Resumen
This first article in this issue of the Journal will interest most readers who have been longing for alternative therapy for HIV infection bearing in mind the recent deluge of plausible and supposedly potent herbal remedies for the new Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Onifade’s review did not pinpoint any specific herbal agent as the one to use but cautioned about efficacy, safety profile, and possible drug interactions. It is gratifying that the common treatment combinations for acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria (artemether-lumifantrine vs. artesunate-amodiaquine} were reported to be free of cardiac toxicity according to the study by Funwei and others. The prescribing pattern of doctors was analysed by Opadeyi and colleagues who posited poor utilization of the Essential Medicines List and that more than 40% of the Doctors used generic names. Another study reported huge expenditure on cardiovascular and anti-infective drugs which would indirectly point at the pressing medical problems in our environment now.
Two articles are featured on infections – one on tinea infections with a prevalence of nearly 50% in a rural community, associated with low socio-economic conditions and prompting a call for better school-based health education services. The second article by Akere and others reported an alarmingly high burden of hepatitis B virus infection among apparently healthy subjects. Such asymptomatic carriers can spread the infection unless adequate immunization programmes are instituted. There are four manuscripts on oral health and dental procedures highlighting poor knowledge of caries prevention, high clinic default after tooth extraction procedure, restoration failure of non-carious cervical lesions particularly on the left side being more common in older males, and exploration of the myth surrounding natal and neonatal teeth in a rural community.
An echocardiographic study of dilated cardiomyopathy provides a revisit of the old problem of heart muscle disease and the findings by Adebiyi et al were structural and functional alterations. Higher socioeconomic status, urban residence, being employed and contraceptive use were reported to be linked with better child spacing and resulting in better maternal and child health. Balogun and others reported that about 50% of women suffer from spousal control, and this could be accompanied by gender-based violence. Low body mass index was common in women with advanced breast cancer and this can be linked with cachexia of malignancy. Diabetes mellitus was strongly associated with the development of Founier’s gangrene which is a fatal condition. Kuti and colleagues determined the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease from lipid measurements and reported positive correlations of some of the parameters with clinical applications. Lastly, Bello and co-workers noted the poor quality of life of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy and this was influenced by their age and educational status. These interesting articles make this issue a good collection of materials covering many specialties in health care and should stimulate further analytical research on some of these observations.
Tribute
Adieu Emeritus Professor Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe (1933-2020)
Emeritus Professor O. O. Akinkugbe died on Monday, June 15, 2020 at the ripe age of 86 years, one month short of his 87th birthday. He served the African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences as foundation Assistant Editor from April 1971 to December 1980. The pioneer Editor was Professor Olufemi Williams while Professor Benjamin O. Osuntokun was the second Assistant Editor. These trio in conjunction with a powerful Editorial Board established the journal as an important medium for disseminating information about medical sciences in Africa and elsewhere, a tradition of excellence that has endured.
Professor Akinkugbe had a chequered career as a teacher, clinician, researcher, and administrator. He rose to the position of preferment in October 1968 and was the Dean of the Ibadan Medical School between 1970 and 1974. He served as the Chairman, Board of Management of the University College Hospital (2000-2003. He distinguished himself in the field of hypertension and diseases of the kidney, and he was generally acclaimed as an authority on hypertension in blacks. He was passionate about reforms in medicine and tertiary education in Nigeria. He was a recipient of many national and international honours for his scholastic contributions and service to humanity. Notable honours were the Nigerian National Order Merit Award (NNOM) and the Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR). His legacy was excellence in teaching and clinical practice. He left giant footprints in the various positions he held and his footnotes in the various seminal presentations and documentations.
As the last member of the foundation editorial team to exit, his death marked the end of the beginning of the African Journal of Medicine and medical sciences. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
A. Ogunniyi
Editor-in-Chief