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Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing public health problem causing a significant amount of disability and mortality in Nigeria. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common complications associated with DM. However, studies on the prevalence of MSDs and their associated factors are limited in Nigeria, particularly in the northwest region. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of MSDs and their associated factors among individuals with DM in northwest, Nigeria. Material and methods A retrospective cross-sectional survey of medical case records of all consecutive patients with DM attending a diabetic clinic in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria was conducted be-tween February 2015 and September 2021. Data on sociodemographic and clinical variables was collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. Results Four hundred eighty-nine cases (170 men [34.8%], 319 females [65.2%]; mean age: 51.4 ±12.3 years) were analysed. The majority of the participants had type 2 DM (96.7%), with a mean DM duration of 7.02 ±5.05 years. The overall prevalence of MSDs was 32.7%, with the highest prevalence found for lumbosacral spondylosis (11%) followed by knee osteoarthritis (8.4%). Among the different potential predictors examined, only duration of DM was significantly associated with overall MSDs (AOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.04–2.98; p = 0.035) whereas both duration of DM (AOR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.19–5.89; p = 0.018) and body mass index (AOR: 7.461, 95% CI: 1.33–43.8; p = 0.023) were significantly associated with lumbosacral spondylosis. Conclusions Approximately one-third of the study participants had MSDs, with lumbosacral spondylosis being the most frequently occurring disorder. Being obese and having a longer duration of DM were associated with MSDs. Clinicians in Nigeria need to pay attention to MSDs and related factors in DM patients by conducting routine assessments and implementing early treatment.

Palmoplantar pigmentation is a rare clinical presentation of alkaptonuria, a rare inborn error of phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism. Alkaptonuria occurs owing to a deficiency of an enzyme homogentisic acid oxidase inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder. We report a case of alkaptonuria, which presented with palmoplantar pigment pigmentary nail changes and the involvement of the spine and joints. He was advised of ascorbic acid along with symptomatic management and detailed counselling.

Objective: To look for migraine headaches and associated factors in patients being managed for psoriasis at a tertiary healthcare setup in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Dermatology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Mar 2021 to Feb 2022. Methodology: One hundred and forty patients of psoriasis being managed at our Dermatology Unit were included in the analysis. All patients were screened with the Migraine Screen Questionnaire (MS-Q), and those having scores equal to or more than four were evaluated by medical specialists, and diagnosis of migraine was established based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders diagnostic criteria for migraine. An association of relevant risk factors was established with migraine among these patients. Results: Out of 140 patients with psoriasis, 75(53.4%) were male, while 65(46.6%) were female. Eighty-five (60.7%) patients had migraine confirmed by clinical criteria, while 55(39.3%) had no migraine. Statistical analysis revealed that more body surface area involvement and longer duration of psoriasis had a statistically significant relationship with migraine among the study participants (p-value

Objective: To compare the efficacy of double-dose oral Terbinafine and Itraconazole in treating dermatophytic infections. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04880980). Place and Duration of Study: Department of Dermatology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Mar 2021 to Mar 2022. Methodology: One hundred and twenty patients with dermatophyte infections of the skin (i.e., tinea corporis and cruris) diagnosed by clinical presentation and KOH mount were included in this study. After randomization, patients were divided into two groups. Group-A was managed with double-dose oral Terbinafine, while Group-B was managed with double-dose oral Itraconazole. Clinical response and side effects were seen and recorded initially at two weeks and then at four weeks.Efficacy and adverse effects were compared in both groups at the end of four weeks. Results: Out of 120 patients with dermatophyte infections of the skin included in the study, 59(49.2%) took double-dose oral Terbinafine while 61(50.8%) took double-dose oral Itraconazole after randomization. It was revealed that Itraconazole was more efficacious in achieving cure at the end of 4-weeks as compared to double dose Terbinafine (p-value=0.001), while adverse effects studied were not statistically significant or different in both the groups (p-value>0.005). Conclusion: This randomized controlled trial showed that double dose oral Itraconazole was more efficacious in treating dermatophyte infections of the skin (i.e., Tinea corporis and cruris) compared to double dose oral Terbinafine. Adverse effects were minimal in both groups and were not specially related to any of these medications.

