Inter-professional rivalry in Nigerian health sector: a search for a potential beginning

Background: Inter-professional rivalry (IPR) in Nigerian health sector has become a common practice for over a decade due to abuse of the existing laws and ethics governing the operations of the professional cadres manning the health institutions in the country. This has led to incessant strikes by the different cadres in the hospitals across the country, thereby affecting the quality of services delivered by all the categories of healthcare staff. This study was aimed at identifying the initial source of the problem by interviewing the students of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences of Bayero University Kano (BUK) and that of Yusuf Maitama Sule University (YUMSUK) and those that have passed their examinations and joined the clinical and allied science departments in Bayero University Kano. The Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences is the initial confluent point where all medical and students of allied sciences receive their training together especially in the first and second year of their training. Method: A random sampling method was used to select the subjects. Two hundred questionnaires were distributed but 139 (69.5%) students at various levels of training filled and returned the questionnaire. Results: Females constituted 62 (44.6%), while the male were 77 (55.4%). Those in level 4 and 6 dominated the study with 55 (39.6%) and 41 (29.5%) respectively. Medical students and students of Physiology program constituted 42(30.2%) and 23(16.5%) respectively. Majority of the students 126 (90.6%) chose their respective courses without external influence and 85 (61.2%) believed that their course of study has a supportive role in the health care system. Up to 63 (45.3%) believed there is no superiority among the various courses of study. Of the factors fueling superiority feelings among students, 70 (50.4%) did not provide any reason, while those that believe professional bodies encourage it constituted 40 (28.8%), followed by teachers 11 (7.9%) and students themselves 10 (7.2%). Superiority feelings lead to rivalry among the various programs as opined by 78 (56.1%), chaos in the health sector 26 (18.7%) and poor patients management 12 (8.6%). Majority, 61 (43.9%) believed that rivalry in health sector can be prevented by giving uniform opportunity to all professional group. Conclusion: It is clear that half of the students interviewed were not aware of superiority feeling among the different programs of study. However, professional bodies rank first among the factors fueling superiority feeling during undergraduate training. Superiority feeling has negative effects on the healthcare system, one of which is rivalry among the healthcare staff and it can be avoided by giving uniform opportunity to different professional groups

Age-Related Effects of Lead Poisoning on Some Haematological Parameters in Adult Wistar Rats.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, about a quarter of the diseases facing mankind today occur due to prolonged exposure to environmental pollution, and that most of these environment-related diseases are however, not easily detected and may be acquired during childhood and manifested later in adulthood. The aim of this work was to evaluate sub-chronic effects of lead poisoning on haematological parameters and some sex hormones, as well as age-related changes on Wistar Rats. Thirty (30) of 3-, 5-, and 7-months old male Wistar rats, were divided into experimental (lead fed) and control (distil water) groups. Haematological parameters were determined, while blood lead concentration was determined using the method of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. There was a significant (P< 0.05) increase (46.00, 46.75, 50.75 vs 14.56, 18.00, 17.60) in blood lead concentration with insignificant (P˃ 0.05) increase in the concentration of WBC counts (12.433, 13.000, 12.250 Vs 12.400, 10.000, 11.250) between the experimental and control groups. Significant decrease in Body Weight (77.43, 107.88, 134.35Vs 130.66, 150.60, 165.62), RBC counts (5.333, 7.000, 6.250 Vs 7.000, 7.500, 7.250), PCV (22.667, 40.00, 35.25 Vs 37.600, 45.5,43.25), Hb (10.000, 12.000, 10.75 Vs 13.200, 13.250, 12.50), MCV (45.333, 54.500, 55.750 Vs 55.400, 59.500, 58.250), MCH levels (15.00016.25016.500 Vs 18.400, 17.750, 17.000), as well as insignificant decrease in platelet counts(410, 373, 341 Vs 437, 313, 384), and MCHC (29.67, 29.75, 30.00 Vs 32.800, 30.25, 29.250). The effect of lead (Pb) on these parameters was observed to be more pronounced in younger animals (P≤0.05). It was concluded that, ingestion of lead acetate produces more physiological derangement in young Wistar Rats.

Undergraduate Students' Understanding of Physiology Subject, Opinions and Perception: The Case of Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.

