World's Tallest Woman Undergoes surgery to remove Tumour that makes her so tall..!!

The world's tallest woman is getting a new lease on life after surgery to remove the tumor that was causing her massive growth.

Siddiqa Parveen, 28, is estimated to be 7 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 286 pounds because of a tumor on her pituitary gland that is producing excess growth hormone.

As a result of her massive size, Parveen's spine was on the verge of breaking, doctors said. The tumor also puts her at risk of going blind.

Numerous fractures on her spine have left Parveen unable to stand up for years. That is why Guinness World Records has been unable to confirm her exact height. The previous record holder, 7-foot, 7-inch Yao Defen, died in November, 2012.

In order to have the tumor removed, Parveen had to travel more than 1,000 miles from her small village in West Bengal to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.

Neurosurgeons removed the tumor by inserting an endoscope through her nostrils, but the surgery was complicated by Parveen's large head, according to Dr. PK Bithal, head of neuroanesthesiology.
"Her head size was enlarged, which made access of the tumor with our instruments, like endoscopes, extremely difficult," he said, the Indian Express reported.

"Anaesthetising her would be a problem with her head size, since we did not have endotracheal tubes of her head size, and she had difficulty lying down with the multiple fractures in her spine."

Finding an operating table big enough for Parveen was challenging as well. Doctors found the biggest one and attached additional trolleys to it.

The tumor was removed successfully, but Parveen is just at the beginning of a long healing process, according to endocrinologist Dr. Nikhil Tandon.

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HOW FAKE DOCTOR WAS NABBED IN LAGOS...

On Top of the One storey building located at 163, Itire Road, Mushin, Lagos, is a bold inscription "JOSSY-JD LTD, Obstetric and Gynecology."

The poster of an expectant mother canvassing for patronage, adorned the upper floor of the building which was used as private hospital. The poster stated that any pregnant woman who patronises the hospital's Radiology Department, would be entitled to a gift.

The hospital was a beehive of activities for couples seeking the fruit of the womb until last Thursday when it was sealed off by a team of medical personnel from Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria MDCN, and Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA.

The proprietor identified as Dr Sunday J. Bassey, an indigene of Cross River State, claimed that he had on his payroll, three midwives, a matron, a radiologist and other staff who rendered medical services to both in and out-patients.

Some staff of the hospital claimed that their boss works with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LUTH. According to them, he only comes to work in the clinic after closing officially at LUTH.

Sunday, 37, claimed to have graduated from the University of Calabar in Cross River State before proceeding for further studies in India.

HOW THE CLOSURE WAS EFFECTED

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, team was led by the HOD Inspectorate, Dr Okwuokenye Henry while the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, was led by its Executive Secretary, Dr Jimi Asuni.

The team which arrived the hospital with some policemen at about 10 am, went round the premises to inspect the facilities. They asked the "Dr Sunday" to present a certificate of competence which he failed to do. His patients were transferred to a government hospital while was thereafter arrested and taken to Alausa where he was handed over to the Police for further interrogation.

The HEFAMAA Executive Secretary, Dr Asuni alleged that Sunday had been operating illegally in the area with doubtful certificates. He claimed that he (Sunday) does not possess any certificate of competence as required by the medical profession.

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WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT SIZES OF CANNULAE AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE...?

As a medical student, house officer, Medical or surgical officer, setting an IV-line is one among many things you must come across. I recently had an encounter in the theatre which prompted me to do a research and write on 'Cannulae and their significance'... Please continue reading...

CANNULAE
These are flexible tubes that can be inserted into a patient's body — are used for different purposes, resulting in cannula sizes that range from 14-24 gauge.

Intravenous cannulae are used to administer medications and other fluids to patients and to remove blood for sampling. The purpose, the condition of the patient and the urgency at which intravenous fluid must be delivered determine which cannula sizes must be used.

RULE: The smaller the gauge, the larger the diameter of the cannula and the faster the flow of fluid.

