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Volume-6 (2007);
Issue 1 (Jan-Mar) Published on July 17, 2007
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2007;1-1
Opinion |
Lakhan SE.
Prescribing Privileges for Psychologists:
A Public Service or Hazard? |
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Abstract:
The privilege to prescribe pharmacotherapeutics
has been granted in limited areas to psychologists. The psychologist's
role in society may be approaching a great evolution that can dramatically
impact the state of mental healthcare and the discipline of psychiatry. Opponents argue drug company funding and cheaper non-PhD psychological
professionals fuel the movement for prescription rights for PhD level
psychologists. However, proponents claim that this right would
equip psychologists with greater psychotherapeutic modalities
and the capability of having richer doctor-patient relationships to diagnose
and treat underserved populations. Nonetheless, the paucity of
prescribing psychologist studies cannot allow the biopsychosocial community
to make firm opinions, let alone a decision on this debate. This
article reviews the history of clinical psychology and highlights the
potential divergence into collaborative clinical and health psychologists
and autonomous prescribing psychologists.
Key words: Prescriptions, Psychologist, Psychiatrist,
Pharmacology, Privileges, Collaboration. |
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2007;1-2
Original Article |
Agwu E, Ihongbe JC, Okugun GRA, Ezeonwumelu JOC, Igbinovia O.
Chromobacterium
violaceum associated with recurrent
vaginal discharge among apparently healthy
females in Ekpoma Nigeria |
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Abstract: Seven hundred and two high
vaginal swab samples of apparently healthy adult females with recurrent
vaginal discharge were collected and analyzed at Searchlight Medical
Diagnostic Centre, Ekpoma between July 2003 and August 2005. Isolation,
identification and antibiogram of isolates were done using standard
Microbiological techniques. Randomized Block Design and Completely Randomized
Design at (α = 0.1) were used to test the statistical significance
of results. While occupational distribution of isolates was not statistically
significant, age and response of bacterial isolates to antibiotics used
were statistically significant. Total number and percentage prevalence
of bacteria isolated include: 297(42.4%) Chromobacterium
violaceum, 156 (22.2%) Escherichia coli and 139 (19.8%)
Staphylococcus aureus. Chromobacterium
violaceum was 81.8% sensitive to ofloxacin, and 12.8% to Ceftriazone.
Escherichia coli and S. aureus were 70.5% and 71.9% sensitive
to sparfloxacin respectively. Though source of infection of C.
violaceum in Ekpoma was not very clear, soil and water contamination
and other risk factors were hypothesized. A high index of suspicion is required for diagnosis. Surveillance with improved diagnostic
facilities can increase awareness among health care providers on this
form of infection. Appropriate systemic antimicrobial therapy to halt progression of infection is mandatory,
even when the infection appears to be localized.
Key words: Chromobacterium
violaceum, Recurrent vaginal discharge, Ekpoma |
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This Article |
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2007;1-3
Original Article |
Ogbuewu IP, Umesiobi DO, Okoli IC, Okoro VM.
Validation
of the polysemen admixture on viability and acrosomal morphology of
boar spermatozoa |
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Abstract:
Semen were
collected using artificial vagina (AV), from 5 large white boars aged
2-2.5 years twice a week for 16 week in each of the two seasons, Early
rainy (ER) and late rainy (LR) seasons to determine the effects of multiple
semen pool admixture on the viability and acrosomal morphology. The
semen qualities studied were sperm motility, live sperm and sperm concentration,
while the acrosomal parameters includes normal apical ridge (NAR), damaged
apical ridge (DAR), missing apical ridge (MAR) and loose apical ridge
(LAC). There were no significant (P>0.05) seasonal effects. Three-boar
semen admixture gave the highest percentage NAR, motility, livesperm,
concentration and least ( DAR) and (LAC), although these were not significantly
(P>0.05) different from the 2-boar semen admixture. The result of
this study suggests that 3-boar semen admixture is most suitable for
use in artificial insemination program.
Key words: Semen
viability, Acrosomal |
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This Article |
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2007;1-4
Original Article |
Ugwuja EI, Ugwu NC.
Helicobacter pylori In Uninvestigated Dyspepsia In Primary Cares
In Abakaliki, Nigeria |
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Abstract:
There is paucity
of information on the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection
in Nigeria. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine
the prevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to H. pylori
in 262 consecutive patients (aged 5.5-56 years) presenting with dyspepsia
in primary health cares in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Sixty-nine (26.3%) of
the patients had IgG antibodies to H. pylori. Significantly higher
prevalence of H. pylori was recorded in older patients than in
those ≤ 20 years [29% vs11% (95%CI: 0.072-0.288%)]. Infection was
comparable between males and females [28% vs 25%, (95% CI: - 0.078 –
0.138)] but inversely related to the socio-economic status of patients
[30.5% vs 14%. (95% CI: 0.054-0.28) and 30.3% vs 8.3% (95% CI: 0.053-0.391)
between lower and middle and between lower and upper class respectively].
The high endemicity of H. pylori infection in this study needs
confirmation in different settings and/or in the general population.
Key words: H. pylori, infection, Prevalence, Dyspepsia,
Ulcer |
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This Article |
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2007;1-5
Short Report |
Kamath SJ, Kamath MG, Kamath MM, Pai SG, Chhablani J, Chowdary S.
A Study Of Orbital Fractures In A Tertiary Health Care Center |
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Abstract:
A retrospective
study of patients with orbital fractures had 48% patients in the age group of
20 – 40 years with male : female ratio of 10:1. Road traffic
accidents (71.43%) were the most common cause followed by injury due
to fall (20%). Eighty five percent of patients had normal visual acuity at presentation
and
65.57% patients had no ocular complaints. Diplopia was present in 14.2% of patients.
Of the orbital fractures infraorbital rim was involved in 43.13%, floor
in 19.6%, lateral wall in 13.7%, pure blow out in 14.28% and the roof
in 2.9%. Important ocular findings were extraocular movements restriction in 9 (10.3%), infraorbital dysaesthesia in 3 (3.4%), enophthalmos in 2, RAPD
and globe rupture in 1 patient each. 32 patients underwent
surgical management. At the end of 4 months of follow up, 3 had restriction
of EOM, 1 patient had vision loss due to globe rupture, 2 had RAPD (optic nerve compression), 1 had lagophthalmos, 1 had exotropia
and 1
had atrophic bulbi.
Key words: Orbital
fracture, Blow out, Optic nerve compression |
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