Dietary reversal reverts diet-induced alterations in obstructed bladders of Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of diet reversal to standard chow on diet-induced changes in structure and function of normal and obstructed bladders in male Wistar rats. METHODS: Eighty animals were equally divided into sham-surgery and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) dietary groups and fed standard chow (control), high-carbohydrate, high-fat, and high-protein diets. BOO groups had surgically induced BOO, whereas sham surgery was performed on sham groups at the end of week 8. Animals were continued on the treatment diets for 4 wk after surgery, then the diets were all changed to standard chow for the remainder of the study period. Bladder weight, detrusor contractility, Rho-associated protein kinase (Rho-kinase), and myosin light chain kinase were determined. Polymerase chain reaction was used to assay for transforming growth factor-ß, connecting tissue growth factor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, and platelet-derived growth factor subunit A levels in the bladder. C-reactive protein, insulin-like growth factor-1, nerve growth factor, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The collagen content of the bladder was estimated by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Reversal of diet to standard chow resulted in reversal of diet-induced changes in all variables measured in obstructed bladders. High-fat-diet-induced alterations in normal bladders were also reversed. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that in obstructed bladders of animals, reversal of the diet could reverse all diet-associated changes that increase inflammation and fibrosis in obstructed bladders. This is especially important in changes related to high consumption of fatty diets and associated lower urinary tract symptoms.

Dietary intake of parents affects antioxidant activity and inflammatory status in F2 offspring.

BACKGROUND: Dietary intake is implicated in the pathogenesis of non-communicable diseases, especially those affecting metabolism. Many non-communicable diseases are mediated by alterations in antioxidant activity and chronic inflammation with its resultant effects. Developmental programming causes offspring of parents with particular metabolic phenotypes to adopt predisposition to these phenotypes during development. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of maternal macronutrient consumption in two generations of rats (F0 and F1) on programming of antioxidant activity and inflammatory status in F2 offspring. METHODS: The F0 and F1 animals were fed on different macronutrient diets (control, HCD, HFD, HPD) for nine weeks and mated, however F2 animals were fed on standard chow. Glutathione (GSH), Glutathione disulphide (GSSG), lipid peroxidation, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Transforming Growth Factor- ß (TGF-ß) were then determined in F0, F1 and F2 generations using standard methods. RESULTS: In all test groups, the F2 offspring reflected similar changes in measured variables as observed in F0 and F1 animals. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that dietary macronutrient intake in parent generations, could have an effect on developmental programming of antioxidant activity and inflammatory status in offspring.

Dietary macronutrient content affects inflammatory and fibrotic factors in normal and obstructed bladders.

AIMS: To investigate the effects of diets on factors and markers of inflammation and fibrosis in unobstructed and obstructed bladders of male Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Partial BOO was surgically induced in twelve-week old rats after feeding on different diets for eight (8) weeks. Feeding continued for 4 weeks after surgery. Rats were divided into sham-operated and BOO groups as follow: control, high-carbohydrate (HCD), high-fat (HFD) and high-protein (HPD). After the feeding period, bladder weight, CRP, nerve growth factor (NGF), tissue growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1 α), platelet-derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A) and CXCL12 were all determined. KEY FINDINGS: In both unobstructed and obstructed bladders, CRP was increased in animals fed on the HFD (P < 0.05). NGF was increased in animals fed on HFD and HPD but decreased only in HCD-BOO. CXCL12 was increased in animals fed on HFD and HPD (P < 0.05) and decreased in HCD. The HCD-BOO group exhibited a decrease in CXCL12, while CXCL12 increased in HFD-BOO. TGF-ß was elevated in HFD and all the dietary-BOO groups, but animals with obstructed bladders fed on the HPD and HCD had significant reduction in TGF-ß expression. CTGF was increased in HFD- and HPD-fed animals. HIF-1α, PDGF-A and collagen were increased in both HFD dietary groups and HPD-BOO. SIGNIFICANCE: Feeding on a high fat diet results in increased activity of factors and mediators of inflammation and fibrosis in both unobstructed and obstructed rat bladders. This might increase predisposition to or further worsen symptoms in BOO.

Developing a competency-based medical education curriculum for the core basic medical sciences in an African Medical School.

