Vaginal Ring That Prevents HIV To Be Tested In Africa After Trials In America

After recording success amongst teenage girls in the US, plans are in progress to test in Africa, a vaginal ring that prevents HIV infection.

The ring contains an antiretroviral drug called dapivirine and is used for a month at a time.


Dapivirine inhibits HIV’s reverse transcriptase enzyme, a protein vital to HIV’s ability to replicate and cause an infection.

Each intravaginal ring contains one or more microbicides that are intended to be delivered into the vaginal compartment at a high concentration and to be directly absorbed by the cells and tissues.

The flexible ring, which sits on the cervix, is said to cut infection by 56 percent.

Its usage gives women the freedom to protect themselves without relying on men to wear condoms.

At the end of a six-month trial to ascertain its effectiveness, researchers found that 87 percent of ninety-six sexually active girls who partook had detectable levels of the drug in their vagina.

The study investigators concluded that the ring is safe and acceptable to young women.

“HIV doesn’t distinguish between a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old. Access to safe and effective HIV prevention shouldn’t either, young women of all ages deserve to be protected,” said Sharon Hillier, principal investigator and vice chair of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

If the ring gets regulatory approval, it would be the first method of prevention exclusively for women.

The study was presented at the 9th International AIDS Society conference in Paris.

Team of Nigerian Doctors Successfully Conduct Total Knee Replacement Surgery on a Woman

The Sokoto State-owned Orthopedic Hospital in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State have successfully conducted a bilateral total knee transplant.

 

While speaking with newsmen on Monday, the Chief Medical Director of the Orthopedic Hospital in Wamakko, Sokoto State. Dr Nuradeen Altine Aliyu,disclosed that on Sunday, July 23, the Sokoto State-owned hospital successfully conducted a bilateral total knee transplant on a 50-year old woman.

 

Aliyu stated that the successful surgery was conducted on the lucky woman who was hitherto suffering from Osteoathritis or severe degenerative disease of both knees.

 

 

"The surgery was conducted by Surgeons of the hospital and their colleagues from the National Orthopedic Hospital, Dala in Kano, Kano State.

"The entire procedure cost N 1million per knee, hence gulping only N 2million, as it was highly subsidized by the state government.

 

"The surgery would have costed her nearly N N 5million per knee, totaling N 2 million for the two knees, if it was done outside Nigeria. This is great relief for her, as the cost had been highly subsidized here, compared to other places like India, Egypt or Germany."

 

Aliyu commended the state government for providing the implants needed for such surgeries at highly subsidized prices, coupled with other incentives.

 

 

While also commenting during the media parley, the State Health Commissioner, Dr Balarabe Shehu Kakale, urged other prospective clients to patronize the cheap medical services available at the hospital.

 

Kakale stated that the hospital has the equipment and manpower to provide an array of orthopedic and other related medical services, at highly subsidized prices.

 

 

"This is better than embarking on medical tourism which is more costly and highly inconveniencing. The state government will continue to support the hospital to function effectively, to bring more succor to patients in the state and other parts of Nigeria."

 

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Nigerian Senate Orders Hospitals to Treat Gunshot Victims Without Police Report

The Nigerian Senate has a passed bill compelling all hospitals in Nigeria to treat gunshot victims without police report.

 

The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill seeking to compel hospitals and all health care centres to treat victims of gunshot wounds without prior clearance from the Nigerian Police.

 

The bill titled: "Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots Bill", was sent to the upper legislative chamber for concurrence.

 

The bill mandates all hospitals in Nigeria to commence immediate treatment of such victims whether or not payment has been made by the victim of those who brought him to the hospital.

 

The normal practice for hospitals is to get approval from the security agency and in most cases, payment before commencing treatment of any victim with a gunshot wound.

 

However, the Presient of the Senate Dr. Bukola Saraki while congratulating his colleagues on the passage of the bill stressed that many people with gunshot wounds were not criminals.

 

He said that the unnecessary loss of lives occasioned by the long time required to obtain clearance to treat such unfortunate victims of gunshot should not be entertained.

 

He said that it was that reason that it becomes important that a legal framework be put into place to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.

