Evaluation of Inter-atrial Septal Defect Diameter and Left Ventricular Systolic Function in Children with Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect in Enugu, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Children with ostium secundum atrial septal defect (OS ASD) usually present with varying degrees of ventricular dysfunction. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the left ventricular systolic function of children with OS ASD compared with control. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 113 children with OS ASD and 113 age- and sex- matched controls. Their age ranged from 1 month to 16 years. There were 49 males and 64 females in each group. Left ventricular systolic function of children with isolated OS ASD were compared with that of controls using echocardiography. Subjects and controls who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were consecutively recruited in the study. The data elicited from the study were analyzed with the IBM SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp, Chicago). RESULTS: The mean left ventricular mass (LV mass) of the control, 93.9±113.6 gm was significantly higher than that of subjects with OS ASD, 39.4±74.3 gm, (Mann Whitney U= 4.266, p< 0.001). Similarly, the mean left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (LVIDd) of the control,25.8±11.7 mm was significantly higher than that of participants with OS ASD, 19.9±7.1 mm (Mann Whitney U=4.522, p<0.001). The mean interventricular septal diameter in systole (IVSs) of the control, 7.2±3.5 mm was higher than that of participants with OS ASD, 5.0±1.9 mm and the mean difference was found to be statistically significant, (Student t=5.738, p<0.001). The mean left ventricular internal diameter in systole (LVIDs) of the control, 16.2±7.6 mm was significantly higher than that of participants with OS ASD, 12.9±5.8 mm, (Student t= 3.660, p< 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the size of interatrial septal defect of children with OS ASD and left ventricular systolic function and age :(Corr. Coef. 0.065, p= 0.492) ; EF( Corr. Coef. 0.121,p=0.202), FS (Corr. Coef. 0.139, p=0.143). CONCLUSION: Children with OS ASD had lower left ventricular mass compared with those with control. Females seem to have higher function than males.

CONTEXTE: Les enfants atteints de communication interauriculaire type ostium secundum (CIASOS) présentent généralement des degrés variables de dysfonction ventriculaire. OBJECTIFS: Cette étude visait à évaluer la fonction systolique ventriculaire gauche des enfants atteints de CIASOS par rapport à des témoins. MÉTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale portant sur 113 enfants atteints de CIASOS et 113 témoins appariés selon l'âge et le sexe. Leur âge variait de 1 mois à 16 ans. Il y avait 49 garçons et 64 filles dans chaque groupe. La fonction systolique ventriculaire gauche des enfants présentant un CIASOS isolé a été comparée à celle des témoins à l'aide de l'échocardiographie. Les sujets et les témoins qui remplissaient les critères d'inclusion ont été recrutés consécutivement dans l'étude. Les données recueillies ont été analysées avec la version 20 d'IBM SPSS (IBM Corp, Chicago). RÉSULTATS: La masse moyenne du ventricule gauche (VG) du groupe témoin, 93,9±113,6 g, était significativement plus élevée que celle des sujets atteints d'OS ASD, 39,4±74,3 g (Mann-Whitney U = 4,266, p < 0,001). De même, le diamètre interne moyen du ventricule gauche en diastole (LVIDd) du groupe témoin, 25,8±11,7 mm, était significativement plus élevé que celui des participants atteints d'OS ASD, 19,9±7,1 mm (Mann-Whitney U = 4,522, p < 0,001). Le diamètre moyen du septum interventriculaire en systole (IVSs) du groupe témoin, 7,2±3,5 mm, était plus élevé que celui des participants atteints d'OS ASD, 5,0±1,9 mm, et la différence moyenne était statistiquement significative (Student t = 5,738, p < 0,001). Le diamètre interne moyen du ventricule gauche en systole (LVIDs) du groupe témoin, 16,2±7,6 mm, était significativement plus élevé que celui des participants atteints d'OS ASD, 12,9±5,8 mm (Student t = 3,660, p < 0,001). Il n'y avait pas de corrélation significative entre la taille du défaut septal interauriculaire chez les enfants atteints d'OS ASD et la fonction systolique du ventricule gauche et l'âge : (Coef. Corr. 0,065, p = 0,492) ; FE (Coef. Corr. 0,121, p = 0,202), FS (Coef. Corr. 0,139, p = 0,143). CONCLUSION: Les enfants atteints de CIASOS avaient une masse ventriculaire gauche plus faible que ceux du groupe témoin. Les filles semblent avoir une fonction plus élevée que les garçons. MOTS-CLÉS: Fonction ventriculaire gauche; Communication interauriculaire type ostium secundum (CIASOS); Malformation septale interauriculaire; Enfants; Échocardiographie.

Preference and Disclosure of Fetal Gender to Pregnant Women during Prenatal Ultrasonography in South South Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound scan (USS) in pregnancy has become a common diagnostic tool used in the assessment of pregnancy in recent time. In the course of routine pregnancy assessment using USS, some pregnant women will request to know the sex of their unborn babies. Their reasons for wanting to know the gender of their baby could be either for social reason like planning for an unborn child or their desire for a preferred gender. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate gender preferences and disclosure of foetal sex at prenatal USS. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the antenatal clinic of Central Hospital Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria. A total of 235 consecutive consenting women who came for antenatal care (ANC) registration were recruited for the study after obtaining their informed written consent. Questionnaire was used to seek for their sociodemographic characteristics, preference and desires for foetal gender disclosure, reasons for gender disclosure, and awareness of USS accuracy for gender determination. RESULTS: The desire to know the sex of baby was high (99.6%). The major reason for wanting to know the sex of baby was to plan for the unborn child (47.7%) and maternal curiosity (37.0%). Majority of the women (57.4%) had no gender preference. Sixty percent (60%) were not aware that USS sex diagnosis could be wrong. CONCLUSION: There is a strong desire by pregnant women to know the sex of their babies at routine USS. Considering the fact that many of the women were not aware that there could be wrong diagnosis at prenatal ultrasound, it is suggested that adequate counselling be given before fetal sex disclosure.

Observations on the food habits of some African rodents.

Food habits of four common species of African rodents: the giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus), the black house rat (Rattus rattus), the multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis) and the pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides) were studied on the basis of stomach content analysis, habitat sampling and experimental trials with caged animals. Vegetable items (especially grass, grains and tubers) formed the bulk of the food of all the species. Oil-palm nuts and kernels were also common in the guts of C. gambianus and M. natalensis. Animal food components of all the rodent species comprised mainly insects (especially ants, crickets etc.). Vertebrate flesh and scales were also well represented in the guts of C. gambianus. Domestic and miscellaneous food items were recorded from R. rattus, most of which were trapped in human and animal shelters. Inorganic gut contents, primarily sand grains, were found in sizeable quantities in more than 70% of the rodents examined. Results of experimental feeding trials with caged rodents showed close correlation with those recorded from field samples, especially in terms of food choices and the relative quantities consumed. The ecological and practical implications of these observations are discussed in the light of the importance of the rodents as agricultural and domestic pests.