The College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan recently revised its MBBS and BDS curricula to a competency-based medical education method of instruction. This paper reports the process of revising the methods of instruction and assessment in the core basic medical sciences directed at producing medical and dental graduates with a sound knowledge of the subjects sufficient for medical and dental practice and for future postgraduate efforts in the field or related disciplines. The health needs of the community and views of stakeholders in the Ibadan medical and dental schools were determined, and the "old" curriculum was reviewed. This process was directed at identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the old curricula and the newer competences required for modern-day medical/dental practice. The admission criteria and processes and the learning methods of the students were also studied. At the end of the review, an integrated, system-based, community-oriented, person-centered, and competency-driven curriculum was produced and approved for implementation. Four sets of students have been admitted into the curriculum. There have been challenges to the implementation process, but these have been overcome by continuous faculty development and reorientation programs for the nonteaching staff and students. Two sets of students have crossed over to the clinical school, and the consensus among the clinical teachers is that their knowledge and application of the basic medical sciences are satisfactory. The Ibadan medical and dental schools are implementing their competency-based medical education curricula successfully. The modifications to the teaching and assessment of the core basic medical science subjects have resulted in improved learning and performance at the final examinations.

Erectile Dysfunction Among Men Attending Surgical Outpatients Department in a Tertiary Hospital in South-Western Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction is becoming a public health issue with high incidences reported in community studies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristics and outcome of treatment in men with erectile dysfunction in a tertiary center in Ibadan southwestern Nigeria. METHODS: Data of men with erectile dysfunction was retrieved between July 2004 and June 2014 and analyzed using SPSS version 16 statistical software. RESULTS: Eighty-nine men with erectile dysfunction were managed which constituted 2% of all urological cases seen during the study period. Their median and mean ages were 39 years and 39.6 ± 1.2SD (range 19-76 years). The peak age incidence at 30-44 years was 41.6% and reduced with increasing age after 65 years to 4.5%. The etiologies were psychogenic in 55%, organic in 27%, idiopathic in 17% and 1% was familial. 67.5%, 31.5% and 3.4% were married, single and separated respectively. Seventy percent neither smoked cigarette nor drank alcohol, 21.3% drank alcohol and 9% took both alcohol and smoked cigarette. Seventy seven and half percent of men presented within 5 years of their symptom. The treatments offered were PDE type 5 inhibitors alone or in combination with psychotherapy or modification of medications. The outcome of these treatments ranged from 89% to 91% success rate. CONCLUSION: The number of men with erectile dysfunction managed in the tertiary hospital is very low though the outcome of treatment is within acceptable range. Increase public enlightenment may encourage increase hospital patronage and access to the available treatments for erectile dysfunction.

Growing partnerships: leveraging the power of collaboration through the Medical Education Partnership Initiative.

A major goal of the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is to improve local health systems by strengthening medical education in Sub-Saharan Africa. A new approach to collaboration was intended to overcome the one-sided nature of many partnerships that often provide more rewards to institutions from wealthy countries than to their Sub-Saharan African counterparts. The benefits of this MEPI approach are reflected in at least five positive outcomes. First, effective partnerships have been developed across a diverse group of MEPI stakeholders. Second, a "community of practice" has been established to continue strengthening medical education in Sub-Saharan Africa. Third, links have been strengthened among MEPI health science schools in Sub-Saharan Africa, their communities, and ministries of both health and education. Fourth, respect among partners in the United States for a culture of ownership and self-determinism among their African counterparts committed to improving education has been enhanced. And finally, performance metrics for strengthening of health science education in Sub-Saharan Africa have been advanced. Meanwhile, partner medical schools in the United States have witnessed the benefits of collaborating across traditional disciplinary boundaries, such as physicians working within highly functioning community-based health care teams with many of the participating schools in Sub-Saharan Africa. MEPI demonstrates that North-South as well as South-South partnerships, with an explicit focus on improving local health systems through better education, can be designed to empower partners in the South with support from collaborators in the North.

Physician tracking in sub-Saharan Africa: current initiatives and opportunities.

