Echocardiographic Assessment of Cardiac Changes During Normal Pregnancy Among Nigerians.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is a physiological process associated with an increased hemodynamic load and cardiac structural remodeling. Limited echocardiographic information exists on cardiac chambers, left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic functions, and LV mass during trimesters of normal pregnancy among African women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Echocardiography was done at the beginning of the second trimester, beginning of the third trimester, and middle of the third trimester for 100 normal pregnant women and at one visit for age-matched 100 nonpregnant women. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 software. Analysis of variance was used to compare within trimesters, and a P value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean (SD) ages of the patients and controls were 28.20 (±5.91) and 28.35 (±6.06) years, respectively (age range = 19-44 years, P = 0.86). Cardiac chambers, LV systolic function, and LV mass and its index increased significantly during pregnancy. A significant increase in A-wave velocity but slight increase in E-wave velocity and a reduction in tissue e' velocity at the septal margin but a progressive increase in a' velocity were also observed (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cardiac chamber dimensions, LV wall thickness, and mass, most indices of LV systolic and diastolic function, though within normal range, were significantly higher in pregnant than in nonpregnant Nigerian women.

Data showing chemical compositions of the essential oils of the leaves of Cymbopogon citratus obtained by varying pH of the extraction medium.

This article describes the various chemical components as obtained from the oils in the leaves of Cymbopogon citratus using hydrodistillation and solvent-free microwave extraction methods. Furthermore, extractions of the oils were also carried out with a slight in pH variation and compared, "GC-MS evaluation of C. citratus (DC) Stapf oil obtained using modified hydrodistillation and microwave extraction methods" (Ajayi et al., 2016 [1]). The current article contains one table exhibiting a list of compounds in the four different methods of extraction. Comparative studies amongst the various methods of extraction are highlighted in the table.

GC-MS evaluation of Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf oil obtained using modified hydrodistillation and microwave extraction methods.

Bioactive compounds of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil, using different media have been tentatively identified with the aid of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Hydrodistillation was complemented using weakly acidic and alkaline media for the oil extraction. Solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) was also used. Analyses of the oils revealed the presence of 7, 16, 22, and 15 compounds in the water-distilled (WD), microwave-distilled (MD), acid-distilled (AD), and base-distilled (BD), essential oils, respectively. Total yield of the volatile fractions was 0.73%, 0.64%, 0.70%, and 0.45%, respectively. Citral was found to be the major component, the base extraction having the highest content. This was followed by 2-isopropenyl-5-methylhex-4-enal, p-cymene, and 2-thujene. The antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities and assessment of medicinal/nutritional uses of the essential oils are subjects of future studies.

Pattern of endodontic treatment in children in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and reasons for endodontic treatment in patients aged 16 years and below seen at the Paedodontic clinic of the Department of Child Dental Health of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. METHODS: Dental records of patients aged 16 years and below treated for various dental problems at the Paedodontic clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital between January 2006 and December 2007 were reviewed to select cases that received endodontic treatment. The survey was conducted to determine the frequency of endodontic treatment for each tooth in the maxilla and mandible, the reasons for endodontic treatment and type of endodontic treatment performed in each tooth. Data on age, sex, endodontically treated teeth, reasons for endodontic treatment and date of treatment was retrieved from the patients' dental records. RESULTS: A total of 2376 patients were seen during the period of survey, out of which 260 (11%) patients received endodontic treatment of three hundred teeth comprising 194 mandibular teeth and 106 maxillary teeth. The primary lower second molar (26%) was the most frequently endodontically treated tooth followed by the permanent lower first molar (22%). All the primary and permanent molars were endodontically treated due to caries while 62.5% and 60% of permanent and primary central incisors respectively were endodontically treated due to caries. The other infrequent reasons for endodontic treatment were trauma (5.3%) and failed root canal treatment (1.3%). CONCLUSION: The primary lower second molar was the most frequently (26%) treated endodontically and the major reason (93.3%) for endodontic treatment was caries. Only 5.3% of the endodontically treated teeth were due to trauma.

