Home Print this page Email this page Small font sizeDefault font sizeIncrease font size
Users Online: 34899

 

Home About us Editorial board Search Ahead of print Current issue Archives Submit article Instructions Subscribe Advertise Contacts Reader Login
     
Export selected to
Endnote
Reference Manager
Procite
Medlars Format
RefWorks Format
BibTex Format
  Citation statistics : Table of Contents
   2016| July-August  | Volume 57 | Issue 4  
    Online since August 12, 2016

 
 
  Archives   Previous Issue   Next Issue   Most popular articles   Most cited articles
 
Hide all abstracts  Show selected abstracts  Export selected to
  Cited Viewed PDF
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
DNA methylation analysis of secreted frizzled-related protein 2 gene for the early detection of colorectal cancer in fecal DNA
Hadi Babaei, Mohsen Mohammadi, Rasoul Salehi
July-August 2016, 57(4):242-245
DOI:10.4103/0300-1652.188357  PMID:27630389
Background: The early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) with high sensitivity screening is essential for the reduction of cancer-specific mortality. Abnormally methylated genes that are responsible for the pathogenesis of cancers can be used as biomarkers for the detection of CRC. The methylation status of the secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2) gene was evaluated for their use as a marker in the noninvasive detection of CRC. Materials and Methods: Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze the promoter CpG methylation of SFRP2 in the fecal DNA of 25 patients with CRC and 25 individuals exhibiting normal colonoscopy results. Results: Promoter methylation levels of SFRP2 in CRC patients and in healthy controls were 60% and 8%, respectively. Methylation of the SFRP2 promoter in fecal DNA is associated with the presence of colorectal tumors. Conclusion: Hence, the detection of aberrantly methylated DNA in fecal samples may present a promising, noninvasive screening method for CRC.
  14 4,722 32
Postexposure prophylaxis for Lassa fever: Experience from a recent outbreak in Nigeria
Samson E Isa, Attah Okwute, Kelly O Iraoyah, Shehu Y Nathan, Gomerep S Simji, Mark O Okolo, Joseph Anejo-Okopi, Daria Spicola, Daisy E Isa
July-August 2016, 57(4):246-250
DOI:10.4103/0300-1652.188362  PMID:27630390
Background: Secondary transmission of Lassa fever (LF) occurs in the community and in health-care facilities, and is associated with high fatality in Nigeria. We investigated the role of oral ribavirin postexposure prophylaxis (orPEP) in preventing LF among the primary contacts of confirmed cases from December 2015 to March 2016. Materials and Methods: Epidemiological and clinical data of LF contacts were prospectively collected. However, information regarding ribavirin adverse effects (AEs) were collected retrospectively through a telephone interview. High-risk contacts were clinically monitored ΁ orPEP. Results: Thirty-five (94.6%) out of the 37 individuals enrolled in the study were contacts of confirmed LF cases, and friends and family members (54%) constituted the largest group. However, only 29 (83%) individuals were classified as high-risk contacts. Twenty-one (60%) of contacts were prescribed ribavirin with 6 (28.6%) of them reporting AEs. Body weakness (33%) was the most frequent AE, but there was no incidence of treatment discontinuation due to AE. Furthermore, there were no reported cases of LF among all respondents (0%), whether they had orPEP or not. Conclusion: Secondary transmission of LF seems uncommon and the benefit of orPEP is uncertain. Although AEs of ribavirin may not be uncommon, they are rarely serious enough to cause treatment interruption. More emphasis should be on supporting persons looking after LF cases adopt measures that minimize the risks of exposure.
