ABSTRACT
Background: Osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability and incapacitation Worldwide. Aim: To evaluate the epidemiology and pattern of osteoarthritis at Ogbaku, Imo State University Teaching Hospital annex, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State, South-east Nigeria. Study Design: A retrospective epidemiological study. Methodology: One hundred and six case notes of patients managed for osteoarthritis between January 2009 and October 2010 were studied. Simple statistical methods like percentages were used for data analysis. Results: Out of 106 cases studied, 72(67.9%) were females while 43(32.1%) were males. The highest percentage of cases (34%) occurred in people aged 65-74 years followed by people aged 55-64 years (24.5%). Younger people (45-54 years) were the least affected. Farmers (24.5%) were the most affected occupational group followed by athletes (18.9%) and then traders (17%). Civil servants were the least affected. The knee (41.5%) was the most frequently affected joint followed by the hip (22.6%). The least affected joints were the wrist (1.9%) and the elbow (1.9%). Conclusion: The study shows that osteoarthritis occurred most in people aged 65-74 yrs and the knee was the most frequently affected joint in the body.
ABSTRACT
Background: In this study; the effect of cold and haemorrhagic stressors in male albino Wistar rats will be investigated. Methods: Cold stress was induced by placing the animals in thermostatic chamber containing ice cold water (0-10oC) and well aerated. Rats were allowed to stay for 5; 10; 15 and 20 minutes before they were bled from the tail vein at 2; 4; 6; 8 and 24 hours for reticulocyte counts. For the haemorrhagic stress; 30of blood was withdrawn from the vein after which reticulocytes were counted at 2; 4; 6; 8 and 24 hours. Results: Cold and haemorrhagic stress caused increased reticulocyte counts in male albino Wistar rats. The controls were not subjected to any condition. In cold stress; the maximum percentage reticulocyte count was (at zero hour) 6.21 + 0.21while the control was 1.02 + 0.12. In the case of the haemorrhagic stressor; the percentage reticulocyte was seen to peak at the 6th hour (6.19 + 0.12) and subsequently decrease to 2.59 + 0.02. The probable causes of this rise in reticulocytes are discussed. Conclusion: In cold and haemorrhagic stress; reticulocyte count peaked at 2 and 6 hours respectively; depicting when maximum erythropoietic activity was reached in blood forming organs