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Biomedical subjects

M Tanner

Publications and source records attributed to M Tanner.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Agricultural production in Kikwawila village, southeastern Tanzania.

Food production, land utilisation and agricultural structures were surveyed at Kikwawila village, north of Ifakara (Kilombero District, Morogoro Region) in 1984. This study was part of a more comprehensive, longitudinal programme to investigate the health status of a rural community, aiming in particular at the interrelations between nutrition, parasitic infections, immunity and the environment. Out of 340 households, 100 were interviewed and their subsistence farming activities recorded. The soil was found to be of great variability, being fertile where it was of alluvial origin but of reduced potential where it was non-alluvial. In all, 70 plant species were registered as being cultivated, with rice, maize, cassava and beans providing the main staple food. Apart from a few exceptions, the fields were cultivated without any mechanization. The seasonal distribution of agricultural work is described, but no detailed workload analysis of the villagers with regard to age and sex has been performed. At the foot of the mountains, where artificial irrigation has been introduced, dry season cropping was practised in addition to the prevailing wet season farming, which rendered the cultivation of marketable crops (mainly tomatoes) possible. The farmers were found to be imaginative and capable of adapting to various conditions, irrespective of their tribal origins. Alternatively, the quality of the soil and the unreliable availability of water set limits to the potential of food production in the area. Although land is still available, it is becoming more scarce as the human population increases. The further impoverishment of the land represents an imminent danger. Therefore, top priority ought to be given to soil conservation, followed by intercropping and/or crop rotation, seed production and crop protection against game and pests. Means of implementing such measures are discussed. It is suggested that Community Agricultural Workers be installed, elected by the villagers and trained to establish the link between the existing agricultural extension service and the farmers' communities.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1987

Monitoring of community health status: experience from a case study in Tanzania.

The experience from the first four years of a longitudinal study on interrelations between nutrition, parasitic infections, immunity and environmental factors in a rural community, Kikwawila village (southeastern Tanzania) is reviewed. Two elements supported the implementation of the project. Firstly, the multidisciplinary approach with surveys across a range of biomedical and agricultural science disciplines has enabled the elucidation of part of the complexity of the mutually reinforcing, changing interrelations which can affect child health. Secondly, the primary health care component based on village health workers which paralleled the research project has facilitated the longitudinal character of the study and has triggered some community participation. The studies also indicated that the indigenous perceptions of disease, signs and symptoms may be used as an integrative tool to monitor health care programmes. Already during an initial stage of a project, the indigenous health perspectives could become indicators for community participation and could help to determine the strategy of applied research and control measures within primary health care.

Health↗
PubMed1987

Sheep-associated outbreak of Q fever, Idaho.

Between Feb 1 and Aug 31, 1984, an outbreak of 18 symptomatic cases of Q fever occurred in Idaho; these numbers represent an increase over the three cases reported in 1982 and the five reported in 1983. Four of the patients in the outbreak required hospitalization for two to five weeks; there were no fatalities. Eight of the cases had documented Q fever hepatitis, and one had pneumonia. All 18 of the 1984 cases for whom information was available were epidemiologically linked to visiting or working at a sheep research station and/or being exposed to animals from this research station. In this outbreak, patients typically had a hepatitislike illness associated with fever and severe headache. Severity of illness ranged from asymptomatic to life threatening. Cases of pneumonia and hepatitis due to Q fever continue to occur in the United States, especially among persons exposed to livestock.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Serum complement values (C3 and C4) to differentiate between systemic lupus activity and pre-eclampsia.

It is often difficult to differentiate between an exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and intercurrent pre-eclampsia in a patient with SLE since the manifestations of both entities include proteinuria and hypertension. This study was undertaken to determine wether serum C3 and C4 values can help distinguish SLE activity from pre-eclampsia. In 21 nonpregnant women of child-bearing age, the mean C3 level was 124 +/- 5 mg/dl and the mean C4 was 31 +/- 1 mg/dl. In 24 normal women in the third trimester of pregnancy, the C3 and C4 levels were elevated (165 +/- 4 mg/dl, p less than 0.001 versus nonpregnant control women; 37 +/- 2 mg/dl, p less than 0.01 versus nonpregnant control women, respectively). In 17 women in the third trimester of pregnancy with documented pre-eclampsia, the mean C3 level was 162 +/- 4 mg/dl, no different from that in normal pregnant women (p less than 0.001 versus nonpregnant control women; p = NS versus normal pregnant women), and the mean C4 was 29 +/- 3 mg/dl, lower than that found in normal pregnant women (p less than 0.02 versus normal pregnant women). Antinuclear antibody was absent at titers of less than 1:20 in all of these pre-eclamptic patients. In contrast, pregnant women with SLE has significantly lower C3 (103 +/- 13 mg/dl) and C4 (15.3 +/- 3.6 mg/dl) values during the third trimester of pregnancy than either normal pregnant women (p less than 0.001 for C3 and C4) or women with pre-eclampsia (p less than 0.001 for C3 and p less than 0.004 for C4) during the third trimester of pregnancy. Of the eight women with SLE in whom serial complement values were determined, three had falling C3 or C4 levels, and in each, there was a flare of SLE activity either during or immediately after pregnancy. None of the five patients with a rising C3 concentration had a flare of disease activity; however, pre-eclampsia developed in one of these patients, characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. Thus, measurement of serum C3 and C4 can help differentiate between SLE activity and pre-eclampsia, since both C3 and C4 are significantly lower in women with SLE than women with pre-eclampsia, and serum C3 and C4 concentrations rise during uncomplicated or pre-eclamptic pregnancy in women with SLE.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Laboratory and field trials at Ifakara (Kilombero District, Tanzania) on the plant molluscicide Swartzia madagascariensis.

