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Biomedical subjects

N Nyazema

Publications and source records attributed to N Nyazema.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Does the first pregnancy precipitate age-related fat deposition?

Excessive accumulation of fat in women of childbearing age is a concern, since obesity is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Deposition of fat during pregnancy, which is not metabolized during lactation, may contribute. However, the individual effects of age and gravidity on fat accumulation have not been disentangled. Based on multiple linear regression analysis of anthropometric data from 1113 pregnant women from Zimbabwe, we found evidence to suggest that fat deposition is an effect of age rather than gravidity that is precipitated by the first pregnancy.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2001

HIV and other predictors of serum beta-carotene and retinol in pregnancy: a cross-sectional study in Zimbabwe.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin A status during pregnancy is important to maternal and infant health. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to identify predictors of serum beta-carotene and retinol. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study of 1669 women (22-35 wk of gestation) in Harare, Zimbabwe, who were receiving prenatal care. The statistical effects of age, season, gestational age, gravidity, HIV-1 infection, malaria parasitemia, and serum alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) on serum beta-carotene (log10 transformed) and retinol were estimated by using multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: HIV infection was found in 31.5% of the women; 0.4% had malaria. Serum beta-carotene concentrations (geometric x: 0.19 micromol/L) were lower in HIV-infected women than in uninfected women (10beta = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.84) and increased with age (10beta = 1.05; 1.02, 1.07) in gravida 1 but not in gravida > or =2 (P for interaction = 0.00002). Serum retinol (x: 0.92 micromol/L) increased with age (beta = 0.004; 0.0001, 0.008) in uninfected women but not in HIV-infected women (P for interaction = 0.02) and was 0.05-micromol/L (0.02, 0.09) lower in HIV-infected women than in uninfected women at 24 y of age. Furthermore, gestational age, season, use of prenatal supplements, and malaria were predictors of serum beta-carotene. Serum retinol was lower in women carrying male (beta = -0.04; -0.08, -0.00005) and multiple (beta = -0.21; -0.35, -0.08) fetuses. Serum ACT concentrations of 0.3-0.4, 0.4-0.5, and >0.5 g/L were associated with 3%, 11%, and 44% lower serum beta-carotene and 0.04-, 0.15-, and 0.41-micromol/L lower serum retinol. Serum ACT (g/L) was higher in women with malaria than in those without (beta = 0.10; 0.03, 0.16) and in gravida 1 than in gravida > or =2 (beta = 0.012; 0.003, 0.021), but was not higher in HIV-infected women than in uninfected women (beta = 0.001; -0.008, 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection, malaria, gravidity, and gestational age were predictors of serum beta-carotene and retinol. Serum ACT was an important predictor of both and was associated with gravidity and gestational age.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed2001

HIV and other predictors of serum folate, serum ferritin, and hemoglobin in pregnancy: a cross-sectional study in Zimbabwe.

BACKGROUND: Folate and iron status and hemoglobin concentrations are important to maternal and infant health. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to identify predictors of serum folate, serum ferritin, and hemoglobin. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study of 1669 pregnant women (22-35 wk of gestation) in Harare, Zimbabwe, who were receiving prenatal care. The statistical effects of age, season, gestational age, gravidity, HIV-1 infection, malaria parasitemia, and serum alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) on serum folate, serum ferritin (log10 transformed), and hemoglobin were estimated by using multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Serum folate (x: 11.4 micromol/L) was 0.52-nmol/L (95% CI: 0.04, 1.0) lower in HIV-infected women than in uninfected women and 0.65-nmol/L (0.014, 1.28) lower in weeks 25-35 than in weeks 22-25. Serum ferritin (geometric x: 11.6 microg/L) was 0.93 times (0.86, 0.99) lower in HIV-infected women and 2.25 times (1.41, 3.61) higher in women with malaria parasitemia than in uninfected women. Similarly, serum ferritin was 0.71 times (0.63, 0.79) higher in weeks 32-35 than in weeks 22-25 and 1.21 times (1.12, 1.29) higher in gravida > or =3 than in gravida 1. Elevated serum ACT was a strong predictor of serum folate, serum ferritin, and hemoglobin. HIV infection was associated with a 12.9-g/L (8.9, 16.8) lower hemoglobin concentration in women with nondepleted iron stores but low serum retinol and a 7-8-g/L lower hemoglobin concentration in women with other combinations of serum ferritin and retinol (P for interaction = 0.038). Season, age, gestational age, and gravidity were not significant predictors of hemoglobin. Low serum folate, ferritin, and retinol were associated with low hemoglobin. CONCLUSIONS: HIV was associated with lower serum folate, serum ferritin, and hemoglobin. HIV infection was also associated with lower hemoglobin, particularly in women with stored iron and low serum retinol. Low serum folate, ferritin, and retinol were associated with low hemoglobin.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed2001

