Are the symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in Nigerian patients objective? An evaluation using the United Kingdom Screening Test (UKST) and Bio-Thesiometry.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms suggestive of peripheral neuropathy (PN) in diabetes mellitus (DM) do not always indicate presence ofunderlying PN. OBJECTIVE: A pioneering study among Nigerian diabetic subjects to evaluate the objectivity of their symptoms of PN using two objective diagnostic instruments for PN the United Kingdom Screening Test (UKST) and Bio-Thesiometry. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty diabetic participants and a similar number of non-diabetic controls were screened for symptoms of PN using the UKST symptoms score and subsequently separated into two groups those with symptoms ofPN and those without. The "symptomatic" cases and controls were further evaluated with the UKST signs score and Bio-Thesiometry to assess the objectivity of the symptoms. RESULTS: Among 120 diabetic participants, 83(69.2%) had neuropathic symptoms (the symptomatic cases) while 10 (8.3%) of the 120 non-diabetic controls had neuropathic symptoms (the symptomatic controls). Among the cases, UKST signs score detected PN in 89.2% (74/83) and Bio-Thesiometry 71.1% (59/83), the difference in the ability of the two methods to detect PN in this group being statistically significant (X2 = 8.51, df = 1, p < 0.01). Among the controls, UKST detected PN in 100.0% (10/10) compared to Bio-thesiometry (50.0%; 5/10), the difference in the ability of the two methods to detect PN in this group also being statistically significant (X2 = 4.27, df = 1, p < 0.05, using continuity correction factor). The difference in the ability of both methods to detect PN between the cases and controls was however not statistically significant (X2 = 0.68, df = 1, p > 0.3) CONCLUSION: The symptoms of PN among Nigerian diabetic subjects when evaluated with a gold standard for scoring the symptoms (the UKST symptoms score) are real, objective and truly indicate presence of underlying PN. Diabetic subjects presenting to medical clinics with symptoms of PN should receive serious attention and evaluation using this gold standard to detect early those with genuine PN and are at risk of foot ulceration from PN.

Colonic cancer in adolescents. A report of three cases.

Colorectal cancer is a common malignant neoplasm in adults, with a peak incidence of 60-79 years. About 1 million cases of the disease and half a million deaths associated with it are reported world-wide each year. Colorectal cancer, however, is very uncommon in children and adolescents. This is a presentation of 3 cases of colon cancer in Nigerians aged 17 and 19 years. Two of them were adenocarcinoma and the other leiomyosarcoma. The pathogenesis and aspects of management are discussed.

Is asymptomatic peripheral neuropathy present in Nigerian diabetic patients? An assessment using the United Kingdom screening test (UKST) and bio-thesiometry.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is commonly complicated by peripheral neuropathy (PN). Symptoms suggestive of peripheral neuropathy (PN) in diabetes mellitus (DM) do not always indicate presence of underlying PN, while absence of symptoms does not rule out presence of underlying PN. To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic PN in diabetic patients using two methods--the United Kingdom Screening Test (UKST) and Bio-Thesiometry. 120 diabetic participants and a similar number of non-diabetic controls were screened for symptoms of PN using the UKST symptoms score and subsequently separated into two groups--those with symptoms of PN and those without. The "asymptomatic" cases and controls were further screened for underlying PN using the UKST signs score and Bio-Thesiometry Among 120 diabetic participants, 37 (30.8%) had no symptoms of PN (the asymptomatic cases) compared to 110 (91.7%) of the 120 non-diabetic controls (the asymptomatic controls). The UKST signs score detected PN more significantly among the cases than the controls (43.2% (16/37) vs 9.1% (10/110); /2 = 22.5, df = I, p < 0.01). Similarly, Bio-thesiometry detected PN more significantly among the cases than the controls (29.7% (11/37) vs 9.1% (10/110); X2 = 9.57, df = 1, p < 0.01) Asymptomatic PN is present among Nigerian diabetic subjects and the absence of "alarm" symptoms of PN does not exclude the presence of genuine PN.