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder of the skin and mucous membranes which manifests as white macules and patches due to selective loss of melanocytes. This condition can affect the patients' psychology, leading to an impairment of quality of life (QOL). Recently, much attention is been given to the emotional and psychological issues in the affected subjects. Aim of the Study: This was to assess the QOL impairment among Nigerian patients with vitiligo using a disease-specific quality of life index questionnaire (VitiQoL). Materials and Methods: Seventy seven adults aged 18 years and above with vitiligo attending the Dermatology Clinic of a tertiary health center were included in this cross-sectional study. The QOL was assessed using the vitiligo quality of life questionnaire (VitiQoL). Disease severity was assessed using Vitiligo Area Severity Index (VASI). Results: The mean age of the study participants was 38.97 ± 13.2 years, comprising of 32 (41.6%) and 45 (58.4%) females. Almost half of the vitiligo patients belong to the lower socioeconomic class, 37 (48.1%). The mean age of first onset of vitiligo was 33.5 ± 14.84 years, with 32 (41.6%) of the participants having age of first onset between 24 and 42 years. The mean VitiQoL score was 30.51 ± 15.74 (range 3–64). There was a significant relationship between VASI score and VitiQoL (P = 0.036, r = 0.517). Other factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, disease activity, family history of vitiligo, duration of the disease and educational attainment were significantly associated with VitiQoL score (P < 0.05). Conclusion: QOL is impaired significantly in Nigerian patients with vitiligo. Focusing on patient's QOL is an essential aspect in the management of patients with vitiligo.

A 35-year-old highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-naïve woman diagnosed 2 years earlier presented with complaints of cough, fever and progressive weight loss of 5 months and skin rashes of 2 months. Clinical examination revealed a chronically ill-looking young woman who was wasted and pale, with purplish flat-topped papules and nodules on the skin of her neck, trunk, forearms and thighs. She also had a single lesion on the hard palate. Chest examination shows reduced breath sounds with crepitations. Sputum acid-fast bacilli were positive, and skin biopsy taken for histology confirmed Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). The patient recovered fully on antiretroviral and antituberculosis therapy without the need for any specific chemotherapy for KS. We report this case to elucidate the role of immune reconstitution as a treatment modality for AIDS-related KS, as well as to point out the possibility of multiple opportunistic conditions coexisting amongst patients with advanced HIV disease.

Background: Ultrasound scanning presently forms an integral part of antenatal care around the globe. It is a common investigative tool in most public and private health facilities in developing countries. Routine obstetric ultrasound has been one of the most important advances in antenatal care worldwide. It is also useful in the early detection and monitoring of the conditions that give rise to fetal and maternal compromise and has become an indispensable adjunct to the management efforts of practitioners in this regard. Therefore, utilization of this innovation by pregnant mothers is paramount toward good outcome. Objective: The objective is to determine the factors affecting utilization of ultrasound by pregnant mothers attending antenatal care in Zaria Local Government, Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive was used to carry out the study among 200 pregnant mothers selected through multistage sampling technique. This study was conducted over a period of 6 months from November 6, 2017, to May 6, 2018, after approval was given by the ethical committee of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. A structured interviewer-administered, validated questionnaire was administered to each participant to ascertain the factors affecting utilization of obstetric ultrasound by pregnant women in Zaria Local Government, Kaduna State. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 22. Results: The data obtained from the questionnaire were scored for proper evaluation. Furthermore, all collected data were carefully tallied, various frequencies, ranges, and mean (standard deviation) were determined. Most (29.5%) of the respondents aged 20–24 years, majority (95.5%) were homemakers that are not gainfully employed. Majority of the respondents were Hausa (94.5) and Muslims (96.5%). The findings of this study have shown that educational status, husband occupation, and knowledge affect the utilization of ultrasound by respondents. Conclusion: The common factors that affect the utilization of obstetric scan in Zaria were knowledge, education background, and husband occupation. Attitude, age, and the occupation of the respondents do not affect the utilization of obstetrics scan in Zaria.

