Usefulness of Serum Pepsinogen I as a Biomarker in Early Diagnosis of Aetiology of Dyspepsia.

Background: Dyspepsia, according to Rome III criteria, is defined as pain or discomfort centred in the upper abdomen in addition to symptoms like early satiety, postprandial fullness, bloating and nausea. Pepsinogens which are secreted by chief cells of the stomach play an important role in its physiology. They could determine the functional state of the mucosa in health and in diseased conditions.

Accuracy of non-endoscopic predictors of oesophageal varices in liver cirrhosis using platelet count, splenic size and portal vein diameter.

Background: Endoscopy has been recommended for all patients with liver cirrhosis to detect varices, but it is expensive, invasive and uncomfortable. There is therefore, need to find non-endoscopic means to predict oesophageal varices.

Aim: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of platelet count, splenic size and portal vein diameter to predict oesophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Role of lamivudine in the therapy of Nigerian patients with Chronic HBV infection.

Aims And Objectives: The study was conducted to determine the role of lamivudine in the treatment of Nigerian patients with chronic HBV infection (CHB).

Materials And Methods: Twenty one Nigerian patients with laboratory, histologic and clinical features of CHB were studied over a period of 30 months for response to a six-month therapy with lamivudine using liver biopsy as gold standard for assessment of response to therapy.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 32.

HBV infectivity among Nigerians.

The study involved 60 (non-immunized), 14 (immunized against HBV), healthy Nigerian adults and 28 Nigerian patients with hepatitis. Their sera were tested for HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe, anti-HBc, anti-HBs and anti-HCV while only 15 subjects with chronic hepatitis had HBV DNA assay by PCR. The subjects aged 21 to 72 years and comprised 75 male and 27 female adults.

HIV-1 drug resistant mutations in chronically infected treatment naive individuals in the pre-ARV era in Nigeria.

In Nigeria the Federal Government rolled out antiretroviral drugs for the management of HIV infection in year 2002. This study was carried out to determine the circulating antiviral drug mutations among ARV naïve patients with chronic HIV infection during the pre-ARV roll out era in the country. DNA was extracted from stored whole blood samples collected from 75 HIV positive patients attending the Medical outpatient clinic between December 1996 and November 2001.

Hepatitis B and E viral infections among Nigerian healthcare workers.

Background: There is dearth of information on Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection and its co-infection with HBV among Nigerian healthcare workers (HCWs). Hence, there is the need to determine the rate of HEV infection and its association with HBV among HCWs who are at greater risk of nosocomial infections.

Methodology: Sera from 88 HCWs and 44 non-HCWs healthy adults as controls were tested for the presence of antibody to HEV (anti-HEV).

Correlation of cag-A serological status with histological parameters of chronic gastritis among dyspeptic patients in south western Nigeria.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence of Cag-A strains of Helicobacter pylori in both dyspeptic and non-dyspeptic individuals and also correlate the serological status of Gag-A strain of H. pylori with the various graded histological variables of chronic gastritis in the dyspeptic patients.

Methods: Using helicobacter p120 Cag-A enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, Cag-A serology test was carried out on 65 dyspeptic patients and 65 age and sex matched non-dyspeptic controls.

Hepatitis B virus DNA in patients with HBsAg in south western Nigeria.

There are about 400 million people with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection worldwide with a potential of adverse sequelae including hepatocellular carcinoma. Recent data have shown that the level of HBV DNA in serum or plasma of an infected person probably reflects more accurately the replicative activity of the virus and therefore may serve as a better maker for management of the infection. This study was designed to determine the rate of detection of HBV DNA in blood samples of patients with HBsAg positive in Nigeria in comparison with the HBe and anti-HBe used widely as serological markers of infectivity.

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.

Comparative diagnostic efficacy of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common liver malignancy in Nigeria. Hepatitis B and C viruses, alcohol and Aflatoxin B are among the various aetiologies. More work needs to be done in the search for markers that will aid early detection of this condition as it is uniformly fatal once advanced.

Correlation of serum anti-helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin a (IgA) with histological parameters of chronic gastritis in ibadan, Nigeria.

Background: The seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori IgA antibodies has been reported to vary among populations and in relation to strains of Helicobacter pylori bacterium. However, there has been conflicting reports on the association between IgA serological status and the histological variables of chronic gastritis.

Autoimmune liver disease in a Nigerian woman.

Autoimmune liver diseases are chronic liver disease with similar clinical features to viral and non-autoimmune liver disorders but with distinct sero-autoimmunologic features. In developed countries, it accounts for about 20% of all liver transplantations in the USA. Most studies on liver disease in Nigeria centred on viral or alcohol aetiology with complete absence of data on autoimmune liver disease.

Pitfalls in diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection among adults Nigerians.

