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Abstract This prospective study was carried out to determine the safety of ceftriaxone [CTRX] applied topically to nervous tissue. During an industrial action in 1999 surgical procedures were performed in [...]

Current prognostic models for head injury were developed using data mostly from high income countries. A more useful model may be obtained from predictors designed from data obtained from low and middle income countries where trauma is said to be a neglected endemic condition.

This study investigates the turning of aluminium alloy 6063 to optimise the material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (Ra) simultaneously. L27Taguchi's orthogonal experiments were conducted by incorporating machining parameters of speed (260, 470, 840 rev/min), feed (0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mm/rev) and depth of cut (0.5, 1.0, 1.5). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and signal-to-noise ratio were applied to determine the optimal control settings and validated by confirmatory tests. The performance characteristics were modelled by second-order regression, artificial neural network (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA). The results indicate that the optimal conditions for MRR (375 mm3/min) and Ra(1.298 μm) were in agreement with the confirmatory tests. Regression models showed that the optimal points for MRR and Racan be enhanced by the effect of interactions, but the ANN predicted the experimental data with better accuracy. The GA further elicited a set of optimal solutions for improving machining performance.

Background: Achieving guideline-recommended blood pressure is imperative in reducing the rising tide of uncontrolled hypertension and its attendant sequelae, which are major causes of morbidity and mortality globally. The aim of the study was to describe the pattern of blood pressure control and identify the factors influencing blood pressure control among patients with primary hypertension seen at family medicine clinics of FMC, Abeokuta.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study. A systematic random sampling technique was used in selecting 360 hypertensive respondents over four months. Data were collected through a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 was used to analyse data.Results: Blood pressure was controlled in 167 (46.4%) of the respondents. The independent predictors of blood pressure control were female gender (p= 0.001, OR = 2.494, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.477–4.214), regular use of medication (p= 0.001, OR = 2.900, 95% CI = 1.508–5.577), regular clinic attendance (p < 0.001, OR = 3.512, 95% CI = 1.772–6.960), and absence of diabetes mellitus (p< 0.001, OR = 7.357, 95% CI = 3.190–16.966).Conclusions: The rate of blood pressure control among the hypertensive respondents was low. Multiple independent predictors of controlled blood pressure call for a team-based approach as well as multiple approaches including education of patients, expansion of a community-based health insurance programme and intensification of treatment efforts when managing hypertensive patients.

Head injury is an important cause of mortality worldwide. The objective of the present study was to analyse the pattern of fatal head injury among patients seen in University College Hospital, Ibadan. The study was based on retrospective investigation of cases of fatal head injury referred by the coroner to the Department of Pathology, University College Hospital, between 1991 and 2000. Pertinent clinical and postmortem findings were extracted from available coroner's autopsy records.There were 529 cases (402 males and 127 females). Their ages ranged from <1 year to 90 years (mean=33 years), the average age of females (27.8) being less than that of males (34.6) (p=0.00003). 83.8% were road traffic accidents, 8.9% falls from a height, 3.8% assault, and 3% gunshot injuries. 79.1% had a GCS of 8 or less at presentation. The mean survival period of children aged less than 15 years was 2 days while that of adolescents and adults aged 15 years and above was 5.6 days (p=0.02). Subdural (62.4%), subarachnoid (24.6%), epidural (10.2%), and intracerebral (10%) haemorrhages were the major causes of death. Skull fractures occurred in 38.2%, while cerebral contusions occurred in 22.1%. Intracranial infection was relatively uncommon in these patients. The present study has shown that young adults, predominantly males in their most productive years of life, are especially prone to fatal head injury.

The effect of promethazine on peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine was investigated at pH 5.4. Promethazine dose dependently introduced a lag in the appearance of tetramethylbenzidine charge-transfer complex monitored at 652 nm. Increasing concentrations of tetramethylbenzidine however decreased the lag period proportional to the tetramethylbenzidine concentration. Addition of promethazine to preformed charge transfer complex caused rapid bleaching of the blue-colored complex. Titration of promethazine with the yellow-colored diimine gave rise to the blue charge-transfer complex and the complete reduction of the species to the colorless parent amine compound. The available evidence suggests that promethazine is oxidized via redox mediation by tetramethylbenzidine peroxidase-oxidized products.