Environmental risk factors for asthma in 13-14 year old African children.

Background Asthma prevalence in African children is high. Factors driving the prevalence or disease severity are poorly understood. This study aims to investigate environmental factors associated with asthma and severity in African children.

EpiNet as a way of involving more physicians and patients in epilepsy research: Validation study and accreditation process.

Objective: EpiNet was established to encourage epilepsy research. EpiNet is used for multicenter cohort studies and investigator-led trials. Physicians must be accredited to recruit patients into trials.

The impact of adenotonsillectomy on pulmonary arterial pressure in West African children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

Objectives: To assess the improvement or otherwise, in the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) among children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) after adenotonsillectomy (AT), and to examine the impact of timing of surgery as well as the patients' characteristics on the mPAP changes.

Methods: We included 39 children with ATH in this study. The adenoidal enlargement was evaluated radiologically with adenoid nasopharyngeal ratio (ANR) parameter from lateral neck radiograph, whereas the clinical assessment of adeno-tonsillar obstruction was conducted with the 'symptom score'.

Burden of Cancers Attributable to Infectious Agents in Nigeria: 2012-2014.

Introduction: Infections by certain viruses, bacteria, and parasites have been identified as risk factors for some cancers. In Nigeria, like many other developing countries, infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. While there are data on the incidence of different cancers in Nigeria, there has been no study of cancers attributable to infections.

The burden of HPV associated cancers in two regions in Nigeria 2012-2014.

Introduction: HPV attributable cancers are the second most common infection-related cancers worldwide, with much higher burden in less developed regions. There are currently no country-specific estimates of the burden of these cancers in Nigeria just like many other low and middle income countries.

Methods: In this study, we quantified the proportion of the cancer burden in Nigeria that is attributable to HPV infection from 2012 to 2014 using HPV prevalence estimated from previous studies and data from two population based cancer registries (PBCR) in Nigeria.

The clinical and radiological predictors of pulmonary hypertension in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

Unrelieved upper airway obstruction from highly prevalent adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) has the potential of producing structural remodelling of the pulmonary vascular bed with resultant pulmonary hypertension (PH) and cor pulmonale. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the local prevalence of PH and examine its clinical and radiological pointers among children with ATH. The airway obstruction was evaluated clinically by grading the nocturnal and daytime symptoms of ATH.

The comparison of the pathological data of oropharyngeal masses between HIV and non-HIV patients.

Conclusion: Although this study did not show higher risk of oropharyngeal malignancy in HIV patients overall, they still had much higher prevalence of NHL as well as HL than HIV negative patients. Presence of cervical lymphadenopathy is unreliable in differentiating malignant oropharyngeal tumours from benign lymphoid hyperplasia in HIV patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the histology of oropharyngeal masses between HIV positive and negative patients.

Evaluation of Genome Wide Association Study Associated Type 2 Diabetes Susceptibility Loci in Sub Saharan Africans.

Genome wide association studies (GWAS) for type 2 diabetes (T2D) undertaken in European and Asian ancestry populations have yielded dozens of robustly associated loci. However, the genomics of T2D remains largely understudied in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where rates of T2D are increasing dramatically and where the environmental background is quite different than in these previous studies. Here, we evaluate 106 reported T2D GWAS loci in continental Africans.

The changing epidemiological and complications profile of chronic suppurative otitis media in a developing country after two decades.

To evaluate the shift in epidemiological and complication profiles of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) over two decades in a resource-limited economy. A retrospective analysis of the prevalence of CSOM and its complications in tertiary health institution a over a period of 2 years were compared between 203 cases seen in 2009 and December 2010 (present era); and 343 cases seen in 1990 and 1991 (previous era). Data were collected on the demographic characteristics of the patients, age of onset of otorrhoea, the disease type, laterality and complications of CSOM.

Experiences and desired nursing assistance of women on out-patient breast cancer chemotherapy in Southeastern Nigeria.

Objective: This study explored the experiences and nursing support needs of women undergoing out-patient breast cancer chemotherapy in two teaching hospitals in Southeastern Nigeria.

Methods: Using a qualitative descriptive design, based on grounded theory approach and focus group discussion (FGD) methodology, 20 histological confirmed breast cancer patients at different stages of combination chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil ) were purposively selected and engaged in FGDs at two surgical oncology clinics. Data saturation was reached at the fourth FGD.

Clinical characteristics and presentation of ameloblastomas: an 8-year retrospective study of 240 cases in Eastern Nigeria.

Our aim was to summarise the clinical characteristics and presentation of ameloblastomas in eastern Nigeria. We organised a retrospective study of 240 patients who presented with ameloblastomas to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery units of five specialist hospitals in the eastern states of Nigeria over an eight-year period (2004-2011). We analysed the casenotes, and categorised the cases by site of tumour, age, sex, and time of presentation.

Multiple myeloma in Nigeria: a multi-centre epidemiological and biomedical study.

