Testicular Biopsies of Azoospermic Men at The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the histological findings from testicular biopsies in azoospermic men seen at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital; Ikeja - Lagos; Nigeria. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of testicular biopsies of azoospermic men who presented to our institution from 2005 to 2006 was performed. The patient's age; type of infertility and histopathological diagnosis were evaluted. All biopsies were preserved in 10formaldehyde solution. Results: Of the 51 azoospermic men (mean age 30 years; range 25 - 46 years) 25 (49.0) had primary infertility; 11 (21.6) had secondary infertility and 15 (29.0) were not specified. Five (9.8) patients had normal spermatogenesis. Abnormal histological parameters occurred in 46 (90.2) patients: testicular atrophy in 30 (58.8); maturation arrest in 14 (27.5) and hypospermatogenesis in 2 (3.9) patients. Conclusion: The presence of normal spermatogenesis in azoospermic men; which would suggest an obstructive lesion; is not common in our practice; in contrast to previous studies from our country. This may indicate a changing pattern in the aetiology of male infertility in our environment. Identification of the possible causes of testicular damage resulting in non-obstructive azoospermia in our environment may help to prevent male infertility

A Comparative Study of the Wound Healing Properties of Moist Exposed Burn Ointment (MEBO) and Silver Sulphadiazine.

Burns expose the deeper tissues of the skin or body to invasive microbes. Topical preparations for treating burn wounds, to be useful, should ideally have antibiotic power and promote healing. Silver compounds have been the mainstay of topical burn treatment for decades. However, most chemical substances retard wound healing. Several natural agents such as honey and moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) are believed to protect wounds from infection and promote healing without causing any of the adverse effects of purified chemicals. In this study, we compared the wound healing properties of MEBO, a herbal preparation of Chinese origin, with silver sulphadiazine (SSD), a long-standing conventional burn dressing. Ten adult Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups. They were housed in separate cages and received partial-thickness burn wounds on their dorsal skin. They were then treated with MEBO and SSD. The wounds were inspected daily until day 8, when all the animals were sacrificed, perfused with normal saline, and had their wounds excised and prepared for histology. It was found that animals in both groups were well preserved. No clinical infections occurred. Wound healing was at an advanced stage by day 8 in all the animals. Clinical and histological examination showed that the two agents gave the animals comparable protection and healing possibilities. It is concluded that MEBO is a suitable and efficacious alternative to conventional silver-based topical therapies for treating partial-thickness burn wounds.

Fatal domestic accident from a 1.5 volt dry-cell battery explosion as seen in lagos state university teaching hospital, ikeja, lagos, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the danger of wrong disposal of used dry-cell batteries in Lagos, Nigeria. METHOD: Information was extracted from the case notes of a patient who died following the explosion of a 1.5 volt dry-cell battery. No post-mortem was performed because the death certificate was inadvertently issued and the body was buried hurriedly according to Islamic rites. RESULTS: A 53% burn involving the face, upper arm, trunk, and thigh was found on examination, in addition to inhalation injuries. CONCLUSION: Dry-cell batteries are highly explosive when heated. There is a need to educate the populace about their explosive nature and to keep batteries away from children.

Malignant Breast Lessions At Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (O.O.U.T.H), Sagamu-a Histopathological Review.

Various reports suggest an increasing incidence of breast cancer in Nigeria. The large volume of literature published on the subject of breast cancer bear witness to the interest shown in the subject. We therefore carried out a review of 50 cases of breast cancer recently confirmed histologically by our unit to study their characteristics and compare these with previous reports. A 2- years retrospective review of all histologically diagnosed carcinoma of the breast at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu from 2002-2003 was carried out. The peak age of occurrence was between 40-49 years with mean age of 47.5years. Invasive ductal carcinoma was predominant histologic type in 94% of cases and 72% presented late with advanced disease (Manchester stages 111 and 1V) with dismal prognosis. Surgery was the mainstay of treatment for both early and late disease. To ensure early and prompt detection, presentation and treatment, emphasis should be placed on female education, increasing awareness and encouraging breast self-examination. There is also a need for cancer registration centre in the hospital and a multicentred, controlled study of breast cancer in Nigeria.