Different cannula sizes are indicated by
different colors, making them easier to differentiate, especially in emergency situations in which size might be
critical.

A YELLOW-colored cannula (the smallest in size) allows a fluid rate of about 25milliliters per minute. It is particularly used for newborns and children below the age of 2. It is sometimes referred to as the Paediatric Canulla...

A BLUE-colored cannula indicates a 22 gauge, which allows a fluid flow rate of 36 milliliters per minute. This cannula
size usually is used for children(above age 2) because of their small size and for patients who have veins that are difficult to cannulate, including the elderly and oncology patients.

The standard cannula for routine use is PINK-colored. A 20-gauge cannula, it has a fluid flow rate of 61 milliliters per minute. This cannula size is used mainly for routine blood sampling but also can be used for routine blood transfusions and intravenous fluid infusions.

GREEN-colored cannulae also are considered to be a standard size(especially in Nigeria). Measuring as an 18 gauge, with a fluid flow rate of 90 milliliters per minute, this cannula size is used for routine blood transfusions, transfusing large volumes of fluid, intravenous feeding of patients and the harvesting and separation of stem cells.

The WHITE-colored cannula size is seldom used. A 17-gauge cannula, it has a fluid flow rate of 140 milliliters per minute. Instances in which this cannula size might be used include for patients who require significant amounts of intravenous fluids or for blood transfusions that, while not emergencies, need to be given as rapidly as possible.

Emergency situations and operating theaters tend to utilize gray and brown cannulae. GRAY-colored cannulae have a 16-gauge size and a fluid flow rate of 200 milliliters per minute, and 14-gauge BROWN-colored cannulae have a flow rate of 300 milliliters per minute.

SIGNIFICANCE---
These larger cannula sizes are necessary for rapid transfusion of blood, intravenous fluids and medications. Choosing the correct cannula size is important so that treatments can be carried out properly. For example, smaller cannula sizes result in greater pressure in the vein. This can cause hemoloysis during the aspiration of a blood sample if the cannula is too small.

Furthermore, if a patient requires a bolus or the rapid infusion of medication, a cannula that is too small will not allow the fluid to flow quickly enough and, combined with increased pressure, could result in the blowing out of the vein.

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Job scam hits NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dissociated itself from an online recruitment site offering job placements in the agency.

A advertDaily Trust was answered by one Paul, who claimed to be based in Lagos and said the service charged N5,500 per form for BSc job-seekers.

He said the form would be sent to a private email address for filling in and return. "We have very few forms left, so pay quickly," he said and gave a First Bank account number named OKHIRIA EDEGHONGHON JOSEPH for the first half payment.

But at a press briefing Friday, NAFDAC insisted it was neither recruiting nor mandated anybody or organization to do so on its behalf, according to John Ibu, who chairs the agency's governing council.

He warned that behind the site were "con-men posing as consultants or recruitment agencies for NAFDAC."

ised recruitment forms into the agency along with a link and phone number for calls. A call placed by
The agency is the third government service after Civil Defence Corps and Immigrations to admit to employment scams being done in its name.

Keep staying Healthy, Informed and Entertained...

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WOW.... Google Glass’ abilities excite surgeons...!!!

GOOGLE Glass - a wearable computer that resembles a pair of glasses - may be set to transform the medical world, after the device has been used once again during two surgical procedures.
 
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Selene Parekh recently used the technology as he conducted foot and ankle surgery during the Indo-US conference in Jaipur, India. And in December last year, the device was worn by plastic surgeon Dr. Anil Shah as he carried out rhinoplasty on a patient who broke her nose.

These surgeons are the latest to use the technology in the operating room. Earlier this year, Medical News Today reported on a surgeon from the US who live-streamed a procedure using Google Glass and an iPad.

Built on a frame that is similar to a standard pair of glasses, Google Glass has an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) that sits just above the right eye when worn. It also has a built-in GPS, a microphone and bluetooth.

