OJHAS: The Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

2003;4-1 - Editorial

Vinod Scaria. Open, Online and Global: Benefits of Bio Medical Journals Going Online and Open

Abstract: The emergence of Internet affords the immense possibility for scientific publications to be indexed, linked, copied, archived, redistributed and searched at ease and at a lower production cost. This has paved the way for the emergence of Online-Only Journals like the Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences. This has also spurred the rise of Open Access movements spearheaded by the Budapest Open Access Initiative and the Public Library of Science. 'Open Access' means immediate, permanent, toll-free, non-gerrymandered, online access to the full-text. Open Access can be considered as borne on three major pillars of Open Access Publishing, Open Access Archiving and Open Access Support and Open Access publishing is perhaps the future of scientific communication.
Key words: Open access; Online journals; Free full text

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2003;4-2 - Review

Sundar Isaac Kirubakaran. The Advent Of Cytomegalovirus Infection In HIV Infected Patients – A review

Abstract: Cytomegalovirus is considered as one among the long list of latent infections in humans that although normally controlled by the cellular immune response, gets activated after HIV infection takes its role on infecting the T4 lymphocytes. Clinical disease due to Cytomegalovirus has been recognized in up to 40% of patients with advanced HIV disease. The clinical syndromes most commonly associated include chorioretinitis, esophagitis, colitis, pneumonitis, adrenalitis and neurological disorders. Cytomegalovirus infections are usually diagnosed clinically and by serological tests for CMV immunoglobulin. Chemotherapy using systemic agents, including ganciclovir, intravenous foscarnet and intravenous cidofovir is effective. New agents, as for example an anti-sense agent against cytomegalovirus, appear promising.
Key words: Cytomegalovirus infection, Human immunodeficiency virus, CMV colitis, CMV retinitis, AIDS

This Article

2003;4-3 - Original Article

Okodua M, Adeyeba OA,Tatfeng YM, Okpala HO. Age and Sex Distribution of Intestinal Parasitic Infection Among HIV Infected Subjects in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Abstract: Intestinal parasitic infection has been a major source of disease in tropical countries especially among HIV patients. The distribution of intestinal parasite among two hundred and fifteen (215) subjects with mean age of 32 years, comprising of 35 HIV-seropositive and 180 HIV seronegative patients was carried out using microscopic method to examine their stool specimens for presence of trophozoites, ova, cysts, larvae and oocysts of intestinal parasites. Overall parasitic infection rate was 28.4%. Infection rate among HIV seropositve subjects (42.9%) was statistically higher than that among HIV seronegative subjects (25.6%) (P<0.05). Although helminths infection rate (31.4%) was higher than that of protozoa (20%) among HIV-seropositive subject, the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the parasitic infection between HIV-seropositive males and females and among the various age groups (P>0.05). Adequate treatment, proper health education and good hygiene will help in reducing intestinal parasitic infection
Key words: Intestinal Parasites, HIV, Nigeria

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2003;4-4 - Opinion

Ramesh Babu K. Empiricism: How much, how little?

Abstract: The practice of medicine was completely empirical in the beginning and the growth of technology added newer tools to the diagnostic kit. As the kit grew larger, there was a reciprocal diminution in the empiricism. The practice of medicine at the extremes of empiricism and evidence based medicine are not entirely desirable. Every physician should keep his clinical skills finely tuned and also acquire a well-balanced view of the utility and futility of any newly introduced diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
Key words: Empiricism; Diagnosis; Treatment

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2003;4-5 - Case Report

Tatfeng YM, Agba MI, Nwobu GO, Agbonlahor DE. Candida albicans in Urinary Tract or in Seminal Sac

Abstract: A case of urinary tract infection due to Candida albicans and responding to fluconazole is presented.
Key words: Urinary tract infection; Candida albicans; Fluconazole

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2003;4-6 - Case Report

Jadhav P, Jadhav M, Patel P, Paithankar S, Magdum V. Delayed Manifestation of Transurethral Syndrome as a Complication of Transurethral Prostatic Resection

Abstract: Metabolic encephalopathy as a part of ‘transurethral syndrome’ is an immediate complication following transurethral resection of prostate. It occurs during or few hours after the surgery. (1) However, delayed manifestation of this complication is rare. It is also possible that pretreatment with diuretics can exaggerate this problem by predisposing the patient to electrolyte abnormalities. Here we present a report of such a patient who manifested with neurological complications six days after the prostate surgery.
Key words: Metabolic encephalopathy; transurethral syndrome; TURP; diuretics

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