Comparison of Ocular Biomery in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Non-glaucoma in South West Nigeria.

Background: Glaucoma is a public health problem in Nigeria. The number of individuals affected by glaucoma in Nigeria is much higher than the individuals known to have the disease. Ocular parameters such as intraocular pressure, central cornea thickness, axial length and refractive error have all been documented as risk factors of glaucoma especially among Caucasians and African Americans, with little documentation in Africa where there's an alarming rate of blindness. Aim and Objectives: To compare central cornea thickness (CCT), intraocular pressure (IOP), axial length (AL) and refractive state in participants with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and non-glaucoma in South-West Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based case-control study was carried out among 184 newly diagnosed POAG and non-glaucoma adult participants attending the outpatient clinic of Eleta eye institute. The CCT, IOP, AL and refractive state were measured in each participant. Test of significance between proportions in categorical variables were assessed using chi square test (χ2) in both groups. The means were compared using independent t-test while correlation between parameters were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean age of the POAG participants was 57.16 + 13.3 years and the mean age of the non-glaucoma participants was 54.15 + 13.4 years. The mean IOP in the POAG group was 30.2 + 8.9mmHg while non- glaucoma group was 14.2 + 2.6mmHg (P < 0.001), other ocular parameters were not significantly different in both groups. In the POAG group, decreased spherical equivalent refractive error (i.e increasing myopia) was significantly associated with increased axial length (r= -0.252, P = 0.01), but not significant in the non- glaucoma group. However, in the non-glaucoma group, central cornea thickness increased with increasing intraocular pressure (r= 0.305, P = 0.003), which was not significant in the glaucoma group. Conclusion: Patients with POAG had much higher IOP and thus, IOP remains a significant risk factor in its development. There was a significant relationship between refractive state and axial length in the POAG group while a significant relationship was identified between central cornea thickness and intraocular pressure in the non- glaucoma group.

Reducing radiation exposure and cancer risk for children with scoliosis: EOS the new gold standard.

PURPOSE: Children are exposed to significant radiation doses during the investigation and treatment phases of scoliosis. EOS is a new form of low-dose radiation scan which also yields great image quality. However, currently its use is discouraged in the UK due to higher costs. We aimed to quantify the additional radiation dose and cancer risk. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all paediatric cases who received both standing whole spine roentgenograms and EOS scans as part of their investigations for scoliosis during a six-month period. We compared the radiation doses between the two modalities and estimated the additional mean lifetime cancer risk per study. RESULTS: We identified 206 children (mean age 14.4) who met the criteria of having both scans. Dose area products (dGycm2) were converted to estimated effective doses (mSv). The total mean doses were 0.68 mSv (PA 0.49 + Lat 0.19) for plain films, and 0.13 mSv (PA 0.08 + Lat 0.04) for EOS scans (p < 0.001). Additional lifetime cancer risk of a plain film was 543% greater than EOS for both sexes (1/10727 versus 1/5827 in males, 1/34483 versus 1/6350 in females). CONCLUSION: There is approximately 5.4-fold increase in risk of cancer for both boys and girls with roentgenograms over EOS, with girls being the most impacted. This carries a significant impact when considering the need for repeat imaging on additional lifetime malignancy risk in children. In our opinion, EOS dual planar scanning is the new gold standard when X-ray of the whole spine is required. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Thoracolumbar spine trauma: a guide for the FRCS examination.

Thoracolumbar spine injuries are commonly seen in trauma settings and have a high risk of causing serious morbidity. There can be controversy when it comes to classifying thoracolumbar injuries within the spinal community, but there remains a need to classify, evaluate and manage thoracolumbar fractures. This article aims to provide a guide on classification of thoracolumbar spine injuries using the AO Spine Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System (AO TLICS).

Nonspecific Interstitial Pneumonia in a 28-Year-Old Nigerian Female: Challenges in Diagnosis and Management in Resource-Constrained Setting.

