Trained Community Volunteers Improve Tuberculosis Knowledge and Attitudes Among Adults in a Periurban Community in Southwest Nigeria

Nigeria has the world''s 10th largest tuberculosis (TB) burden. Targeted community-based interventions can potentially help reduce TB incidence. We designed an intervention in a periurban community where 10 community volunteers were trained to provide community TB education and also detect and refer TB suspects to a nearby clinic. To determine the effect of the intervention on knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices of TB, we compared results from a pre-intervention survey with those of a post-intervention survey. Pre-intervention, respondents had a mean knowledge score of 10.6 ± 7.0 of a possible 34, a mean attitude score of 5.8 ± 3.3 of a possible 10, and a mean practice score of 5.3 ± 1.4 of a possible 7. The intervention significantly increased the mean knowledge score to 16 ± 5.4 (P < 0.001) and mean attitude score to 7.0 ± 1.8 (P < 0.001); however, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean practice score. Eight TB suspects were referred to the clinic, and one suspect was subsequently diagnosed with TB. The use of trained community volunteers to share information on TB improved the overall knowledge and attitudes of respondents. Continued empowerment of the community should be encouraged to promote TB prevention and care.     

Adolescent low back pain among secondary school students in Ibadan,Nigeria

Background

Adolescent low back pain (ALBP) can be considered a signal or precursor of a serious organic disease or telltale sign of future incidence of low back pain in adulthood. Published articles on ALBP in Nigeria are not readily available.

Objectives

The study''s objectives were to investigate the prevalence of Adolescent Low Back Pain (ALBP) among secondary school students in Ibadan, Nigeria and the prevalence''s association with some socio-demographic variables.

Methods

Participants were adolescent students from 15 secondary schools in Ibadan. Data was collected using a respondent-administered, validated questionnaire on low back pain in adolescents. Participants (Female: 298; Male: 273) aged 14.23 ±2.27 years (range 10–19) were recruited through multi-stage random sampling. Five hundred and seventy-one (83.97%) of the 680 copies of the questionnaire administered were returned. Data was analysed using mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentages, and Chi-square test with alpha level at 0.05.

Result

Lifetime, twelve-month, one-month and point prevalence rates of ALBP were 58.0%, 43.8%, 25.6% and 14.7% respectively. Age at first experience of ALBP was 11.86 ± 2.36 years. Gender was not significantly associated with any rate (p ≥0.317). Age (p ≤ 0.043) and engagement in commercial activities (p ≤ 0.025) were significantly associated with all period prevalence rates while injury to the back was significantly associated with all period prevalence rates except point prevalence (p = 0.087).

Conclusion

Adolescent low back pain is common among secondary school students in Ibadan and its prevalence is significantly associated with age and engagement in commercial activities, but not with gender.     

Ethnobotanical study of plants used in treating hypertension in Edo State of Nigeria

A study was undertaken in 12 local government areas (LGAs) of Edo State located in central southern Nigeria, representing 66.6% coverage, in order to obtain an inventory of the major medicinal plants used in folk medicine to treat arterial hypertension. One hundred and eighty nine respondents who were mainly traditional medical practitioners and were knowledgeable in the medicinal plants for treating hypertension were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire administered by trained interviewers. The inventory of medicinal plants is summarized in a synoptic table, which contains the scientific, vernacular and common names of the plants/frequency of citation, the part of the plant and method of preparation of recipes. The study indicated 70 plants belonging to 67 genera in 43 families are commonly prescribed. Of these plants, 39 species are cultivated, 29 species grow in the wild, while only 2 both grow wild and also cultivated. Ninety three herbal antihypertensive recipes are recognized and are mainly prepared as decoctions, infusions, powders and juice. The leaf (43%) represented the dominant morphological part often included in recipes. Plants frequently included in antihypertensive recipes were Allium species, Persea americana, Acalypha godseffiana, Zingiber officinale, Sida acuta, Hunteria umbellata, Rauwolfia vomitoria, Viscum album and Aframomum melegueta.     

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus isolates expressing low- and high-level mupirocin resistance in Nigeria and South Africa

Background  

Mupirocin is a topical antimicrobial agent which is used for the treatment of skin and postoperative wound infections, and the prevention of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, the prevalence of mupirocin resistance in S. aureus, particularly in MRSA, has increased with the extensive and widespread use of this agent in hospital settings. This study characterized low- and high-level mupirocin-resistant S. aureus isolates obtained from Nigeria and South Africa.     

