Cervical cancer is regarded as a sexually transmitted disease caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) detected in up to 80 per cent of the cancer biopsies. Genetic susceptibility of a p53 allelic variant has been postulated to play a vital role in carcinogenesis. This study was aimed at determining the allelic frequencies of p53 codon 72 polymorphism in Papua New Guinean women and also assessing the presence of HPV in cervical cancer biopsies. Peripheral blood (3-5 mL) was collected from 53 healthy females of reproductive age (19-37 years) with no known past and current history of HPV infections. Sixty-two cervical biopsies along with cervical swaps were obtained from patients (19-54 years) with clinical symptoms and histopathological confirmation of cervical cancer. DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood samples and cervical samples. Exon 4 was amplified with PCR and further genotypic analyses performed by Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP). Of the 53 normal samples analyzed, 3.8 % (2/53) were Arginine homozygous, 58.5 % were Proline homozygous and 37.7 % were heterozygous. For the cancer samples, 14.5 % (9/62) were Arginine homozygous, 54.8 % were Proline homozygous and 30.7% were heterozygous. HPV genome was detected in 83.9 % (52/62) of the cervical cancer samples. The genotypic trend and allelic frequencies were consistent with literature.

Fungal endophytes are fungi that reside in tissues of healthy living plants offering chemical protection and promoting growth of host plants. The chemistry and biological properties of their secondary metabolites from monoaxenic cultures have been extensively studied, but co-culture techniques using endophytes remain largely unexplored. Co-culture of bacteria with endophytic fungi have shown to be effective, leading to the discovery of novel chemistry while simultaneously addressing the problem of rediscovery of known metabolites from the monoaxenic culture techniques. Forty microliters (40μL) of culture broth consisting of monoaxenic and co-cultures were placed in separate agar wells with 5μg ciprofloxacin as positive control. The co-culture broth from one unidentified endophytic fungus with B. subtilis showed a marked zone of inhibition measuring 24.7 ±0.6 mm in comparison to ≥21.0 mm as the sensitivity range for ciprofloxacin against Escherichia coli while its monoaxenic culture exhibited no inhibition, but furthermore showed moderate activity (16.7 ± 1.2 mm) against B. subtilis. The isolation and chemical characterization of the active component and the mechanism of B.subtilis induction is under investigation. It is hoped that this unique Papua New Guinea endophyte will provide broad-spectrum antibiotic to combat the growing global problem of drug resistant infections.

Anti-diabetic therapy initiated should be directed towards the target, both fasting and as well as postprandial hyperglycaemia. Despite the introduction of new agents efforts for better management of diabetes are disappointing and the control of blood glucose levels remains unsatisfactory. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of triple drug fixed dose combination (FDC) of Voglibose, Glimepiride and Metformin in type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study was post marketing surveillance (PMS) non-randomized, open, non-comparative and multi centric study. The above mentioned FDC was administered to 118 type 2 diabetic patients once daily for 3 months. Baseline values were recorded for glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and post prandial blood glucose/hyperglycaemia (PPHG) level. There was significant decrease in HbA1c value (8.69 ± 1.81 % vs. 6.475± 0.39 %, P<0.0001); FPG (206.5±73.76 mg/dl vs. 112.7 ± 25.73mg/dl, P<0.0001) and PPHG level (244.7 ± 69.95 mg/dl vs. 141.7 ± 22.64 mg/dl, P<0.0001) after 3 month of the treatment from the baseline. The triple drug FDC of Voglibose, Glimepiride and Metformin significantly decreased the HbA1c, FPG and PPHG levels at the end of the treatment. Investigators observed good clinical effectiveness without any adverse effect reported.

It is well documented that changes in cardiac output are lower in the upright than supine positions. This study investigates the effect of different angles of tilt on the heart rate, pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure (MAP) of healthy male and female subjects in the 18 to 24 years age group and heights between 150 -180cm. All subjects were students in the University of Ilorin. Each participant was studied and the parameters were determined at the supine position and head up tilts at 15º, 30º, 45º and, 60º for 15 minutes interval. Additionally the supine position variables were taken as the resting value against each of the head up tilt angle degree. The result shows that there was progressive and significant increase in heart rate from supine 59.5±1.3beat/min to 62.2 ± 1.4beat/min (p<0.05) at 15º; 59.5±1.3beat/min to 63.8 ± 1.4beat/min at 30⁰ tilt (p<0.05); 59.5 ± 1.3beat/min to 65.9 ± 1.4beat/min at 45⁰ tilt (p<0.05); 59.5 ± 1.3beat/min and 68.2 ± 1.6beat/min at 60⁰ tilt (p<0.05). The results also showed that there were significant (p<0.05) increases in pulse pressure at all angles which peaked at 30⁰ tilt. Furthermore, it was observed that MAP significantly (p<0.05) increased with corresponding increase in the angle of tilt from supine to 60º (76.5±2.2 mmHg (supine) to 80.6±2.1 mmHg (15 º) to 83.8±2.1 mmHg (30 º) to 85.4±2.1 mmHg (45 º) to 85.4±2.2 mmHg (60 º). Our results demonstrated that the heart rate, pulse pressure and MAP were significantly (p<0.05) increased in males and females for all the variables.

A variation of the musculocutaneous nerve was observed during routine dissection for first year medical students, in a 67 year old embalmed male cadaver. The termination of musculocutaneous nerve in left upper limb was variable. After piercing the coracobrachialis muscle, musculocutaneous nerve divided into lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm and gave an accessory branch that joined with median nerve, lateral to the insertion of the coracobrachialis muscle. Knowledge of these variations is of great importance to surgeons and orthopaedicians who do surgical interventions in that region.