BACKGROUND: Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia is a rare clinical condition and usually precedes the full manifestation of connective tissue disorders, drug-induced interstitial lung disease or chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. OBJECTIVE: This article reports a twenty-eight (28)-year-old Nigerian female with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) complicated by Cor pulmonale. The unusual characteristics of our index case favors NSIP rather than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (age of 28 years, female, chest high-resolution computerized tomographic features and response to glucocorticoids). RESULTS: High-resolution computerized tomography scan of the chest showed honeycombing in the apical lobes and a mixture of reticular changes, ground-glass appearance and fibrotic changes in basal lobes. Echocardiography revealed features of right chamber enlargement with pulmonary hypertension. Due to financial constraint, serological tests for CTDs and lung biopsy could not be done. CONCLUSION: Being a rare condition, a high index of suspicion with full investigative workup to make early diagnosis and effect prompt treatment is important.

CONTEXTE: La pneumonie interstitielle non spécifique est un état clinique rare qui précède habituellement la manifestation complète de troubles du tissu conjonctif, de pneumopathie interstitielle d'origine médicamenteuse ou de pneumonie d'hypersensibilité chronique. OBJECTIF: Cet article présente le cas d'une Nigériane de vingt-huit (28) ans atteinte d'une pneumonie interstitielle non spécifique (PINS) compliquée d'un cor pulmonaire. Les caractéristiques inhabituelles de notre cas d'index favorisent la PINS plutôt que la fibrose pulmonaire idiopathique (âge de 28 ans, femme, caractéristiques de la tomographie informatisée à haute résolution du thorax et réponse aux glucocorticoïdes). RÉSULTATS: La tomographie informatisée à haute résolution du thorax a montré des alvéoles dans les lobes apicaux et un mélange de changements réticulaires, d'aspect en verre dépoli et de changements fibrotiques dans les lobes basaux. L'échocardiographie a révélé des caractéristiques d'élargissement de la chambre droite avec hypertension pulmonaire. En raison de contraintes financières, les tests sérologiques pour les CTD et la biopsie pulmonaire n'ont pas pu être effectués. CONCLUSION: Comme il s'agit d'une maladie rare, il est important d'avoir un indice de suspicion élevé et de procéder à un bilan d'investigation complet afin de poser un diagnostic précoce et d'appliquer un traitement rapide. Mots clés: Pneumonie interstitielle, pneumopathie interstitielle, maladie du tissu conjonctif, cor pulmonaire, contraintes de ressources, jeune femme.

Latent Tuberculosis among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Positive Patients: Prevalence and Correlates.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is the most common opportunistic infection affecting HIV-infected individuals and it remains the most common cause of death in patients with AIDS. Detection of latent tuberculosis and treatment largely prevents the development of active disease. OBJECTIVE: This study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with latent TB in HIV-positive patients. METHODOLOGY: This is an analytical cross-sectional study which involved 160 consented patients. Active tuberculosis was excluded using signs, symptoms and laboratory tests. All participants were tested using Quantiferon TB Gold Plus test kits. Data analysed with SPSS version 25.0 included patient's demographics, clinical and laboratory features. P< 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean age of HIV-infected patients was 42.69 ± 9.91 years and the mean age of the control was 41.29 ± 9.20 years with no significant statistical difference. The prevalence of latent tuberculosis among HIV-infected patients was found to be 22.50% while among controls was 10.0% which was statistically significant (p-0.001). CD4 cells count was observed to inversely predict latent tuberculosis (OR = 1.41; CI = 1.01-3.73) while viral load was found to directly predict latent tuberculosis (OR = 1.63; CI=1.04-4.25). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection is significantly higher among HIV-positive patients when compared with HIV-negative patients. Also, the prevalence of HIV infection was higher amongst the female and less educated population.

