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BACKGROUND: Severe anaemia (haemoglobin concentration

Introduction: The introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) has significantly improved the overall survival of Nigerian patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, there have been concerns that the outcome for children and adolescents may be sub-optimal.Objectives: To determine the overall survival (OS) of childhood and adolescent CML patients in Nigeria.Methods: We retrospectively examined our records from 2003 to 2011, and identified all Ph+ or BCR-ABL1+ CML patients a‰¤ 18 years at diagnosis, and retrieved their clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters. They received imatinib at 260-340 mg/m2/day. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 17, and survival studies using the Kaplan-Meier technique.Results: Of the 410 patients diagnosed, 14 (3.4%; male/female = 5/9) paediatric cases were recorded, with a median age of 16.5 (range, 11 - 18) years. At presentation, nine and five patients respectively were in chronic and accelerated phases. As at April 2012, seven patients are known to be alive, one lost to follow-up and six dead from progressive disease. Overall survival at 1 and 2 years were 90% and 79% respectively; while estimated median survival is 48.2 months (95%CI = 42.3 - 54.1). Conclusions: Imatinib continues to deliver impressive survival outcomes in Nigerian patients with CML. As compared to our previously reported data comprising mostly of adults, this cohort seems to suggest that survival outcomes are comparable in paediatric CML cases.

Background. Severe anaemia (haemoglobin concentration less than 50 g/l) is a major cause of paediatric hospital admissions and deaths in the tropics. Objectives.To examine the pattern and predictors of mortality among severely anaemic children. Methods. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among children with severe anaemia at the Children’s Emergency Room of the University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Socio-demographic characteristics, clinical features, laboratory findings and co-morbidities of the survivors and those who died were compared by logistic regression analysis. Results. Of the 1 735 children admitted, 311 (17.9%) had severe anaemia, with a case - fatality rate of 9.3%. The presence of respiratory distress (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1 - 3.6, p=0.031); acidosis (95% CI 1.8 - 2.7, p=0.010); coma (95% CI 0.1 - 0.3, p=0.001); hypotension (95% CI 2.0 - 4.2, p=0.020); and bacteraemia (95% CI 3.1 - 3.9; p=0.008) were the significant independent predictors of death with regression analysis. Conclusion. Early recognition with prompt and appropriate anticipatory intervention is essential to reduce mortality from severe anaemia.

Fish sorting assessments of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings stocked and raised in fish tanks were undertaken for a 6-month culture period: Sorting was undertaken from the first, second, and third months of stocking the fish fingerlings while the control was not sorted at all. The sorting assessments revealed that the twice sorting of fish fingerlings stocked with a Marginal Rate of Return (MRR) of 3.44 was significantly different (p>0.05) from those sorted once with MRR of 0.912, and three times with MRR of 2.65 respectively, thus making twice sorting most advisable for fish farmers utilizing Clarias gariepinus fingerlings for tank aquaculture

Some recipes for fish utilization in particular zones of Nigeria are assessed, giving details of their modes of preparation. The traditions of use of fish in the recipes shown appear to be based on the successful agricultural practices in particular zones and areas of Nigeria. This has helped to promote taste and values, since easily procured food items are cheaper for use in particular areas than others. The use of such fish items in the recipes are useful for promoting protein intake and stemming of malnutrition, especially in the rural areas, as well as helping to improve the incomes of women-in-agriculture