International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 5 (1), pp. 001-003, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Case Report

Assessment of serum magnesium levels in patient suffering from renal lithiasis

Geeta Gill Mehta, Sahni Singh and Deepa Akshay

¹Department of Biochemistry, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Vallah, Amritsar, India.

²Department of Anesthesia, Geetanjali Medical College, Udaipur, India.

*Corresponding author.E-mail: [email protected]. 

Accepted 03 October, 2014

Abstract

Hypomagnesaemia is common finding in current medical practice mainly in critically ill patients. Magnesium has been directly implicated in hypokalemia, hypocalcaemia and dysrrthymias. We report a known case of renal lithiasis, in a 45 year old female patient, with chief complaint of severe pain in right lumbar region and breathlessness with confirmed electrolyte imbalance. The objective of the present case report was to investigate the incidence of hypomagnesaemia in the critically ill patient and multiple electrolyte imbalance. It was also observed that magnesium (Mg) supplementation corrected the underlying multiple electrolyte disturbances in the patient thus, establishing a positive correlation of magnesium with sodium (Na), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca).

Key words: Hypomagnesaemia, hypokalemia, hypocalcaemia, hyponatremia.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 5 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper 

A study on the correlation between some Tunisian patients with pathological FXN GAA expansions and their clinical features

 Karoui Dhia, Materi Mahmoud Tounsi and Khadmi Bhiri

¹Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Neuropathology , National Institute of Neurology , 1007 Rabta Tunis-Tunisia.

*Corresponding author email: [email protected]

Accepted 02 January, 2014

Abstract

The most common mutation in Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is an expanded GAA trinucleotide repeat in the first intron of the FXN (Frataxin) gene. A clear correlation between the size of the expanded alleles and phenotype severity was found as the major determining factor. The objective of this study was to report clinical and molecular data of 10 patients homozygous for pathological FXN GAA expansions. Clinical evaluation was preformed for all the patients. GAA expansions were detected by Tripled Primed PCR (TP-PCR) and GAA allele size was estimated by Long Range PCR (XL-PCR). Clinical features were variable within the same family with no correlation between age at onset, worsening score or tendon reflexes status. All patients were homozygous for the pathological GAA expansions. No obvious relationship was found between the different clinical features and size of GAA repeats. In conclusion, factor controlling phenotypic expression in FA may be related to other factors than FXN GAA expansions.

Key words: Friedreich’s ataxia, GAA expansion, intrafamilial variability.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 4 (3), pp. 001-012, March, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full length research paper

Birth and sorrow: The psycho-social and medical consequences of Obstetric fistula

Samaila Bala Baba

Family Health International (FHI360), Bauchi Sate Office, Nigeria.

E-mail:[email protected], [email protected] 

Accepted 28 August, 2013

Abstract 

This study examined the Psycho-social and Medical consequences of obstetric fistula among VVF patients in three VVF Centers (Katsina, Kano & Zaria) in North Western Nigeria.  Enumeration of respondents in each hospital was based on availability according to size of hospital. A total of 436 patients within the age groups 10 to 25years and above, across the three hospitals, were interviewed. The sample size was considered adequate due to the homogeneous nature of the population and also, the total respondents in the three hospitals did not add up to 500 patients. Individual hypothesis was tested using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Pearson’s’ r was used to test for the degree of association between variables. The study finds significant correlation between both psycho-social & medical consequences and obstetric fistula r .780 and r .726, respectively.  It has, thus, been established that the impact of psycho-social consequences of obstetric fistula is more on sufferers than medical consequences. Recommendations were made to government, non-governmental agencies and the communities for the provision of more support towards the reduction of the incidence of obstetric fistula, as well as rehabilitation, social re-integration, care and support to current sufferers.

Key Words: Psycho-social, medical, consequences, obstetric fistula, VVF patients.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 4 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2014. © International Scholars Journals                         

Full Length Research Paper

Basic sociological concepts, attitude, perception and effects on propagating the message of HIV and AIDS prevention and control on engineering student of some selected tertiary institutions in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Momoh, J. J.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +2348034155891.

Accepted 7 November, 2013

Abstract

This study centres on the basic sociological concepts, attitudes, perception and its effects on propagating the message of the dreaded disease called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention and control using engineering student from selected tertiary institution in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. HIV and AIDS prevention was examined prior and after HIV and AIDS education programme. It was discovered that majority of the students were aware of this deadly disease, but larger proportion of this class of students did not believe in necessity for the propagating the message of HIV and AIDS prevention due to either misconception or lack of proper awareness about the virus. This study revealed that HIV and AIDS education is essential to correct the students’ opinion, attitudes and perception about propagating the message of its prevention. The students’ levels of academic and awareness about the disease are also significant factors that could enhance their willingness to participate in propagating the message.

Key words: Attitude, perception, propagation, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), control.