Trends in female circumcision between 1933 and 2003 in Osun and Ogun States, Nigeria (a cohort analysis)

The international movement against female circumcision gained momentum in the past two decades. Although recent studies report decline in the practice none has studied the cohort effect or provided plausible explanation for such decline. Changes in female circumcision occurring in two southwestern States of Nigeria between 1933 and 2003 were tracked in a cross-sectional survey using cohort analysis. 1174 female live births to 413 women were included in the analysis. About fifty-three percent of all females were circumcised. The prevalence dropped from 64.9% during the period 1933-60 to 25.7% for the period 2000-2003. For first order births, the corresponding rates were 58.8% and 25.0%. The decline for first-born females comes a decade before other birth orders. Age and education of mother are two main factors of the decline. Global consensus or legal enforcement plays secondary roles. Understanding how modernisation affects the decline in female circumcision should receive greater attention.     

Menstrual Patterns and Gynecologic Morbidity among University Students in Kano,Nigeria

ObjectiveTo examine menstrual patterns and effects of menstrual disorders on social and academic lives of undergraduate students in Kano, Nigeria.ParticipantsStudents attending Bayero University Kano, Nigeria (n = 383).InterventionSelf-administered questionnaires.Main Outcome MeasuresSociodemographic characteristics, menstrual patterns, and associated symptoms were elicited. Treatment-seeking behavior and effects of symptoms on academic and social activities were ascertained.ResultsThe mean age at menarche was 13.7 ± 1.68 years. Menstrual bleeding lasted an average of 5.2 ± 1.6 days. Cycle length was 21-35 days in 92% of cases (n = 353). Approximately 72% of respondents reported dysmenorrhea. After adjusting for confounding, age at menarche, menstrual cycle length, duration of menstrual bleeding and use of contraceptive pills remained significant predictors of dysmenorrhea. Menstrual disorders interfered with social and academic life of 91% and 84% of respondents respectively.ConclusionsGynecologic morbidity related to menstruation is common among adolescent Nigerians and is associated with detrimental effects on academic and social activities. Student health services should prioritize measures to mitigate the social and physical impact of menstrual disorders in young women.     

Impact of sickle cell disease and thalassemias in infants on birth outcomes

Objective

The contribution of sickle cell disease (SCD) and other common thalassemias in infants to adverse birth outcomes is under-studied. We therefore sought to compare adverse birth outcomes in infants with and without hemoglobinopathy.

Study design

Retrospective cohort study utilizing a population-based dataset from Florida (1998–2007, n = 1,564,038). The primary outcomes were low birthweight (LBW), very low birthweight (VLBW), preterm birth (PTB), very preterm birth (VPTB) and small for gestational age (SGA). We used propensity scores to match infants with hemoglobinopathy to those without hemoglobinopathy on selected variables. To approximate relative risks, we generated adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from logistic regression models and accounted for the matched design using generalized estimating equations framework.

Results

Infants with SCD or thalassemia had a heightened risk for LBW (AOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.29–1.93), VLBW (AOR = 3.01, 95% CI: 2.12–4.25), PTB (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.12–1.65), VPTB (AOR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.93–3.78), and neurological conditions (AOR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.48–2.81) compared to infants without hemoglobinopathy.

Conclusion

Infants with SCD or thalassemia experience considerably higher risks for multiple infant morbidities. Our findings are potentially important in prenatal counseling, as well as for targeted care of affected pregnancies in the prenatal period.     

A multicentre study of advanced abdominal pregnancy: a review of six cases in low resource settings

Abdominal pregnancy has remained a big challenge worldwide especially in developing countries where there are limitations in diagnostic resources. The most important approach is to be vigilant for the unexpected as most patients present with no specific symptoms or clinical signs. It also poses great challenges in diagnosis and management, and is associated with a lot of morbidity and mortality. This series of six cases, each presenting in a peculiar way, typically illustrates these issues. The cases were managed in three different hospitals in the last 15 years. These series is aimed at highlighting the atypical presenting features of advanced abdominal pregnancy and the need for vigilance when there is suspicion of a case. It is also aimed at showing the difficulty of diagnosis and management of advanced abdominal pregnancy in low resource environment.     

Anti-trypanosomal activity of African medicinal plants: A review update

Ethnopharmacological relevance

African trypanosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases caused by different species of trypanosomes that affect both human and livestock with devastating consequences in the continent. Most of the affected populations commonly use traditional medicinal plants for the treatment of the disease. Consequently, this prompted ethnopharmacological research activities on the anti-trypanosomal activity of a number of these African medicinal plants in order to validate their ethnomedicinal use. Furthermore, such studies could lead to the identification of chemical leads for the development of newer anti-trypanosomal agents from those plants. This review aims to provide updated information on the ethnopharmacological evidence of African medicinal plants with anti-trypanosomal activity.

Methods

Literature was collected via electronic search (PubMed, Sciencedirect, Medline and Google Scholar) from published articles that report on the in vitro or in vivo anti-trypanosomal activity of plants that were collected from different parts of Africa.

Results

African medicinal plants investigated for in vitro and in vivo anti-trypanosomal activity from January 1993 to October 2013 are systematically compiled and all the in vivo studies are critically discussed. A total of 264 plant species belonging to 79 families were investigated for anti-trypanosomal activity. However, only 48 bioactive anti-trypanosomal compounds were successfully isolated in pure forms. Furthermore, some of the plants were investigated for possible ameliorative effects on the trypanosome-induced pathological changes out of which 18 plants were reported to be effective while a few others were not. In spite of interesting preclinical ethnopharmacological evidence for anti-trypanosomal activity, not a single African medicinal plant was investigated in a clinical study.