 

“By the passage of this Bill, the Senate has moved to ensure that every hospital in Nigeria, both public and private, must accept to treat victims of gunshot wounds without any clearance from the police.

“What we have done is to ensure that everyone is entitled to medical treatment, irrespective of the cause of the shooting.

“We should reserve judgment for the criminal justice system, and leave healthcare for the medical professionals,” he said.

 

The bill also stipulates that everybody including security agents should render every possible assistance to any person with gunshot wounds and ensure that the person is taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.

 

Additionally, the Bill mandates that no person with gunshot wounds shall be refused immediate and adequate treatment by any hospital in Nigeria whether or not initial monetary deposit is paid.

 

Other Bills passed by the Senate on Tuesday include: Animal Health and Husbandry Technologies (Registration, etc) Bill, 2017 (HB. 320); Corporate Manslaughter Bill, 2017 (HB. 273);  National Child Protection and Enforcement Agency Bill, 2017 (HB. 127); National Intelligence Agency Pension Board Bill, 2017 (HB. 842); Nigerian Academy of Science Bill, 2017 (HB. 917); and the National Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science Bill (HB. 405).

 

This brings the total number of Bills passed by the 8th Senate to 108 Bills. The bills will be forwarded to the President for assent. If the president gives his assent then they will become laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

Female Student of Nigerian University Develops Cure for Breast Cancer

The World Bank Education Director, Dr Jaime Saavedra Chanduvi has revealed that a major breakthrough in the cure for cancer might have been found by a female scientist.

Female student of the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Sandra Musujusu

 

A female student of the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Sandra Musujusu, has made a scientific breakthrough after developing an alternative treatment for breast cancer. 

 

Accoriding to TribuneOnline the scientific breakthrough might lead to a lasting solution in the treatment of breast cancer prevalent among women world over.

 

This was made known on Tuesday in Abuja when the World Bank Education Director, Dr Jaime Saavedra Chanduvi with his team visited the University as part of his assessment tour of the 10 African Centres of Excellence (ACE) centres.

 

The World Bank has committed about $10 billion for the ACE project in Nigeria, as part of efforts to encourage conduct of cutting-edge research and specialisation of the beneficiaries institutions in specific development problems faced in Nigeria and indeed the African continent.

 

AUST, is hosting one of the Centres of Excellence, known as Pan African Material Institute (PAMI), with research focus electrical power, disease detection and treatment.

 

Musujusu, research, using macromolecular science is aimed at developing bio-degradable polymer material which could be used as alternative for the treatment of breast cancer in the near future.

 

She revealed that her research focuses on triple negative breast cancer which is the aggressive sub-type of breast cancer that is common with women from African ancestry.

 

Musujusu, a Sierra-Ionian national is conducting the research under the sponsorship of the Pan African Materials Institute (PAMI).

 

Out of 19 African Centres of Excellence, 10 Nigerian tertiary institutions won slots to churn out special research works that could compete effectively with global standards.

 

The ACE universities include Redeemers University, Mowe; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Jos, Jos; University of Benin; and African University of Science and Technology, Abuja.

 

Others are University of Port-Harcourt; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife; Bayero University, Kano; Benue State University, Makurdi; and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

 

It would be recalled that when the Ebola Virus Disease broke out in Nigeria in the year 2014, one of the ACE centres, Redeemers University served as the testing site before it was brought under control.

 

Musujusu said, “My research is actually centred on the development of bio-degradable polymers for treatment of breast cancer.”

 

“I will be focusing on triple negative breast cancer which is actually the aggressive sub-type of breast cancer that is common with women from African ancestry.”

 

“I believe there is a bright future for Africa, and as a woman there is much more we can do if we are empowered. This award given to me by PAMI has empowered me to face my studies with more confidence and actually contribute to the frontier of knowledge and move Africa forward.”

Stroke is the commonest cause of hospital admissions in Nigeria

Doctors blame rise on poorly managed hypertension, diabetes

Doctors have raised a fresh alarm on the rising cases of strokes and its complications in the country. They said stroke-related ailments are the commonest cause of hospital admissions in the country constituting about one third of patients who stay at specialized/teaching hospitals.