Effect of chronic co-administration of metformin and vitamin C on plasma glucose and lipid concentrations in normal rats.

In clinical setting, uncomplicated diabetes mellitus type 2 is managed with anti-oxidants (e.g. ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, etc.) with standard oral hypoglycaemic agents, which is aimed at limiting its glucose auto-oxidation and lipid peroxidation complications. The current study is an experimental animal study aimed at investigating the effect of co-administration of metformin and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) on plasma glucose and lipid levels in non-diabetic rats which could serve as a template for future studies in this area. The hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activities of metformin, ascorbic acid, and metformin-ascorbic acid combination were studied in 4 groups consisting of 6 rats per group and weighing 120 - 155 g, by administering oral doses of 5, 10 and 15 (for co-administration) mg/kg/day of the drugs, respectively, for 30 days. The acute oral toxicity of the combination was also conducted using limit dose test of Up and Down Procedure of Acute Oral Toxicity test. Results of the study showed that metformin and metformin-ascorbic acid combination induced significant and comparable hypoglycaemia. The drug combination also lowered plasma total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-c) significantly but had no effect on plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c). The LD50 estimate of the drug combination was greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight/oral route. The results of this study suggest the drug combination could have hypoglycaemic and lipid-lowering effects.

Unusual Electric Burns Caused by Communication Disc Contact with a High-voltage Electric Transmission Cable: a Potential Occupational Hazard.

The case reported is that of a communications technician admitted to hospital with 38% burns sustained while climbing a communications mast. The mast was erected less than 3 metres from a 33 kv electric transmission cable. His condition is described, as also the treatment he received until his discharge three months later. In the absence of guidelines regarding the erection of such masts, a number of recommendations are made.

Sub-chronic Toxicity Studies of the Aqueous Leaf Extract of Rauvolfia Vomitoria (Afzel)

The cumulative effects of the aqueous leaf extracts of Rauvolfia vomitoria on body tissues was studied. Six groups of male rats consisting of 5 rats per group were given doses of the leaf extract ranging from 0.03g kg-1-1.2g kg-1 to drink at will from their drinking bottles for 42 days. During the period of the study; weights of the animals were monitored weekly with their gross appearances. At the end of the 42nd day; the rats were killed by cervical dislocation. Post-mortem of each of the animals was performed. The liver; kidney; stomach; heart and lungs were excised. The organs from the groups given plant extract were compared with those of the controls. Body weight of both the treated and the control animals rose progressively as the period increased. The pathological features like oedema and hypertrophy noticed in the tissues are considered to be of no serious consequence as they disappeared after cessation of therapy. There abnormalities may possibly not develop with R. vomitoria used for a short period. It is therefore; considered to be non-hazardous

Analysis of Fallopian Tubes seen in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital; Ikeja; Lagos; Nigeria:- An Histopathological Survey

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to appraise the major diseases of the fallopian tubes and causes of damage in this environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of a 4-year review of consecutive fallopian tube specimens received at the Department of Morbid Anatomy of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH); Ikeja; Lagos; conducted between 1st of May; 2001 and 31st July; 2005. RESULTS: Over the study period; a total of 237 fallopian tubes were studied. The ages of the patients range from 18 to 54 years with the peak incidence in the 21 to 30 years with the median age of 26. 85(46.4) of the specimens received from 183 patients had ages indicated. Ectopic pregnancy is the commonest indication for sending fallopian tubes to the laboratory for investigation in 63.9 of cases. No case of cancer of the fallopian tubes or tuberculous salpingitis was seen in this study. CONCLUSION: Tubal pregnancy is the commonest indication for sending fallopian tubes to the laboratories for analysis in 63.9 of cases. Malignant tumours of the fallopian tubes and tuberculous salpingitis are rare in this environment

The Differential Impact of Various Assessment Parameters on the Medical Students Performance in the Professional Anatomy Examination in a New Medical School / El Impacto Diferencial de Varios Parámetros de Evaluación del Desempeño de Estudiantes de Medicina en el Examen Profesional de Anatomía en una Nueva Escuela de Medicina

