Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine

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BACKGROUND: During pregnancy, selenium deficiency and reduced antioxidant activities may result in adverse perinatal outcome such as low birthweight, which is associated with significant perinatal morbidity and mortality. Many studies have reported conflicting findings on the relationship between maternal selenium status and infant birth weight. OBJECTIVE: This study is to determine the relationship between maternal serum selenium concentration and infant birthweight in HIV-positive and HIV-negative pregnant women at term...

BACKGROUND: The health and development.of populations irrespective of where they live is dependent on their behaviour. Adolescents constitute a huge chunk of the global population. A high proportion of the burden of diseases therefore occur in this age group as well. The maturation process occurs throughout this period and behaviours adopted often last for life and are determinants of healthy adult life. High prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections including Human Immunodeficiency Virus has been documented in adolescents...

BACKGROUND: The increasing awareness of the health risks associated with tobacco use has led many countries to enact tobacco control legislation to protect citizens from the harmful effects of tobacco use. Young people are important stakeholders in many aspects of tobacco control legislation. OBJECTIVE: This study.aims to assess the awareness of existing tobacco control laws among young people, their attitudes towards these laws and the factors associated with youth awareness and support for tobacco control legislation in Nigeria...

BACKGROUND: Heliotropium indicum Linn. (Boraginaceae) is used in Nigerian traditional medicine to treat tuberculosis with treatment lasting for 3 months; however, information on its toxicity is scarce. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the safety of the leaves of Heliotropium indicum after a 5 month oral administration. METHODS: The leaves of H. indicum were dried; extracted in 70% ethanol and concentrated to dryness. Swiss mice were administered orally with single doses of the extract (0...

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic approaches that will improve the reduced cardiopulmonary functions of breast cancer (BC) survivors are of optimal importance. The effects of aerobic exercise on health-related outcomes of BC survivors have been reported while there is a dearth of information on the effects of combined aerobic and stretching exercises on cardiopulmonary parameters of female BC survivors. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of combined aerobic and stretching exercises on cardiopulmonary functions of premenopausal and postmenopausal Breast cancer (BC) survivors...

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is still a global health challenge that affects women of reproductive age group and consequently causes a drawback on the social and economic stability of nations. Developing countries suffer a greater burden of the disease because of several factors such as poverty, multiple sexual partners, unbalanced diet, poor knowledge and attitude to prevention of diseases and late-presentation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of hydronephrosis in cervical cancer patients in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, Nigeria for the period of 3 years (2010-2012)...

BACKGROUND: HIV infection/AIDS being a multi-systemic disease affects the skin at various stages in course of the illness. A knowledge of the common skin diseases associated with HIV infection can lead to early detection, appropriate staging and commencement of appropriate care in the infected patients. OBJECTIVE: The study was to document the prevalence and pattern of skin diseases in children with HIV infection seen at the Paediatric department of a tertiary centre in Nigeria...

BACKGROUND: Bread is a convenience food made from wheat flour, which is derived from wheat and whose technology of which dates back to the ancient Egyptians. It is therefore of economic advantage if wheat importation to Nigeria can be reduced by substitution with other suitable materials. This led to the whole idea of composite flour, which is a mixture of wheat with other materials to form suitable flour for baking'purposes. OBJECTIVES: The study is to ascertain the effect of supplementation of bread with defatted soy flour on blood chemistry and oxidative stress in Wistar rats...

BACKGROUND: Tetanus, though an eminently preventable disease still ranks as a leading cause of death in Nigeria as well as in other developing countries. Reported mortality for severe tetanus varies from 20-60% and depends on the availability and quality of intensive care. Farmers and artisans are mostly affected. OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study was carried out to determine the pattern of clinical presentation of tetanus, the immunization status, case fatality rate and factors influencing mortality...

