Professional Development Among African Oncologists: Examining Professional Development Activities, Satisfaction Levels, Barriers, and Enablers.

Africa is currently facing unprecedented growth in its cancer burden. Training an adequate number of skilled physicians is critical to addressing this challenge. We examine African oncology faculty's professional development (PD) activities, associated barriers, enablers, satisfaction levels, and highlight the implications for improving the quality of the oncology faculty workforce in SSA.

Dietary reversal reverts diet-induced alterations in obstructed bladders of Wistar rats.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of diet reversal to standard chow on diet-induced changes in structure and function of normal and obstructed bladders in male Wistar rats.

Methods: Eighty animals were equally divided into sham-surgery and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) dietary groups and fed standard chow (control), high-carbohydrate, high-fat, and high-protein diets. BOO groups had surgically induced BOO, whereas sham surgery was performed on sham groups at the end of week 8.

Dietary intake of parents affects antioxidant activity and inflammatory status in F2 offspring.

Background: Dietary intake is implicated in the pathogenesis of non-communicable diseases, especially those affecting metabolism. Many non-communicable diseases are mediated by alterations in antioxidant activity and chronic inflammation with its resultant effects. Developmental programming causes offspring of parents with particular metabolic phenotypes to adopt predisposition to these phenotypes during development.

Dietary macronutrients modulate hypertrophy and contractility of the detrusor in an experimental model of bladder obstruction.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of various diets on structure and function of the bladder in both normal and obstructed bladders of male Wistar rats.

Methods: Sham-operated rats and rats with experimentally-induced bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) were fed with standard rats' feed (control), High-carbohydrate (HCD), High-fat (HFD) and High-protein (HPD) diets. Feeding was continued for 4 weeks after BOO surgery.

Dietary macronutrient content affects inflammatory and fibrotic factors in normal and obstructed bladders.

Aims: To investigate the effects of diets on factors and markers of inflammation and fibrosis in unobstructed and obstructed bladders of male Wistar rats.

Materials And Methods: Partial BOO was surgically induced in twelve-week old rats after feeding on different diets for eight (8) weeks. Feeding continued for 4 weeks after surgery.

Effectiveness of postoperative analgesia in the management of acute pain in day-case surgeries.

Background: Surgery is the most common source of acute pain.

Aim: To determine the intensity of acute pain following day case surgery and evaluate the effectiveness of the prescribed analgesics.

Methods: A descriptive observational study carried out at the main operating and the Urology Outpatient theatre suites of the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Methyl jasmonate reduces testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia through regulation of inflammatory and apoptotic processes in rats.

Background: Phytotherapy is becoming a treatment option in management of diseases including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We have shown previously that methyl jasmonate (MeJA) ameliorated BPH, however the underlying mechanism of action remains unknown. This study was designed to investigate in mechanistic terms the protective role of MeJA in BPH.

Developing a competency-based medical education curriculum for the core basic medical sciences in an African Medical School.

The College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan recently revised its MBBS and BDS curricula to a competency-based medical education method of instruction. This paper reports the process of revising the methods of instruction and assessment in the core basic medical sciences directed at producing medical and dental graduates with a sound knowledge of the subjects sufficient for medical and dental practice and for future postgraduate efforts in the field or related disciplines. The health needs of the community and views of stakeholders in the Ibadan medical and dental schools were determined, and the "old" curriculum was reviewed.

Erectile Dysfunction Among Men Attending Surgical Outpatients Department in a Tertiary Hospital in South-Western Nigeria.

Background: Erectile dysfunction is becoming a public health issue with high incidences reported in community studies.

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics and outcome of treatment in men with erectile dysfunction in a tertiary center in Ibadan southwestern Nigeria.

Methods: Data of men with erectile dysfunction was retrieved between July 2004 and June 2014 and analyzed using SPSS version 16 statistical software.

Growing partnerships: leveraging the power of collaboration through the Medical Education Partnership Initiative.

A major goal of the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is to improve local health systems by strengthening medical education in Sub-Saharan Africa. A new approach to collaboration was intended to overcome the one-sided nature of many partnerships that often provide more rewards to institutions from wealthy countries than to their Sub-Saharan African counterparts. The benefits of this MEPI approach are reflected in at least five positive outcomes.

Physician tracking in sub-Saharan Africa: current initiatives and opportunities.

Background: Physician tracking systems are critical for health workforce planning as well as for activities to ensure quality health care - such as physician regulation, education, and emergency response. However, information on current systems for physician tracking in sub-Saharan Africa is limited. The objective of this study is to provide information on the current state of physician tracking systems in the region, highlighting emerging themes and innovative practices.

A survey of Sub-Saharan African medical schools.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa suffers a disproportionate share of the world's burden of disease while having some of the world's greatest health care workforce shortages. Doctors are an important component of any high functioning health care system. However, efforts to strengthen the doctor workforce in the region have been limited by a small number of medical schools with limited enrolments, international migration of graduates, poor geographic distribution of doctors, and insufficient data on medical schools.

Medical schools in sub-Saharan Africa.

Small numbers of graduates from few medical schools, and emigration of graduates to other countries, contribute to low physician presence in sub-Saharan Africa. The Sub-Saharan African Medical School Study examined the challenges, innovations, and emerging trends in medical education in the region. We identified 168 medical schools; of the 146 surveyed, 105 (72%) responded.