Epistaxis among children in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto Nigeria

Background: Epistaxis is a life-threatening otorhinolaryngological emergency and presents as a symptom of varied clinical conditions. The study was designed to determine the frequency and forms of epistaxis among children in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective study of children ≤12 years with epistaxis presenting to UDUTH, Sokoto from January to December 2017. Information on age, gender, causes, nature, and laterality of epistaxis was collected and analyzed. Results: Of 1078 children who presented with otorhinolaryngological complaints during the study period, 39 (3.6 %) had epistaxis, with majority 14

Aetiology of Traumatic Brain Injury in Bauchi, North East Nigeria

Background: Trauma is the leading cause of death among teens and youth in the developing countries. Head injury accounts for nearly onethird of all trauma deaths and is the leading cause of disability and economic loss. The aim was to study the aetiological pattern of head injury and to highlight the burden of the aetiological factors in our setting. Materials and method: A prospective study on patients admitted with traumatic brain injury at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, a tertiary hospital located in North-eastern Nigeria with neurosurgical services being rendered to her primary and referred patients. Data were collected using structured proforma and were analysed using SPSS version 20 software. Descriptive statistics expressed in mean, frequency and percentages. Results: Five hundred and thirty-seven patients were recruited into the study.

Effects of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) on testicular oxidative stress in sleep-deprived male Wistar rats

Background: Sleep deprivation is a public health problem that causes oxidative stress injury. Research evidence agrees that oxidative stress serves as an underlying factor in many chronic debilitating diseases. This study investigated the effect of aqueous Licorice extract (Glycyrrhiza glabra) a medicinal plant with known antioxidant activity on testicular oxidative stress parameters. Methods Twenty-five male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to and administered one of the following treatment regimens daily for five days: CONTROL – Distilled water, Sleep – Deprived (SD) – Distilled water, Sleep Deprived +Sleep Recovery (SD+SR) – Distilled Water, SD+LICORICE (SD+LICORICE) – 150 mg/kg bodyweight of Licorice and Sleep – Deprivation + Sleep-Recovery + Licorice (SD+SR+LICORICE) – 150 mg/kg bodyweight of Licorice. The rats in Sleep – Recovery groups were allowed to sleep in their cages after sleep deprivation protocol for 5 days each treatment regimen had ad libitum access to standard rat chow. After the experiment, the rats were sacrificed and blood was collected. Serum cortisol and testosterone were taken alongside testicular Glutathione, Catalase, and Malondialdehyde. Results Sleep deprivation significantly raised cortisol level and decreased testosterone levels both of which were reversed by licorice administration. Significant reduction in Malondialdehyde (MDA) in rats treated with licorice with a simultaneous increase in both GSH and CAT was also observed. Conclusions The antioxidant activity of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) aqueous extract on the testis of rats exposed to oxidative stress suggests the potential of using this traditional medicinal plant in preventing oxidative injury caused by sleep deprivation.

Detection of Zoonotic Yersinia Infection in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Dogs in Sokoto State Nigeria

Background: Zoonotic Yersinia infection has been previously reported in humans and animal hosts in Nigeria, occasionally with fulminant disease. Despite earlier evidence of Yersinia pathogen circulating in human and animal populations in Nigeria, studies and suspicion index to Yersinia is below an acceptable average amongst clinicians, diagnosticians, academics and health policy officers. Methods: The deoxycholate Citrate Agar (DCA) was used as a selective media to culture Yersinia, preceded by inoculation in MacConkay agar. Plates with evident growth in the differential media consistent with reported accounts for Yersinia were picked and inoculated in selective medium and left for 48 hours until growth was seen, other samples were left until five days before being discarded as negative. Pure cultures were subjected to a comprehensive biochemical test standard and previously applied for diagnosis and discrimination of Yersinia species. Result: This research recorded an overall microbial prevalence of 30%. Prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica was 18.3% and Y. pseudotuberculosis 11.7%. Male dogs presented a relative prevalence of Y. enterocolitica 40.9% compared with 59.1% recorded for female dogs. Symptomatic dogs presented a relative prevalence of Y. enterocolitica of 86.4% and Y. pseudotuberculosis of 71.4%

Detection of Zoonotic Yersinia Infection in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Dogs in Sokoto State Nigeria

Background: Zoonotic Yersinia infection has been previously reported in humans and animal hosts in Nigeria, occasionally with fulminant disease. Despite earlier evidence of Yersinia pathogen circulating in human and animal populations in Nigeria, studies and suspicion index to Yersinia is below an acceptable average amongst clinicians, diagnosticians, academics and health policy officers. Methods: The Deoxycholate Citrate Agar (DCA) was used as selective media to culture Yersinia preceded by inoculation in MacConkay agar. Plates with evident growth in the differential media consistent with reported accounts for Yersinia were picked and inoculated in selective medium and left for 48 hours until growth was seen, other samples left until five days before being discarded as negative. Pure cultures were subjected to comprehensive biochemical tests standard and previously applied for diagnosis and discrimination of Yersinia species. Result: This research recorded an overall microbial prevalence of 30%. Prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica was 18.3% and Y. pseudotuberculosis 11.7%. Male dogs presented a relative prevalence of Y.

