Hypertension Trends and White Matter Brain Injury in the Offspring Framingham Heart Study Cohort.

Background: Hypertension is the most potent stroke risk factor and is also related to cerebral small vessel disease. We studied the relation between mid-to-late-life hypertension trends and cerebral white matter injury in community-dwelling individuals from the FHS (Framingham Heart Study).

Methods: FHS Offspring cohort participants with available mid-life and late-life blood pressure measurements and brain magnetic resonance imaging were included.

Relation of MRI-Visible Perivascular Spaces and Other MRI Markers of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

Perivascular spaces (PVS) visible on brain MRI signal cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). The coexistence of PVS with other CSVD manifestations likely increases the risk of adverse neurological outcomes. We related PVS to other CSVD manifestations and brain volumes that are markers of vascular brain injury and neurodegeneration.

Association of MRI Visible Perivascular Spaces and Neurofilament Light Chain: The Framingham Heart Study.

Background: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a marker of neuronal injury. Perivascular spaces (PVS) visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represent cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) but their role as markers of neuronal injury needs further clarification.

Objective: To relate PVS burden according to brain topography and plasma NfL.

Inflammatory biomarkers and MRI visible perivascular spaces: The Framingham Heart Study.

We studied the association between inflammatory biomarkers and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visible perivascular spaces (PVS) in Framingham Heart Study participants free of stroke and dementia. PVS in the basal ganglia (BG) and centrum semiovale (CSO) were rated with validated methods and categorized based on counts. A mixed score of high PVS burden in neither, one or both regions was also evaluated.

APOE E4 is associated with impaired self-declared cognition but not disease risk or age of onset in Nigerians with Parkinson's disease.

The relationship between APOE polymorphisms and Parkinson's disease (PD) in black Africans has not been previously investigated. We evaluated the association between APOE polymorphic variability and self-declared cognition in 1100 Nigerians with PD and 1097 age-matched healthy controls. Cognition in PD was assessed using the single item cognition question (item 1.

A Cross-Sectional Comprehensive Assessment of the Profile and Burden of Non-motor Symptoms in Relation to Motor Phenotype in the Nigeria Parkinson Disease Registry Cohort.

Background: Data on non-motor symptoms (NMS) in black Africans with Parkinson's disease (PD) are sparse.

Objective: To describe the profile of NMS in the Nigeria PD Registry (NPDR) cohort and explore the relationship between NMS and PD motor phenotype.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of the frequency and burden of NMS, based on the non-motor symptoms scale (NMSS) and the Chaudhuri method respectively in our cohort.

The Nigeria Parkinson Disease Registry: Process, Profile, and Prospects of a Collaborative Project.

Background: Clinical disease registries are useful for quality improvement in care, benchmarking standards, and facilitating research. Collaborative networks established thence can enhance national and international studies by generating more robust samples and credible data and promote knowledge sharing and capacity building. This report describes the methodology, baseline data, and prospects of the Nigeria Parkinson Disease Registry.

Pattern and determinants of self-reported enacted stigma among rural dwellers living with epilepsy attending a tertiary health facility in Enugu State Nigeria.

Purpose: Epilepsy related stigma is a barrier to recovery and has been linked to a broad range of psychosocial consequences and has the potential to influence the provision of care to people with epilepsy. Understanding the determinants of enacted stigma in epilepsy is relevant in the understanding of the burden of epilepsy in Nigeria.

Method: Using a semi-structured questionnaire, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among rural dwellers receiving treatment for epilepsy in a tertiary referral specialist hospital in Enugu, south east Nigeria.

Knowledge of medical students about epilepsy: Need for a change.

Purpose: Though most doctors in their professional life will provide care for people with epilepsy, many will not get further training in their professional life. There may be other barriers, perceived or not, to providing care to people living with epilepsy by doctors which need to be approached in the medical undergraduate curriculum and medical continuing education. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge gaps of medical students on basic issues regarding epilepsy that could be useful in preparing training material for the students and continuous medical education for doctors working in the community.

The Value of Internet Tools in Undergraduate Surgical Education: Perspective of Medical Students in a Developing Country.

Objective: Advances in information technology (IT) in the past decade present opportunities and challenges in undergraduate surgical education. There may be need to evaluate the knowledge base and the use of Internet tools among medical students in settings where traditional mode of education is preeminent. This may help to establish a conceptual framework for integrating e-learning into the traditional teaching to enhance learning experience.

