Virus Load Kinetics in Lassa Fever Patients Treated With Ribavirin: A Retrospective Cohort Study From Southern Nigeria.

Background: The standard of care for Lassa fever is the use of ribavirin with supportive therapy. There is little information on the course of viremia and its relationship with clinical outcomes in patients treated with ribavirin.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of virologic and clinical parameters of 152 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction-confirmed Lassa fever cases admitted and treated with ribavirin therapy.

Characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease in three tertiary health centers in southern Nigeria.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to two chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract which is generally believed to be rare in most African countries. The objectives of the current study were to present the experience of three tertiary gastroenterology centers in southern part of Nigeria on IBD, highlighting the age distribution of the patients seen, management and the impact on the quality of their life in university-based community-type practices in Nigeria.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of charts of inflammatory bowel disease seen between January 2007 and June 2010 at three teaching hospitals in Southern Nigeria.

Molecular diagnostics for lassa fever at Irrua specialist teaching hospital, Nigeria: lessons learnt from two years of laboratory operation.

Background: Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa. However, none of the hospitals in the endemic areas of Nigeria has the capacity to perform Lassa virus diagnostics. Case identification and management solely relies on non-specific clinical criteria.

Are the symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in Nigerian patients objective? An evaluation using the United Kingdom Screening Test (UKST) and Bio-Thesiometry.

Background: Symptoms suggestive of peripheral neuropathy (PN) in diabetes mellitus (DM) do not always indicate presence ofunderlying PN.

Objective: A pioneering study among Nigerian diabetic subjects to evaluate the objectivity of their symptoms of PN using two objective diagnostic instruments for PN the United Kingdom Screening Test (UKST) and Bio-Thesiometry.

Subjects And Methods: One hundred and twenty diabetic participants and a similar number of non-diabetic controls were screened for symptoms of PN using the UKST symptoms score and subsequently separated into two groups those with symptoms ofPN and those without.

Prevalence of dyslipidaemia in apparently healthy professionals in Asaba, South South Nigeria.

Background: Hypercholesterolaemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) especially in industrialized societies. Coronary heart disease is becoming an increasing cause of death even in the developing world.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of dyslipidaemia in apparently healthy professionals in a developing economy.

Colonic cancer in adolescents. A report of three cases.

Colorectal cancer is a common malignant neoplasm in adults, with a peak incidence of 60-79 years. About 1 million cases of the disease and half a million deaths associated with it are reported world-wide each year. Colorectal cancer, however, is very uncommon in children and adolescents.

Is asymptomatic peripheral neuropathy present in Nigerian diabetic patients? An assessment using the United Kingdom screening test (UKST) and bio-thesiometry.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is commonly complicated by peripheral neuropathy (PN). Symptoms suggestive of peripheral neuropathy (PN) in diabetes mellitus (DM) do not always indicate presence of underlying PN, while absence of symptoms does not rule out presence of underlying PN. To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic PN in diabetic patients using two methods--the United Kingdom Screening Test (UKST) and Bio-Thesiometry.

Seroconversion of children following natural measles infection and vaccination.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between measles virus (MV) antibodies (abs) in sera and breast milk of nursing mothers, their contributions in seroconversion of children (0-9 months) post vaccination, prevalence of prevaccination measles abs in sera of children brought for measles vaccination and seroconversion rate in vaccinees from nursing and lactating mothers. Also to determine the potency of vaccines available in Nigeria in relation to seroconversion.

Methods: One hundred and twenty pre- and post-vaccination sera and breast milk samples were collected from each nursing mother while corresponding number of finger prick pre- and post-vaccination sera samples were collected from children on filter papers.

Axillary fibroadenoma mimicking lymphadenopathy.

Ectopic breast tissues are subject to the similar physiological and pathological alterations seen in breast tissues situated in their normal anatomical positions. We report a 34-year old multiparous woman who presented with a right axillary lump of about 1 year duration, for which clinical impression of axillary lymphadenopathy was made and lumpectomy carried out. Histology of excised lump revealed fibroadenoma.

Urinary tract pathology in Schistosoma haematobium infected rural Nigerians.

Parasitological investigation assessing the ova of Schistosoma haematobium in the urine of 138 volunteers in Ihieve-Ogben, Edo State, Nigeria revealed 43 positive results (31.2%). Children had a higher prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis 30 (41.

The reproductive dysfunction effects of gasoline inhalation in albino rats.

Daily exposure to fuel vapour may pose significant health risk to exposed individuals. Fifteen each of male and female albino rats weighing between 110-230g were divided into test (10) and control (5) groups each. The test animals; were exposed to inhalation gasoline for one hour daily for twenty-one consecutive days.

Problems and prospects of managing thoracic aortic aneurysm at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.

The objective of this report is to highlight the problems encountered in managing thoracic aortic aneurysm in a third-generation teaching hospital serving a purely rural community in the heartland of Anambra State, in the southeastern part of Nigeria. This report also proffers solutions aimed at assisting in providing better care for patients afflicted with this condition. From time to time, patients present with vascular diseases, including aneurysm, but the condition is only occasionally suspected and sparingly investigated.