Neutrophil Elastase as a Predictor of Delivery in Pregnant Women with Preterm Labour.

Background And Objectives: No previous study has been conducted in Nigeria on the role of neutrophil elastase in predicting preterm birth. The present study aimed to determine the role of the neutrophil elastase test in predicting birth in women with preterm labor.

Methods: The present prospective cohort study recruited 83 pregnant women with preterm labor between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation, and followed up these subjects for 14 days.

Atherogenic Index, Cardiovascular Risk Ratio, and Atherogenic Coefficient as Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Pre-eclampsia in Southeast Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a key trigger for maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Current evidence suggests an association between dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. Thus, the importance of evaluating some indices of atherosclerosis during pregnancy cannot be over-emphasized.

Evaluation of anxiety and depression among pregnant women in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy are public health concerns. They are commonly reported among pregnant women from all over the world. Maternal mental health has not been prioritized, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Association between maternal selenium levels and pregnancy outcome among human immunodeficiency virus-positive and human immunodeficiency virus-negative pregnant women in a tertiary health-care center in Owerri, Nigeria: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection constitutes a major medical complication of pregnancy and is associated with adverse feto-maternal outcomes. However, the relationship between maternal serum selenium levels and pregnancy outcomes has been inconsistent.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal serum selenium status and pregnancy outcome in HIV-positive and HIV-negative women in a tertiary health facility.

Effect of late antenatal booking on maternal anemia and fetus birth weight on parturients in Enugu, Nigeria: An analytical cross-sectional study.

Background: The benefits of antenatal care are maximized when women book early for care. However, despite these resounding benefits, women still book late, while others do not book at all, resulting in dire feto-maternal consequences.

Aim: Determine the effect of late prenatal booking on maternal anemia and birth weight in babies of women who delivered in public health facilities in Enugu and deduce the reasons for booking late.

Antivirals for prevention of hepatitis B virus mother-to-child transmission in human immunodeficiency virus positive pregnant women co-infected with hepatitis B virus.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection promotes an aggressive disease course of HBV infection. In the only available non-Cochrane systematic review on antiviral therapy during pregnancy for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HBV, none of the women studied had HBV-HIV co-infection but were either HBV- or HIV-seropositive. Treatment of HBV alone may develop HIV-strains that are resistant to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Prevalence and associated factors of recurrent pregnancy loss in Nigeria according to different national and international criteria (ASRM/ESHRE vs. WHO/RCOG).

Background: In low-and middle-income countries, no conclusive research explains the prevalence and associated factors of women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Some authorities have recommended further scientific research on the effect of various definitions of RPL.

Objective: To assess prevalence and associated factors of RPL among pregnant women in Nigeria according to different national and international criteria: the American Society for Reproductive Medicine/ European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ASRM/ESHRE; two losses) and the World Health Organization/ Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (WHO/RCOG; three consecutive losses) criteria.

Association between serum chlamydial antibody levels and tubal infertility in tertiary health facility in South-East Nigeria: a case-control study.

Objectives: This study evaluates the association between genital Chlamydial infection and tubal factor infertility in a tertiary health facility in South-East Nigeria.

Design: This was a case-control analytical study.

Setting: Gynaecology Clinic and Maternity Unit of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

ECG abnormalities among HIV infected children placed on ART at Enugu, South East of Nigeria.

Background: Cardiovascular abnormalities are not much reported among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected children especially in Africa where there is high HIV disease. In addition, the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in such children may have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of randomly selected eighty HIV infected and 80 aged matched non- HIV-infected children were used.

Staphylococcal infections and infertility: mechanisms and management.

Infertility is a subject of worldwide concern as it affects approximately 15% of couples. Among the prime contributors of infertility, urogenital bacterial infections have lately gained much clinical importance. Staphylococcal species are commensal bacteria and major human pathogens mediating an array of reproductive tract infections.

Serum antioxidant micronutrient levels in pre-eclamptic pregnant women in Enugu, south-East Nigeria: a comparative cross-sectional analytical study.