  5 5,438 31
Awareness and knowledge of National School Health Policy and School Health Programme among public secondary school teachers in Ibadan metropolis
Taiwo A Obembe, Kayode O Osungbade, Oluwakemi M Ademokun
July-August 2016, 57(4):217-225
DOI:10.4103/0300-1652.188341  PMID:27630385
Background: The awareness, knowledge, and involvement of teachers in the implementation of School Health Programme (SHP) in secondary schools are essential in ensuring the effectiveness and overall success of the School Health Policy. This study assessed the awareness and knowledge of teachers on SHP in Ibadan metropolis. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using a two-stage sampling technique to select 426 secondary school teachers across all the five Urban Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Ibadan metropolis by balloting. Pretested semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 426 teachers. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and logistics regression tests at 5% level of significance. Results: About one-third of the respondents had heard of National School Health Policy (NSHP); however, few had seen the document. About half of the respondents were aware of the SHP in their schools. Many of the respondents had a good knowledge of SHP. Age and level of education of participants significantly influenced the knowledge of SHP. Above 50 years of age and postgraduate qualification were the significant predictors for the good knowledge of SHP. Conclusions: Awareness of the NSHP was low despite the good knowledge of SHP. This could be due to the tertiary education that most of the respondents had. Concerted efforts of stakeholders are required to intensify the health education awareness campaign to improve teachers' knowledge based on NSHP.
  5 17,019 31
Adult intussusception: An 8 years institutional review
Isaac Assam Udo, Emmanuel K Abudu, Felix Uduma
July-August 2016, 57(4):204-207
DOI:10.4103/0300-1652.188324  PMID:27630382
Background: Intussusception is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in adults. Its diagnosis could be elusive based solely on clinical features because of protean presentation. Supplementary imaging allows for preoperative diagnosis, early institution of definitive management, and a better clinical outcome. Patients and Methods: Records of adults managed for intestinal obstruction by laparotomy in a surgical unit of a tertiary health facility were retrospectively examined. The subgroup having an intraoperative diagnosis of intussusception was extracted and analyzed. Data obtained included age, sex, and primary symptom at presentation. Presence of intestinal perforation, the histology of the lead point of resected tissues, and the final disposition of the patients were documented. Results: Four hundred and three patients underwent surgical management of intestinal obstruction. Eight patients (2%) had an intraoperative diagnosis of intussusception at laparotomy; four males and four females (male: female = 1:1). Abdominal pain was the presentation in 7 (87.5%) and anal protrusion in 1 (12.5%). Four patients (50%) had bowel perforation with peritonitis. Seven of the resected intestines had lead points which were benign. Two patients (25%) died from sepsis. Resection and anastomosis were done for all the patients. Conclusion: Intussusception in adults is uncommon but carries a high morbidity and mortality which can be reduced with a good clinical assessment, appropriate imaging, and early laparotomy.
  4 4,874 31
Utility of a single mid-trimester measurement of plasminogen activator Type 1 and fibronectin to predict preeclampsia in pregnancy
SO Ajibola, TA Adeyemo, BB Afolabi, AS Akanmu
July-August 2016, 57(4):213-216
DOI:10.4103/0300-1652.188337  PMID:27630384
Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is the second most common cause of maternal death after obstetric hemorrhage in Africa, a resource-limited region. This study was designed to examine the potential usefulness of a single screening plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and fibronectin (FN) level for the prediction of PE in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: In a cohort of 180 pregnant women who were normotensive at baseline, venous blood samples were obtained before 20 weeks of gestation for the assay of plasma levels of PAI-1 and FN levels measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay technique. Twenty nonpregnant normotensive women were also evaluated as a control group. Outcomes of gestation were evaluated and correlated with the plasma levels of PAI and FN measured at mid-trimester. Mean plasma values of PAI-1 and FN were also compared between the different outcome groups. Results: Plasma PAI-1 level was significantly higher in the pregnant women (8.68 ± 0.56 ng/ml) than in nonpregnant controls (5.55 ± 0.32 ng/ml) (P = 0.01). However, plasma FN did not show any significant difference in pregnant women (2.60 ± 0.37 μg/ml) and nonpregnant controls (2.60 ± 0.23 μg/ml) (P = 0.9). Mid-trimester mean plasma PAI-1 level measured in women who developed PE (7.08 ± 5.49 ng/ml, n = 12) and gestational hypertension (GH) (9.78 ± 6.2 ng/ml, n = 13) was not significantly different in comparison to normotensive pregnant women (8.78 ± 5.63 ng/ml, n = 153) (P = 0.75). Likewise, the mean FN level in women who developed PE was also not significantly different from nonpreeclamptics; however, the FN level in the pregnant women who developed GH was significantly different from women who remained normotensive throughout pregnancy (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Single mid-trimester assessment of PAI-1 and FN levels in maternal plasma was not found to be useful in predicting PE as an outcome of pregnancy in the study population.
