Trauma death in a resource constrained setting: Mechanisms and contributory factors, the result of analysing 147 cases

Aims and objectives: The objective of the following study is to analyze the trauma type (causes), injury pattern and factors that may have contributed to death within 72 h of admission into our emergency department (E.D).Materials and Methods: An 18 month prospective observational study, done from April 2009 to September 2010. All the patients were that  admitted for 72 h following a full assessment by the attending clinician were enlisted for the study. The demographic data of each patient, time of arrival at the E.D, type of injury sustained, time of incident, previous care at any peripheral hospital, clinical state of the patient, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), Injury severity score (ISS) and treatment offered before death were entered into a Proforma.Data Analysis: This was done using EPI-Info statistical programme version 3.4.3 of 2007(by CDC Atlanta Georgia , USA).Results: A total of 4011 patients were seen in the E.D during the period. 1943 (48.4%), were trauma emergencies, with a (147; 41.4%) mortality. Their ages ranged from 4 to 87 years, with an average of 34.5 years. The male:female ratio was 7:1. The assessed GCS ranged from 6 to 15, with an average of 9.1, the ISS ranged from 9 to 75 with an average of 31.3. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) accounted for 118 (80.3%) of the deaths, assaults 14.3%, falls from height 4.0% and gunshot injuries 1.4%. The overall mortality was 17.1%.Conclusion: The major source of trauma death was RTA; The most  frequently injured part of the body was head, with death resulting clinically hemorrhage. The 17.1% mortality is multifactorial: The late presentation (in some cases occasioned by interference by persons not knowledgeable in the basics of trauma care) lack of trained personnel and the systemic deficiencies.Key words: Causes, factors contributory to death, mechanism of trauma, pattern of injuries, trauma deat

Test as a stethoscope: The need for adequate training and re-training in educational test and measurement for all teachers

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Antifeedant Activty Of Different Organic Solvent Crude Extracts Of Euphorbia hirta Latex On The Edible Tropical Land Snail (Limicolaria aurora)

The antifeedant activity of different organic solvents (acetone, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, diethyl ether and ethyl alcohol) crude extracts of latex of Euphorbia hirta (family Euphobiaceae) against Limicolaria aurora was investigated, and compared with a control, using pawpaw, (Carica papaya) as bait, at a concentration of 200&#956g/g. Results showed no mortalities. E. hirta extracts depressed diet consumption when compared to control with lower antifeedant index range from 12 to 43% after a 96 hr exposure in plastic snaileries under controlled laboratory conditions. Carbon tetrachloride recorded the highest antifeedant index of 43.24% and the lowest consumption of 3.57 ±2.97g. Keywords: Edible tropical land snails, antifeedant, plant extract, Euphorbia hirtaJournal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 149-15

Philosophy and education: As needs/interests and curricullum objectives with counsellling implication

The paper seeks to bring out the relationship between philosophy and education as disciplines that depend on one another. Needs and interests of anation are seen to be generatedby philosophy while education through dependable methods work towards the achievement of these needa and interests. The objectives of a nation are generated for the needs and interests of that nation, which are broken down jinto a document called curriculum. The curriculum is seen as the process of determining and pursuing set societal objectives through the instrument of the school. Counselling implications proffered among others that individuals should make room to accommodate changes as they come and that such changes should not be seen as defeat of status quo but as improvements of it. Sophia: An African Journal of Philosophy Vol. 8(1) 2005: 168-173 Keywords: Keywords

Analysis of Gleason grade and scores in 90 Nigerian Africans with prostate cancer during the period 1994 to 2004

