Barriers to mammography screening in Nigeria: A survey of two communities with different access to screening facilities

Delayed presentation of breast cancer is a common theme in most low‐ and middle‐income countries. This study evaluates barriers to mammography screening in two Nigerian communities with different geographic access to screening facilities. A 35 item questionnaire was administered to women, 40 years and older, 1,169 (52.6%) in Ife Central Local Government where mammography services are offered and 1,053 (47.4%) in Iwo Local Government where there are no mammography units. Information on breast cancer screening practices and barriers to mammography screening were compared between the two communities. Most women had heard of breast cancer (Ife 94%, Iwo 97%), but few were aware of mammography (Ife 11.8%, Iwo 11.4%). Mammography uptake in Ife Central was 2.8% and 1.8% in Iwo, despite the former offering mammography services. Knowledge and practice of mammography were not statistically different between the two communities (p = 0.74, 0.1). Lack of awareness was the commonest reason cited for not having mammography in both communities. Others include lack of perceived need and cost. Awareness creation to ensure optimal utilisation of existing facilities, as well as innovative measures to address the barrier of cost, is required to improve breast cancer screening uptake in Nigeria.     

Effect of hyoscine butyl-bromide on the duration of active phase of labor: A randomized-controlled trial

Objective

Hyoscine butyl bromide (HBB) is known for its antispasmodic action and has been in use for over five decades, there is however no consensus on its effectiveness in the labor process. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of HBB on the duration of the active phase of labor.

Effect of Smoking Methods on Quality and Safety of Traditional Smoked Fish from Lagos State,Nigeria

This study was carried out to assess the effect of smoking methods on quality and safety of traditional smoked of fish from Lagos State, Nigeria. Five types of fresh fish (40) samples each were obtained from 20 different fish processing centers. The fresh fish samples were divided into two batches. The first batch was smoked with drum kiln and second batch was smoked with convective kiln. Laboratory analyses were carried out on the two batches for proximate, rancidity indices (PV, TBA, TVBN, TMA, and pH), heavy metals and microbiological (coliform, fungi, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella paratyphi, and Staphylococcus aureus). The results revealed that the mean MC of fresh fish samples ranged from 73.48%–75.94% and that of drum-smoked fish samples ranged from 11.86%–13.41% and 8.56%–9.36% for convective smoked fish samples. The mean PC of fresh fish samples ranged from 15.18%–17.96% and that of drum-smoked fish samples ranged from 54.80%–59.35% and 57.45%–66.23% for convective-smoked fish samples. The results of the proximate, quality, and microbiological analyses revealed that there was significant variations (p < 0.05) due to smoking methods. The study showed that the levels of the four heavy metals investigated in the fish samples are generally below the maximum permissible levels set by WHO for Pb (0.3 ppm); Cd (0.2 ppm), Hg (0.2 ppm) and Cr (0.5 ppm) and hence pose no risk to smoked fish consumers. The study concluded that traditional drum-smoked fish needs further cooking or heat treatment before it can be included in the menu, as non-heat treatment may pose higher microbiological risks to the consumers due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in some of the traditional drum-smoked fish samples which may constitute a threat to public health.     

Body iron stores in relation to the metabolic syndrome, glycemic control and complications in female patients with type 2 diabetes

Background and aimStudies suggest that iron plays a significant role in the development of diabetes and its complications. This study evaluates the associations of iron metabolism parameters with the metabolic syndrome (MS), control and complications in female patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods and resultsFerritin, soluble Transferrin Receptor (sTfR), sTfR/Log ferritin ratio (sTfR-F index), iron, full blood count and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were determined in 110 female patients with T2DM. Steady state beta cell function (%B), insulin sensitivity (%S) and insulin resistance were assessed with homeostasis model.Patients were divided into tertiles of ferritin and sTfR-F index and according to the presence or absence of the MS and diabetic complications. Patients within the lowest tertile of the sTfR-F index had significantly higher fasting insulin, percent B, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and Apolipoprotein B than those in the highest tertile. Ferritin showed significant correlations with insulin, percent B and inverse correlations with adiponectin and percent S. The sTfR-F index was significantly correlated with insulin, percent B and lipid parameters. Correcting for hs-CRP abolished the correlations with ferritin but not the sTfR-F index. Higher indices of body iron were significantly associated with diabetes complications but no associations were found with MS, glucose or glycemic control. Multiple regression analysis with confounding variables showed ferritin and the sTfR-F index were not independently associated with diabetes complications.ConclusionsAssociation of ferritin with metabolic derangements and complications in diabetes is partly dependent on association with inflammation. Iron status, estimated with the sTfR-F index, is associated with metabolic derangements and complications but the associations are dependent on other risk factors. Prospective studies that use the sTfR-F index as a marker of iron status are required to confirm the role of iron in the etiopathogenesis of T2DM and its complications.     

SSAT State-of-the-Art Conference: New Frontiers in Liver Surgery

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery - ᅟ