Improving knowledge and perception of HIV/AIDS among English language speaking children in rural areas through educational digital storytelling

Background/Objective:Previous research efforts have shown the need for improvement of knowledge and perception of HIV/AIDS among English Language speaking children in rural areas. Hence, the study at hand was designed to investigate the effect of using educational digital storytelling intervention to satisfy this need of English Language children in rural areas in Nigeria.Method:The study adopted a randomized control design involving a pretest, post-test, and follow-up measures. Eight-four children (n = 84) took part in the study. The HIV Knowledge Questionnaire (HIV-KQ-18) and the Perceived Risk of HIV Scale (PRHS) were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using t test statistics.Result:The educational digital storytelling intervention in appreciably improved knowledge and perception of English language children in rural areas who participated in the intervention concerning HIV/AIDS compared with their peers in the no-intervention control group. The improvement in knowledge and perception gained was also maintained throughout the follow-up evaluation period.Conclusion:The present study showed that the use of educational digital storytelling could improve knowledge and perception of HIV/AIDS among English Language speaking children in rural areas. Educational digital storytelling intervention effectively improved knowledge and perception of HIV/AIDS among children in rural areas. In return, we recommend that rural sociologists, counselors, language and communication experts, child educators, and other professionals involved in public health especially, as it concerns children be skilled in the use and application of educational digital storytelling intervention procedures to facilitate the move towards adopting the method in their professional practices.     

Promoting Colorectal Cancer Screening through Group Education in Community-Based Settings

National colonoscopy adherence rates near 65 % and New York City (NYC) colonoscopy rates approach 69 %. Despite an overall increase in national colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates, rates of CRC screening among Blacks and Latinos are lower than non-Latino Whites. We developed two group level, culturally targeted educational programs about CRC for Blacks and Latinos. One hour programs included education about screening, peer testimony given by a colonoscopy-adherent person, and pre- and post-knowledge assessment. From 2010 to 2012, we conducted 66 education programs in NYC, reaching 1,065 participants, 62.7 % of whom were 50 years of age or older identified as Black or Latino and provided information about colonoscopy history (N?=?668). Colonoscopy adherence in the sample was 69.3 %. There was a significant increase in mean knowledge score about CRC and CRC screening from pretest to posttest. Sixty-eight percent of attendees without prior colonoscopy reported intent to schedule a colonoscopy as a result of attending the program. Culturally targeted education programs with peer testimony are a valuable way to raise awareness about CRC and colonoscopy and can influence intent to screen among nonadherent persons. Additional research is needed to establish group level education as an effective means of promoting CRC screening.     

Silicate-substituted calcium phosphate ceramic bone graft replacement for spinal fusion procedures

STUDY DESIGN.: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVE.: To assess the clinical and radiographical outcomes in spinal fusion procedures using silicate-substituted calcium phosphate (Si-CaP). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Si-CaP is a newer-generation synthetic ceramic designed to maximize osteoinduction and osteoconduction. METHODS.: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected patient database including 108 patients (204 individual spinal levels). Different surgical procedures performed included 25 anterior cervical discectomy and fusions, 17 posterior cervical fusions, 7 combined anterior and posterior cervical fusions, 10 thoracic fusion surgeries, 18 transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions with 12 axial lumbar interbody fusions, 11 transpsoas discectomy and fusions, and 8 combined thoracolumbar fusion procedures. Si-CaP was used as bone extender without any additional graft material, bone marrow aspirate, or bone morphogenetic protein. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index, and Neck Disability Index. Fusion was determined by the presence of bony bridging on 2 consecutive sections in at least 2 planes on computed tomographic imaging. RESULTS.: At a follow-up of 12 (±4.7) months, 90% of all patients demonstrated radiographical fusion. Fusion rates were highest in the cervical spine (97%) followed by thoracic and lumbar spines (86% and 81%, respectively). There were significant improvements in all clinical outcome measures-Oswestry Disability Index, 11.1 (±10.2) and Neck Disability Index, 9.0 (±11.4); VAS-back, 3.1(±3.0); VAS-leg, 3.5 (±3.6); VAS-neck, 3.7 (±2.5); and VAS-arm 4.0 (±3.2). There was no radiographical loosening of instrumentation due to infection or nonunion in this series, and no subsequent revisions for nonunion were required. CONCLUSION.: Si-CaP is an alternative to autogenous bone graft in spinal arthrodesis procedures. At 12-month follow-up, we detected high levels of bony fusion using Si-CaP in combination with various surgical spinal techniques.     

