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Background: Knowledge of sickle cell disease (SCD) among students of tertiary institutions is known to influence their practice of genotype voluntary counseling and testing (VCT). This study aimed to assess the effect of health education intervention on the knowledge of SCD and practice of voluntary genotype counseling and testing among the students of a tertiary institution in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Methods: A quasi-experimental non-controlled study with pre- and post-test design was conducted among 111students of a tertiary institution selected by multistage sampling technique. A set of semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the research variables. A heath education session was held and free genotype screening was offered to the participants. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS version 20 statistical package. Results: The proportion of participants with good knowledge of SCD increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 49.54% at pre intervention to 87.38%at post intervention. The proportion of participants with good practice of voluntary genotype counseling and testing also increased significantly from 27.0% at pre-intervention to 73.0%at post-intervention. Fifty (45.0%) of the 110 participants who have never done genotype testing did so after the health education intervention. Conclusion: Health education intervention was effective in improving the knowledge of SCD and practice of genotype VCT among the participants. Sensitization of the public on SCD through the mass media and its inclusion in the school curriculum are crucial to improving the students’ knowledge of the disease and acceptance of premarital genotype counseling and testing by them later in life.
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Background: Diabetic nephropathy is a leading cause of end-stage renal failure worldwide. Purpose: The methanol leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina (MLVA) was thus investigated for its nephroprotective effects in diabetes.Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal (I.P) injection of a freshly prepared solution of Alloxan monohydrate (100 mg/kg). Forty-eight hours after alloxan administration, rats with fasting blood glucose levels of 200 mg/dl and above were used for the study. Animals were grouped into five (A-E) of nine animals each. Group A was non-diabetic non treated control; Group B animals were the diabetic untreated control rats while groups C, D and E animals were diabetic and treated with glibenclamide, MLVA 200 mg/kg and MVLA 400 mg/kg respectively. Biochemical changes were evaluated by measuring the serum markers of kidney damage (creatinine and blood urea nitrogen). Markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant activities were measured in renal tissues. Histopathological and immunohistochemical changes were also evaluated.Results: Four-week administration of MLVA produced significant (p<0.05) decrease in serum creatinine, urea, and oxidative markers but it caused a significant increase in enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidant as well as downregulation of Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-?B) and upregulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2).Conclusion: MLVA ameliorates diabetic nephropathy through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects
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Objective: To examine the outcome of the management of Fournier's gangrene in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria
Patients and Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients with Fournier's gangrene managed over a 20-month period formed the basis of this retrospective study
Results: The mean age of the patients was 64.4 +/- 11.5 years. Seventeen [70.8%] patients had identifiable etiological factors. The etiologies included urethral stricture in 13 [76.4%] patients and scrotal abscess, infected hydrocoele, hydrocoelectomy and urethral carcinoma in one patient [5.9%] each. A predisposing factor was found in one [4.1%] patient who had diabetic keto-acidosis. In 7 [29.2%] patients no precipitating cause was obvious. Twenty-three [95.3%] patients were subjected to debridement and 14 patients with urethral obstruction were treated by suprapubic cystostomy. One [4.7%] patient was not offered surgery because he was moribund. The mean hospital stay for the survivors was 32.5 +/- 6.4 days. Three [12.5%] patients died from overwhelming sepsis
Conclusion: Fournier's gangrene is rarely idiopathic, as an underlying cause is usually found in the majority of cases. Aggressive surgical and medical management can reduce mortality