Benefits, disadvantages and challenges of virtual conferencing in the COVID-19 era: Adjusting to the new normal

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has had tremendous effect on the medical and scientific community. Measures instituted to curb the spread of the disease such as physical distancing and ban on large gatherings have significantly altered conferencing activities of medical professional associations. With no end in sight to the pandemic, it is certain that medical professional associations may have to make do with purely virtual or hybrid conferencing for some time to come. The objective of this paper is to highlight the benefits, disadvantages and challenges of virtual conferencing Methods: We searched Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and AJOL databases from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 for publications describing the benefits, disadvantages and challenges of virtual conferencing during the pandemic. This, together with authors' experience formed the resource base for this work. Conclusion: We propose ways the scientific community in Nigeria can maximize the virtual conferencing while the pandemic lasts. We also advocate increased discussion about how to improve the virtual conferencing culture and the development of guidelines for purely virtual or hybrid scientific conferences

Objectif de l'étude: La pandémie de COVID-19 a eu un effet considérable sur la communauté médicale et scientifique. Les mesures instituées pour freiner la propagation de la maladie, telles que l'éloignement physique et l'interdiction des grands rassemblements, ont considérablement modifié les activités de conférence des associations professionnelles médicales. Sans fin en vue de la pandémie, il est certain que les associations professionnelles médicales devront se contenter de conférences purement virtuelles ou hybrides pendant un certain temps encore. L'objectif de cet article est de mettre en évidence les avantages, les inconvénients et les défis de la conférence virtuelle. Méthodes de l'étude : Nous avons effectué des recherches dans les bases de données Pubmed, Embase, Scopus et AJOL du 1er janvier 2021 au 31 décembre 2021 pour trouver des publications décrivant les avantages, les inconvénients et les défis des conférences virtuelles pendant la pandémie. Ceci, combiné à l'expérience des auteurs, a constitué la base de ressources pour ce travail. Conclusion : Nous proposons des moyens pour que la communauté scientifique du Nigéria puisse maximiser les conférences virtuelles pendant la durée de la pandémie. Nous préconisons également une discussion accrue sur la manière d'améliorer la culture des conférences virtuelles et l'élaboration de lignes directrices pour les conférences scientifiques purement virtuelles ou hybrides

The value of testicular biopsy in male infertility : experience with 63 Nigerians

Objectives: The subject of male infertility is large and complex. While testicular biopsy has been condemned in the diagnosis of patients with testicular tumors; it has a well established place in the investigation of the sub-fertile male. This study was conducted to examine the role of testicular biopsy in patients with male infertility seen at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; Ilorin; Nigeria. Patients and Methods: A retrospective histopathological study of slides and request forms of 63 cases of testicular biopsies of patients with male infertility seen over a fourteen year period (1990-2003) was carried out. They were evaluated based on age; type of infertility and histopathological diagnosis. Result: Thirty-one (49.2) patients suffered from primary infertility and 14 (22.2) of secondary infertility; 18 (28.6) were not specified. Testicular atrophy (55.6) was the commonest histopathological diagnosis with the age range of 25 - 34 years as its peak age of occurrence. Normal testicular histology was found in 14.3of cases; maturation arrest in 25.4and hypospermatogenesis in 4.8of cases. Conclusion: The greatest value of testicular biopsy and its clinical correlation lies in its ability to differentiate curable from irremediable cases so that appropriate action can be taken. It should never be undertaken as an isolated investigation but as part of a planned study of sub-fertile male patients

Endometrial Pathology in a Teaching Hospital in North-Central Nigeria - A Histopathological Survey

The study was a 5 year histopathological survey of endometrial biopsies seen at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital ; Ilorin; North Central Nigeria from January 1st 1997 to December 31st 2001. It aimed at identifying the morphological patterns of endometrial disorders; prevalence of these disorders and the histopathological changes associated with the clinical diagnosis in Ilorin; Nigeria. Eight hundred and eighty two slides of cases of endometrial disorders recorded in the register of the Department of Pathology; University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; Ilorin; North Central Nigeria were reviewed. Clinical data on each of the cases was retrieved from request cards. The pathological reports and clinical data were recorded noting the age; clinical history; morphological description of lesions and the histological types. The mean age of the studied group was 28 years. The commonest indication for endometrial sampling was infertility (55.3