The device is activated by voice instructions. For example, the user can take pictures by saying "take a picture." It can record and live-stream videos, and even translate the user's voice to a foreign language.

The advantages of Google Glass in surgery: According to the surgeons, many of the gadget's features prove valuable when worn during surgical procedures.

"I immediately thought Google Glass can transform how we perform surgery," Shah said.

"One immediate advantage is I can constantly keep my eyes on my patient. I don't have to constantly move my head up and down looking at an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or X-ray or a 'before and after' in my viewer."

He continues: "Another advantage is I can communicate directly from the operating room with a patient's friends or family and tell them what's going on."

Furthermore, Shah says he believes the device will enable surgeons to document critical moments during a procedure. For example, in surgery, both surgeons and colleagues will be able to see the exact position and size of a patient's tumour.

He notes that this could come in useful when documenting for medico-legal purposes.

In the recent foot and ankle surgery conducted by Dr. Parekh and led by Dr. Ashish Sharma, the procedure was broadcast on the internet using Google Glass - a process that Dr. Sharma says is beneficial when communicating with other doctors.

"Earlier, during surgeries, to show something to another doctor, we had to keep moving and the cameraman had to move as well to take different angles," he explains.
 
"During this, there are chances of infection. So, in this technology, the image seen by the doctor using Google Glass will be seen by everyone throughout the world."

Potential for better surgical training and education: Shah, who also teaches surgeons-in-training at the University of Chicago, says the device could potentially transform the way new surgeons are educated: "We've always used video in our training. But now for the first time I can show students a procedure 'through the surgeon's eye.' They can see exactly what I'm seeing and I can easily narrate as I do the procedure. This could become the standard tool to help other surgeons learn new procedures."

At present, Google Glass is still in beta testing. As a part of their ongoing trials, the technology giant set up the "Explorer Program," which involved shipping 8,000 of the devices to testers around the world.

From this, Google is planning to add extra features to the device before it is available to the general public - the date of which is still to be confirmed.

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WHO Certifies Nigeria Guinea Worm Free Country...!!!

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has certified Nigeria as a Guinea Worm free country. The cheering news was broken on Wednesday by President Goodluck Jonathan while declaring open the first Federal Executive Council  in the year at the Presidential Villa.

President Jonathan said the news came as a gift to him as the country is making extra effort to ensure that other communicable disease s like Wild Polio will also soon be a thing of the past.

"The certification by WHO is a global recognition of how far we have come and the success of the work that has been done to rid our nation of this scourge," the president said. "Eradication of guinea worm disease that has long plagued many parts of our country has placed interminable burden on our citizens and as a government we have been working very hard and today we have received the good news," he said.

He further said: "Just as we have fought the incidence of guinea worm and succeeded so are we committed in our fight against many endemic diseases such as HIV/AIDs, Malaria, Tuberculosis and of course Polio.

"While polio is yet to be eliminated in our country, we have seen the impressive results in the control of wild polio virus type 3 transmission as well as reduction of about 50 per cent cases of wild polio type 1 in 2013 compared to 2012. Similarly no new cases of wild polio virus has been reported in the last 3 months.

"We are hopeful that transmission of wild polio will be interrupted this year, at least before the end of the year ".

He commended all those who worked with Nigeria to achieve the feat, promising that he will not rest until the country is entirely free from the other diseases ravaging humanity such as HIV/AIDS.

The certificate  was presented to the president by the Minister of Health, Dr Onyebuchi Chukwu, who expressed elation that the programme on Guinea worm eradication, which started under the Yaradua administration, was successfully seen through the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

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Surgeon-General - Health Workers Threaten Legal Action...!

Health workers in the nation's tertiary health institutions have threatened to employ all options available to them, including legal action, to thwart President Goodluck Jonathan's decision to appoint a surgeon-general of the federation.