There is a dearth of knowledge on the level of agreement between all the various assessment tasks on the same content area, in order to test this hypothesis we adopted the concept of convergent validity and also to isolate area of academic weakness among the students and to readjust the curriculum content to balance the weakness. A blinded cohort retrospective study was carried out on a total of sixty-six third year medical students who had sat for their first professional examination in anatomy in the new medical college of Lagos State University. Using records of their grades in the various assessments parameters- the average end-in course assessment, short essays question (SEQ), multiple-choice questions (MCQ), and practical (Steeple-chase). The mean + S.D. Pearson's correlation with students t-test (p< 0.05 being significant) were analyzed using the computerized SPSS 11 (SPSS inc. Chicago, Illinois) software package. The practical was significantly correlated with overall performance (r = 0.89, p< 0.01); with the student t-value of 6.15 (p< 0.01). Although, the SEQ showed significant correlation to overall performance (r =0.72; p<0.01), the t-value of 0.4 was non-significant, but, within an acceptable range. The practical, MCQ, SEQ and end-incourse showed an overall rank order of relative performance in assessment tasks, therefore indicates that, in general, students performance in the Professional examination was better than in the end-incourse examination and hence, the need to reappraise this pattern and emphasize the role of incourse assessment in the curriculum.

Existe escasez de conocimiento sobre el nivel de concordancia entre todas las varias tareas de evalución sobre los contenidos de una misma área. En orden a evaluar esta hipótesis, adoptamos el concepto de validez convergente y también de área aislada, de falta de solidez académica entre los estudiantes y readecuar el contenido curricular para balancear esa falta de solidez. Se llevó a cabo un estudio retrospectivo al azar sobre un total de 66 alumnos de Medicina de Tercer Año, quienes tuvieron su primer examen profesional de Anatomía en la nueva Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad del Estado de Lagos, Nigeria. Usando registros de sus grados en varios parámetros de evaluación: promedio final de la evaluación del Curso, preguntas cortas de redacción, ítemes de selección múltiple y prácticas. La media + desviación estándar, correlación de Person con el t-test de Sudents (p< 0.05) fueron analizados con el programa SPSS 11 (SPSS inc. Chicago, Illinois). La parte práctica fue significativamente correlacionada con todo el rendimiento (r = 0.89, p< 0.01); con un valor del t-Students de 6.15 (p< 0.01). Aunque las preguntas cortas mostraron correlación significativa para la totalidad de lo hecho (r =0.72; p<0.01), el valor de t de 0,4 no fue significativo, pero estuvo dentro de un rango aceptable. La parte práctica, selección múltiple y preguntas cortas de redacción y final del curso, mostraron un orden de clasificación de relativo desempeño en las tareas de evaluación, lo que indica que, en general, la actividad de los estudiantes en el examen profesional fue mejor que en el examen del curso y de ahí, la necesidad de readecuar este patrón y enfatizar el rol de evaluación dentro del curso en el curriculum.

Clinico-pathological patterns of testicular malignancies in Ilorin, Nigeria--a report of 8 cases.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of testicular cancers has been increasing in many populations over the past decades and concerns have been expressed about the possible decrease in semen quality in the period. It may account for one of the factors responsible for increasing male infertility in Ilorin, Nigeria. OBJECTIVE: To find out the incidence, age distribution clinical presentation, duration before presentation and the occurrence of various Histopathological subtypes of testicular tumours in Ilorin. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: A teaching hospital (University of Ilorin). PATIENTS: Testicular biopsies were done on patients presenting at the hospital with suspected cases of malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive cases of testicular malignancies diagnosed in the department of pathology, university of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, during the period of thirteen years (1990-2003) were included in this study. Relevant clinical details such as age, clinical presentation and side of involvement of the testis were also recorded. The slide preparations of this sample were retrieved and reviewed. RESULT: During the span of thirteen years (1990-2003), testicular cancers accounted for 0.05% of all sample received and 0.14% of the male biopsies. Most of the diagnosed cases were in the first decades of life and are mainly germ cells tumours of which yolk sac tumours are commonest subtypes. CONCLUSION: Incidence of testicular cancers is still low in this environment and may not account for major contributory factors in male infertility in Ilorin.