Menstrual hygiene management in public high schools in Ghana

in the ten (10) regions of Ghana. The findings showed that most girls in Public Senior High Schools in Ghana had prior knowledge about menstruation from their mothers and sisters prior to menarche. It was revealed that majority of the girls mentioned hormones as the cause of menstruation, whilst others mentioned the uterus, bladder, vagina, and other parts of the female reproductive system. A few of them had no idea what causes menstruation. The findings again revealed that most girls use sanitary pads, while some use other materials during menstruation. Less than half of the sample of girls in this study were able to change their pads twice daily or more. About half of the girls cleansed their genital parts only when bathing during menstruation using soup and water mostly. Half of the schools used public tap/standpipe as their main source of water and the rest used other sources of water. Also, most schools have toilet facilities. Some useful recommendations are proffered with the aim of improving MHM in public high schools in Ghana

Endocrine and growth disorders in children with haemoglobin-ss

BACKGROUND Suboptimal growth and certain metabolic disorders are commonly presented by children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). SCD is an autosomal recessive genetic condition common in regions with intense malaria prevalence. The cycles of de-oxygenation and oxygenation of red blood cells producing repeated sickling and unsickling, leading to red cell damage is a concern. There was need to establish the cause of common triggers for Vaso-Occlusive crises which include dehydration, infections, extreme temperature and emotional stress. Recurrent painful episodes, several physical and biochemical disorders including suboptimal growth, low immunity, anemia and a variety of serious organ system complications that cause life-long disabilities and/or early death in HbSS patients was a challenge. The highest frequencies (3 to 4% of populations) of Homozygous Sickle Cell disease occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. METHODOLOGY Twenty eight children aged 4-10 years with Hemoglobin-SS (HbSS) and Vaso-Occlusive crisis attending Children Emergency Clinic at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital and another 30 healthy sex and age matched children with HbAA (controls) participated in this study. Plasma levels of Growth Hormone(GH), cortisol, prolactin, Total Thyroxin(TT4), Total Triiodotyronine(TT3), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone(TSH) and insulin were determined in all respondents using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay methods. RESULTS The weight, height and BMI decreased significantly (p<0.05) in HbSS children compared with the controls. Plasma levels of GH, cortisol, TT3 and TT4 increased significantly (p<0.05) in HbSS-children compared with controls. Plasma levels of prolactin, TSH and insulin did not show significant (p>0.05) changes in the HbSS children compared with the controls. There was a significant (r=0.46, p=0.04) positive correlation between cortisol and GH in the children with HbSS. A negative correlation (r=-0.45, p=0.045) existed between TT4 and weight of HbSSchildren. CONCLUSION The lower levels of height, weight and BMI despite increased plasma level of GH could suggest peripheral tissue resistance and/or GH-receptor deficiency in HbSS children. Elevated cortisol levels and the positive correlation between cortisol and GH could suggest a link between metabolic stress and GH secretion in HbSS Children

Traumatic brain injury associated with hyponatremia

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a one of the commonest injuries treated at the Neurosurgery Department. The incidence rate is approximately 3% in the general population and the mortality rate is about 30% of all injury deaths. Hyponatremia leads to high morbidity and/or mortality in TBI patients. Our study discusses the epidemiology of TBI associated with hyponatremia. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 80 patients with TBI between February 2017 and November 2018 was performed. The relationship between the incidence of hyponatremia in TBI patients and age, sex, GCS, type, severity of injury and whether the patient was submitted to surgery or not. Results: Out of 80 TBI patients recruited for the study, 25 of them suffered from hyponatremia. Hyponatremia following TBI wasn't related to age, sex but it was related to the type of injury, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤ 8, surgical history. TBI with hyponatremia usually had longer stay in the hospital and bad outcome. Conclusions: Sever TBI patients (GCS score ≤ 8), intracranial hemorrhage and/or skull base fracture are susceptible to developing hyponatremia and require additional treatment aiming to normalization of serum sodium levels to prevent deterioration of their condition. Abbreviations: ANP, Atrial natriuretic peptide; CSWS, Cerebral salt wasting syndrome; SIADH, Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone; TBI, Traumatic brain injury

Donnees du suivi biologique d'un groupe de footballeurs camerounais de la Ligue MTN Elite One

Objectif: Cette etude avait pour but de determiner les profils hematologiques; biochimiques et hormonaux d'un groupe de footballeurs jouant dans le championnat d'elite professionnel camerounais. Resultats: Les resultats des parametres hematologiques ont montre des diminutions significatives de la concentration en hemoglobine et en hematocrite (p0;05) pour les memes periodes (Mars-Mai et Mars-Juillet). Les analyses biochimiques ont montre une diminution significative (p0;05) du magnesium et du potassium pendant les trois periodes de prelevement. Entre les mois de Mars et Mai; les concentrations de l'acide urique et de la glycemie ont varie significativement pendant la periode de Mai a Juillet. Les triglycerides ont augmente pendant la meme periode tandis que le HDL cholesterol a diminue. Les hormones (testosterone; cortisol; epitestosterone et triiodo-tyhronine) ont varie differemment au cours du temps.Conclusion : Ces resultats montrent l'importance des parametres biologiques dans le suivi medical des footballeurs camerounais

Assessment of Inhalation Technique among Asthmatic Children and their Carers at the Kenyatta National Hospital; Kenya

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correctness of use of pressurised metered-dose inhalers and spacer devices and to determine the common errors in the inhalation technique and factors associated with incorrect technique. The descriptive cross-sectional survey took place in the Kenyatta National Hospital; Nairobi; Kenya. Eighty-two asthmatic children aged 6 months to 12 years (median age 45 months; 56males) on inhaler medications and their carers were recruited into the study and assessed for correctness of inhalation technique. Of the 82 subjects; only 37 (45.1) performed all the essential steps of the inhalation technique correctly. The commonest errors were failure to take adequate breaths after actuation of inhaler (45) and not shaking the inhaler before use (18). The characteristics of correct and incorrect users are mainly similar. It was concluded that the majority (55) of asthmatic children and their carers do not perform the inhalation technique correctly