Objective The objective of this study was to observe the effects of chronic dosing with monosodium glutamate on mortality, fertility, major organ functions and histology in albino Wistar rats. Results 6 male and 6 female rats (age 6 weeks) were bred in a cage, feeding on standard growers’ mash, with monosodium glutamate added (120 mg/kg/day). 12 corresponding breeding rats (on standard feed without MSG) were controls. Chronic dosing with monosodium glutamate in albino Wistar rats (at a dose consistent with the human ADI) led to increased mortality, fertility impairment, and significant changes in major organ function tests and histology. 23 deaths were recorded in the rats fed with MSG additive, while mortality was zero in the control animals. Fertility was lower in rats on MSG (48 births) than in controls (117 births). The weight gain of the MSG rats was higher than in controls. Biochemical parameters and organ histology remained normal in control animals. In MSG-treated rats however, liver/renal function tests, fasting serum cholesterol and triglyceride, serum uric acid showed a significant rise at trimestrial time-points. Histology showed mild portal inflammation in MSG rats, with periglomerular fibrosis and interstitial nephritis in two rats, at 6–12 months.

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We performed a systematic review to highlight trends in management and outcome of Wilms tumor (WT) in Africa in the past two decades (2000-2019). Twenty-seven studies involving 2250 patients were analyzed. Overall, barring regional variations, 57.7% of the cases presented with advanced disease, 57.3% completed planned treatment, and survival was 56.5%. The publications in the two decades did not show significant differences in proportions of cases with advanced disease, completion of treatment rate, and cases lost to follow up. However, significantly more cases received preoperative chemotherapy, and survival improved in the last decade (2010-2019) compared to the earlier decade (2000-2009). Survival of WT in Africa might have improved in the last decade, but challenges of delayed presentation and abandonment of treatment have persisted. Measures that will encourage early access to expert care as well as improve on treatment compliance may further improve survival of WT in Africa.

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD), also known as sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy, is a benign self-limiting disorder of unknown aetiology, which is frequently mistaken for lymphoma. There is no consensus as to the proper management of this disorder. In the past, potentially harmful treatments, such as antineoplastic drugs, have been advocated. We describe a 25-year-old woman with RDD who has had a remarkably favourable response to oral prednisolone therapy. Our observation strengthens the conclusions of previous case reports as to the effectiveness of corticosteroids in this condition. This article is aimed at creating awareness among clinical oncologists about this pseudolymphomatous disorder and emphasizing the therapeutic role of corticosteroids.

Background:The incidence of ovarian cancer is thought to be increasing in developing countries and little is known about the pattern and incidence of this disease in South-East Nigeria.Aims:The objectives of the study were to determine the incidence, describe the pattern and management of ovarian cancer at a tertiary medical center in Enugu South East Nigeria.Materials and Methods:This was a retrospective review of cases of histologically diagnosed primary ovarian cancer at the study center over 11 years. Cases of histologically diagnosed primary ovarian cancer were identified through the records of the study center cancer registry and confirmed from the records of the histopathology department. Case notes, admission and theatre records were used to obtain data relating to clinical management, mortality and incidence of primary ovarian cancer. Statistical analysis was dose using SPSS statistical software version 17.0 for windows. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to obtain rates, proportions and 95% confidence intervals for these estimates.Results:There were 20,227 gynecological admissions during the study period (from January 2000 to December 2010) and 206 gynecological cancers. There were 54 cases of primary ovarian cancer giving an incidence rate of 1/405 gynecological admissions per year or 0.3% (95% confidential interval [CI] 0.23%, 0.38%) or 2.4% (54/206) per gynecological cancer per year. Epithelial ovarian cancer constituted 68% of cases of ovarian cancer (95% CI 54%, 82%): Sex cord and germ cell tumors constituted 16% each (95% CI 6%, 26%). Approximately 60% of women who had epithelial ovarian cancer were aged 50 years or below (95% CI 47%, 74%) and 72% of epithelial ovarian cancer occurred in multiparous women (95% CI 72.1%, 91.9%). Over 84% of ovarian cancer presented in stages 3 and 4 of the disease (95% CI 94%, 72%). The mainstay of management was surgery: Compliance with cis-platinum based adjuvant chemotherapy was poor. Case-specific mortality rate within 1 year of diagnosis was, at least, 70% (95% CI 64%, 84%).Conclusions:Primary ovarian cancer was uncommon and consisted mainly of epithelial cancer. Epithelial ovarian cancer occurred more in multiparous women and in women under 50 years in our center contrary to the known pattern of the disease.