CONTEXTE: La tuberculose est l'infection opportuniste la plus courante chez les personnes infectées par le VIHet reste la cause la plus fréquente de décès chez les patients atteints du SIDA. La détection de la tuberculose latente et le traitement empêchent largement le développement de la maladie active. OBJECTIF: Cette étude visait à déterminer la prévalence et les facteurs associés à la tuberculose latente chez les personnes séropositives. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Il s'agit d'une étude transversale analytique qui a porté sur 160 patients consentants. La tuberculose active a été exclue à l'aide de signes, de symptômes et de tests de laboratoire. Tous les participants participants ont été testés à l'aide de kits de test Quantiferon TB Gold Plus. de Quantiferon TB Gold Plus. Les données analysées avec SPSS version 25.0 comprenaient les caractéristiques démographiques, cliniques et de laboratoire des patients. P< 0,05 a été a été considéré comme significatif. RÉSULTATS: L'âge moyen des patients infectés par le VIH était de 42,69 ± 9,91 ans et l'âge moyen du groupe témoin était de 41,29 ± 9,20 ans., sans différence statistic significative. La prevalence de tuberculose latente chez les patients infectés par le VIH était de 22,50 % alors qu'elle était de 10,0 % chez les témoins, ce qui était statistiquement significative (p-0,001). On a observé que le nombre de cellules CD4 de prédire de façon inverse la tuberculose latente (OR = 1,41; IC = 1,01- 3,73), tandis que la charge virale prédit directement la tuberculose latente (OR = 1,63 ; IC = 1,04-4,25). CONCLUSION: la prévalence de l'infection tuberculeuse latente est significativement plus élevée chez les patients séropositifs par rapport aux patients séronégatifs. De même, la prévalence de l'infection par le VIH était plus élevée chez les femmes et les personnes peu moins éduquée. Mots clés: Bacilles acido-alcoolo-résistants, indice de masse corporelle, extrapulmonaire, virus de l'immunodéficience humaine, interféron gamma, immunodéficience, tuberculose latente, ZiehlNeelsen.

The association between sperm quality and asymptomatic chlamydial infection in infertile men at a private fertility clinic in Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Association between chlamydia trachomatis infection and male infertility is debated in literature. There is little or no information from Nigeria. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of chlamydial infection and its association with sperm quality parameters among a symptomatic men that present for infertility treatment in a Nigeria facility. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted at a private assisted conception clinic in Lagos, Nigeria among 138 men seeking infertility care. Seminal fluid analysis and IgG Chlamydial serology were performed for each participant. Data obtained were analysed using SPSS; p was significant at <0.05. RESULTS: Of the 138 men screened, 13.9% were Chlamydia-positive. Twenty-one per cent of clients who tested positive to Chlamydia had predominantly immotile sperm, compared with 10.2% without the infection; 26.3% with non-progressive motility had Chlamydia, compared with 2.8% men who were not infected. These differences were statistically significant (p = 0.001). More of those (57.9%) with Chlamydia (compared to 33.1% without) had significant leukocyte counts (p = 0.037). There were no statistically significant differences in sperm count and percent motility between serologically positive and negative men. CONCLUSION: Positive Chlamydia serology is associated with non-progressive motility and leukocytospermia in infertile Nigerian men

Protective mechanisms of 6-gingerol in dextran sulfate sodium-induced chronic ulcerative colitis in mice.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing and remitting inflammatory disease of the colon, with an increasing incidence worldwide. 6-Gingerol (6G) is a bioactive constituent of Zingiber officinale, which has been reported to possess various biological activities. This study was designed to evaluate the role of 6G in chronic UC. Chronic UC was induced in mice by three cycles of 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water. Each cycle consisted of 7 days of 2.5% DSS followed by 14 days of normal drinking water. 6G (100 mg/kg) and a reference anti-colitis drug sulfasalazine (SZ) (100 mg/kg) were orally administered daily to the mice throughout exposure to three cycles of 2.5% DSS. Administration of 6G and SZ significantly prevented disease activity index and aberrant crypt foci formation in DSS-treated mice. Furthermore, 6G and SZ suppresses immunoexpression of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1ß, inducible nitric oxide synthase, Regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the DSS-treated mice. 6G effectively protected against colonic oxidative damage by augmenting the antioxidant status with marked decrease in lipid peroxidation levels in DSS-treated mice. Moreover, 6G significantly inhibited nuclear factor kappa B (P65), p38, cyclooxygenase-2, and ß-catenin whereas it enhanced IL-10 and adenomatous polyposis coli expression in DSS-treated mice. In conclusion, 6G prevented DSS-induced chronic UC via anti-inflammatory and antioxidative mechanisms and preservation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

6-Gingerol improves testicular function in mice model of chronic ulcerative colitis.

