Recent Articles

In the pre-anesthesia era, the anguish of planned surgical maneuver was dreadful and the experience of actual procedure “utterly speechless torture”. Although, the concept of pain relief and even total insensibility was not unfamiliar to medical profession, some of the “Big Giants in Medicine” believed “knife and pain as inseparable” and the efforts to relieve or prevent pain “in vain”. In such a situation the anesthesia,one of the greatest boons of science for mankind, “burst like a revolution on medical profession”. Despite hostility from religious sect, professional colleagues and civil societies the pioneers in discovery of anesthesia stood firm, unshaken by the negative criticism. Although the fate of the active contestant of “Ether Controversy” was mournful,their untiring and dedicated struggle to relieve the sufferings of mankind can never be underscored. Renowned Arab surgeon Ibn al Quff (1232-1286 AD) was the first to suggest anesthesia as independent speciality. However, it took almost 700 years for his dream to come true.

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is observed during the first week of life in approximately 60% of term infants and 80% of preterm infants. The aim of this study is to evaluate the predictive value of cord blood bilirubin and albumin in identifying neonates for subsequent hyperbilirubinemia. Cord blood samples (3ml) were collected from all newborns that complied with the protocol inclusion criteria. The samples were sent for the assaying of total, unconjugated, conjugated bilirubin, albumin levels and baby’s blood group and rhesus factor.

This study investigated price transmission and signals of the three major urban cowpea markets and their respective adjunct rural market across the zones and value chain in Niger state of Nigeria using monthly time series data spanning from January 2003 to December 2016. The selected urban markets were Bida, Minna and Kontagora, and their adjunct markets were Lafene, Zungeru and Manigi, respectively.

The records of 1198 crossbred cattle sired by 68 bulls were analyzed to estimate breeding values of sires using animal model Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML), best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP), least squares methods (LSM) and simple daughter average ( D ) sire evaluation methods. The error variance of breeding values of sires were estimated and used in computing the relative efficiency of different sire evaluation methods. In the present study the least squares methods (LSM) have the lower error variance for Age at First Calving (AFC), First lactation milk yield (FLMY) and Lifetime lactation length (LTLL), while (BLUP) methods have the lower error variance for First lactation period (FLP), First dry period (FDP), First calving interval (FCI), First service period (FSP) and Lifetime milk yield (TLMY) as compared to other methods and accordingly, it was adjudged the most efficient sire evaluation method. In the present study, the higher value of coefficient of variation showing, there was very large variation in the herd for most of the traits under study. It indicated that the BLUP method is the best over the other three methods because estimated value of relative efficiency by BLUP method had smaller values than that of the other three methods. On the basis of the error variances of breeding values of sires the BLUP method was found most efficient sire evaluation method.

In this study, it was aimed to assess pomegranate (punica granatum L.) and grape (vitis vinifera L.) seed oil by comparing them physically and chemically. The fat output of the pomegranate (punica granatum L.) and grape (vitis vinifera L.) seeds was determined by the standard method of soxhlet extraction.

Attribution of etiology for disease syndromes is critical to guide appropriate public health interventions. Partial latent class analysis model (pLCM) methods have recently been developed to address this area of research; however, model parameters, assumptions, and performance are not well understood for the general etiology problem.

A 7 year old male child presented with recurrent forward falls, with a non-healing forehead wound. The falls were associated with brief period of unresponsiveness and eye blinking. Such episodes were 15-20 in number per day. Earlier treatment with carbamazepine only increased the number of falls. Imaging and electroencephalographic findings were suggestive of Doose Syndrome.