Mediastinal paragangliomas are unusual neoplasms that have been described in the medical literature. The microscopic features of paragangliomas are well established and are essentially similar, regardless of the anatomic site, although some minor differences have been noted according to the location of the tumor. We present a case of nonfunctioning anterior mediastinal paraganglioma in a 33-year-old woman. The mediastinal tumor was accidentally discovered on a thoracic tomographic scan performed for an unrelated minor nasal discomfort. Diagnosis was confirmed by 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy and mediastinoscopy. Complete resection of the tumor was done through a median sternotomy and the patient received intraoperative radiotherapy.

Background:The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic has brought about a resurgence in tuberculosis (TB), especially in developing countries. Previous studies on TB lymphadenitis (TBLN) in South-Eastern Nigeria were done before the advent of the HIV pandemic making a review pertinent.Aim:To evaluate the role of TBLN as a cause of superficial lymphadenopathy in the post-HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) era of South-Eastern Nigeria.Materials and Methods:This is a 15 years (2000-2014) retrospective review of all superficial lymph node biopsies (SLNBs) received at the Department of Morbid Anatomy, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla Enugu, Nigeria.Results:One hundred and seventy-two cases of TBLN were identified in this study constituting 14.6% (172/1,180) of SLNBs received at our Hospital's Morbid Anatomy Department during the 15 years period under review. Twenty-eight cases of TBLN were clinically screened for HIV, 23 of which tested positive, representing 82.1% (23/28) of clinically screened cases. Acid fast bacilli demonstration was positive in 15.1% (26/172) of cases using Ziehl-Neelsen stain. 48.8% (84/172) of TBLN cases were males, and 51.2% (88/172) were females with most (22) cases received in 2012 and least (5) cases in 2000. Most TBLN occurred in the 21-25 years age group with a total of 21.5% (37/172) of cases and a male to female ratio of 1:1.5 The most common biopsy site for TBLN was the cervical group followed by the axillary and inguinal groups with 73.8% (127/172), 14% (24/172), and 4.7% (8/172) of cases, respectively.Conclusions:There is a remarkable decline in the prevalence of TB lymphadenitis in South-Eastern Nigeria indicating a change in trend from the pre- to the post-HIV/AIDS era with slightly more females now presenting with TBLN and most TB lymphadenitis patients now presenting with associated HIV/AIDS disease. There is an urgent need to provide modern diagnostic facilities in our medical laboratories.

Background The pigmented skin of black Africans has been credited with reduction in risk of skin cancer. African albinos have inherited defects in skin melanin deposition, which predisposes them to ultraviolet radiation‐induced cutaneous carcinogenesis. We compared the manifestation of skin cancers between albino and nonalbino Africans aiming to describe the effect of pigmentation or lack of it on the epidemiological characteristics of skin cancer in Africans. Materials and methods Cutaneous malignancies seen in our institution over a 19‐year period were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Results were presented in tables of frequencies. Continuous variables were presented as mean with standard deviation and compared with independent sample t‐test and ANOVA. Alpha level of <0.05 was considered significant. Result There were 86 albinos and 364 nonalbinos in the study. Mean age (SD) at presentation for albinos was 41 (14) years and for nonalbinos 52 (17) years. Albinos had most tumors in the head and neck region and upper extremities. For nonalbinos, lower extremities followed by anogenital region were the most common body site of cutaneous malignancy. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common type of skin cancer in the albino and nonalbino patients. No case of malignant melanoma was diagnosed in the albino group. Conclusion Albino skin cancer patients were much younger than nonalbinos. Albinos and nonalbinos differ in body site distribution of skin cancers. Distribution of keratinocyte carcinomas in albinos parallels the reported findings in Caucasians. Albinos may have some level of protection from cutaneous melanoma in spite of hypomelanized skin.