Psychosocial consequences and reasons for illicit drug use among police officers in a northern Nigerian city: A mixed-method study

Harmful use of drugs is one of the principal risk factors affecting population health worldwide. Chronic use has been linked to medical, psychological and socioeconomic consequences. This study assessed the psychosocial consequences and reasons for illicit drug use among police officers in Kano, Nigeria. Using a mixed method of data collection, quantitative data was obtained from a cross-section of 275 officers using the Shortened Inventory of Problems-Drug Use (SIP­DU) and a pretested adapted questionnaire. In-depth interviews with 10 officers who used illicit drugs provided additional information. Almost half of the respondents (46.5%, n=128) were in their fourth decade of life with a mean age (±SD) of 35.1 ± 7.7 years. Over a quarter of the respondents (n=75) reported ever using illicit drugs, out of which 14.9% (n=41) were current users. Among the current drug users, 80.5% (n=33) attested to having money problems, 61.0% (n=25) agreed that they had spent too much money, and 56.1% (n=23) failed to do what was expected of them as a result of drug use and have hurt their family. Helping to stay awake and improving confidence were the major reasons (100%, n=41) for drug use mentioned by the respondents. The Nigerian Police Force should look into easing shifts and introducing stress-relieving activities. There is also the need to strengthen substance education and counselling and support officers with confidence issues, sleep disorders, and treat those with mood disorders.

The dichotomy of the systemic and local cytokine responses of mucosal leishmaniasis patients in Sudan: A pilot study

@#Sudanese mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) is a rare clinical form of leishmaniasis and characterized by persistent ulcer of the oral and/or the nasal mucous membranes caused by Leishmania donovani. No data is available about the systemic and local immune responses in mucosal leishmaniasis. This study aimed to measure the systemic and the local cytokines responses of Sudanese ML patients compared to cured cutaneous leishmaniasis patients (Leishmanin skin test positive, LST+ve) and unexposed healthy controls (Leishmanin skin test negative, LST-ve). Six parasitological confirmed ML patients, 7 LST+ve, and 6 LST-ve were enrolled. Systemic Th-1 (IFN-γ and TNF-α), Th-2 (IL-10 and IL-13), Treg (TGF-β1), and inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 concentration were measured in the supernatant of whole blood samples following stimulation with live L. donovani promastigotes using ELISA. Local intralesion IL-10, IFN-γ, and IL-13 expression was measured using Real Time PCR. A significant high concentrations of IFN-γ, TNFα, IL-10, TGFβ, IL-6, and IL-8 were detected in the supernatant of stimulated whole blood samples of ML patients compared with the LST+ve and LST-ve controls. Using Real Time-PCR and primers for various cytokines, a significant high expression of TH2 cytokines IL-10 and IL-13 mRNA was detected in contrast to a low TH1 cytokine IFN-γ mRNA in the mucosal lesion. There is a clear dichotomy in the cytokine response during Mucosal leishmaniasis. A significantly high TH1, inflammatory and Treg cytokines response is produced systemically, in contrast to a significant high TH2 cytokines response in the mucosal lesion.

Identification and characterization of Leishmania amastigote and axenic form antigens

@#This study was aimed to identify and characterize Leishmania amastigote, and axenic form antigens. Two in vitro techniques were used to change leishmania parasite isolates from promastigote form to amastigotes and amastigote like (axenic) forms. The main strategy relied upon in vitro infection of murine macrophages cell line J774 with leishmania promastigote, at 37°C with 5% CO2, while the second technique relied upon the culture of promastigote at 37°C with low pH (5.5), and 5-10% CO2. Proteins were extracted and fractionated utilizing 12% Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS PAGE). Antigens were recognized using both immune dot blot and western blot procedures. PCR was performed for recognition of leishmania parasites in infected J774 macrophages. L. major was quicker in infectivity of macrophages cell line than L. donovani. Shared proteins ranging from 26-116 kDa were identified by SDS PAGE in all stages. Immune Dot-blot method showed positive outcomes, while western blot identified an exceptional antigen band of 16 kDa in amastigote, this unique band could be of value in diagnosis and vaccination of leishmaniasis. PCR results confirmed presence of both isolates demonstrating that coinfection is conceivable, and no indications of hereditary recombination at kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) were identified in macrophages simultaneously infected by L. major and L. donovani.

Giant Proliferating Trichilemmal Tumor

No abstract available.

Assessment of Knowledge towards Tuberculosis among general population in North East Libya.

