African Journal of Tropical Medicine and Biomedical Research

Hyperglycemic emergencies in a tertiary health facility

Joseph Ovosi — 2022-01-01

Abstract
Aim: To assess the clinical presentations and predictors of mortality of hyperglycemic emergencies (HE)
in persons with diabetes mellitus (DM) presenting in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria.

Methods: This was a two-year retrospective review of hospital records of persons with DM in a tertiary
hospital in Nigeria. We retrieved data on person’s demographics, clinical and laboratory characteristics
into Microsoft Excel and analyzed with STATA version 14.

Results: A total of 195 (42.4%) out of 460 persons admitted with DM fulfilled the eligibility criteria.
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was present in 42.6%, mixed hyperglycemic emergency (MHE) in 34.9%
and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) in 22.5%. Mortality in HE was 8.7%. The common clinical
presentation were: osmotic symptoms (71.3%), tachypnoea (46.7%), tachycardia (42.6%). Elevated anion
gap (89.2%) and anemia (80.5%) were the common laboratory findings. Infections (86.7%), noncompliance (79.5%) and newly diagnosed DM were the common precipitants of HE. Significant
predictors of mortality were: duration of DM between 5-9 years, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 8,
hypotension, and hypokalemia.

Conclusion: HE is still a common cause of hospitalization and mortality in persons with DM; and
features such osmotic symptoms, tachypnea and high anion gap metabolic acidosis should alert the
clinician.

Assessment Of Haematological And Antioxidants Changes In Male Albino Wistar Rats Treated With Tramadol

Nduka Richard Ossai — 2022-01-01

Abstract
Introduction
Illicit drug use disorders are a major public health burden that contributes significantly to the global burden of disease and tramadol is one of the most common illicit psychoactive substances being abused especially amongst the young adults. This research aims to assess the haematological and antioxidants activities of male wistar rats treated with tramadol.

Materials and Methods
Thirty adult male Wistar rats weighing 120-180 g were selected for the study and was randomized into 6 groups. Group 1 was not treated within the period of the study before sacrificing, Group 2 to 5 received 30 mg/kg body weight of tramadol for 7, 14, 21 and 42 days respectively while treatment for group 6 was withdrawn for 3 weeks after 21 days treatment period before sacrificing. The animal's Brain, Liver, kidney and Testis were excised for biochemical analysis. Generated data were analyzed using SPSS package and results expressed as mean ± SEM.

Results
Results obtained showed significant decrease in the haemtololgical parameters as well as in the WBC count, Catalase, SOD and Glutathione activities in the chronic tramadol-treated rats when compared to the normal control at p<0.05. This study also revealed that chronic tramadol use increases the level ofMDA significantly when compared with the non-treated group.

Conclusion
Tramadol consumption lowers RBC count, haemoglobin level, PCV, platelet count, WBC count, CAT, SOD, and GSH activities while significantly raising MDA levels. Therefore tramadol should only be used under medical supervision and only on prescription, avoiding indiscriminate and long-term.

Intensity of Urinary Schistosomiasis and Prevalence of Urinary Tract Pathology Among Primary School Pupils in Delta State, South-south, Nigeria

Nkemjika Mbagwu — 2022-01-01

Abstract
Background: The urinary tract pathology (UTP) of urinary schistosomiasis is a common complication of the infection caused by inflammatory reactions mainly against the deposited egg antigens around the urinary tract and it is a disease of major public health importance.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the intensity of urinary schistosomiasis and the prevalence of its UTP among primary school pupils in Ndokwa-East Local Government Area (NELGA) of Delta State, South-south Nigeria.

Method: This study was a cross sectional descriptive study of primary school children aged 5-15 years in Ndokwa-East Local Government Area (NELGA) of Delta State. Urine microscopy was used to identify infected primary school pupils. The intensity of infection was classified using egg count according to World Health Organization (WHO) standard, after which they participated in an ultrasound examination, using WHO guideline for schistosomiasis morbidity.

Result: Among the infected subjects, 87.5% of those with severe infection had bladder wall pathology, while 71.4% of those with mild infection had bladder wall pathology (FET, p-value = 0.613). Additionally, 12.5% of those with severe infection as against 7.1% of those with mild infection had hydroureter (FET, p-value = 1.000), while 37.5% of those with severe infection as against 42.9% of those with mild infection had hydronephrosis (FET, p-value = 1.000).

Conclusion: The prevalence and severity of UTP in this study had no significant relationship with the intensity of infection.