Human Physiology courses are compulsory in medical education but many students encounter challenges instudying them. This study investigates understandings, opinions and perceptions of students about physiology subject andthe challenges they encounter in their study. Two hundred and eighty (280) students were interviewed using structuredquestionnaire. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics 22. The mean age of the students was 22.8 ± 4.1 years.Males constituted 174(62.1%), while females were 106 (37.9%). Majority of the respondents were in 300 level of study inthe university 178(63.6%) as of the time of conducting this research. Most of the participants 257(91.8%) claimed to havegood to excellent understanding of the physiology subjects. One hundred and nine (39.1%) alleged that academic staff hadunfriendly attitude like rushing lectures, commencing lectures late and fixing tests and other continuous assessment close toexaminations, and that lecturers have poor communication/ teaching skills. Less than one-third (28.7%) believed that thesubjects have bulky course contents, and 56(20.1%) were of the opinion that the students' lack of seriousness or interest isamong the reasons for failing physiology courses. On binary logistic regression, being of female sex, and in 300 level ofstudy emerged as the independent predictors of the students' perception of physiology. Improving the pedagogy 102(36.4%),good attitude of staff towards students and teaching 73(26.1%), improving infrastructure and equipment 35(12.5%); andinstituting guidance and counseling unit for both staff and student 31(11.1%) were the ways suggested by the students forimproving performance in physiology subject. Most of the students had poor and negative perception about physiologysubjects (83.2%). Guidance and counseling for students, through the level coordinators and the mentor-mentee programshould be strengthened in all departments. Basic infrastructure and equipment, and teaching techniques should also beupgraded.

Anti-hyperglycaemic Effects of Rutin on Blood Glucose, Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Lipid Peroxidation in Alloxan-induced Hyperglycaemic Wistar Rats.

The present study investigated the anti-hyperglycaemic effect of rutin on blood glucose, oxidative stressbiomarkers and lipid peroxidation in alloxan induced hyperglycaemic wistar rats. Diabetes was induced in rats by anintraperitoneal (i.p) injection of alloxan monohydrate 150 mg/kg body weight. Twenty five wistar rats were divided asfollows; Group1 served as diabetic control received distilled water 2 mg/kg, Group served as positive control received 2mg/kg glibenclamide, 3, 4 and 5 received rutin at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight for 28 days respectively. At the end of the treatment, rats were sacrificed and the blood and serum were used for the analysis of blood glucose and oxidativestress biomarkers respectively. The determinations of blood glucose levels were carried out at intervals of 7, 14, 21 and 28days respectively Serum oxidative stress biomarkers lipid peroxidation, were done on the 28 days. Administrations of rutinat the three different doses 50,100 and 200 mg/kg to diabetic rats significantly (p<0.05) decreased the blood glucose levelsas compared to diabetic control. The dose of 200 mg/kg exhibited a maximum glucose lowering effect with blood glucoseof 102.8± 0.06 as compared to diabetic control 346.2±0.16. Furthermore, in relation to the oxidative stress biomarkers therewas a significant (p<0.05) increased in the levels of gluthathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase as comparedto control. However, there was also a significant decreased in the malondialdehyde levels as compared to control. It may beconcluded that oral administration of Rutin for 28 days decreases blood glucose levels and prevented oxidative stress andantioxidant status in hyperglycaemic rats.

Effects of Fermented Ginger Rhizome (Zingiber officinale) and Fenu Greek (Trigonella foenum-graceum) Supplements on Oxidative stress and Lipid Peroxidation Biomarkers in Poloxamer-407 Induced -Hyperlipidemic Wistar Rats.

This research was aimed at investigating the Effects of Fermented Ginger Rhizome (Zingiber officinale) and Fenu Greek (Trigonella foenum-graceum) on Oxidative stress and Lipid Peroxidation Biomarkers in Poloxamer 407Induced-Hyperlipidemic Wistar Rats. Hyperlipidaemia was induced with poloxamer P407 (1.5 g/kg   b.w. i.p.) The Animals were grouped into six of five animals each group. Group 1 normal control, Group 2 served as the hyperlipidemic control, Group 3 administered 0.26 g/kg cholestyramine, Group 4 fed on Fenugreek 25% supplement. Group 5 fed on 25% fermented ginger supplement, while group 6 were fed on 25% ginger and fenu greek combined   respectively. All treatments were given for a period of four week. Serum antioxidant activities such as catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Malondialdehyde were evaluated.  As regards to the catalase activity there was a significant decrease in the groups' fed on 25% fenugreek and 25% fermented ginger supplements respectively. However, co-fed with both supplements significantly increase the catalase activity as compared with the hyperlipidaemic control untreated. Comparism with the positive control cholestyramine, there was also a significant increase. Also in relation to the SOD activity there was a significant increase in the activity as compared with the hyperlipidemic control. Furthermore, the Gpx activity there was a significant increase in the as compared with the hyperlipidemic control. oxidative stress biomarker activities SOD) there was significant increase (p<0.05) when compared with hyperlipidemic control. There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the Malondialdehyde levels in the groups fed with the supplement when compared with hyperlipidemic control. In conclusion supplements of Fenugreek and Ginger improved antioxidant status and reduced Malondialdehyde in Poloxamer-407 Induced-Hyperlipidemic Wistar Rats.