Microbiological composition of whole saliva and caries experience in minority populations

Microbiological factors in whole saliva, previously implicated in dental caries formation, were studied in four caries-positive adult ethnic groups: Asians, blacks, whites, and Hispanics. Whole saliva was collected from each patient and used for the enumeration of total cultivable microflora (T), streptococci, mutans streptococci (MS), and lactobacilli. In the female subgroup, statistically significant differences were found among the ethnic groups with regard to T in saliva. In the male subgroup, statistically significant differences were found among the ethnic groups with regard to MS in saliva. Statistically significant differences were also found among the ethnic groups in relation to caries score (DMFS), with the Hispanic group having the highest mean DMFS score; and among socioeconomic groups with regard to MS in saliva. Moreover, microbial composition (T and MS) of whole saliva and DMFS scores differed significantly (P < 0.05) among the ethnic groups studied.     

Relationship of physical activity to cardiovascular risk factors in an urban population of Nigerian adults

Background

The burden of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasing rapidly in Nigeria, but fewer studies have evaluated the role of physical activity in the development of CVD in this country. We examined the relationship between health enhancing physical activity and risk factors of CVD in a working population of adults in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, we assessed health enhancing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among 292 government employees (age: 20–65 years, 40% female, 24% obese and 79.8% response) using the self-administered version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). Time spent in walking and sitting during occupational activity was assessed as well. Anthropometric measurement of height, weight and waist circumference, and blood pressure were also measured. Independent t-test and One- Way ANOVA were conducted, and the relationships between MVPA and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure and heart rate were explored using Pearson correlations coefficients and multiple regression analyses.

Results

The mean time spent in health enhancing MVPA (116.4 ± 101.3 min/wk) was lower than the recommended guideline of 150 min/wk sufficient for health benefits. Compared with men, more women were less physically active, obese and reported more diagnoses of component of metabolic syndrome (p < 0.05). Participants whose work activities were highly sedentary tend to accumulate less minutes of MVPA compared with those who reported their work as moderately active or highly active (p < 0.001). Health enhancing MVPA was inversely related with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Physical activity level of the working population of Nigerian adults was low and was related with adverse risk factors for CVD. Promoting health enhancing physical activity at work places may be important for prevention and control of CVD among the working population in Maiduguri, Nigeria.     

Current management of endometrial hyperplasia-a survey of United Kingdom consultant gynaecologists

Objective

To determine current practice for the management of endometrial hyperplasia.

Study design

We carried out a web-based survey of all UK consultant gynaecologists, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) database, to evaluate the current practice and to enquire whether a trial between oral progestogens and LNG-IUS for endometrial hyperplasia is required.

Results

We sent 1090 email invitations and 411 (37.7%) responded to this survey. In total, 338 consultant gynaecologists, who manage patients with endometrial hyperplasia, responded to all items of the survey. The oral progestogens (33.2%) and the LNG-IUS (52.1%) were the most popular choices for managing complex endometrial hyperplasia. The majority of the gynaecologists would explore two conservative choices before embarking into performing a hysterectomy for this condition (130, 52.6%). However, for atypical hyperplasia, the majority of the gynaecologists would perform a hysterectomy (273, 83.2%) and would only consider LNG-IUS or oral progestogens as a second or third option. Two hundred forty-four (72.2%) responded that an RCT for oral progestogens versus LNG-IUS for the management of endometrial hyperplasia is required. There were 171 (50.6%) gynaecologists that would be willing to randomise in such an RCT.

Conclusion

Our survey shows that complex endometrial hyperplasia is managed conservatively in UK, with oral progestogens or LNG-IUS, and atypical endometrial hyperplasia is managed with hysterectomy. An RCT, between oral progestogens and LNG-IUS for endometrial hyperplasia, is required to identify the optimum therapy.     

Contact dermatitis in Nigeria (I). Hand dermatitis in women

Of 545 consecutive contact dermatitis clinic patients, 271 (49.7%) were women. 29 (10.7%) of whom had hand dermatitis alone. 17 (58.6%) of these hand cases, were allergic, the main sensitizers being nickel and essential oils in oranges. Dress makers were mostly affected by nickel, while orange sellers and peelers were positive to orange peel, fragrance mix, balsam of Peru and formaldehyde in varying combinations. 8 (27.6%) of the hand cases were due to irritants and wet jobs, and possibly lo allergens not tested. 24 (83%) of the hand cases were occupational. Only 1 Nigerian woman had true housewife's hand dermatitis. It was not possible to define the rôle of atopy because of unreliable histories. 2 cases of pompholyx und a negative patch test occurred in the first trimester of pregnancy.     

Generalized Pruritus as a Presenting Symptom in Nigeria

In a retrospective study of 4000 consecutive dermatologic patients seen at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Skin Clinic, 268 patients (6.7%) had generalized pruritus without obvious skin diseases. Filariasis was responsible for the pruritus in 57% of these patients; 21% was bath-related pruritus, and the reasons for this were highlighted. In 6% of cases, pruritus was thought to be due to intolerance to environmental heat; 9.7% was due to miscellaneous causes. Pruritus from systemic diseases accounted for 3.7%. Causes for the pruritus were not elicited in 2.6% of the patients.     

A structurational analysis of informed consent to treatment: societal evolution, contradiction, and reproductions in medical practice

Informed consent (IC) to treatment enables physician disclosures (e.g., risks, benefits) and shared decisions, and honors patient autonomy and bodily integrity. Unfortunately, litigation and rising physician malpractice insurance suggest a need to reexamine IC. To initiate this, problems plaguing prior studies of IC interaction--lack of discursive and theoretical perspectives, neglect of IC's sociohistorical context--must first be addressed. Structuration theory, which overcomes these problems, guided analyses of IC law, resulting in discovery of three sociohistorical systems of meaning or discourses representing interests that favor different groups' (physicians, states and administrative entities, patients) control of IC's meaning and ideal practice. The article then works toward blending IC's sociohistorical context with struggles in contemporary practice by reexamining the literature on IC interaction for (re)productions of these discourses.     

Preliminary Report on Neuroanatomical Differences Among Reading Disabled,Nonverbally Gifted,and Gifted-Reading Disabled College Students

Regional comparisons (cortical surface area and thickness) were performed on a well described sample of adults with reading disability alone (RD), nonverbal giftedness alone (G), and reading disability and nonverbal giftedness combined (GRD). These anatomical results are considered in relation to behavioral and functional work previously reported on this sample. GRD-RD regional differences were found in both hemispheres and were more common than GRD-G differences. Regional differences were found in the temporal, parietal, occipital and frontal lobes. While these data are preliminary given the small sample sizes, they suggest future avenues of research on the neurodevelopment of atypical samples.