Objective: Hepatitis B virus infection is common in Nigerians and its diagnosis is necessary for effective treatment and eradication. This study is aimed at highlighting the serological factors jeopardizing the diagnosis and treatment of the infection among Nigerians adults.

Patients And Methods: Three studies were carried out.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori among Nigerian patients with dyspepsia in Ibadan.

Introduction: Determination of the true prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is difficult in a hyper-endemic area like Nigeria with use of serological tests because of their low discriminatory power between previous and current infections. The use of biopsy based methods will go a long way to mitigate this problem.

Occult HBV infection among a cohort of Nigerian adults.

Objective: To determine markers of HBV infection and detect the presence of its occult infection in serum of a cohort of adult Nigerians.

Methodology: The study involved 28 adult Nigerians with viral hepatitis (Group 1) and 28 apparently healthy adult Nigerians as controls (Group 2). Their sera were assayed for HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV, while HBV DNA was determined in 15 patients with chronic hepatitis.

Risk of hepatitis B virus in the slaughter house.

The study involved 180 Nigerian butchers and 180 traders (controls) selected by multistage stratified sampling who had their sera assayed for HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The butchers and the controls had an HBsAg sero-prevalence rate of 9.4% and 3.

Nigerian butchers and hepatitis B virus infection.

Various target groups have been identified in Nigeria for studying the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection; however there is no information on its prevalence among workers in slaughter houses. This study determined the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in Nigerian butchers at Ibadan, and comprised 360 healthy Nigerian adult subjects (180 butchers, 180 traders as controls) selected by multistage stratified sampling. A questionnaire was used to collect relevant information and included points about risk behaviour.

Hospital treatment of HIV patients.

Treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria has progressed from the stage of inactivity, unconcern, abandonment and neglect to the present stage of holistic care involving treatment of the infection with Highly Active Anti Retroviral Agents, complications of the disease and side effects of antiretroviral therapy as well as that of human behavioural responses towards the disease with hope and promising outcome. The goal of the treatment is to prolong the patient's life while maintaining the best possible quality of health and life. It is now a continuum of care between the hospital and the different sectors of the community.

The most appropriate site for endoscopic biopsy for the detection of H. pylori among Nigerians in Ibadan.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a significant aetiological factor for acid peptic diseases and gastric cancer. Detection of the organism in gastric mucosal biopsies is important, hence the need to ascertain the optimal site for biopsy that will facilitate identification of the organism.

Study Design: The study was carried out by obtaining directed gastric and duodenal endoscopic biopsies from twenty-five adult Nigerian patients clinically diagnosed to have gastroduodenitis at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Demographic factors in HIV infected patients seen at UCH, Ibadan, Nigeria.

There is a rising rate of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in Nigeria. Good knowledge of the demographic characteristics of the patients with HIV/AIDS may be of great importance in understanding its epidemiology in Nigeria and could facilitate efforts at curtailing the spread of the infection. The study was planned to determine the demographic factors in Nigerian patients with HIV infection.

Comparison of three PCR methods for detection of Helicobacter pylori DNA and detection of cagA gene in gastric biopsy specimens.

Aim: To comparatively evaluate PCR and other diagnostic methods (the rapid urease test and / or culture) in order to determine which of the three PCR methods (ureA, glmM and 26-kDa, SSA gene) was most appropriate in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori ) infection and also to evaluate the detection of a putative virulence marker of H pylori, the cagA gene, by PCR in biopsy specimens.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-nine biopsy specimens were collected from 63 patients (three biopsies each) undergoing upper gastroduodenal endoscopy for various dyspeptic symptoms. The PCR methods used to detect H pylori DNA directly from biopsies were the glmM, 26-kDa, ureA and then cagA was used to compare the culture technique and CLO for urease with the culture technique being used as the gold standard.

Relief to the scourge of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma, a major global cause of morbidity and mortality presents a gloomy picture as many patients report late in hospital when routine modalities of therapy are no more applicable. Early diagnosis of the disease is facilitated by half-yearly liver ultrasonography and serological assay of alphafoetoprotein and ferritin in high risk groups. A relief to the scourge of the disease is the new modality radio frequency ablative therapy for both early and advanced diseases as well as recurrences.

Serum hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B surface antigenaemia in Nigerian patients with acute icteric hepatitis.

Acute hepatitis is common in Nigeria and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been a major aetiological factor. However, the role of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is yet undetermined. Forty-five consecutive Nigerian patients with Acute Icteric hepatitis (AIH) attending the Medical Clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria and 45 healthy adult Nigerians (controls) were studied for evidence of infection with both viruses.

Helicobacter pylori infection in South Nigerians: a serological study of dyspeptic patients and healthy individuals.

Helicobacter pylori has now been well recognised to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of gastroduodenal disease. So far serology has been the most useful technique for rapid access to accurate information about H. pylori status of dyspeptic patients.