The leaders of the health workers, under the aegis of the Assembly of Health Workers and Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU), disclosed this yesterday when they paid a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of LEADERSHIP Newspapers Ltd in Abuja.

However, the minister of health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, had defended the post of a surgeon general, saying it would help to fill the lacuna in the constitution which provides for fitness certification of governors in office.

The President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Olumide Akintayo declared that all actions including legal will be taken to restrain the President from creating such position.

He said, "Sometimes, you cannot help but imagine that there are elements that are bent on turning Nigeria to a Banana Republic. I have been reviewing various comments of key government officials in the last few hours especially Nigeria's minister of health. It is clear that our liberties are being threatened because the body language is clear that government is going ahead with the appointment of a surgeon general. The conventional propriety dictates that we have a chartered liberty to exercise our rights. I will in consultation with relevant stakeholders in the health sector take a decisive action including legal action to preserve our liberties in the days ahead."

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Governor Dr. Uduaghan joins Surgical team in theatre as DELSUTH Completes First Kidney Transplant...!

The Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, has recorded what it considered a rare feat in the medical field in Nigeria with a successful kidney transplant.

State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, a medical doctor, who was among the medical team in the theatre during the operation, had last year assured Deltans shortly after a pacemaker implantation that there would be kidney transplant in the hospital this year.

Speaking to journalists in Oghara on the feat, Uduaghan expressed satisfaction that the transplant was a success, stating that it was another medical breakthrough by the hospital.

"This is a happy day for me as we are able to provide this service," the governor said, adding, "I know we were well prepared for this surgery and we also have a good post-surgery team."

He disclosed that, "the hospital is overflowing with patients, so we are planning to expand bed facilities by putting up a 300-bed ward for this hospital," adding that DELSUTH had gone into a five-year partnership with UT South-Western Medical Centre, Dallas, USA.

"We have a five-year training agreement with them to build infrastructure and human capacity," Uduaghan said about the medical team, stating, "what they will be charging here will be far lower than what obtains anywhere else in the world." Continuing he added, "about two years ago, we started subsidising dialysis in this hospital and brought it down from N25,000 to N5,000, the subsidy is mainly for Deltans."

The Chief Medical Director of DELSUTH, Dr. Leslie Akporiaye, said the kidney transplant was a new innovation in the hospital, disclosing that the operation lasted just a few hours.

Akporiaye stated: "A lot of preparation had been on with the provision of necessary facilities, training and observation in Dallas and here in Oghara by staff of DELSUTH."

He added that this was the beginning of more of such surgeries that would take place in the hospital. The hospital had earlier carried out hip-bone and knee-cap replacement surgeries in the past.

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Charles Okah being given epilepsy medication in Kuje Prison, family alleges..!!

According to reports, Principal suspect in the Independence Day bombing, Charles Okah, is being given daily medication for epilepsy in Kuje Prison without having history of epilepsy, the family has alleged.

In a statement by the Okah family, the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State expresses great concern over the continued inhuman incarceration and man-induced deteriorating mental health of their son, Charles Oyintombra Okah a.k.a. Billy Bones, C.E.O. Tombra Life Support, a medical Specialty Company established in 1985.

"Before Charles Okah's arrest, he was a successful businessman/philanthropist in mental and physical top shape even after a donor Nephrectomy (donation of his left kidney) made 31 years earlier to his late mother, Mrs Helen Ama Okah of blessed memory.

"During an earlier visit to Kuje Prison made by his wife, Mrs Angela Uchechi Okah, Charles Okah had informed her of his adverse reaction to a certain medication being forcefully administered on him by the Kuje Prisons Clinic despite his complaints.

The drug, known as Epilim 200 (sodium valproate or ESV) was prescribed by Professor Bwala, a consultant Neurologist at the National Hospital, Abuja (NHA) to treat the damage to Charles Okah's neurological system caused by exposure to high level of fumigant chemicals, when Charles Okah and his cell mates were locked up inside the cell that was being fumigated and which led to the subsequent death of Francis Osuwo.

