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Objectives: Self-reported vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) allows us to assess the effect of disease and treatments from the patient’s perspective, focusing on an individual’s subjective satisfaction and functional ability. The previous studies mostly focused on the impact of visual function deficits on VRQOL in patients with visual impairment. This study seeks to investigate the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on VRQOL in visually impaired patients. Material and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included consecutive adult patients with visual impairment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital eye clinic. All patients had presenting visual acuity worse than 6/18 in the better eye. VRQOL was assessed by the validated English version 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire. Sociodemographic characteristics and ocular parameters were recorded. Sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated based on age, sex, area of residence, marital status, religion, educational attainment, and monthly income. Each characteristic was stratified into groups or levels. Analysis of variance, including post hoc analysis was used to evaluate the association between sociodemographic characteristics and VRQOL. Results: A total of 270 patients were enrolled. After adjustments for category and causes of visual impairment, older age (P < 0.001), rural dwellers (P < 0.001), widowhood (P = 0.006), and no formal education (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with low mean visual function (VF) scores. Similarly, older age (P < 0.001), rural dwellers (P < 0.001), widowhood (P = 0.003), and no formal education (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with low mean QOL scores. The difference in the mean score of VF and QOL by religion, sex, and monthly income was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Besides the degree of visual impairment, the interplay of certain social and demographic factors plays a remarkable role in determining the QOL in visually impaired patients. Therefore, an individualized management plan, including psychosocial therapy is imperative in the care of visually impaired patients.

Leprosy reduces quality of life of affected persons. Oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species may play a vital role in the pathogenesis of leprosy. This study evaluated anthropometric indices, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), lipid profile, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total plasma peroxide (TPP), oxidative stress index (OSI), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdg) in leprosy patients. Sixty test participants of both genders, aged 18–65years and diagnosed of multibacillary leprosy and 30 apparently healthy controls were consecutively recruited for this study. The test participants comprised of 30 patients on multidrug therapy (MDT) and 30 patients relieved from therapy (RFT). Body mass index (BMI), Waist-hip ratio (WHR), FPG, lipid profile, TAC, TPP, OSI, MDA, GSH and 8-OHdg were determined using appropriate methods. Data were analyzed using Analysis of variance; p, Author summary This study shows that there are lower levels of total antioxidant capacity and higher levels of total plasma peroxide, malondialdehyde in leprosy patients undergoing multidrug therapy and those relieved from treatment and higher levels of 8-OHdg and oxidative stress index in leprosy patients undergoing multidrug therapy. This is suggestive of increased oxidative stress, in multibacillary leprosy patients irrespective of drug treatment status and increased oxidative DNA damage in those undergoing multidrug therapy. Antioxidants supplementation may be beneficial in the treatment of leprosy to protect against the effects of oxidative stress and DNA damage. Leprosy patients relieved from treatment may be susceptible to cardiovascular events as shown by higher levels of VLDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and atherogenic index of plasma observed in that group compared to controls. It therefore points to the need to monitor cardiovascular comorbidities in patients on multidrug therapy and those released from therapy.

Background: Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease afflicting humans. It has been reported that hypertensive patients may have a tendency for impaired thyroid function but, these results have not always been confirmed. The aim of this study therefore was to determine the serum level of thyroid hormones in hypertensive subjects and any possible relationship between serum thyroid hormone levels and hypertension. Methods: Blood samples were consecutively obtained from One hundred and seventy (170) consenting subjects. One hundred were hypertensive subjects while seventy subjects were normotensive controls. Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4) and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were analyzed using ELISA kits. Data was analyzed using student “t” test and analysis of variance. The difference was considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. Results: The mean serum TSH value for hypertensive subjects was 3.01±2.42 µIu/ml and was significantly higher (p

The study compared the level of valuation variance and inaccuracy between Nigeria and UK. In order to achieve the aim for the study, a survey method was employed using questionnaire administered on respondent estate surveyors and valuers in Calabar and Uyo metropolises. The study surveyed valuers opinions on the existence of valuation variance and inaccuracy, the possible causes and the margin of valuation error and data collected through questionnaire was analyzed using descriptive statistics to find the mean score, standard deviation and percentages. The findings from the study show that valuation variance and inaccuracy is high in Nigeria as compared to UK. The possible causes include lack of standards, lack of market data/comparables, lack of regulatory framework, methods/bases of valuation adopted, client’s influence, inadequate training of valuers, imperfect knowledge of the property market, wrong assumptions on cost per square metre, lack of professional experience as well as failure to discipline valuers on cases of negligence with lack of standards ranked first with the highest frequency and mean score. The study concluded by recommending the creation of a central property database, adopting/enforcement of international valuation standards, enforcement of disciplinary measures for erring members on negligence and a defined acceptable margin of valuation error.

