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AbstractMany academic libraries are currently caught between pressures of increasing library usage and reduced budget. The rapid growth in student enrolments over the last few years has greatly increased the client group of academic libraries. The use made of library books by staff and students of Obafemi Awolowo University from 1997/98 to 2000/2001 sessions was surveyed. The objectives of the study are to provide an approximate estimation of the existing circulating population and to evaluate how books are used. The results revealed that maximum use of the library books were made. A total of 88,835 volumes of books were borrowed for home use while 981,880 volumes were consulted. A total of 932,940 readers made use of the library facilities.

AbstractThis paper reports a survey of faculty staff involvement in book selection responsibility in six (6) Nigerian University Libraries consisting of three federal and three state in the South-West, Nigeria. Two sets of self-developed, pre-tested and validated questionnaires were used to collect data from the field. The reliability coefficients of the two self-developed questionnaires wing cronbach-alpha method are: University Librarians’ questionnaire (a = 0.82) and Faculty Staff questionnaire (a = 0.88) The study revealed that (1) Faculty Staff involvement in the book selection process is high; (2) Library book selection Committee is gradually fadingoff from the Nigerian University Libraries; (3) Faculty staff were not making adequate use of their University Libraries for teaching responsibility. The researchers therefore recommend that: (1) Faculty Staff should be left out from taken major active roles in book selection; (2) Library Book Selection committee should be reinstated in University Libraries; (3) Faculty Staff should be encouraged to make more use of their University Libraries.

Advanced necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a common neonatal surgical emergency of unknown aetiology. Despite improvements in the prognosis, the aggressive form of the disease is still associated with significant rates of morbidity and mortality. Recent evidence indicates that the extracellular matrix (ECM) is important in gastrointestinal development and glycosaminoglycans, major constituents of the ECM, are attenuated in inflammatory bowel disease. The hypothesis of this study was that changes in the nature and distribution of intestinal glycosaminoglycans occur in NEC. The distribution and nature of glycosaminoglycans were determined in 31 sections of well preserved resection margins and severely diseased bowel from eight neonates affected by NEC. An established histological method of glycosaminoglycans analysis using cationic gold with silver enhancement was employed in this study. The identity of specific glycosaminoglycans was also elucidated using a combination of cationic gold staining and glycanase digestion. In well preserved tissue, staining was seen throughout the full thickness of the bowel. The epithelial basement membrane and basolateral surfaces, lamina propria and submucosa were particularly prominent. In moderate disease, patchy loss of anionic sites was frequently observed with glycosaminoglycans-deficient areas adjacent to intact sites. In severe NEC, there was extensive loss of glycosaminoglycans in most of the sections examined. Glycanase analysis revealed that the glycosaminoglycans in well preserved tissue were sensitive to chondroitinase ABC and only vascular sites were sensitive to heparinase III. The consequences of glycosaminoglycans loss in NEC as demonstrated in this study are not known but modulation of gastrointestinal glycosaminoglycans could be important in the pathogenesis of NEC and may underlie some of the clinical manifestations of this condition.

Background/Purpose:Thomsen-Friedenreich cryptantigen activation (TCA) exposes neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis NEC to the risk of hemolysis after transfusion of blood products. The authors aimed to determine the prevalence of TCA in neonates with NEC and to correlate TCA with severity of disease and outcome. Methods:One hundred four neonates with NEC were tested for TCA on admission. Patients with TCA requiring transfusion were given packed red cells, low-titer anti-T fresh frozen plasma, and washed platelets to avoid hemolysis. Results:Twenty-three infants had TCA, and 96% of these had stage III disease. The incidence of TCA was significantly higher in infants with stage III disease compared with those with stage II (30% v4%; P<.01). A total of 91% of infants with TCA required laparotomy compared with 81% of those with no activation. At laparotomy, widespread disease was more common in the TCA group (71% v55%). TCA did not significantly increase mortality rate (TCA, 39% vno TCA, 28%); this may reflect the transfusion policy of our unit. Conclusions:Twenty-two percent of neonates with NEC referred to our unit had TCA. There is an association between TCA and advanced NEC. Screening of neonates with advanced NEC for TCA is advised to identify those at risk of hematologic complications. J Pediatr Surg 37:791-793. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Abstract: Intestinal obstruction and bleeding are uncommon complications of congenital syphilis (CS). A VDRL-positive infant developed incomplete intestinal obstruction and rectal bleeding. Despite conservative management, his symptoms continued. At laparotomy, terminal ileal inflammation and stenosis were demonstrated. He underwent ileal resection and primary end-to-end anastomosis with resolution of his symptoms. Histopathological examination demonstrated heavy plasmacytic infiltration of the lamina propria and submucosa with ulceration of the mucosa, consistent with syphilitic ileitis. This report documents for the first time bleeding from ileal ulcers associated with intestinal obstruction in CS and highlights an unusual presentation of the disease.