Conclusion

Several African medicinal plants have demonstrated promising anti-trypanosomal effects but the studies on the anti-trypanosomal potentials of these plants are not taken beyond proof of concept stage. It is hoped that the article would stimulate future clinical studies because of the paucity of knowledge in this area.     

Identification of HPV16's E6 gene in suspected cases of cervical lesions and docking Study of its L1 protein with active components of Echinacea purpurae

BackgroundHPV 16 is the primary etiologic agent of cervical cancer and the presence of L1 and E6 oncoproteins are largely responsible for its virulence. It was the objective of this study to identify HPV16 isolates from suspected cases of cervical cancer at Specialist Hospital Sokoto and Sir Yahaya Memorail Hospiatal Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria and also to identify potent HPV16''s L1 protein inhibitor using in silico analysis.MethodsA total of 144 cervical samples consisting of 21 low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, 6 high grade lesion and 117 negative pap smears were collected. The samples were subjected for molecular detection using PCR targeting E6 gene of the virus. Data generated for the molecular prevalence was statistically analyzed using Chi-square method. AutoDock Vina was used to carry out the molecular docking between 2hr5 and Chicoric acid, curcumin and Echinacoside.ResultsOut of the 144 samples, 24 samples were positive for the PCR representing 16.9% molecular prevalence rate. There is statistically significant association between cyto-diagnoses and presence of HPV16 (P < 0.05). Docking analysis showed that the Chicoric acid components of Echinacea purpurae have strong binding affinity (-8.7 kcal/mol) to the L1 protein of the HPV.ConclusionThis study provides data on HPV 16 epidemiology in northern Nigeria, and also provides novel evidence for consideration on certain interacting residues, when synthesizing Anti-HPV compounds in the wet lab.     

Understanding the Stress Distribution on Anatomic Customized Root-Analog Dental Implant at Bone-Implant Interface for Different Bone Densities

The aim of this study is to assess the stress distribution on the bone tissue and bone-implant interface of a customized anatomic root-analog dental implant (RAI) by means of finite element analysis (FEA) for different types of bone density. A mandibular right second premolar was selected from the CBCT database. A DICOM file was converted to an STL file to create a CAD model in FEA software. The bone boundary model was created, while bone density types I–IV were determined. Von Mises stress was measured at bone tissues and bone-implant interfaces. To validate the models, the RAI was 3D printed through a laser powder-bed fusion (L-PBF) approach. The results revealed that all RAI designs could not cause plastic deformation or fracture resulting in lower stress than the ultimate tensile stress of natural bone and implant. Compared to a conventional screw-type implant, RAIs possess a more favorable stress distribution pattern around the bone tissue and the bone-implant interface. The presence of a porous structure was found to reduce the stress at cancellous bone in type IV bone density.     

Lophirones B and C prevent aflatoxin B1-induced oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation in rat hepatocytes

Context Despite the reported anticarcinogenic activity of lophirones B and C, no scientific information exists for its activity in rat hepatocytes.

Objective Effect of lophirones B and C on aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁)-induced oxidative stress, and DNA fragmentation in rat hepatocytes was investigated.

Materials and methods Wistar rat hepatocytes were incubated with lophirones B and C (1?mg/mL) or sylimarin (1?mg/mL) in the presence or absence of AFB₁. For an in vivo study, rats were orally administered with lophirones B and C, and/or AFB₁ (20?μg/d) for 9 weeks.

Results Lophirones B and C lowered AFB₁-mediated increase in nitric oxide, superoxide anion radicals, caspase-3 and fragmented DNA. Lophirones B and C attenuated AFB₁-mediated decrease in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and reduced glutathione. Also, lophirones B and C attenuated AFB₁-mediated increase in conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides and malondialdehyde in rat hepatocytes. Furthermore, AFB₁-mediated alterations in alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, total bilirubin and globulin in rat serum were significantly annulled in lophirones B and C-treated rats.

Conclusion This study revealed that lophirones B and C prevented AFB₁-induced oxidative damage in rat hepatocytes.     

Vertebral endplate defects: nomenclature,classification and measurement methods: a scoping review

European Spine Journal - To summarize the scope of nomenclature and measurement methods used to document endplate defects in the health sciences literature. The scoping review followed the York...     

Prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children with pneumonia in Zaria, Nigeria.

The prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children suffering from pneumonia was investigated, using complement fixation and growth inhibition tests. From the sera of 104 children with pneumonia, 32 (31%) showed a CF titre greater or equal to 1:64, while all the 52 control children of the same age and sex had a CF titre less than 1:16. Children 6-10 years of age had the highest positive titre (41%) while the age groups 3-5 years and 0-2 years had positive titres of 30 and 28%, respectively. Both sexes were equally affected (33% male, 29% female). Mycoplasma pneumoniae was isolated in two children whose CF antibody titres were 1:16. It is concluded that M. pneumoniae plays an important role as an aetiological agent of pneumonia in children in Zaria, Nigeria, and could be included in the routine diagnostic protocol of pneumonia, especially during the dry harmattan months when cases of lobar pneumonia are prevalent.