Modelling Differential Diagnosis of Febrile Diseases with Fuzzy Cognitive Map.

The report of the World Health Organization (WHO) about the poor accessibility of people living in low-to-middle-income countries to medical facilities and personnel has been a concern to both professionals and nonprofessionals in healthcare. This poor accessibility has led to high morbidity and mortality rates in tropical regions, especially when such a disease presents itself with confusable symptoms that are not easily differentiable by inexperienced doctors, such as those found in febrile diseases. This prompted the development of the fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) model to serve as a decision-support tool for medical health workers in the diagnosis of febrile diseases.

Job-related risk factors for low back pain in adults attending a tertiary hospital in Uyo, Nigeria.

Background: Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder. However, there is very little information about low back pain in the general population in developing Countries. This study was aimed at identifying the job-related risk factors for low back pain in adults attending the General Out-patient Clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria.

Antiplasmodial Effect of Anthocleista vogelii on Albino Mice Experimentally Infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei (NK 65).

The objective of the present study was to investigate the antiplasmodial effect of the ethanolic stem bark extract of Anthocleista vogelii at different doses in albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei (NK 65). Thirty-six mice were divided into six groups of six mice each. Five groups (B1-B3, D, and G) were infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei parasitized red blood cells.

Overweight and obesity profiles in Niger Delta Region, Nigeria.

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are global public health problems because of their effect on individuals, families and communities. The objective of this study was to describe the profile of overweight and obesity amongst adult out patients in Uyo in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study done between October 2011 and March 2012.

Attitudes and sexual behaviours of unmarried people with HIV/AIDS living in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Background Increasing morbidity and mortality associated with HIV/AIDS may be attributable to the lifestyle of individuals. Appropriate sexual behaviour and lifestyle modification may be helpful strategies for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in many countries. Aim The study was designed to assess the impact of attitudes and sexual behaviour on control of HIV/AIDS among unmarried people living with HIV/AIDS in Uyo, a community in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Self-Medication: potential risks and hazards among pregnant women in Uyo, Nigeria.

Introduction: There is increasing evidence that self-medications among pregnant women are common in many developing countries. Despite the adverse impact on pregnancy, there are few programs available for their control. The objective of this study was to assess the level of self-medication amongst Nigerian pregnant women in order to determine possible harmful effects on fetus.

Prevalence and risk factors of erectile dysfunction in Niger delta region, Nigeria.

Background: Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is one of the major social problems causing significant distress in men. Despite the increasing difficulty in management, knowledge, and understanding of factors responsible for its development are important for prevention and care.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and risk factors for ED among men in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria, in order to determine its contextual variables.

Quality of life in patients with erectile dysfunction in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria.

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) in men is increasingly becoming a major problem worldwide. The damaging effects on the psyche and the anxiety regarding sexual performance and overall life satisfaction could be irreversible.

Aims: The objective of this study was to compare domains of quality of life (QOL) in men with ED in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria in order to determine the contextual social variables.

Prevalence of asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction in hypertensive Nigerians: echocardiographic study of 832 subjects.

Background: We sought to determine the prevalence of echocardiographically determined left ventricular systolic dysfunction in asymptomatic hypertensive subjects seen in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Methods: Echocardiography was performed in 832 consecutive hypertensive subjects referred for cardiac evaluation over a three-year period.

Results: Data were obtained in 832 subjects (50.

Endogenous opioids, mu-opiate receptors and chloroquine-induced pruritus: a double-blind comparison of naltrexone and promethazine in patients with malaria fever who have an established history of generalized chloroquine-induced itching.

Aims: Chloroquine induces a severe generalized pruritus, in predisposed Black African patients, during treatment of malaria fever, and also in some Caucasian patients treated for rheumatological diseases. We have previously shown that chloroquine may release endogenous opioids and/or interact with micro-opiate receptors in rats, and that both histamine and malaria parasite blood density, contribute to the itching severity in malaria fever in humans. The aim of our present study was to assess and compare the antipruritic efficacy of the micro-opiate receptor antagonist, naltrexone, and the antihistamine, promethazine, in chloroquine treated patients with malaria fever.

Pattern of intestinal parasites among hosptial patients at Ile-Ife.

Intestinal and extraintestinal parasitic diseases continue to constitute important public health problems in many developing African countries. While malaria continues to ravage the continent, the silent onslaught of intestinal helminthiases and protozoal infection seem not to relent. The objectives of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminthic and protozoan infections and to determine the trends in intestinal parasitic infections.

Chloroquine-induced pruritus in malaria fever: contribution of malaria parasitaemia and the effects of prednisolone, niacin, and their combination, compared with antihistamine.

Aims: Chloroquine treatment of malaria fever, results in a generalized pruritus of unknown mechanism in up to 60% of adult Africans, by contrast pruritus is unusual in Caucasians following chloroquine use.

Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, parallel group study to examine and compare the antipruritic effects of promethazine, niacin, prednisolone and their combination on pruritus induced by chloroquine, in 28 historical itching patients with parasitologically proven malaria fever. We also evaluated the role of the antecedent malaria parasite density in the severity of chloroquine pruritus intensity.

The effects of prednisolone and niacin on chloroquine-induced pruritus in malaria.

Chloroquine chemotherapy of malaria fever induces severe generalised pruritus in a large proportion of black Africans. In a double blind, placebo controlled, randomised, parallel group study in 28 historically chloroquine pruritus-reactor (R+) patients, with malaria, we evaluated the prophylactic and the palliative antipruritic actions of prednisolone (5 mg) or niacin (50 mg). There was a significant prophylactic effect of both drugs on the pruritogenecity of chloroquine as well as significant reduction in the area under the pruritus intensity-time curve, AUC(0-72 h) by niacin.