Orofacial injuries in eclamptic Nigerians

A retrospective review of one hundred and seventy three cases of eclampsia seen between 1994 and 2002 was conducted. Twenty one patients (12.1%) whose ages ranged from 18 to 35 years sustained orofacial injuries during the course of their eclamptic fits. Lacerations and bruises on the tongue, gingivae and lips accounted for injuries in all the patients. Temporomandibular joint dislocation was also recorded in one patient. Tongue lacerations were mainly due to tongue biting. Forceful insertion of objects during convulsive episodes was responsible for the bruises and deep lacerations at the ventral surface of the tongue in two patients. Two patients died from severe and uncontrolled bleeding complicated by renal failure and aspiration pneumonia from lacerations on the tongue and gingivae. Vigorous campaign should be carried out to encourage antenatal care attendance by pregnant mothers so that potential cases of eclampsia could be nipped in the bud before progressing to frank eclampsia. Furthermore, additional injuries usually inflicted on pregnant women by anxious relatives from forceful insertion of unpadded objects as mouth props should be discouraged through public health promotional campaigns. Obstetricians should be aware of the possibility of these injuries in an unconscious eclamptic patient and their life-threatening consequences if not promptly diagnosed and managed. The need to seek appropriate and early dental or maxillofacial consultation where such injuries are suspected and where services are available is imperative.     

酶联免疫吸附试验测定血清内源性哇巴因

目的建立血清内源性哇巴因（ＥＯ）浓度测定的酶联免疫吸附试验，促进对这一新的皮质类固醇激素的研究。方法利用外源性哇巴因免疫家兔制备哇巴因抗血清，用棋盘试验确定抗血清的稀释度及包被抗原的浓度；进行灵敏度、精密度、回收率、特异性试验。结果以抗血清稀释度为１：１００００、包被抗原浓度为１μｇ／ｍｌ时标准曲线最理想，灵敏度为０．２３μｇ／Ｌ，血清ＥＯ高（２．４μｇ／Ｌ）、中（１．２μｇ／Ｌ）、低（０．６μｇ／Ｌ）浓度的平均批内变异系数为４．７％，批间变异系数为１２．３％；高、低浓度的回收率分别为９６．３％和９１．４％；与肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素、血管紧张素Ⅱ、醛固酮、氢化可的松及地塞米松无交叉结合反应，与地高辛存在１．８％的交叉反应。用该法测定正常人（１０例）、孕妇（２３例）及原发性高血压患者（１０例）血清ＥＯ含量分别为０．５１±０．１７、０．８１±０．２６、０．７４±０．２０μｇ／Ｌ。结论该方法具有方便、快速、准确、特异和成本低的优点，可用于对内源性哇巴因的临床与实验研究。     

Racial disparities in routine health checkup and adherence to cancer screening guidelines among women in the United States of America

Purpose

Routine health checkup and cancer screening rates among women are suboptimal, partially due to the health care disparities by race/ethnicity in the USA. This study examined the previously understudied associations between routine health checkup, cervical cancer screening, and breast cancer screening by race/ethnicity using the national representative sample of women.

Methods

Data were obtained from three cycles (2017, 2018, and 2019) of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) (n?=?12,227). Survey-weighted logistic regressions were evaluated to assess associations between routine health checkup and cervical and breast cancer screening compliance with the established guidelines with the age criteria and frequency of screening by race/ethnicity (Black, White, Hispanic, and Other).

Results

This study included 6,941 women in the cervical cancer screening and 8,005 women for breast cancer screening, considering the age criteria. Women who had received routine health checkups were more likely to meet the cervical cancer screening guideline (Odds ratio?3.24, p?<?0.05) and breast cancer screening guideline (OR?5.86, p?<?0.05) compared to women who did not receive routine health checkups. While routine health checkups were associated with both types of cancer screenings in most racial/ethnic groups, analyses stratified by race/ethnicity suggest that Hispanic women and Other women did not benefit from routine health checkup in relation to cervical and breast cancer screening, respectively.

Conclusion

Promotion of routine health checkups could promote cancer screening among women across racial/ethnic groups, although specific racial/ethnic groups may require additional support.

     

Living conditions of children at risk for noma: Nigerian experience

The study reported in this paper was carried out in the Northwestern and Southwestern regions of Nigeria, between October 1996 and April 1998. The study examined the possible contributory role of living conditions in the development of acute necrotizing gingivitis (ANG) or noma from oral lesions. Questionnaire data obtained from 42 fresh noma cases seen in the Northwest and four fresh cases seen in the Southwest were examined. In addition 46 cases of advanced ANG from the Southwest were included. The main focus was to compare some of the environmental living conditions of cases with advanced ANG and those with noma in these regions. All the noma and ANG cases were seen in children aged 2-12 years. The level of good oral hygiene practices and general environmental living conditions were significantly higher in the Southwest than in the Northwest. Data also showed that living in close proximity with livestock was significantly higher in the Northwest than in the Southwest (P < 0.05). The environmental living conditions of children in the Northwest were further compounded by poor sanitary faecal disposal practices as well as minimal access to potable water. The overall data indicated that living in substandard accommodations, exposure to debilitating childhood diseases, living in close proximity to livestock, poor oral hygiene, limited access to potable water and poor sanitary disposal of human and animal faecal waste could have put the children in the Northwest at higher risk for noma than the children in the Southwest. These could have been responsible for the higher prevalence of noma in the Northwest than in the Southwest.     

