Provision of constant and safe blood has been a public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa with high prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs). This study was aimed at determining the trend and seroprevalence of HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV across the years within study among prospective blood donors at blood bank in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Nigeria. A retrospective analysis of blood donor data from January 2005 to December 2016 was conducted in Blood Bank/Donor Clinic of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. Sera samples were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 and 2 and Treponema pallidum using commercially available immunochromatic based kits. Out of the 24,979 screened prospective donors in the 2005–2016 study period, 3739 (14.96%) were infected with at least one infective agent. The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV were 4.1, 3.6, 3.1 and 4.2%, respectively. During the period of study, the percentage of all transfusion-transmissible infections declined significantly with remarkable decline in HIV. The study showed male dominated donor pool (98.7%) with higher prevalence (4.2%) of transfusion-transmissible infections than in female donors (0.0%). Commercial donors constituted majority (62.0%) of the donors and as well had the highest prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections. Majority (62.9%) of the donors were repeat donors. HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV have remained a big threat to safe blood transfusion in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa at large. Strict adherence to selection criteria and algorithm of donor screening are recommended.

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Seroprevalence of Transfusion-Transmissible Infections (HBV, HCV, Syphilis and HIV) Among Prospective Blood Donors in a Tertiary Health Care Facility in Calabar, Nigeria; An Eleven Years Evaluation

Background
Testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) is not yet mandatory in blood transfusion laboratories in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, so the current prevalence rate of this infection in our locality is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV among apparently healthy blood donors in our area and also to assess some of the risk factors associated with the infection.

Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in apparently healthy Port Harcourt blood donors and association with blood groups and other risk indicators.

Aim. To determine the prevalence of anti-HCV and risk factors associated with HCV infection in Nigerians. Materials and Method. Patients attending a general outpatient clinic were administered a structured questionnaire on the risk factors for HCV infection. They were also tested for anti-HCV using a third generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Result. The seroprevalence of anti-HCV was 4.7%. Among the risk factors evaluated, none was found to be significantly associated with anti-HCV seropositivity. Conclusion. The risk factors associated with HCV infection in Nigerian patients are obscure. This warrants further studies on the epidemiology of this important cause of liver disease.

https://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/grp/2011/939673.pdf

Risk factors for hepatitis C virus transmission obscure in nigerian patients.

PURPOSE This study aimed to assess the cardiorespiratory response during a 1-min sit-to-stand test (1STS) in comparison with cycling cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in healthy subjects and to evaluate whether 1STS may induce leg fatigue in these individuals. METHODS Fourteen people with severe COPD and 12 healthy subjects performed a 1STS and a CPET during which cardiorespiratory response, perception of dyspnea, and leg fatigue were assessed. Quadriceps strength was assessed before and after 1STS, and contractile fatigue was defined as a postexercise fall in quadriceps twitch force greater than 15% of resting values. RESULTS In COPD, peak V˙O2, V˙E, and HR achieved during 1STS reached 113%, 103%, and 93% of the corresponding values during CPET, respectively. Decrease in SpO2 from preexercise to peak exercise and the magnitude of dynamic hyperinflation were similar between 1STS and CPET. Borg dyspnea and leg fatigue scores were higher for CPET than 1STS. In healthy subjects, peak cardiorespiratory demand and symptom scores were higher during CPET compared with 1STS. A V˙O2 overshoot during recovery was observed only in people with COPD. After 1STS, the V˙O2 half-time recovery of COPD was 152 ± 25 s compared with 74 ± 18 in healthy subjects (P < 0.01). Ten people with COPD and five healthy subjects were considered as fatiguers. CONCLUSION The 1STS induced a similar cardiorespiratory stress to that of CPET and was associated with contractile quadriceps fatigue in people with severe COPD. The V˙O2 overshoot and slower recovery time of cardiorespiratory variables seen in COPD demonstrate the clinical relevance of monitoring the recovery phase of exercise.

Cardiorespiratory Response during the 1-min Sit-to-Stand Test in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Blood transfusion is a life-saving intervention. However, the safety of the donor and the recipient is paramount. This study was aimed at determining the blood donation deferral pattern of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. A retrospective analysis of the prospective donors’ data of University of Calabar Donor clinic within the period of March 2015 to February 2016 was conducted. Data were extracted from the donor register and analyzed. Prospective donors were screened and interviewed for causes of temporary and permanent deferrals. Out of the 1886 screened prospective donors, 164 (8.69%) were deferred. Though the minority of the donor population, female donors had the highest deferral rate (33.33%). There were 31.10 and 68.90% cases of temporary and permanent deferrals, respectively. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) was the highest (31.71%) cause of overall deferral as well as permanent deferral. Anemia was the major (21.95%) cause of temporary deferral as well as the second cause of overall deferrals. Commercial and replacement donors constituted 68.28 and 31.71% of the deferral cases, respectively. HBV was found to be the overall leading cause of deferral in the studied area. This outcome poses a public health concern and should elicit measures to curb the infection rate.

