Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive disease where endothelial dysfunction plays an important role in its etiology. Statins have been considered a therapeutic option for pulmonary hypertension due to their pleiotropic effects. Materials and Methods: We investigated the association between statin use and echocardiographic parameters in 73 patients with pulmonary hypertension (23 patients were on statin and 50 patients were not taking statin). Results: Our study showed no association between statin use and different echocardiographic parameters used to evaluation pulmonary hypertension though there was a trend toward less right ventricular dilatation favoring the statin group (25.20 ± 14.7 mm vs. 29.7 ± 9.5) with a P = 0.052. Conclusion: We observed noassociation between statin use and echocardiographic findings in patients with pulmonary hypertension. A larger scale studies are need to confirm our findings.

Background: Hyphaema is a common sequalae following trauma. Th aim of this study was to determine the demographics, pattern, complications and visual outcome in patients managed with traumatic hyphema. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of all cases of traumatic hyphema seen from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2013. Data analyzed included biodata, duration of injury prior to presentation, grading of hyphema and activity during injury, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, associated injuries and complications. Results: A total of 45 eyes in 45 patients with traumatic hyphema were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 27.3 ± 18.6 years with 44.4% occurring in the age group 0-20 years. The male:female ratio was 6.5:1. About 40.0% of patients presented within 24 h of the injury and 51.1% with Grade 1 hyphema. Injury occurred mostly during play and at work in 17.8% each. The initial visual acuity was worse than 6/60 in 82.0% but decreased to 60.0% following treatment while visual acuity of 6/18 or better increased from 6.7% at initial presentation to 31.1% following treatment. Lid and corneal injuries were the most common associated injuries in 20.0% each, while secondary glaucoma was the most common complication of hyphema in 22.2%. Conclusion: Traumatic hyphema is a common occurrence in children and young adults during play and at work. Early presentation, associated injuries, complications and management affects visual outcome.

Background: Glaucoma is a disease of public health importance. We assessed the level of awareness and knowledge of glaucoma among workers at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is cross-sectional study of hospital workers at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City. Data on demographics, awareness and knowledge of glaucoma was gathered through structured self-administered questionnaires to a random sample of workers. Statistical analyses were performed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 16 (SPSS Inc. 2007. SPSS for Windows, Version 16.0. Chicago) software. Chi-square test was used to assess for any statistically significant difference in the social demographic factors such as age, gender, staff category, education, and duration of employment in the hospital and awareness of glaucoma. The level of knowledge among the staff categories was also compared using the Chi-square test. Statistical significance was taken as P < 0.05. Results: There were a total of 226 respondents. 93 (41.2%) were in the age group of 21-30 years. 111 (49.1%) were males. 168 (74.3%) were aware of glaucoma. Awareness of glaucoma was higher among the paramedical staff and among workers with a higher education (P < 0.001). The knowledge of glaucoma was good among 31% of those who were aware of glaucoma, fair in 31.5% and poor in 37.8%. Conclusions: There is a need to educate hospital workers on glaucoma in order to raise awareness and increase their level of knowledge such that blindness prevention from glaucoma may be possible from early diagnosis and prompt treatment in these workers, their relatives, and contacts.

Aim: To determine the contribution of corneal blindness to visual disability among Blind Street Beggars (bsb) with a view to draw the implications to blindness prevention programme in Sokoto North Local government area (LGA) . Materials and Methods: The cross sectional study was conducted in Sokoto North Local LGA in Sokoto State. The study was conducted over a period of six weeks between May and June, 2009. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethical Committee of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. The list of blind persons in these areas was obtained from the traditional head of the blind (Sarkin Makafi) who assisted in mobilizing the subjects. Blind subjects who consented were included in the study. Data obtained were entered and analyzed in form of frequency tables using Epi-info 2000 statistical software package . Results: A total of 202 of the registered persons were found to be blind on ophthalmic examination and were therefore included in the analysis. There were 107 (53%) males and 95 (47%) females with a mean age of 49 years. One hundred and sixty four (81.2%) blind beggars became blind during childhood period while 38 subjects (18.8%) became blind during adulthood. Trachoma corneal opacity was responsible for 12.8% of the blindness while other corneal opacity accounted for 60.8%. Conclusion: Majority of the subjects had preventable blindness. We recommend a comprehensive eye care programme with a strong emphasis on health education and prompt treatment of these causes as a means of reducing the population of street blind beggars in Sokoto North LGA.

