Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in Nigerian men

Fifty-eight Nigerian outpatients with documented erectile dysfunction (ED) received open-label sildenafil citrate (Viagra) for 8 weeks. The 50-mg starting dose could be adjusted to 100 or 25 mg based on response and tolerability. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Questionnaire, a global efficacy question, and intercourse data recorded in a patient event log were used to assess efficacy. Frequency of penetration and maintained erection were both significantly enhanced (P<0.0001); 95% of patients reported improved erections and 81% of all attempts at intercourse were successful. Orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction also improved significantly (P&<0.0001). The most frequent adverse events (all-cause) were headache (17%) and myalgia (3%); only one patient discontinued treatment because of headache, which was considered unrelated to sildenafil. Oral sildenafil significantly improved erectile function and was well tolerated in this trial of Nigerian men suffering from ED. Our results are consistent with reports from other countries.     

Flour,dough and bread properties of wheat flour substituted with orange-fleshed sweetpotato flour

This study investigated some quality attributes of composite flours, dough and bread from wheat flour substituted with orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) flour at 0–30% levels. Chemical, functional and pasting properties of flours, rheological properties of dough, as well as chemical composition and physical properties of bread were determined. Protein content of composite flours decreased by 25.51–37.37% at 10–30% OFSP flour substitution. Flour composites were higher in ash (2.12–2.33%), crude fibre (3.28–4.34%), water (1.45–2.08 ml/g) and oil (1.45–1.67 ml/g) absorption capacities. Wheat flour (100%) had maximum peak viscosity of 117.71 Rapid Visco Units (RVU) which decreased by 0.71–30.80% with OFSP flour substitution. Dough from composites had higher hydration (82.15–112.10%) and breakdown torque (0.38–0.42 Nm) but lower stability (1.16–2.38 min), protein weakening (0.06–0.37 Nm), starch gelatinization (0.46–0.81 Nm), stability of hot gel (0.04–0.43 Nm) and starch retrogradation (0.46–0.81 Nm). Bread substituted with OFSP flour had higher total carotenoids (1565.50–5179.27 µg/100 g), weight (193.74–198.50 g) and crumb moisture (27.81–27.91%).     

Prenatal express-diagnosis by the method of QF-PCR and automatic microelectroforesis with microarrays

The modern molecular-genetic methods have been implementing actively into the medical practiee.They improve diagnostic accuracy,help to prognosticate the course of oncological diseases,optimize the res...     

Day case endourology in surgical outpatient clinic at Ibadan: A 5 year review

ObjectiveTo review our day case endourological practice over a five-year period.Subjects and methodsData was obtained from the endourology day case register and these were analysed using simple statistical methods. Caudal anaesthesia and intravenous sedatives were used for the procedures.ResultsA total of 559 patients underwent endoscopic procedures as day cases. Their ages ranged from 10 to 88 years, with a male to female ratio of 4 to 1. Four hundred and thirty eight (78.4%) were diagnostic and 121 (21.6%) were therapeutic. The main diagnostic procedures were urethrocystoscopy (n = 222), and cystoscopy alone (n = 116), cystoscopy and biopsy (n = 46) while the therapeutic procedures were direct visual internal urethrotomy (n = 86), endoscopic cystolitholapaxy (n = 10), and rigid retrograde endoscopic realignment (n = 7) for posterior urethral injury. The main anaesthesia was caudal block in 472 patients and topical 2% xylocaine jelly with sedation in 86 patients.ConclusionsThere is a steady increase in therapeutic day case endourology. Caudal anaesthesia provides effective pain free procedure to the patient. Surgical trainees can benefit by learning the technique of caudal block anaesthesia.     

Molecular identification and characterization of mannitol-negative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

We report on the isolation, molecular identification, and characterization of 5 mannitol-negative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from clinical samples in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, South Africa. Identification based on phenotypic testing and polymerase chain reaction detection of the S. aureus species-specific nuc gene and the coagulase gene indicated that the mannitol-negative isolates were S. aureus. Furthermore, they were mecA positive, and SCCmec typing demonstrated that all the isolates harbored type IV SCCmec. API STAPH (Biomerieux, Marcy-l'Etoile, France) misidentified 2 mannitol-negative MRSA that belonged to the major clone in KZN province, as Staphylococcus lugdunensis. Although the prevalence and mechanism of mannitol-negative MRSA is unknown, laboratories are encouraged to investigate S. aureus with atypical characteristics.     

Field and laboratory findings of the first incursion of the Asian H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in Africa.

In mid-January 2006 an outbreak of avian influenza in domestic birds was recorded in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The virus responsible for the outbreak was characterized as a highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (A/chicken/Nigeria/641/06), belonging to the Qinghai lineage. The index case occurred on a farm containing mixed avian species including free-range birds. Clinical signs and mortality were observed in chickens, geese and ostriches. The present paper describes the clinical, pathological and virological findings of this outbreak.     

Rapid antigen detection in the diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus in Nigeria

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) is an infectious disease of agroeconomic and public health importance. The outbreak that occurred in Nigeria (2006–2008) was devastating to the poultry industry and raised public health concerns. In the course of its control, rapid laboratory confirmation of suspected cases in poultry was essential for prompt mobilization of control logistics for depopulation and decontamination of affected premises. Commercial rapid test kit was evaluated in the diagnosis of highly pathogenic AI (HPAI) as a preliminary to virus isolation. Between 2006 and 2007, 382 cases were tested out of which 149 were positive by rapid antigen detection. Virus isolation yielded 171 positive cases. The relative diagnostic sensitivity of Anigen Rapid AIV Ag test was 84.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.1–88.9%), whereas the relative diagnostic specificity was 97.7% (95% CI, 94.2–99.1%). Rapid antigen detection is a useful technique for prompt diagnosis of HPAI for early detection and containment.