  4 4,581 33
The relationship between malaria parasitemia, malaria preventive measures and average birth weight of babies in a tertiary facility in Owerri, Nigeria
EE Idih, BU Ezem, EA Nzeribe, AO Onyegbule, BC Duru, CC Amajoyi
July-August 2016, 57(4):208-212
DOI:10.4103/0300-1652.188327  PMID:27630383
Background: Despite the global efforts made to eradicate malaria, it continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in both neonates and the parturients. This study was done to determine the relationship between placental parasitemia, average neonatal birth weight and the relationship between the use of malaria preventive measures and the occurrence of placental parasitemia with the aim to improving maternal and neonatal outcome. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done at the labor ward unit of the Federal Medical Center, Owerri, from December 2013 to May 2014. It involved one hundred and eighty primigravidae and baby pairs recruited consecutively. Thick and thin blood films were made from maternal peripheral blood and placenta. The babies were examined and weighed immediately after delivery. Results: Most of the participants had only one dose of intermittent preventive therapy (75%) with statistically significant higher level of fever episodes (P < 0.0001). Forty participants (58.0%) did not use any form of malaria preventive measure in pregnancy (P < 0.0001) and had a significantly higher placental parasitemia when compared with their counterparts. Average birth weight of neonates with placental parasitemia in mothers who used intermittent presumptive therapy (IPT) only (t = 2.22, P = 0.005), and IPT + insecticide-treated net (ITN) (t = 7.91, P ≤ 0.000) was significantly higher than those who did not use any form of malaria prevention in pregnancy (t = 4.69, P ≤ 0.0001). Conclusion: Primigravidae with placental or maternal peripheral parasitemia who failed to use malaria preventive measures delivered babies with reduced average birth weight. A scheme aimed at making ITN readily available, and improving the girl child education is highly recommended.
  3 4,841 32
The effect of deoxyribonucleic acid extraction methods from lymphoid tissue on the purity, content, and amplifying ability
Hossein Ayatollahi, Mohammad Hadi Sadeghian, Mohammad Reza Keramati, Ali Ayatollahi, Arezoo Shajiei, Maryam Sheikhi, Samane Bakhshi
July-August 2016, 57(4):199-203
DOI:10.4103/0300-1652.188321  PMID:27630381
Background: Nowadays, definitive diagnosis of numerous diseases is based on the genetic and molecular findings. Therefore, preparation of fundamental materials for these evaluations is necessary. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the first material for the molecular pathology and genetic analysis, and better results need more pure DNA. Furthermore, higher concentration of achieved DNA causes better results and higher amplifying ability for subsequent steps. We aim to evaluate five DNA extraction methods to compare DNA intimacy including purity, concentration, and amplifying ability with each other. Materials and Methods: The lymphoid tissue DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue through five different methods including phenol-chloroform as the reference method, DNA isolation kit (QIAamp DNA FFPE Tissue Kit, Qiagen, Germany), proteinase K and xylol extraction and heat alkaline plus mineral oil extraction as authorship innovative method. Finally, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR method were assessed to compare each following method consider to DNA purity and its concentration. Results: Among five different applied methods, the highest mean of DNA purity was related to heat alkaline method. Moreover, the highest mean of DNA concentration was related to heat alkaline plus mineral oil. Furthermore, the best result in quantitative PCR was in proteinase K method that had the lowest cycle threshold averages among the other extraction methods. Conclusion: We concluded that our innovative method for DNA extraction (heat alkaline plus mineral oil) achieved high DNA purity and concentration.
