Blood lactate responses in incremental exercise as predictors of constant load performance

Summary Seven trained male cyclists ( =4.42±0.23 l·min⁻¹; weight 71.7±2.7 kg, mean ± SE) completed two incremental cycling tests on the cycle ergometer for the estimation of the “individual anaerobic threshold” (IAT). The cyclists completed three more exercises in which the work rate incremented by the same protocol, but upon reaching selected work rates of approximately 40, 60 and 80% , the subjects cycled for 60 min or until exhaustion. In these constant load studies, blood lactate concentration was determined on arterialized venous ([La⁻]a_v) and deep venous blood ([La⁻]_v) of the resting forearm. The a_v-v lactate gradient across the inactive forearm muscle was −0.08 mmol·l⁻¹ at rest. After 3 min at each of the constant load work rates, the gradients were +0.05, +0.65* and +1.60* mmol·l⁻¹ (*P<0.05). The gradients after 10 min at these same work rates were −0.09, +0.24 and +1.03* mmol·l⁻¹. For the two highest work rates taken together, the lactate gradient was less at 10 min than 3 min constant load exercise (P<0.05). The [La⁻]a_v was consistently higher during prolonged exercise at both 60 and 80% than that observed at the same work rate during progressive exercise. At the highest work rate (at or above the IAT), time to exhaustion ranged from 3 to 36 min in the different subjects. These data showed that [La⁻] uptake across resting muscle continued to increase to work rates above the IAT. Further, the greater a_v-v lactate gradient at 3 min than 10 min constant load exercise supports the concept that inactive muscle might act as a passive sink for lactate in addition to a metabolic site.     

Intestinal parasitic infections: Current status and associated risk factors among school aged children in an archetypal African urban slum in Nigeria

Background/purpose

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) among school aged children (SAC) in Nigeria remains endemic, hence the need for regular surveillance to attract the attention of policy makers. This cross-sectional study investigated the current prevalence and factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections among school aged children in an urban slum of Lagos City, Nigeria.

Male infertility and endocrinopathies in Kano, Northwestern Nigeria

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Endocrinologic disorders and infertility are common all over the world; the prevalence of infertility is high in sub-Saharan Africa. Several authors have suggested that the increased incidence of infertility in Africa is due to high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases. To evaluate the contributions of endocrine abnormalities to infertility in the male in Kano, Northern Nigeria. METHODS: A total of five hundred males, aged between 28 and 56 years were evaluated over a period of 4 years (2001-2004).The hormones were analyzed using electrochemiluminescene immunoassay technique. RESULTS: Hormonal abnormalities were detected in 22% oligospermic, 40.7% severe oligospermic, and 42.7% azoospermic subjects. CONCLUSION: Endocrine abnormalities are common in the infertile males. The reason for the observed endocrinopathies is not known, appropriate laboratory investigations are essential for effective patients management. Further study to ascertain the cause(s) of hormonal derangements is suggested.     

Pregnancy and after: what women want from their partners - listening to women in Uyo, Nigeria

Background: A qualitative survey was conducted among childbearing women at three public health facilities in Uyo, Nigeria. We aimed to determine (i) women's expectations of partner support during pregnancy and the postpartum period; (ii) predictors of partner presence during childbirth. Methods: From May to mid-July 2011, 387 eligible women were recruited serially during visits to the child welfare clinic at each facility. Interviews were conducted using semistructured questionnaires. Responses were extracted and categorized into eight distinct themes with corresponding examples. Results and discussion: The most desired form of partner support was assistance with domestic chores during and after pregnancy; followed by financial support during pregnancy and providing/caring for the baby in the postpartum period. Partner support during pregnancy was high 98.0% (351). While 73% of respondents expected partner presence during childbirth, 69.4% reported actual partner presence. Women with no experience of pregnancy before marriage, a husband in formal employment, and regular assistance at home had a two- to three-fold likelihood of expecting partner presence at childbirth compared to those without these attributes. Expecting partner presence increased the likelihood of partner presence at childbirth. Results suggest that women have specific expectations of partner involvement during and after pregnancy.     

Seroprevalence,disease awareness,and risk factors for Toxocara canis infection among primary schoolchildren in Makoko,an urban slum community in Nigeria

In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence of Toxocara canis infection in southern Nigeria, which previously was unknown, in addition to evaluating disease awareness and potential risk factors for schoolchildren in an urban slum community. In total, 366 primary schoolchildren were investigated for the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies. Blood was collected and screened by a Western blot analysis based on the excretory–secretory antigens of larval T. canis (TcES), targeting low molecular weight bands of 24–35 kDa specific for T. canis. Children were considered seropositive if their serum reacted with TcES when diluted to a titer of 1:32. Questionnaires concerning possible risk factors were given to the schoolchildren to acquire data on this infection. The overall seroprevalence of Toxocara infection was 86.1% (315/366). The logistic regression analysis of risk factors showed that children's age (odds ratio (OR) = 2.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08–7.66, p = 0.03), contact with dogs (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.28–0.94, p = 0.03), the age of the dog (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.18–0.68, p = 0.002), the feeding location of the dog (OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.12–0.79, p = 0.01), the consumption of raw vegetables (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.54–1.48, p = 0.004), and the drinking of unboiled water (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.26–0.90, p = 0.02) were risk factors associated with Toxocara infection. Although there was a high awareness of dogs being hosts of some parasites in this study, not much was known about T. canis. This is the first serological investigation of T. canis infection among primary schoolchildren in southern Nigeria. The high seroprevalence recorded is an indication of high transmission with the consequent risk of visceral or ocular larval migrans and neurologic toxocariasis in these children. Our findings suggest the need for prompt interventional measures, particularly health education on personal hygiene.     

Impact of pharmacists’ training on oral anticoagulant counseling: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveThe study evaluated the impact of oral anticoagulant counseling training on the quality of counseling provided by pharmacists.MethodsA prospective RCT was conducted among 33 pharmacists from 23 pharmacies in Ibadan, Nigeria. Six mystery patients (MPs) who were either warfarin-naïve, experienced adverse drug reaction (ADR), or drug interaction (DI) to warfarin were used to assess pharmacists’ oral anticoagulant counseling quality at pre- and post-intervention. A 2-week online oral anticoagulant counseling training was given to the intervention group pharmacists. Quality of counseling was categorized as poor (0–20 %), fair (21–50 %), moderate (51–80 %), and optimal (81–100 %).ResultsAt pre-intervention, the quality of oral anticoagulant counseling provided to the MPs was poor. Post-intervention, the quality improved among pharmacists in the intervention group, from poor to fair for both warfarin-naïve MP and MP who experienced DI, and from fair to moderate for MP with ADR.ConclusionShort-term online oral anticoagulant counseling training improved the quality of counseling provided by community pharmacists to mystery patients on warfarin.Practice implicationOnline oral anticoagulant counseling training may be employed by pharmacists’ professional bodies intermittently to improve oral anticoagulant counseling.