Macrophage Gene Therapy in the Central Nervous System

Regulation of immune responses is particular important in recovery after stroke, traumatic brain injury, and brain infections by inhibiting inflammation and reinstating rescue environment. Gene delivery based immunotherapy appears to have significant therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurological conditions by inhibition of neuroinflammation to prevent irreversible destructive mechanisms. However, current gene delivery systems lack desired convenience, efficiency, and safety. Nanocarriers offers an attractive gene delivery system that overcome the immunogenic and long-term oncologic effects of the viral vectors. Using branched PEI lipids with PLGA, we developed a highly efficient core-shell nanoparticle (NP) gene delivery system. These IL-4 plasmid DNA (pIL-4) loaded NPs (pIL-4-NPs) were effectively delivered pIL-4 to the human blood monocytes derived macrophages (MDM) and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM). Furthermore, pIL-4-NPs quickly escaped lysosomes and entered the nuclei of these cells. In in vitro transfection assays, the pIL-4-NPs had higher transfection efficiency, in contrast, PEI25KPEI liposomes and PLGA NPs were unable to transfect MDM and BMM. In LPS-induced inflammatory in vitro and in vivo models, transfection of pIL-4-NPs decreased LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL6, and TNF-?. Our findings indicate that pIL-4-NPs delivery system is capable of effectively deliver IL-4 plasmid DNA into human and murine macrophages, which consistently express IL-4 in vitro and in vivo. The pIL-4-NPs dramatically diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines expression, exhibited anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective efficacy when macrophages were activated by LPS. Thus, branched PEI lipids and PLGA formed core-shell NPs are a promising gene delivery platform for immunotherapy in neurological ailments.     

Anaemia in pregnancy: associations with parity,abortions and child spacing in primary healthcare clinic attendees in Trinidad and Tobago

Objective

To determine the prevalence of anaemia in antenatal clinic attendees; to investigate the effects of parity, age, gravidity, previous abortions, child spacing and other factors on the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy.

Methods

This was a retrospective and cross-sectional study. Antenatal records of 2287 pregnant women attending 40 public healthcare centres from January 2000 to December 2005 in Trinidad and Tobago were used. Data pertaining to the investigated variables were recorded. The national prevalence of anaemia was calculated and chi-square tests, odds ratios and logistic regression were used to assess the relationship between anaemia and each variable.

Results

The prevalence of anaemia was 15.3% (95% CI 13.4%, 16.6%). No significant difference in the prevalence of anaemia was found among the different clinics or counties. At the first haemoglobin reading, age was inversely related to the presence of anaemia, whereas gestational age at first visit was directly related. At the final haemoglobin reading, parity, gravidity, and previous spontaneous abortions were directly related to the prevalence of anaemia, while the number of visits was inversely related. Age was inversely associated to the severity of anaemia while gravidity was directly related.

Conclusion

The prevalence of anaemia decreased by 18.7% from 1967. Despite this positive indication, women under 24 years and those commencing antenatal care after the first trimester are still at a higher risk for developing anaemia. Early commencement of antenatal care and close monitoring of the risk groups identified should be strongly advocated.     

The role of men in family planning decision-making in rural and urban Nigeria

Objectives To determine the role of men in family planning decision-making in both rural and urban areas of Nigeria.

Methods A total number of 370 married men (244 rural and 126 urban) were interviewed using a pre-tested, semi-structured interviewer based questionnaire. The study was conducted in the Iwaro community in Atakumosa West Local Government area (rural men) and the Oranfe Community in Ife East Local government area (urban men), both in Osun State, South West Nigeria.

Results The results showed a high level of awareness of family planning among both study groups (98.3% rural and 98.4% urban). Most men in both groups believe that a decision about family planning should be made jointly by the spouses instead of being the prerogative of either. This contrasts with the generally held belief that men are opposed to family planning and a take predominant role in contraceptive decision-making. The condom was the most commonly known and used method with a preponderance among urban (81.1%) over rural men (69.4%). Many men would use family planning if their wives demanded it. However, most respondents in both study groups believed that men should not accompany their wives to the family planning centre to obtain contraceptive supplies and advice.

Conclusion Deciding about contraception should be done jointly by men and women in South West Nigeria.