The persistent inflammation and oxidative stress at the local site in ulcerative colitis reportedly extend to the testes via systemic circulation resulting in testicular dysfunction. The influence of 6-gingerol (6G), a phenolic compound isolated from Zingiber officinale, on colitis-mediated testicular dysfunction in mice was investigated in this study. Chronic ulcerative colitis was induced in mice using 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for three cycles. Each cycle consisted of 7 consecutive days of exposure to DSS-treated water followed by 14 consecutive days of normal drinking water. 6G (100 mg/kg) or sulfasalazine (SZ; 100 mg/kg) was orally administered alone or in combination with DSS-treated water during the three cycles. SZ served as standard reference drug for colitis in this study. 6G significantly prevented the incidence of rectal bleeding, decrease in the body weight gain and colon mass index in DSS-exposed mice. 6G significantly prevented colitis-mediated decreases in luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone and decreases oxidative stress indices, pro-inflammatory cytokines and caspase-3 activity with concomitant augmentation of antioxidant enzymes activities, sperm characteristics, marker enzymes of testicular function and histoarchitecture in DSS-exposed mice. 6G exerted protective influence against ulcerative colitis-induced testicular damage via mechanisms involving its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

6-Gingerol-rich fraction prevents disruption of histomorphometry and marker enzymes of testicular function in carbendazim-treated rats.

Previous investigations demonstrated that 6-gingerol-rich fraction (6-GRF) prevented testicular toxicity via inhibition of oxidative stress and endocrine disruption in CBZ-treated rats. The influence of 6-GRF on alterations in histomorphometry and marker enzymes of testicular function in CBZ-treated rats which hitherto has not been reported was investigated in this study. The animals were orally administered either CBZ (50 mg/kg) alone or in combination with 6-GRF (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days. Histomorphormetric analysis demonstrated that 6-GRF significantly prevented CBZ-mediated increase in the organo-somatic index of the testes and seminiferous tubular diameter as well as the reduction in epithelium height and tubular length of testes in the rats. Similarly, 6-GRF ameliorated CBZ-induced disruption in the epithelium height as well as in the proportion of tubule and interstitium of the epididymis the treated rats. Furthermore, 6-GRF prevented CBZ-mediated increase in testicular acid phosphatase activity and the decrease in testicular alkaline phosphatase, aminotransferases, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase activities. Moreover, 6-GRF ameliorated CBZ-induced reduction in the testicular and epididymal sperm count and sperm motility in the treated rats. Conclusively, 6-GRF enhances key functional enzymes involve in spermatogenesis and maintains histo-architecture of testes and epididymis in CBZ-treated rats.

6-Gingerol-rich fraction from Zingiber officinale ameliorates carbendazim-induced endocrine disruption and toxicity in testes and epididymis of rats.

This study evaluated the protective effects of 6-gingerol-rich fraction (6-GRF) from Zingiber officinale on carbendazim (CBZ)-induced reproductive toxicity in rats. Adult male rats were treated with either CBZ (50 mg/kg) alone or in combination with 6-GRF (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) analysis revealed that 6-GRF consists of ten bioactive chemical components with 6-gingerol being the most abundant (30.76%). Administration of 6-GRF significantly (p < .05) prevented CBZ-mediated increase in absolute and relative testes weights as well as restored the sperm quantity and quality in the treated rats to near control. In testes and epididymis, 6-GRF significantly abolished CBZ-mediated increase in oxidative damage as well as augmented antioxidant enzymes activities and glutathione level in the treated rats. Moreover, CBZ administration alone significantly decreased plasma levels of testosterone, thyrotropin, triiodothyronine and tetraiodothyronine, whereas follicle-stimulating hormone was significantly elevated without affecting luteinising hormone and prolactin levels when compared with the control. Conversely, 6-GRF ameliorated the disruption in the hormonal levels and restored their levels to near normalcy in CBZ-treated rats. Collectively, 6-GRF inhibited the adverse effects of CBZ on the antioxidant defence systems, hormonal balance and histology of the testes and epididymis in rats.

