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BACKGROUND: Reference intervals are assessment tools for interpretation of clinical test results. These intervals describe the dispersion of test parameter values of apparently healthy persons in defined populations as health status indicators. Using reference intervals obtained and validated in populations outside the geographical region of derivation for medical decision-making may impact negatively on clinical interpretation and patient management. Many countries have established their reference values, current studies on these data for Nigeria are however scarce. Determination of clinical biochemistry reference intervals for young Nigerian adults which is of particular importance in routine clinical management and conduct of clinical trials in response to existing and emerging diseases will add significantly to the existing body of knowledge. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to establish reference intervals for 24biochemistry analytes among Nigerians aged 18 to 26 years. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study among 7,797 consenting male and female military applicants aged 18 to 26 years from 37 States of Nigeria. It was a total study among volunteers for military service. Blood samples were collected and subjected to serological testing for HIV-1 and 2, hepatitis-B, malaria, pregnancy and haematuria to restrict our study population to apparently healthy participants. Biochemical assays were performed on 6,169 participant samples that met the inclusion criteria. Generated data was entered into MS Excel® and exported into SPSS® software version 16 for analysis. Statistical tools used were frequencies, median, mid 95th percentile range with 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles as limits. Reference intervals were estimated using nonparametric methods. No intergender statistical comparison was made. RESULTS: Complete records were obtained for 6,169 eligible participants. Median values and associated reference intervals were similar in both genders. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study will help in clinical decision-making and play a significant role in supporting the current global rapid expansion of clinical trials in response to the urgent need for preventive and therapeutic solutions to existing and emerging diseases.

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BACKGROUND: Understanding the epidemiology of battlefield casualties is required for plans and coordinated efforts towards improved combat trauma care (CTC) performance and outcome. The engagement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in containing Boko Haram Terrorism (BHT) and insurgency in Northeast Nigeria has increased the risk of combat injuries to the troops. This study determined the characteristics of combat injuries sustained by soldiers on counter terrorism and counter-insurgency operations to contain BHT. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study of combat casualties managed in 7 Division (Field) Hospital, [an equivalent of UN Level 2 facility] Maiduguri, Northeast Nigeria between November 2013 and October 2014. Using data obtained from a designed Operational Casualty Card that contains their sociodemographic characteristics, categorization (as Combat Arm, Combat Support Service, Civ-JTF), nature, mechanism and sites of injury as well as inpatients records. The data were collated and analysed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: A total of 209 casualties were treated. The age of the casualties ranged from 18 to 57 years with a mean of 30.6 ± 7.7 years and males constituting 99%. Over two-third (71.3%) casualties had gunshot injuries while 14.3% and 8.1% sustained improvised explosive device (IED) and fragments injuries respectively. Over three-quarter (77.5%) sustained injuries on the upper and lower extremities while 17 (7.7%) and 12 (5.7%) had injuries on thorax/abdomen and head/neck respectively. Nineteen (9.1%) casualties resulted from friendly forces/colleagues. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that gunshot and IED/blasts on the extremities were the most frequent mechanism and pattern of injuries sustained with less than a tenth of the casualties resulting from friendly forces. Training health personnel on CTC, deployment of combat lifesavers to improve pre-hospital CTC, employment of skilled Orthopaedic Surgeon and other relevant surgical subspecialties and timely air evacuation of critical cases from the Field Hospital to the Base Hospital are recommended.