BACKGROUND: Physician tracking systems are critical for health workforce planning as well as for activities to ensure quality health care - such as physician regulation, education, and emergency response. However, information on current systems for physician tracking in sub-Saharan Africa is limited. The objective of this study is to provide information on the current state of physician tracking systems in the region, highlighting emerging themes and innovative practices. METHODS: This study included a review of the literature, an online search for physician licensing systems, and a document review of publicly available physician registration forms for sub-Saharan African countries. Primary data on physician tracking activities was collected as part of the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) - through two rounds over two years of annual surveys to 13 medical schools in 12 sub-Saharan countries. Two innovations were identified during two MEPI school site visits in Uganda and Ghana. RESULTS: Out of twelve countries, nine had existing frameworks for physician tracking through licensing requirements. Most countries collected basic demographic information: name, address, date of birth, nationality/citizenship, and training institution. Practice information was less frequently collected. The most frequently collected practice fields were specialty/degree and current title/position. Location of employment and name and sector of current employer were less frequently collected. Many medical schools are taking steps to implement graduate tracking systems. We also highlight two innovative practices: mobile technology access to physician registries in Uganda and MDNet, a public-private partnership providing free mobile-to-mobile voice and text messages to all doctors registered with the Ghana Medical Association. CONCLUSION: While physician tracking systems vary widely between countries and a number of challenges remain, there appears to be increasing interest in developing these systems and many innovative developments in the area. Opportunities exist to expand these systems in a more coordinated manner that will ultimately lead to better workforce planning, implementation of the workforce, and better health.

A survey of Sub-Saharan African medical schools.

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa suffers a disproportionate share of the world's burden of disease while having some of the world's greatest health care workforce shortages. Doctors are an important component of any high functioning health care system. However, efforts to strengthen the doctor workforce in the region have been limited by a small number of medical schools with limited enrolments, international migration of graduates, poor geographic distribution of doctors, and insufficient data on medical schools. The goal of the Sub-Saharan African Medical Schools Study (SAMSS) is to increase the level of understanding and expand the baseline data on medical schools in the region. METHODS: The SAMSS survey is a descriptive survey study of Sub-Saharan African medical schools. The survey instrument included quantitative and qualitative questions focused on institutional characteristics, student profiles, curricula, post-graduate medical education, teaching staff, resources, barriers to capacity expansion, educational innovations, and external relationships with government and non-governmental organizations. Surveys were sent via e-mail to medical school deans or officials designated by the dean. Analysis is both descriptive and multivariable. RESULTS: Surveys were distributed to 146 medical schools in 40 of 48 Sub-Saharan African countries. One hundred and five responses were received (72% response rate). An additional 23 schools were identified after the close of the survey period. Fifty-eight respondents have been founded since 1990, including 22 private schools. Enrolments for medical schools range from 2 to 1800 and graduates range from 4 to 384. Seventy-three percent of respondents (n = 64) increased first year enrolments in the past five years. On average, 26% of respondents' graduates were reported to migrate out of the country within five years of graduation (n = 68). The most significant reported barriers to increasing the number of graduates, and improving quality, related to infrastructure and faculty limitations, respectively. Significant correlations were seen between schools implementing increased faculty salaries and bonuses, and lower percentage loss of faculty over the previous five years (P = 0.018); strengthened institutional research tools (P = 0.00015) and funded faculty research time (P = 0.045) and greater faculty involvement in research; and country compulsory service requirements (P = 0.039), a moderate number (1-5) of post-graduate medical education programs (P = 0.016) and francophone schools (P = 0.016) and greater rural general practice after graduation. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the SAMSS survey increases the level of data and understanding of medical schools in Sub-Saharan Africa. This data serves as a baseline for future research, policies and investment in the health care workforce in the region which will be necessary for improving health.

Medical schools in sub-Saharan Africa.

Small numbers of graduates from few medical schools, and emigration of graduates to other countries, contribute to low physician presence in sub-Saharan Africa. The Sub-Saharan African Medical School Study examined the challenges, innovations, and emerging trends in medical education in the region. We identified 168 medical schools; of the 146 surveyed, 105 (72%) responded. Findings from the study showed that countries are prioritising medical education scale-up as part of health-system strengthening, and we identified many innovations in premedical preparation, team-based education, and creative use of scarce research support. The study also drew attention to ubiquitous faculty shortages in basic and clinical sciences, weak physical infrastructure, and little use of external accreditation. Patterns recorded include the growth of private medical schools, community-based education, and international partnerships, and the benefit of research for faculty development. Ten recommendations provide guidance for efforts to strengthen medical education in sub-Saharan Africa.