The Nigerian Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Research

A Study of Dacryodes edulis Pulp Oil on 3-Methylcholanthrene-Induced Breast Cancer and Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 and Peroxisome Proliferator Activated-Receptor-Gamma in Wistar Rats

2022-04-17T15:18:50-06:00

Breast cancer is a major cause of death in women, and dietary fat has been implicated among the factors that influence its incidence. This study investigated the effect of Dacryodes edulis pulp oil on 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) induced breast cancer and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR-ɣ) in female Wistar rats. The pulp oil was extracted with n-hexane using Soxhlet apparatus and characterized by gas chromatography. A total of 48 Wistar rats (4weeks old) were used and they were divided into three groups. Group A animals were fed with diet containing 10% Dacryodes edulis pulp oil for 14 days before MCA (250mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered. Afterwards, they were fed with pulp oil for twelve weeks before sacrifice. Group B animals received MCA (250mg/kg) to induce breast cancer and fed with diet containing no Dacryodes edulis pulp oil. Group C animals were fed with diet containing 10% Dacryodes edulis pulp oil only. COX-2 and PPAR-ɣ were significantly (P < 0.05) less and more expressed on pulp oil fed animals respectively. Tumor latency period was longer on animals fed with seed oil compare with those not fed with diet containing pulp oil. Results from gas chromatography analysis indicated that the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were incorporated into the mammary gland cell membrane which opposed the progression of carcinogenesis animals treated with Dacryodes edulis pulp oil, this indicates that Dacryodes edulis pulp oil is able to oppose breast carcinogenesis induced by 3-methylcholanthrene.

Role of Secondary School Teachers in the Prevention of Covid-19 Among Their Students in Nnewi North Local Government Area, Anambra State

2022-04-04T16:31:16-06:00

ABSTRACT

There was relatively calmness in the world until the outbreak of Covid-19 in China which gradually spread to other parts of the world including Nigeria and shook the world to its root in the later part of 2019 and throughout the year 2020. This study examined the role of secondary school teachers in the prevention of Covid-19 among their students in Nnewi North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. A sample size of eighty was selected by simple random sampling and convenience sampling techniques. A structured four point rating scale questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.76 and observation method were used in gathering the necessary data suitable for the study which were analyzed with SPSS version 22.0. It was discovered that secondary school teachers have good knowledge of Covid-19 (78.5%) and its preventive measures (85.7%). They agreed that the preventive measures should be taught using lecture method (55.7%), demonstration (87.1%), discussion (54.3%), brainstorming (55.7%), use of audio-visuals (81.4%) and modelling (88.6) but it was observed that the preventive measures were not properly enforced among students. Teachers’ adequate knowledge of Covid-19 preventive measures without enforcing them among the students will not reduce its spread which can lead to general lockdown and subsequent disruption of teaching and learning. Discouraging the use of lecture methods in teaching secondary school students and encouraging secondary school teachers to enforce Covid-19 preventive measures among their students and were recommended as knowledge without application is useless.

Pain Presentation in Otorhinolaryngological Practice in a Tertiary Health Care Center

2022-02-03T13:42:55-07:00

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Otorhinolaryngological, head, and neck pain is one of the most common reasons for consultation in ear, nose, and throat practices.This present study aimed at determining the otorhinolaryngology, head and neck pain prevalence, sociodemographic features, clinical presentation, and prehospital treatment among patients presenting in our center.

Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional study

Setting: Tertiary hospital center

Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study of patients presenting with otorhinolaryngological, head, and pain. Sociodemographic features of the patients and detailed clinical features of the pain were collected and recorded in special forms. Data obtained were collated and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.

Results: The prevalence of otorhinolaryngology, head and neck pain was 27.6%. Among the patients, 42.4% were males with a female to male ratio of 1.4:1.

Commonest site of pain was 37.3% ear. Other were 23.3% head and 14.6% throat. Trauma caused 29.6% pain and infection was 59.7%. Common associated symptoms were 31.7% hearing loss, 31.4% catarrh, 23.4% odynophagia and 42.4% fever.

