Journal of Biomedical Investigation

Comparison of mean prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values between sexually active males and age-matched celibate males

CG Orluwene

Prostate-specific antigen is currently quite useful in the clinical screening and early detection of prostate cancer. Sexual activity has been thought to be associated with increased PSA values. This poses a serious question as to the application of this useful screening tool in evaluation of prostate pathology in celibate males in terms of the possibility of creating a different “cut-off” for them. This study looks at the difference in the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) values between sexually-active males and age-matched celibate males with a view to identifying any significant difference that may be of clinical importance. In this prospective study, 99 subjects were recruited, comprising 49 celibate males and 50 sexually-active males. All subjects were non-obese, had no prostatic symptoms and were not masturbating. Standard technique of specimen collection, processing and analysis of PSA values using Immunoassay technique were applied. The celibate group had a mean PSA value of 2.6±0.2ng/ml, while the sexually-active group had a mean PSA value of 2.7±0.1ng/ml. This difference was found not to be statistically significant (P>0.05). Provided individuals abstain from ejaculation. 72 hours to specimen collection, there is no need to create a different “cut-off” or criteria for interpretation of PSA values for celibate males. The same criteria for PSA value interpretation could be used for evaluation of prostate pathology in both groups.

Key Words: Prostate-specific antigen, celibate, sexually-active, screening

An application of image processing to the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy for the automatic detection of microaneurysms and hemorrhages in fundus images of the human retina

RW LeAnder

This study focused on developing a new algorithm for segmenting lesions in retinal images, in order to prepare for lesion feature extraction, in the automatic diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) using computer vision. Tests conducted to evaluate algorithm performance included a sensitivity-and-specificity test, a ground-truth-based test and a subjective fidelity-criteria test. Sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 100%, respectively. Target lesions fell within ground-truth-labeled regions. On a scoring scale of 1 to 5, the subjective fidelity-criteria mean, standard deviation and variance were 3.829, 0.6128 and 0.375, respectively. Tests showed the algorithm has strong potential in helping to detect microaneurysms and hemorrhages, as a means of automatically diagnosing DR’s early symptoms and treating it in a timely manner.

Key Words: Blindness, diabetic retinopathy, fundus, retinal blood vessels, microaneurysms, hemorrhages, image processing, image segmentation

Relationship between cranial capacity and age in Nigerian females

U Ukoha

Several investigations have estimated the cranial volume in the past which indirectly reflects the brain volume. The measurement of cranial capacity exposes another aspect of growth and development. In this study, the relationship between cranial capacity and age in Nigerian females was investigated. The study was carried out on 914 healthy Nigerian females whose ages ranged between 1 and 64 years. The study was done between April 2008 and March 2009 in the South Eastern Zone of Nigeria. The Linear dimensions of the head were measured using standard techniques and cranial capacity calculated according to various age groups. The result of the investigation shows a significant (P<0.05) increase in cranial capacity as age increases in females.

Key words: Cranial capacity, age, variation, females.

Pattern of degeneration of leiomyoma uteri

AO Igwegbe — 2011-04-29

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and pattern of degenerations in leiomyomas. We sought to relate these degenerations with clinical features. It is a retrospective study of histological features of specimens of leiomyomas obtained at the myomectomy, hysterectomy and polypectomy. Results showed that 88.89% had degenerations. Hyaline degeneration was the commonest accounting for 89.71% of all degenerations followed by cystic degeneration (15.44%), calcification (8.82%) and red degeneration which was the least common (5.15%). The clinical features seen in our series cannot be reliably matched with any particular pattern of degeneration. However, lower abdominal pain seems to be a constant feature in red degeneration of fibroids. There is a high prevalence of degenerative changes in leiomyomas of Nigerian Igbo women.

Key words: Leiomyoma, degeneration, pattern

Attitude and perceptions of women on routine antenatal ultrasound examination in Nnewi, South East, Nigeria

AO Igwegbe

This is a cross sectional survey of 212 consecutive pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi to determine the attitude and perceptions of pregnant women towards routine ultrasound examination in pregnancy. One hundred and ninety-eight (93.4%) of the respondents knew about ultrasound and 138 (65.1%) had done at least one ultrasound scan. 166 (78.3%) of the respondents supported routine ultrasound in pregnancy out of which 65% (108) indicated identifying fetal congenital abnormalities as their reasons. Other reasons in favour of routine ultrasound scan were to visualize the baby 30 (18.1%), know the gender 25 (21.6%) and ascertain the date of delivery 16(9.6%). Among the 46 (21.7%) respondents who objected to routine ultrasound in pregnancy, 16 (34.7%) felt that ultrasound should only be done on the doctor’s request. 10 (21.7%) said that it was unnecessary while 8 (17.4%) felt that ultrasound was expensive. When asked about the frequency of ultrasound in pregnancy, the majority 56 (33.7%) of those who favour routine ultrasound in pregnancy said ultrasound should be done as often as necessary, while 42 (25.3%) said it should be done only once in pregnancy. Increasing maternal age significantly lowered the willingness to accept routine scan, being lowest in women over the age of 40 years (X²=17.50, df=2, P=0.00). Also, the Catholics (X²=20.51, df=2, P=0.00) as well as respondents who had acquired tertiary education (X²=35.94, df=2, P=0.00) were significantly, more favourably disposed to routine scan in pregnancy. The majority of the pregnant women in our locality support routine ultrasound in pregnancy and their attitudes are influenced by age, religion and educational level. Introduction of routine antenatal ultrasound examination into our practice will not likely be hindered by cost.

Key words: Routine ultrasound, antenatal women, attitude