Dipstick urinalysis profile of an asymptomatic female group in south-east Nigeria.

Objectives: Routine dipstick urinalysis is a useful and inexpensive method for the early detection of asymptomatic diseases. Our study was carried out to detect the prevalence of urinary abnormalities among an apparently asymptomatic healthy female group and emphasize the value of routine dipstick urinalysis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among second to sixth (final)-year female medical students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi campus between 8 and 30 September 2019. A total of 100 subjects were enrolled. First-morning midstream urine samples were collected and promptly tested with dipstick strips. Subjects with abnormal findings were informed and treated appropriately. Results: In all, 54 (54%) of the subjects had urine abnormalities. Trace proteinuria was the commonest abnormality seen with a prevalence of 33%, followed by abnormal urine appearance (17%), leucocytes (14%), nitrites (8%) and urobilinogen (2%). Urine abnormalities were commoner in students who resided in the school hostel. Abnormal urine appearance was significantly associated with nitrites (0.003) and leucocytes (0.001). Conclusion: Routine dipstick urinalysis should be performed among students and apparently healthy individuals for early detection and diagnosis of renal diseases to facilitate quick interventions and prevent further progression.

Impact of thyroid function abnormalities on reproductive hormones during menstrual cycle in premenopausal HIV infected females at NAUTH, Nnewi, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: This was a prospective study designed to evaluate the impact of thyroid function abnormalities on reproductive hormones during menstrual cycle in HIV infected females at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, South-East Nigeria. METHODS: The study randomly recruited 35 Symptomatic HIV infected females and 35 Symptomatic HIV infected females on antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for not less than six weeks from an HIV clinic and 40 apparently heathy control females among the hospital staff of NAUTH Nnewi. They were all premenopausal females with regular menstrual cycle and aged between 15-45 years. Blood samples were collected at follicular and luteal phases of their menstrual cycle for assay of Thyroid indices (FT3, FT4 and TSH) and Reproductive indices (FSH, LH, Estrogen, Progesterone, Prolactin and Testosterone) using ELISA method. RESULTS: The result showed significantly higher FSH and LH but significantly lower progesterone (prog) and estrogen (E2) in the test females compared to control females at both phases of menstrual cycle (P<0.05). There was significantly lower FT3 but significantly higher TSH value in Symptomatic HIV females (P<0.05). FSH, LH and TSH values were significantly lowered while prog and FT3 were significantly higher in Symptomatic HIV on ART compared to Symptomatic HIV females (P<0.05). FT3, FT4, Prog and E2 were inversely correlated while FSH and LH were positively correlated with duration of HIV infection in HIV females (P<0.05 respectively). There was a direct correlation between CD4+ count and FT3 while inverse correlation was found between CD4+ count and TSH levels (P<0.05). DISCUSSION: The present study demonstrated hypothyroidism with a significant degree of primary hypogonadism in Symptomatic HIV infected females at both follicular and luteal phases of menstrual cycle which tends to normalize on treatments.

Abia State HIV epidemic and response: challenges and prospects.

Since the first seroprevalence survey in 1999, the HIV prevalence in Abia State has increased from 1.8% to 7.3% in 2010. The state is currently experiencing a generalized epidemic, with most transmission occurring through heterosexual low-risk sex. Drivers of the epidemic include low knowledge of HIV prevention, low risk perception, predominantly male factor-driven risky sexual behavior, and low condom use. This study reviewed the state HIV epidemic trend in relation to response, sought to identify the gaps between the epidemic and response, and recommended measures to strengthen the state response.