Background: Knowledge and safety perception of physicians concerning commonly used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) may have influence on decisions of treatment and life of patients. This study determined the knowledge and safety perception of CAM among physicians in an Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), a tertiary institution in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A survey based on an anonymous questionnaire was performed among 221 doctors of UDUTH Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria using a 30-item validated questionnaire to examine their level of awareness and safety perception on CAM. Results: The lifetime prevalence of CAM use among doctors was 69.3% while current CAM use was about 12%. About half (47.5%) of the doctors think CAM use is unsafe. About 84.6%, 86.4%, and 64.3% of doctors think CAM use can cause adverse reactions/side effects, drug interactions, and noncompliance, respectively. Residents/consultants (84.5%) were more likely to correctly identify the standard definitions of CAM compared with house officers/medical officers (77.3%) (P = 0.02). A significantly higher percentage of consultants/residents were found to associate the use of CAM with poor adherence to conventional drugs compared with HO/MO (P = 0.02). Conclusion: This study demonstrates high degree of concern about the safety of CAM as it relates to adverse reactions/side effects, drug interactions, and noncompliance to orthodox medicine among physicians in UDUTH. There was an acceptable level of knowledge of CAM.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are prevalent during pregnancy and may have adverse sequalae in both mother and fetus. Interactions between these infections and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) synergize and may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes and reverse the gains of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of candidiasis, trichomoniasis, gonococcal infection, syphilis, and bacterial vaginosis in HIV pregnant women and compare with HIV negative controls. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted during the period from April to December 2010 at the Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and three Primary Health Centers in Ilorin. A total of 160 HIV positive pregnant women attending antenatal clinics were recruited, along with the same number of HIV negative matched controls. A structured proforma was used to collect information from patients, vaginal examination was performed and samples were taken from the endocervix and the posterior vaginal fornix with swab sticks. Results: STIs were recovered from 142 women, giving overall prevalence of 44.4%. HIV infected women had a higher prevalence (60%) compared to uninfected (28.8%). The most prevalent STI was vaginal candidiasis (29.1%), followed by bacterial vaginosis (9.7%), and trichomoniasis (5.6%). The prevalence of candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis was higher among HIV positive pregnant women compared to HIV negative controls (P < 0.05). No woman had syphilis or gonorrhea. Conclusion: The prevalence of candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis was higher in HIV infected pregnant women compared to uninfected. Routine screening of HIV infected pregnant women for these organisms is advocated.

Background: The sella turcica is one of the commonly used orthodontic landmarks in determining and diagnosing various problems of the facial skeleton; with the shape and linear dimensions found to vary in different types of skeletal classes especially during puberty where significant changes of the sella turcica occur. These pubertal changes can be assessed using the stage of maturation of the  cervical vertebrae and a method; the Cervical vertebrae Maturation (CVM) method which could aid in the clinical determination of optimal treatment modalities. Materials and Methods: The sella turcica and first six cervical vertebrae were assessed on the cephalometric radiographs of 106 untreated orthodontic patients. Correlations between variables were determined by using the SPSS (version 16) software. Results: A normal sella turcica shape was the most frequently occurring in 65 (61.3%) of the total sample population. Skeletal Class II was the most predominant craniofacial problem in 53 (50%) and in 13 (46.4%) in CVM Stage 3, with a significant difference in the diameter, P < 0.05 in females with a skeletal Class I pattern. Maxillary prognathism with an increased sella-nasion-maxillary point A (SNA) value >90° was highest in 50 (47.2%). There was a significant difference in the diameter of the sella turcica among gender with skeletal Class II. The largest diameter of 18 mm was observed in females and in CVM Stage 4. The mean area of the sella turcica is the same for both CVM Stages 1 and 5 (74.07 mm ² ). The difference in the area of the sella turcica was highest in the transition between Stages 1 and 2 (8.81 mm ² ) and similar between Stages 2, 3, and 4 (2.38 mm ² ). The mean area of the sella turcica demonstrated a sequential increase from CVM Stages 2-6. Conclusion: The CVM stages may be utilized as a diagnostic tool in the clinic to differentiate the pubertal growth spurt and determining the best time for treating certain orthodontic problems. The linear dimensions of the sella turcica cannot be used as a diagnostic tool in determining skeletal classes.

Background: Dental anxiety is a major issue with respect to provisions of and access to dental care. We evaluated the knowledge and management of anxiety among Nigerian dentists. Materials and Methods: The study population included 192 Nigerian dentists recruited during an annual national dental conference in Abuja. The conference was a meeting point for dentists with post graduation experience ranging between 1 and 32 years and from different part of the country. They completed a structured questionnaire on dental anxiolysis. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 16. Results: Of the interviewed dentists, 122 (55.1%) practiced in teaching hospitals and 24% had their specialization in child dental health. A total of 34 (19.8%) dentists had been exposed to formal trainings on the practice of dental anxiolysis. Of this number, 66% had basic life support training and only 11.8% had refresher training programs. The most preferred route of administration of anxiolytic drugs was oral (57.3%). Most of the respondents were of the view that dental anxiolysis should not be instituted for all dental patients. Conclusion: The interviewed Nigerian dentists were knowledgeable and managed dental anxiety. Although some of them had no formal training on dental anxiolysis, the major consensus is that dental anxiolysis should not be instituted for all dental patients.

Arterio-venous malformation (AVM) is an uncommon abnormality, characterized by abnormally dilated pathologic vessels resulting in shunting of blood from arteries to veins without intermediary capillaries. The management of AVM is challenging because of high shunt flow and complex vascular anatomy. A 28-year-old female patient presented with a pulsatile occipital swelling. Sonographic findings of the AVM were confirmed on computed tomographic angiography, showing dilated, and tortuous vessels in the occipital region with feeders from the vertebral arteries and the right external carotid, which drained to the right internal jugular vein. She was treated by ligating the feeders.