Prevalence and predictors of intimate partner violence among women attending infertility clinic in south-western Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: The study evaluated the prevalence and predictors of intimate partner violence among infertile women attending infertility clinic of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. STUDY DESIGN: A cross sectional study of infertile women presenting at the clinic between 1st November 2012 and 31st October 2013 was done. A semi-structured questionnaire on violence was administered to 170 consecutive women who consented to participate. The data were analysed using SPSS 17 and significances test were performed on variables associated with violence with Student's t test and Chi square test. Logistic regression was done to determine predictive factors associated with intimate partner violence. RESULTS: The prevalence of intimate partner violence associated with infertility among the women was 31.2%. There were no significant differences in the age of the women, duration of marriage and duration of infertility between the women who had experienced violence and those who had not experienced it; p>0.05. Unemployment, polygamous marriage, husbands' social habits, primary infertility and prolonged duration of infertility were associated with violence in these women; p<0.05. Education of the women and their husbands, their religion and ethnicity were not significantly associated with violence; p>0.05. However with logistic regression, the unemployment status of the women and prolonged duration of infertility were the predictors of violence against women with infertility in this study, p value<0.05. More than 50% of the women reported psychological violence as the commonest form of violence experienced by them ever, since the diagnosis of infertility was made and in the past one year. All forms of violence experienced were aggravated by infertility in these women. CONCLUSION: Women with infertility are prone to intimate partner violence and this would further aggravate the challenges of infertility being faced by these women.

Possible involvement of membrane lipids peroxidation and oxidation of catalytically essential thiols of the cerebral transmembrane sodium pump as component mechanisms of iron-mediated oxidative stress-linked dysfunction of the pump's activity.

The precise molecular events defining the complex role of oxidative stress in the inactivation of the cerebral sodium pump in radical-induced neurodegenerative diseases is yet to be fully clarified and thus still open. Herein we investigated the modulation of the activity of the cerebral transmembrane electrogenic enzyme in Fe(2+)-mediated in vitro oxidative stress model. The results show that Fe(2+) inhibited the transmembrane enzyme in a concentration dependent manner and this effect was accompanied by a biphasic generation of aldehydic product of lipid peroxidation. While dithiothreitol prevented both Fe(2+) inhibitory effect on the pump and lipid peroxidation, vitamin E prevented only lipid peroxidation but not inhibition of the pump. Besides, malondialdehyde (MDA) inhibited the pump by a mechanism not related to oxidation of its critical thiols. Apparently, the low activity of the pump in degenerative diseases mediated by Fe(2+) may involve complex multi-component mechanisms which may partly involve an initial oxidation of the critical thiols of the enzyme directly mediated by Fe(2+) and during severe progression of such diseases; aldehydic products of lipid peroxidation such as MDA may further exacerbate this inhibitory effect by a mechanism that is likely not related to the oxidation of the catalytically essential thiols of the ouabain-sensitive cerebral electrogenic pump.

Relation between some haematological abnormalities, degree of immunosuppression and viral load in treatment-naïve HIV-infected patients.

This cross-sectional study at a teaching hospital in north-eastern Nigeria estimated the prevalence of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia in treatment-naïve HIV-infected patients (177 males and 316 females), and the associations with virological and immunological markers. The overall prevalences of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were 49.5%, 5.5% and 4.5% respectively. The prevalence of anaemia was significantly higher in males than females (61.6% versus 42.7%), while the rates of leukopenia (5.1% versus 5.7%) and thrombocytopenia (5.7% versus 3.8%) were similar. Almost two-thirds of the HIV treatment-naïve studied patients, 293/493 (59.4%), had cytopenia and would require antiretroviral drugs. AIDS was diagnosed by clinical or immunological criteria in 70% of patients. The degree of cytopenia was directly related to the degree of immunosuppression and clinical AIDS status. No relationship was observed between cytopenia and viral load.

Relation between some haematological abnormalities, degree of immunosuppression and viral load in treatment-na‹ve HIV-infected patients

This cross-sectional study at a teaching hospital in north-eastern Nigeria estimated the prevalence of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia in treatment-naive HIV-infected patients [177 males and 316 females], and the associations with virological and immunological markers. The overall prevalences of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were 49.5%, 5.5% and 4.5% respectively. The prevalence of anaemia was significantly higher in males than females [61.6% versus 42.7%], while the rates of leukopenia [5.1% versus 5.7%] and thrombocytopenia [5.7% versus 3.8%] were similar. Almost two-thirds of the HIV treatment-naive studied patients, 293/493 [59.4%], had cytopenia and would require antiretroviral drugs. AIDS was diagnosed by clinical or immunological criteria in 70% of patients. The degree of cytopenia was directly related to the degree of immunosuppresslon and clinical AIDS status. No relationship was observed between cytopenia and viral load

Adhesive capabilities of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from tears of HIV/AIDS patients to soft contact lenses.

