Cephalofacial characteristics of children under 6 years of age in East of Nigeria.

Objectives: The present study aimed at measuring the length and width of the head and face of children under the age of six years in Anambra state, a South Eastern state of Nigeria. Data obtained was used to calculate their respective craniofacial indices. Methods: Four hundred and fifty four children (226 males and 228 females) below the age of six were randomly sampled from pre-nursery and nursery schools. Subjects with signs of deformities or history of head and facial injuries and mental retardations were excluded from the study. Measuring tape and spreading callipers were used to measure the length and width of the head and face. Results: Results indicated that the mean head length and breadth, face length and breadth, cephalic index and facial index did not indicate significant gender differences. Mesocephalic head type was the predominant, accounting for 39.9% of the study population; brachycephalic, dolicocephalic, hyperbrachycephalic heads accounted for 35.9%, 12.1% and 7.7% respectively, while ultrabrachycephalic was the least prevalent (4.4%). The dominant type of face was found to be hypereuryprosopic accounting for about 44.5% of the study population. Euryprosopic, mesoprosopic, and leptoprosopic types of face accounted for 39.2%, 11.2%, and 4% of the sampled population respectively, while the rare type was found to be hyperleptoprosopic with 1.1%. Conclusion: This study indicates no significant gender differences in the craniofacial variables in a cross-section of Nigerian children under 6 years of age. The most prevalent type of head was the mesocephalic type while the most dominant type of face shape was hypereuryprosopic in both male and female subjects.

Evaluation of cardiac sizes of normal nigerians using posteroanterior chest radiographs.

Background: There is paucity of data on cardiac sizes and other related parameters among Africans. This study aims to establish normal values of aortic, cardiac and thoracic diameters and the cardiothoracic ratio in a normal Nigerian population. Methods: The cardiothoracic ratio of 200 males and 200 females aged between 5 and 95 years were calculated from the cardiac and thoracic diameters in posteroanterior chest radiographs in a cross-sectional study at two imaging and radiodiagnostic centres. The mean and standard deviation of aortic, cardiac, thoracic diameters and cardiothoracic ratio were established. Results: The mean values for cardiac diameter for males and females were 13.8±1.89 and 13.2±1.28cm respectively. The mean values of cardiothoracic ratio for both male and female were 46% and 48% respectively. Conclusion: The cardiothoracic ratio increased with age in both sexes. These values were larger than those reported for the Caucasians.

Activity related differences in the thickness of achilles tendon among four different occupational groups in nigeria: an ultrasound based study.

Background:The degree of physical activity may induce strain and stress on the Achilles tendon because of its role in the elastic mechanics of gait. Material &Methods: The study was carried out to determine the effect of occupation-related physical activity on the thickness of the Achilles tendon. The effect of occupation- related physical activity on the thickness of the Achilles tendon in three phases (ATT at Normal phase, ATT at Dorsiflexed phase and ATT at Plantarflexed phase) was assessed, by ultrasound, among four classes of occupations- Labourers/farmers, Dancers, Athletes and a less active class (control group). Results: Results show that the less active (control group) had the least value for ATT (normal) (3.31±0.50mm) being almost at par with those of the dancers. The athletes and labourers/farmers had significantly higher values than the control (P=0.000 and 0.007 respectively). Conclusion: Our findings have conclusively established that occupation-related prolonged physical activity induces thickening of the Achilles tendon.

Sonographic evaluation of heel pad thickness in a Nigerian population.

Background: The heel pad is an important element of foot biomechanics and knowledge of structural inclinations in populations is important in the pathological assessment of the foot. Subjects and Methods: The thickness of the Heel pad (HPT) was evaluated in a student population in Nigeria using ultrasound and correlated with some anthropometric variables to assess which variable can easily be used to predict HPT. Results: Results showed a mean HPT of 9.06±1.26 and 9.00±1.73 (mm) for the right and left side respectively; height, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Surface Area (BSA) showed positive correlation with the HPT. As a result Simple regression equations were deduced for HPT using height, BMI and BSA as independent variables. Conclusion: The results are not comparable to previous studies and suggest ethnic/racial impact on heel pad fat distribution and thus, opined the validation of these equations for expanded use in our population.

Occupational Stress among Radiographers: Impact of Sonography Responsability

Role extension in any occupation can affect both psychosocial and biomechanical stress levels and thus; have some consequences on efficiency in service delivery. The study was aimed to determine the impact of role extension of medical radiographers into sonography. 50 self-administered questionnaires were distributed to radiographers and to sonographers (radiographers with sonography responsibility). The questionnaires included questions seeking information on the demographic profile of the radiographer and sonographer; anatomical regions of biomechanical symptoms/stress and visual analogue scale (VAS); which rated job satisfaction and anxiety levels. 96of the questionnaires were returned and analyzed statistically using SPSS 11.0 software with P 0.05 indicating level of significance. Sonographers had more prevalence of biomechanical stress symptoms than the radiographers. Job satisfaction for sonographers (58.75) was lower than that for radiographers (64.29). Anxiety level was higher among sonographers even though this was not statistically significant. Sonography responsibility on radiographers did not have any significant effect on psychosocial stress. A balance in the extended role could aid efficiency in service delivery while improving the social strength of the individual

Perceptions of Medical Students Undergoing Cadaveric Training: a Sociocognitive Perspective

The emotional and sociocognitive aspects of human dissection are important aspects of professionalism in medical training and so should be critically evaluated in the present day changing society. Medical students of Ebonyi State University; Nigeria completed 390 questionnaires. The questionnaires included questions seeking demographic information; open-ended questions on their first experience of dissection and suggestions on improvements in training. The Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess anxiety and satisfaction levels. The questionnaires were analyzed statistically with P0.05 indicating level of significance. Majority (35.7) of the students was excited/fulfilled after their first experience and 41.5were of the opinion that life in humans is more appreciated by dissection. Their mean anxiety level was 3.42 while satisfaction rating was 7.13 on a scale of 1-10. A greater number of students suggested that conducive learning environment and improved preservation techniques would improve satisfaction (30.3and 33.1respectively). A Conducive environment and better preservation of cadavers are the major factors that improve satisfaction. Psychosocial factors should be assessed constantly to ascertain attitudinal changes of students; which will be helpful in quality of professional formation