Oral Health of Vegetarians is a Neglected Aspect of Stomatological Research: A Reflection based on PubMed Evidence

The vegetarians form one-fifth of the global population. The vegetarians are a peculiar group of people; existing body of scientific evidence shows that they are a highly vulnerable group of people when it comes to oral diseases. The oral health of vegetarians is a critical aspect of dentistry; however, current evidence­based on PubMed database search­shows a dearth of literature on this thematic area. It appears this aspect is being neglected in the field of stomatological research. INTRODUCTION It is a general saying that 'you are what you eat'.This is a very true statement; what you eat goes a very long way in determining who you are, where you come from, what you are passing through, what you are up to, and why you eat [1].There are many factors that determine the pattern and choicespeople makeinfeeding themselves and/or their families [1]. For example, some people's choices of food are based on religious ideologies. In some religious societies, what one eatsmay determine how others perceive him/her i.e.being referred to as a faithful or a non-faithful. Whilstit is forbidden to eat pork in Jewish and Muslim societies, it is not forbidden insome non-Muslim and non-Jewish societies[2,3]. Arguably,the initiation, maintenance and modification of eating habits are complex processes. Who are Vegetarians?Based on the content of what is being eaten, people are classified as vegetarians and non-vegetarians. A vegetarian is a person who abstains from eating meat (flesh), seafood, and by-products of animal slaughter [4,5]. On the other hand, a non-vegetarian is a person who eats any or all of what vegetarians abstain from. A vegetarian diet is a very special diet and it includes variety of delicacies (Table 1) [4,5].

Seasonal Meningococcal Meningitis Outbreaks in Nigeria: A Need for an Accelerated Introduction of a Conjugated Meningococcal Vaccine into the National Routine Immunization Schedule

Epidemic meningococcal meningitis affects huge populations annually in sub-Saharan Africa with differentially higher death rates among children. Nigeria is one of the twenty-six countries that lie in ‘African meningitis belt’. This paper briefly describes the epidemiology of seasonal recurrent meningococcal meningitis, current efforts to address the epidemics, and then argues for an accelerated introduction of conjugated meningococcal vaccine into routine immunization in Nigeria. This paper also highlights the nature of the epidemics with its attendant impacts on the population; the weaknesses of the current strategies; the emergence of mixed pathogens; the challenges and potential opportunities associated with an introduction of routine vaccination against meningococcal meningitis. The quick introduction of the conjugated meningococcal vaccine into expanded program on immunization (EPI) schedule will mitigate the risk of future massive outbreaks and its attendant morbidity, mortality and larger societal cost. Furthermore, authors suggest the introduction of polyvalent conjugated meningococcal vaccine rather than monovalent (targeting only serotype A), as this will potentially prevent emerging outbreaks of other serotypes such as NmC and W135.

Knowledge of HPV, HPV-Induced Cancers, and HPV Vaccine among a Sample of Freshmen in a Northwestern Nigeria Monotechnic

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a notorious virus that is responsible for some cancers in the human body. This study aims to explore the knowledge of a sample of freshmen of the Sultan Abdur-Rahman School of Health Technology, Gwadabawa, Sokoto State, Nigeria, on HPV, HPV-induced cancers and HPV vaccines. Methods: This study surveyed 224 freshmen of the Sultan Abdur-Rahman School of Health Technology, Gwadabawa, on HPV, HPVinduced cancers and HPV vaccines, using a paper questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS Version 20 Software. Results: The mean (± SD) age of the surveyed freshmen was 22.04 (± 3.42) years. Only 65 (29.0%) of them had ever heard of HPV and the top three sources of their knowledge of the virus were doctor/nurse (16/65), TV/ radio/magazine (15/65), and parents (9/65). However, the majority of those respondents who claimed awareness of HPV lacked adequate knowledge about the virus and the vaccine. Conclusion: They exists a very low awareness rate of HPV, HPV-induced cancers and HPV vaccines among the surveyed freshmen of the Sultan Abdur-Rahman School of Health Technology, Gwadabawa, Sokoto State, Nigeria.

Do College Freshmen Know about Head and Neck Cancer and its Risk Factors? Experience from Gwadabawa, Nigeria

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a notorious killer disease. Globally, more than 55,000 people are newly diagnosed to have the disease. Knowledge of disease among the public goes a long way in its prevention in society. Hence, this study aimed to explore the knowledge level of college freshmen on HNC disease and its risk factors. Methods: This study surveyed 224 college freshmen of the Sultan Abdur-Rahaman School of Health Technology, Gwadabawa, Sokoto State, Nigeria, on HNC disease and its risk factors, using an anonymous questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using the SPSS version 20 software. Results: The mean (± SD) age of the respondents was 22.04 (± 3.42) years. Only one-third (68/224, 30.4%) of the respondents were aware of HNC disease. However, amidst other findings, less than four-tenth of these respondents, who categorically claimed awareness of HNC, actually knew the: risk factors; commonly affected age and gender; commonly affected anatomical site and prognosis of the disease. Conclusion: The surveyed freshmen lacked adequate knowledge of HNC disease. This reveals the urgent need to educate them, and by extension, the entire population on HNC disease. Through effective HNC education programs, the incidence rate of HNC can be brought down to the barest minimum, as more people will be made knowledgeable about how they can prevent the disease from developing.