This study determined patterns of microbial isolates in genital tract of women with preterm pre-labour rupture of membranes (PPROM) compared with cases without PPROM. Endocervical swabs of women with confirmed diagnosis of PPROM were examined microbiologically and compared in blinded pattern with gestational-age-matched controls. One hundred and five microbiological results each for cases and controls were analysed. Positive microbial cultures were seen in 79.05% of cases versus 6.67% of controls. Streptococcus spp. (31.43%) was the commonest organism isolated in cases (p < 0.001), while Candida albicans was significantly more in controls (p < 0.001). The highest incidence of PPROM (82.86%) occurred in gestational ages of 28-30 and 34-36 weeks. No fewer than 75.24% cases occurred in low parity (0-2). Majority occurred in extremes of viable preterm gestation and in women of low parity.

Background: Increased exposure from background radiations and the attendant health effects have in recent times drawn the attention of researchers. This study aimed to assess the indoor and outdoor background radiation levels in selected offices/industrial buildings in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: Forty buildings in the four villages of Nnewi were surveyed using a calibrated international medicom CRM 100 radiation monitor. Radiation readings were obtained in counts per minute and converted to micro-sieverts per hour (µSv h-1). The indoor annual effective dose rate (IAEDR), outdoor annual effective dose rate, excess lifetime cancer risk, and organ doses were calculated using recommended occupancy and conversion factors.Results: The mean IAEDR and OAEDR were respectively 0.8060±0.056 mSv y-1 and 0.2281±0.020 mSv y-1 with estimated ELCR of 2.822x10-3 and 0. 799x10-3 respectively. The testes received the highest dose (0.843 mSv y-1) followed by bone marrow (0.710 mSv y-1).Conclusions: The study revealed that the mean background radiation exposures in and outside offices in Nnewi, Anambra State were below the UNSCEAR and ICRP recommended doses for the general public.

Ultrasound scanning (USS) and high vaginal swab culture and urine microscopy culture and sensitivity (m/c/s) tests are the most common investigations used for the diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in our locality. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of PID keeping laboratory high vaginal swab/urine microscopy, culture as gold standard. The USS, high vaginal swab and urine m/c/s reports of patients referred with PID conditions between January 2010 to April 2013 were obtained from the medical records departments of Nnamdi Azikiwe University teaching hospital, Nnewi, Anambra state. The diagnostic accuracy was determined by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value using performance characteristics test. Descriptive and inferential statistics were also used. Spearman rho's non parametric analysis and statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 was equally used. The total number of subjects that were scanned for PID was 120. The highest number of subjects 80 (66.6%) was seen in 21 to 30 years age group. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative predictive value and positive predictive value of ultrasound in PID diagnosis was found to be 100, 65.3, 89.2, 100 and 86.3%, respectively. There was no significant correlation between USS diagnosis of PID and HVS/urine culture findings (p > 0.01). Ultrasound is valuable as the first line of investigation (screening tool) in the diagnosis of PID and should be used in conjunction with other medical investigations to facilitate accurate diagnosis of PID.

Background Computed Tomography (CT) is an invaluable imaging tool in the diagnostic workup of patients presenting with head trauma, stroke, brain tumour and epilepsy. The objective of this study was to document the common intracranial pathologies as revealed by CT in our setting and also determine if the indications for CT scan are justified so that patients are not exposed to radiation unnecessarily. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Hansa Clinic Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria. Demographic data and brain CT radiological reports with imaging findings and clinical indications for patients referred to this study centre from January, 2017 to January 2019 were retrieved from the CT reports' archives and reviewed retrospectively. Relevant information such age, gender, radiological CT findings and clinical indications were collected using structured proforma. Results A total of 300 patients' brain CT radiological reports were included in this study. The mean age of the patients was 41.25 ± 16.5 years with majority been within the age group of 31–40 years 92 (30.67%). Out of 300 cases, normal finding was highest 117 (39%) and the least was intracranial physiological calcification, which is 1 (0.33%). Headache is the most common clinical indication, 53 (17.67%) the least was unsteady Gait, which is 3 (1%). The Chi-square test revealed that there was statistically significance relationship between brain CT findings and clinical indications for the investigations (X 2 = 285.60, p = 0.002). Conclusion The study showed that more males than females undergo brain CT scan with headache being the most common presenting complaint. The majority of findings of the brain CT scans in this study are normal despite, myriads of complaints necessitating the investigations. The study also revealed significant association between clinical indications and CT findings.

Background: Humans are inevitably exposed to background radiation in work and public environments. The aim of this work is to assess the effectiveness of the secondary barriers in conventional x-ray diagnostic centers in Calabar and Uyo metropolises. This is by determining the weekly and annual effective dose in their respective uncontrolled areas and comparing them with the international recommendations. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three x-ray diagnostic centers in Calabar, represented as C1, C2, and C3 respectively, and in four xray diagnostic centers in Uyo, represented as U1, U2, U3, and U4 respectively. Background radiation was measured using Radex 1212 A-A battery-powered survey meter, at a distance of 2.5meters away from the xray units. Radiation measurement was taken at three different spots, and the recorded data were analyzed. Results: The mean calculated effective dose per week in mSv/week for each diagnostic center was given as 0.130 ± 0.0068mSv/week. Also, the mean calculated effective dose per year in mSv/year for each center was given as 0.66 ± 0.35mSv/year. These values are below the National Commission on Radiation Protection (NCRP) recommendations of 0.02mSv/week and 1mSv/year respectively. From the results, the mean calculated chance of developing cancer was 2.33 ×10-3% which was lower than the NCRP recommendation for continuous public exposure of 5.5×10-3 %. Conclusion: It could be concluded that the integrity of the shielding designs and their dimensions assessed are safe.