The impact of repeated treatment with praziquantel of schistosomiasis in children under six years of age living in an endemic area for Schistosoma haematobium infection.

Praziquantel was given every eight weeks for two years to children aged under six years of age, living in a Schistosoma haematobium endemic area. Infection with S. haematobium and haematuria were examined in urine and antibody profiles (IgA, IgE, IgM, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4) against S. haematobium adult worm and egg antigens were determined from sera collected before each treatment. Chemotherapy reduced infection prevalence and mean intensity from 51.8% and 110 eggs per 10 ml urine, respectively, before starting re-treatment programme to very low levels thereafter. Praziquantel is not accumulated after periodic administration in children. Immunoglobulin levels change during the course of treatment with a shift towards 'protective' mechanisms. The significant changes noted in some individuals were the drop in 'blocking' IgG2 and IgG4 whereas the 'protecting' IgA and IgG1 levels increased. The antibody profiles in the rest of the children remained generally unchanged throughout the study and no haematuria was observed after the second treatment. The removal of worms before production of large number of eggs, prevented the children from developing morbidity.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Enumeration of CD4 and CD8 T-cells in HIV infection in Zimbabwe using a manual immunocytochemical method.

OBJECTIVES: To enumerate CD4 and CD8 T-cells using the simple and cheap immuno-alkaline phosphatase (IA) method and to compare it with flow cytometry (FC); and to study the effects of duration of sample storage on the IA method results. DESIGN: Method comparison study. SETTING: Blair Research Laboratory, Harare, Zimbabwe. SUBJECTS: 41 HIV positive and 11 HIV negative men and women from Harare participating in HIV studies at Blair Research Laboratory, Zimbabwe. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts by FC and the IA method. RESULTS: The IA method and FC were highly correlated for CD4 counts (Spearman rs = 0.91), CD4 percentage (rs = 0.84), CD8 count (rs = 0.83), CD8 percentage (rs = 0.96) and CD4/CD8 ratio (rs = 0.89). However, CD4 cell counts and percentage measured by the IA method were (mean difference +/- SE) 133 +/- 24 cells/microL [corrected] and 6.7 +/- 1.1% higher than those measured by the FC method (p < 0.0001) respectively. CD8 counts and percentages by the IA method were lower than those by the FC method (p < 0.01). Accordingly, the IA method gave a higher CD4/CD8 ratio (p < 0.01). IA method CD4 counts < 300/mL best predicted FC CD4 counts < 200/mL while IA CD4% < 25 best predicted FC CD4% < 14%. IA method CD4/CD8 ratio < 0.8 best predicted FC CD4/CD8 ratio < 0.5. Smears stored for up to 18 months gave results similar to fresh smears. CONCLUSION: The IA method correlates well with but gives CD4 counts and percentages that are higher than those determined by FC. On the contrary, the IA method gives CD8 counts and percentage that are lower than FC values. The method is a cheap and reliable alternative to FC and allows storage of samples for extended periods before analysis, making it an appropriate technology for resource poor countries.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed2001