Trend of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Care For People Living with HIV and AIDS in Benue State, North Central, Nigeria

This article reveals trend of HIV/AIDS in Benue State, north central, Nigeria. The method adopted was a descriptive analysis of the HIV epidemiology in Nigeria using Benue State as a case study. This review article was through the report of periodic epidemiological surveys of Antenatal Clinic (ANC) sentinel surveys, National HIV and AIDS and Reproductive Health Surveys (NARHS), Nigeria Demographic Health Surveys (NDHS), Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Surveys (IBBSS), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), United Nations Agency for AIDS (UNAIDS) and Benue State Agency for the Control of AIDS (BenSACA). This study reveals that, out of the current 1.9 million people representing 1.4% (15-49 years) living with HIV in Nigeria, Benue State accounts for 188,482 representing 4.9%. Thus, Benue State is now second as against the previous reports which have consistently placed Benue State as the state with highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria since the beginning of the pandemic in the country. The new prevalence estimates by states, however, still categorize Benue state and six other states with high prevalence of 2.0% and above. The national prevalence among females is significantly higher at an estimated 1.9% than the male prevalence estimated at 0.9%. In conclusion, the effort of peer educator trainers, awareness of HIV/AIDS on radio and television programs and efforts of other stake holders who are working towards ending the AIDS epidemic have been the secret behind the compliance of Benue people towards spreading news of AIDS not the virus. However, much still need to be done to consolidate on this success.

The Basic Medical Sciences: Medical Doctors as Key Players

The Basic Medical Sciences (BMS) are at the front burner of major medical breakthroughs (1). The BMS include Physiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Genetics, the Basic Clinical Sciences are Histopathology, Chemical pathology, Haematology, Microbiology and Immunology (2). The multidisciplinary nature of these courses and the high research collaboration (especially in the developed countries) has eroded the boundaries between these fields of medicine

Chest X-Ray Findings Among Adult Patients Attending Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto Northwestern Nigeria

Background: Chest x-ray is the most frequently performed diagnostic examination particularly in patients with respiratory and cardiac diseases and for routine medical checkup and planning for surgery. A study on the image quality of chest x-rays had been conducted but the findings on the chest x-rays have not been studied in this tertiary health institution. This study aimed at revealing the most common pathologies and sex distribution of the pathologies on chest x-rays of adult patients attending the hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 190 adult (aged 18 and above) patients’ chest x-ray reports was conducted using the existing reported documents of chest x-rays from the archives of Radiology Department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto from January 2018 - October 2019 using data capture sheet as instrument for data collection. Data was analyzed using Microsoft excel version 2010. Results: Out of the 190 chest x-rays, 54% were for male while 46% were for female patients with the highest number of patients in the 29-38 years age group. Most of the radiographs studied were normal examinations (38.95%). Moreover, the most common pathology was hypertensive heart failure (26.84%) with male preponderance (13.68%). Conclusion: Hypertensive heart disease is the most common pathologic finding of adult chest x-ray in the study area with elderly male preponderance.

Serum Alkaline Phosphatase as a Predictive Marker for Bone Metastasis in Breast Cancer Patients Seen in a Tertiary Health Institution in Northern Nigeria

Introduction: Early detection of bone metastases is helpful in the treatment of breast cancer. Change in serum levels of alkaline phosphatase could assist diagnosis and follow-up of metastatic breast cancer. Aim: This study aimed to determine the clinical correlates of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in breast cancer patients with bone metastases seen in the Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. Material and Methods: All breast cancer patients’ case note seen at the department of Radiotherapy and Oncology Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto from January 2012 to January 2017 were retrieved. The Information extracted include age, pre-treatment serum ALP, presence or absence of met

Facial Width-Height Ratio (fWHR): A Cue to Financial Success Among Male Traders in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) is a stable facial structure, and several studies investigated the predictive effects of fWHR on individual traits and behaviors. There is a dearth of data regarding the relationship between fWHR and success in business in terms of income level. The aim of this study was to correlate fWHR with monthly income of traders at kantin kwari market of Kano State. Materials and method: The participants were selected using simple random sampling technique with their consent and their Bio-data (age, sex, marital status, educational achievement, assets and other properties) and monthly income status were enquired for and recorded appropriately. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. A Pearson’s correlation was carried out on the entire study population as well as based on the number of children, and number of wives. Results: A significant inverse association between fWHR and income level among participants with ≤ 2 children was obtained (r= -0.29, P= 0.035). Conclusion: the number of children a participant has, is a moderator for the relationship between fWHR and monthly income and higher value for fWHR predicted lower monthly income.