Biomedical subjects
G A Magoha
Publications and source records attributed to G A Magoha.
Testicular torsion salvage rate in Nigerians in Lagos.
Eighty-one Nigerian patients with testicular torsion presented at the Urology Unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital between May 1983 and May 1985. The majority (62%) were young adults of 21 years and above with a mean of 21.3 +/- 5.2 years. Fifty-four testes found to be clinically non viable at exploration were excised and microscopically confirmed as haemorrhagic infarction due to the torsion. Twenty-six clinically viable testes at exploration were salvaged giving a low salvage rate of 32%. This appears to be due to delayed or mistaken diagnosis by the first doctor to see the patient as a result of low index of suspicion. The clinical importance of high index of suspicion for testicular torsion in all patients with testicular pain of recent onset irrespective of age is emphasized in this locality.
Subcapsular orchidectomy in the management of prostatic carcinoma in Nigerians.
Thirty patients with advanced prostatic carcinoma were treated by subcapsular orchidectomy at the urology unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Post orchidectomy plasma testosterone levels measured at 3 and 6 months were low in all patients with a mean of 44 ng/100 mls +/- S.D. 21 compared to levels in the control group of 10 untreated prostatic cancer patients with a mean of 526 ng/100 mls +/- S.D. 109; the difference being highly significant (P greater than 0.001). Subcapsular orchidectomy was effective in the treatment of 28(93.3%) of the 30 prostatic cancer patients as assessed by diminution in the size of primary tumours per rectum, improvement of urinary symptoms and reduction of skeletal metastases radiologically. None of the patients showed the undesirable side effects of prolonged oestrogen therapy and psychological trauma of total orchidectomy. These results indicate that subcapsular orchidectomy is effective in the treatment of advanced prostatic cancer in this locality.
Measurement of serum C-reactive protein concentration after renal transplantation.
A prospective study of serial serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations was made on 21 patients who had received renal allografts. CRP was raised during 27 of 32 rejection episodes and in all of five episodes of rejection associated with infection. CRP values were persistently elevated in three irreversible rejection episodes. Significantly raised CRP concentrations were documented in 14 of 20 episodes of infection. In some cases CRP was a predictive indicator of rejection or infection. In all cases of infection or rejection associated with a rise in CRP, CRP values fell following successful treatment with appropriate agents. Serial CRP measurement used in conjunction with other clinical and biochemical parameters appears to be valuable clinically following renal transplantation.
Testicular torsion rate in Nigerians.
In a prospective study, from July 1980 to December 1983, 122 patients--i.e. 35 per year--were treated for testicular torsion at a Lagos Hospital. Of these, torsion had previously occurred in the opposite testis in 17 (14%) patients. Patients' ages ranged from 3 weeks to 40 years with a mean of 23.3 +/- 6.2 (SD). About 58 per cent of the patients were adult men. There was a significant delay from initial presentation to definite diagnosis in all except 5 patients. On average only 27% of the torted testes were saved and missed or delayed diagnosis contributed to this very low salvage rate. Seven men (6%) were adjudged sterilised from testicular torsion. Testicular torsion is not uncommon in blacks and should be considered as initial diagnosis in all men with testicular pain. Treatment should be prompt in order to save the testis and avert sterility.