PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN AS A SCREENING TOOL IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA: AN ASSESSMENT OF COMPLIANCE LEVEL AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

Introduction: Prostate cancer is the leading cancer in older men and early detection has been advocated as this affords patients a potential cure by radical prostatectomy. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is widely used as a screening tool to categorize patients who may be at risk of prostate cancer and it is considered as the most promising tumor markers available. However, the utility of PSA is not limited to prostate cancer detection; it can also be applied to benign conditions of the prostate. Objective: To assess the compliance rate of male doctors≥ 40 years toward prostate cancer screening Method: Questionnaires were distributed to eighty (80) male medical doctors in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria using a convenient sampling method. The data were analyzed for demography, knowledge and attitude toward PSA screening using Pearson chi-square. A PSA knowledge score was generated using three different parameters gotten from the questionnaire and subjects were classified into very good, good and poor based on their responses. Results: Most (77.4%) of the respondents were middle aged men with a mean age of 54.17+_8.6 years. Majority (77.8%) of the respondents had a very good knowledge (n=48) of the utility of PSA as a screening tool for early diagnosis of prostate disease. However, the respondents attitude and practice toward PSA screening were poor in that majority (77.1%) has never had a previous PSA done. This is significant (p<0.001) Conclusion: There is a poor attitude and practice toward PSA screening among the knowledgeable

In vitro antimicrobial evaluation of methanol extract of Triumfetta rhomboidea leaves against some clinical bacterial isolates

The antimicrobial activity of methanol extract of Triumfetta rhomboidea leaves was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Agar diffusion and agar dilution techniques were employed for the antimicrobial sensitivity and interaction studies. Phytochemical analysis of the crude extract was also carried out using standard procedures. The results obtained showed that the crude extract exhibits a substantial antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae (which recorded the greatest sensitivity), Salmonella typhi but not against Staphylococcus aureus. The result of the interactive studies between the crude extract and standard antibiotics showed relationship ranging from antagonism to synergy. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of terpenes, flavonoids and other phenolics and resins in the crude extract. Thus, this study shows that Triumfetta rhomboidea possesses promising antimicrobial activity especially against Klebsiella pneumoniae.Keywords: Triumfetta rhomboidea, Antimicrobial activity, Microorganisms, Susceptibility, Resistance, Interactio

One month priapism in a 39 year old man with chronic myeloid leukaemia

Background: Priapism is an involuntary prolonged erection unrelated to sexual stimulation and unrelieved by ejaculation. There are two types of priapism ; low flow (ischaemic ) and high flow priapism. It presents with engorgement of corpora carvernosa sparing the copora spongiosum and glans penis, and can be continous(sustained) or “stuttering”. “Stuttering” priapism is a term used for episodes that last less than 3 hours but are repeatitive1. Priapism was recognized as a serious complication of sickle cell disease as early as 19342 . 20% cases of priapism are related to haematological disoder3 .It is seen in 1-5% of males with all types of leukaemia4. There is a high index of suspicion of chronic myeloid leukemia in a non sickle cell adult patient presenting with priapism.Method: Case note of the patient was retrieved for relevant information. The following information was obtained: date of the first contact , clinical findings, laboratory investigations for diagnosis eg peripheral and bone marrow aspiration blood film and BCR- ABL quantification; the ancilliary investigations ; liver function test, serum electrolyte, urea and creatinine etc. Abdominal and scrotal U/S information was also obtained.Result: Patient had Philadelphia positive chronic myeloid leukaemia in chronic phase with complete loss of erectile function (erectile dysfunction)Conclusion: Priapism is a rare presentation of chronic myeloid leukaemia, there should be a high index of suspicion of CML in a non sickle cell adult patient presenting with priapismKey words: Priapism, Chronic myeloid leukaemia and erectile dysfunctio

Comparison OF D-dimer Level AND Platelet Count in Individuals with AND Without Sickle Cell Anaemia

Aim: This study aimed to assess the D-dimer levels and platelet count in sickle cell anaemia patients and compare with those of the control subjects. Materials and Methods: This study is a cross–sectional comparative study which enrolled 58 sickle cell anaemia patients (25 males and 33 females) in a stable state at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, as well as 25 healthy controls (11 males and 24 females). Venous blood (4.5 mL) was collected from both the patient and control into a vial containing 0.5 ml of 3.2% trisodium citrate. D-dimer levels was analysed using ELISA method. Platelet counts were determined (from 5ml venous sample collected with EDTA) using haematology autoanalyzer. Results: There was a significant rise in D-dimer levels in sickle cell patients, with mean values of 1771.86 ng/mL and 1986.00 ng/mL for males and females, respectively, in the steady state compared to the D-dimer levels of controls, with mean values of 199.24 and 322.21 ng/mL for males and females, respectively. Platelet count was significantly higher in SCA patients than in the control subjects. There is perfect correlation between D-dimer and platelet counts in both patients and control (r=1, n=57, P=0.000) and (r=1, n=30, P=0.000) Conclusion: This study showed the hypercoagulable state and thrombotic risk associated with SCA. The strong correlation between D-dimer levels and platelet counts suggests a potential interplay between platelet activation and coagulation activation in SCA, warranting further investigation into therapeutic interventions targeting these pathways. Zenodo DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1454332