They however, blamed the situation on rise in cases of hypertension and diabetes, which they said in most cases are poorly controlled and managed leading to complications such as coma, stroke, kidney damage leading to death.

The medical experts said Africans are more likely to develop stroke and die from the disease than whites because of genetic makeup and lower socio-economic status.
Also, according to findings published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, a higher neighborhood advantage, or socioeconomic status, of where a person lives contributes to a lower risk of having a stroke no matter the person’s race.

A consultant physician/neurologist at the College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Mustapha A. Danesi; and Consultant Surgeon and Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, in separate interviews told The Guardian that the after-effects of a stroke can be life changing.

They said paralysis, speech problems and memory loss occur in varying degrees, depending on the location and amount of brain tissue damage.

They however, said voluntary physical exercise is known to have a positive effect on a person’s overall well being even as it delays memory loss in old age and improves cognitive ability.
Bode said LUTH has a special Stroke Centre to help in quick recovery of patients and also take the pressure off the regular wards.

To address the situation, Danesi and Bode said that prevention through legislation, increase in physical activity, regular intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, and monitoring of blood pressure and sugar levels is key.
Danesi said: “People are carrying high blood pressure and diabetes that they are not aware of, and sometimes even if they are aware of it they are not treating it adequately and they are also carrying other risk factors. For example if you have hypertension or diabetes and you are not controlling the blood pressure the person can have stroke at anytime.

“Stroke happens to be the commonest consequence for high blood pressure in this part of the world. You know abroad, in the United Kingdom (U.K.) and America people talk about heart attack and myocardial infarction, which is by far the commonest consequences of high blood pressure over there. You see that myocardial infection do occur here but far less than stroke. Most people have blood pressure here and more at risk of stroke than any other complications. We are prone to stroke as a race as black people tend to have a lot of stroke. Genetic racial far more than we have heart attack I think probably that is our characteristics.

“We have a large number of people on admission. The commonest cause of admission to the medical wards today is stroke. If you count the number of patients in the wards those admitted for stroke are by far found in majority than any single diagnosis. It is a very big issue now.”

The neurologist added: “What we need to do is primary prevention. It is the question of addressing the causes like hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol issues, and then we try to educate people. We try to get doctors to make sure that once you identify these conditions you treat them so that you can prevent stroke.
Danesi further stated: “Exercise is important. Studies have shown that those who do exercise are protected to some extent against stroke. It reduces blood pressure if you do exercise. Then diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables also help to reduce stroke.”

Bukola Bolarinwa Receives Award From Queen Elizabeth in The UK

Bukola Bolarinwa, a 28-Year-Old Nigerian lady has received the Queens Young Leaders Award from Queen Elizabeth of England.

Bukola is the founder of Haima Health Initiative, an online blood donation platform which supports hospitals who struggle to find blood in a safe and timely way.

The Queen’s Young Leaders Awards recognise and celebrate exceptional young people aged 18 to 29 in the Commonwealth who are driving change within their communities and transforming people’s lives.

Can drinking tea prevent dementia?

A study in the December 2016 Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging showed that drinking tea frequently is associated with a lower risk of dementia, especially for people who are genetically predisposed to the disease.

Researchers followed 957 older adults, average age 65, who were part of the Singapore Longitudinal Aging Study. Of these, 69% drank tea on a frequent basis. After a five-year period, the researchers found that the tea drinkers had a 50% lower risk of dementia. This is consistent with earlier findings that showed tea consumers scored higher on various cognitive tests.
The researchers also conducted genetic tests on the group and found that tea drinkers who carried the APOE4 gene variant, a known risk factor for Alzheimer's, were also at a lower risk compared with people who had APOE4 and did not drink tea.

How tea may help protect against dementia is not known, but other findings suggest that the brain-protecting effects of tea drinking could stem from bioactive compounds in tea leaves, such as flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential, and L-theanine, which regulates neurotransmitter and brain activities.

It did not matter what kind of tea the people drank — black, green, and oolong all had the same association. The key was regular consumption, according to the scientists. The more the people drank tea, the stronger the relationship, and the best results were among those who had tea daily during the entire study period.

