bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extensive interstitial emphysema complicating blunt chest injury
Authors: Ekpe EE  , Ikpe MC  
Published: December 2023

We report the case of a 50-year old farmer who sustained multiple injuries during involvement in a road traffic accident. He sustained blunt chest injury with left lower rib fractures, partial pneumothorax in an area of pleural symphysis, extensive interstitial emphysema, and closed fracture of left femoral shaft.Initial presentation was to a general hospital and then a private hospital where he was managed during the first five days of the injuries. Since no specific treatment was given to either the pneumothorax or the interstitial emphysema, the latter continued to progress to a frightening and life-threatening proportion thereby necessitating referral to our centre on the sixth post-injury day.Examination showed a middle aged man that was 'ballooned' from face to legs, in respiratory distress, breathing through an opened mouth, complete and bilateral ptosis due to swollen / ballooned eyelids, and talked with 'nasal voice'. There were extensive subcutaneous crepitus from the face to the legs, positive chest compression tenderness over left lower aspect, hyper resonant percussion note, and diminished intensity breath sound worse over left lower lung zone, and widespread crepitations. The trachea was centrally located. Examination of the left lower limb revealed simple fracture of left femoral shaft.The clinical diagnoses of blunt chest injury with left lower rib fractures and partial left pneumothorax and extensive interstitial emphysema, and closed left femoral fracture were confirmed radiologically. The patient was successfully treated with left closed tube thoracostomy drainage, supplemental oxygen therapy, analgesic and supplementary parenteral nutrition, with complete resolution of interstitial emphysema by the eighth post-intubation day.
Determination of the semen quality in male partners of infertile couples in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano: A three year review
Authors: Ibrahim SA  , Muhammad Z  
Published: December 2023

ContextMale infertility contributes a lot to the causes of infertility among couples attending Gynaecology clinics in our environment.
Objectives:To determine semen quality in male partners of infertile couples attending Gynaecology Clinic in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, and to describe the pattern of abnormality found among the semen samples.
Methodology:Reports of semen samples submitted to the andrology laboratory of AKTH Kano, over a period of three years, were analysed
Results:A total of 558 semen samples were analysed for semen quality out of 562 samples over the three-year period.Two hundred and eleven (37.8%) had normal semen quality or parameters, while 347 (62.2%) had abnormal semen quality or parameters. The abnormal semen parameters consisted of low sperm volume (25.8%), prolonged liquefaction time (27.2%), azoospermia (14.2%), oligozoospermia (39.4%), teratozoospermia (23.7%), asthenozoospermia (61.6%) and the combineddefect of Oligo-Asthenozoospermia (12.8%),Oligo-teratozoospermia (6.0%), Asthenozo-teratozoospermia (5.2%), oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (11.6%).
Conclusion:The study showed that abnormal semen parameters are a major contributor of male factor infertility in our environment. Efforts geared towards preventing the contributory factors will go a long way in alleviating theagony of infertile couples due to male factors.
Commentary on the burden of chronic kidney disease
Authors: Unadike B  
Published: December 2023

The kidneys are two bean shaped organs situated in the abdomen that is responsible for the excretion of metabolic waste, production of hormones, and metabolism and excretion of drugs and toxins amongst others. Chronic renal failure is said to occur when there isan irreversible deterioration of kidney function, which develops over a period of years. This ultimately leads to end-stage renal failure at which stage kidney function must be replaced artificially by either renal dialysis or renal transplantation in order to avert death.
The incidence and prevalence of kidney failure has been on the increase in recent times. The prevalence increased from 10% in 1988-1994 to 13.1% in 1999-2004. Kidney failure is also the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. In Nigeria, the data from various centres indicate an increasing incidence of kidney diseases in the population. The increase in kidney failure is partly explained by the rising incidence and prevalence of Diabetes and hypertension, the two leading causes of kidney failure. Other causes of kidney failure include glomerular disease, analgesic nephropathy, obstructive uropathy, chronic pyelonephritis, sickle cell disease amongst others.
Pattern of paediatric neurological emergencies in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State of Nigeria
Authors: Akpan MU  , Utuk EE  
Published: December 2023

