Choriocarcinoma in Enugu, South east Nigeria: a need for a shift from mortality to survival.

Background: The diagnosis of cancer in Nigeria is often translated to mean an imminent death for the patients. This contrasts the situation in some developed settings where cancer survivorship and its management have evolved. Choriocarcinoma is a rare but curable tumour so; it became necessary to review cases of this curable cancer managed at a tertiary health center in a typical resourced-constrained setting.

Profile of HIV-infected patients receiving second-line antiretroviral therapy in a resource-limited setting in Nigeria.

Background: Second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) accounts for less than 5% of total ART in resource-limited settings. We described the baseline characteristics, reasons for switch and treatment outcomes of Nigerian patients receiving second-line ART.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study we recorded the baseline characteristics of HIV-infected adults whose treatment regimen was switched from a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, a first-line agent, to a protease inhibitor-based second-line regimen.

Choriocarcinoma in Enugu, South east Nigeria: a need for a shift from mortality to survival.

Background: The diagnosis of cancer in Nigeria is often translated to mean an imminent death for the patient. This contrasts the situation in some developed settings where cancer survivorship and its management have evolved. Choriocarcinoma is a rare but curable tumour so; it became necessary to review cases of this curable cancer managed at a tertiary health center in a typical resourced-constrained setting.

Caesarean hysterectomy.

Background: Caesarean hysterectomy is an obstetric emergency procedure performed to save maternal life in uncontrollable haemorrhage and few elective indications. It could be a planned procedure but more often it is an emergency operation.

Objective: To ensure adequate exposure and mastery of this emergency procedure by residents in training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Nigeria.

Twenty-first century palliative care: a tale of four nations.

Hospice and palliative care development, in terms of availability and services, occur to varying degrees in the developing world. In this paper, the evolution of palliative care practices in four developing nations (Nigeria, Georgia, Ethiopia and Tanzania) is described. By highlighting common problems as well as the unique individual perspectives of each country's practice, this paper aims at increasing global awareness of palliative care in the developing world.

Epidemiological and treatment profiles of spinal cord injury in southeast Nigeria.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiology and treatment outcome of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) at three tertiary care centres within southeast Nigeria.

Setting: Southeast Nigeria.

An overview of menopause associated vasomotor symptoms and options available in its management.

Background: Vasomotor Symptoms are the most common and distressing menopausal complaint, for which women seek advice from their physician.

Objective: To review menopausal associated vasomotor symptoms and options available in its management.

Methods: Pertinent literature on menopause associated vasomotor symptoms, selected references, textbooks, journals and internet services using the PubMed and Medline databases were included in this review.

Rural retention of human resources for heath.

Background: Health workers are the heart of the health system in any country and are made up of health service providers and the health support workers. The global health workforce is over 59 million and 67% of them are the service providers.

Aim: The goal of this paper is to review the most relevant papers on the retention of health workers in the underserved areas and also on how to attract and retain health workers in the rural areas.

Trends and determinants of episiotomy at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (Unth), Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Episiotomy is the most commonly performed obstetric procedure. The indications and efficacy are poorly established and its practice has remained controversial.

Objective: To determine the rate and the determinants of episiotomy in the parturients at the UNTH, Enugu.

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata in a Nigerian woman.

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD) is a rare condition. A 48-year-old multiparous woman was referred because of an incidental ultrasound finding suggestive of LPD. She had a 6-year past history of use of combined oral contraceptive pills.

Oculopalpebral dimensions of adult Nigerians: report from the Enugu normative ocular anthropometry study.

Objective: To determine the normal oculopalpebral anthropometric measurements of a Nigerian adult population.

Subjects And Methods: A population-based prospective observational random survey was conducted in Enugu, South-Eastern Nigeria between January and April 2010. The participants were healthy adults comprising 248 males and 252 females aged 18-76 years.

Lead in potable water sources in Abakaliki metropolis, South-East, Nigeria.

Lead concentration was analyzed in potable water samples (25 well water, 15 borehole water, 7 tap water and 3 stream/river water samples), collected randomly from 5 zones (Abakaliki urban, Azuiyiokwu, Kpirikpiri, Nkaliki and Onuebonyi/rice mill) in Abakaliki metropolis, South-East Nigeria, using Atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean ± SD lead levels of Tap, well, borehole and stream/river water were 0.13 ± 0.

Assessing the knowledge and skills in clinical ophthalmology of medical interns: survey results from enugu, South-eastern Nigeria.

Purpose: To compare the skills and knowledge of clinical ophthalmology among medical interns in Enugu, Nigeria, to the recommendations of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO).

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted of Medical Interns attending the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, from April 2010 to June 2010. Data on cohort demographics, undergraduate ophthalmology exposure, clinical skills and diagnostic competencies were collected and analyzed.

