BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting is a debilitating side effect in the treatment of cancer with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. At times this also affects the planned treatment schedule and the outcome. The present study was conducted to assess the incidence of acute nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy METHODS: This was a prospective study and was carried out in a superspeciality cancer hospital from June to July 2013. The incidence of nausea and vomiting were documented in 93 cancer patients requiring curative chemotherapy or radiotherapy after a week of treatment initiation.RESULTS: Majority of the patients were males, between the age group of 51 to 60 years, afflicted by cancers in the head and neck region and undergoing curative treatment. Diabetes was the most common co morbidity. The results of the study indicated that patients having co morbidities; undergoing chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy were having more severe incidence of nausea and vomiting. From a gender perspective, females undergoing treatment were having more nausea and vomiting. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that in spite of adhering to the stipulated anti-emesis guidelines, the chemotherapy and chemo-irradiation-induced nausea and vomiting is a problem and needs careful monitoring.

This study on cervical cytology of women on contraceptives in Calabar Metropolis was conducted as there was a need to dismiss or confirm the widespread attribution of the increased risk of cervical cancer to the use of ho rmonal contraceptives. The prevalence of contraceptive use in Nigeria is 11 - 13%. However, the high mortality rate of 20 - 40% attributed to this low prevalence is to a large extent a result of the acclaimed myths of the effect of hormonal contraceptives use and the risk of cervical cancer. The study seeks to ascertain if there is any abnormal cytological change in the cervix of women using hormonal contraceptives in Calabar Metropolis that could lead to cervical cancer. Random sampling techniques were employ ed by trained research assistants. Cervical smears were collected from 70 women using hormonal contraceptives and 96 women who did not. The smears were prepared, stained and reported for cervical dysplasia using the Bethesda system. The results obtained sh owed that 98.6% of the test subjects and 92.6% of the control subjects had smear negative for squamous intraepithelial lesion, while 1.4% of test subjects and 4.2% of control subjects had low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. Papanicoloau smear resul ts showed that 38.6% of test subjects and 29.5% of control subjects had inflammatory smears. This study has shown that there is no association of cervical dysplasia with hormonal contraceptives use as there were more cases of cervical dysplasia among contr ol subjects as compared to the test group and almost equal incidence of inflammatory smears in both groups

BACKGROUND: In countries like Guyana, where there is a heavy Tuberculosis (TB) burden, delays in the diagnosis of TB can have a detrimental outcome. This concern has led to invention and evaluation of different approaches to TB laboratory diagnosis. In this study, we compared the performance of light - emitting diode (LED) fluorescent microscopy (FM) and GeneXpert for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducte d between September 2014 and July 2016. Data was extracted from the National Public Health Reference Laboratory Log books. RESULTS: A total of 568 patients were included based on their test results containing data on GeneXpert and LED FM. This study found that GeneXpert and LED FM was able to detect MTB in 162 (29%) and 76 (13%) cases respectively. The detection rate amo ng HIV infected patient was higher with 69% for GeneXpert and 28% for LED FM. The R ifampicin resistance was found 14.2% in PTB patients. CO NCLUSION: It can be concluded from this research that the detection rate of GeneXpert is much higher than that of the LED FM when testing for Tuberculosis. Thus , the implementation of GeneXpert can dramatically improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis and ult imately patient outcome.

BACKGROUND : Chrysophyllum albidum is a medicinal plant that belong to the Sapotaceae family. The study was carried out to determine the antioxidant activities on the lea ves, seed, and fruits of Chrysophyllum albidum. MATERIALS AND METHOD : The fruits, leaves and seed of Chrysophyllum albidum were extracted with distilled water, Seaman’s Schnapps, Methanol and Petroleum ether using cold extraction. The antioxidant screening of the leaf extracts was done with 1 - 1 - diphenyl - 1 - picryl - hydrazyl (DPPH). RESULT and DISCUSSION : Antioxidant screening of the Chrysophyllum albidum with DPPH was positive indicating the presence of free radical scavenging molecules. CONCLUSION : Chrysophyllum albidum aqueous leaves extract can be developed and use as an antioxidant.

Drug Susceptibility profile of ethionamide and other first and second line anti tuberculosis drugs revealed no significant association, indicating the resistance towards ethionamide is the result of individual effect and not an extrapolation of other drug resistant phenotypes.

