Relationship between vitamin A status and anaemia among school age children in Benin

Background: Anaemia and vitamin A deficiency are two major public health problems affecting many developing countries world-wide. Vitamin A deficiency, in addition to other health problems, can contribute to anaemia. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the relationship between vitamin A status and anaemia among school agechildren in Benin City.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out between June2005 and February 2006 on one hundred and fifty-two children within the age range of 6 and 12 years, randomly selected from primary schools in a Local Government   Area of Edo State. Plasma vitamin A was assessedby Bessey’s Spectrophotometric method, while the  Haemoglobin concentration was assessed using the photometric principle ofanalysis.Results: The mean plasma vitamin A level was 27.7± 12.4ìg/dl., with a range of 10 - 64ìg/dl. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (plasma retinol <20ìg/dl) was 29.6%. There was no subject with severe vitamin A deficiency (plasma retinol <10ìg/dl. The mean haemoglobin concentrationwas 10.5 ± 1.1g/dl., with a range of 7.3 – 13.4g/dl. The prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin concentration <11g/dl) was 58.6%. There was no statistically significant correlation between vitamin A deficiency and anaemia, although the haemoglobin levels tended to increase with increased vitamin A status.Conclusion: This study shows high prevalence rates of vitamin A deficiencyand anaemia in this part of Nigeria. There was a trend of increasinghaemoglobin levels with higher vitamin A status which however, was not statistically correlated.Key Words: vitamin A deficiency, Anaemia, school age children

Predictive factors for psychiatric morbidity among women with infertility attending a gynaecology clinic in Nigeria

Objective: To determine the psychosocial and clinical factors that are associated with psychiatric morbidity among women with infertility attending a Nigerian gynaecology clinic. Method: Over a four month period, 320 respondents (160 in the study group and 160 in the control group) were interviewed using a proforma (designed by the authors) and a screening instrument, General Health Questionnaire version 30 (GHQ-30). All probable cases with a score of 5 or more on GHQ-30 were interviewed using the Present State Examination (PSE). Psychiatric diagnosis was made in accordance with the diagnostic criteria of the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Results: The infertility rate among the study group was found to be 25.8% with primary and secondary infertility rates constituting 21.9% and 78.1% respectively. The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among women with infertility (48.8%) was significantly more than that in the control group (11.2%) (Χ 2 = 51.80, p < 0.0001). Lack of support from husband (Χ2 = 15.31, p < 0.001), lack of support from husband’s relatives (c 2 = 39.60, p < 0.0001), discrimination (Χ2 = 69.91, p < 0.0001) and history of induced abortion (Χ2 = 30.40, p < 0.0001) were found to be significantly associated with psychiatric morbidity among patients with infertility when compared with the fertile control population. There was no significant difference in the rate of psychiatric morbidity between women with primary infertility and those with secondary infertility (Χ2 = 0.03; p = 0.87). Conclusion: Psychiatric morbidity is significantly more common among patients with infertility as compared with those without. There was a significant association between psychiatric morbidity and absence of support from husband and his relations, presence of discrimination, and a history of induced abortion. We suggest more public enlightenment on the need for moral/ psychosocial support to women with infertility. In addition, more efforts should be made towards early screening and identification of cases of psychiatric morbidity among patients with infertility.Key words: Predictive factors; Psychiatric morbidity; Infertility; Nigeri

Endodontic Treatment of Unusually Long Discolored Maxillary Central Incisor: A Case Report

Background: Success in root canal treatment is achieved after thorough biomechanical preparation followed by complete obturation of the canal system together with prompt and adequate restoration. Therefore, the endodontic therapy requires specific and complete knowledge of the internal and external anatomy, and its variation in presentation. Such treatment may be performed in root canal systems that do not comply with normal anatomic features described in standard textbooks. This article presents a case of endodontic treatment in an unusually long discolored maxillary central incisor.Case Presentation: A 31 year-old male patient was referred to conservation clinic for endodontic treatment of discolored left maxillary central incisor with associated history of recurrent swelling. Root canal therapy was performed and patient was found to have an unusually long working length of 29mm. This was then followed by enucleation of apical cyst without apical resection.Conclusion: Though the patient presents a maxillary central incisor with canal length in the upper limit of some reported cases, it is unusual in our environment.Keywords: Endodontic, Maxillary central, Unusually long, Treatmen

