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.

Background: Accurate pregnancy dating is essential for guiding patients about the option of termination of pregnancy or in analysis of biochemical serum screening test and to ensure adequate management of pregnant women with the intention to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, especially when considering the best parameter for estimating gestational age, it is important that the structure has little biological variation, and can be measured with high degree of reproducibility. This study was designed to evaluate the use of fetal tibia length as a tool for the estimation of gestational age among the Nigerian population. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, which involved 215 pregnant women selected using convenient sampling technique based on the inclusion criteria in a single private diagnostic centre in Port Harcourt. Ultrasound scan was done on each subject and fetal biometric parameters (Biparietal diameter, femur length and tibial length) and gestational age were assessed and documented. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results:The majority (n = 12) of the pregnant women had gestational age of 25 weeks. The mean values for BPD, FL and TL of those with 17 th week GA were 36.70±1 0.35, 23.65±0.7 and 22.28±1.42 as the least mean values while the highest mean values were identified in patients that had 41 weeks of GA, which were 95.20±0.00, 79.40±0.00 and 58.00±0.00 for BPD, FL and TL respectively. There were no statistically significance mean differences between BPD (t = 225.17, p = 0.001), FL (t = 100.84, p = 0.001) and TL (t = -33.38, p = 0.001) and the estimated gestational age of 17 weeks. Conclusion:The fetal tibial length (FTL) increases with advancing gestational age in apparently healthy fetus. The FTL can be strongly use as a tool for the prediction of fetal gestational age, where other parameters cannot be evaluated.

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Background: Low back pain (LBP) is arguably the most prevalent musculoskeletal condition found among both developed and developing nations. This study was designed to evaluate the MRI findings in patients with LBP and its association with the patients' age, gender, and anthropometric variables in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out from June 2021 to August 2021 at the MRI unit of the radiology department of a private diagnostic center in Onitsha Anambra state, Nigeria. A total of 76 MRI reports were selected based on the inclusion criteria of this study, which include reports with LBP clinical indication, radiological findings, and complete patient demographic (age and gender) and anthropometry (weight and height) variables. Results: The majority 42 (53.3%), were males when compared with their female counterparts 34 (44.7%). A greater number, 22(28.9%) of the patients were within the age bracket of 51-60 years, and the least 2(2.6%) were within the age group of 21-30 years. Most 29(38.12%) of the patients had degenerative disc disease, and the least 2(2.63%) had osteoporosis. Conclusion: Male preponderance was noted in this study and majority of the case was seen in people within the sixth decade of life. Degenerative disc disease was the most common pathological entity identified in those presented for MRI due to LBP in our setting. There was a statistically significant mean difference in the MRI findings by age. There was no statistically significant mean difference in the MRI findings by gender.

Background: The exposure of radiation workers to ionizing radiations, especially in medical field has increased due to the use of advance technological equipment in the diagnostic radiology and radiotherapy departments. This study is aimed at evaluating the effects of ionizing radiation on CBC parameters of medical radiation workers in South-South, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in three teaching hospitals to include 39 radiation workers and 39 non-radiation workers with same year of working experience of one year to 10 years. Results: The mean values for CBC in DSUTH are; radiation workers (WBC: 6.41, RBC= 5.47, Platelet = 240.28, Hb = 13.64 and Lymphocyte = 27.86) and non-radiation workers (WBC= 6.41, RBC= 5.47, Platelet = 250.75, Hb = 13.63 and Lymphocyte = 27.78).There were no statistically significance differences in the mean values of CBC in radiation and non-radiation workers in DSUTH (p > 0.05). There were no statistically significance differences in the mean values of CBC in radiation and non-radiation workers in NDUTH (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Complete blood cells parameters only cannot be used as the most reliable indices for evaluating radiation biological risks associated with long term exposure, as we found that there was no statistically significant mean difference of CBC in radiation workers and non-radiation workers Key words: Blood cells, Health workers, Ionizing, Radiation..