Introduction: Myelomatosis is a malignant proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow, with relatively high prevalence in African populations. Variation in genetic mutations has been observed in individual patients and may be responsible for differences in disease pattern and treatment outcomes. This study described the presentations and treatment outcomes of multiple myeloma in nigerian.

Male partner involvement in female contraceptive choices in Nigeria.

Opposition by male partners is one of the barriers to contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa. The study aimed at determining the extent of male partner involvement in female contraceptive (FP) choices in Enugu, south-east Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to 243 consecutive women attendee of family planning clinic, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu from January to June, 2012.

Disorders of sex development in a developing country: perspectives and outcome of surgical management of 39 cases.

Objective: Improvements in diagnostic testing and genital repair have significantly advanced the management of disorders of sex development (DSD). Challenges however, still exist in the management of DSD. This study evaluated the types, challenges of surgical management, and outcome of DSD in south-east Nigeria.

Prevalence and Severity of Malaria Parasitemia among Children Requiring Emergency Blood Transfusion in a Tertiary Hospital in Imo State, Nigeria.

Background: Malaria is one of the most serious and complex health problems in Sub Saharan Africa. Anemia in Children with malaria may require blood transfusion and has been be associated with high mortality rates.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence, pattern, and severity of malaria parasitemia among children 6 months to 14 years old, requiring blood transfusion.

Anatomical basis for surgical approaches to the hip.

The hip joint is one of the most surgically exposed joints in the body. The indications for surgical exposure are numerous ranging from simple procedures such as arthrotomy for joint drainage in infection to complex procedures like revised total hip replacement. Tissue dissections based on sound knowledge of anatomic orientations is essential for best surgical outcomes.

Determinants of non-healing ear discharge in chronic suppurative otitis media in a developing country.

The major burden of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is the embarrassing ear discharge which may last for few months to many years or even a lifetime with increasing risks of complications. We conducted this study to determine the risk factors for protracted non-healing ear discharge among CSOM patients. We carried out a retrospective analysis of non-cholesteatomatous CSOM patients treated in a tertiary hospital in a developing country.

Asthma control and quality of life in school- age children in Enugu south east, Nigeria.

Aims And Objectives: This study set out to assess the quality-of-life of school-age children in relation to their level of asthma control.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of children with asthma using the Paediatric Asthma Quality of Life questionnaire (PAQLQ) and the Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire (ATAQ) to respectively assess the health-related quality of life and the level of asthma control.

Results: Ninety children with mean age of 11.

The clinical implications of ear canal debris in hearing aid users.

Objective : The ear irritations suffered by hearing aid (HA) users are yet to be related to the clinical state of canal. We undertook this study to examine the nature of debris and the microbial flora of ears of hearing aid users, as well as evaluate the determinant factors of ear irritation in this population. Methods : An observational clinical study was carried out involving 32 unilateral hearing aid users recruited from ENT clinic of a tertiary referral center.

Non-immune hydrops fetalis.

Background: Non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) is a rare fetal condition with a very high mortality in spite of advances in prenatal diagnostic techniques, early detection, and individualized management. Despite advancement in fetal therapy and rapidly developing new knowledge about the aetiology and prenatal diagnosis, its management has remained controversial.

Methods: This is a descriptive review ofNIHF.

Undergraduate surgery clerkship and the choice of surgery as a career: perspective from a developing country.

Background: There are concerns regarding a possible decline in the proportion of students choosing surgery as a career in some countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Published works indicate that most students choose their ultimate career during undergraduate training. The present study was undertaken to assess the medical student's perception of the surgery clerkship and determine its influence in the choice of surgery as a career.

Cardiac arrhythmias in recently diagnosed hypertensive patients at first presentation: an electrocardiographic-based study.

Various forms of cardiac arrhythmias have been documented in hypertensive subjects, and hypertension is an important risk factor for the development of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. Electrocardiography at rest easily documents significant arrhythmias in patients, and this study was carried out to determine the types and frequency of arrhythmias in hypertensive subjects at first presentation in the Hypertension Clinics of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, Nigeria. The study was hospitalbased and retrospective in nature.

HIV-related intimate partner violence among pregnant women in Nigeria.

Aim: To compare the prevalences and patterns of intimate partner violence between HIV-positive and HIV-negative pregnant women receiving prenatal care at a tertiary hospital in South East Nigeria

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study of HIV-positive and HIV-negative pregnant women was done. Statistical analysis was by descriptive and inferential statistics at 95% level of confidence

Results: A total of 220 pregnant women studied. These were equally divided between HIV-positive women (cases) and HIV-negative women (controls).

Clinical findings associated with cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in adult sickle cell anaemia patients.

Background: Involvement of the cardiovascular autonomic nervous system in various diseases is often associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the clinical features associated with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in adult Nigerians with sickle cell anaemia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 62 steady state sickle cell anaemia patients recruited from the adult out-patient clinic.