 Published: July, 2017

In the Journals
Harvard Health Publications
Harvard Medical School

Don't Joke With Your Life: Checkout The Cancer Symptoms You Must Never Ignore At All

Cancer is a killer disease that has destroyed many lives over the years, however some people are still unaware of the signs they should look out for.

 

When it comes to aches, pains, and other health problems, just because something seems minor doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take it seriously. In fact, research finds that even common ailments can actually be the first warning signs of cancer. In a survey of 1,729 adults over the age of 50 in the UK published in PLOS ONE, respondents evaluated how serious they perceived a list of 17 ailments—10 of which were actually markers of cancer.

 

They also indicated whether they’d experienced any of these symptoms recently and, if so, how they actually handled it.Turns out, many people aren’t paying as much attention to warning signs as they could be, says study author Katriina Whitaker, a senior research fellow at University College London. “Some people don’t think they [the symptoms] are serious, and cancer does not leap to mind.”

 

While for the vast majority, “these warning signs will not indicate cancer,” Whitaker says.

 

1. Lumps or bumps

 

It’s best to have any strange lumps checked out by a doctor. In the survey, 7.5 per cent  of people reported an unexplained lump. While 67 per cent did contact their doctors, 77 per cent didn’t think it could be a sign of something more serious.

 

2. Cough or hoarseness

 

It’s cold and flu season, so coughing can feel like a given. However, if your cough persists, it could indicate laryngeal, lung, or thyroid cancer or lymphoma. This was the most common symptom among survey participants. “We know coughs and colds are everywhere at the moment, and we’re not suggesting everyone with a cough goes to their doctor,” Whitaker said. “But if you have a symptom that doesn’t go away or is unusual, don’t be afraid to go to your doctor for advice.”

 

3. Change in bowel habits

 

In Whitaker’s study, 18 per cent of people had experienced changes in the timing, amount, or size of their bowel movements. While these disruptions are usually caused by certain foods or medication, if you notice it happens regularly over time, it could also be a sign of colon cancer.

 

4. Bleeding

 

Coughing up blood can signal lung cancer; blood in the stool could be a sign of colon or rectal cancer. Women who experience unexplained vaginal bleeding should be checked for cervical or endometrial cancer. A bloody discharge from the nipple can signal breast cancer, while blood in the urine can mean you have bladder or kidney cancer. Unusual bleeding can occur during any phase of cancer and warrants a visit to your doctor.

 

5. A long-lasting sore throat

 

A sore throat may be just another winter woe, but a persistent one could point to something more severe, such as laryngeal cancer or throat cancer. Of those surveyed, nearly 78 per cent  didn’t think throat woes were serious.

 

6. Unexplained pain

 

Persistent pain is your body’s way of signaling a problem, and that could be anything from nothing…to bone cancer or ovarian cancer. The American Cancer Society says that pain from cancer typically means it has spread—a good reason not to be a stoic and to make an appointment with your physician. One striking finding from Whitaker’s survey: Only about 40 per cent of people in the study were concerned that pain could be a serious issue.

 

7. Variation in bladder activity

 

Because urinary tract infections are common in women, this symptom is often disregarded as just another UTI. But whether you’re male or female, if you notice blood in your urine, experience sudden urgency, or feel pain while going, definitely bring it up with your doctor to rule out cancers of the bladder, kidney, or prostate.

 

Fatigue is a symptom

Fatigue is a symptom, not a disease, and it is experienced differently by different people. Fatigue from stress or lack of sleep usually subsides after a good night’s rest, while other fatigue is more persistent and may be debilitating even after restful sleep.

Breakthrough in stroke treatment: Stent thrombectomy

A randomized clinical research study looked at the effectiveness of a new treatment for stroke. The study involved adding a minimally invasive clot removal procedure called stent thrombectomy to standard clot-dissolving therapy, known as tissue plasminogen activator. The study showed a dramatic improvement in restoring blood flow back to the brain, which is critical in the recovery of stroke.

Senior (stock image). The addition of stent thrombectomy to standard clot-dissolving treatment led to 71 percent of patients returning to independent living, compared with 40 percent in the standard treatment group.

Credit: © Barabas Attila / Fotolia