Fifty conjunctival swab samples collected from ELISA confirmed HIV/AIDS seropositive patients who were referred to the HIV/AIDS laboratories of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Central Hospital both based in Benin City, Nigeria were aseptically cultured on appropriate media by standard methods. The resulting isolates/strains, after identification by standard methods, were tested for their ability to adhere to two hydrophobic non-ionic daily wear silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses (i.e. lotrafilcon B, WC 33% and polymacon, WC 38%) as well as to two hydrophilic ionic conventional extended wear silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses (i.e. methafilcon A, WC 55% and omafilcon A, WC 60%) by the adhesiveness/slime production modified vortex/Robin device method. Evidence of adhesiveness/slime production was indicated by presence of a visible stained film lining the surface of the contact lens which was measured and recorded as strong or weak according to the density of the adhered bacterial film. Fourteen (28.0%) Staphylococcus aureus strains and 10 (20.0%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were obtained among other organisms. Staphylococcus aureus strains adhered in decreasing order to lotrafilcon B (55.4 ± 4.7), polymacon (46.4 ± 8.4), methfilcon A (46.4 ± 8.4) and omafilcon A (25.0 ± 6.4) with no significant difference in adhesive strengths of individual strains (P > 0.05). Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains also recorded decreasing adhesive strengths to lotrafilcon B (37.5 ± 8.2), polymacon (28.6 ± 6.3), methafilcon A (26.8 ± 5.5) and omafilcon A (23.2 ± 5.5) also with no significant difference in adhesive strengths of individual strains (P > 0.05). Attachment strengths of Staph. aureus strains to all four contact lenses were higher than those of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. Both organisms adhered most to hydrophobic lotrafilcon B and least to hydrophilic omafilcon A. This invitro adhesion studies revealed that daily wear silicone hydrogel low water content, non-ionic contact lenses are more prone to bacterial adhesion than the conventional extended wear hydrogel high water content, ionic contact lenses and hence, there is more risk of microbial adhesion to the former compared to the latter. Other implications are highlighted.

Extrachromosomal DNA length and antibiograms of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from tears of HIV/AIDS patients after curing with sodium dodecyl sulphate.

Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were isolated from eye swab samples randomly obtained from 100 seropositive HIV/AIDS patients who reported to various anti-retroviral treatment clinics at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Central Hospital both based in Benin City, Nigeria. Invitro antibiotic sensitivity patterns of strains before curing were determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Resistance plasmid DNA of multidrug resistant strains was cured with 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulphate and cured strains were again subjected to in vitro antibiotic sensitivity testing. EcoRI and Hind III restriction endonuclease enzymes were used to make cuts on extracted plasmid DNA whose length sizes were then determined. A total of 36 (36.0%) strains made up of 27 (75.0%) Staphylococcus. aureus and 9 (25.0%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated of which 7 (19.4%) strains showed multidrug resistance to ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, ofloxacine, gentamycin, tetracycline, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, nitrofurantoin and erythromycin. All seven multidrug resistant strains before curing, recorded 85.7%, 42.9%, 14.3% and 14.3% sensitivity in that decreasing order to ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, ofloxacin and gentamycin respectively. There was 0.0% sensitivity each to tetracycline and ampicillin. After curing, there was enhanced sensitivity of 100.0%, 85.7%, 28.6% and 71.4% respectively. There was also 28.6% and 57.1% improved sensitivity to tetracycline and ampicillin after curing. Before curing, there was 76.2% average resistance to all used antibiotics and this reduced to 47.6% after curing Staph. aureus plasmid DNA. In the case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, there was an average resistance of 76.3% before curing which fell to 42.5% after curing. EcoRI restriction enzyme gave the plasmid DNA length of Staphylococcus aureus strain 04 as 4.0Kb and this size depended upon the distance between recognition sites. Isolation of 36 (36.0%) strains of both isolates from 100 eye swabs shows the danger these organisms portend to all categories of opticians. The cheapness and high sensitivity of gentamycin justifies its use as eye drops for treatment of some eye infections. Curing of plasmid DNA is an indication that if SDS is administered to the organisms in sublethal doses, it can lead to the elimination of plasmid DNA without adverse effect on the genomic DNA of the bacterial strains.