Pattern of endodontic treatment in children in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and reasons for endodontic treatment in patients aged 16 years and below seen at the Paedodontic clinic of the Department of Child Dental Health of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.Methods: Dental records of patients aged 16 years and below treated for various dental problems at the Paedodontic clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital between January 2006 and December 2007 were reviewed to select cases that received endodontic treatment. The survey was conducted to determine the frequency of endodontic treatment for each tooth in the maxilla and mandible; the reasons for endodontic treatment and type of endodontic treatment performed in each tooth. Data on age; sex; endodontically treated teeth; reasons for endodontic treatment and date of treatment was retrieved from the patients' dental records. Results: A total of 2;376 patients were seen during the period of survey; out of which 260 (11) patients received endodontic treatment of three hundred teeth comprising 194 mandibular teeth and 106 maxillary teeth. The primary lower second molar (26) was the most frequently endodontically treated tooth followed by the permanent lower first molar (22). All the primary and permanent molars were endodontically treated due to caries while 62.5and 60of permanent and primary central incisors respectively were endodontically treated due to caries. The other infrequent reasons for endodontic treatment were trauma (5.3) and failed root canal treatment (1.3). Conclusion: The primary lower second molar was the most frequently (26) treated endodontically and the major reason (93.3) for endodontic treatment was caries. Only 5.3of the endodontically treated teeth were due to trauma

Prevalence of ocular injury and the use of protective eye wear among the dental personnel in a teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of ocular injury and the frequency of use of protective eye wear among the dental personnel of Lagos University teaching hospital. METHODOLOGY: A structured questionnaire was distributed to dental personnel of Lagos University Teaching Hospital working in the dental clinic and laboratory within a period of one month (November 2006). RESULTS: Ninety questionnaires out of 105 questionnaires were returned filled giving a response rate of 90.5%. 36.7% of the dental personnel are regular wearers of protective eye wear. 28.9% of males and 42.3% of females are regular wearers. Among the dental personnel the dental therapists showed the highest frequency of regular eye protection (100%) while the technologists showed the lowest frequency of regular eye protection (20%). There was significant difference in the prevalence of ocular injury among the dental personnel with the technologist having the highest prevalence of 40% and the dental students having the lowest prevalence of 15.4% (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The frequency of using protective eye wear among the dental personnel of Lagos University Teaching hospital was low. The use of protective eye wear should be emphasized for all dental personnel and patients to prevent the occurrence of ocular injuries in the clinic and laboratory.

Orthodontic treatment need in Nigerian children.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the need for orthodontic treatment among Nigerian children aged 12-14 years old in Benin City, south-southern region of Nigeria. RESEARCH DESIGN: The sample consisted of 261 randomly selected school children, 122 boys (47%) and 139 girls (53%) with mean age of 12.9 +/- 0.1. The survey was conducted by clinical examination and both components of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) were used to determine the need for orthodontic treatment. RESULTS: The results revealed that 50 (19.2%) of the children had a definite need for orthodontic treatment according to dental health component while aesthetic component of IOTN indicated definite need in 12 (4.6%). Increased overjet, severe contact displacements and impeded eruption of teeth were the common occlusal features in the definite treatment need group. CONCLUSION: This study provided data on the need for orthodontic treatment among Nigerian school children which is useful to plan and prioritise orthodontic care and services.

Dental students' knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated final year dental students' knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), lesions associated with HIV, potential transmission routes of HIV, and their perception of the teaching received on cross-infection precautions, virology, sterilization practice and procedure, barrier dentistry and recognition of blood-borne virus risk group. METHODOLOGY: Structured questionnaires on knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus were filled by final year dental students of University of Lagos, Nigeria. A total of 35 out of 37 questionnaires were returned filled giving a response rate of 94.6%. RESULTS: Most of the students rated the teaching they received on cross-infection precautions, sterilization practice and procedure, as adequate. More than a quarter (28.5%) of the students rated the teaching they received on virology and recognition of blood-borne virus risk group to be less than adequate. Most of the students were able to recognize the association of oral Kaposi sarcoma, oral candidiasis, oral hairy leukoplakia, and salivary gland enlargement with HIV infection. There was a much lower level of knowledge of oral melanotic hyperpigmentation and idiopathic thrombocytopaenic pupura. Their knowledge of HIV and its potential transmission routes were adequate. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that final year dental students of the University of Lagos in southwestern region of Nigeria had adequate knowledge of routes of transmission of HIV in clinical practice. However, there is need for improvement in teaching of the students on virology and recognition of blood-borne virus risk group.

Evidence-based paradigm in orthodontics.

The need to integrate the accrued scientific evidence into clinical orthodontic practice is amongst the challenges facing orthodontists in the 21st century. The evidence-based health care approach aims to improve patient care based upon informed decision-making. This article therefore highlights the importance and application of evidence-based approach in orthodontic management of patients.