Knowledge of stroke risk factors among Nigerians at high risk.

BACKGROUND: Although the first step toward effective primary prevention of stroke is awareness of its risk factors, there is limited information on knowledge of these risk factors among Nigerians at increased risk. We assessed the knowledge of risk factors for stroke among Nigerians at high risk. METHOD: Using an interviewer-administered questionnaire in a cross-sectional design, high-risk patients (defined as those with a diagnosis of hypertension and/or diabetes) attending the specialist medical outpatient clinics of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital were requested to mention all the stroke risk factors they knew. The outcome measure was ability to mention at least 1 well-documented modifiable or potentially modifiable risk factor. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of the outcome measure. RESULTS: The mean age of the respondents was 56.4 ± 12.6 years. Only 39.8% were able to mention at least 1 well-documented modifiable or potentially modifiable risk factor; hypertension was the most recognized (34.7%). Other risk factors mentioned by the respondents were: diabetes (7.3%), alcohol intake (4.5%), smoking (3.8%), overweight and obesity (1.9%), and heart disease (.6%). Factors found to be significantly associated with ability to correctly mention at least 1 stroke risk factor were younger age (<55 years), more than 12 years of formal education, family history of stroke, urban residence, and previous health education on stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Despite being at high risk, knowledge of stroke risk factors is poor among our respondents. Intensive health education is needed to improve on this poor knowledge.

Condom use among people living with HIV/AIDS attending Abejukolo General Hospital in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Condom programming is an integral component in a range of HIV/AIDS prevention strategies and with repeated sexual contact among HIV-discordant couples, 98-100% of those who used latex condoms correctly and consistently did not become infected. The objective of this study is to determine condom use among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey carried out among 231 PLWHA and receiving care and treatment at General Hospital Abejukolo in Kogi State, Nigeria. The research instrument was interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data obtained were analysed using EPI-INFO version 3.4.1 software and P-value of < 0.05 was significant for the study. RESULTS: About three-quarters (70.6%) of the respondents had ever used condom. Reasons given by respondents who did not use condom were: Desire for children (39.7%), and reduction of sexual pleasure (17.7%) and partner preference. More than half (56.0%) of the respondents with multiple partners did not use condom. About half 119 (51.5%) have used condom in the last sexual encounter. Gender, literacy level and disclosure of HIV status to partners significantly influence condom use during sexual intercourse. CONCLUSION: The poor uptake of condom among PLWHA underscores the need for government and other stakeholders in the management of HIV/AIDS to provide more enlightenment opportunities to address the gaps in condom use and disclosure of HIV status to partners.

Attitude of HIV patients to herbal remedy for HIV infection in Nigeria.

World Health Organisation estimated that about 80% of Africans use herbal remedies for illness. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection which was believed to have no cure led many HIV patients to source for alternative or complementary therapy. A structured questionnaire was administered to 640 HIV patients in selected Nigerian HIV/AIDS clinics from 2009 to 2011 to assess their attitudes to the use of herbal remedy. Six hundred and ten (610) of the respondents were diagnosed by medical doctor and 6.3% (40) had lived with HIV for 4 years and above. Twenty (20) respondents had sought for medical therapy after diagnosis, 310 applied herbal remedy and 180 of the respondents opted for spiritual solutions. Although, majority (73.4%) would denied the use of herbal remedy when asked by a medical practitioner, 100 respondents combines herbal remedy with HAART and 67.2% of the entire respondents are of the opinion that herbal therapy is effective in HIV infection management. 64.1% of the respondents wanted herbal remedy as complementary therapy and 54.7% concluded that non availability of herbs could stop them from using herbal remedy. This study concluded that the use of herbal remedy for HIV infection is high despite advice by medical doctors thus there is a need for caution when prescribing orthodox medicines that could interfere with hepatic metabolism.

Human erythrocyte membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase during occupational exposure to lead.

OBJECTIVE: Erythrocyte membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was determined in workers occupationally exposed to lead because of the prevalence of elevated blood lead in auto-mobile workers in some urban areas in Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood lead levels, biochemical profiles, lipid peroxidation, basal and calmodulin-stimulated Ca(2+)-ATPase activities were determined in erythrocytes of different categories of workers occupationally exposed to lead. These subjects were mainly battery chargers (BC), spray painters (SP) and auto mechanics (MC). RESULTS: Estimation of erythrocyte Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in the absence of calmodulin (basal activity) in test groups indicated that there were significant reductions in the pump function and this correlated very well with the levels of lead in their blood. Specifically, blood lead levels were of the order: BC (5.5 folds) > SP (4 folds) > MC, although there was no significant difference between the blood lead levels in MC (10.60 +/- 2.55 microgPb2+/dl) and CT (8.51 +/- 4.55 microgPb2+/dl). Similarly, the order of reduction in Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was BC (69.8%) > SP (52.8%) > MC (32.6%). There was significant difference in the values obtained for MC and CT, ATPase activity being lower in MC compared to CT or healthy individuals. In the presence of calmodulin, basal ATPase activity was increased by at least four fold in erythrocytes from healthy subjects (CT) while the basal activity of the enzymes in membranes of BC, SP and MC was enhanced by about one and half times the activity of the pump in membranes from CT. The levels of total serum protein and albumin increased significantly in BC, SP and MC when compared to healthy subjects (CT). C-reactive proteins (C-RP) levels were higher in BC, SP and MC in comparison to CT. The levels of MDA were high in all lead-exposed workers, BC > SP > MC relative to CT. Although, there were significant decreases in the PCV values of all the groups occupationally exposed to lead compared to values obtained for CT, cholesterol level increased significantly only in BC when compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: These observations are probably due to the integrity of the plasma membrane of these workers and the ability of the heavy metal to compete with Ca2+ in the catalytic cycle and Ca2+ transport mechanism of the pump protein.

Respiratory function in insulin-dependent diabetic patients

The study was designed to evaluate the difference in some respiratory functions between insulin-dependent diabetic patients(n=19) and non-diabetic individuals (n = 19). The measured values of FVC; FEV1 and PEFR of the diabetic patients were compared with those of the non-diabetics; as well as the predicted volumes for Nigerians. The diabetic patients showed significantly lower values when compared with the non-diabetics and the predicted volumes. The reduced volumes observed were related to the widespread abnormality of connective tissue known to occur in diabetes. The need for studies on larger population of insulin-dependent patients was highlighted