BACKGROUND: Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disorder. Recently, there are suggestions that LP is associated with dyslipidemia in a large series of patients independent of other causes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors for dyslipidaemia among patients with LP. METHODS: This case-control study included 180.subjects, 90 with lichen planus (39 men and 51 Women) and 90 (44 men and 46 women) controls consecutively recruited from the outpatient Dermatology clinic of Amnihu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano-Nigeria...

BACKGROUND: Malaria remains one of the major causes of childhood mortality in many parts of the world, especially in the sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. Increasing chemotherapeutic failure and side effects of available antimalarial drugs have promoted the use of natural herbs for the treatment of malaria in Nigerian communities. OBJECTIVE: To study the phytosuppression of P berghei by Nauclea latifolia and its effects on the indices of anaemia and pancreatic beta cell function in experimental mice...

Neonatal diabetic ketoacidosis is a rare condition that may occur in the first few weeks of life as a complication of neonatal diabetes mellitus. The prominent clinical features are hyperglycaemia and dehydration. It could also mimick an infection. The danger of inappropriate diagnosis is increased morbidity and mortality. To prevent this, we advocate routine testing of blood glucose levels in neonates and infants who present at the emergency rooms. We report a case of neonatal diabetic ketoacidosis in a female who presented at our facility...

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is the commonest cause of irreversible blindness in Nigeria and raised intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only modifiable risk factor. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), one of the treatment modalities, has been reported to have a cross-over effect on the fellow untreated eyes. OBJECTIVES: To determine the lOP lowering effect of SLT on the contralateral untreated eyes in patients with primary open angle glaucoma. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent SLT at Guinness Eye Centre, Lagos from June 2011-June 2012...

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of patients seeking dental care may present with one or more medical conditions. Information on medical history, drug used and attitude to medical recall visit is vital for planning dental treatment in this group of patients. OBJECTIVES: To study the attitude of dental patients with medical condition toward their medication and medical recall visits. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted among consecutive new patients presenting to the Dental centre, UMTH, Maiduguri, between January and December 2012...

BACKGROUND: HIV affects more than 2.3 million children worldwide and 90% live in Africa. Malnutrition is also a major problem in Africa with 25% of children under the age of five being malnourished. OBJECTIVE: The study is to determine the nutritional status of HIV infected children using weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height. METHODS: This was a cross sectional descriptive study where the severity of malnutrition based on weight for age, height for age and weight for weight for height of HIV infected children were compared with controls...

BACKGROUND: We have earlier reported the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Alafia barteri Oliver (Apocynaceae) in rodents but its mechanism of actionsare yet to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: This study sought toinvestigate the involvement of monoaminergic, nitric oxide-cyclic GMP-K+ channel and opioidergic pathways in its mechanism of actions. METHODS: methanol root extract of Alafia barteri (ALA) (100-400 mg/kg, p.o.) was given 1 h before administration of chemical or thermal-induced nociception andhistamine/serotonin-induced inflammation...

Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make an appropriate decisions concerning their health. It is one of the link by which the health status of individual and the health indices and statistics of our country can be improved upon. Factors influencing health literacy in Nigeria include the culture and belief system, poor and ineffective communication, lack of education and low educational level, and low socioeconomic status Low health literacy predisposes to poorer health status, poorer disease outcome, lack of understanding in the use of preventive services, frequent hospital visitations amongst others...

BACKGROUND: There is a widespread increasing use of herbal medicine among the populace in the society. The poor regulation of herbal medicine production and use raises issues of public health concerns. OBJECTIVES: To determine and compare the phytochemicals present in different classes of herbal medicines sold in Lagos, Nigeria METHODS: Commonly sold brands of three classes of herbal medicine - herbal bitters, herbal energy drinks and 'Agbo' were purchased from major markets in Lagos, Nigeria...

BACKGROUND: Subclinical hypothyroidism has been documented to have a positive effect on the clinical presentation and outcome in acute ischemic stroke. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in first ever ischemic strokes and to evaluate its effect on the clinical presentation. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional study design, 138 patients diagnosed with first ever ischemic stroke within 7 days of onset were included in the study...