ABSTRACT
Study Design: Retrospective study. Objective: To describe the evolution of care and risk factors for poor outcome in patients with cervical spine injury (CSI) treated at three centers in southeast Nigeria. Setting: Nigeria; southeast. Materials and Methods: A 10-year retrospective multicenter analysis of patients with CSI; managed at three centers in southeast Nigeria; from January 2003 to December 2012. Results: Two hundred and seven patients (55) had CSI out of 377 spinal injury cases in the three study centers; but 195 cases had complete records and were studied. There were 148 males and 47 females. The age range was 3-74 years with a mean of 32.6 (?1.9) years 95) cases One hundred and seventeen patients (60 CI. Most injuries (149 cases) resulted from motor vehicular accidents (MVA). The C5 spinal level was involved in 75 (38) presented with American Spinal Injury Association A (ASIA A) injury. CSI care evolved from the application of a Minerva jacket or cervical traction only to cervical traction and spinal fusion resulting in a reduction in hospital stay (F = 52.5; DF (2; 3) P 0.05). When compared to 51 patients with incomplete injuries; who improved in neurologic al status at discharge; only three patients with ASIA grade A experienced some improvement. The mortality rate from our series is 16 (32 patients). Those who died were more likely to have a complete injury (25 patients) or a high cervical injury (X 2
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Multicenter Study , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Aims: This study was aimed at evaluating the phytochemical and nutrient composition of G. kola seed. Also to examine the effect of G. kola seed on the serum lipid profile of fed rats. Study Design: Quantitative phytochemical, proximate analysis and in vivo effect on serum lipid profile. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Abia State, between June 2013 and September 2013. Methodology: The seeds were cut into small pieces, dried and ground into powder. The quantitative phytochemical and proximate nutrient analyses of the powdered sample were determined using standard methods. The lipid lowering effects of the powdered sample of G. kola determined in rats. The rats were fed with feed fortified with graded levels (5, 10, 20 and 50%) of powdered sample of G. kola for 21 consecutive days and the effects on total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were compared with a negative control. Results: The seed sample produced significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent decrease in the total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels in fed groups of rats when compared to the control group. The seed sample also, caused significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent increase in serum HDL-C level in fed groups of rats when compared to the control groups. The phytochemical analysis showed that the sample contained tannins (5.08%), flavonoids (0.93%), saponins (2.54%) and alkaloids (5.13%). The proximate analysis of the nutrient composition of powdered G. kola seed showed the presence of moisture, ether extract (EE), crude fibre (CF), crude protein (CP), ash and nitrogen free extracts (NFE) in the following proportion 7.40, 1.48, 2.94, 3.19, 4.39 and 80.58%, respectively. Conclusion: The sample demonstrated good lipid lowering effects which may suggest that the consumption of G. kola seed may help in the reduction of the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in patients.
ABSTRACT
Background: Polycythaemia; or erythrocytosis; is a condition in which there is a net increase in the total number of circulating red blood cells in the body. It is an important clinical problem in the newborn. It is relatively rare with an incidence of 1-5in the total newborn population. It may manifest with serious and sometimes life threatening insults to the brain; heart; kidneys; lungs and intestines. It requires prompt treatment to prevent serious immediate complications; including death and permanent neurologic impairment.n Aim: To highlight the clinical features and management of polycythaemia in the newborn. Case report: A 9-hour-old male term; appropriate for gestational age neonate presented to the Children's Emergency Ward of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital with a history of seizures. The patient was febrile; plethoric; in respiratory distress with central and peripheral cyanosis and had repeated seizures. He had a packed cell volume of 81; thrombocytopaenia; hypoglycaemia and hypocalcaemia. He was treated with a partial exchange transfusion using normal saline. Electrolyte and metabolic derangements were also corrected. He recovered uneventfully and is currently being followed up in the Out Patient Clinic. Conclusion: Neonatal polycythaemia though uncommon; contributes to significant long and short term morbidity if untreated. Partial exchange transfusion is the treatment of choice and minimizes some of the physiologic complications