"Our research, however, revealed that sodium valpoate (ESV) which was administered in 200mg dosage thrice daily to him, is a medication primarily for epilepsy. Charles Okah is not epileptic nor is there a family history of epilepsy.

"A fellow inmate in a single cell block where Charles okah has been languishing in solitary confinement for 3 years, confirmed that he had complained to one Dr Ajayi of the Kuje Prison Clinic severally concerning the serious side effects the drug was having on him; listing some of them as hallucinations, memory loss, severe headaches, confusion and bed wetting.

"The side effects raised by Charles Okah is clearly stated by the manufacturers of the drug for which intake ought to have been discontinued, instead this systematic poisoning of his mind was allowed to continue unabated for a cruelly long period of time.

"A source working in the Kuje Prison Clinic( KPC) leaked out the information that curiously, they were instructed at a point to stop recording Charles Okah's daily intake of ESV, even though the medication was still being administered to him, but could record the other medication such as Amlodopine 10 mg administered for controlling his blood pressure whose brand recommended by the NHA was substituted.

"We suspect strongly that the Nigerian Prison service (NPS), with an antecedence for poisoning political prisoners through orders from above, have deliberately and systematically poisoned Charles Okah into becoming an imbecile.

"Finally, we urge the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and the Human Rights Watch to carry out an independent probe on all parties involved in this shameful and diabolic plot."

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Immunotoxin 3B3-PE38 Could Kill HIV-Infected Cells...!!

A toxin created by scientists is able to kill cells where HIV is replicating despite antiretroviral therapy, a new mouse study shows.

The findings suggest that the genetically modified bacterial toxin, called 3B3-PE38 and created in 1998, could be used as a complement to antiretroviral therapy (ART), noted researchers from the National Institutes of Health and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

Right now, antiretroviral therapy is used to manage HIV in people with the condition by suppressing and stopping progression of the virus. However, the therapy currently needs to be taken for an infected person's lifetime or else HIV will reappear, and even if a person takes the therapy, cells in different tissues of the body can still express HIV.

For the study, published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, researchers took mice engineered to have human immune systems and infected them with HIV. Then, the mice were given antiretroviral drugs for four weeks.

The researchers then split the mice into two groups:

One group then received two weeks of the special immunotoxin in addition to the antiretrovirals, while the other group of mice continued to receive just the antiretrovirals.

Researchers found that the mice given the immunotoxin in addition to the anti retroviral therapy had fewer HIV-infected cells that were producing the virus. In addition, they had lower HIV blood levels, compared with the mice who only received the antiretroviral therapy.

"Our results demonstrate a dramatic reduction in persistent HIV throughout the body resulting from the killing of virus producing cells," researchers wrote in the study. "Thus, our study provides new insights into the locations of HIV persistence during ART and a demonstration that persistent HIV can be successfully targeted inside the body."

Though additional studies are needed to prove this, researchers said the findings provide hope that the immunotoxin could be used to help humans achieve sustained remission from HIV sans antiretroviral therapy.

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EDO state NMA issues 21-Day Ultimatum to Governor Oshiomole...!!

The Edo State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a 21 day ultimatum to the Edo State Government to address what it referred to as the comatose state of the health sector or else it will embark on an indefinite strike.

Chairman of the Association, Dr
Emmanuel Ighodaro, while addressing
journalists in Benin City on Thursday,
said they had drawn the attention of the
governor to these issues in February
2013 and since then nothing remarkable
had been observed.

The Association threatened to embark
on strike if there were deductions from
their salaries owing to their participation
in the national NMA warning strike.

The issues the NMA expects the Edo
State government to address include
poor infrastructure and lack of appropriate working tools, gross shortage of manpower and the expansion of Universal Health coverage through the National Health Insurance Scheme and community based Health Insurance Scheme.

