The prevalence and pattern of intimate partner violence among women attending general outpatient clinic of federal medical Centre, Keffi

Background: Intimate partner violence has globally been recognized as a public health problem that has serious adverse effects on the victim, the family and the society at large. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and pattern of intimate partner violence among women and the association with sociodemographic characteristics at the General Outpatient Clinic of Federal Medical Centre Keffi. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of 342 women, carried out between May 14th to July 7th, 2020. Data was obtained using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 27. Results: The prevalence of intimate partner violence was 75.4%. Out of the 258 women with intimate partner violence, emotional violence was the most common form experienced by 180 (69.8%) of the participants. Eighty-eight (34.1%) experienced sexual violence alone and 74 (28.7%) experienced physical violence alone. Sixty-one (23.6%) of them experienced all three forms of intimate partner violence (emotional, physical and sexual violence). Conclusions: The prevalence of intimate partner violence found among women in this study was high and commonest form of intimate partner violence was emotional violence, followed by sexual violence and physical violence.

Hemodynamic and Histopathologic Benefits of Early Treatment with Macitentan in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES@#Macitentan (MAC) reduces morbidity and mortality among advanced-stage pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients. However, data regarding the histopathologic and hemodynamic benefits of MAC treatment at an early stage of PAH is lacking.@*METHODS@#One week after monocrotaline (MCT) injection, rats were randomly assigned to MAC (n=16), MAC combined with sildenafil (SIL) (MAC+SIL, n=16), or normal saline (MCT, n=16). Twelve sham rats (Sham) were included for comparison. Right ventricular (RV) systolic function was assessed via echocardiography as the RV fractional area change (RV-FAC). An invasive pressure-volume analysis using a Millar conductance catheter was performed 7 weeks after MCT injection. Rats were subsequently euthanized for histopathologic analysis.@*RESULTS@#RV-right atrial pressure gradient on echocardiography was significantly increased 3 weeks after MCT injection, but was maintained in the Sham. RV-FAC was less deteriorated in the MAC, compared to that in the MCT (44±3% vs. 25±7%, p 0.05 vs. the MAC). On invasive hemodynamic analyses, RV end-systolic (196±78 µL) and end-diastolic volumes (310±86 µL), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (89±7.2 mmHg), and end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (−254±25.1) were significantly worse in the MCT vs. in the MAC (101±45 µL, 235±55 µL, 40±10.5 mmHg, and −145±42.1, respectively) and MAC+SIL (109±47 µL, 242±46 µL, 38±9.2 mmHg, and −151±39.2, respectively) (all p 0.05). On histopathology, both RV and lung fibrosis were significantly reduced in the MAC and MAC+SIL vs. in the MCT (all p < 0.05); the 2 treatment groups did not differ.@*CONCLUSIONS@#MAC treatment at an earlier stage significantly attenuated experimental PAH progression hemodynamically and histopathologically.

Hemodynamic and Histopathologic Benefits of Early Treatment with Macitentan in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Macitentan (MAC) reduces morbidity and mortality among advanced-stage pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients. However, data regarding the histopathologic and hemodynamic benefits of MAC treatment at an early stage of PAH is lacking. METHODS: One week after monocrotaline (MCT) injection, rats were randomly assigned to MAC (n=16), MAC combined with sildenafil (SIL) (MAC+SIL, n=16), or normal saline (MCT, n=16). Twelve sham rats (Sham) were included for comparison. Right ventricular (RV) systolic function was assessed via echocardiography as the RV fractional area change (RV-FAC). An invasive pressure-volume analysis using a Millar conductance catheter was performed 7 weeks after MCT injection. Rats were subsequently euthanized for histopathologic analysis. RESULTS: RV-right atrial pressure gradient on echocardiography was significantly increased 3 weeks after MCT injection, but was maintained in the Sham. RV-FAC was less deteriorated in the MAC, compared to that in the MCT (44±3% vs. 25±7%, p 0.05 vs. the MAC). On invasive hemodynamic analyses, RV end-systolic (196±78 µL) and end-diastolic volumes (310±86 µL), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (89±7.2 mmHg), and end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (−254±25.1) were significantly worse in the MCT vs. in the MAC (101±45 µL, 235±55 µL, 40±10.5 mmHg, and −145±42.1, respectively) and MAC+SIL (109±47 µL, 242±46 µL, 38±9.2 mmHg, and −151±39.2, respectively) (all p 0.05). On histopathology, both RV and lung fibrosis were significantly reduced in the MAC and MAC+SIL vs. in the MCT (all p < 0.05); the 2 treatment groups did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: MAC treatment at an earlier stage significantly attenuated experimental PAH progression hemodynamically and histopathologically.

MicroRNA in the Diseased Pulmonary Vasculature: Implications for the Basic Scientist and Clinician

Since the first descriptions of their active functions more than ten years ago, small non-coding RNA species termed microRNA (miRNA) have emerged as essential regulators in a broad range of adaptive and maladaptive cellular processes. With an exceptionally rapid pace of discovery in this field, the dysregulation of many individual miRNAs has been implicated in the development and progression of various cardiovascular diseases. MiRNA are also expected to play crucial regulatory roles in the progression of pulmonary vascular diseases such as pulmonary hypertension (PH), yet direct insights in this field are only just emerging. This review will provide an overview of pulmonary hypertension and its molecular mechanisms, tailored for both basic scientists studying pulmonary vascular biology and physicians who manage PH in their clinical practice. We will describe the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension and mechanisms of action of miRNA relevant to this disease. Moreover, we will summarize the potential roles of miRNA as biomarkers and therapeutic targets as well as future strategies for defining the cooperative actions of these powerful effectors in pulmonary vascular disease.

Espondilolistesis lumbar / Lumbar spondylolisthesis

Exponemos un estudio retrospectivo de seis pacientes afectados de espondilolístesis lumbar con diversos grados de deslizamiento y etiologías; los objetivos fuerón mostrar la eficacia de la instrumentación segmentaria sublaminar y exponer los resultados obtenidos. Empleamos un marco rectangular angulados en sus extremos de pin de Rush de 5mm y alambre #18. Se realizó el abordaje posterior de la columna lumbosacra, con exeresis integra del arco posterior, exploración del canal raquideo e injerto óseo de esponjas. El injertoóseo consolodó a los 8 meses compo promedio. El sexo premedio fue el fémenino con 5 paciwentes y las complicaciones fuerón la sepsis en dos pacientes. No hubo rotura del material de osteosintesis ni metalosis. Se logró una reducción parcial del desplazamiento vertebral y el seguimiento fue de 1 a 6 años. Los resultados finales de nuestro trabajo fueron buenos en cuatro pacientes y regular en dos casos.