INTRODUCTION: The most recently discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) that causes COVID-19, subjected the entire world in turmoil health-wise and economically. With higher burden of malaria in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries coupled with fragile healthcare system and delivery, these may pose a threat in the diagnosis and management of COVID-19 patients co-infected with malaria. Free radicals have been implicated in the progression and pathogenesis of malaria and COVID-19 through Fenton’s reaction and cytokine storm respectively. METHODS: the current research comprises of seventy-four (74) participants; 20 apparently healthy controls and 54 COVID-19 patients (20 among which were co-infected with malaria). Serum levels of 8-iso PGF2α and Alphatocopherol were determined among the study participants using ELISA technique and colorimetric assay, respectively. RESULTS: results revealed statistically significant elevation of 8-iso PGF2α in COVID-19 patients co-infected with malaria compared to COVID-19 patients only, and this may be due to increase production of free radicals. Furthermore, a significant decrease of Alphatocopherol was observed in COVID-19 co-infected with malaria compared to COVID-19 patients due to increase utilization of antioxidants in counterbalancing the negative effect of free radicals generated. CONCLUSION: conclusively, SARS-COV-2 patients co-infected with malaria might be predisposed to oxidative stress and low Alphatocopherol. The increase in oxidative stress is proportional to malaria parasite density and inversely related to Alphatocopherol levels. This implies that oxidative stress is notably higher and such patients may have a severer form of the COVID-19. Increased 8-iso-PGF2α in co-infection and decreased alphatocopherol levels can reflect the severity and adverse outcomes compared to COVID-19 naïve because of their tremendous involvement in the pathogenesis and progression of diseases.

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common neurodevelopmental motor disorder resulting from early childhood brain insult. Nutrition in children is very important for growth and development. This is more so in those with chronic illnesses such as CP. This study was conducted with the aim of assessing the anthropometry and anthropometric indices of CP children. Materials and Methods: This comparative, cross-sectional study recruited 150 children with CP matched for age and sex, with 150 children without CP (as controls). The participants' socio-demographic and CP-related data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire designed for the study. The weight and height of the subjects were measured. Nutritional status was determined using the World Health Organization Z-scores. Results: Overall prevalence of malnutrition in CP subjects was 86%. This was significantly higher than in controls, whose prevalence was 55.3% (χ2 = 34.027,P < 0.0001). The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight in CP subjects was 53.3%, 57.5% and 66.9%, respectively. These were also significantly higher than those of controls who had prevalence of stunting being 16.7%, wasting 8.5% and underweight 14.8%. Conclusion: This study found a high prevalence of malnutrition (especially under-nutrition) and therefore underscores the need for more emphases on nutritional assessment, counselling and management in CP patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to sonographically measure and compare the pronator quadratus muscle thickness (PQMT) in apparently healthy volunteers between two occupational groups and to assess the influence of hand dominance on the PQMT. METHODS: A total of 180 apparently healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. The volunteers were grouped into repetitive (90) and nonrepetitive (90) workgroups. They were scanned with a B-mode ultrasound machine and linear transducer. RESULTS: The mean PQMT was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the repetitive workgroup than in nonrepetitive workgroups. Similarly, a significant difference in mean PQMT was observed between dominant and nondominant hands in the repetitive workgroups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The mean PQMT among repetitive workgroup is significantly higher when compared with nonrepetitive workgroups in the study area.

for 6 months, were older (P=0.00) multi-parous (P=0.05) and more educated (P=0.00) compared to those who did not practice EBF. Among them, significantly increased proportion of women agreed that EBF should be continued during the night (P=0.03), infant should be fed on demand (P=0.05), sick child could be given medication (P=0.02), EBF offered protection against childhood diarrhea (P=0.01), and helped mothers with birth spacing (P=0.00). CONCLUSION: This study shows that there is a need for reaching women with reliable information about infant nutrition in Sokoto State. The results show decreased EBF practice among working mothers, young women, mothers with poor education and fewer than five children. Counseling is a useful strategy for promoting the duration of EBF for six months and for developing support systems for nursing mothers. Working mothers may need additional resources in this setting to enable them to practice EBF.