Seroconversion of children following natural measles infection and vaccination.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between measles virus (MV) antibodies (abs) in sera and breast milk of nursing mothers, their contributions in seroconversion of children (0-9 months) post vaccination, prevalence of prevaccination measles abs in sera of children brought for measles vaccination and seroconversion rate in vaccinees from nursing and lactating mothers. Also to determine the potency of vaccines available in Nigeria in relation to seroconversion. METHODS: One hundred and twenty pre- and post-vaccination sera and breast milk samples were collected from each nursing mother while corresponding number of finger prick pre- and post-vaccination sera samples were collected from children on filter papers. These were tested for mv abs using serological techniques. RESULTS: Eighty (20.0%) mothers had measles haemagglutination inhibition (HI) abs in sera and 88 (27.2%) had mv HI abs in breast milk. Eight (2.0%) children who had prevaccination mv abs in sera came from mv ab negative mothers. Forty-four (37.0%) came back for post vaccination sera, sero-converted while 76 (63.3%) gave low sero-conversion rate of 37.0%. Results showed that mv abs in sera or breast milk of mothers did not interfere with mv vaccination in children. The low sero-conversion rate obtained was due to low vaccine potency with titres ranging between (log10-10 - log10-2.5)TCID/per dose, besides non-specific antiviral substances exhibited virus neutralizing activity. CONCLUSION: Poor sero-conversion due to loss of passive immunity arose from undernourishment while low ab titres came with natural infection. This suggested mv vaccination did not immunize following natural mv infection or any other previous immune status.

Axillary fibroadenoma mimicking lymphadenopathy.

Ectopic breast tissues are subject to the similar physiological and pathological alterations seen in breast tissues situated in their normal anatomical positions. We report a 34-year old multiparous woman who presented with a right axillary lump of about 1 year duration, for which clinical impression of axillary lymphadenopathy was made and lumpectomy carried out. Histology of excised lump revealed fibroadenoma. We discussed possible pathogeneses and consequences of this lesion.

Prevalence of dyslipidaemia in apparently healthy professionals in Asaba, South South Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Hypercholesterolaemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) especially in industrialized societies. Coronary heart disease is becoming an increasing cause of death even in the developing world. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of dyslipidaemia in apparently healthy professionals in a developing economy. METHOD: One hundred apparently healthy professionals were recruited from several professions by stratified random sampling. This population was believed to be at higher risk of dyslipidaemia considering their more likely "western diet" lifestyle. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and Triglycerides were determined using standard cholesterol LDL precipitating reagents/kits. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 41.59 +/- 8.22 years (range 29 to 58 years) with male to female ratio of 1:1.2. Mean total cholesterol was 180.69 +/- 36.248 mg/dl (4.67 +/- 0.94 mmol/L), LDL cholesterol 122.68 +/- 44.42 mg/dl (3.17 +/- 1.15 mmol/L), HDL-cholesterol 37.47 +/- 9.91 mg/dl (0.96 +/- 0.26 mmol/L) and Triglyceride 83.139 +/- 66.888 mg/dl (0.94 +/- 0.76 mmol/L). Using the Third Report of the NCEP Expert Panel on Detection. Evaluation and Treatment of high blood cholesterol in Adults (ATP III) definition and risk classification, 5% of the study population had hypercholesterolaemia, 23% elevated total serum cholesterol, 51% elevated LDL-cholesterol and 60% low HDL-cholesterol, with females recording better overall lipid profile. CONCLUSION: Dyslipidaemia was highly prevalent in the population studied, with low HDL-cholesterol being the most frequent lipid abnormality. Dyslipidaemia is becoming a serious health problem in the developing world also, even among the apparently healthy, and necessitates periodic lipid profile screening.

Urinary tract pathology in Schistosoma haematobium infected rural Nigerians.

Parasitological investigation assessing the ova of Schistosoma haematobium in the urine of 138 volunteers in Ihieve-Ogben, Edo State, Nigeria revealed 43 positive results (31.2%). Children had a higher prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis 30 (41.1%) than their adult counterparts 13 (20.0%) and this difference was statistically significant (t = 8.89, p > 0.01). More volunteers had light intensity of infection 27 (19.6%) than heavy infection 16 (11.6%) and this difference was statistically significant (chi2 = 22.90, p>0.05). Ultrasonographic investigations carried out on these 43 S. haematobium infected volunteers revealed ten pathological conditions, including abnormal wall thickness 24 (55.8%), abnormal shape 30 (69.8%), irregular bladder wall 12 (27.9%), masses 10 (23.3%), pseudopolyps 2 (4.7%), echogenic particles 30 (69.8%), residual volume 12 (27.9%), calcifications 24 (55.8%), hydroureter 10 (23.3%) and hydronephrosis 8 (18.6%) when compared to control subjects which lacked bladder and kidney abnormalities. These pathological conditions were slightly more common in the volunteers with heavy infection than those with light infection, but this difference was not statistically significant (t = -2.19, p < 0.02). More pathological conditions were found in children than in adults; this finding was statistically significant (t = 3.23, p > 0.03). Hydronephrosis and hydroureter were not found in the volunteers with light intensity of infection.