The selection of a surgical approach for the treatment of tibia plateau fractures is an important decision. Approximately 7% of all tibia plateau fractures affect the posterolateral corner. Displaced posterolateral tibia plateau fractures require anatomic articular reduction and buttress plate fixation on the posterior aspect. These aims are difficult to reach through a lateral or anterolateral approach. The standard posterolateral approach with fibula osteotomy and release of the posterolateral corner is a traumatic procedure, which includes the risk of fragment denudation. Isolated posterior approaches do not allow sufficient visual control of fracture reduction, especially if the fracture is complex. Therefore, the aim of this case report was to present a surgical approach for posterolateral tibial plateau fractures that both protects the soft tissue and allows for good visual control of fracture reduction. The approach involves a lateral arthrotomy for visualizing the joint surface and a posterolateral approach for the fracture reduction and plate fixation, which are both achieved through one posterolateral skin incision. Using this approach, we achieved reduction of the articular surface and stable fixation in patients at the final follow-up visit. No complications and no loss of reduction were observed. Additionally, the new posterolateral approach permits direct visual exposure and facilitates the application of a buttress plate. This approach does not require fibular osteotomy, and fragments of the posterolateral corner do not have to be detached from the soft tissue network.

Proximal humeral fractures account for approximately 5% of fractures seen in the emergency department. Despite this relatively high incidence only 15% of these fractures are displaced with an even smaller proportion being severely displaced enough to cause an axillary artery injury. We report a case of an elderly female patient who slipped and fell at home. She presented to our unit complaining of left shoulder pain and an inability to feel or move the involved limb. Imaging studies confirmed the presence of a severely displaced fracture of the proximal humerus and occlusion of the axillary artery. She was taken for open reduction and internal fixation of the proximal humerus followed by immediate axillary artery endovascular stenting.

The article provides some useful insights on bandage cloths as pointed out by some significant researches. Some work has been focused on medical bandages. In the construction of bandages, cotton, bamboo and cotton/bamboo have been selected. In order to enhance the functional properties finish has been given that include antimicrobial using triclosan, vitamin E and aloe vera. The woven bandages have been tested for antimicrobial activity, comfort and aesthetic property.

The study of the access to and utilisation of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) services among secondary school adolescents in, Mityana district was carried out in various schools in Ssekanyonyi sub-county. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of the ASRH burden, assess the utilisation of ASRH services in these schools and identify drivers/barriers to the utilisation of ASRH services among adolescents in secondary schools in Mityana district.

A search was performed through electronic databases; PubMed, EMBASE searched via ScienceDirect and Cochrane Library. Reference lists were limited to English papers ranging from 2012 to 2018. Eligibility criteria were defined by considering the (PICOS) question patients who received OMIs for orthodontic anchorage. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were performed independently by two authors.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder is rarely reported, comprises less than 1% of all gall bladder cancer and portends a worse prognosis than the more common adenocarcinoma. We report a 80-year-old female who presented with acute onset epigastric pain. She was operated on based on a presumptive diagnosis of acute on top of chronic cholecystitis with cholelithiasis according to clinical and ultrasonographic findings. Histopathological examination of the thickened wall of the gallbladder revealed well to moderately differentiated keratinized squamous cell carcinoma invading full wall thickness and infiltrating the liver. Further examinations revealed no other primary site for the tumour. Gallbladder cancer should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis in elderly patients presenting with cholecystitis.

Finding an environmental-friend and an affordable method to remove contaminated soils from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is now an attractive field for researchers. PAHs are slightly soluble, thus hardly dissolve in organic compounds, and also biological and chemical degradation processes are not effective to remove them, and the process of extracting these pollutants from soil is a complex process. Super-critical fluid extraction is an innovative process in the field of contaminated soil treatment. Extraction with super-critical fluid is a simple and rapid extraction process which uses supercritical fluids as solvents. This method addresses extraction methods using supercritical and subcritical fluid. The results showed that the supercritical fluid process is very suitable to remove the pollutants such as PHCs, PAHs, PCBs, dioxins, Furans, phenols, Chlorophenols, insecticides, metals and radioactive substances. The supercritical fluid extraction using CO2 also has the ability to effectively eliminate organic and inorganic compounds present in different contaminated soils. Moreover, this method is more economical for polluted soil treatment compared to other available methods. On the other hand, using this method that uses water is environment-friendly and has lower cost and a higher safety level. Research has also shown that pressurized hot water extraction (SWE) is a better way to extract PAHs. In this method, the extraction process can be improved by combining the SWE process with the oxidation process by adding oxidants such as air, oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, etc.

