Pattern of renal diseases in children attending paediatric nephrology clinic of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

BACKGROUND: The pattern of pediatric kidney diseases varies from one region to another because of genetic, racial, and environmental differences. This study was aimed at determining the pattern of renal diseases among children presenting at the pediatric nephrology clinic of the hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: It was a retrospective study of all children aged less than 15 years seen at the pediatric nephrology clinic of the hospital over a period of 30 months. The records of 244 patients seen at nephrology clinic over the period of study were retrieved and studied. RESULTS: There were 155 males (63.5%) and 89 females (36.5%), with a male to female ratio of 1.7:1. The ages ranged between two months and 179 months, with a mean age of 104.8 ± 46.7 months. Nephrotic syndrome was the commonest renal disease and accounted for 33.6% (n = 82) of all cases, followed by acute glomerulonephritis with 25.8% (n = 63). Acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease follow with frequencies of 34 (13.9%) each. The commonest congenital anomaly of the kidneys was ectopic kidney with 12 cases (4.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data reflects a high burden of renal diseases among children in our environment, and also reflects variations in regional patterns. The need for improvement of pediatric renal services and training of health workers in early detection and treatment of these conditions cannot be overemphasized.

The use of rats and mice as animal models in ex vivo bone growth and development studies.

In vivo animal experimentation has been one of the cornerstones of biological and biomedical research, particularly in the field of clinical medicine and pharmaceuticals. The conventional in vivo model system is invariably associated with high production costs and strict ethical considerations. These limitations led to the evolution of an ex vivo model system which partially or completely surmounted some of the constraints faced in an in vivo model system. The ex vivo rodent bone culture system has been used to elucidate the understanding of skeletal physiology and pathophysiology for more than 90 years. This review attempts to provide a brief summary of the historical evolution of the rodent bone culture system with emphasis on the strengths and limitations of the model. It encompasses the frequency of use of rats and mice for ex vivo bone studies, nutritional requirements in ex vivo bone growth and emerging developments and technologies. This compilation of information could assist researchers in the field of regenerative medicine and bone tissue engineering towards a better understanding of skeletal growth and development for application in general clinical medicine.Cite this article: A. A. Abubakar, M. M. Noordin, T. I. Azmi, U. Kaka, M. Y. Loqman. The use of rats and mice as animal models in ex vivo bone growth and development studies. Bone Joint Res 2016;5:610-618. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.512.BJR-2016-0102.R2.

Efficient halal bleeding, animal handling, and welfare: A holistic approach for meat quality.

Traditional halal slaughter and other forms of religious slaughter are still an issue of debate. Opposing arguments related to pre-slaughter handling, stress and pain associated with restraint, whether the incision is painful or not, and the onset of unconsciousness have been put forward, but no consensus has been achieved. There is a need to strike a balance between halal bleeding in the light of science and animal welfare. There is a paucity of scientific data with respect to animal welfare, particularly the use of restraining devices, animal handling, and efficient halal bleeding. However, this review found that competent handling of animals, proper use of restraining devices, and the efficient bleeding process that follows halal slaughter maintains meat eating quality. In conclusion, halal bleeding, when carried out in accordance with recommended animal welfare procedures, will not only maintain the quality and wholesomeness of meat but could also potentially reduce suffering and pain. Maintained meat quality increases consumer satisfaction and food safety.

Comparative Evaluation of Midventral and Flank Laparotomy Approaches in Goat.

The aim of the study was to compare two laparotomy approaches (flank and midventral). Ten (n = 10) apparently healthy goats of different breeds and sex, average age of 12 ± 2.1 months, and average weight of 13.4 ± 2 kg were used for the investigation. The goats were randomly divided into flank and midventral groups, each group comprising five goats (n = 5). Standard aseptic laparotomy was performed under lumbosacral epidural anaesthesia with mild sedation. Postsurgical wound score showed significant difference (P < 0.05) in erythema at 18-24 hours and 10-14 days after surgery between the two approaches; significant difference of dehiscence between the two groups was also recorded at 10-14 days after surgery. Total white blood cells (WBC) and lymphocytes counts were significantly different (P < 0.05) at the first and second week after surgery. There was significant difference of platelets critical value and platelets dimension width at the first and second week after surgery. Significant difference of packed cells volume between the two approaches was also recorded one week after surgery. It was concluded that midventral laparotomy approach can be conveniently and safely performed under aseptic precautions without fear of intra- and postoperative clinical problems.

Comparison of histopathologic classification and surgical stage by cytokeratin 8 and cytokeratin 18 in endometrial cancer.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The aim of the study was to show the role of the cytoskeletal proteins CK8 and CK18 in endometrial cancer invasion and to histopathologically classify endometrial cancer patients. METHODS: This study was a prospective analysis of 49 histologic samples of consecutively surgically operated endometrial cancer patients. After histopathologic classification the most invasive tumor area was selected for immunohistochemistry. Monoclonal antihuman keratin Ab-4 and keratin Ab-1 were applied. RESULTS: CK8 and CK18 stained tumoral tissue and tumoral cell debris in the lymphovascular space were significantly correlated with stage (p < or = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: To understand the causes of early treatment failure in endometrial cancer patients, further studies are needed to show the role of enhancing factors of endometrial cancer invasion.