Introduction : Pre - analytical errors account for 49% to 68% of the errors in medical Laboratories, which can have a significant impact in patient care. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on non conformance (NC ) data over a 6 month period in a medium sized private Pathology Laboratory . The Laboratory performed all routine tests in the departments of Biochemistry, Hematology, Clinical Pathology, Serol ogy, Cytology and Immunology . All specialized tests were outsourced to a sister concern in the same city. Non conformances were identified by feedback from Referring doctors and patients as well as documented data maintained by the laboratory. Results: Da ta included 11,160 patients during the study period. There were 3644 incidences (32.65 % ) of NCs. Sample collection reported 1928 (52.9 %) incidents of which 1302 were from indoor patients and 626 from outpatient departments. 1716 (47 %) incidents were r eported from billing / data entry. The most frequent NCs in collection were insufficient sample, less than 2 appropriate identifiers, and sample mislabeling, incomplete data on request forms, hemolysed sample, and wrong vial. In data entry, incorrect / mi smatched patient details, incorrect test billing and incorrect Dr Details were commonly found. Causes of recollection were hemolysed sample, insufficient sample and rejection by referral labs. Corrective action was taken to improve non conformances. Concl usion: Importance of pre - analytical phase in overall laboratory performance cannot be overemphasized. Monitoring NCs in laboratory is essential to determine areas where further improvements are required. It is a tool of measurement of internal quality assu rance as a part of continuous quality improvement.

Aim: Acute viral hepatitis A (HAV) is a major problem in parts of the developing countries. HAV is transmitted enterically and its incidence is high in places where poor hygienic conditions prevail. Most studies in the past have been on liver th e primary organ affected by HAV and reports on extrahepatic organs are lacking. The present study was carried out to ascertain the alterations on the haematological, hepatic and renal parameters . Material and Methods : This was a retrospective study and was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in India. Data was analysed in people who expressed known symptoms of HAV and established by Anti - HAV IgM antibody. A total of 22 paediatric and 109 adult people were included in the study and compared with healthy in dividuals who were tested negative for infectious and chronic diseases. Results : The results indicated that jaundice, vomiting and fever were the predominant clinical symptom seen in both children and adults. There was significant difference in the various haematological, hepatic and electrolyte endpoints (p < 0.05 to 0.0001), while there was no such difference in the renal function test parameters. Conclusion : The present study indicates that acute infection with HAV causes alterations in haematological, h epatic parameters and in the levels of electrolytes in the serum.

Microwave digestion system plays very important role for digestion on different samples such as tissues,blood,hair,nails,rocks,minerals etc during sample preparation for analytical purposes. Its use is readily understood from breadth of its applications. The range of material that can be analyzed by Microwave digestion system is essentially unlimited. Applications are found in diverse fields such as forensic science, pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, biological and clinical chemistry, environmental chemistry and many others. Standard operating procedure for Sineo make&model MDS10 Microwave digestion system have been developed. The different steps involved for smooth running of microwave digestion system has been successfully explained.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common problem among the pregnant women, which can complicate the outcome of the pregnancy. The objective of this study was to identify the most common pathogens causing UTI in pregnant women and their antimicrobial susce ptibility pattern METHODS: This was a retrospective study and was carried out checking in to the medical records for one year (January 2016 to December 2016). The incidence and drug resistance pattern for various clinically used antibiotics against these i solated bacteria were analyzed. RESULTS: Data on a total of 117 pregnant women with UTI were retrieved and classified. Majority of the women were primi (52.13%, 61/117), and it found that UTI was common in III rd trimester (66.66%, 78/117). Among Gram nega tive pathogens, E coli and Klebsiella sp were the most common and among gram positive organisms, Streptococcus was seen only around 5% of the study population. Some women were infected by Candida albicans (2.6%) also. The isolates were resistant to commonl y prescribed antibiotics like Ampicillin, amoxyclav. Low level of resistance to Norfloxacin/Ciprofloxacin and Ceftriaxone in the study population makes them drug of choice for empirical antibacterial therapy by oral and intravenous route, respectively CONC LUSIONS: These results indicate that UTI was high in the third trimester and that gram negative organisms were more common. The isolates were resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics like Ampicillin, amoxyclav. Low level of resistance to Norfloxacin/Ci profloxacin and Ceftriaxone in the study population makes them drug of choice for empirical antibacterial therapy by oral and intravenous route, respectively.