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Blood donors deferral prevalence and causes in a tertiary health care hospital, southern Nigeria

The prevalence of Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was determined among apparently healthy male blood donors in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, between January and December, 2002. A total of 2,288 blood samples from the blood donors were screened for HBsAg, HCV and HIV, by haemagglutination method, double antigen sandwich immunoassay and ELISA respectively. The overall prevalence rates of HBsAg, HCV and HIV were found to be 10.7%. 0.4% and 3.8% respectively. The prevalence rate of HBsAg was found to be higher than that of HCV and HIV despite similar modes of transmission. Environmental and socio-economic factors such as poor sanitation have been found to also play a role in transmission of HBsAg. The results from this study have shown gradual increase in prevalence rate of HIV infection, high prevalence of HBsAg but very low prevalence of antibody to HCV. In order to reduce post-transfusion hepatitis and AIDS through blood transfusion, we suggest the need for proper screening of every pint of blood for evidence of contamination with these viruses. Key words: HBsAg, HVC, HIV, prevalence rates, Nigeria Journal of Medical Laboratory Sciences Vol.12(1) 2003: 59-63

Prevalence of Hepatitis-B Surface Antigen (HbsAg), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among Blood Donors in Kano State, Nigeria

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the size of a human skull foramen and the intracranial volume (skull capacity). A total number of 91 human skulls were studied to determine the volume of the foramina and the intracranial volume. The volumes of the foramina were determined by using the formula Br 2 h (the geometrical formula of a cone-shaped figure) where 'r' is the radius of the effluent aperture, 'h' the depth of the foramen and B is a constant. The intracranial volume was determined indirectly by filling intracranial cavity with millets through the foramen magnum and then measuring the contained quantity in a volumetric jar. The mean values for the left and right foramina volume were 0.742±0.25 and 1.049±0.26 mL (p 0.05)). A significant negative correlation (direct relationship) (r-value = -0.225, p-value = 0.04 (p<0.05)) was observed between the volume of left foramen and the Intracranial volume (skull capacity) and however, a weak significant positive correlation ( direct relationship) between the volume of the right foramen and the skull capacity (r-value = 0.26, p-value = 0.02 (p<0.05 The study was able to demonstrate that the right jugular foramen is more voluminous than the left and that an inverse relationship exists between the intracranial volume and the volume of the left jugular foramen

The Jugular Foramen and the Intracranial Volume; Are they Related?

Body height prediction is one of the biological profiles used in the identification of individuals in cases of natural and man made disasters, and in crime investigations. In the present study, an attempt was made to derive regression formula to determine Body Height (BH) from lower extremity dimensions. 123 females and 88 males belonging to the Igbo population of Nigeria who gave informed consent were studied. BH was measured using standard protocols and measurements of the lower extremity segments were taken using measuring tape cutaneously. The mean observed BH of the studied population was 167.55±9.10 cm. In sexing the population, all the variables obtained were statistically significant, p<0.0001 except Thigh Length (TL). All the lower limb segments measured, showed positive significant correlation with body BH except Leg Length (LL) in the females. The multiple linear regression models generated using Lower Leg Length (LLL), LL and Trochanteric height (TROCH) in the overall population, and using LL and TL in the males performed better than the simple linear regression models because of the values of ‘R’ used in testing model adequacy. In females, LLL performed better than the other lower limb segments. KEyWORdS: Lower limb; Igbos; Measurements; Model adequacy. ABBREVIATIONS: BH: Body Height; TROCH: Trochanteric height; TL: Thigh Length; LL: Leg Length; LLL: Lower Leg Length.

https://openventio.org/Volume1-Issue1/Lower-Extremity-Measurements-in-the-Prediction-of-Body-Height-of-the-Igbos-ANTPOJ-1-104.pdf

Lower Extremity Measurements in the Prediction of Body Height of the Igbos

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Comparison of inhibitory effect of ibuprofen with Piper guineense Schumach and Thonn. on some reproductive hormones in female rats

Tetrapleura tetraptera stem bark has been reported to cause inhibition of luteinizing hormone release in cultured rat pituitary cells. Hence, we investigated the effects of Tetraptera tetrapleura pod extract on follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, cortisol, progesterone and estrogen. Thirty non-pregnant female wistar albino rats were divided into group A - D. Group A rats were used as Control. Group B rats were administered 1 mg/kg/day of clomiphene citrate orally. Group C rats were administered 200 mg/kg of extract only, whereas group D rats were administered 1 mg/kg /day of Clomiphene citrate plus 200 mg/kg of extract. At the end of 14 days experiment, group A, B and D were found in proestrus phase and group C in diestrus phase. FSH and cortisol levels remained unchanged. Group C and D rats produced significant reduction (P < 0.05) in LH and estrogen levels in prolonged proestrus and normal diestrus respectively. Progesterone level was significantly high (P < 0.05) in the group C rats. The reduced LH level could be due to the anti-estrogenic effect of extract during proestrus when LH secretion is expected to surge. But co-administration resulted in high progesterone secretion, suggesting extract may have influenced progesterone secretion in group D rats simultaneously administered with clomiphene citrate and extract. The above findings indicated that Tetrapleura tetraptera pod extracts inhibited luteinizing hormone and estrogen even when co-administered with clomiphene citrate.

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C. C. Eke

Papers

Prevalence of Hepatitis-B Surface Antigen (HbsAg), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among Blood Donors in Kano State, Nigeria

The Jugular Foramen and the Intracranial Volume; Are they Related?

Lower Extremity Measurements in the Prediction of Body Height of the Igbos

Comparison of inhibitory effect of ibuprofen with Piper guineense Schumach and Thonn. on some reproductive hormones in female rats

Tetrapleura tetraptera Extract Inhibited Luteinizing Hormone and Estrogen Secretion in Clomiphene Citrate Treated Female Wistar Albino Rats