States Government through the United States Department of Defense (DOD).Published versio

First-dose analgesic effect of the cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitor lumiracoxib in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison with celecoxib [NCT00267215]

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitors are frequently used to manage osteoarthritis. We compared the analgesic efficacy of the novel cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitor lumiracoxib (Prexige(®)) versus placebo and celecoxib in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This seven day, double-blind, placebo and active comparator controlled, parallel group study included 364 patients aged ≥50 years with moderate-to-severe symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Patients received lumiracoxib 400 mg/day (four times the recommended chronic dose in osteoarthritis; n = 144), placebo (n = 75), or celecoxib 200 mg twice daily (n = 145). The primary variable was actual pain intensity difference (100 mm visual–analogue scale) between baseline and the mean of three hour and five hour assessments after the first dose. Actual pain intensity difference, average and worst pain, pain relief and functional status (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC™]) were measured over seven days. Patients also completed a global evaluation of treatment effect at study end or premature discontinuation. For the primary variable, the superiority of lumiracoxib versus placebo, the noninferiority of lumiracoxib versus celecoxib, and the superiority of lumiracoxib versus celecoxib were assessed by closed test procedure adjusting for multiplicity, thereby maintaining the overall 5% significance level. In addition, celecoxib was assessed versus placebo in a predefined exploratory manner to assess trial sensitivity. Lumiracoxib provided better analgesia than placebo 3–5 hours after the first dose (P = 0.004) through to study end. The estimated difference between lumiracoxib and celecoxib 3–5 hours after the first dose was not significant (P = 0.185). Celecoxib was not significantly different from placebo in this analysis (P = 0.069). At study end 13.9% of lumiracoxib-treated patients reported complete pain relief versus 5.5% and 5.3% of celecoxib and placebo recipients, respectively. WOMAC™ total and subscales improved for both active treatments versus placebo except for difficulty in performing daily activities, for which celecoxib just failed to achieve significance (P = 0.056). In the patient's global evaluation of treatment effect, 58.1% of patients receiving lumiracoxib rated treatment as 'excellent' or 'good', versus 48.6% of celecoxib and 25.3% of placebo patients. Lumiracoxib was well tolerated. The overall incidence of adverse events was similar across treatment groups

Ex-situ characterisation of water droplet dynamics on the surface of a fuel cell gas diffusion layer through wettability analysis and thermal characterisation

Understanding the evaporation of water from gas diffusion layers (GDL) is important for polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) design and operational purposes, particularly for open-cathode air-breathing fuel cells where water removal is purely through evaporation. In this work, water droplet dynamics on the surface of a fuel cell GDL is studied by wettability and thermal characterisation. The droplet maintains a fixed contact diameter (pinned) until there is a transition from non-wetting to wetting regime, after which the contact diameter reduced rapidly until complete evaporation occurs. GDL thermal characterisation reveals that temperature variation encountered across the GDL is due to a change in emissivity and increased thermal gradient across the GDL due to its uneven surface. Droplet thermal characterisation reveals that the droplets have a cooling effect on the surrounding GDL when introduced at room temperature and the cooling effect is more exacerbated with an increase in GDL temperature. This work provides insight into the dynamics of water evaporation on GDLs which could be effective in developing water and heat management strategies in PEFCs, as water droplets are expected to experience similar pinning and cooling effect to that observed in this work within the cathode gas channels of PEFCs. This is particularly relevant to passive open-cathode cells