Spectrum of Nasopharyngeal Cancers Seen in the Department of Radiation Oncology University College Hospital, Ibadan

Background: Nasopharyngeal cancer was initially thought to be an uncommon disease in Nigeria, but recent studies have shown a steady increase in the incidence of the disease with an associated increase in morbidity and mortality due to late presentation. Method: This was a retrospective review of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer seen in the department of Radiation Oncology U.C.H. Ibadan from 2000 to 2009. Patient's bio-data, clinical-pathologic presentation and site of referral were retrieved using data extraction form and subsequently analysed using Micrsoft Exel (2013). Results: A total of 205 patients with histologically confirmed nasopharyngeal cancer seen during the study period were analysed. The mean age of the patients was 41.7 years with 144 (70.2%) males and 61(29.8%) females. The commonest presenting complaint was cervical lymphadenopathy in 98.5% of patients followed by nasal blockade, nasal discharge and epistaxis with 82.0%, 78.0% and 51.2% respectively. Undifferentiated carcinoma was the commonest histologic type (68.8%). Majority of patients were civil servants (33.2%). The habit of smoking and alcohol ingestion were unspecified in majority of patients (43.4%). Ingestion of smoked fish has been found in majority of patients 122(59.5%) with the disease in this study. Most of the patients came from southern part of the country which coincide with geographic distribution of Burkitt lymphoma, hence the possibility of Ebsteinbarr virus (EBV) as one of the likely causative agents. Conclusion: Nasopharyngeal cancer is common. Cervical lymphadenopathy, nasal blockade with undifferentiated histology and late presentation were the norm. Referrals were from all the regions of the country.

Evaluation of Memory Impairment Following Prenatal Exposure to Mosquito Coil Smoke

Background: Developmental Neurotoxicity can lead to the buildup of reactive oxygen species which is an indicator to oxidative stress in the prenatally exposed offspring. Neuronal oxidative stress induces neuroinflammation, precedes tangle formation, and disrupts synaptic plasticity. The result of such changes may be expressed into adulthood as behavioral deficits. All together, these mechanisms are implicated in memory disorders. Objectives: To investigate the histochemical changes in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of Wistar rats' offspring after prenatal exposure to mosquito coil smoke and its effect on memory. . Methods: 12 pregnant Wistar rats were grouped into four, 3 animals per group. Group I was exposed to fresh air. Groups II, III, and IV were exposed to mosquito coil smoke for 4, 6 and 8 hours daily respectively throughout gestation period. On Post-natal day (PND) 28 and 29, shortterm spatial and recognition memory of adolescent wistar rats were assessed using water licking task and novel object recognition test respectively. For each animal group (I-IV), a total of 8 animals were randomly selected from the litters for neurobehavioral studies. Experimental animals were humanely sacrificed and sections from the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex were processed for histochemical studies using Bielschowsky stain. Data were presented as mean ± SEM; analysed using One-way analysis of variance and Tukey's Multiple Comparison Test (p<0.05). Results and Conclusion: Our results showed significant impairment in short-term recognition and spatial memory of group III and IV adolescent wistar rats when compared with the control (p<0.05) and the formation of neurofibrillary tangle-like structures in neurons of the studied regions. .

Practice of Traditional Uvulectomy and Associated Factors Among Mothers of Under Five Years Children in Sokoto State, Nigeria.

Introduction: Traditional uvulectomy (TU) is one of the common negative cultural practices in Nigeria, particularly in the Northern Nigeria. The procedure persists in developing countries probably due to low socio-economic status and non-formal level of education. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, reasons, complications and factors associated with the practice of traditional uvulectomy among mothers of under five-year children (0-59 months) in Sokoto state, Nigeria. Methods: A community based cross sectional study that was conducted in Sokoto st State, Nigeria on 320 mothers with their under-five year children from 1 January st to 31 March 2021. The study participants were selected using multi stage sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information and throat examination was done for the children to confirm the practice of TU. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 22. The level of significance for Chi square was set at a p value of < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of TU is 59.1% among children under five years of age. The major reason for the practice of TU in most 93(29.1%) of the respondents for their U5 was because of tradition. The main complication after TU was fever 24(35.2%), followed by bleeding 18(26.5%). The respondent's educational status (p = 0.004) and occupation (p = 0.001) were associated with the practice of TU. Conclusion: Practice of traditional uvulectomy is high and is odue to traditional beliefs. Fever was the most common complication, educational status and occupation were associated with the practice.

Cortical Neurons and Astrocytes in Intrauterine Ethanol Exposure: The Role of Exposure Time and Postnatal Timeline

Background: The state of cortical neurons and astrocytes are pointers to the health of the brain. These cells are morphologically distorted by alcohol exposure. Intrauterine alcohol exposure remains a challenge with perinatal consequences. The role of exposure time and postnatal timeline on the degree of cortical cell derangement remains a subject of controversy till date. This study therefore examines alcohol exposure and postnatal changes on brain weight, cortical neurons and astrocytes at different developmental periods. Methods: Twenty mature female Wistar rats were time-mated and grouped into 4 groups. Group 1 (control) received distilled water (2 mL/kg), Groups 2, 3 and 4 were administered 2.5 mL/kg of 20% ethanol orally on the 4th, 11th and 18th days of gestation respectively. Rats produced litters and pups' brains were harvested and processed for H&E and Golgi Cox stains at the 3rd and 6th postnatal week. Neuronal and astrocytic densities in the cerebral cortex were evaluated. Results and Conclusion: There was statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in the density of degenerating neurons at the third postnatal week and sixth postnatal weeks in the experimental groups when compared with the control. There was also statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in astrocytic density in groups 2 and 4 at the 3rd postnatal week. There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in the astrocytic densities across groups at the sixth postnatal week. It was concluded that intrauterine alcohol exposure in any of the developmental periods resulted in postnatal neuronal degeneration which persisted till the 6th week. However, increased astrocytic densities is a feature of 1st and 3rd trimester alcohol exposure noted in the 3rd but absent in the 6th postnatal week.