Socioeconomic and Demographic Disparities in Immunotherapy Utilization for Advanced Kidney and Bladder Cancer.

Objectives: Immunotherapy (IO) drugs have been increasingly utilized in locally advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UC). Multiple trials have demonstrated clear survival benefit, however, there are often barriers to access for these advanced therapies which has been demonstrated in other non-urologic malignancies. The goal of this study was to assess socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with the receipt of IO for advanced ccRCC and UC.

Health-Related Quality of Life Among HIV-Infected Children and Its Association With Socio-Demographic, Clinical and Nutritional Variables: A Comparative Approach.

Background: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and its treatment impact the child's life as well as that of their caregivers. As therapeutic advances are made in the field, improved survival has shifted the focus from morbidity and mortality to quality of life. This study aims to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children living with HIV in comparison with an HIV-negative control group and determine its relationship with socio-demographic, clinical, and nutritional variables.

Wisdom Matters: Honoring the Wisdom and Assessing the Health Literacy of Black Women Living with HIV.

Low literacy levels in Black women with HIV (WWH) have been shown to amplify pre-existing health disparities and sequelae of non-adherence to health-related guidance. Wisdom Matters is a community-based participatory research program with an aim of improving health literacy in populations of Black WWH and assessing the existing knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs surrounding HIV care delivery and psychosocial barriers in these populations. Our research was conducted in Boston, MA, where 17 Black WWH were recruited to complete a 6-week curriculum designed to provide a thorough and cohesive path to empowerment, both individually and collectively, pertaining to living with HIV.

Implementing bubble continuous positive airway pressure in a lower middle-income country: a Nigerian experience.

Bubble CPAP (bCPAP) is used for respiratory distress (RD) in neonates. The leading causes of neonatal mortality can lead to severe RD. Many neonatal deaths are preventable using evidence-based interventions like bCPAP as part of a comprehensive approach.

Socio-demographic determinants of malnutrition among primary school aged children in Enugu, Nigeria.

Introduction: Several factors including the parental literacy, illness, socioeconomic status, poor sanitation and hygienic practices affect the physical growth of children. The aim of this study was to determine the socio-demographic determinants of malnutrition among primary school aged children in Enugu, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study involving primary school children in Enugu was carried out over a 3 month period.

Comparison of Tanner staging of HIV-infected and uninfected girls at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: A number of factors influence sexual maturation in adolescents, including chronic illnesses like HIV. Marshall and Tanner devised a method of classifying the adolescent based on the level of sexual maturation into five stages. This study compared the Tanner staging of HIV-infected and uninfected girls.

Neurocognitive Function of School-aged HIV-infected Children in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Evidence has shown neurocognitive problems often exist among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children. There are limited data for children in Nigeria.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 100 school-aged perinatally HIV-infected children seen in the paediatric HIV clinic and age/sex-matched controls from the general paediatric clinic.

HIV status disclosure rate and reasons for non-disclosure among infected children and adolescents in Enugu, southeast Nigeria.

Aims: To determine the rate of HIV status disclosure, caregivers' reasons for non-disclosure, and factors influencing disclosure among a sample of HIV-infected children in Enugu, southeast Nigeria.

Methods: Data were collected prospectively via a questionnaire on HIV-infected children and their caregivers who visited the pediatric HIV clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013. The data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 19 software.

Hematological Indices at Birth of Infants of HIV-Positive Mothers Participating in a Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Program.

Background: The mother-to-child transmission of HIV, which accounts for 90% of infections in children, has been reduced markedly through the use of antiretroviral drugs by pregnant women and their newborns. Changes to the World Health Organization guidelines support further extension of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs with increased risk of toxicity on the fetuses.

Aim: To determine the hematological indices at birth of infants exposed in utero to maternal antiretroviral drugs.

Blood pressure values in healthy term newborns at a tertiary health facility in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Blood pressure (BP) is a reflection of hemodynamic variables. It is an important vital sign and indicator of clinical stability. Accurate measurement of this physiological signal is essential for the optimal management of the ill infant.

Left ventricular systolic function in Nigerian children infected with HIV/AIDS: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Cardiac complications contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in children with HIV/AIDS. These rates have been under-reported in sub-Saharan African children.

Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional Doppler echocardiographic study of ventricular systolic function, performed at a tertiary clinic on children with HIV/AIDS.

Unresolving short stature in a possible case of mucopolysccharidosis.