General practitioners and clinical guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the attitudes of general practitioners in Harare, Zimbabwe, towards the use of clinical practice guidelines (CPG's). DESIGN: Cross sectional survey. SETTING: General practitioners in private practice within the urban Harare (Zimbabwe) environs. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and thirty two general practitioners in Harare, Zimbabwe. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The response to a questionnaire enlisting attitudes to CPGs. RESULTS: Questionnaires were sent to 232 general practitioners. Of these, 137 (59.1%) returned a completed questionnaire. Among the respondents, 95.6% felt that general practitioners should be involved in the development of guidelines, 72.6% had read at least one guideline, 65.9% were prepared to use guidelines in their practice, 61.6% thought that guidelines would improve their treatment ability, and 59.7% thought that guidelines would improve their knowledge of disease. 76.5% felt that the government should not legislate, 66.2% felt that guidelines reduce practitioners' flexibility and 57.9% felt that guidelines would not improve their diagnostic ability. CONCLUSION: The respondents were, in general, favourably disposed towards CPGs. Most had already read some guidelines, and about two thirds were prepared to use them. Almost all respondents felt that general practitioners should be involved in the development of guidelines for use in general practice. These general practitioners felt that guidelines were likely to help them treat patients than to make a diagnosis. Despite these favourable attitudes, many practitioners felt that guidelines would limit their personal flexibility in caring for patients. Organisations developing or implementing CPGs in general practice should address these concerns.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Schistosomiasis infection in relation to the ABO blood groups among school children in Zimbabwe.

The study aimed to establish if there was any relationship between the blood group of the human host and schistosomiasis prevalence, intensity, incidence and related organ pathology. Urine and stool specimens were collected from the 735 school children attending a rural school in Zimbabwe to determine the Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni infection status of the children. The parasitology results were used to calculate prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis infection. All the children, irrespective of infection status, were examined for signs of organ damage using ultrasonography before those that were infected were treated using a single dose of praziquantel. A blood specimen was taken from each child for blood group determination. Exactly 1 year later, parasitology was repeated to allow calculation of annual incidence of schistosomiasis infection. Of the children studied, 212 (28.8%) were of blood group 'A', 156 (21.2%) were of blood group 'B' while 367 (49.9%) belonged to blood group 'O'. The prevalence of S. haematobium was 59.6% (n = 438) while that of S. mansoni was 15.60% (n = 115). S. haematobium infection was detected among 129 (60.8%) children belonging to blood group 'A': 225 (61.30%) of blood group 'O' and 84 (53. 80%) of those belonging to blood group 'B'. S. mansoni infection was detected among 65 (30.70%) blood group 'A' children while 37 (10.10%) blood group 'O' and 13 (8.30%) blood group 'B' children were infected. Intensity, annual incidence of S. haematobium infection and related organ pathology was significantly higher among children of blood group 'A' and lowest among blood group 'O' children (P < 0.01, F-value = 6.13). Similarly, S. Mansoni intensity and incidence of infection and related liver lesions were highest among children of blood group 'A' (P < 0.005, F-value = 11.45).

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1997

Effects of an ashed (MEND) powder on deep wound healing: a preliminary study in guinea pigs.

This case control experimental study was designed to investigate the effects of an ashed powder (code-named MEND) on deep wound healing. A total of twelve guinea pigs (six in the experimental group and six in the control group) were used for the study. Square-shaped cutaneous wounds measuring approximately 2.5cmx2.5cm and extending to the fascia covering the back muscles were induced in the lumbar regions of the twelve guinea pigs. One gram of MEND was applied daily to the wound of each of the six animals in the experimental group. Nothing was applied to the wounds of the six animals in the control group. All 12 wounds were traced on transparent paper daily for 20 days. Later on, wound areas were obtained with the aid of a graph paper by counting the number of square millimetres within the traced areas. The time it took for the wounds to be covered by connective tissue matrix and the rate of reduction of wound areas were determined. By day 5 of the experiment, each experimental wound was covered by a thick hard layer of connective tissue. The wound area measurements showed a significant difference between the two groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test (p = 0.000126 at p = 0.05). This difference was more marked in the collagen synthesis phase of deep wound healing. It was concluded that since deep wounds heal in a similar way to chronic skin ulcers, it would appear that the ashed compound used in this study may have a role in the management of chronic skin ulcers. However, it needs to be analysed in detail and more experiments done before any extrapolations of its effects on human wounds can be made.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1994

Traditional herbal remedies used for the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in Zimbabwe.

