University of Nigeria, Nsukka

About: University of Nigeria, Nsukka is a education organization based out in Nsukka, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 10211 authors who have published 13685 publications receiving 138922 citations.

Tube Thoracostomy: Complications and Its Management

Abstract: Background. Tube thoracostomy is widely used throughout the medical, surgical, and critical care specialities. It is generally used to drain pleural collections either as elective or emergency. Complications resulting from tube thoracostomy can occasionally be life threatening. Aim. To present an update on the complications and management of complications of tube thoracostomy. Methods. A review of the publications obtained from Medline search, medical libraries, and Google on tube thoracostomy and its complications was done. Results. Tube thoracostomy is a common surgical procedure which can be performed by either the blunt dissection technique or the trocar technique. Complication rates are increased by the trocar technique. These complications have been broadly classified as either technical or infective. Technical causes include tube malposition, blocked drain, chest drain dislodgement, reexpansion pulmonary edema, subcutaneous emphysema, nerve injuries, cardiac and vascular injuries, oesophageal injuries, residual/postextubation pneumothorax, fistulae, tumor recurrence at insertion site, herniation through the site of thoracostomy, chylothorax, and cardiac dysrhythmias. Infective complications include empyema and surgical site infection. Conclusion. Tube thoracostomy, though commonly performed is not without risk. Blunt dissection technique has lower risk of complications and is hence recommended.

Synthesis, characterization and gas-sensing properties of SILAR deposited ZnO-CdO nano-composite thin film

Abstract: The deposition of ZnO-CdO thin films are carried out using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method at room temperature. The deposited ZnO-CdO thin films have been characterized using FT-Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis spectrophotometer, two point probe resistivity method, and contact angle mode. Raman spectroscopy show various peaks from the as deposited films which disappeared after annealing. The SEM reveals the morphology of the films nanosized smooth interlocked sheets all over the surface. The bandgap value of 3.8 eV is observed for as deposited but decreased to 2.9 eV after annealing. Activation energies of 0.43 and 0.11 eV are estimated for the as deposited film and annealed film, respectively. The Gas response of the ZnO-CdO composite film shows maximum (about 50%) at 623 K upon exposure to 780 ppm of LPG.

Knowledge about childhood autism among health workers (KCAHW) questionnaire: description, reliability and internal consistency.

Abstract: Knowledge and awareness about childhood autism is low among health workers and the general community in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries Poor knowledge and awareness about childhood autism, especially among health workers can compromise early recognition and interventions which had been known to improve prognosis in children with autism In formulating policy and designing interventions for these children, there is need to develop a reliable tool that can be used in assessing baseline knowledge about childhood autism among health workers and the impact that future continued education and awareness campaign may have on such baseline knowledge Knowledge about childhood autism among health workers (KCAHW) questionnaire was designed for this purpose The KCAHW questionnaire is a nineteen (19) item self-administered questionnaire that is divided into four domains KCAHW questionnaires were distributed to fifty (50) psychiatric nurses involved in community mental health services in South-Eastern Nigeria to complete After two weeks period, the KCAHW questionnaires were re-administered to the same fifty (50) psychiatric nurses to assess their knowledge about childhood autism and to assess the test-retest reliability and internal consistency of this questionnaire KCAHW questionnaire showed good test-retest reliability when the mean domain and total scores at first and second time administration were compared The four mean domain scores and the mean total scores at first and second time administration were significantly correlated The questionnaire also had a good overall internal consistency when the mean scores of the four domains were correlated with mean total scores (Cronbach's alpha = 097) The KCAHW questionnaire is a reliable tool for assessing knowledge of health workers about childhood autism It would be a useful tool in improving early recognition of features of autism among affected children in Sub-Saharan African and other developing countries of the world where knowledge and awareness about childhood autism is low

The epidemiology of helminthosis in small ruminants under the traditional husbandry system in eastern Nigeria

Abstract: The epidemiology of helminth infections in West African dwarf sheep and goats under the traditional husbandry system prevailing in the derived savanna area of eastern Nigeria was studied for 12 months. The infections observed were due to Haemonchus contortus (87.1%), Trichostrongylus spp. (63.8%), metacestodes of Taenia hydatigena (30.2%), Oesophagostomum columbianum (22.4%), Strongyloides sp. (18.8%), Cooperia spp. (17.2%), Gaigeria pachyscelis (6.0%), Moniezia expansa (6.0%), Bunostomum trigonocephalum (4.3%), Trichuris ovis (3.5%), Capillaria sp. (0.9%) and paramphistomes (0.9%). Mixed infections were most prevalent. The endemicity of parasitic gastroenteritis in the area was indicated by the high prevalence of the helminths irrespective of the season of the year. The overall trend in helminthosis in these animals was that of an escalating worm burden during the period of confinement (April – October) and a low worm burden when animals were allowed free range (November – March), these periods corresponding to the cropping and harvest seasons respectively. A strong positive correlation (r=0.73; p<0.01) was obtained between the mean strongyle worm burden and the eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces. A single treatment with a broad spectrum anthelmintic followed by movement into clean sheds at the beginning of confinement is suggested to give control of helminthosis in small ruminants in this area.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of rapid diagnostic test, microscopy and syndromic approach in the diagnosis of malaria in Nigeria: implications for scaling-up deployment of ACT

Abstract: The diagnosis and treatment of malaria is often based on syndromic presentation (presumptive treatment) and microscopic examination of blood films. Treatment based on syndromic approach has been found to be costly, and contributes to the development of drug resistance, while microscopic diagnosis of malaria is time-consuming and labour-intensive. Also, there is lack of trained microscopists and reliable equipment especially in rural areas of Nigeria. However, although rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have improved the ease of appropriate diagnosis of malaria diagnosis, the cost-effectiveness of RDTs in case management of malaria has not been evaluated in Nigeria. The study hence compares the cost-effectiveness of RDT versus syndromic diagnosis and microscopy. A total of 638 patients with fever, clinically diagnosed as malaria (presumptive malaria) by health workers, were selected for examination with both RDT and microscopy. Patients positive on RDT received artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) and febrile patients negative on RDT received an antibiotic treatment. Using a decision tree model for a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 patients, the diagnostic alternatives considered were presumptive treatment (base strategy), RDT and microscopy. Costs were based on a consumer and provider perspective while the outcome measure was deaths averted. Information on costs and malaria epidemiology were locally generated, and along with available data on effectiveness of diagnostic tests, adherence level to drugs for treatment, and drug efficacy levels, cost-effectiveness estimates were computed using TreeAge programme. Results were reported based on costs and effects per strategy, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. The cost-effectiveness analysis at 43.1% prevalence level showed an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 221 per deaths averted between RDT and presumptive treatment, while microscopy is dominated at that level. There was also a lesser cost of RDT ($0.34 million) compared to presumptive treatment ($0.37 million) and microscopy ($0.39 million), with effectiveness values of 99,862, 99,735 and 99,851 for RDT, presumptive treatment and microscopy, respectively. Cost-effectiveness was affected by malaria prevalence level, ACT adherence level, cost of ACT, proportion of non-malaria febrile illness cases that were bacterial, and microscopy and RDT sensitivity. RDT is cost-effective when compared to other diagnostic strategies for malaria treatment at malaria prevalence of 43.1% and, therefore, a very good strategy for diagnosis of malaria in Nigeria. There is opportunity for cost savings if rapid diagnostic tests are introduced in health facilities in Nigeria for case management of malaria.