The molluscicidal activity of crushed seed pods of Swartzia madagascariensis was assessed by laboratory and field trials. Mature dry seed pods were ground and extracted in tap water for 24 h. Water extracts exerted a significant molluscicidal activity against Bulinus globosus up to dilutions of 100 mg of ground pods per litre. The chromatographically isolated saponin (1) responsible for the molluscicidal activity showed a toxicity of LC 100 at 3 mg/l after exposure of B. globosus and Biomphalaria glabrata for 24 h. Saponin (1) could be identified by FAB-MS and 13C-NMR-spectroscopy as oleanolic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl (1----3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside. Two field trials with S. madagascariensis pod extracts in ponds (60 and 160 m3) harbouring dense populations of B. globosus compared well with the laboratory findings and showed the efficiency of the molluscicide in a natural habitat. A single application of the plant molluscicide significantly reduced the populations of B. globusus. The toxicity of S. madagascariensis pod extracts to non-target organisms remains an obstacle for its use in certain situations where schistosomiasis control is envisaged and where S. madagascariensis is found. However, S. madagascariensis is a valid candidate molluscicide which may be applied in selected epidemiological settings as part of integrated schistosomiasis control measures.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Comparison of ultrasonography, intravenous pyelography and cystoscopy in detection of urinary tract lesions due to Schistosoma haematobium.

The use of ultrasound in detecting urinary tract alterations by Schistosoma haematobium such as hydronephrosis and bladder calcifications was studied in 125 patients of the out-patients department of a district hospital in SE Tanzania, in an area highly endemic for this disease. Ultrasound was compared with plain abdominal X-ray (in 33 patients), intravenous pyelography (29), cystoscopy (31) and simple urine examination (125). Except for bladder calcifications which could not be demonstrated other than by X-ray, sonography compared favorably with IVP and cystoscopy and proved therefore to be a valuable tool in assessing S.h. related morbidity. In children moderate and advanced hydronephrosis were always associated with an irregular bladder wall and correlated strongly with the prevalence and intensity of S.h. infections as well as with haematuria and proteinuria. Important congestive pathology was observed in 1 out of 10 infected children and in 1 out of 20 examined adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Specificity of human immunodeficiency virus (LAV/HTLV-III)-reactive antibodies in African sera from southeastern Tanzania.

The prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV = LAV/HTLV-III) in a rural population from the Ifakara area in southeastern Tanzania was investigated. Sera from 286 individuals collected from 1982 to 1984 in connection with a study on liver disorders were tested by an ELISA. Fifty-two (18.2%) of the sera were found positive. While the positives were largely confirmed by one commercial ELISA, they were completely negative by two others. Confirmatory testing by Western blot and competition Western blot showed that the reactivity detected by more sensitive of these assays was largely due to IgG antibodies binding to the HIV core (gag) proteins p17, its precursor p55 and, in some cases, p24. These tests also indicated, however, that the reactive antibodies could not have been elicited by HIV, but possibly by an unknown retrovirus or another cross-reactive agent. Thus, by 1984, the area investigated was largely free of HIV infection, but a significant proportion of its population may harbor another retrovirus of unknown pathogenicity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Community participation within a primary health care programme.

Based on experiences made in rural communities of Tanzania, aspects of community participation in schistosomiasis control within a primary health care (PHC) programme are discussed. Community participation is seen as prerequisite for PHC. Building up community participation can not be disease- or even symptom-orientated, it must be community problem-orientated. The assessment of village priorities as they are recognized by the community governs any control strategy based on PHC. As schistosomiasis is often not first ranking among community problems, schistosomiasis control must become part of a multisectorial approach to improve community health. This process can initiate and ensure community participation and may lead to cost-effective control measures within PHC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Monitoring and evaluating schistosomiasis control within a primary health care programme.

