Objective: To determine the causes and implications of visual disability (VD) on patients’ daily living. Methods: A cross section survey of 130 visually disabled (vd) Nigerians on visually related basic life activities, psychology and emotion in 2008. Both structured interview and relevant clinical examination were conducted for the vd to gather the necessary information. Results: VD was due mainly to cataract (82, 63.1%) and glaucoma (29, 22.3%). At least 78% of the causes of the VD were avoidable (treatable, curable). VD reduced/eliminated available manpower/workforce and increased the number of dependants. The most severely affected activities included driving, reading, threading a needle, but most vd could still cope with feeding and wearing of clothes. The activities missed most by the participants were appreciation of the beauty of nature, people/object recognition and reading. There was an association between the activities missed most and the vd levels of education (P=0.001) but not with gender (P=0.406). Most participants (85%) expressed sadness over VD and reported sadness had an association with educational levels (P=0.042) but not with gender (P=0.167). Though (97.7%) thought life was meaningless due to VD, all (100%) had hope in regaining normal vision. Most participants (82.3%) expressed sadness over dependence on the sighted for basic visual demanding tasks. Conclusion: Both cataract and glaucoma are leading causes of visual disability. Visual Disability diminishes quality of daily living and has economic, psychosocial and emotional implications. Renewed efforts towards preventing avoidable blindness and rehabilitating irreversibly blind will reduce the burden of vd.

Objectives: To find the incidence and clinical implications of peripartum hysterectomy in a tertiary care centre of India. Methods: A retrospective study of all cases of caesarean and postpartum hysterectomy between January 2006 and December 2011. Maternal characteristics, method of delivery, indications for hysterectomy and complications were reviewed. Results: The rate of peripartum hysterectomy was 0.47:1000 deliveries. Most were operative deliveries. The main indications were placenta accreta (38.88%), massive atonic PPH (36.11%) and uterine rupture (22.22%). Half the hysterectomies were subtotal while the rest were total. Maternal morbidity was high and there were seven maternal deaths (19.44%). All deaths were in patients brought in a critical condition to the hospital after massive blood loss. Conclusion: Peripartum hysterectomy is potentially a life saving procedure but the mortality and morbidity is high, especially if performed late when the hemodynamic instability has already set in.

The worldwide use of cell phones has rapidly increased over the past decades. With the increasing use of mobile phones, concern has been raised about the possible carcinogenic effects as a result of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. The objective of this study was to explore the perceptions and opinions towards brain cancer related to cell phone use among university students in Malaysia. The study revealed that the majority of the study participants believe that there is no relationship between brain cancer and hand phone use.

Objectives: Rauwolfia vomitoria is a medicinal plant which is used locally for the treatment of a variety of disorders including snake and insect bites and stings, insomnia and insanity. This study was to investigate the teratogenic effect of the ethanolic root bark extract of R. vomitoria on the fetal liver. Material and methods: Twenty-five virgin female Wistar rats weighing between 180 – 200g were used. The animals were divided into 5 groups, labeled A, B, C, D and E, each consisting of 5 rats. Group A rats were the control, while Groups B, C, D and E were the experimental. The female rats at proestrous were mated with sexually matured male rats. The day after was designated as day zero of pregnancy. Groups B and C animals received oral doses of 150mg/kg and 250mg/kg body weight of the root bark extract while groups D and E animals received 150mg/kg and 250mg/kg body weight of the leaf extract respectively from 7th to 11th day of gestation. On the 20th day of gestation, the rats were sacrificed and the fetuses examined for gross anomalies. Each liver was routinely processed using Haematoxylin and Eosin method. Results: Histological observations of the fetal liver showed marked distortion of normal liver architecture in the treated groups when compared with the control, the effect being more pronounced in the groups that received the root bark extract. Conclusions: Our result suggests that ethanolic root bark and leaf extracts of Rauwolfia vomitoria maybe hepatotoxic to the developing rats liver.

Objectives: To understand the knowledge and perception of tobacco use, its health effects and the role of social responsibility on tobacco control among computer professionals. Material and methods: This is a descriptive study carried out on employees of a private information and technology institute in Kathmandu valley. Self administrated structured questionnaire was used for data collection after taking verbal consent. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics. Results: Almost 93% of the participants had education level equivalent to bachelors degree or above. Majority had experienced tobacco use in their lifetime (95%). Among current users, 55% had tried to quit at least for once and when asked if they were happy to be tobacco users, interestingly 65.2% said they never thought about it. All the participants were aware of ill effects of tobacco on health. Eighty one percent associated it with cancer in any form while 57% thought tobacco use causes lung diseases. Majority of participants (62%) believed that tobacco products should not be easily accessible with banning of selling in grocer shops, banning advertisements and sponsorships of events by tobacco companies. With regard to their role as a social responsibilities towards tobacco free nation, major opinion expressed were not to use any form of tobacco, sharing their knowledge with others and stopping others from smoking at public places. Conclusion: There is need of lasting behavioral changing programs rather than awareness focused programs to control tobacco use among educated group who are aware of its ill effects.