Visual outcome after cataract surgery at the university college hospital, ibadan.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the visual outcome of patients who had cataract surgery in the University College Hospital Ibadan. METHODOLOGY: This is an observational descriptive, longitudinal study of consecutive patients undergoing cataract surgery at the University College Hospital conducted between May and October 2007. A total of 184 patients who presented to the hospital and met the inclusion criteria were recruited into the study. Patients were examined preoperatively, 1st day postoperatively and 8th week postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean age was 66.5 years; and the male to female ratio was 1.2:1. Preoperatively, 137 patients (74.5%) were blind in the operated eye, while 39 patients (23.6%) were blind in both eyes at presentation. At 1st day postoperatively, 87 patients (47.3%) had pinhole visual acuity of 6/6-6/18. Best corrected vision after refraction eight weeks postoperatively showed that 127 patients out of 161 patients (78.8%) had good vision while 28 patients (17.4%) had borderline vision, and six patients (3.8%) had severe visual impairment after refraction. The number of bilaterally blind patients also reduced from 39 (23.6%) to one (0.6%). Uncorrected refractive error was the commonest cause of poor vision prior to refraction. Glaucoma was the commonest ocular co-morbidity accounting for poor vision in 9.1% of patients eight weeks after cataract surgery. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that good results can be obtained with cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation in the developing world. More attention should be directed towards ensuring that successful outcomes are indeed being realized by continued monitoring of postoperative visual outcomes and prompt refraction for all patients.

Visual Outcome after Cataract Surgery at the University College Hospital; Ibadan

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the visual outcome of patients who had cataract surgery in the University College Hospital Ibadan. Methodology: This is an observational descriptive; longitudinal study of consecutive patients undergoing cataract surgery at the University College Hospital conducted between May and October 2007. A total of 184 patients who presented to the hospital and met the inclusion criteria were recruited into the study. Patients were examined preoperatively; 1st day postoperatively and 8th week postoperatively. Results: The mean age was 66.5 years; and the male to female ratio was 1.2:1. Preoperatively; 137 patients (74.5) were blind in the operated eye; while 39 patients (23.6) were blind in both eyes at presentation. At 1st day postoperatively; 87 patients (47.3) had pinhole visual acuity of 6/6-6/18. Best corrected vision after refraction eight weeks postoperatively showed that 127 patients out of 161 patients (78.8) had good vision while 28 patients (17.4) had borderline vision; and six patients (3.8) had severe visual impairment after refraction. The number of bilaterally blind patients also reduced from 39 (23.6) to one (0.6). Uncorrected refractive error was the commonest cause of poor vision prior to refraction. Glaucoma was the commonest ocular co-morbidity accounting for poor vision in 9.1of patients eight weeks after cataract surgery. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that good results can be obtained with cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation in the developing world. More attention should be directed towards ensuring that successful outcomes are indeed being realized by continued monitoring of postoperative visual outcomes and prompt refraction for all patients

The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus in Nigeria.

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV accounts for 90% of paediatric HIV. The objective of this paper is to assess the outcome of preventing mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), using highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). All pregnant women booking for antenatal care at the university of Maiduguri teaching hospital received voluntary counselling and testing for HIV. All HIV-positive mothers were placed on HAART for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. All exposed babies received single dose nevirapine within 72 h of birth and zidovudine syrup for 6 weeks. The babies were then tested for viral DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 6 and 12 weeks of age. Among 5,461 mothers screened for HIV during the study period, 695 (12.7%) were confirmed HIV-positive. Out of 446 mother-baby pairs followed up to a minimum period of 6 months postpartum, only five (1.1%) babies were HIV-positive.

Visual impairment from age-related cataract among an indigenous African population.

AIM: To determine the magnitude of visual impairment (VI) resulting from lens opacity/cataract among a rural population in southwestern Nigeria. METHOD: A population-based cross-sectional survey using a multistage sampling method to select subjects >or=50 years. Participants with pinhole visual acuity of