Environmental and Public Health Aspects of Solid Waste Management at the Lemna Dumpsite in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

This study is aimed at investigating the level of environmental pollution and the potential impacts of municipal solid wastes on public health. The health risk assessment was determined through a survey of the present facilities used for solid waste management in the metropolis. Waste bins, types of depots, modes of transportation of wastes to disposal sites and methods of disposal were amongst the facilities investigated. The microbiological and physicochemical analysis of decomposing solid waste, leachate, soil, air at dumpsite, stream and Ikot Effanga Mkpa river waters were carried out using standard microbiological procedures. The prevalent bacteria besides fungi isolated from decomposing solid waste, soil, leachate, stream and river water samples were Escherichia coli 55 (13.31%) and 48 (14.33%) Chromobacterium spp 36 (18.18%), Staphylococcus spp 37 (17.70%), Salmonella spp 45(16.85%) and Klebsiella spp (17.06%) respectively. Statistical analysis of the bacterial and fungal counts showed significant difference (p<0.05) between the sources of sampling, months of sampling and seasons of sampling. Decomposing solid wastes followed by soil and leachate had the highest counts at 5% level of probability. The high bacterial counts coupled with these findings are indicative of the possible high risk of microbial infections and a potential destruction of biodiversity from the toxic chemicals of the wastes. The results of the physicochemical analysis showed that virtually, most of the parameters determined are above the WHO permissible limits for drinking water. It is recommended that a fit for purpose strategy be developed for waste management with control measures that are health and eco-friendly.

Venous thromboembolism in Jamaican women: experience in a university hospital in Kingston / Tromboembolismo venoso en mujeres jamaicanas: experiencia en un hospital universitario en Kingston

OBJECTIVE: To review cases of venous thromboembolism (VTE) at UHWI from 1999-2004, to identify methods of diagnosis, risk factors and to evaluate differences between survivors and fatalities. METHODS: Patients coded with the diagnosis of thromboembolism at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) from 1999-2004 were identified. The medical records were reviewed to determine the prevalence of thromboembolism and possible variables associated with this diagnosis. In addition, variables associated with fatality were examined by evaluating cases diagnosed at autopsy. RESULTS: There were 959 patients coded for thromboembolism between 1999-2004 at UHWI. Of these, 657 (68.5%) were females and 302 were males (31.5%). During that period, 65 657 women and 40 826 men were admitted to hospital with prevalence rates for thromboembolism of 1% in women and 0.7% in men. Of the 657 females, 520 case notes were located (case identification 80%). Of this, 435 were analysed as confirmed thromboembolism. The median age was 51 years with a range of 2-95 years. Common associations were obesity, 53.5%; age over 50 years, 52.5%; hypertension, 44.7%; immobilisation, 36.3%; cardiac disease, 26%; diabetes, 19.4%; fibroids, 16.3%; surgery, 15.8% and cancer 14%. Recurrent venous thromboembolism occurred in 12.8% and 15.8 % of women (66) died, diagnosed with PE at post-mortem. Using logistic regression analysis, leading risk factors in fatalities compared to survivors were hypertension and increased age. Obesity and surgery were significantly more likely in survivors. CONCLUSION: Venous thromboembolism was common in this cohort of women and avoidance of risk factors and institution of prophylaxis in high risk women is important to decrease morbidity and mortality.

OBJETIVO: Examinar los casos de tromboembolismo venoso (TEV) en el HUWI desde 1999 a 2004, a fin de identificar los métodos de diagnosis y factores de riesgo, y evaluar las diferencias entre sobrevivientes y casos fatales. MÉTODOS: Se identificó a los pacientes codificados con el diagnóstico de tromboembolismo en el Hospital Universitario de West Indies (HUWI) de 1999 hasta 2004. Se revisaron las historias clínicas para determinar la prevalencia de tromboembolismo y las variantes posibles asociadas con este diagnóstico. Además, examinamos las variables asociadas con la fatalidad, evaluando los casos diagnosticados mediante autopsia. RESULTADOS: Hubo 959 pacientes codificados por tromboembolismo entre 1999-2004 en el HUWI. De estos 657 (68.5%) eran mujeres y 302 eran hombres, 31.5%. Durante ese período, 65 657 mujeres y 40 826 hombres fueron admitidos con tasas de prevalencia de tromboembolismo de 1% en las mujeres y 0.7% en los hombres. De las 657 mujeres, localizamos 520 notas de casos (80% de identificación de casos). De estas, 435 fueron analizadas como tromboembolismos confirmados. La edad promedio fue de 51 años y un rango de 2-95 años. Las asociaciones comunes fueron: obesidad (53.5%), edad mayor de 50 años (52.5%), hipertensión (44.7%), inmovilización (36.3%), enfermedad cardíaca (26%), diabetes (19.4%), fibromas (16.3%), cirugía (15.8%), y cáncer (14%). El tromboembolismo venoso recurrente ocurrió en un 12.8%, y murieron 66 (15.8%) mujeres, diagnosticadas post-mortem con EP. Utilizando un análisis de regresión logística, se halló que los principales factores de riesgo en los casos fatales comparados con los de los supervivientes, fueron la hipertensión y los años de edad. La probabilidad de obesidad y cirugía fue significativamente más alta en los sobrevivientes. CONCLUSIÓN: El tromboembolismo venoso fue común en esta cohorte de mujeres, y para disminuir la morbilidad y la mortalidad, es importante evitar los factores de riesgo e instituir la profilaxis para las mujeres expuestas a ellos.

Is the semen analysis a reliable test? / 中华男科学杂志

The semen analysis is one, if not the most, important and widely used clinical laboratory test to evaluate the fertility potential of the male. However, recent reports have suggested that the semen analysis is unreliable. Quality control in the andrology laboratory is often seen as problematic, and many laboratories do not routinely employ QC procedures in semen testing. Quality assurance is an often overlooked and unappreciated aspect of overall quality laboratory performance. External proficiency testing programs in andrology are not universally accepted, and the results from the few programs currently available demonstrate huge variations between laboratories. Numerous different standards and criteria are being used by andrology laboratories, making it difficult if not impossible to compare results from one laboratory to another. However, reliable semen analyses can be obtained by following several recommendations: (1) all laboratories performing the semen analysis should adopt universally accepted performance standards and criteria, (2) all laboratories performing this test should participate in external proficiency testing programs, (3) andrology laboratories should implement effective internal quality control and quality assurance programs to ensure that the results reported are accurate and reproducible, and (4) physicians should only refer their patients to, or accept semen analysis results from, laboratories that have stringently followed these recommendations.