Background: Neurological problems are responsible for a significant number of emergencies in children. Knowledge of its pattern is important for effective preventive strategies, healthcare planning and delivery.Aim: To determine the pattern of paediatric neurological emergencies seen in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo.Method: Health information records of children with paediatric neurological problems who presented in the Children's Emergency Unit (CHEU) of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) over a two year period between January 2007 and December 2008 were retrieved. Data obtained were age, gender, diagnosis made, duration of hospitalisation and outcome.Results: Of the one thousand eight hundred and thirty three (1833) patients seen during the study period, one hundred and ninety six (196) had neurological problems giving a prevalence rate of 10.7%. Majority (78.6%) of the patients were under the age of five years. Males were more affected with a male to female ratio of 1:0.75. The three commonest neurological emergencies encountered were febrile convulsion (42.3%), bacterial meningitis (21.9%) and cerebral malaria (17.9%). Duration of hospitalization ranged from one to thirty days with a mean of 4.5days. Mortality rate of 6.1% was recorded with cerebral malaria and bacterial meningitis responsible for 83.3% of the deaths.Conclusion: Febrile convulsion is the commonest neurological emergency recorded in this study. Since malaria is the commonest cause of febrile convulsion in Nigerian children, its prevention and control could be achieved by provision and proper utilisation of insecticide treated nets as well as early diagnosis and treatment.
Myths and misconceptions as barriers to uptake of immunization services in Calabar, Cross River State of Nigeria
Authors: Etokidem AJ  , Ndifon W  , Ogaji D  , Ebenso B  , Nsan E  , Ikpeme B  
Published: December 2023

Context: Nigeria is presently one of only three countries in the world that are polio endemic. The immunization program in Nigeria has been marred by several factors including myths and misconceptions. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify myths and misconceptions that affect utilization of childhood immunization services in Calabar, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Focus group discussion sessions were held among caregivers in Calabar, Nigeria. Each group consisted of 12 women of reproductive age. Data obtained from each session were transcribed and analyzed using the content analysis approach.Results: Participants had poor knowledge of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). Some mentioned non-VPDs as if they were VPDs. Some believed that “so called” VPDs are caused by mermaid spirits, witches and wizards. The solution to VPDs proffered by participants was sacrificing in the river by midnight. Some caregivers felt that multiple doses of vaccines could harm the children. With regard to polio, one caregiver said that “Polio is due to mammy water (water mermaid). The solution is not immunization. The solution is to sacrifice to the mermaid by 12 midnight in any river close to where the child was born, on the night of the child's birth. Once this is done, the child can never never have polio.”Conclusion: Myths and misconceptions regarding immunization are rife in most Nigerian communities. There is need to debunk them through health education in order to ensure success of the country's immunization program.
Hand washing practices at critical times among mothers in selected health facilities in Akwa Ibom State
Authors: Ekanem AM  , Johnson OE  
Published: December 2023