A total of 286 traditional healers, 85% of them registered with the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers' Association (ZINATHA), in five administrative provinces of Zimbabwe, were interviewed to assess their knowledge about the signs and symptoms of urinary schistosomiasis. Information on the names of plants used to treat Schistosoma haematobium infections was solicited. Haematuria was mentioned by 99% of the traditional healers to be the most obvious sign of S. haematobium infection. General body weakness, increased urinary frequency and pain on micturition also were reported to be some of the signs of infection. Eight plant materials were identified as the most commonly used for the treatment of S. haematobium. The plants were identified and parts collected to investigate their antischistosomal properties. The plant materials were prepared according to the guidelines of the traditional healers and their efficacy determined by administering the crude extracts orally to hamsters infected with S. haematobium cercariae. The results obtained suggested that plant extracts from Abrus precatorius (Leguminosae), Pterocarpus angolensis (Leguminosae) and Ozoroa insignis (Anacardiaceae) were lethal to adult schistosomes.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Residues of organochlorine pesticides in human milk from mothers living in the greater Harare area of Zimbabwe.

Residue levels of the chlorinated hydrocarbons p,p -DDT, p,p, -DDE, p,p TDE, p,p -DDT, alpha-beta-gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in human milk of 40 Zimbabwean mothers living in the greater Harare area. Three municipal clinics and one main hospital were randomly selected as collecting points. The main organochlorine contaminants found in all the samples analysed were p,p -DDT and p,p -DDE and the mean levels of sum DDT and DDT/DDE ratio were 6 mg/kg milk fat and 0.74 respectively. In general, relatively low residue levels of alpha-beta-,gamma-HCH, heptachlorepoxide and dieldrin were detected in 58,100,63,13 and 65pc, respectively of all the milk samples analysed. Trace of the PCB congener 2,2,4,5,5'-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 101) were found in 15 samples and only one sample contained traces of 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 118). The results were examined with regard to health ad living condition of the mothers. From the small population observed around the greater Harare area--social status, educational background an living conditions could be described as important demographic variables influencing the frequency distribution of residual levels of sum DDT in the mother's milk.

Educational Status↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Predictors and reference values of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte counts in pregnancy: a cross sectional study among HIV negative women in Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors and define reference values for T lymphocyte subsets in HIV negative pregnant black women. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Edith Opperman Martenity Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe. STUDY POPULATION: 1113 HIV negative women 22 to 35 weeks pregnant registering for routine antenatal care. METHODS: A questionnaire was used to collect demographic and obstetric data. CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte counts were determined by manual immunocytochemistry. Concentrations in serum, of retinol, beta-carotene, ferritin, folate and 1-antichymotrypsin were also measured. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to identify and estimate effects of potential predictors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte levels, demographic, obstetric data and micronutrient status. RESULTS: Predictors of CD4 counts were gestational age, serum retinol and season. CD4 counts declined by 25 (95% confidence interval [CI]; 11 to 40; p = 0.001) cells/L for each week's increase in gestation among women with low serum retinol, while low serum retinol was independently associated with lower CD4 counts (-127; 95% CI, -233 to 20 cells/L; p = 0.02) at 35 weeks gestation. The late rainy season was associated with higher CD4 counts (137; 95% CI, 67 to 207 cells/L; p < 0.001). CD8 counts were higher in women with low serum folate (87; 95% CI, 6 to 166 cells/L; p = 0.036) and were slightly higher in gravida 4+ compared to gravida one to three. Reference values of CD4 but not CD8 count and percentage markedly differed from flow cytometry values of pregnant and non-pregnant women in developed and developing countries reported in the literature, even after controlling for the differences in methods of T lymphocyte subset immunophenotyping. CONCLUSION: Gestational age, gravidity, micronutrient status and season influence T lymphocyte subset levels and need to be considered when designing clinical management and intervention strategies for pregnant women. The data underscores the need for local reference values.

Adolescent↗