  1 4,861 31
Evaluation of sexual dimorphism by discriminant function analysis of toe length (1T-5T) of adult Igbo populace in Nigeria
Stephen A Alabi, Blessing C Didia, Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, Eric O Aigbogun
July-August 2016, 57(4):226-232
DOI:10.4103/0300-1652.188351  PMID:27630386
Background: Sex determination is an important and one of the foremost criteria in establishing the identity of an individual, and this is achieved by investigating various anatomical structures to establish sex discriminatory features. The present study conducted baseline data for the toe with a view of finding discriminatory sex characteristics. Materials and Methods: A total of 420 subjects were studied by direct linear measurements of the toe length (big toe [1T] to the fifth toes [5T]) of both feet using a digital Vernier caliper with accuracy of 0.01 mm. Statistical Package for Social Sciences  (IBM, version 23, Armonk, New York, USA), Levene's ANOVA outcome informed the use of t-tests to compare mean differences. Discriminant function analysis (DFA) was used to evaluate the possibility of sex categorization. The significance level was set at 95%. Results: The mean ± standard deviation values of the right (R) toes for the males were 49.63 ± 4.43 mm (1T), 36.92 ± 5.14 mm (2T), 30.35 ± 4.95 mm (3T), 25.55 ± 3.97 mm (4T) and 22.21 ± 2.94 mm (5T), whereas the female values were 45.73 ± 4.07 mm (1T), 33.31 ± 4.66 mm (2T), 26.63 ± 4.02 mm (3T), 22.89 ± 3.43 mm (4T), and 19.77 ± 2.70 mm (5T). The left male values were 49.16 ± 4.32 mm (1T), 36.82 ± 5.16 mm (2T), 30.88 ± 4.91 mm (3T), 26.13 ± 3.99 mm (4T), and 22.46 ± 3.24 mm (5T), whereas the female values were 45.33 ± 4.05 mm (1T), 33.05 ± 4.70 mm (2T), 27.27 ± 4.29 mm (3T), 23.10 ± 3.36 mm (4T), 19.81 ± 2.59 mm (5T). From the results, males displayed significantly higher mean values than females in all measured parameters (t = 2.405, P = 0.018) with no asymmetry (P > 0.05); although T3 and T4 were larger on the left foot. The DFA model when tested with the present data derived a significant "F" likelihood ratio test (P < 0.001), a Wilks' lambda predictability value of 0.759 having a model accuracy of 69.5% with a better prediction for female (70%) than males (69%). Conclusion: The use of toe length alone may not be effective for sex differentiation; however, it can serve as an adjunct in forensic investigation involving sex identification.