Approaches for monitoring and evaluation of schistosomiasis control within primary health care (PHC) programmes are discussed on the basis of experiences in rural Tanzania. Feedback is regarded as an essential element of evaluation. It ensures community participation and strengthens the PHC approach. Monitoring, evaluation and feedback depend on the type of control strategy chosen. The strategy in turn is governed by the epidemiological factors and the politico-socioeconomic situation of the setting where schistosomiasis control is envisaged. Simple methods for monitoring control activities at community level exist and are being tested on a long-term basis. They relate to epidemiologically relevant parameters, such as prevalence, incidence and morbidity, and they can be handled by members of a community, particularly village health workers and/or staff of a dispensary. Most of the data collected by the community or its segments allow immediate feedback and form the basis for new or adopted strategies.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Value of ultrasonography in investigating morbidity due to Schistosoma haematobium infection.

In an area where urinary schistosomiasis was endemic 349 patients were examined by ultrasonography. To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of this technique, intravenous pyelography and cystoscopies were also done on 29 and 31 patients, respectively. Ultrasonography compared favourably with pyelography and cystoscopy except in demonstrating bladder calcifications. It was a valuable tool for rapid mass detection of Schistosoma haematobium related morbidity. Major renal congestion and irregularity of the bladder wall as seen on ultrasonography correlated strongly with the prevalence and the intensity of S haematobium infection as well as with microhaematuria and proteinuria, thus indicating the usefulness of urine dip sticks for S haematobium case-finding, especially during attempts at morbidity control in endemic areas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

RED: a red-cell antibody identification expert module.

We describe a software module in an expert system RED, which interprets data related to red cell antibody identification. There are three portions to this module: the problem-solving component, which incorporates the knowledge required for antibody identification as a hierarchy of programs. The programs in the hierarchy organize within themselves small pieces of knowledge represented in the form of production rules, which are capable of making judgments concerning a specific hypothesis; an intelligent data base for storage of patient data, red cell attributes, and test results; the "overview critic" portion, which combines the atomic hypotheses judged favorably by the antibody programs into a unified judgment concerning the case. Overview makes the decision to terminate processing with a conclusion about which antibodies are actually present and what specific further tests need to be performed to resolve any remaining ambiguities.

Artificial Intelligence↗
PubMed1985

Studies on the ecology of Bulinus globosus, the intermediate host of Schistosoma haematobium in the Ifakara area, Tanzania.

During a period of 2 years, the ecology of Bulinus globosus was studied in 8 habitats in two streams near Ifakara, SE-Tanzania. The relative Bulinus densities were followed monthly. Two different methods for estimating snail densities (man/time vs. palmleaf traps) gave comparable results. Bulinus densities were constantly low throughout the year in the stream, but they showed distinct seasonal fluctuations in adjacent pools, with a density-peak at the end of the small rainy season. B. globosus, identified by starch gel electrophoresis, was found to be the only intermediate host for urinary schistosomiasis in the investigated streams. A correlation of the Bulinus densities with several abiotic and biotic factors revealed that pH, temperature and conductivity had little effect on the Bulinus population, as they oscillated within the tolerated limits. No correlation of the distribution of B. globosus and other snail species was found. Rainfall patterns have a distinct influence on snail densities. They determine the duration of desiccation and affect the snails by fluctuations of the water level and by the fast increase of water velocity after heavy rains. B. globosus shows a clear predilection for the sedge Cyperus exaltatus as support for oviposition. It is also preferred as food and/or food-support. During the dry season, oviposition of B. globosus is concentrated in clearly defined sites ("breeding pockets"), which, due to the lowering of the water level, become isolated from the stream or retain only a small connection to it. These sites form important reservoirs of B. globosus, from where the snails are spread when the sites are flooded during the subsequent rainy season. The significance of these observations for control measures is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Salivary and serum IgA levels in a geriatric outpatient population.

In two separate studies, specimens of saliva from 57 individuals over the age of 65 years (mean age, 76.7 years) and 37 persons under the age of 40 years (mean age, 28.8 years) were examined for concentrations of IgA as functions of volume, total protein, and electrolyte conductivity; some were also tested for IgG and IgM content. The results show that older persons have higher concentrations of these solutes in their saliva than do younger controls. This suggests that the ability to secrete IgA into saliva does not diminish significantly with aging.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Frequency of haematuria and proteinuria among Schistosoma haematobium infected children of two communities from Liberia and Tanzania.

The frequencies of haematuria and proteinuria among children of two rural communities with different Schistosoma haematobium endemicity from Liberia and Tanzania were compared. Although the prevalence and intensity of S. haematobium infections were lower in the Tanzanian community, the frequencies of haematuria and proteinuria were significantly higher when compared to the Liberian community. The semi-quantitative dip stick tests for haematuria and proteinuria showed a comparable, good specificity (haematuria 85%, proteinuria 80%), but a community-specific sensitivity. The dip stick test for haematuria detected 85% (proteinuria 82%) of all S. haematobium infected subjects in Tanzania compared to 68% (proteinuria 57%) in Liberia. The significance of these observations in relation to S. haematobium related morbidity is discussed.

Adolescent↗