We present a metabolic disorder with main complaints of unresolving short stature following prolonged treatment for rickets. ES is a 4-year-old male who first presented to our hospital on self-referral but had been seen previously at another tertiary health facility. The complaints were a swelling on the back and poor growth since 1 year of age with associated skeletal deformities: Chest wall, wrists, knees and ankle joints, which were progressive.

Prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection among children in enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are major public health challenges in the developing world especially sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis C virus infection among children infected with HIV.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Paediatric HIV Clinic, UNTH, Enugu between July and December 2009.

Disseminated Histoplasmosis in a 13-year-old girl: a case report.

Background: Disseminated histoplasmosis is a rare fungal infection and most documented cases are in immune-compromised individuals such as those with acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome.

Objective: To describe a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in an adolescent girl.

Method: We report a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in a 13-year-old adolescent girl.

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV: the pre-rapid advice experience of the university of Nigeria teaching hospital Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu, South-east Nigeria.

Background: Mother-to-child transmission of human immune deficiency virus (HIV) is the most common route of HIV transmission in the pediatric age group. A number of risk factors contribute to the rate of this transmission. Such risk factors include advance maternal HIV disease, lack of anti-viral prophylaxis in the mother and child, mixing of maternal and infant blood during delivery and breastfeeding.

Under-five protein energy malnutrition admitted at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu: a 10 year retrospective review.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, co-morbidities and case fatality rates of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) admissions at the paediatric ward of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, South-east Nigeria over a 10 year period.

Design: A retrospective study using case Notes, admission and mortality registers retrieved from the Hospital's Medical Records Department.

Subjects: All children aged 0 to 59 months admitted into the hospital on account of PEM between 1996 and 2005.

The impact of recycled neonatal incubators in Nigeria: a 6-year follow-up study.

Nigeria has a record of high newborn mortality as an estimated 778 babies die daily, accounting for a ratio of 48 deaths per 1000 live births. The aim of this paper was to show how a deteriorating neonatal delivery system in Nigeria may have, in part, been improved by the application of a novel recycled incubator technique (RIT). Retrospective assessment of clinical, technical, and human factors in 15 Nigerian neonatal centres was carried out to investigate how the application of RIT impacted these factors.

Mothers' perception of excessive crying in infancy in south eastern Nigeria.

Background: Excessive infant crying, though usually benign, can be very troublesome to parents with unwanted consequences on the child. Previous reports had shown cultural and racial differences in it's perception by mothers. We undertook this study to determine the prevalence of excessive crying in our area of practice and also determine associated factors.

Infant sleeping environment in South-eastern Nigeria (sleeping place and sleeping position): a preliminary survey.

Objective. To determine infant sleeping position/place and the factors associated with them in South-eastern Nigeria. Methods.

Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) uptake, nevirapine use and infant feeding options at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital.

This study assessed voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) uptake, nevirapine use and infant feeding options among the pregnant women seen in a tertiary care centre in Enugu, South-east Nigeria, with the aim of identifying gaps (if any) in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) implementation in the hospital. It was a prospective study of all antenatal clinic attendees and those who delivered at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, within a 7-month period (1 March to 30 September 2005). During the 7-month period, 635 pregnant women accessed the PMTCT services in the hospital.

Hepatitis B vaccination status among health workers in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Health workers in Nigeria are particularly at increased risk of contracting hepatitis B virus in their work place because Nigeria is a holoendemic area. Hepatitis B vaccination virtually eliminates this risk. There are few studies on the perception and uptake of hepatitis B vaccination among health workers in Nigeria and none to our knowledge in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.

Decision - delivery interval and perinatal outcome in emergency caesarean sections.

Recent studies have cast doubt on the recommended 30-min decision--delivery interval (DDI) in emergency caesarean sections. The practicability, justification, anticipated beneficial effect on neonatal outcome and its medico-legal implications have been questioned. We set out to determine (1) the DDI for emergency caesarean sections in two Nigerian tertiary care centres (2) the effect of DDI on perinatal outcome (particularly if the DDI is longer than the internationally recommended 30 min) and (3) the factors causing delays in intervention if any.

Neonatal teeth association with Down's syndrome. A case report.

A case of natal teeth in a four-day-old female brought by a forty four year old mother is presented. These natal teeth were present in the upper and lower jaws. Of special interest was the shape and positions of these especially the upper tooth in the left canine region and the fact that these teeth were present in a child with Down's syndrome features.