Caudal block anesthesia for transrectal prostate biopsy

Objective  

Transrectal prostate biopsy is a potentially painful procedure. Our service has significant experience with caudal anesthesia for perianal procedures. This study is aimed to determine the effectiveness of caudal anesthesia for transrectal prostate biopsy.     

Aetiology and presentation of ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint: report of 23 cases from Abuja, Nigeria

Several studies have reviewed the management of ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), but only a few focused on the aetiology and clinical features. We retrospectively studied the aetiology and clinical features of patients with ankylosis of the TMJ who presented to the Maxillofacial Unit, National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria, between 2004 and 2009. There were 13 male and 10 female patients, M:F ratio 1.3:1, age range 6-62, mean (SD) 20 (13) years. The aetiological factors were trauma (n=11) that comprised falls (n=6), untreated fractures of the zygomatic arch (n=4) and myositis ossificans (n=1); infection (n=9), that comprised cancrum oris (n=3) and ear infection (n=6); congenital or unknown (n=2), and coronoid hyperplasia (n=1). The maximum interincisal distance at presentation ranged from 0 to 25 mm (mean (SD) 6.7 (7.2) mm). Seventeen had facial deformities. The diagnoses recorded were as follows: left extracapsular ankylosis, (n=8); right intracapsular bony ankylosis, (n=6); left intracapsular bony ankylosis, (n=4); bilateral intracapsular bony ankylosis, (n=4), and bilateral intracapsular fibrous ankylosis (n=1). Extreme poverty was the main predisposing factor. There is a need for a concerted effort among healthcare providers, policy makers, and the world in general to eradicate poverty and improve healthcare to limit the incidence of ankylosis of the TMJ.     

Localised insulin administration for wound healing in non-diabetic adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Insulin has the potential to restore damaged skin and due to its affordability and global availability, it is an agent of interest when it comes to pioneering new remedies to accelerate wound healing. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy and safety of localised insulin administration on wound healing in non-diabetic adults. Studies were systematically searched, using the electronic databases Embase, Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed, screened, and extracted by two independent reviewers. A total of seven randomised controlled trials that met the inclusion criteria were analysed. Risk of bias was assessed using the Revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool for Randomised Trials and a meta-analysis was performed. The primary outcome, which explored rate of wound healing (mm²/day), concluded that there was an overall significant mean improvement in the insulin treated group (IV = 11.84; 95% CI: 0.64–23.04; p = 0.04; I² = 97%) compared to the control group. Secondary outcomes concluded that there is no statistical difference between the healing time (days) of the wound (IV = −5.40; 95% CI: −11.28 to 0.48; p = 0.07; I² = 89%); there is a significant reduction in wound area in the insulin group; no adverse events were noted with the administration of localised insulin; quality of life improves drastically as the wound heals, irrespective of insulin. We conclude that although the study showed an improved wound healing rate, other parameters were not statistically significant. Therefore, larger prospective studies are warranted to fully explore the effects of insulin on different wounds, where an appropriate insulin regime can be developed for clinical practice.     

Antioxidant activities of artesunate–procyanidin hybrid compound in erythrocyte and liver of Plasmodium berghei NK65-infected mice

Resistance of malaria parasites to conventionally used antimalarial drugs has necessitated the search for new potent antimalarials, especially those that can also ameliorate oxidative stress-mediated secondary complications. This has led to the synthesis of an antimalarial artesunate–procyanidin hybrid compound (PC14), but it has not been evaluated for its antioxidant activity. This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activities of PC14 in the erythrocyte and liver of Plasmodium berghei NK65-infected mice. A hundred mice were randomly divided into 10 equal groups (A–J). Mice in Groups B–J were inoculated with P. berghei NK65 while group A mice were not inoculated. Starting from Day 3 post-inoculation, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (5%) was administered to mice in Groups A and B (normal and negative controls, respectively), while various doses of chloroquine, artesunate, procyanidin, and PC14 were administered to their respective groups for 3 days. Thereafter, antioxidant parameters were determined in the erythrocyte and liver on Days 6 and 10 post-inoculation. A significant increase (P < 0.05) was observed in malondialdehyde levels in the erythrocyte and liver of negative control on Day 10 post-inoculation compared to normal controls. Significant reduction (P < 0.05) was observed in activities of liver catalase and superoxide dismutase and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase of negative control on Days 6 and 10 compared to normal controls. However, PC14 at various doses significantly (P < 0.05) reversed these alterations. The results suggest that PC14 possesses antioxidant activity, and it enhanced antioxidant defense in the erythrocyte and liver of P. berghei-infected mice.