NIGERIAN TEACHING HOSPITAL

*Oguntona S. A. and Adelowo O O.

Department of Medicine

Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogunstate Nigeria.

E- mail- oguntonasa@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Background- SLE is a multi-systemic inflammatory condition and can present with multiple end organ damage. Early diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic intervention can however delay organ involvementin SLE.

Method- A retrospective study of all the admitted rheumatology cases including SLE over five years was carried out. SLE cases were further studied determining organ(s) that were affected. Relevant literature search was done.

Result– Organ damage was found in 16 out of the 26 SLE patients seen over five years. Multiple organ damage was seen in some patients. The most frequently affected system was the neuropsychiatric system and the least affected was the ocular. Malignancy, diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, and premature gonadal failure were not found to be affected in our patients. The most frequent individual items on the SLICC/ACR damage index were seizure and proteinuria. Two patients with renal lupus are still surviving till date, one was lost to follow up and the other three died due to lack of financial resources to continue with renal replacement therapy.

Conclusion- Neuropsychiatric involvement in SLE is common as demonstrated by earlier studies. This study has also demonstrated that renal involvement is a leading cause of death in SLE patients.

Running Title– Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Organ Involvement, Multiple Organ Damage, Corticosteroid, Immunosuppressives.

PREGNANCY DATING AND ITS CONFIRMATION IN GHANA: LAST MENSTRUAL PERIOD VERSUS ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DATING.

Edmund K. Brakohiapa¹; Jerry Coleman²; Eric K. Ofori³; Tom A. Ndanu⁴ and William K. Antwi ⁵

¹ Radiology Department, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana

² Department of Obstetrics and gynecology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana

^{3, 5} Department of Radiography, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana

⁴University of Ghana Dental School, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

E-mail: ebrakohiapa2000@yahoo.com; jerryc714@yahoo.com; erikof2001@yahoo.co.uk

nutcaresoft@gmail.com; wkantwi@chs.edu.gh

ABSTRACT                                                                                       

The accurate determination of the gestational age is important for proper management of the various stages of the pregnancy since improper management could lead to an increase in maternal and infant mortality. Gestational age could be determined through ultrasonography, symphysio-fundal height (SFH) measurement or the use of last menstrual period (LMP) recall. This study aimed to establish the percentage of Ghanaian women who could accurately determine their gestational age using their LMP. A retrospective study was conducted using data extracted from 2089 ultrasound request forms and the corresponding radiological reports of females who presented for antenatal sonographic evaluation in three diagnostic centres in Accra, Ghana, from January 2007 to December 2008.  Data collected was analyzed using the statistical package for social scientists version 19. The mean, standard deviation and range for the ages of the participants were 28.8 years ± 5.5, and 12 to 53 years respectively. A total of 1269 (60.8 %) of the study population had their gestational age based on LMP within the acceptable clinical range (± 2 weeks of the earliest accurately determined gestational age). The study showed a significant difference (p-value = 0.001) between the LMP and ultrasound based gestational ages. However no significant difference was seen between age groups and the differences in gestational ages (P = 0.300). The study also indicated that there were more (32.3%) negative clinically unacceptable discrepancies than positive discrepancies (6.9 %). The use of ultrasonography for the confirmation of pregnancy and accurate determination of gestational age in the Ghanaian community is imperative for proper management.

Key words: Last Menstrual Period, sonographic dating

THE USE OF CLAYS IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Umudi, E. Q.

Department of Chemistry

College of Education, Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria

E-mail: ese.umudi@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Two Nigerian clays were studied using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and X-ray diffractometer. They were coded OT and BB obtained from Delta State, Nigeria.  Mineralogical analysis revealed the presence of kaolinite in the two clays.  Illite and Quartz in OT, smectite illite, mixed layer and Quartz in BB.  Pebble:Clay ratio of 1:2 was adopted and percolation rate studies showed that BB had lower rate than OT.  One and three flow through methods were adopted.  This was used in treating effluent from the wood factory.  3 flow through gave outstanding performance on the pollution characteristic measured for they were below WHO standard.  This showed that clays have high potentials for pollutants removal.

Keywords: Clays, Pebbles, Fortified, effluent.

AWARENESS OF CERVICAL CANCER AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG WOMEN VISITING FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA

Chinaka Chidinma Christiana and Udeajah Victoria Ndidiamaka

¹Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki Ebonyi State

²Department of Medical Laboratory Ebonyi State Uniersity

E-mail: Vakadujah45@yahoo.com; dinmaceecee@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Background: Cervical cancer is the most common genital tract malignancy among women in developing countries and accounts for about two hundred and fifty thousand deaths yearly most of which occur in the developing countries.  A significant drop in its incidence has been recorded in the developed countries as a result of intensive program of cervical screening.
Objective: To assess the awareness of cervical cancer among Igbo women in Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigerian and determine their uptake of cervical screening services.
Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based descriptive cross-sectional study. Structured questionnaires were administered to female attendees of the antenatal and gynecological clinics of Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Southeast Nigeria over a two-month period (5^th October to 5^th December 2012). Data analysis was by SPSS.  Results: Five hundred questionnaires were given out. Four hundred and fifty were correctly filled (9O %) and analyzed. The mean age of respondents was 36.2 years. 82% of respondents were married. 17.1%% had tertiary education and 44.0% were self employed. All respondents were sexually active and the mean age at first sex was 22+ 4.0SD (14-34). About 73.4% of respondents had their sexual debut before 20years and 60% had multiple sexual partners. 0ver 60% had experienced vaginal discharge. 25.6 % of the respondents were aware of cervical screening and only 11.1 % had ever done the test. It also found that most of those who were aware of screening got their information from hospital sources (52.2%), books/posters (20%) and radio/TV (20%). The major reasons for not doing the test cited by those who were aware of it were ‘no need for it’, lack of knowledge that it could be done locally, and fear and anxiety over a positive result. The most important reasons given for undergoing the tests were the fact that it was part of a general screening programme (39.3%) and doctors request (26.7%). Overall, 62.5% of all the respondents indicated willingness to be screened. Conclusion: The level of awareness of cervical screening is low.
The exposure to conditions that predispose women to cervical cancer was high, and the levels of awareness of cervical cancer and cervical screening uptake were low and these can lead to no significant reduction in the incidence of cervical cancer. A national cervical smear screening policy is advocated, greater public education and the greater use of opportunistic screening by physicians should be vigorously pushed. Continued awareness creation, local provision of cheap and affordable services and poverty alleviation are needed to improve cervical screening uptake with the hope of reducing the incidence of cervical cancer in the long term.