Most patients 51.7% presented between 1 week and 3 months duration of pain while 30.4% presented at more than 3 months. Recurrent pain accounted for 63.1% while primary pain accounted for 91.1%.

The majority 91.3% of the patients were referred and the main source of referral was 53.9%, general practitioners. The majority 71.9% presented in the outpatient clinic followed by the emergency ward in 25.8%.

Regarding prior treatment before presentation, 95.7% had analgesics 71.4% were on antibiotics, 84.2% were on herbal medication and 4.2% had a traditional surgery.

Conclusion: Otorhinolaryngology, head, and neck pain was a common presentation in our center. It must be considered as one of the differential diagnosis of head and neck pain. Most of the patients presented late at the outpatient clinic with recurrent pain. Major source of referral was from general practitioners. The majority of the patients were wrongly treated.

Keywords: Ear nose throat pain Prevalence Treatment Nigeria

Clinical Presentation and Management of Ectopic Pregnancy: A 10-Year Review at a Federal Teaching Hospital in North-Western Nigeria

2022-11-28T10:25:08-07:00

Background: Ectopic pregnancy is a major cause of first trimester pregnancy loss and an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries where majority of the patients present late with ruptured variant. Objectives: To determine the prevalence, clinical presentation and management of ectopic pregnancy at the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina (FTHK). Methodology: A retrospective study of ectopic pregnancies managed at the FTHK between January 1st, 2010 and December 31st, 2019. Data were extracted from the patients’ case notes, collated and analysed using SPSS. Result: A total of 20,089 patients were managed for pregnancy related conditions and 182 cases were ectopic pregnancies putting the prevalence of ectopic gestation at 9/1,000 pregnancies. The mean age of the patients was 26.7±6.9 years and the highest frequency of ectopic pregnancy was seen in women between 21-25 years of age. The commonest presenting symptom was abdominal pain (95.3%). Most patients presented with ruptured ectopic pregnancy while 15.1% presented in shock. The commonest risk factor was pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Fallopian tube (94.5%) was the main location of ectopic pregnancy and 92% of the patients had unilateral salpingectomy. There was 0.6% case fatality. Conclusion: The prevalence of ectopic pregnancy was relatively stable with high rate of ruptured ectopic pregnancy and radical tubal surgery.

Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Among Donkeys

2023-01-09T09:13:56-07:00

Objective: This study aimed to determine the magnitude of the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among donkeys marketed in Nkwo-Izhia market, Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.

Materials and methods: A market based cross sectional study was implemented from March 1 to April 1, 2020 among 200 donkeys sold in the market lairage/garage. The animals were selected through simple random sampling method. Venous blood samples were taken from 200 donkeys and their serum were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay.

Results: The overall prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among donkeys was 13.5% (27) at 95% Confidence Interval. Females: non-reactive 66 (84.6%), reactive 12 (15.4%); Males: non-reactive 107 (87.7%), reactive 15 (12.3%) with overall X² (p-value) of 0.39 (0.53) respectively. Greater proportion of the female donkeys (15.4%) were reactive to HBV antigens compared to their male counterparts (12.3%). Among the variables; age of the donkeys, duration of stay in market, height, colour and their length, only mean difference in duration of stay in the market had statistically significant association with the HBV status of the donkeys (t= 2.15; p= 0.03).

Key words: Donkeys, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis B surface antigens, Nkwor-Izhia, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Gall Bladder Malignancy with a Collision of Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Mu-secreting Adenocarcinoma

2022-12-05T01:39:24-07:00

Collision tumours are extremely rare neoplasms in the gall bladder with no management guidelines at present. We present the case of a female with a histopathologically diagnosed collision of squamous cell carcinoma and mucin-secreting adenocarcinoma of the gall bladder. This is to create awareness on this rare lesion and underscore the importance of pathology in gall bladder lesions.