Rotavirus diarrhoea hospitalizations among children under 5 years of age in Nigeria, 2011-2016

BACKGROUND

The high burden of rotavirus acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is well documented among children under 5 years of age, with the majority of mortality occurring in developing countries. Nigeria ranked second worldwide in the number of rotavirus deaths in 2013. As Nigeria plans to introduce rotavirus vaccine soon, a pre-vaccine documentation of rotavirus disease burden is necessary to determine vaccine impact.

METHODS

Routine rotavirus surveillance was conducted during 2011-2016 in 3 sentinel sites in Nigeria using the standard WHO protocol. Children under 5 years of age hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis were enrolled and demographic, clinical and outcome data were collected. A stool sample was subsequently obtained and tested for human rotavirus antigen using the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

2694 children with acute gastroenteritis were enrolled during January 2011 to December 2016; of these, 1242 (46%) tested positive for rotavirus. Among the rotavirus positive cases, 66% and 94% were younger than 12 months and 24 months respectively. Marked peaks in rotavirus positivity were seen in January of each year. Vomiting, and use of oral and intravenous fluids occurred more often in rotavirus positive cases as compared to rotavirus negative cases.

CONCLUSION

The high prevalence of rotavirus disease highlights the need for urgent introduction of rotavirus vaccine in Nigeria. Additionally, this study provides pre-vaccine introduction disease-burden data that will serve as a baseline for rotavirus vaccine impact-assessment once vaccine has been introduced in the national immunization program.

Blood pressure and its correlates in the population of Multan, Pakistan

In a randomly selected sample of 1579 individuals (male = 1334 and female = 245), aging from 14 to 65 years and representing all the socioeconomic groups of Multan, age (Yr), height (cm), weight (kg), BMI (kg/ml) and blood pressure (mmHg) were recorded. Height was measured on a Holtain portable stadiometer, weight on beam scale and blood pressure was recorded with sphygmomanometer as per auscultatory method. The correlation coefficient between different independent (age, height, weight and BMI) and dependent (SBP, DBP and MAP) parameters in male, female and total population were calculated and strong association between different parameters was observed (p < 0.001 or p < 0.05). The regression equations (simple and multiple) were worked out. The regression coefficient of different independent parameters with dependent parameters are higher in female except for height and age-weight and age-BMI had higher contribution in female as compared with that of male.

Blood pressure distribution in a school age population of Quetta, Pakistan

Standardized measurements of blood pressure, height and weight were obtained in 8-11 years old children, attending school in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan. The sample consisted of 427 individuals (219 boys and 208 girls). The blood pressure was measured by auscultatory method. To calculate the body mass index (BMI), the weight (kg) of each subject was divided by the square of the subject's height. Association between various variables and blood pressure was judged through correlation coefficient. The net and joint effect of selected variables on blood pressure variability was calculated using simple/multiple regression. The correlation coefficients with that of systolic blood pressure were 0.365, 0.427 and 0.341 whereas these were 0.397, 0.430 and 0.320 for diastolic blood pressure. Height had a regression coefficient of 0.475 mmHg/cm with systolic pressure and 0.419 mmHg/cm with diastolic blood pressure. Weight had a regression coefficient of 0.878 mmHg/kg and 0.717 mmHg/kg with systolic and diastolic pressure respectively whereas BMI had a regression coefficient of 2.35 mmHg/BMI unit with systolic pressure and 1.79 mmHg/BMI unit with diastolic blood pressure.

Plasma level of antioxidant nutrients (retinol and alphatocopherol) in cases with different grades of cervical carcinoma

A study was conducted on 23 patients on various grades of cervical cancer, selected purposely from Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Vitamin A and E level of this histologically proved cases showed mean serum level of vitamin A was 0.41 +/- 0.19 and that vitamin E was 4.21 +/- 2.15, and these low level was constant in all Histopathological grading of cervical cancer. Contraceptive user and smoker had very low level of vitamin A and E. Majority (51%) of the cases, were from lower middle class and 49% were from lower class, seventy seven percent were illiterate, 97% were married before 18 years, 57% had more than 6 children, 71% did not use contraceptive. The availability of vitamin A rich food were within reach of lower income group, than the food source of vitamin E which are usually of animal origin. It is concluded that in cervical cancer had low level of antioxidant vitamins A and E. Further study is indicated for understanding detail antioxidant nutrients role in aetiopathology of cervical cancer in Bangladesh.

Role of vitamin A and E in spondylosis

A biomedical study was undertaken at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka to observe the effect of the antioxidative roles of vitamins A and E on the degenerative process occurring in spondylosis in human. A single and a double blind study were done. Thirty two patients suffering from spondylosis were selected for the study on the basis of certain criteria. The serum vitamin E level in most of the patients were lower (5.8 +/- 2.7 umol/L) than normal (11-41 umol/L). Vitamin E administration at a dose of 100 mg daily for three weeks resulted in a significant increase in serum vitamin E level accompanied by complete relief of pain. The serum vitamin A level of the patients were already within the normal (0.53-2 umol/L) range and vitamin A administration was not effective in relieving the pain. The results therefore strongly indicate that vitamin E is effective in curing spondylosis and most probably due to its antioxidant activity.

The effects of simultaneous atropine and labetalol administration on cardiovascular parameters during anticholinesterase poisoning in anaesthetized cat

The effects of atropine administration during anticholinesterase poisoning on heart rate, blood pressure and electrocardiographic changes (ECG) were studied in the cat. Administration of atropine intravenously during anticholinesterase poisoning caused a significant increase in heart rate and blood pressure; ECG changes were also seen. The simultaneous intravenous administration of atropine and labetalol during anticholinesterase poisoning abolished the increase in blood pressure and heart rate; ECG readings remained normal. It is suggested that labetalol may be a useful adjuvant in the treatment of anticholinesterase poisoning especially in patients with compromised heart function.