DEMOGRAPHICS OF COLLABORATORS INVESTIGATING THE NIGERIAN MEDICAL AND DENTAL INTERNS: A MEDICAL INTERNSHIP TRAINING IN NIGERIA (MINTING) STUDY COLLABORATION.

Introduction: The internship period is a peculiar time in a doctor's career, and some have described it as a "nuisance year" during which the junior doctor assumes many roles at the same time. Junior doctors especially house officers are faced with many unique challenges; this is even more pronounced in poor resource settings like Nigeria. This study aimed to unravel and improve understanding of the challenges faced by medical and dental interns in Nigeria. Methodology: A nine-member House officers Research and Statistics Committee (HRSC) was immediately set up to include three senior colleagues - Senior Registrars and Registrar. To carry out her responsibility efficiently the committee created the House Officers Research Collaboration Network (HRCN), a 103- member team comprising medical and dental interns from across Nigeria under a collaborative - Medical INternship Training in Nigeria (MINTING) study. Results: Out of a total of the 103 House Officers Research Collaboration Network, 80 of them participated in this survey giving a 78% response rate. Ten of the intern Collaborators had additional qualification and seven of them had BSc as an initial degree. About 66 % of the Collaborators have never authored any publication. Of the 27 that have published an article; three collaborators are said to have published 15, 13, 16 articles respectively. Male collaborators where more likely to have published at least one article in the past. Thirty one of the 80 Collaborators have never been in a research collaborative group prior to this MINTING collaborative. Conclusion: This commentary is set out to describe in detail Nigerian House Officers initiative in terms of the structure, functions, operational modalities, and to investigate the demographics of the HRCN collaborators which showed that over two third of collaborators have never authored any publication and about a third of them have never been involved in collaborative research. We also believe the findings will serve as policy guide and benchmark in training the critical medical health force.

Identifying the Clinical and Histological Risk Factors affecting Post-Biopsy Voiding Efficiency: An Observational Closed Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: There is a variability in the reported rate of post-prostate biopsy voiding inefficiency. The burden and potential predictors of this morbidity is not well studied in African patients. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence as well as the clinical and histological factors affecting voiding function in patients undergoing trans-rectal prostate biopsy in an African population. SUBJECTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational cohort study was carried out in 68 adult males, 40 years and above, scheduled for trans-rectal prostate biopsy for suspected prostate cancer. Those who could not void spontaneously, had either neurological conditions or were on drugs that could affect voiding, were excluded from the research. Data on demographic characteristics of the patients were collected. Uroflowmetry was done to obtain the peak urine flow rate of the patients at baseline and seven days after the procedure. The prostate volume was determined and the presence of other potential clinical and histological risk factors were recorded. The presence of other bleeding-related biopsy complications was also recorded. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS with a p-value of less than 0.05 reported as significant. RESULTS: Voiding inefficiency was recorded in 28 (41.2%) of the patients with majority, 21 (75.0%), experiencing a five to nine-point decrease in their seventh day peak flow rate values. Post-biopsy haematuria occurred in 37 (54.4%) of the population. The presence of haematuria with blood clots was associated with a 10.9 times increased risk of voiding inefficiency after the procedure (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: About two in five patients developed post-prostate biopsy voiding inefficiency. Blood clot presence was independently. associated with the occurrence of this morbidity.

CONTEXTE: Le taux d'inefficacité mictionnelle après une biopsie de la prostate est variable l'inefficacité prostate. Le fardeau et les et les prédicteurs potentiels de cette morbidité ne sont pas bien étudiés chez les patients africains. Cette étude visait à évaluer l'incidence ainsi que les facteurs cliniques et histologiques affectant la fonction mictionnelle chez les patients subissant une biopsie transrectale de la prostate dans une population africaine. SUJETS, MATÉRIEL ET MÉTHODES: Une étude de cohorte observationnelle a été réalisée chez 68 adultes âgés de 40 ans et plus, programmés pour une biopsie transrectale de la prostate. Ceux qui ne pouvaient pas uriner spontanément, souffraient de troubles neurologiques ou etaient drogues qui peut agissaient la miction ont été exclus de la recherche. Les données sur les caractéristiques démographiques des patients ont été recueillies. Une uroflowmétrie a été fait pour obtenir le débit urinaire de pointe des patients au début de l'étude et sept jours après l'intervention. Le volume de la prostate a été déterminé et la présence d'autres facteurs de risque cliniques et facteurs de risque potentiels, cliniques et histologiques, ont été enregistrés. La présence d'autres complications de la biopsie liées au saignement a également été enregistrée. L'analyse statistique a été effectuée à l'aide du logiciel SPSS, une valeur p inférieure à 0,05 étant considérée comme significative. RÉSULTATS: L'insuffisance mictionnelle a été enregistrée chez 28 (41,2 %) des patients. La majorité d'entre eux, 21 (75,0 %), présentant une diminution de cinq à neuf points dans leurs valeurs de débit de pointe au septième jour. Une hématurie post-biopsie est survenue chez 37 (54,4 %) de la population. La présence d'une hématurie avec caillots sanguins était associée à un risque 10,9 fois plus élevé d'inefficacité mictionnelle après la procédure (p = 0,006). CONCLUSION: Environ deux patients sur cinq ont développé une insuffisance mictionnelle après une biopsie de la prostate. La présence de caillots sanguins était indépendamment associée à l'apparition de cette morbidité. Mots-clés: Symptômes du bas appareil urinaire, biopsie de la prostate, facteurs de risque, rétention urinaire.