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BACKGROUND: Haematological reference values are necessary for accurate diagnosis of diseases, clinical decision-making, treatment monitoring and clinical research. Due to unavailability of pan-Nigerian reference values, local results interpretation is based on the use of Western values. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to establish national reference values for some haematological parameters in apparently healthy young adult Nigerians. METHODS: Seven Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Seven (7,797) volunteers aged 18 to 26 years participated in the study. Participants' interviewer-administered questionnaires and blood samples were collected, analyzed and those with confounding factors (HIV infection, Hepatitis B sero-positivity, Malaria and Pregnancy) were excluded from statistical analysis. The 95-percentile reference range was determined for each haematological parameter using SPSS Version 16®. The result obtained was reviewed with reference to already established reference values in two West African and Western countries. RESULTS: Blood specimens from 6153 (78.9%) participants [comprising 5915 (96.1%) males and 238 (3.9%) females] were analyzed after exclusion of 1,644 (21.1%) participants with confounding variables. Reference ranges among males and females varied and these were consistent with findings from two other West African countries. The median platelets count in this study was 218 x 109/l while commonly used Western value is 280 x 109/l. Other haematological parameters in the study were similar to Western values. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study will improve clinical and research decision-making. Considering that this study is limited to young adult participants, there is a need to conduct future pan-Nigerian studies that will include all age groups.

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BACKGROUND: Previous reports indicate that worldwide, the technical quality of root canal fillings is poor. There are few reports from sub-Saharan Africa and none yet from Nigeria where most patients access treatment from non-specialists especially at general dental clinics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical quality of root canal fillings done in a general dental clinic with emphasis on the effects of professional experience of the operator, whether tooth was anterior or posterior and whether it was a maxillary or mandibular tooth. METHODS: Retrospective study of case notes and periapical radiographs of patients with completed root canal fillings seen between 2008 and 2011. Inclusion criteria included cases of primary treatment with available case notes, good quality pre-operative and post-operative periapical radiographs. Technical quality that was assessed was root canal length and homogeneity. Root canal fillings were classified either as Good Quality Endodontic Work (GQEW) or Non- Good Quality Endodontic Work (NGQEW). RESULTS: Fifty-one patients aged between 8 and 54 years (mean 28) fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this study. From these, there were 62 root filled teeth giving a ratio of 1.2 root canal filled teeth per person. There were acceptable length of root canal fillings in 71% of teeth, 58.1% were homogeneous while 53.2% were GQEW. There was no statistically significant difference in whether tooth was root filled by junior or senior dentist (p=0.43), anterior or posterior (p=0.11). There was significant association between GQEW and maxillary teeth (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: This study showed that the overall technical quality of root canal fillings done by non-specialists was better than earlier reports but lower than that done by endodontists. Since many patients receive treatment from non-specialists in developing countries, it is necessary to improve technical quality of root canal fillings done in general dental clinics. These could be through improvement in the quality of undergraduate training and more post graduate continuing education courses for skills update.

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The research was designed to assess the stigma and discrimination faced by People living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) that are receiving treatment in UITH, Ilorin. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted on three hundred (300) people living with HIV and AIDS receiving care at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics within University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (which was the only ART site in Kwara State as at then). A quantitative method through the use of interviewer administered questionnaire was used for data collection. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study design. All the patients who came to the clinic and met the selection criteria were recruited until the desired sample size was reached. Data were analyzed by EPI-INFO 2005 software package. The mean age of the respondents was 39 years (SD = 9.32), and their age ranged between 19 and 65 years. About two thirds (64.7%) of the respondents were females, 62.7% were married, and 62.9% were from monogamous family settings. Slightly less than half (47.3%) of the respondents were not informed before they were tested for HIV, majority (63.3%) were not counseled before the test, but only 11% did not receive posttest counseling. One quarter of the respondents had experienced stigmatization/discrimination. Various forms of stigmatization/discrimination experienced by the respondents include blame for being responsible for their HIV status, various name callings, telling them that they are no more useful to anybody, violation of confidentiality, social isolation, restriction of their participation in family/religious activities, rejection by their spouses/families, dismissal from place of work, isolating them from other patients, and denying them care at health centers. It is therefore recommended that government at all levels should develop and implement programs to educate health care providers about HIV and AIDS, ethics, and treatment and care; educate the general population on HIV and AIDS, put in place policies that will reduce/stop HIV-related stigma and discrimination at all levels of the society, educate PLWHA on their right to live and work without discrimination, and also ensure full community participation in HIV control programs.

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