Health related quality of life and psychological variables among a sample of asthmatics in Ile-Ife South-Western Nigeria

Background: Assessment of health related quality of life (HRQL) has become central to assessing the selfperceived impact of physical and mental impairment on patient&rsquo;s health. Studies have reported a high rate of psychological disturbances among asthmatics; however, the impact of these psychological factors on HRQL remains unexplored. Objectives: To assess the health related quality of life among a sample of asthmatics and to identify the psychological and clinical variables that affect quality of life among asthmatics. Method: A total of 81 patients attending the clinic were assessed using the Mini-Asthma Quality of Life questionnaire (Mini-AQLQ), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Sociodemographic and clinical variables were also obtained from the patients, the lung function was assessed using Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR). Results: Mean age of all the patients was 35.22 (SD&plusmn;14.36) with a mean duration of asthma symptoms of 17.5 (SD&plusmn;14.4) years. Mean peak expiratory flow was 336 l/min (SD&plusmn;74.12). Anxiety was present in 44.4% of respondents, while 40% of respondents reported the presence of depressive symptoms, 48.1% of the respondents reported low scores on the asthma quality of life questionnaire. Poor quality of life was associated with the presence of psychological symptoms, female sex, and lower educational level. Conclusion: Psychosocial variables are just as important as clinical variables as determinants of health related quality of life among asthmatics.Keywords: quality of life; asthma; anxiety; depression; psychosocia

Hepatoblastoma in an adolescent girl: A case report

Hepatoblastoma is the most common primary malignant hepatic tumour in children, occurring between the ages of 6months to 3years. It most often presents with a painless abdominal mass discovered accidentally in youngchildren. Occurrence in adolescents and adults is rare and is usuallyassociated with non-specific symptoms which often result in delayed  diagnosis and commencement of treatment. Abdominal pain preceding a rapidly progressive abdominal mass is a common pattern observed in adolescents and adults. The histologic type commonly seen in adults isassociated with a poor prognosis. We report the case of a sixteen year old girl who presented with abdominal pain and distension and jaundice of a short duration. She was well-nourished with marked hepatomegaly and ascites. Hepatic transaminases were highly elevated with deranged clotting profile. She developed features of hepatic encephalopathy and diedon the seventh day of admission. A Post-mortem histologic diagnosisof hepatoblastoma was made.Key words: Hepatoblastoma, adolescent, poor prognosi

Carcinoid tumour of the ovary: A diagnostic puzzle

No Abstract

A retrospective study of traumatic injuries to teeth at a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Background: Various aspects of dental trauma have been studied worldwide. Most of these were among children and adolescents. However, studies involving the adult population with traumatized anterior teeth are few.Objectives: The objectives of this study were to report the pattern of trauma to anterior and posterior teeth among the late adolescent and adult patients seen at the Dental Centre, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, the time lapse between trauma and patient presentation, reasons for dental consultation, and the type of treatment received.Materials and Methods: Data were extracted from the dental records of 146 patients with dental trauma that presented between May 2001 and June 2006.Results: One hundred and forty six patients were studied (87 males, 59 females) Males sustained injury more than females. The highest occurrence of trauma was in the age group of 25&#8209;34 years and least in the &gt;65 years. Falls accounted for 34.3% of causes followed by RTA (19.2%). Enamel&#8209;dentine fracture was the most common type of injury, seen in 73 (38.6%) of the traumatized teeth, 5 were avulsed and 20 posterior teeth had cuspal fracture. All the cases of avulsion and most (83.3%) of root fracture presented within 1 week of injury while teeth that presented late had pulpal necrosis. 22% of the patients presented within 1 week of injury while 13.7% came after 10 years.Conclusion: There was late patients&#8217; presentation with average duration of trauma before presentation being 4.6 years; however the more severe the outcome of trauma, the earlier the presentation. Poor esthetics followed by pain were the main complaints at presentation