Objectives: To determine the relative frequency of prostate cancer among surgical specimens, and among prostate specimens received at the pathology department ,University Hospital Calabar. Methods: Histology records were reviewed for the following: total number of histology specimens received; total number of prostate specimens; total number of prostate cancer; and the total number of cancers in males during the study period. Histology sections 4-5microns thick were cut from paraffin blocks and stained by Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E). Histopathologic specimens were classified using the grading system of tumour differentiation described by Gleason and associates. Results: One hundred and twenty three cancers of the prostate were received, constituting 2% of the total surgical specimens and 31% of prostate specimens. Thirty three cases (27%) could not be analyzed; therefore the study is based on 90 prostate cancer specimens. Eighty nine (99%) cases were epithelial tumours (adenocarcinoma.) There was a single mesenchymal tumour (rhabdomyosarcoma) (1%). The commonest grade in this study was the high grade (Gleason grade IV). Conclusions: We observed that prostate cancer is a common among males (all sites) diagnosed at the University Hospital Calabar, with a peak incidence between the ages of 61 - 70 years (seventh decade)

Analysis of Gleason grade and scores in 90 Nigerian Africans with prostate cancer during the period 1994 to 2004

Objectives: To determine the relative frequency of prostate cancer among surgical specimens, and among prostate specimens received at the pathology department ,University Hospital Calabar. Methods: Histology records were reviewed for the following: total number of histology specimens received; total number of prostate specimens; total number of prostate cancer; and the total number of cancers in males during the study period. Histology sections 4-5microns thick were cut from paraffin blocks and stained by Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E). Histopathologic specimens were classified using the grading system of tumour differentiation described by Gleason and associates. Results: One hundred and twenty three cancers of the prostate were received, constituting 2% of the total surgical specimens and 31% of prostate specimens. Thirty three cases (27%) could not be analyzed; therefore the study is based on 90 prostate cancer specimens. Eighty nine (99%) cases were epithelial tumours (adenocarcinoma.) There was a single mesenchymal tumour (rhabdomyosarcoma) (1%). The commonest grade in this study was the high grade (Gleason grade IV). Conclusions: We observed that prostate cancer is a common among males (all sites) diagnosed at the University Hospital Calabar, with a peak incidence between the ages of 61 - 70 years (seventh decade)

Some affective characteristics as correlates of secondary school students performance in mathematics in Cross River State.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether some affective characteristics could be used as correlates of secondary school students’ performance in mathematics in Cross River State. A survey data from a sample of 500 students were used in the study. A total of three hypotheses were tested using the One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the independent t-test statistics. The findings of the study showed a significant influence of achievement-motivation, attitude and gender on students’ mathematics performance. This study results also showed that students’ who manifested high, moderate and low achievement motivation differed significantly, while those with positive attitude perform better than their counterparts with negative attitude. In terms of gender, female students showed a positive attitude towards mathematics than male counterparts. Some recommendations were made for counseling implication

HIV/AIDS related mortality among adult medical patients in a tertiary health institution in South–South, Nigeria

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the causes of death among human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients as a step to planning strategies to improve mortality from this condition.MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed the mortality pattern of adult HIV/AIDS patients in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital from January 2005 to December 2007. The data were obtained from sexually transmitted infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (STI/AIDS) clinic register, admissions and discharge/death registers as well as the patients' case records and the hospitals monthly mortality reviews. Information obtained included age, sex, diagnosis and cause(s) of death. The causes of death considered were the direct causes of death, since the originating antecedent cause of death is the same in all the patients, in this case, HIV/AIDS. Data was analysed using Epi Info 2002.ResultsThe total number of mortalities during the study period was 350,100 were HIV positive representing 28.6% of all deaths. While advanced HIV/AIDS disease was the leading cause of death in our study representing 27.0%, tuberculosis was the single leading cause of deaths in HIV/AIDS patients constituting about 24.0% of deaths. This was followed by sepsis and septicaemia (13.0%), meningitis and encephalitis, and anaemia accounting for 11.0%, while respiratory diseases constituted 5.0% of the mortality burden. The highest number of deaths occurred in those aged between 21–50 years (82.0%).ConclusionsThe study has shown that HIV/AIDS is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in our hospital. The causes of death reflect the varied spectrum of infection and other forms of organ involvement that affect HIV/AIDS patients. The present dismal situation of adult patients living with HIV/AIDS calls for enhanced strategies to decrease the mortality trend observed in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa