Association between Pre-Operative Total Prostate-Specific Antigen and Survivorship of Prostate Cancer following Radical Prostatectomy: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to systematically quantify the association between pre-operative total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA) and survivorship of prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: Data sources for the review included MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, PsycINFO, and relevant reference lists. Databases were searched from inception to June 2022. The study took place between May 2022 and March 2023. We included studies that applied a quantitative approach to examine the interaction between pre-operative PSA and survivorship of PCa. Pre-operative PSA constituted the independent variable, whereas survivorship of PCa as measured by biochemical recurrence and mortality constitute the outcome variable. A risk of bias assessment was conducted with the aid of a mixed-method appraisal tool. We employed meta-analysis to quantify the association of pre-operative PSA with biochemical recurrence and mortality and computed I2 to assess the degree of heterogeneity. RESULTS: We found a positive weak association between pre-operative PSA and biochemical recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.074; 95% CI = 1.042-1.106). With a median rise in PSA (≥2 ng/mL), the likelihood for biochemical recurrence increase by approximately 7.4%. There was statistically a significant association between PSA and mortality (HR = 1.222, CI = 0.917-1.630). CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical recurrence associates with pre-operative PSA in an inconsistent manner. The sole use of pre-operative PSA in estimating post-prostatectomy biochemical recurrence should be discouraged. There is need for a multifactorial model which employs a prudent combination of the most important and cost-effective biomarkers in predicting post-prostatectomy biochemical recurrence.

Assessment of brain natriuretic peptide and copeptin as correlates of blood pressure in chronic hypertensive pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy including preexisting (or chronic) hypertension are the most common complication encountered during pregnancy that contribute significantly to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and copeptin have been investigated as biomarkers in various hypertensive disorders, but studies of their clinical value in chronic hypertensive pregnant women are sparce. This study aimed to assess the levels of BNP and copeptin in chronic hypertensive pregnant women and investigate their correlation with blood pressure (BP) in chronic hypertensive pregnant women in South Western Nigeria. METHODS: One hundred and sixty consenting pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy, grouped into those with chronic hypertension (n = 80) and normotensive (n = 80), were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Age and clinical characteristics were obtained, and blood was aseptically drawn for BNP and copeptin measurement using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS ver. 20.0. Data was analyzed using Student t-test, chi-square, and Pearson correlation test as appropriate. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were significantly higher in pregnant women with chronic hypertension (158.30 ± 3.51 and 105.08 ± 2.47 mmHg, respectively) compared with normotensive pregnant women (100.72 ± 3.02 and 70.29 ± 1.96 mmHg, respectively). The mean levels of BNP and copeptin were higher in pregnant women with chronic hypertension (57.26 ± 3.65 pg/mL and 12.44 ± 1.02 pmol/L, respectively) compared with normotensive pregnant women (49.85 ± 2.44 pg/mL and 10.25 ± 1.50 pmol/L, respectively) though not statistically significant. Correlations observed between SBP and DBP with levels of BNP (r = 0.204, P = 0.200; r = 0.142, P = 0.478) and copeptin (r = - 0.058, P = 0.288; r = 0.045, P = 0.907) were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: There was no association between BP and the levels of BNP and copeptin in pregnant women with chronic hypertension who were already on antihypertensive treatment, with the implication that antihypertensive treatment may modulate BNP and copeptin release despite significantly elevated BP levels.

Association of MiRNA122 & ADAM17 with Lipids among Hypertensives in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidaemia and hypertension are established major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The suggested roles of miRNA-122 and ADAM17 in lipid metabolism can therefore be applied in the management of metabolic disorders. The authors' aim was to determine the association between miRNA-122 and ADAM17, as well as the association between miRNA-122 and lipid fractions, in the study participants. METHOD: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 hypertensive patients and 100 non-hypertensive adult controls between May, 2015, and June, 2016, in Nigeria. Lipids were analysed with spectrophotometric methods whereas ADAM17 and miRNA-122 were analysed with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation [SD]) ages of 200 hypertensives and 100 controls were 56.3 (6.9) and 54.9 (8.3) years, respectively. miRNA-112 and ADAM17 had significantly higher values among dyslipidaemic individuvals compared with non-dyslipidaemic participants. The correlation between miRNA-122 and ADAM17 levels was strongly positive, r=0.82, p<0.05. LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol also showed statistically significant positive correlation with miRNA-122, r=0.53, r=0.51, (p< 0.001) respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, miRNA-122 showed a strong correlation with ADAM17 and a positive correlation with LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol. These findings support the stimulant roles of miRNA-122 and ADAM17 in lipid metabolism and thus could be used in the management of dyslipidaemia.

Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Risk Behaviour among Jamaican Adolescents

Alcohol consumption has significant health, social and economic implications. Alcohol is the most prevalent psychoactive substance used by Jamaican adolescents. The aim of this study was to determine whether alcohol is associated with sexual risk behaviour among Jamaican adolescents. Methods: The data from National Secondary School Survey (NSS) conducted in 2013 was analysed. Descriptive statistics consisting of frequencies, percentages and Pearson's Chi square was done. Multivariate analysis was done using binary logistic regression. Result: The mean age of alcohol initiation among the participants was 12.3years [SD: 2.74]. There were significant associations between gender (X2= 14.56; p= 0.000), relationship with father/guardian (X2: 10.71; P= 0.03), relationship with mother (X2= 15.16; P= 0.004) and conversation with parents/ guardians about dangers of drug abuse (X2= 8.16; P=0.004). Adolescents who were males (AOR= 0.62, 95% CI= 0.43 - 0.88), in the 8th grade (AOR= 0.51, 95% CI= 0.26 - 0.98) or in the 10th grade (AOR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.32 - 0.85) were less likely to engage in sexual risk behaviour. Lifetime alcohol consumption, past year alcohol consumption and past month alcohol consumption were not significantly associated with sexual risk behaviour (AOR= 0.35, 95% CI= 0.04 - 3.46; AOR= 1.75, 95% CI= 0.59 - 5.09, AOR= 0.78 95% CI= 0.56 - 1.11 respectively). Conclusion: Lifetime, past one year and past one month alcohol consumption among the students were not risk factors for sexual risk behavior (non-condom use) among Jamaican adolescents.

A School-Based Study of the Influence of Students' Relationship with Teachers on Their Cigarette Smoking Behaviour in Jamaican

Background: Cigarette is one of the most widely used addictive substances and a leading cause of death. Prevalence of cigarette smoking has been reported to be high in the Caribbean, including Jamaica. The aim of this study was to determine whether students' relationship with teachers influences their cigarette smoking behaviour in Jamaica. Methods: This was a statistical analysis of data based on a nationally representative sample of 3,365 secondary school students drawn from 8th to 12th grade across 38 secondary schools in Jamaica in 2013. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS. Results: There were significant differences in the past year and past month cigarette smoking respectively among students who had very good, good, average, bad and very bad relationship with their teachers (X2 = 11.67, p = 0.02; X2 = 9.61, p = 0.04) respectively. Students with very good relationship with teachers, were significantly less likely to report smoking cigarette in the past month (AOR= 0.09, 95% CI= 0.01- 0.88). Students who were 2 - 10 years, had very good relationship with teacher and father, and whose parents knew friends very well, were 0.96, 0.69, 0.70 and 0.94 times as likely to report smoking cigarette in the past year. However, these associations were not significant after controlling for other factors. Conclusion: Students' relationship with their teachers has a strong influence on cigarette smoking. Students with very good relationship with teachers were significantly less likely to report smoking cigarette in the past month.

Does Risk Perception Affect Alcohol Consumption among Secondary School Students in Jamaica?

Background: Alcohol consumption among young people is a major public health problem world-wide and in Jamaica. A number of factors have been reported to affect alcohol use among high school students. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of perception of the harmfulness of alcohol on alcohol use among secondary school students in Jamaica. Methods: Data collected from a nationally representative sample of 3,365 students were analyzed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS. Results: Students' perception of risk of drinking alcohol frequently and getting drunk respectively had positive and significant associations with past month alcohol use (AOR= 1.44, 95% CI= 1.09- 1.88 and AOR= 1.38, 95% CI= 1.02- 1.86, respectively) compared to students who felt that drinking alcohol frequently and getting drunk were very harmful. Males, 12 years or younger were significantly less likely to use alcohol in the past month (AOR= 0.77, 95% CI=0.60- 0.97; AOR= 0.68, 95% CI= 0.53-0.97 respectively). Students with good relationship with their mothers were less likely to use alcohol in the past year and past month (AOR= 0.55, 95% CI= 0.35-0.87; AOR= 0.50, 95% CI= 0.32- 0.78). Conclusion: Risk perception of the harmfulness of alcohol significantly affects alcohol use among secondary school students in Jamaica. Males, 12 years or younger, who had good relationship with mothers, were significantly less likely to use alcohol in past month

