African health sciences
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African health sciences · Dec 2020
Management of spinal-induced hypotension for elective caesarean section: A survey of practices among anesthesiologists from a developing country.
In developing countries, more than half of the anesthesia-related maternal deaths are related to spinal hypotension. ⋯ Phenylephrine as the vasopressor of choice indicates growing awareness of management strategies among anesthesiologists from developing countries but there is a need to increase its use for prophylaxis. Some variation in practice according to the level of anesthesiologist, practice type and responsibilities to obstetric anesthesia are evident.
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African health sciences · Dec 2020
Congenital infantile digital fibromatosis: a case report and review of the literature.
Infantile digital fibromatosis (IDF), also called inclusion body fibromatosis is an uncommon benign tumour occurring in the digits of young children. In about a third of cases, it is congenital and the diagnosis is based on the presence of peculiar intracytoplasmic inclusions on histology. Recurrence rate post-surgery is high. ⋯ Histological examination revealed this to be infantile digital fibromatosis. To the best of our knowledge, no report of this has been made in Nigeria. It is important that this diagnosis be entertained in young children with masses on the digits as this will influence the management instituted.
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African health sciences · Dec 2020
Micro RNAs and the biological clock: a target for diseases associated with a loss of circadian regulation.
Circadian clocks are self-sustaining oscillators that coordinate behavior and physiology over a 24 hour period, achieving time-dependent homeostasis with the external environment. The molecular clocks driving circadian rhythmic changes are based on intertwined transcriptional/translational feedback loops that combine with a range of environmental and metabolic stimuli to generate daily internal programing. Understanding how biological rhythms are generated throughout the body and the reasons for their dysregulation can provide avenues for temporally directed therapeutics. ⋯ In recent years, microRNAs have been shown to play important roles in the regulation of the circadian clock, particularly in Drosophila, but also in some small animal and human studies. This review will summarize our current understanding of the role of miRNAs during clock regulation, with a particular focus on the control of clock regulated gene expression.
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African health sciences · Dec 2020
The relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Vitamin D deficiency is frequently seen in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and has been shown to exhibit multiple effects on the disease process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of vitamin D deficiency in complex PCOS pathophysiological pathways. ⋯ The study findings show that low 25(OH)D3 levels are associated with high androgen levels in women with PCOS. Vitamin D deficiency should be considered as an additional risk factor in the development of PCOS. We think that providing vitamin D supplementation for women from identified deficiency areas can reduce the risk of PCOS development.
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African health sciences · Dec 2020
Trace metal toxicity in some food items in three major markets in Ado-Odo/Ota LGA, Ogun State, Nigeria and associated health implications.
Many of the markets in Nigeria are open, where foodstuffs are laid bare on flat trays and open baskets, directly exposing them to environmental contaminants. This study aimed at determining whether some food items on sale around an industrialized area of Ogun State are contaminated with trace metals. ⋯ Some of the food items consumed in this area are not entirely safe from metal toxicity and this may have serious health consequences.