Morphological and biochemical investigation into the possible neuroprotective effects of kolaviron (Garcinia kola bioflavonoid) on the brains of rats exposed to vanadium

In this study, the morphological and biochemical susceptibility of the rat brain to vanadium, in the form of sodium metavanadate, and the comparative ameliorative effect of Garcinia kola and kolaviron (G. kola extract), was examined. Brain regions examined were the cerebrum, cerebellum, hippocampus and the olfactory bulb. We showed that vanadium administration caused cellular vacuolation, congestion, and Purkinje cell degeneration and a marked reduction in myelin tracts. Biochemical tests revealed increased lipid peroxidation induced by vanadium, which was ameliorated with the administration of G. kola and kolaviron. Vanadium administration caused an increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the cerebrum and hippocampus, whereas the administration of kolaviron resulted in a reduction of the TBARS level by 65.7 and 80%, respectively, in the regions aforementioned. Also, the administration of kolaviron resulted in an increased activity of superoxide dismutase (61.24%) in all brain regions assessed, when compared with the group administered vanadium alone. Results obtained from this study led to the conclusion that kolaviron reduces vanadium-induced oxidative stress in the brain.     

放射医学实习医生实际工作能力的培养

放射诊断实习是使影像学实习生成长为放射诊断专业人才的一个重要阶段,是实现理论与实践结合的重要教学实践模式。提高放射诊断实习质量,增强医学影像专业实习生的有关临床能力是临床教学中值得重视和思考的问题。丰富的学习资源,强调影像表现与临床、病理相结合以及X线、CT、MRI并重,加强阅片和操作技能的培养,强调临床辩证思维等方法有助于改善和提高放射诊断临床教学质量。     

Buruli ulcer in Malawi - a first report

One hundred and sixty-one specimens swabbed from as many patients with chronic wounds/ulcers over a period of eight months yielded 3 acid-alcohol fast bacilli (AFB) organisms that slowly grew only at 32°C on Lowenstein-Jensen(LJ) medium producing creamy-yellow colonies between 39 and 45 days post-incubation. Mycobacterial organisms harvested from culture were strongly positive when subjected to both catalase spot test and catalase heat stability test indicating the presence of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the aetiological agent of Buruli ulcer.     

Pattern and outcome of childhood intestinal obstruction at a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Background

Intestinal obstruction is a common cause of pediatric surgical emergency with a high morbidity and mortality in Africa.

Methods

A retrospective review of cases managed from January 1996 to December 2005 at a teaching hospital in Southwestern, Nigeria was done to examine the pattern of causes of intestinal obstruction in children and the management outcome.

Results

One hundred and thirty cases were seen over the study period with an age range of 2 hours to 14 years. Majority (61.24%) were infants, while 18.46% were neonates.Fifty-five cases (42.31%) were due to congenital causes while the rest were of acquired causes. The major causes of intestinal obstruction in the study were intussusception (29.23%), anorectal malformations (22.31%), obstructed inguinoscrotal hernia (16.92%) and Hirschsprung''s disease (13.85%). Surgical site infection and sepsis were the commonest complications observed with an overall complication rate of 60.78%. The mortality rate was 3.08% and most (75%) occurred in neonates.

Conclusion

While mortality as an outcome of management is low, the morbidity was very high in this study.     

Human parvo-virus B19 infection among children with sickle cell anaemia in Jos,North Central Nigeria

Objective:Human Parvovirus B19 is known to cause significant morbidity and mortality and among diverse patient population groups.Among patients with sickle all disease,who have high red cell turn over due to chronic haemolysis,infection with parvovirus B19 can cause severe life threatening transient aplastic crisis.This study was conducted to determine the Seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 infection and to provide basic epidemiological data on parvovirus B19 infection among children with sickle cell anaemia in Jos,north central Nigeria.Methods: In a hospital based cross sectional survey,200 children aged 1-18 years confirmed to have sickle cell anaemia attending the paediatric sickle cell clinic of Jos university teaching hospital were studied.A questionnaire was designed to obtain basic socio-demographic information,& other relevant aspect of patients′ history.Blood samples were taken for anti parvo-virus B19 serology.Results: The over all prevalence rates of parvo-virus B19 immunoglobulin(IgG) and immunoglobulin(IgM) antibodies were 39.5% and 3.5% respectively,Conclusion: This study confirms that parvo-virus B19 infection is prevalent among children with sickle cell anaemia in Jos,North Central Nigeria.There is a need for further studies to fully evaluate the clinical impact of the infection on our sickle cell anaemia patients.     

Risk factors associated with mental illness in Oyo State,Nigeria: A Community based study

Background  

The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with mental illness in Oyo State at community level using the general health questionnaire as a screening tool.     

Expression and quantitative variation of the low-incidence blood group antigen He on some S-s-red cells

BACKGROUND: Red cells devoid of glycophorin B (GPB)-borne S, s, and U antigens are classified as an S-s-U- or S-s-U variant (U+var) and can arise from deletion and nondeletion genetic backgrounds. In nondeletion forms of S-s-U-, little information is available on whether the altered GPB gene (GYPB) is expressed in red cells. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Red cells classified as S-s-U- or S-s-U+var were tested with anti-U, anti-U/GPB, anti-He, and anti-N by hemagglutination. Selected samples were tested by flow cytometry, immunoblotting, and polymerase chain reaction amplification using allele-specific primers. RESULTS: He (MNS6) was found on 23 percent (20/87) of samples. These and another 21 of the 87 samples were agglutinated by an anti-U/GPB reagent; this indicated that approximately 50 percent of S-s-samples possessed GPB variants. The strength of He varied among the samples. Genomic polymerase chain reaction with allele-specific primers showed the presence of expected DNA GPB-like products encoding He. Immunoblotting showed that He was carried on a membrane component with a relative molecular mass indistinguishable from that of GPB. CONCLUSION: The finding of He on S-s- red cells provides direct evidence for the presence of an altered form of GPB in red cells previously thought to be devoid of this glycophorin. Quantitative variation in He antigen expression was observed in a subset of S-s- red cells.