Single Parent Family Structure as a Predictor of Alcohol Use among Secondary School Students: Evidence from Jamaica

The aim of this study was to examine the potential relationship between Jamaican secondary students' alcohol drinking habits and their family structure. Methods: Data collected from a nationally representative survey of 3,365 students were analysed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Results: Out of the 3,365 students, 1,044 (31.0%) were from single-parent families. Single-parent families, married-parent families and common law-parent families were significantly associated with lifetime use of alcohol (AOR= 1.72, 95% CI= 1.06 - 2.79; AOR= 1.73, 95% CI= 1.07- 2.81, AOR= 1.94, 95%CI= 1.17- 3.21 respectively). However, family structure was not significantly associated with past year and past month alcohol use. Students whose parents "sometimes" knew their whereabouts were significantly less likely to use alcohol in their lifetime compared to students whose parents "Always" knew where the students were. Conclusion: Family structure is an independent predictor of alcohol use among high school students in Jamaica. Being from single-parent families, married-parent and common- law parent families were significantly associated with increased likelihood for lifetime alcohol use.

Parental Alcohol Drinking Habit as a Predictor of Alcohol Use among Secondary School Students in Barbados

Background: In Barbados and the wider Caribbean region, alcohol is widely consumed by adolescents and young people, including those in secondary schools. The high prevalence of alcohol use, and its potential adverse effects are a source of concern to policy makers and the general population, which calls for better understanding of the drivers of this problem. This study thus aimed at investigating whether parental alcohol drinking habit is a predictor of alcohol use among secondary school students in the country. Methods: The predictor variables and response variables in the study were categorical, and so descriptive, univariate analysis consisted of computation of frequencies and percentages. Bivariate analysis using Pearson's Chi Square was done to test for significant differences in the response variables among groups. Logistic regression modeling was used in multivariate analysis to determine the predictor variables that were significantly associated with the response variables. Results: Significant associations were seen between students' age, (P= 0.00), grade (P=0.00), fathers' drinking habit (P=0.00), mothers' drinking habit (P=0.00), and both past year and past month alcohol use, in bivariate analysis. Logit model shows that students whose fathers drink only on weekends, sometimes during the week, or every day, respectively, had significantly increased risk of alcohol use in the past month (AOR= 2.62, 95%CI= 1.81- 3.77; AOR= 1.85, 95%CI= 1.19- 2.85; AOR= 2.18, 95%CI= 1.49- 3.18). Students whose mothers drink only on special occasion had significantly higher risk of alcohol use in the past year and past month (AOR= 1.99, 95%CI= 1.06- 3.74; AOR= 2.30, 95%CI= 1.36- 3.89 respectively). Conclusion: Having fathers who drink only on weekend, sometimes during the week and every day were significantly positively associated with alcohol use in the past month. Having mothers who drink only on special occasion was a risk factor for past year and past month alcohol use. However, having mothers who drin

Composition of uroliths in a tertiary hospital in South East Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Urolithiasis affects primarily the urinary tract and complications as debilitating as renal failure may develop. Determining the chemical composition of uroliths can aid management and prevention of recurrence in patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the chemical composition and anatomical distribution of uroliths in Nigeria. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2014 and February 2016, in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. We reviewed the outcomes of uroliths of adult patients sent to our laboratory for chemical analyses. Samples were analyzed using simple qualitative tests. RESULTS: 52 adult patients were included with a mean age (SD) of 46.6 (12.6) years. Males (76.9%) were more affected than females (23.1%). For both sexes, highest occurrence of stones was in bladder (85.7%). Calcium-containing stones had the highest occurrence (85.2%) and predominated in the renal, ureter and urethra, followed by struvite stones (59.5%). In the bladder, struvite stones were predominant (85.8%), with calcium-containing stones accounting for 71.4%. CONCLUSION: This study showed that struvite and calcium phosphate-containing stones constitute majority of uroliths in our setting with low occurrence of calcium oxalate stones. This indicates that urinary tract infection most likely plays a substantial role in the formation of uroliths in Nigerians. Modern methods of stone analysis is advocated to further define management options.