ASSESSMENT OF TRAINING ON MEASLES CASE-BASED SURVEILLANCE FOR DISEASE SURVEILLANCE AND NOTIFICATION OFFICERS (DSNOs) IN OSUN STATE.

BACKGROUND: Poor knowledge among Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) as a result of high staff turnover has been identified as a major reason for sub-optimal surveillance performance in Osun State. Training aimed at strengthening the measles surveillance sub-system of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) was thus conducted for DSNOs in the state in May, 2006. OBJECTIVES: The immediate impact of the training on participants' knowledge and their role in the measles surveillance process was assessed as well as demographic factors associated with participants' knowledge. METHODS: Participants were DSNOs from the 30 Local Government Areas of the State and the Ife East Area office. Training materials were received from the WHO country office and adapted for use. Assessment of training was conducted by statistical evaluation of the pre- and post-tests results. RESULTS: Thirty-one DSNOs with a mean age of 36.2 (± 3.5) years participated. There were 14 (45.2%) males and 17 (54.8%) females and they had been employed for an average of 13.7 (± 2.2) years. Mean pre- and post-test scores were 31 and 61, respectively, and showed a significant statistical difference (paired t-test = 12.665, p=0.000). CONCLUSION: Training achieved its short-term objective. However, a correlation between knowledge and practice will be based on the subsequent surveillance performance.

Radiographic and anatomic locations of mental foramen in northern Nigerian adults.

This study was undertaken to provide information on the most probable positions of the mental foramen among northern Nigerian adults. 157 panoramic radiographs randomly selected from patient's records at the Department of Dental Surgery, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and 32 unsexed mandibles from the collection of bones in the Department of Human Anatomy, University of Maiduguri, were examined for the location of the mental foramen. The most common location was the interdental space between the first and second mandibular premolars (radiographs=34% , dry mandibles=32.8% ), closely followed by the position apical to the second premolars (radiographs=25.5% , dry mandibles=35.9% ). No significant difference in the distribution between males and females and the quantitative position was found to be bilaterally symmetrical in most cases. There is almost an equal chance of locating the mental foramen between the mandibular premolars and apical to the mandibular second premolar. This is of clinical importance with regards to the achievement of effective mental nerve block anaesthesia and the prevention of injury to the mental nerve during surgical procedures.

A possible correlation between growth-factor sensitivity and response to mitoxantrone treatment in a murine myeloid leukaemia (SA7HD) cell line.

SA7 murine myeloid leukaemia cells usually respond to stimulation in vitro by WEHI-conditioned medium by displaying increased dose-dependent proliferation. However, at recurrence following in vivo treatment of the leukaemia with mitoxantrone, the leukaemia cells developed significant insensitivity (p = 0.04) to stimulation by WEHI-conditioned medium. This altered growth-factor sensitivity was detected when two different assays were used. The recurrent leukaemic cells were morphologically indistinguishable from untreated leukaemic cells, but in normal mice they regained sensitivity to growth factors after a single transplant. The recurrent leukaemic cells were significantly resistant to some concentrations of mitoxantrone in vitro (p = 0.012). The magnitude of this resistance was mainly a function of the dose of mitoxantrone used in the initial treatment of the leukaemia. These data suggest an association between growth-factor sensitivity and response to mitoxantrone treatment including the development of resistance in the SA7HD murine myeloid leukaemia cell line.

Mitoxantrone treatment of murine myeloid leukaemia sublines.

The low-cell-dose (LD) and the high-cell-dose (HD) transplant variants of the SA7 murine myeloid leukaemia cell line have different growth characteristics and clinical presentations. In addition, the low-cell-dose transplant subline (SA7LD) was more responsive than the high-cell-dose variant (SA7HD) to mitoxantrone treatment in vivo. Bone-marrow cells of mice cured of SA7LD leukaemia, as well as bone-marrow cells of normal mice treated with priming doses of mitoxantrone in vivo became significantly (p = 0.012) less sensitive to subsequent treatment with mitoxantrone in vitro. This effect was detected by both the colony assay and the tritiated thymidine uptake assay. There appears to be a correlation between the ability of normal bone-marrow cells present in leukaemic mice to develop this protective effect and their ability to survive chemotherapy with mitoxantrone. The protective effect was "lost" by bone-marrow cells of mice dying while in remission. Doses of mitoxantrone that resulted in the loss of protective effect by bone-marrow cells of normal mice were found to be fatal to SA7HD leukaemia-bearing mice. However, these doses were not toxic to normal mice.