Climate change is the statistical distribution changes of weather patterns when that change lasts for a long period. This paper aims to review economic wide effect of climate change on transportation assets. Climate change economically affects transportation by increasing maintenance, operation, rehabilitation, and repairmen costs of transportation infrastructure. Climate changes can also increase the cost of new transportation infrastructure due to higher climate adaptable design standards. It also accelerates infrastructure replacement costs. In addition to damage to transportation infrastructures, climate change can also indirectly cause loss of infrastructure service and activity disruption. Climate change also causes bring down travel times, higher cost choice required to address operational needs and accumulating yield for shipment when transport courses allow.

The effect of alcohol consumption on overall cancer incidence is not clear. The aim of the paper is to estimate the impact of alcohol consumption on risk distribution of the 20 most common cancer types among men and women in the Western world. A meta-analysis of relative risks for the 20 most common cancer types potentially associated with alcohol consumption in the Western world was conducted based on the most recent cancer specific meta-analyses. Cancer risks were compared between men and women applying a sigmoidal dose response model. Drinking 2.5-14.9 g alcohol/day was associated with a small decrease in overall cancer incidence: 0.977 for men and 0.974 for women; followed by a small increase in the 15-29.9 g/day category: 1.029 for men and 1.077 for women. Further increases were observed in the 30-60 g/day category indicating a 5 and 10% increase in overall cancer risk for men and women, respectively. Women appeared to be more sensitive: the alcohol consumption level to acquire overall risk increase is 22 g/day for women and 46 g/day for men.

A 14 day broiler chickens feeding trial was conducted to determine bio-availability and relative biological values (RBV) of phosphorus in raw and acidulated local rock phosphates (RPs) as potential replacements for imported and more expensive di-calcium phosphate (DCP). Treatments included Raw, Sulphuric acid and Phosphoric acid acidulated Sinda and Chilembwe RPs. Bio-availability was assessed based on feed intake, body weight gains, feed conversion ratios, phosphorus retention and mineralization of tibia bones and blood serum. RBVs were calculated on the same parameters using DCP as a reference standard. Phosphorus contents in local RPs were significantly (P ≥ 0.05) lower than in DCP, but acidulating RPs with Phosphoric acid significantly increased phosphorus, but reduced calcium contents. Other minerals were comparable with what was in DCP. Acidulating RPs significantly (P ≥ 0.05) increased body weight gains and feed conversion ratios, but not feed intake. Phosphorus retentions, weights and ash contents of tibia bones were significantly (P ≥ 0.05) lower in chickens fed diets based on raw than that of those fed diets based on acidulated RPs and DCP; an indication that acidulating the RPs improved phosphorus bio-availability in broiler chickens. There were however; no statistical differences (P ≥ 0.05) among treatments in calcium and phosphorus contents in both tibia bones and blood serum.

Synthetic marijuana compounds are more potent than ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC) and are known to produce a wide variety of clinical symptoms including cardiac toxicity, seizures, and death. Erratic driving by a 45 y/o male was witnessed in the fall of 2017 and roadside evaluation of the driver by the responding law enforcement officer concluded that the driver was intoxicated. Comprehensive analysis of the cigarettes by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detected the synthetic cannabinoid 5-fluoro-ADB (5F-ADB or 5F-MDMB-PINACA). Validated forensic liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods were used to detect the 5-fluoro ADB metabolite 7 (26.37 ng/mL) in the driver’s blood sample. No other drugs were detected. This case report is one of the first to conclusively show that designer synthetic cannabinoids, commonly referred to as “K2” and “Spice”, can significantly impair driving at relatively low concentrations.

MicroscopyStevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) is a disease continuum of potentially life threatening, severe allergic drug reactions which result in cellular apoptosis in the skin, mucous membranes, and ocular surface. The exact pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to this apoptosis is unclear but genetic predisposition and abnormal immune regulations play a role.