Background: Poor hygiene practices, unsafe water supply and inadequate sanitation are important causes of diarrhoeal disease, one of the biggest killers of children in developing countries. Hand washing with soap and water, a simple act notably ignored, is known to significantly reduce diarrhoea risk by almost half. This study assessed the practices of hand washing with soap at critical times and the determinants of good hand washing practices among caregivers of under-five children in selected health facilities in Uyo.
Materials and Methods- A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out among mothers and caregivers of under-five children in two selected primary health facilities in two local government areas in Uyo senatorial district of Akwa Ibom State who consecutively presented their babies for immunization. Data was collected using interviewer and self administered questionnaire on hand washing at critical times and type of hand washing practiced by mothers and analysed with SPSS version 17.0
Results: Two hundred and nineteen mothers /care givers participated in the study with a mean age of 27.9 + 5.4 years. All mothers had some form of formal education and majority (72.6%) were delivered of their babies in an orthodox setting. Sixty one point two percent, 47.0% and 84.9% always washed their hands before preparing food, before feeding child and after defecation respectively. Also, 25.6% and 51.6% always washed their hands before breastfeeding child and after cleaning up a child who defecates respectively .Sixty five (29.7%) were graded as having good hand washing practice,102 (46.6%) had fair hand washing practice while fifty two (23.7%) had poor hand washing practice. Good hand washing practice was significantly associated with delivery setting (p=0.008), availability of water source in their residence (p=0.000) and the point of receiving immunization for their babies (p=0.000).
CONCLUSSION: Health workers should intensify health education messages in and outside health facilities on the benefits of good hand washing practice among mothers. The provision of water to every home, a factor that promotes good hand washing should be a priority of government if the task of reducing child mortality is ever to be achieved.
Hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury secondary to cardiac arrest from spinal anaesthesia: A case report
Authors: Edubio MN  , Eyo CS  
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND: Hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury is usually due to cardiac arrest or severe hypotension. The clinical manifestation and outcome will depend on the severity of the initial insult, the promptness and effectiveness of the resuscitation, and the post resuscitation management in the intensive care unit.OBJECTIVE: To highlight the need for vigilance and preparedness in every case of spinal anaesthesia.CASE REPORT: Patient was a 32years old housewife who was booked for emergency lower segment caesarean section on account of transverse lie in labour at term. She had no co-morbidities. A subarachnoid block was established with a 25G Quinke needle through L3 – L4 intervertebral space using 2ml of 0.5% heavy bupivacaine, after preloading, she was then wedged in a left lateral tilt. Five minutes after this procedure, and before the commencement of surgery, the patient had a cardiac arrest. She was resuscitated, intubated, ventilated, and delivered of a live asphyxiated baby. She was then transferred to the intensive care unit, where she eventually made a full recovery.
CONCLUSION: While hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury is not commonly associated with spinal anaesthesia, vigilance, and prompt and aggressive management is key to a favourable outcome.
Medication adherence in schizophrenia: The role of family supervision, dosage frequency and medication knowledge
Authors: Jombo HE  , Abasiubong F  
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND: Non adherence to antipsychotic medications in patients with schizophrenia leads to frequent relapses, poor treatment outcome, reduced quality of life and significant increases in healthcare cost in a resource poor country and a healthcare system already overburdened by infectious illnesses and other diseases. This study verified the adherence of people with schizophrenia and compared among adherent and non-adherent patients the impact of supervised treatment, regimen complexity and patients' understanding of medication regimen.Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of poor treatment adherence to anti-psychotic medications and to explore its association with these potentially modifiable factors.Method: This study is a cross sectional study of outpatients with schizophrenia in a tertiary healthcare facility in southeast Nigeria (n=150). The participants were aged 18 years and above, with illness duration of at least one year who have been on oral antipsychotic medications were selected using systematic sampling. They were assessed for socio-demographic details, dosage frequency, understanding of treatment regimen and availability of treatment supervision.Results: The prevalence of treatment non-adherence was 52%. The factor most significantly associated with adherence was availability of treatment supervision (OR 0.055, 95%CI= 0.021-0.142 p-value <0.001). Other significant variables on univariate analysis include marital status (x2=5.035,df=1,p=0.03), number of tablets taken per day (x2=10.667,df=1,p=0.01) and patients' living arrangement (x2=4.287,df=1,p=0.03). The non-adherent patients were more likely to be living alone, less likely to be married, less likely to have supervised treatment and also less likely to be employed. Conclusion: Adherence to antipsychotic medications among patients with schizophrenia is suboptimal. Active intervention strategies should take these factors into consideration while implementing programmes to improve adherence behaviour among out-patients with schizophrenia.
Biological relationship between body weight and blood pressure – A one year prospective study of patient in oral diagnosis and radiology clinic, University Of Benin Teaching Hospital
Authors: Madukwe IU  
Published: December 2023

Background: Overweight and high blood pressure are topical and challenging issues in healthcare but less stressed in dental care.Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between body weight and blood pressure in the patients attending dental clinic.
Methodology: This study was a one year prospective study of patients attending dental clinic between 2011-2012. African average adult weights (60.7kg) was used as baseline, above which constitutes overweight, while two times measurement and two times visit of physician classification 140/90mmHg was used as basis for blood pressure status.Result: A total of 4756 patients were seen .50 %( 2378) were overweight and 2.6 %( 124) were hypertensive with weight range of (91-110kg). Grand average blood pressure of patients weighing 101-110kg was 139.67/91.43mmHg.
Conclusion: We therefore conclude that blood pressure check is a necessity especially in overweight patients requiring dental procedures.
Biological profile of oral health subscribers in both tertiary and secondary healthcare centres: A postmorterm analysis and policy implication
Authors: Madukwe IU  
Published: December 2023

Oral health and dentistry in Africa have been afflicted by the problems characterizing the world’s developing regions, such as poverty, malnutrition, high incidence of infectious diseases and child mortality, lack of oral health policy, and inadequate national budget for oral health. The retrospective study period of 10 years, in both centres revealed 72,818 subscribers, of which 54.23% were from tertiary health centre (UBTH). Female subscribers were dominant in both centres; 54.89% (UBTH) and 56.06% (Central Hospital, Benin City), with the means and the analysis of variable between means and within means (ANOVA), with an F-test, one tail probability of P>0.05. We conclude that a well articulated strategy and policy on increased oral health subscription in our communities is most desirable. Integration of oral health into national and community health programs is recommended.
Anatomical crown-root-ratio: A proxy to root length determination in rural endodontic practice
Authors: Madukwe IU  
Published: December 2023