Anti-hCG Vaccines are in Clinical Trials

Two vaccines inducing antibodies against human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) have completed Phase I clinical trials, indicating the reversibility and safety of these vaccines. One is currently in Phase II efficacy trials in women in three major centres in India. The available data suggest that the vaccine prevents pregnancy above antibody titres of 50 ng/ml hCG bioneutralization capacity.     

Two vaginal deliveries after a classical caesarean section--case reports

It is standard practice to offer a parturient who has had a classical Caesarean section an elective repeat Caesarean section due to the fear of uterine rupture. The strong aversion of our women to operative delivery does not allow an appreciable number to avail themselves of hospital delivery even after Caesarean section. We report the case of a booked patient who had a classical Caesarean section but defaulted in two subsequent pregnancies to have vaginal deliveries in a private hospital. We therefore suggest a more liberal attitude to allowing attempt at vaginal delivery as an informed decision in well-equipped facilities capable of easy and prompt resort to appropriate intervention.     

Ethanol extract of Tephrosia bracteolata leaves and its fractions ameliorates alloxan-induced diabetes and its associated complications in Wistar rat model

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries - Tephrosia bracteolata Guill. & Perr. (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) is a traditional Nigerian medicinal plant used for the...     

Role of malaria induced oxidative stress on anaemia in pregnancy

ObjectiveTo assess the role of oxidative stress on anaemia in pregnancy.MethodsBlood samples were collected from pregnant and non-pregnant women who came for antenatal clinic and medical check at Comprehensive Health Center, Akungba-Akoko and Iwaro General Hospital in Akoko Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. Thick and thin blood films were prepared and used for malaria parasite counts. Haemoglobin level was determined by colorimetric method using Drabkin's solution. Oxidative status was determined using malondiadelhyde level as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, while ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione levels were measured by standard spectrophotometric methods.ResultsMean parasite density was significantly higher in pregnant women than non-pregnant women (P<0.05). Haemoglobin level was significantly reduced in malaria positive pregnant and non-pregnant women than malaria negative (8.3-10.0 g/dL) (P<0.05). The oxidative status indicated that malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly increased in pregnant [(2.5±0.7) nmol/mL] than non-pregnant women [(1.8±0.1) nmol/mL] (P<0.05), while Vit C and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were significantly reduced in pregnant than non-pregnant women(P<0.05). There was an inverse correlation between Hb and MDA levels in pregnant women studied. Positive correlation was observed between the mean MDA level and parasite density (r = 0.53). The Hb level decreased as the parasite density and MDA level increased in pregnant women.ConclusionsThis study shows that oxidative stress, caused by malaria infection could be part of the contributing factors responsible for anaemia in pregnancy.     

Establishment and characterization of a childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, PER-255, with chromosome abnormalities involving 7q32-34 in association with T-cell receptor- beta gene rearrangement

A human leukemia cell line, PER-255, was established from the bone marrow of a 5-year-old boy with features typical of lymphomatous T- acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The leukemic origin of cell line PER-255 is indicated by its cytochemical and immunologic similarity to the patient's fresh leukemic cells, which correspond to immature cortical thymocytes. Southern blot analysis showed that the IgJH genes were in germline configuration, whereas both alleles of the T-cell receptor-beta (TCR-beta) gene were rearranged in PER-255 cells, with identical rearrangements present in the patient's leukemic cells. Cytogenetic analysis of the cell line revealed a single abnormal clone with the karyotype 46,XY,t(7;10)(q32-34;q24),t(9;12) (p22;p12-13). Reciprocal translocations involving chromosome bands 7q32-36, containing the gene for the TCR-beta chain, have been reported for a number of tumors of T-cell origin. Translocations involving the 7q32-36 region appear to be nonrandomly associated with childhood T-ALL, whereas abnormalities of 9p and 12p have been reported to be nonrandomly involved in ALL but not specifically associated with the T- cell phenotype.