  1 5,233 31
Evaluation of serum level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in patients with congenital heart disease
Noor Mohammad Noori, Maryam Nakhaee Moghaddam, Alireza Teimouri, Iraj Shahramian, Behrooz Keyvani
July-August 2016, 57(4):233-237
DOI:10.4103/0300-1652.188353  PMID:27630387
Background: The objective of the study is to assess the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in patients with congenital heart diseases (CHDs) and control. Patients and Methods: In this case-control study, sixty patients with CHD with ages of 1 month to 15 years and thirty healthy subjects were assessed. All objects measured in height, weight, age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Patients diagnosed by echocardiography and patients' blood samples were 3 ml and taken in the catheterization laboratory through catheter and kept for 60 min at a room with normal temperature and separated serum has been held. All samples in compliance with the cold chain carried out to biochemistry laboratory and finally the levels of serum TNF-α and IL-6 were measured by Elisa Kit. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. Nonparametric tests by considering 95% confidence interval were applied. Results: The mean of age in cyanotic patients was 4.28 ΁ 3.44 years, a cyanotic was 3.12 ΁ 3.87 years and for the control group was 3.30 ΁ 3.61 years. Comparison of TNF-α (Mann-Whitney U-test = 56.62, P < 0.001), IL-6 (Mann-Whitney U-test = 313.5, P < 0.001), right ventricular (RV) pressure (Mann-Whitney U-test = 27, P < 0.001), pulmonary artery (PA) pressure (Mann-Whitney U-test = 618, P = 0.015), and BMI (Mann-Whitney U-test = 214.5, P < 0.001) in the case and control groups resulted in significant differences. To compare TNF-α (Chi-square = 57.82, P < 0.001), IL-6 (Chi-square = 54.70, P < 0.001), RV pressure (Chi-square = 71.35, P < 0.001), PA pressure (Chi-square = 5.92, P = 00.052), oxygen saturation (Chi-square = 74.70, P < 0.001), and BMI (Chi-square = 34.90, P < 0.001) in cyanotic, acyanotic, and control groups resulted that there were significant differences between these three groups except PA pressure. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that in patients with CHD, serum levels of TNF-α increased but IL-6 not changed when compared to control and this increase in necrosis tumoral factor-α would be related with hypoxia and remarkable left to right shunt and caused growth retardation in these patients.
  1 4,480 31
Outcome of radical retropubic prostatectomy at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital
Stephen Odunayo Ikuerowo, Alaba Fredrick Doherty, Muftau Jimoh Bioku, Abimbola Ayodeji Abolarinwa, Adekunle Azeez Adebayo, Steves Olaide Oyeleke, Olufunmilade Akinfolarin Omisanjo
July-August 2016, 57(4):238-241
DOI:10.4103/0300-1652.188356  PMID:27630388
Background: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in Nigeria and most cases present when the disease is already in an advanced stage. Radical prostatectomy for early prostate cancer is therefore not a commonly performed operation by urologists in Nigeria. We have had training and significant experience in radical retropubic prostatectomy. We, therefore, report the outcome of our initial experience. Materials and Methods: We review the record of men with early prostate cancer who had radical retropubic prostatectomy in our institution from 2007 to 2015. Results: There were 34 men who had radical retropubic prostatectomy in the 8-year period of review. The youngest and oldest patients were aged 50 and 71 years, respectively. The mean age was 64.2 years. All the patients were diagnosed following 12-core ultrasound-guided transrectal prostate biopsy for elevated serum prostate specific antigen (PSA). The mean serum PSA was 15.3 (range 8.5-100.3) ng/ml. The disease was pT1, pT2, and pT3 in 6, 20, and 8 patients respectively. General anesthesia was employed in 28 (82.4%) patients and combined epidural and subarachnoid block anesthesia for 6 (17.6%) patients. The total duration of operation was 128-252 min (mean = 160 min). No blood transfusion was given in 5 (14.7%) patients while each of the remaining 29 (85.3%) patients had 2-5 units of blood intra- or post-operatively. There was no perioperative mortality. Complications include operation-induced erectile dysfunction in 12 (35.3%), major urinary incontinence in 1 (2.9%), lymphocele in 2 (5.9%), and reoperation due to anastomotic leak and right ureteric injury in 1 (2.9%). After a median follow-up of 42 months, disease recurrence has occurred in 3 (8.8%) patients 1 (2.9%) of whom has died of diabetic renal failure. Conclusion: Radical prostatectomy can be safely performed in men with early prostate cancer in Nigeria and should be offered to suitable patients.
  1 4,935 31
ERRATUM
Erratum: Serum copper and zinc levels in preeclamptic Nigerian women

July-August 2016, 57(4):251-251
DOI:10.4103/0300-1652.188363  PMID:27630391
  - 3,153 33
  Feedback 
  Subscribe