The study aimed to evaluate the level of Tuberculosis (TB) related knowledge among general public in North East Libya. A cross sectional study was undertaken in 2009. A prevalidated questionnaire consisting of 23 items was sent to 1500 residents among five cities in North East Libya. In addition to the demographic details, the survey instrument was designed to collect information relating to transmission, diagnosis, risk factors, treatment and prevention of TB. Descriptive analysis was used to elaborate demographic information. Inferential statistics (Chi-square test and one-way ANOVA) were used whenever appropriate. P value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant. All data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. The overall knowledge towards TB among general population was measured as low. Mean knowledge score was 11.4±3.9 which was significantly higher among Libyans (11.7±3.8) than non Libyans (9.7±4.7, t=26.13) (P<0.001). In addition, respondents with tertiary education had significantly higher knowledge scores (11.8± 3.5) compared to those of intermediate (11.6± 4.4) and illiterate (7.7±5.5), [F=19.34, P=0.001]. This study reveals that knowledge towards TB within the population is poor. It is therefore suggested that specialized educational programs should be developed for community members to promote awareness towards TB.

Oral manifestation of HIV/AIDS infections in paediatric Nigerian patients

BACKGROUND:The aims of this study were to determine the pattern and frequency of oral lesions and to compare the prevalence of HIV-related oral lesions in paediatric Nigerian patients on HAART with those not on HAART.MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients aged 15 years and below attending the Infectious Disease Clinic of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital with a diagnosis of HIV were consecutively examined in a cross-sectional study over a 2-year period. Information was obtained by history, physical examinations, HIV testing, and enumeration of CD+ T cells. The results are presented. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant.RESULTS:A total of 105 children comprising 63 males and 42 female who met the inclusion criteria participated in the study, mean age in months was 53.3±42.2, with a mean of 3.4±2.2 for male and 2.8±1.8 for female respectively. Oral lesions occurred in 61.9% of the children Overall, 22 (21.0%) had at least one oral lesion, 43 (41.0%) had multiple lesion. The most common lesion was oral candidiasis (79.1%). The angular cheilitis (43.8%) variant was most frequent. The mean CD4 counts were 1138 cells/mm(3), 913 cells/mm(3) and 629 cells/mm(3) for those without oral lesion, with single lesion and multiple oral lesions respectively. These differences were not statistically significant (ANOVA: F=0.185, df=2, 80, 82, P=0.831. Patients on HAART comprised about 61.9% and these were found to have reduced risk for development of such oral lesions as angular cheilitis (OR=0.76; 95% CI=0.56-1.02; P=0.03), pseudomembranous candidiasis (OR=0.71; 95% CI=0.54-0.94; P=0.024) and HIV-gingivitis (OR=0.59; 95% CI=0.46-0.75; P=0.001). HAART had some beneficial but insignificant effect on development of HIV-periodonttitis (OR=0.60; 95% CI=0.51-0.70; P=0.09). The chances of occurrence of other oral lesions were not significantly reduced by HAART (Kaposi sarcoma, OR=1.24; 95% CI=0.31-5.01; P=0.47, erythematous candidiasis, OR=1.13; 95% CI=0.62-2.06).CONCLUSION: HIV-related Oral lesions are frequently seen in HIV-infected Nigerian children. Paediatric patients receiving HAART had significantly lower prevalence of oral lesions, particularly oral candidiasis and HIV-gingivitis

Respiratory effects of occupational exposure to asbestos.

Ventilatory capacities of 73 Libyan men working in the Asbestos-Cement Pipe factory in Jenzur, a residential area near Tripoli, Libya and those of 73 age-matched healthy Libyan men unexposed to asbestos were determined. The mean values of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) for men unexposed to asbestos were 3.89 +/- 0.084 and 3.64 +/- 0.082 liters respectively. The respective values for men exposed to asbestos were 3.62 +/- 0.082 and 3.29 +/- 0.097 liters. Thus, there has been a significant decrease in the ventilatory function of the men exposed to asbestos as compared with age-matched unexposed counterparts.

Peak expiratory flow rates in Libyan adolescents.

Peak expiratory flow rates of 578 Libyan boys and 527 Libyan girls aged 12 to 21 years were determined. The prediction formulae that best describe the data are as follows: Boys: PEFR = 160 X Stature 1.87 Girls: PEFR = 130 X Stature2.44 Statistically significant correlations were found between peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and standing height, sitting height, body mass index, body surface area and age in both sexes. Stature (standing height) is marginally better as an index of body size in explaining the variability of the ventilatory capacity. The relationship between PEFR and age in girls appears to correlate with the relationship between PEFR and body mass index. The difference in the slope for girls when compared with that for boys is attributed to the obesity/over weight of the girls.