Blood pressure,prevalence of hypertension and hypertension related complications in Nigerian Africans:A review

To review studies on hypertension in Nigeria over the past five decades in terms of prevalence,awareness and treatment and complications.Following our search on Pubmed,African Journals Online and the World Health Organization Global cardiovascular infobase,1060 related references were identified out of which 43 were found to be relevant for this review.The overall prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria ranges from 8%-46.4% depending on the study target population,type of measurement and cut-off value used for defining hypertension.The prevalence is similar in men and women(7.9%-50.2% vs 3.5%-68.8%,respectively) and in the urban(8.1%-42.0%) and rural setting(13.5%-46.4%).The pooled prevalence increased from 8.6% from the only study during the period from 1970-1979 to 22.5%(2000-2011).Awareness,treatment and control of hypertension were generally low with attendant high burden of hypertension related complications.In order to improve outcomes of cardiovascular disease in Africans,public health education to improve awareness of hypertension is required.Further epidemiological studies on hypertension are required to adequately understand and characterize the impact of hypertension in society.     

HIV/AIDS selective infectivity–report of two peculiar cases

We report two peculiar cases that were observed in two communities of Anambra State, South East Nigeria. The first case was a woman of 44 with a history of blood transfusion from a donor of questionable HIV status. A pint of blood was transfused in a private Hospital on the 15 th January, 2000. She has had no form of antiviral therapy until 22nd April, 2008 when she came to the hospital for routine medical check up. Her HIV result came out confirmed positive while that of her husband came out negative. She has had active sexual life with her husband in the previous eight years as they have had some difficulties in getting their desired extra two children having earlier gotten a boy and a girl. The second case involves a family of six. A couple with four children of ages about 6 months, 2 years, 3 years and 5 years. The youngest, a female presented with fever and multiple lymphadenopathy. She tested HIV positive and so was her mother and her second sibling. But her father and two other siblings remained negative at post three and six months intervals from their very first test date with us. These reported cases appear to go contrary to earlier formed opinion on HIV transmission. We support the opinion on a naturally, occurring substance, APOBEC3G which possibly confers permanent immunity against the HIV virus. We recommend clinical trials of the characterized APOBEC3G as a vaccine for non HIV infected persons of all ages and to people living with as a therapeutic drug.     

Testicular toxicity of rinbacin in rats

Rinbacin is a local Nigerian herbal remedy. The effects of rinbacin on testicular histology were studied in prepubertal rats. Sexually immature male rats, divided into seven per group, were given rinbacin in drinking waters at 0, 26.25 g/l, or 52.50 g/l for 13 weeks, after which the animals were killed and testes excised, weighed, and processed for histologic study. The epididymal sperm number (ESN) was determined. There were no significant effects of either the low or high doses of rinbacin on fluid intake, body weight, testicular weight, and testis-body weight ratio. There was, however, a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the ESN of animals at both doses of rinbacin. Histologic examination of the testes indicated that the high dose of rinbacin induced significant degenerative changes, while the low dose had only a mild effect on testicular histology. Rinbacin decreases the ESN and causes degenerative lesions, especially at the high dose, in prepubertal rats.     

Survival of human 51Cr erythrocytes in guinea-pigs

A guinea-pig model for study of the survival of human erythrocytes has been developed. The T1/2 survival of human erythrocytes in guinea pigs treated with ethyl palmitate and cobra venom factor is about 3 days. This model is particularly suited to the study of the pathogenesis and therapy of certain intrinsic red cell disorders, such as sickle-cell disease.     

The Effects of Primers and Surface Bonding Characteristics on the Adhesion of Polyurethane to Two Commonly Used Silicone Elastomers

Purpose: When restoring facial defects, maxillofacial prosthodontists and anaplastologists are often limited by material deficiencies. Silicone elastomers bonded to a polyurethane liner best satisfy the functional and esthetic requirements necessary for facial prostheses; however, patients using silicone prostheses with polyurethane liners often experience varying degrees of debonding at the polyurethane–silicone interfaces. This may result in failure of such prostheses. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of five primers on bonding between polyurethane and two commonly used silicone elastomers. Material and Methods: Six bonding regimens were used to join polyurethane and silicone materials. Each treatment group consisted of 12 specimens. Bonding regimens included (1) a 40:60 mixture of MDX4‐4210 and Silastic Medical Adhesive Type A, in conjunction with Dow Corning 1205 primer (Udagama's technique); (2) silicone A‐2000 with Dow Corning 1205 primer; (3) silicone A‐2000 with A‐330‐G primer; (4) silicone A‐2000 with Mucopren primer; (5) silicone A‐2000 with Sofreliner T primer; and (6) silicone A‐2000 with Sofreliner MS primer. Following fabrication, specimens were attached to a universal testing machine and separated in tension at a crosshead speed of 25.4 mm/min. One examiner performed the assessment of T‐peel strength (N/mm), peak load (N), and peel distance (mm) for all specimens. Mean data were analyzed using one‐way ANOVA followed by Fisher's protected significant difference multiple comparison of the means (α= 0.05). Results: A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in T‐peel strength was found among specimen groups. Post hoc analysis indicated that Sofreliner MS primer (1.32 ± 0.13 N/mm) and Sofreliner T primer (1.25 ± 0.11 N/mm) increased the bond strengths significantly compared to A‐330‐G primer (0.91 ± 0.10 N/mm) and Udagama's technique (0.13 ± 0.02 N/mm). Cohesive failure between silicone A‐2000 and polyurethane liner was observed when Sofreliner MS primer and Sofreliner T were used. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the use of Sofreliner MS primer and Sofreliner T primer produced significant increases in the bond strength of silicone elastomer to polyurethane liner material. Based on T‐peel strength, peel distance, and peak load data, the combination of silicone A‐2000 and Sofreliner MS primer resulted in the greatest mean bond strength for silicone‐to‐polyurethane applications.     

Restoration of Facial Form and Lip Competence in a Patient with a Midfacial Defect

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck can be treated with a combination of modalities. There is an esthetic and functional compromise with midfacial defects secondary to ablative surgery and adjuvant therapies for SCC. Osteoradionecrosis, tissue contracture, and trismus, are all negative side effects of treatment and can impact a patient's function and possibly their nutrition. In this report, we describe a procedure for fabrication of a prosthesis that provides cosmetic improvement and labial competence to maintain caloric intake.