Characteristics of clients accessing HIV counseling and testing services in a tertiary hospital in Sagamu, Southwestern Nigeria

Introduction: Client-initiated HIV testing and counseling has helped millions of people learn their HIV status. Nevertheless, global coverage of HIV testing and counseling programs remains low. This study describes the characteristics of clients who accessed HIV counseling and testing (HCT) services in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, (OOUTH)Sagamu.Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of the clients accessing HCT services in OOUTH. Data was collected from clients using a client intake form. Pre-test counseling, HIV screening and post-test counseling were carried out. Informed consent and confidentiality were ensured. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 10.0.Results: A total of 2607 clients accessed our HCT services between May 1st 2008 and April 30th 2010. The clients were between the ages of 1 year and 90 years. The mean age was 33.3 ± 15.26. The median age was found to be 32.0 years, with the modal age being 30.0 years. 73.7% (1828) were non-reactive (negative result), 25.9% (643) were reactive (positive result), while 0.3% (8) were indeterminate. Among the reactive results, 9.3% (242) were males while 15.1% (394) were females.Conclusion: A fair uptake of HCT services was noted. More females accessed services than males. More positive results were seen among females than males (P&lt;0.05).Recommendations: Upscale of HCT services to involve Sexually transmitted infections clinics and free-standing, client-initiated testing centers is necessary. Continuous AIDS education and risk reduction should be promoted

Histological and biochemical effects of Arteethertm on the liver of wistar rats

ArteetherTM is among the recent drugs that are used to combat chloroquine-resistant malarial parasites. This study examined the effects of arteetherTM on enzyme biomarkers of the liver, serum protein concentrations, and liver morphology. Twenty (20) adult albino Wistar rats weighing 200 – 250 g were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of five animals each, and used in this study. Group A rats were given intramuscular (i. m.) arteetherTM (3 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days.Group B rats received i. m. arteetherTM (6 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days. Group C rats were given i. m. arteetherTM (3 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days. The same dose was repeated at two-weekly intervals for 4 further weeks, while group D rats which received normal saline (0.9 % w/ v, 3 ml/kg b.w.), served as controls. At the end of the experiment, the body weights of the animals were determined and recorded. Serum levels of alanine  transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (ASP), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), total protein (TP) and albumin were assayed, and histological studies were performed. Results obtained show no significant difference (P&lt;0.05) in liver enzymes (ALT, ASP, ALP). TP and albumin were significantly reduced in group C rats. Histological studies revealed no cyto-architectural changes. It is concluded that at therapeutic doses, arteetherTM is well tolerated in Wistar rats. .Key Words: ArteetherTM; Malaria; Liver enzymes; Serum protein concentrations; Morphology; Wistar rat

Prevalence and Correlates of Common Mental Disorders among Mothers of Young Children in Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania.

Although poor maternal mental health is a major public health problem, with detrimental effects on the individual, her children and society, information on its correlates in low-income countries is sparse. This study investigates the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) among at-risk mothers, and explores its associations with sociodemographic factors. This population-based survey of mothers of children aged 0-36 months used the 14-item Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ). Mothers whose response was "yes" to 8 or more items on the scale were defined as "at risk of CMD." Of the 1,922 mothers (15-48 years), 28.8% were at risk of CMD. Risk of CMD was associated with verbal abuse, physical abuse, a partner who did not help with the care of the child, being in a polygamous relationship, a partner with low levels of education, and a partner who smoked cigarettes. Cohabiting appeared to be protective. Taken together, our results indicate the significance of the quality of relations with one's partner in shaping maternal mental health. The high proportion of mothers who are at risk of CMD emphasizes the importance of developing evidence-based mental health programmes as part of the care package aimed at improving maternal well-being in Tanzania and other similar settings