In this retrospective study prostate biopsy data from the three divisional hospitals in Fiji was reviewed to determine the rate of prostate cancer in the period 2001 – 2010. In addition key hospital staff members were interviewed to gain an understanding of the support services available to those diagnosed with cancer. A total of 455 prostate biopsies of patients in the age group 45 to 70+ years were done over the 10 year period. The results of 133 (29%) were positive. No statistically significant increase or decrease in prostate cancer (CaP) positive biopsies was observed over the study period. Although 80% of the samples were from the 60 years age group, the proportion of positive samples in each age group was not significantly different. Of 116 biopsies graded, 59% had a Gleason score of 7 or higher. The interviews with medical staff indicated that support was primarily surgical and clinical care. A number of areas of deficiency were perceived by staff including lack of support groups and counseling services, geographical and financial factors affecting access to clinics and medications and the need for improved staff training. Data obtained in this retrospective study indicated that those diagnosed with prostate cancer in Fiji are typically older, have a poor prognosis and that there is an opportunity for providing improved support services for patients.

Cerebral palsy children have increased tendency to develop fractures later in life, for which low bone mineral density might be one of the factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bone mineral density in children with cerebral palsy and factors affecting it. A total of 82 diagnosed children with cerebral palsy were sampled by non-probability purposive sampling from the outpatient department of Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. Bone mineral density (BMD), z-score was measured at lumbar spine with Dual Energy X Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) at L1- L4 lumbar vertebra. Analysis was done using SPSS (Version 20). Statistical comparisons were made using independent sample t-test. Of the 82 children 37 (45.1%) were males and 45 (54.9%) females. The mean age for all the children was 5.6 + 2.34 years and mean BMDz- score was -2.12 + 0.67. There were statistically significant differences in BMDz score with respect to age groups, pattern of involvement and ambulation status (p<0.05) but there were no statistically significant differences in gender, physical therapy programme and nutritional status (p>0.05). The BMDz-scores were lower, especially in the quadriplegic and non-ambulant children. BMD if identified early and managed timely can prevent future fragility fracture risk and avoid delay in rehabilitation process.

Maternal Age of 35 years or more at first pregnancy and childbirth is considered advanced reproductive age and a high pregnancy risk associated with increased adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. The industrialized and developing countries are replete with supporting scientific literatures but only a few data on nulliparous women in our setting hence our interest to appraise the correlates of advanced maternal age at first childbirth and obstetric performance in Nigerian women. The objectives were to determine the influence of advanced maternal age at first pregnancy on the obstetric and perinatal outcomes. To compare the obstetric performance of women advanced in maternal age at first delivery with their younger counterparts and to determine the trend of identifiable adverse outcomes with increasing maternal age at first delivery. This was a retrospective comparative study of 1684 nulliparous women that had their childbirth between 2009 and 2013 at a mission Hospital. Those aged 35 years and above were the study subjects while those aged 20 - 34 years the control. Relevant database was raised from the case files. The prevalence of elderly nullipara in this study was 1.6%. They were statistically significant different in primary level of education (OR = 4.1, P = 0.02), prenatal care lack (OR = 2.6, P = 0.02), caesarean section (OR = 2.5, P = 0.0006), incidental myomectomy (OR = 19.1, P < 0.0001), prolonged pregnancy (OR = 0.6, P = 0.04) and episiotomy at vaginal delivery (OR = 0.5, P = 0.01). They were also insignificantly worse in ante partum hemorrhage (APH), induction of labor, perineal tear, HIV infection, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), preterm birth, Low birth weight (LBW), Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), stillbirth ,neonatal birth asphyxia and Perinatal mortality. Caesarean section rate, caesarean myomectomy, APH, induction of labor, stillbirth rate, LBW and Perinatal mortality each maintained a statistical significant linear tendency (P < 0.05) with maternal age. First pregnancy at advanced maternal age is fraught with increased maternal morbidity, perinatal morbidity and mortality. We proffer early education, marriage or and childbearing, quality prenatal care and skilled attendance at delivery for safe motherhood.

Thyroid Function Tests are used for assessing the thyroid status of an individual. In the Solomon Islands blood samples for thyroid function tests are collected and sent to the Royal Brisbane Hospital Laboratory in Australia on a weekly basis. The major objective of this study was to use the thyroid function tests results obtained over the period 2008 to 2012 to retrospectively assess the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in the Solomon Islands. This study used convenience sampling that included all the 2070 requests for thyroid function tests from 2008 to 2012 recorded in the registry books in the Clinical Biochemistry Department in the National Medical Laboratory Pathology Division in the National Referral Hospital in Honiara Solomon Islands. The data collected were analyzed using Microsoft excel for Windows 8 and the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences version 20 for Windows. Ethical clearance and permission were obtained from the appropriate authorities. A total of 1485 (71.7%) recorded results were used for data analysis. Thyroid disorders were prevalent in 51.5% of the patients in 2008, 43.9% of the patients in 2009, 54.8% of the patients in 2010, 52.6% of the patients in 2011 and 51.8% of the patients in 2012. The prevailing thyroid disorder in each of the five years was primary hyperthyroidism, 36.4% in 2008, 25.8% in 2009, 31.5% in 2010, 28.7% in 2011 and 28.2% in 2012. The number of thyroid function tests requests for females was about twice that of males in all the various years. Prevalence of primary and subclinical hyperthyroidism was significantly higher among the female patients compared to the male patients in all the various years.