HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF NON-NEOPLASTIC OVARIAN LESIONS SEEN IN A TERTIARY HEALTH CENTRE IN NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA.

Introduction: Ovarian lesions may present as enlargements of the ovary and may occur at any age. Non-neoplastic enlargements develop almost exclusively during the childbearing years. They may be asymptomatic or, in rare cases, cause acute symptoms due to complications and account for the most prevalent cause of hospital admissions. They frequently form a pelvic mass and potentially mimic an ovarian neoplasm. Objective: To study the frequency and histopathological classification of non-neoplastic ovarian lesions in a tertiary institution in North-western Nigeria. Methodology: A retrospective study in which surgical biopsy specimens seen over a 9-year period were reviewed with respect to age and histopathological characteristics. Results: A total of 83 non-neoplastic lesions were histologically diagnosed during the period under review. They constitute 5.16 % and 40.9 % of both gynaecological and ovarian samples received respectively. Of which 33.7% were Corpus luteum, 13.3% were both Follicular cysts and simple cysts respectively. Luteoma of pregnancy and Infarction constitute 9.6% each respectively. Endometriosis and no pathology as part of TAH, 6.0% respectively. Ovarian ectopic gestation was 4.8% cases, Nonspecific inflammation (oophoritis) 2.4%, and 1.2% complex cyst. Majority of cases 45.8% occurred among women in the third decade and 26.5% in the fourth decade, cases within the fifth decade were 9.6% and the second decade constituted 8.4% cases. Conclusion: Ovarian non-neoplastic lesions are common in our environment; they potentially mimic ovarian neoplasms thereby posing a diagnostic challenge. Proper classifications are important for appropriate management.

Two decades of neuroscience publication trends in Africa.

Neuroscience research in Africa remains sparse. Devising new policies to boost Africa's neuroscience landscape is imperative, but these must be based on accurate data on research outputs which is largely lacking. Such data must reflect the heterogeneity of research environments across the continent's 54 countries. Here, we analyse neuroscience publications affiliated with African institutions between 1996 and 2017. Of 12,326 PubMed indexed publications, 5,219 show clear evidence that the work was performed in Africa and led by African-based researchers - on average ~5 per country and year. From here, we extract information on journals and citations, funding, international coauthorships and techniques used. For reference, we also extract the same metrics from 220 randomly selected publications each from the UK, USA, Australia, Japan and Brazil. Our dataset provides insights into the current state of African neuroscience research in a global context.

Correlates of undiagnosed hypertension among health care workers in a secondary health care facility in north central Nigeria

Background: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, yet many health care workers rarely check their blood pressure. The detection of hypertension among health care workers is key to prevention of hypertension, its attendant complications in the community and a strategy for health care workers retention. Objective: To determine the prevalence and correlates of undiagnosed hypertension among health care workers in a secondary health care facility. Methods: Using a structured questionnaire, sociodemographic variables and risk factors for hypertension were obtained. Measurements of blood pressure, weight, height and waist circumference were carried out and body mass index calculated. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 41.9%. The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 35.1%. Multivariate analysis showed that age greater than 42 years (OR=0.24; 95%CI: 0.10-0.72) is a significant correlate of undiagnosed hypertension. Those who self-reported that they had been diagnosed to have hypertension were 15.5% of the study population. Among those who had self-reported hypertension, 79.1% were found to have hypertension by the researchers while among those who had no history of hypertension, 35.1% were hypertensive. When a history of hypertension is used as a screening test for the diagnosis of hypertension, it gave a sensitivity of 29.2%, a specificity of 94.4%, a positive predictive value of 79.1%, a negative predictive value of 64.9% and an accuracy of 67.1%. Conclusion: One in three persons had undiagnosed hypertension and those who were over 42 years are at risk for undiagnosed hypertension. This calls for urgent workplace strategies to create more awareness as a prevention and control strategy for the facility and the general population

In vitro effect of terpenoids - rich extract of Momordica charantia on alpha glucosidase activity / Efecto in vitro del extracto rico en terpenoides de Momordica charantia sobre la actividad de la alfa-glucosidasa

Background: Momordica charantia is a vine, native to tropics and subtropics that has found use in herbal medicine. In Nigeria, the plant is locally used in the treatment of diabetes. Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of terpenoid-rich extract from Momordica charantia on α-glucosidase activity. Method: The inhibitory effect of the terpenoid-rich extract from Momordica charantia on the activity of alpha-glucosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae as well as the determination of the mode of inhibition were investigated using in vitro assay methods. Results: The results revealed that the terpenoid-rich extract had a high IC50 of 1.60 mg/mL. The Lineweaver-Burk plot revealed that the extract exhibited partially mixed­type inhibition of α-glucosidase. Conclusions: It can be inferred from this study that although terpenoid-rich extract inhibited α-glucosidase, further purification will be necessary on the extract so as to increase its potency as an inhibitor of α-glucosidase. The action of the extract on α-glucosidase provided an insight into the probable mechanism of action of Momordica charantia in reducing hyperglycemia.

Antecedentes: Momordica charantia es una vid, nativa de las regiones tropicales y subtropicales que ha sido usada en la medicina herbal. En Nigeria, esta planta se ha usado localmente en el tratamiento de la diabetes. Objetivo: Investigar el efecto inhibitorio del extracto rico en terpenoides de Momordica charantia sobre la actividad de la α-glucosidasa. Método: El efecto inhibitorio del extracto rico en terpenoides de Momordica charantia sobre sobre la actividad de la α-glucosidasa y el modo de inhibición se evaluó con un ensayo in vitro. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que el extracto rico en terpenoides tiene un alto IC50 de 1,60 mg/mL. El gráfico Lineweaver-Burk reveló que el extracto presenta una inhibición combinada de la α-glucosidasa. Conclusión: De este estudio se infiere que aunque el extracto rico en terpenoides inhibió la α-glucosidasa, es necesario realizar una purificación con el fin de incrementar su potencia como inhibidor de la α-glucosidasa. La acción del extracto sobre la α-glucosidasa proporciona un entendimiento del mecanismo de acción probable de Momordica charantia en la reducción de la hiperglicemia.