Search

The gross alpha and beta activities in samples of surface water and groundwater in Kaduna metropolis, following perpetual exposure of employees and inhabitants to petrochemical processing and other industrial activities, was determined using Protean Instrument Corporation (MPC-2000DP) device. The gross alpha and beta activities in surface water (Kaduna River) ranged from 1.17 ± 6.81–3.30 ± 1.25 Bq/l to 0.00 ± 6.89–3.30 ± 1.85 Bq/l respectively, while the range in groundwater is from 1.16 ± 1.38–7.81 ± 4.12 Bq/l to 2.35 ± 3.49–8.85 ± 8.09 Bq/l respectively. The results revealed that apart from beta activity downstream of Kaduna River (R2 = 0.00 ± 6.89 Bq/l), all other alpha and beta activities concentrations in both surface and groundwater were above the reference level for potable water. The annual total effective committed dose due to water consumption is 0.2392 to 5.9417 mSv respectively. All values of the total effective committed dose were above the recommended level (0.1 mSv) for intake dose from drinking water and as such require further screening to determine the actual radionuclides responsible for the pollution.

Objective: To define the sociodemographic and clinical aspects of organic phosphate and carbamate poisoning. Design: The records of 70 adults (33 males and 37 females) with carbamate or organophosphate intoxication admitted to a North Jordan Teaching Hospital over a five-year period were reviewed retrospectively. These patients represented 10% of all drug overdoses admitted over the same period. Results: The most cases occurred in the 15-19 year-old age group and the female to male ratio was 1.1:1. Carbamate intoxication was more than twice as common as organophosphate intoxication. Two thirds (64%) of the patients intended to commit suicide, 26% were due to accidental ingestion and the remaining 10% were from occupational exposure. Muscarinic manifestations were the predominant clinical feature followed by central nervous system and then nicotinic manifestations. Low grade fever, not related to infection, was observed in 49% of the patients and respiratory difficulty in 47%, of which 11% required assisted ventilation. Twenty-nine percent of the patients presented with coma. Three patients died for a hospital mortality of 4%. Conclusions: The widespread use of carbamates and organophosphates as household pesticides and the lack of adequate regulations controlling their sale and application has encouraged teenagers to prefer them as a modality of attempted suicide. This source of poisoning has become a major health problem in some developing countries., INTRODUCTION Organophosphates (OP) and carbamates were used initially as chemical warfare agents but since the early 1950s the widest use of these compounds is as insecticides and pesticides. They are [...]

Children with cerebral palsy require effective, accessible and affordable medical and rehabilitation care.

In 8 adult patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, the perfusion flow was altered from 2.4 to 1.8 and 1.2 L/min/m2 during hypothermia (26.5 ± 2.3°C). Following rewarming of the patients to 37°C, the perfusion flow was also altered from 2.4 to 1.8 and 1.2 L/min/m2. The resulting mixed venous oxyhemoglobin saturation (SvO2) was measured in vivo by in-line oximetry at the actual body temperature, and was correlated with the corresponding temperature-corrected and uncorrected mixed venous oxygen tension (PvO2) as measured in the lab at 37°C. Venous blood at the entrance of the oxygenator was used for continuous in-line oximetry, blood gas sampling, and for measuring body temperature.

Unhygienic disposal of children’s faeces is one of the key factors responsible for the high incidence of childhood diarrhoea in developing countries. The aim of this project was to study household behaviours relating to the disposal of faeces of children under the age of five.The study was conducted in Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria, where 320 households, containing 540 mothers with children under the age of five were randomly selected. Data was collected by observation using a schedule specifically designed for the study. Our findings show that while over 80% of children under the age of seven months defecated on a napkin, the majority of older children (over seven months of age) defecated on either the floor of the household and their surroundings or outside in the household's vicinity.Mothers usually cleaned up the children's faeces which were then thrown into a pit latrine. In some cases dogs were used to clean up the faecal matter on the floor. In either case faecal residue remained on the floor.The authors recommend educational interventions to change the unhygienic practices relating to clean up and disposal of children's faeces. The interventions include encouraging children to defecate in plastic chamber pots, promoting the practice of hand washing with soap and water after cleaning up the children's faeces and the construction of affordable and ventilated latrines by members of the communities.

Because of its anatomic position, the orbit is frequently subject to trauma, leading to functional and cosmetic problems. After blunt trauma, orbital fractures can cause functional problems by trapping the periocular tissues without affecting the anatomic integrity of the globe. In comparison, high-energy penetrating injuries can cause serious consequences such as disrupting the lacrimal drainage system and causing loss of vision. In rare cases, however, penetration of the orbit by a foreign body can result in a treatable injury that causes no functional or cosmetic problems.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the "Fact and Comment" column in the July 23, 2007 issue.

