Descriptive epidemiology of external structural birth defects in Enugu State, Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the birth prevalence, trend, and characteristics of external structural birth defects occurrence in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria. Design: Cross-sectional study involving review of delivery records. Setting: The study was conducted at three tertiary hospitals, one public and two missionary, in Enugu Metropolis. Participants: Mothers and their babies delivered between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2016 in the study facilities. Main outcome measures: Birth prevalence of defects presented as frequency/10,000 births. Other descriptive variables are presented as frequencies and percentages. Results: There were 21530 births with 133 birth defects (birth prevalence: 61.8/10,000 births) and 1176 stillbirths (stillbirth rate: 54.6/1000 births). The frequencies and birth prevalence (/10,000 births) of recorded defects were: Limb deformities 60(27.9), Neural tube defects (NTDs): 36(16.7), Urogenital system defects: 12(5.6), Gastrointestinal system defects 10(4.6) and Orofacial clefts 4(1.9). Birth defects occurrence showed a rising trend from 2009 to 2016. The mean (SD) age of mothers whose babies had Birth defects was 29.1(4.7) years. Only 62(46.6%) of 133 antenatal clinic folders of these women were traceable for further review. Eighteen (29.0%) had febrile illness in early pregnancy, 9(14.5%) had Malaria, 17(27.4%) had <4 antenatal clinic attendance, 7(11.3%) did not take folic acid and 6(9.7%) took herbal medications during pregnancy. Conclusions: Birth defects occurrence showed a rising trend with limb deformities and NTDs having the highest prevalence. Record keeping was poor at the facilities. Birth defects preventive interventions like folic acid supplementation for women-of-childbearing age should be promoted in Enugu Metropolis.

Aneurysm Formation of Cervical Aortic Arch Combined with Subaortic Left Innominate Vein: Case Report

An asymptomatic 26-year-old man was initially admitted with a suspicious mediastinal mass. On the basis of the contrast-enhanced chest CT findings, aneurysm formation involving the left cervical aortic arch associated with subaortic left innominate vein was diagnosed. The aneurysm was confirmed by MR angiography and DSA. The arch aneurysm was surgically removed. We describe this case, and review the literature.

The epidemiological survey on the relationship between agent orange/dioxin exposure and reproductive anomalies and congenital deformities of inhabitants living in A luoi valley, Thua Thien Hue province

Study was conducted on 1048 households with 6068 persons in A Luoi district, Thua Thien Hue province, where herbicides were sprayed heavily in war. The relationship between the quantity of herbicide sprayed in war and the severity of environmental pollution at present was recorded. Epidemiological relationship between the pollution of the enviroment and abnormal reproductivity and congenital defects, which were 1.5-4 times higher after the spray versus before the spray with diverse levels among 3 communes exposed to the spray. The most common abnormal reproductivity was spontaneous abortion, then premature delivery with died infants and congenital defects, the stillbirth and hydratiform mole were with lower rate. Dioxine was transported from the enviroment to human body through the exposed food chain such as chicken, fish, duck