Background: Hyperglycemia and insulin resistance have been associated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in Caucasian populations. It is therefore relevant to determine this also holds true in a native African population. Methods and Findings: The design of the study was cross sectional, 153 prostate cancer patients and 80 controls were recruited. Prostate specific antigen (PSA), insulin and glucose were determined using ELISA and colorimetric methods. Homeostasis assessment model for insulin resistance (HOMA IR) and HOMA2 IR were calculated. The prostate cancer patients were sub-grouped into treatment-naive prostate cancer cases and those on androgen deprivation therapy. Statistical analysis was carried out using Analysis of variance and least significant difference, p 0.05) in the mean insulin, glucose, HOMA IR and HOMA2 IR among the treatment-naive prostate cancer patients and prostate cancer patients on treatment and controls. In addition, there were no significant variations (p>0.05) in these parameters among patients treated with different types and durations of ADT. There was no significant correlation (p>0.05) between PSA and insulin, glucose, HOMA IR and groups HOMA2 IR in any of the groups. Conclusion: Androgen deprivation therapy does not result in elevated blood glucose, insulin and insulin resistance in native African men.

Advanced capabilities in genomic sequencing developed in the research sector will soon enter the clinical arena. Issues such as the proportioning of patient specimen material for traditional bright-field microscopic evaluation or dedication for molecular analysis will intensify, particularly in situations of small core biopsies. Microfluidics appears aptly suited as a platform capable of allowing traditional cytologic diagnostics and downstream molecular analysis from the same specimen. However, clarification is needed to determine that forces which act on cells in a fluidic environment do not drastically alter their cytologic features.Cells were processed for flow-through in a microfluidic channel and evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively for alterations due to fluid-shear stress or anoikis.Processing caused separation of cells from cohesive clusters to smaller groups and individual cells, leading to greater variation in parameters associated with the nucleus in nontumor cells but no significant change in tumor cells. These differences were most readily apparent by quantitative measures, and to a lesser extent, qualitative evaluation. Time-dependent processing played a larger role in cytologic alteration than fluid-shear stress for nontumor cells.Passage of cells through a microfluidic channel is a feasible approach that can be integrated into future platforms intent on integrating cytologic assessment of cells with recovery of the same cells for downstream assays.

This article examines the influence of literacy on the health of menopausetting (or pre-menopause) women in urban Calabar Metropolis of Cross River State, Nigeria. Two null hypotheses were formulated with a 45-item questionnaire from a representative sample size of 500 urban women between ages 35 and above, using purposive, stratified, and simple random sampling procedures. The research design is survey inferential, while data analysis was by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Fisher's multiple comparison (LSD) and Independent t-test techniques were carried out. The analysis revealed that literacy level significantly influences the health of menopausetting women and that menopausetting women who are highly literate live healthier lives than their counterparts who are averagely and lowly literate. Some recommendations were made which will enhance longevity and ultimate well-being of menopausetting women.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether some affective characteristics could be used as correlates of secondary school students’ performance in mathematics in Cross River State. A survey data from a sample of 500 students were used in the study. A total of three hypotheses were tested using the One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the independent t-test statistics. The findings of the study showed a significant influence of achievement-motivation, attitude and gender on students’ mathematics performance. This study results also showed that students’ who manifested high, moderate and low achievement motivation differed significantly, while those with positive attitude perform better than their counterparts with negative attitude. In terms of gender, female students showed a positive attitude towards mathematics than male counterparts. Some recommendations were made for counseling implication.