Introduction:Sickle cell disease (SCD) remains associated with high risk of morbidity and early death. Many patients in sub-Saharan Africa continue to experience severe complications despite best supportive care. Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) can be considered for a select group of patients. When successful, HSCT is economical and improves quality of life. We report the experience from our south-south partnership whereby Ugandan patients with SCD have undergone HSCT at the Bone Marrow Transplant Center in Gurgaon, India

Non-invasive Hemoglobin Measurement (NIHM) devices have recently become available in clinical practice. These point-of-care devices use spectrophotometry to measure hemoglobin (Hb), providing real-time results and do not require blood draws. However, the validity of this technology has not been examined in patients with moderate to severe anemia (Hb< 90g/L).The purpose of this study is to examine the validity and performance of non-invasive hemoglobin measurements (NIHM) among anemic patients in the real world setting.Patients were recruited from two clinical settings that are highly applicable this technology.(i) The intensive care setting, where frequent blood draws contribute to anemia.Patients were recruited from three tertiary care critical care units(ii) A developing country setting. Patients were recruited from the Internal Medicine and Paediatrics wards at Mulago hospital in Kampala, Uganda.An additional cohort of patients was recruited from an outpatient Hematology clinic which served as a comparator group.All patients were enrolled in a consecutive manner. In the ICU population, patients were recruited through a consecutive, convenience sample in order to maximize patients with hemoglobin values < 90 g/L.The Pronto 7® NIHM device was compared to Coulter Counter Complete Blood Count (CBC) measurements. All CBC were processed at College of American Pathologist or Ontario Laboratory Accreditation approved labs; all CBC determinations were drawn within 4 hours of the Pronto determination in patients with stable hemoglobin values. Basic demographics along with suspected etiology of anemia were also collected. The consistency between CBC and NIHM was assessed by Pearson's Correlation, mean difference and linear regression. The study was reviewed by the Integrated REB at both St Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton and Mulago Hospital and Makerere University in Uganda. As a minimal risk study, the requirement for consent was waived at the Hamilton sites by the research ethics board. Consent was obtained from Ugandan participants.188 patients were recruited.a. ICU population. Seventy four patients were recruited with mean age of 61 years (range 16-89). The patients were of a medical (n=44; 69%), surgical (n=17; 23%), trauma (n=7; 18%) mixed population (n=6; 13%). The mean Hb on CBC was 97 g/L. Forty patients (53%) had an Hb less than 90 g/L. The mean absolute difference between the CBC and NIHM was 14.85 (range 0-53g/L). The overall Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.62 and the R2 value was 0.37.b. Ugandan population. Eighty-three patients were recruited (31 pediatric and 52 adult) with a mean age of 27 (range 2-80). The mean Hb value on CBC was 80 g/L and 43% percent of patients had Hb values than 70 g/L. Seventeen percent of patients had sickle cell disease. NIHM were not obtainable in over half (n=55 (65%) of the study population) and in 30 of the 31 pediatric patients. In those who could be tested the mean absolute difference between the CBC and NIHM was 24 g/L (range 0-72) with Pearson coefficient of 0.84 and R2 value of 0.71.c. Outpatient population. Thirty one patients were recruited with mean age of 66. The mean Hb value was 119 g/L with mean absolute difference between the CBC and NIHM of 14.6 g/L (range 1-43 g/L) with Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.69 and R2 of 0.47. Figure 1 shows the scatter plot for the three patient groups. In all three groups, the majority of data points fall to the right of the line of equal value between NIHM and CBC measurements, indicating a tendency of the device towards overestimation of the hemoglobin.This is the first study of NIHM to target the patients with moderate to severe anemia and to include pediatric patients and those with hemoglobinopathy. There is only moderate degree of correlation between the NIHM and CBC measurements with the NIHM demonstrating a consistent positive bias. The positive bias was seen in all patient groups, and both the inpatient and outpatient setting. The device was unable to provide measurements in children though this may have been due the probe size available to the investigators. The discrepancy in values between NIHM and venipuncture CBC values suggests that the non-invasive hemoglobin monitor will be of limited utility in the patient groups evaluated in this study.Crowther: Asahi Kasai: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Baxter: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; CSL Behring: Speakers Bureau; Leo Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Merck: Consultancy; Octapharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi-Aventis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Viropharma: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees.