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Biomedical subjects

C S Enwemeka

Publications and source records attributed to C S Enwemeka.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Physical deformities in Nigerian schools: the Port Harcourt Cohort study.

A total of 3,144 Nigerian school children, adolescents and adults were clinically screened for physical deformities in order to identify and classify the various forms of physical deformities found in Nigerian schools; ascertain cause; determine the health, educational and rehabilitation needs of the subjects and offer suggestions as to ways of meeting these needs. Nine hundred and seventy-two (30.9%) of the subjects were identified with various physical deformities including Non-rachitic Primary Knee Deformities; Pes Planus; Talipes Equinus Varus; Scoliosis; Limb Length Discrepancy; Cubitus Valgus and Hallux Valgus. Statistically significant differences were found in the proportion of male and female subjects who had Genu Valgum (p less than 0.005); Genu Recurvatum (p less than 0.001) and Cubitus Valgus (p less than 0.001). Subjects with Limb Length Discrepancies had a significant mean limb Length Difference between the right and left lower extremities (p less than 0.001). A majority of the physical deformities (92.1%) were attributed to congenital factors. Considering reports from numerous countries, the prevalence of scoliosis in this cohort may be said to be low. In general, it may be concluded that physical deformities in Nigerian schools are mild to moderate in nature; with a few cases requiring correction by physiotherapy or orthopaedic surgery.

Accidents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Matrix remodeling in healing rabbit Achilles tendon.

Biochemical, biomechanical and ultrastructural properties of the connective tissue matrix were investigated during the early remodeling phase of tissue repair in experimentally tenotomized and repaired rabbit Achilles tendons. Sterile surgical tenotomy was performed on the right Achilles tendons of 14 rabbits and allowed to heal for 15 days. The animals were euthanized and the Achilles tendons excised from both limbs. The left contralateral Achilles tendon of each rabbit was used as a control in the experiments. Prior to biochemical analysis, both intact and healing tendons were tested for their biomechanical integrity. The results revealed that the healing tendons had regained some of their physicochemical characteristics, but differed significantly from the intact left tendons. The healing tendons regained 48% tensile strength, 30% energy absorption, 20% tensile stress, and 14% Young's modulus of elasticity of intact tendons. In contrast, biochemical analysis showed that the healing tendons had 80% of the collagen and 60% of the collagen crosslinks (hydroxypyridinium) of normal tendons. Sequential extraction of collagen from the tissues yielded more soluble collagen in the healing tendons than intact tendons, suggesting either an increase in collagen synthesis and/or enhanced resorption of mature collagen in healing tendons compared to intact tendons. Electron microscopic studies revealed remarkable differences in the ultrastructure between intact and healing tendons. These observations could explain, in part, the connective tissue response to healing during the early phases of tissue remodeling.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Laser photostimulation accelerates wound healing in diabetic rats.

In this study, we examined the hypothesis that laser photostimulation can facilitate healing of impaired wounds in experimental diabetes using a rat model. Diabetes was induced in male rats by streptozotocin injection and two 6 mm diameter circular wounds were created on either side of the spine. The left wound of each animal was treated with a 632.8 nm He:Ne laser at a dose of 1.0 J/cm2 for five days a week until the wounds closed (three weeks). Measurements of the biomechanical properties of the laser-treated wounds indicated there was a marginal increase in maximum load (16%), stress (16%), strain (27%), energy absorption (47%) and toughness (84%) compared to control wounds of diabetic rats. Biochemical assays revealed that the amount of total collagen was significantly increased in laser treated wounds (274 +/- 8.7 microg) over the control wounds (230 +/- 8.4 microg). Sequential extractions of collagen from healing wounds showed that laser treated wounds had significantly greater concentrations of neutral salt soluble (15%) and insoluble collagen (16%) than control wounds, suggesting accelerated collagen production in laser treated wounds. There was an appreciable decrease in pepsin soluble collagen (19%) in laser treated wounds over control wounds, indicating higher resistance to proteolytic digestion. In conclusion, the biomechanical and biochemical results collectively suggest that laser photostimulation promotes the tissue repair process by accelerating collagen production and promoting overall connective tissue stability in healing wounds of diabetic rats.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Combined ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and laser promote collagen synthesis with moderate changes in tendon biomechanics.

The biomechanical, biochemical, and ultrastructural effects of a multitherapeutic protocol were studied using regenerating rabbit Achilles tendons. The multitherapeutic protocol was composed of low-intensity Ga:As laser photostimulation, low intensity ultrasound, and electrical stimulation. Achilles tendons of 63 male New Zealand rabbits were tenotomized, sutured, immobilized, and subjected to the multitherapeutic protocol for five days, after which casts were removed and the therapy was continued for nine more days without electrical stimulation. The tendons were excised and compared with control tendons. Multitherapy treatment produced a 14% increase in maximal strength, a 42% increase in load-at-break, a 20% increase in maximal stress, a 45% increase in stress-at-break, a 21% increase in maximal strain, and a 14% increase in strain-at-break. Similarly, multitherapy treatment was associated with an increase in Young's modulus of elasticity of 31%, an increase in energy absorption at maximum load of 9%, and an increase in energy absorption at load-at-break of 11%. Biochemical analysis of the tendons showed an increase of 23% in the total amount of collagen in the multitherapy-treated tendons, with fewer mature crosslinks (decrease of 6%). Electron micrographs revealed no ultrastructural or morphologic changes in the tendon fibroblasts or in the extracellular matrix. The improvements measured in tendons receiving multitherapy were consistent but less remarkable compared with our earlier works with single modality protocols. The results warrant the hypothesis that the beneficial effects of ultrasound and laser photostimulation on tendon healing may counteract one another when applied simultaneously.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Some family problems associated with the presence of a child with handicap in Nigeria.

The problems presented in 53 families by the presence of handicapped children arising from cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, Erb's palsy, talipes, arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and trauma, were studied in Benin City, Nigeria. Among other things, most fathers were found to be indifferent to their handicapped children and there was a highly significant difference in attitude between educated and enlightened fathers of handicapped children, and their barely educated counterparts. A statistically significant proportion of handicapped children were prevented from going to school because of their disabilities and in half of the families studied, occasional squabbles arose because of the presence of a handicapped child. It is suggested that Nigeria and similar developing countries should lay emphasis on health education in their on-going primary health care schemes.

Attitude to Health↗