Background: Power supply has become increasingly erratic. In the rural communities it may be completely lacking, making radiography impossible. Tooth multiplication factor is a viable option to periapical radiographs in endodontic treatment.Methodology: A total of 120 upper central permanent incisor teeth were selected from 2,765 extracted teeth used for teaching of oral biology to dental students. These teeth were collected over 10-year period. The permanent central incisors were sorted using size, shape, colour and specific central incisor indices as parameter. Tooth location to the left or right was not of prime importance.Anatomical root-crown-ratio was determined using calibrated card board paper, simple ruler and Vernier calipers. One hundred and twenty upper permanent central incisors were randomly divided into six groups (A to F) before measurement of crown and root lengths.Result: Crown-root-ratio was 1:1.375. Every millimeter of crown is equal to1.375mm of root. Where (x) is the crown length. Therefore an anatomical crown length of 10mm will have an endodontic root length of 13.75mm given a total canal length of 23.75mm which is in tandem with reported average maxillary central incisors average canal length of 22mm – 23.8mm
Conclusion: Tooth multiplication factor is recommended for trial especially in this power situation, especially worse in rural communities
Assessment of the attitude of public health workers in Calabar, Cross River State of Nigeria towards people living with HIV/AIDS using the aids attitude scale
Authors: Etokidem AJ  , Oparah S  , Asibong U  , Ndifon W  , Nsan E  
Published: December 2023

Context: According to the UNAIDS, Nigeria has the second heaviest burden of HIV/AIDS in Africa, with 3,459,363 people now living with the condition. Cross River State currently has HIV prevalence of 7.1%, almost double the national prevalence of 4.1%. One of the greatest challenges militating against HIV/AIDS control is stigma and discrimination. When exhibited by health care providers, stigma and discrimination can deter people living with HIV/AIDS from utilising HIV/AIDS care and services.
Objective: To assess the attitude of healthcare providers towards people living with HIV/AIDS.Materials and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among 194 public health workers in Calabar, Cross River State of Nigeria, using a semi-structured questionnaire with a 15- point AIDS Attitude Scale. Data collected from the study were analyzed using SPSS Software.
Results: Majority of respondents, 58.8%, agreed that despite all they know concerning how HIV is transmitted, they are still afraid of contacting it while 61.4% indicated that HIV/AIDS has made their jobs a high risk occupation. Nearly 83% of respondents indicated that they don't find it hard to be sympathetic to HIV/AIDS patients and 66% indicated that they would not feel resentful if AIDS patients accounted for a significant part of their caseload.
Conclusion: There was evidence of stigmatizing and discriminatory attitude among the respondents that need to be addressed. There is need for further attitudinal orientation and re-orientation and health education of health-workers so as to remove any vestiges of stigmatizing attitude and ensure quality health care for PLWHAs.
A Study on the Assessment of Nutritional Status among Children Using Anthropometric Measurements
Authors: Kumar Amit , Venkat Gopal K , Prince K , Srilakshmi P , Prathana S , Manita G 
Published: December 2023

Aim: To assess the nutritional status of children aged 5-12 years using anthropometric measurements.
Materials and methods: This prospective study was carried out among 200 children (100 males, 100 females) between 5 to 12 years of age in a rural village of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. Anthropometric measurements were observed and data were collected for age, gender, height and weight. In this study, Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) guidelines was used to categorize the severity of malnutrition, stunting status and wasting status.
Results: Majority of the subjects were moderately malnourished with Grade-II (15%) followed by mildly malnourished with Grade-I (13.5%). Majority of the subjects were having mild stunting (22%) followed by severe stunting (15.5%). Majority of the subjects were having mild wasting (15%) followed by moderate wasting (13.5%) in the aspect of wasting status.
Conclusion: In this study, malnutrition was found to be prevalent in 33% of subject as per IAP classification. Both male and female children were found to be almost equally susceptible to malnutrition. Anthropometric measurements can be a vital tool in identifying nutritional status at population level more accurately. Growth assessment best defines the health and nutritional status of children as health and nutrition inconveniency directly hinders child growth. It is crucial that the nation should initiate timely measures to overcome malnutrition crisis by the improving nutritional status of its citizens which is imperative for a nation in its road to development.
Von Willebrand Disease
Authors: Mylapalli Hima Bindu 
Published: December 2023

Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) is a disorder of blood in which the proper clotting of the blood does not occur. Von Willebrand Factor (VMF) is an important multimeric glycoprotein of the blood that helps to stop the bleeding. When the function of this von Willebrand factor is impaired we can observe this Von Willebrand Disease. Usually, the VWF in the blood attaches to small blood cells called platelets when a person is injured and starts to bleed. In order to stop bleeding at the site of injury, this VWF helps the platelets stick together to form a clot by acting like a glue. In case of the patients with Von Willebrand Disease it is very difficult to stop the bleeding and is often life threatening. In this review, the symptoms, diagnosis and the treatment strategies were discussed. Health care professionals expertise in the haemostasis are required in the clinical scenario for better management of this disease. As it is an inherited disease, special care must be taken in evaluating the family history during the diagnosis and extensive research is still required for providing the better management and treatment.