Insights into the gut microbiota of Nigerian elderly with type 2 diabetes and non-diabetic elderly persons.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a prevalent non-communicable disease among the world's growing elderly population. The contribution of the gut microbiota to T2D in several Westernized countries has been established. However, there is little information on the role of the gut microbiota in T2D from the African continent where lifestyle and life expectancy are different. AIMS: This study sought to investigate gut microbiota variation in relation to elderly people living with T2D. in Nigeria. METHODS: Whole microbial community DNA were derived from the stool samples of healthy urban-dwelling elderly individuals and urban-dwelling elderly individuals with T2D. The V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was Illumina-sequenced and analyzed using QIIME2. RESULTS: Beta taxonomic diversity was significantly different between healthy elderly individuals and elderly individuals with T2D. However, no difference in the alpha taxonomic diversity and predicted functional alpha diversity of the gut microbiota was observed. The genus Ruminococcus (T2D versus Healthy: 2.89% vs 2.21%), families Coriobacteriaceae (Collinsella, T2D versus Healthy: 2.62 % vs 1.25%) and Bifidobacteriaceae were enriched in elderly individuals with T2D, while members of Clostridiaceae (Clostridium, Healthy versus T2D: 5.6% vs 3.2%) and Peptostreptococcaceae (Healthy versus T2D: 3.45% vs 1.99%) were enriched in healthy volunteers. Pathways involved in amino acid biosynthesis were enriched in elderly individuals with T2D, while pathways involved in respiration and the biosynthesis of vital building blocks were enriched in healthy volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated for the first time in an African elderly population that the abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae, Collinsella, and Ruminococcus within the gut varies in relation to T2D. Findings from this study suggest that the restoration of features associated with healthiness via the way of gut microbiota modification could be one step needed to improve elderly patient care.

Primary bone tumours and tumour-like lesions in children in Zaria, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Studies on bone neoplasms are generally scanty globally and more so in children. Primary bone tumours and tumour-like lesions in children have not been reported from Zaria. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative frequencies, sex and age distributions, and anatomical sites of occurrence of primary bone tumours and tumour-like lesions in children in Zaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of histopathology reports of 40 children with bone tumours and tumour-like lesions in 11 years of age. RESULTS: Benign tumours accounted for 12 (30%) of the 40 tumours reviewed (osteoma 2.5%, osterochondroma 22.5%, fibroma 5%); while malignant tumours occurred in 19 (47.5%) (osteosarcoma 5%, Burkitt's lymphoma 37.5%, diffuse lympholastic lymphoma 5%). Tumour-like lesions accounted for 9 (22.5%), all fibrous dysplasia. Out of 40 tumours, 23 (57.5%) occurred in males and 17 (422.5%) in females. The majority of tumours, 45% occurred in the age group of 10-15 years, followed by 15 (37.5) occurring in the 5-9 years age range. The most common malignany was Burkitt's lymphoma 15 (37.5%). Maxilla was the most common site for malignant (30%) and benign tumours (12.5%). CONCLUSION: This study has shown that, primary bone tumours are relatively uncommon in children in our setting.

Primary bone tumours and tumour-like lesions in children in Zaria, Nigeria

Background: Studies on bone neoplasms are generally scanty globally and more so in children. Primary bone tumours and tumour-like lesions in children have not been reported from Zaria. Objective: To determine the relative frequencies; sex and age distributions; and anatomical sites of occurrence of primary bone tumours and tumour-like lesions in children in Zaria. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of histopathology reports of 40 children with bone tumours and tumour-like lesions in 11 years of age. Results: Benign tumours accounted for 12 (30) of the 40 tumours reviewed (osteoma 2.5; osterochondroma 22.5; fibroma 5); while malignant tumours occurred in 19 (47.5) (osteosarcoma 5; Burkitt's lymphoma 37.5; diffuse lympholastic lymphoma 5). Tumour-like lesions accounted for 9 (22.5); all fibrous dysplasia. Out of 40 tumours; 23 (57.5) occurred in males and 17 (422.5) in females. The majority of tumours; 45occurred in the age group of 10-15 years; followed by 15 (37.5) occurring in the 5-9 years age range. The most common malignany was Burkitt's lymphoma 15 (37.5). Maxilla was the most common site for malignant (30) and benign tumours (12.5). Conclusion: This study has shown that; primary bone tumours are relatively uncommon in children in our setting