Dilated alcoholic cardiomyopathy and incidental lymphoma occuring in a 56 year old man who was being managed for hypertensive heart disease in Enugu Nigeria--a rare finding.

We present a case of dilated alcoholic cardiomyopathy occurring in a 56-year-old Nigerian male. He admitted to taking alcoholic beverage, approximately 2-3 bottles of different brands of beer per day for about 30 years, but stopped three years ago on medical advice. He had a history of progressively worsening dyspnoea and encephalopathy, from decreasing ejection fraction.

Prevalence of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions among HIV-positive women in Enugu, South-eastern Nigeria.

HIV infection is a risk factor for cervical cancer and both diseases are prevalent in Nigeria. The study determined the prevalence of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) among HIV-positive women in Enugu state, which has the highest HIV burden in South-eastern Nigeria. Pap smear was carried out on 150 HIV-positive (HIV+ve) women and 150 HIV-negative (HIV?ve) controls at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria from December 2007 to March 2008.

Palliative care in enugu, Nigeria: challenges to a new practice.

Everyone, young and old, male and female, rich and poor, should have access to excellent care during the course of a serious illness and at the end of life. Therefore, a denial of such care becomes an infringement of the individual's human rights. Because of the efforts of pioneers in this field of Medicine in Africa and beyond, both living and immortalized, we can now say that palliative care in the African context is affordable and achievable.

A community based survey of the burden of ascaris lumbricoides in enugu.

Background: Intestinal helminthiasis is common in our environment and antihelminthic drugs are specie specific. Thus, need to identify and characterize the species cannot be overemphasized.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Ascaris Lumbricoides in Enugu Metropolis.

A Survey of the Knowledge of Dental Implants as a Choice in Treatment of Edentulous Jaws among Health Workers in Government Dental Clinics in Enugu.

Background: Dental implantology is fast becoming a specialty in the field of dentistry. Within the last five decades, dentistry appears to have recorded its most significant advancement in the field of dental implantology. With dental implants, missing teeth can now be replaced with stable, comfortable and natural-looking and feeling artificial replacements.

A five-year survey of caesarean delivery at a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Background: The rising global rate in caesarean delivery has been a source of concern to obstetricians worldwide. In spite of remarkable improvement in the safety of anaesthesia and surgical techniques, caesarean section has higher risks of maternal death when compared with normal vaginal delivery. Thus, the current emphasis is to limit the rising rate of caesarean section to as much as possible.

Knowledge and Perception of Menopause and Climacteric Symptoms among a Population of Women in Enugu, South East, Nigeria.

Background: Menopause alters the physiological, biochemical and psychological environment of a woman. Thus the knowledge and perception of its symptomatology is invaluable to enable appropriate adjustment to this natural phenomenon.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge and perception of menopause and climacteric symptoms among a sample of women in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

Ophthalmic manifestations of leukemia in a tertiary hospital population of adult nigerian africans.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and pattern of leukemic ophthalmopathy among adults at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, south-eastern, Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: This prospective, observational case series surveyed adult leukemia patients presenting at UNTH's departments of Hematology/Immunology and Ophthalmology from July 2003 to August 2008. The demographic profile, clinical data from for each individual in the cohort were statistically collated and analyzed.

The burden and spectrum of vitreo-retinal diseases among ophthalmic outpatients in a resource-deficient tertiary eye care setting in South-eastern Nigeria.

Purpose: This study was designed to determine the rate and pattern of vitreo-retinal diseases at a tertiary eye care center in South-eastern Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: The outpatient register at the Eye Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, was retrospectively examined to identify all new patients registered between January 2004 and December 2008. A chart review of subjects with vitreo-retinal disease was conducted to record relevant demographic and clinical data including the needs for vitreo-retinal care.

Management of pituitary adenoma with mass effect in pregnancy: a case report.

A middle aged primigravida was managed at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria for a pituitary macroadenoma. She was admitted at 33 weeks gestational age following a history of blurred vision and generalized headache, worse on bending down. After neurological consultation and investigations, a diagnosis of pituitary macroadenoma with mass effect was entertained.

Management of pituitary adenoma with mass effect in pregnancy: a case report.

A middle aged primigravida was managed at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria for a pituitary macroadenoma. She was admitted at 33 weeks gestational age following a history of blurred vision and generalized headache, worse on bending down. After neurological consultation and investigations, a diagnosis of pituitary macroadenoma with mass effect was entertained.

Adenomyosis and uterine rupture during labour in a primigravida: an unusual obstetric emergency in Nigeria.

The primigravid uterus is believed to be immune to rupture during labour. This may not be true for those who have had prior adenomyomectomy, hence this report. The patient was a 28-year-old nullipara who became pregnant 11 months after an adenomyomectomy.