African health sciences
-
African health sciences · Mar 2015
Co-morbid anxiety disorders in patients with schizophrenia in a tertiary institution in South East Nigeria: prevalence and correlates.
Anxiety disorders occur commonly in schizophrenia but are often overlooked by psychiatrists. Their presence may compound the challenges faced by these patients and may contribute to poor outcome. ⋯ Co-morbid anxiety disorders are common in schizophrenia and they are associated with increased disability and psychopathology. The results emphasize the need to screen for anxiety disorders in patients with schizophrenia.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2015
Seroprevalence of transfusion transmissible infections (TTI), in first time blood donors in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Transfusion transmissible infections, such as HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis are on the rise and pose a threat to blood safety. ⋯ High levels of HBsAg and HIV were observed, there is need to revise the donor testing algorithm in Nigeria in line with the prevalence of TTI's. We also advocate that a National surveillance system for TTI's be established through our National blood transfusion service (NBTS) program, a second serological test is also suggested to reduce the risk of occult HBV infection in Nigeria.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2015
Diagnostic utility of clinical and biochemical parameters in pancreatic head malignancy patients with normal carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels.
Carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9 that is the most widely used biomarker for pancreatic cancer has certain limitations in diagnosis, which results in a tough job to distinguish pancreatic cancer from benign tumors with normal CA19-9. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic utility of clinical parameters and serum markers in patients with pancreatic head masses but without elevated CA19-9. ⋯ In patients with pancreatic head masses and CA19-9 of <37u/ml, age-distribution, abdominal-pain and direct bilirubin might be helpful in differential diagnosis. CEA was insufficient for exclusion of malignancy.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2015
Stroke mortality and its predictors in a Nigerian teaching hospital.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Stroke mortality has been noted to be higher in blacks in biracial studies. There have been few studies on stroke mortality and its predictors in Nigeria. This study examines mortality of stroke and its predictors in a Northern Nigerian teaching hospital. ⋯ Stroke mortality was quite high in this study. Predictors of mortality were the indices of severity and the presence of co-morbid conditions.