Others include stagnation in grade level
due to non-release of health workers
promotion since 2011, multiple taxation
in private facilities in the state and the
immediate implementation of the
consolidated salary structure in the
state.

The union also said that aside the 21
day-strike threat, it had written to the
government not to deduct their salaries
for participating in the national strike
else they would go on strike.

"While it is unrealistic to expect that all
the issues will be addressed within 21
days, it will be content with an MOU
containing a genuine road map on how
these issues will be addressed," the
NMA stressed.

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Seven Food That Can Increase Your Libido...!!

Its that time of the year when a person's mind and body is far away from Sex( but wait until February *valentine* lol)...

Are you just not in the mood lately? Well the culprit could be one of many things, like stress at work or those darn bills.

Surprisingly, one of the fastest way to give your libido a boost is to change your diet. Here's a handy little guide to the foods with frisky benefits.

WATERMELON
Some fruits have way more than just nutritional value to offer you and your partner. Take watermelons, for example. They contain an amino acid called citrulline that increases your sex drive by relaxing your blood vessels.

AVOCADOS
If he's coming over for a late night movie and snack, you may want to add avocados to the menu. They're packed with vitamin E, which your body uses to produce estrogen and other hormones that help with lubrication.

CHOCOLATE
This one's a no-brainer for sure: chocolate is the king of natural aphrodisiacs. It contains phenylethylamine, which is frequently known as "the love chemical," because it releases dopamine in the pleasure centers of the brain and peaks during orgasms.

ALMONDS
Their aroma is said to arouse passion, but technically speaking, scientists say that almonds provide high doses of vitamin E, magnesium and even fiber, which can help
with hormone stimulation.

GARLIC
If you're not using raw garlic when you cook, it's time to add it to your seasoning lineup. Garlic contains allicin, which is thought to increase blood flow to sexual organs.

BANANAS
Bananas aren't just great cures for morning hangovers, they can do wonders for your sex drive too. If you want to have more intense orgasms look to these little yellow guys to give you a boost of potassium to increase your muscle strength.

CHILLIES
Want to make things really hot and spicy in the bedroom? Look to chilies to help get the job done. They're loaded with capsaicin, a chemical that releases endorphins that feed your libido and helps to increase blood flow.

Keep staying Healthy, Informed and Entertained....!!!

As the Latin Man would say, "Tempus Fugit" which means "Time Flies"... Oh Yes! time indeed flies. Some hours ago we were in 2013 but now we are celebrating 2014... All thanks to God.

If you are reading this then you have every reason to give God thanks for keeping you alive; healthy and strong... Saving you from all forms of accidents. Many Persons wanted to see this day but didn't make it. Some even died just before 12:00am of January 1st, 2014. In fact, I lost one of my lecturers on 31st December, 2013. May he soul rest in peace. AMEN.

Despite all that happened in 2013, it was indeed a great year. A year that i wont be in a hurry to forget. By God's grace  was able to start-up this Health and Infotainment Blog.

I want to appreciate you my beloved readers for taking out time in the course of last year to read my posts. God bless you abundantly. I thank those who took extra time to leave their comments... Your comments were highly appreciated... To those who promoted our blog's bounce rate percentage, I also thank you...

Its a new year; a year with lots of expectations. A year in which Health Infotainment Nigeria (HIN) will be giving her best... ITS A YEAR OF GREATNESS... I will be bringing in first-hand health news and gossips, Health articles, More Entertainment gist, Inspirational stories, crime stories and YES those hilarious Medical Jokes...

I just want you to know that you are an indispensable contributor to Health Infotainment Nigeria. So my dear, this year please take that extra time to leave your comments. Together Lets make HIN better and greater. ALSO FREE TO CONTRIBUTE IDEAS TOWARDS MAKING THE BLOG BETTER.

Remember Your Health is your Wealth.. Also, Your food is your first Medicine and your medicine your first food. God bless you...

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MONTH...

Med Prince........

Keep staying Healthy, Informed and Entertained....