Aim To compare universal screening with selective risk factor based screening for GDM, using the one-step 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Materials and method A cross-sectional, comparison between universal and selective risk factor based screening for GDM, among 400 antenatal care clients at Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA). All the participants had 75 g OGTT at 24–28 weeks of gestation and risk factor screening for GDM. All 400 participants formed the universal group while participants with one or more of the considered risk factors formed the selective risk factor group. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20. Statistical comparison was done using t- test for continuous variables. Logistics regression was used to determine the level of associations of the independent predictors for hyperglycemia. Level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results The point prevalence of GDM using universal and selective screening were 11.51 and 7.93% respectively, giving a selective screening miss rate of 31.11%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 73.58, 48.82, 19.12 and 92.51% respectively for the selective risk factor based screening compared to universal screening. On multivariate analysis; age ≥ 35 years, weight ≥ 90 kg, history of previous GDM and hypertension were significantly related to the development of hyperglycemia. Conclusion Selective risk factor based screening missed 31.11% of patients with GDM when compare to Universal screening with one step 75 g OGTT. Universal screening for GDM using the one step 75 g OGTT is recommended for pregnant women and more studies are needed to compare pregnancy outcomes for pregnant women diagnosed with GDM with and without risk factors.

Introduction nutritional status is an under-studied environmental factor that can impact the phenotypic manifestations of patients with Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA). This study aimed to define hemato-biochemical parameters and micronutrient status in patients with SCA. Methods this was a cross-sectional study of patients with SCA and hemoglobin genotype HBAA controls at a tertiary health facility in Abakaliki, from 2 nd December 2020 to 31 st March 2021. Plasma micronutrient levels, haemato-biochemical parameters were analyzed and anthropometric measurements obtained from all participants. Results sixty participants with SCA had 58.3% females (mean age of 24.77±7.39 years) while controls had 50% females (mean age of 26.23 ± 8.44 years). The SCA group had significantly lowered calcium (2.733 ± 1.593 vs 1.846 ± 1.123 mmol/l; p=0.009) and magnesium (19.38 ± 6.37 vs 9.65 ± 1.38 mg/dl; p= < 0.001) levels but higher plasma iron (1.70 ± 0.89 vs 1.06 ± 0.53; p=0.001). Zinc and Copper did not reveal significant differences between the two groups. Chloride ion levels was significantly lower in the SCA patients (107.50 ± 17.42 vs 100.19 ± 12.92; p=0.026) while Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total white blood cell (WBC) and platelets (PLT) count were higher compared with the HBAA group (255.72 ± 124.52 vs 134.56 ± 39.67; p= <0.001, 46.86 ± 25.03 vs 25.63 ± 18.80; p = 0.001, 13.21± 6.57 vs 6.10 ± 1.35; p= < 0.001 and 369.25 ± 138.11 vs 209.36 ± 47.85; p= <0.001). Conclusion Copper and zinc deficiency was not present in our population of SCA patients but, they had lower plasma calcium and magnesium levels and elevated levels of blilirubin, ALP, WBC and platelets PLT counts. These parameters can be explored in designing better management for patients with SCA

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Introduction. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic disease characterized by debilitating bone pains which commonly necessitate the use of analgesic drugs including opioids and psychotropic substances such as pentazocine which are controlled medicines in Nigeria. Opioid misuse including dependence and addiction is an increasing trend among SCD patients, and it has serious adverse implications on their social, economic, and physical well-being. The role of lack of implementation of existent regulation on the dispensing of opioids by pharmacies has not been adequately investigated. Objective. The primary objective of this study is to define the sociodemographic and clinical implications of pentazocine misuse among patients with SCD and to describe the contributions of lack of enforcement of opioid dispensing regulations to this menace. Materials and Methods. The study was a descriptive observational study. A 29-item pretested and prevalidated questionnaire was administered to 21 SCD patients with an established history of pentazocine misuse and addiction to establish their demographics, details of opioid use, and their clinical effects. Nine community pharmacies were interviewed to ascertain their knowledge of controlled medicines and their compliance to existent regulations on the dispensation of opioids. Results. The median (interquartile range) age of the SCD subjects was 24 years. The majority of subjects (14, 66.7%) had tertiary education. Fifteen (71.4%) of them had a history of pentazocine misuse for over two years. All subjects source pentazocine injection from local pharmacies and patent medicine shops without prescription, while 19.0% get home deliveries. Seventeen (80.9%) of the SCD subjects desired to discontinue the habit; however, inadequate medical support was reported to contribute to their inability to overcome this practice in 14 (54.3%) patients. Most of the local pharmacies/drug shop proprietors are aware of drug laws guiding controlled medicines in Nigeria. However, about 77.9% of pharmacies interviewed retail pentazocine without prescription. A lack of enforcement by the state and federal taskforce was reported to contribute to this practice. Conclusion. Pentazocine misuse is a serious problem in patients with SCD. Inadequate medical support and lack of enforcement of regulations on dispensing opioids by community pharmacies are contributors to this menace.