This study examined the effects of educational attainment and type of illness on pre-surgery (state) anxiety. The participants (N=100) for the study aged between 20 and 50 years, were pre-surgical patients randomly selected from hospitals in Uyo Metropolis. The Spielberger (1985) State Anxiety Inventory was used as the instrument in this study. A 2 x 2 factorial design was adopted and a 2-way statistical Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of the data showed that the hypothesis which predicted a statistically significant difference in pre-surgery (state) anxiety between patients with low and high educational attainment was supported F(1,96) = 283.48, P

Antimicrobial sensitivity tests were carried out on Escherichia coli, Shigella sp, Salmonella sp, and Proteus mirabilis using standard procedures. Significant differences (p0.01) were seen in the effect of the antimicrobial agents (garlic, ciprofloxacin and ampicillin), and in the sensitivities of the microbial species (p0.01) to the antimicrobial agents were observed. The gram-negative diarrheagenic pathogens from the stool samples were highly sensitive to garlic, while ciprofloxacin (CPX) was most effective against E. coli. The differences were inferred to result from genetic differences among the organisms and differences in the modes of action of the antibiotics. No isolates were resistant to garlic, making it a promising antimicrobial agent. It appears that antibiotics that interfere with DNA and RNA syntheses, such as garlic does, could constitute an effective partner in the synergic effect of garlic currently being investigated worldwide.

A subject, who had undergone surgery to replace one hip joint and the proximal half of the femur with an instrumented titanium implant, performed brief exercises whilst simultaneous measurements were made of compressive axial force in the implant using short-range wireless telemetry, ground reactions using a Kistler force plate, and electromyographic activity of the vastus lateralis (VL) and erector spinae (ES) muscles using surface electrodes. Recordings were made barefoot and wearing 'trainers'. The exercises (slow jumping in counter movement style, fast continuous jumping, and jogging on the spot) have been found effective in controlled interventions for increasing bone mineral density in women. The implant forces were 250-400% BW. The values were about twice the magnitude of the ground reaction forces and significantly correlated with them for both peak force and its rate of rise but their relative magnitudes varied depending on mode of activity (jumping or jogging). Implant forces were significantly related to the muscle activity; in multiple regression analysis implant forces during take off from slow jumps VL contributed significantly in addition to the ground reaction (98% total explained variance). There was more activity in VL during jumping than jogging for the same implant force which may explain why jumping appears to be more osteogenic than jogging for the femur. For the same ground reaction, wearing trainers increased both the magnitude of the compressive loading of the femur and its rate of rise.

Isometric handgrip, quadriceps muscle strength and leg extensor power were assessed as part of a large representative survey of adult men and women in England. The gender ratios for these muscle strength measurements did not differ across age groups, which ranged from 25 to 65 years. Data from a subsample of women who were aged between 45 and 54 years and free of major health problems or current gynaecological problems (n = 299) and were analysed to see if there were differences in the muscle measurements according to reported menstrual status. Analysis of variance was used to compare four subgroups of women as follows: those who were still menstruating regularly (n = 89), those who had stopped altogether (n = 92), those who were irregular (n = 33) and those on hormone replacement therapy (n = 15). No significant differences were found between these subgroups in any of the three muscle measurements, body mass, fat-free mass (derived from four skinfolds), body mass index, or customary activity levels. There was a significant age difference of 2 years between two subgroups. After having controlled for this, using analysis of covariance, the outcome was not changed. These women were also compared with men in the same age range; the women had about 60% of the strength of the men and a highly significant difference remained after controlling for fat-free mass in all subgroups. No evidence was found for an ergogenic effect of the high oestrogen status conferred by natural menstruation or hormone replacement therapy.

The oxygen uptake and heart rate in various styles of dance and in a graded step test have been compared in ten healthy women aged [mean (SD)] 34 (5) years. Dance was choreographed into progressively more energetic sequences typical of community classes, and videotaped. Oxygen uptake was assessed using a respirometer carried in a back-pack. Each of the two tests (dance and step) took 15–20 min and measurements were made in randomised balanced order on the same day. The mean oxygen costs of dance ranged from 1.29 l · min−1 for low impact style to 1.83 1 · min−1 for high impact style with arm work; mean heart rates were 135 and 174 beats · min−1 respectively. Low impact dance raised heart rates above 60% of predicted maximum and so would provide training; during high impact dance recorded heart rates sometimes exceeded recommended safe limits. The addition of arm work significantly increased heart rates in both high and low impact dance but when oxygen pulses for each style of dance were compared no significant differences attributable to arm work were found. Moreover calculated differences between oxygen uptakes in stepping and dance at the same heart rates (those recorded during dance) were not significant for any of the four styles. Analysis of variance confirmed that neither arm work nor impact contributed significantly to the differences, so there was no evidence that these forms of dance change the normal relation between heart rate and oxygen uptake found in dynamic activities with large muscle groups such as stepping.