Ima-Abasi Bassey

Paucity of HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancers (HNC) in Nigeria

Introduction The burden of HPV-related Head and Neck Cancers (HNC) has been rising in the U.S. and other developed countries but this trend has not been reported in Africa. Objective of study was to evaluate the prevalence of HPV infection in HNC cancer cases seen between 1990 and 2011 at the tertiary health care institutions in Nigeria. Methods We retrieved 149 head and neck cancer formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tumor specimens diagnosed between 1990 and 2011 from four teaching hospitals in Nigeria. One hundred and twenty-three blocks (83%) contained appropriate HNC for analysis while DNA extraction was successful in 60% (90/149). PCR amplification was successful in 33% (49/149) and Linear Array genotyping for HPV was successful in 11% (17/149) of these cases. These were in tumors from the larynx (6), cervical lymph nodes (3), nasal cavity (2), parotid (1), palate (1), maxillary sinus (1) and mandible (1). Two cases were non-specific and none were from the oropharynx. Histologically, 41% (7/17) of the successfully genotyped blocks were squamous cell carcinomas (larynx 6, maxillary sinus 1). Results and Conclusion We were unable to detect HPV in any of the HNC samples in our study. Our result may suggest that there is a low prevalence of HPV-related HNC among the adult population in Nigeria. Our results provide a benchmark to compare future incidence of HPV -related HNC in this community in future. We had significant analytical challenges from possible poor tissue processing and urge that future studies should prospectively collect samples and ensure high quality sample processing.

AIDS-related lymphoma at the University of calabar teaching hospital (Nigeria): a seven year review

Results Fifty-four patients with lymphoma were seen within the period (2005-2011).Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) was the most frequent 35(63%) Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) 8(18.2%), Burkitt’s lymphoma(BL) 7(15.9%) and nasopharyngeal lymphoma(NL) 1(2.3%). ARL was 12(18.2%) with NHL, HL, and NL contributing 9(62%), 2(25%), 1(12.5%) respectively. Mortality was significantly higher in the ARL than in the non-ARL group. Conclusions ARL is not a rarity in our environment. A survey of all the HIV treatment centres will reveal a larger statistics. A greater understanding of the biology of this complex is needed. Training of `all care providers to effectively manage the disease is highly recommended. The cost of drugs for the treatment of the lymphoma is prohibitive to most of the indigent patients who present to our centre.

Neonatal Deaths and Autopsy Rates in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: A 10-Year Trend Analysis in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

The pains and challenges of pregnancy and delivery are made worse when the resultant neonate dies. Fortunately, many of these neonatal deaths can be prevented if autopsies are routinely conducted to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of death toward subsequent prevention. Unfortunately, there is paucity of studies on neonatal autopsy rates (NARs) in many developing countries, with few reports indicating unacceptably low rates. This study was therefore aimed at assessing the trend in neonatal deaths and autopsy rates in Calabar, Nigeria. Trend analysis of retrospective data obtained from medical records of neonatal deaths and deliveries was conducted. Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and NAR were obtained for each of the years within 2004-2013. Ethical approval was obtained from the ethical committee of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Nigeria. In the 10-year study period, there were 22,916 deliveries with a male:female ratio of 1:0.95. There were 1136 neonatal deaths, yielding a total NMR of 49.6 per 1000 live births (ranging from 26.7 in 2011 to 93.7 in 2004). Bimodal peak in NMR was found at 2008 and 2012. Eighty six neonatal autopsies were conducted within the study period yielding a mean autopsy rate of 7.57%, ranging from 0% in 2008 to 25.0% in 2013. This study found unacceptably high NMR and low NAR in the study setting. There was, however, gradual decrease in mortality and increase in autopsy rates through the study period. It is essential to redouble the efforts at improving public health education and awareness on the relevance of autopsy toward improved health service delivery. Similar studies are recommended in other similar and dissimilar settings.