Prevalence of active convulsive epilepsy in an urban slum in Enugu South East Nigeria.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of active convulsive epilepsy and treatment gap in two Urban slums in Enugu South East Nigeria.

Methods: A 3 phase cross-sectional descriptive study was done to survey individuals ≥ 15 years in 2 slums in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

Results: The prevalence of epilepsy was 6.

Population-based prevalence of high blood pressure among adults in an urban slum in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), rapid urbanization and changing lifestyle have modified the profile and pattern of various medical disorders. Apart from high prevalence rates, recent trends with regard to hypertension in Africa include: low levels of awareness, treatment and control. Although a large number of studies provide data about hypertension in SSA, few studies focused on special populations such as urban slum dwellers.

Headache prevalence and its characterization amongst hospital workers in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

Background: Headaches are probably the commonest neurological complaint worldwide. Amongst workers it contributes significantly to loss of productive time and work efficiency. It is an important cause of disability and reduced quality of life.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of epilepsy among community residents in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

Purpose: The understanding of the opinions of the Nigerian public about epilepsy and its treatment is relevant to the reduction of the large treatment gap that exists in management of the condition. The major aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes of urban dwellers to epilepsy and its treatment and to identify the gaps in knowledge that could pose as barriers in the treatment and care of epilepsy patients within the community.

Method: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out in one of the districts of Enugu metropolis, Nigeria.

Frequency and risk factors for distal sensory polyneuropathy in HIV infection in a developing country.

Distal sensory polyneuropathy is a source of morbidity in HIV infection. This study aims to determine the frequency and effect of demographic and clinical variables on distal sensory polyneuropathy, among HIV-positive participants in south-east Nigeria. The study involved highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-naive, patients on HAART and HIV-negative matched controls conducted at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu south-east Nigeria.

Undergraduate surgery clerkship and the choice of surgery as a career: perspective from a developing country.

Background: There are concerns regarding a possible decline in the proportion of students choosing surgery as a career in some countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Published works indicate that most students choose their ultimate career during undergraduate training. The present study was undertaken to assess the medical student's perception of the surgery clerkship and determine its influence in the choice of surgery as a career.

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards epilepsy among secondary school students in Enugu, southeast Nigeria.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitude of secondary school students to epilepsy and its treatment that could pose as barriers in the treatment and care of epilepsy patients within the community.

Methods: This study was cross-sectional and descriptive in design using a self administered custom designed multiple choice questionnaire with sections on general information on epilepsy, awareness and perception of epilepsy, treatment of epilepsy/seizures and attitude towards people living with epilepsy.

Results: Out of 969 questionnaires analyzed, the majority of the students (87.

Ischaemic stroke in hyperthyroidism without cardiac arrhythmia. A case report from south east Nigeria.

Background: The relationship between hyperthyroidism and stroke is well established in the setting of atrial fibrillation. However there is limited literature for ischaemic stroke occuring in hyperthyroidism without cardiac arrhythmia. No such case had been described in South East Nigeria.

Perception of epilepsy among public workers: perspectives from a developing country.

A cross-sectional survey of health-care workers and other public servants was undertaken to determine the perception of epilepsy and attitudes towards persons with epilepsy (PWE) in Eastern Nigeria. Response rate was 89.4% (161/180) comprising 95 (59%) health-care workers (Group A) and 66 (41%) other public servants (Group B).

Depression in patients with epilepsy: a study from enugu, South East Nigeria.

Background: Depression is a common psychiatric disorder in epilepsy patients. A bidirectional interaction is thought to be present between epilepsy and depression. There are few studies of this relationship in Nigerian Africans.

Profile of neurological admissions at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu.

Background: The burden of Neurological diseases may be on the increase especially in developing countries. Improved outcome in these settings may require appreciation of the spectrum of Neurological diseases and the impediments to their management. We aim to determine the profile of neurological admissions and the challenges of managing these diseases at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu South East Nigeria.

Multiple sclerosis in a nigerian alcoholic male: a case report from enugu, South East Nigeria.

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a rare neurological disorder in black Africans. In Nigeria it had been difficult to confirm suspected cases due to the paucity of diagnostic facilities. The availability of magnetic resonance imaging has enabled an increased confidence in making the diagnosis.