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a common obstetric complication of pregnancy in Nigeria, and oxidative stress has been implicated in its aetiopathogenesis. Despite this fact, there is a paucity of information regarding the serum antioxidant micronutrient status of pre-eclamptic Nigerian women. The objective of the was to determine the mean serum levels of some antioxidant trace elements (copper, zinc, selenium, magnesium, manganese) in pre-eclamptic pregnant women and compare with that of healthy pregnant women in Enugu, South-Eastern, Nigeria.

Effects of short inter-pregnancy interval on maternal and perinatal outcomes: A cohort study of pregnant women in a low-income country.

Background: Short inter-pregnancy interval (IPI) is a potential risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Previous reports from sub-Sahara Africa documented increasing incidence of short IPI but evidence is lacking in its effect on pregnancy outcome.

Aim: The study aimed to determine the effect of short IPI on pregnancy outcome in Nigeria.

Relationship between corneal biomechanical properties among pregnant women in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

Objective: In Nigeria, many pregnant women as well as health-care providers are unaware of the effect of pregnancy on the eye. The present study investigated the changes in central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal sensitivity (CS), and intraocular pressure (IOP) among pregnant women in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria and the relationship between them.

Materials And Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was used.

Evidence for decreasing sperm count in African population from 1965 to 2015.

Purpose: This meta-analysis, following our previous reports those documented an overall 57% diminution in mean sperm concentration around the globe over past 35 years and 32.5% decline in past 50 years in European population, attempts to report the declining trend of sperm concentrations in African population between 1965 and 2015.

Methods: In the course of retrieval of data following MOOSE guidelines and PRISMA checklist, we found a total of fourteen studies that have been conducted during that period on altering sperm concentration in the African male.

Effect of routine preoperative fasting on residual gastric volume and acid in patients undergoing myomectomy.

Background: Preoperative fasting of patients aims to reduce the residual gastric volume (RGV). The magnitude of this reduction is yet to be ascertained in the Nigerian population.

Aim: To compare the RGV and pH of patients fasted for 6-12 h with those allowed oral intake of fluid up to 2 h preoperatively.

Effect of early amniotomy on the outcome of spontaneous labour: a randomized controlled trial of pregnant women in Enugu, South-east Nigeria.

Background: Early amniotomy is common in obstetric practice but, its effectiveness has not been proven.

Objectives: To determine the effects of early amniotomy on the duration of labour, and other maternal / neonatal outcomes of uncomplicated pregnancies in Enugu, South-east Nigeria.

Methods: A randomized controlled study of 214 consenting term pregnant women at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria.

Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffaon blood pressure and electrolyte profile of mild to moderate hypertensive Nigerians: A comparative study with hydrochlorothiazide.

Background: Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) is widely consumed in Nigeria as a refreshing beverage and also as an antihypertensive agent. Since three decades ago when its antihypertensive activities were reported in several animal experiments, its consumption has greatly increased.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of HS consumption on blood pressure (BP) and electrolytes of mild to moderate hypertensive Nigerians and compare it with that of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a diuretic widely used as first-line antihypertensive drug.

Prevalence of sexual dysfunction among females in a university community in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Female sexual dysfunction is a common, condition that significantly reduces the quality-of-life of the affected persons. Unfortunately, because of the veil of secrecy that shrouds discussions on human sexuality, there has been limited research on this topic in some sociocultural settings.

Aim: The aim was to determine the prevalence and some sociodemographic factors associated with sexual dysfunction in females in a university community at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Atherogenic index of plasma in highly active antiretroviral therapy-naïve patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection in Southeast Nigeria.

Introduction: Metabolic abnormalities are often common among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is increasingly being used as a screening tool for dyslipidemia as it predicts the presence of small, dense, and highly atherogenic low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. The aim of this study was to identify the pattern and predictors of an abnormal atherogenic index in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-naïve HIV patients.

Impact of some low-cost interventions on students' performance in a Nigerian medical school.

Background: Students' poor performance in physiology examinations has been worrisome to the university community. Reported preference of peer-tutoring to didactic lectures at the University of Nigeria Medical School has not been investigated.

Aim: The aim of this work is to design/implement low-cost interventions to improve teaching and learning of physiology.