International Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences

58-63

Authors: Fanea Laura

Automated push-button medical analysis using quantitative multiparametric standard scales will offer the possibility of efficient fast medical diagnosis in a precise and accurate manner. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers complex geometrico-physicochemical analysis of the physio-anatomy of interest. Most imaging protocols for the quantitative multiparametric MRI have already been implemented clinically, but flow assessment still remains a problem, especially when evaluated without contrast agents. A simple method for flow quantification using MRI without contrast agents is described in this study. The proposed method has the potential of non-invasive flow quantification, produced offline from MRI images acquired in less than one minute.

44-49

Authors: Nagah A. A. Mohamed, Mohamed Amanullah, Ramazan Amanvermez, Mariam A. Ibrahim and Moneer Abbas

It is suggested that plasma cholinesterase level is affected by liver cirrhosis due to hepatocyte injury. The objective of this study was to determine cholinesterase values in association with albumin and prothrombin during both the compensated and decompensated stages in cirrhotic patients. A total of 150 consecutive episodes of liver cirrhotic patients, aged (68.9 ± 10 years) admitted to the hospital between June 2015 and December 2015 were studied. They were classified into subgroups according to severity and the stages of disease into group A (compensated stage) and group B (decompensated stage), each containing 75 patients. Fifty apparently healthy participants aged 64.5 ± 13 years were recruited as controls. Blood samples were drawn and targeted parameters were assessed using commercial kits according to the manufacturer’s guide. SPSS package was used for data analysis. There was a significant difference in the mean serum cholinesterase activity, albumin level and prothrombin time of cases and controls. The mean serum cholinesterase value of compensated cirrhotic patients was 3143.83 ± 1583.44 IU/L and it was significantly higher (p = 0.000) than that of decompensated cirrhotic patients (1895.32 ± 531.79 IU/L). There was a strong negative correlation between serum cholinesterase activity and prothrombin time (r = -0.580, p = 0.000) and a strong positive correlation between serum cholinesterase activity and albumin concentration (r = 0.617, p = 0.00). The results conclude that, cholinesterase level reflects liver cell conditions wherein low levels indicate hepatocellular damage. In addition, its levels are stable and not easily affected by medications that are given for cirrhotic patients thus, can be used as a marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of liver damage along with prothrombin time and albumin.

19-24

Authors: Eze NC and Uneke CJ

As an important factor of patient’s satisfaction, waiting time, has gained increasing attention in the field of health care services. This study aimed to assess treated patients’ perception on scheduling hospital appointment to reduce waiting time. A cross-sectional study using a convenience sampling method was conducted in a primary health centre in Abakaliki. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection and 5 point likert scale was used for analysis. Data were collected from 305 treated patients. Thirty six percent (36%) of the respondents agreed that they spend much time waiting for doctors or nurses when seeking health services in the facility. Thirty six percent (36%) of the respondents said that hospital appointment timing is very necessary, 34% of the respondents agreed very much that timing hospital appointment will make them not to stay too long in the hospital. Two-third of the respondents [64%] described hospital appointment timing as really relevant. Different features of the perceptions indicated the mean ratings (MNRs) and mostly ranged from 2.94 to 4.02 on a 5 point scale. The overall assessment of the perception had MNR at 3.76. In conclusion, adoption of an appointment system and flexible management of doctor scheduling may be an effective way to achieve reduced waiting time. It is recommended that policy back up for timing hospital appointments to improve service delivery and clients’ satisfaction in our health system. More studies should look into patients’ attitude towards long waiting time.

30-36

Authors: Taiwo OA, Oduola TK, Farouk OM, Braimah RO, Ibikunle AA, Labbo JS, Musa K, Awwal N, Ayodele MF and Amao AT

The aim of this study is to investigate the reasons and pattern of tooth extraction in patients attending the outpatient Dental clinic of Sir Yahaya Memorial Specialist Hospital, Kebbi, North-West Nigeria between January 2014 and December 2016. The design was a retrospective study of records of individuals who had tooth extraction. Patients’ records were retrieved and analyzed for gender, age, indication(s) for tooth extraction and type of tooth/teeth extracted. A total of 428 extractions from 213 (51.0%) males and 204 (49.0%) females (M:F = 1.04:1) were undertaken during this period. There was no statistical significance difference in gender against indications for extraction [p = 0.8521, 95% CI = 0.018 (-0.096 to 0.131)]. The age ranged from 1 to 75 years (mean ± SD, 30.7 ± 15.2 years, median = 30.0) with majority of the patients (77.6%) not more than 40 years old. Teeth extracted were for patient in the age group 21-30 years. Three hundred and fifty five patients (85.0%) presented with pain while routine dental check up accounted for 4 (1.0%) cases. The major indications for extraction were dental caries and its sequelae 341 (79.7%), periodontal disease 44 (10.3%) and trauma 20 (4.6%). Teeth in the lower arch were more regularly extracted than upper teeth. The lower first molars were the principally extracted teeth. In conclusion, dental caries and its sequelae was the main reason for removal of teeth in this subset of Nigerian population. Thus, it is imperative to ameliorate the underlying social determinants of dental caries and eliminate barriers limiting access to primary preventive oral health care.

9-13

Authors: Imarenezor, E. P. K., Iyamu, M. I. and Nmorsi, O. P. G.

Schistosomiasis is an endemic parasitic disease exclusively located in tropical Africa, Asia and North America. The infection processes and indeed the control of this infection partly require an understanding of cytokine immune responses to the disease. This study therefore aims at determining the profiles of cytokines (interleukins) (IL) (IL-1α, IL-7 and IL–13) among schistosomes positive individuals. The investigation was carried out in Ewan in Edo State, Nigeria. Sera from 35 seropositive subjects were categorized as lightly and heavily positive. Also, 16 of these 35 seropositive subjects demonstrated parasites in the blood and as a result were further grouped into lightly infected (n = 4) and heavily infected (n = 12) of schistosomiasis based on the demonstration of Schistosoma haematobium infection. Sera of seropositive subjects were subjected to IL-1α, IL-7 and IL-13 assays. In the serum, IL-1α levels were significantly higher among the heavily positive subjects than the control subjects (p < 0.05). Conversely, depressed level of IL-1α was seen for schistosomiasis lightly positive subjects (p < 0.001). IL-7 level was significantly lower in heavily positive individuals than control subjects and lightly positive IL-7 level was significantly depressed (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in IL-13 levels among schistosomes infected individuals and their non-infected counterparts. The depressed levels of serum IL-1α and IL -7 should serve as markers for individuals with lightly positive schistosomiasis infection in Ewan, Edo State, Nigeria.