PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “AFRICA, WESTERN”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Influence of the 13C-enrichment of the habitual diet on a 13CO2 breath test used as an index of liver glycogen oxidation: a validation study in western Europe and Africa.

A diet containing naturally 13C-enriched carbohydrate combined with a 13CO2 breath-test analysis can be used to monitor liver glycogen oxidation in persons used to a diet low in 13C, e.g., the Western European diet. In this study, we evaluated this test principle further by changing the way we label the glycogen pool. The 13C enrichment of exhaled CO2 was studied in two groups, one in Europe and one in Africa. The European group (n = 12) was accustomed to a diet low in 13C, and they went on a 13C-enriched study diet to identify liver glycogen. The African group (n = 6) was accustomed to a diet naturally high in 13C, and they went on a diet low in 13C. The basal 13C abundance in exhaled CO2 was higher in the African group (1.0879 At%; atmospheric 1.1 atom percent) than in the European group (1.0821 At%). During the study period, the parameters for liver glycogen oxidation--the 13CO2 enrichment plateau, the plateau duration, and the return to baseline time--did not differ between groups. The abundance of 13CO2 in exhaled CO2 over time in the two groups was similar but inverse. This study confirms the use of a 13CO2 breath test to monitor liver glycogen oxidation and demonstrates how to use such a test in persons accustomed to a diet high in 13C.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The food of Near East, North West and Western African regions.

Among the countries that can be classified as Near East Africa, North West Africa, and Western Africa, there is a great diversity of foods and dietary patterns. Prevalence of undernourishment as defined by FAO using dietary energy supply data, varies dramatically among these countries, with Tunisia in the lowest prevalence category (<2.5%), and Sierra Leone in the highest prevalence category (>35%). Throughout the 1960's, the dietary energy supply of North West African and Western African countries was similar. However, since the 1970s a great and consistent improvement has been seen in North and North West African countries. Both the proportion and number of undernourished in North Africa is now very similar to that of North America. Oil use, energy from fat, and protein from plant versus animal sources account for a large part of the food pattern differences between countries in these regions. Using Tunisia and Sierra Leone as examples again, dietary diversity as measured by the percentage of energy from foods other than starchy staples, is about 50% in the former, while in the latter, it is only 36%. Fatty fruits such as olives, cocoa and palm fruit have a special role in both the diet and the economies of the region.

Africa↗
PubMed2003

Contamination of rural surface and ground water by endosulfan in farming areas of the Western Cape, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: In South Africa there is little data on environmental pollution of rural water sources by agrochemicals. METHODS: This study investigated pesticide contamination of ground and surface water in three intensive agricultural areas in the Western Cape: the Hex River Valley, Grabouw and Piketberg. Monitoring for endosulfan and chlorpyrifos at low levels was conducted as well as screening for other pesticides. RESULTS: The quantification limit for endosulfan was 0.1 microg/L. Endosulfan was found to be widespread in ground water, surface water and drinking water. The contamination was mostly at low levels, but regularly exceeded the European Drinking Water Standard of 0.1 microg/L. The two most contaminated sites were a sub-surface drain in the Hex River Valley and a dam in Grabouw, with 0.83 +/- 1.0 microg/L (n = 21) and 3.16 +/- 3.5 microg/L (n = 13) average endosulfan levels respectively. Other pesticides including chlorpyrifos, azinphos-methyl, fenarimol, iprodione, deltamethrin, penconazole and prothiofos were detected. Endosulfan was most frequently detected in Grabouw (69%) followed by Hex River (46%) and Piketberg (39%). Detections were more frequent in surface water (47%) than in groundwater (32%) and coincided with irrigation, and to a lesser extent, to spraying and trigger rains. Total dietary endosulfan intake calculated from levels found in drinking water did not exceed the Joint WHO/FAO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) criteria. CONCLUSION: The study has shown the need for monitoring of pesticide contamination in surface and groundwater, and the development of drinking water quality standards for specific pesticides in South Africa.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1996

The pattern of pediatric solid malignant tumors in western Kenya, east Africa, 1979-1994: an analysis based on histopathologic study.

This study analyzed histopathologic specimens of 600 pediatric solid malignant tumors seen during the period 1979-1994 at the histopathology laboratories of the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital in Nakuru, the Nyanza Provincial General Hospital in Kisumu, and the Uasin Gishu Hospital in Eldoret in western Kenya. The crude incidence rate of each malignancy per 100,000 children per year was calculated. The patterns of malignancies were examined with a focus on tumor incidence, age, sex, geographic, and ethnic distribution to relate the tumors to putative environmental and genetic causative factors. The six common tumors were Burkitt's lymphoma (33.5%), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (21.8%), retinoblastoma (11.5%), Kaposi's sarcoma (6.1%), nephroblastoma (4.5%), and Hodgkin's disease (4.1%). Significantly high crude incidence rates for lymphomas and Kaposi's sarcoma showed a characteristic ethnogeographic distribution. The majority of the tumors were found concentrated around Lake Victoria and showed decreasing occurrence as one moved towards the semi-arid and highland areas. We concluded that environmental factors seem to play a major role in childhood tumors in western Kenya.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

The prevalence of primary angle closure glaucoma and open angle glaucoma in Mamre, western Cape, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of primary angle closure glaucoma in the so-called Cape people of mixed ethnic background. DESIGN: A population-based prevalence study. SETTING: Mamre, a village near Cape Town, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 40 years or older. Historically, their ancestors were Southeast Asians and indigenous Africans and, to a lesser extent, Europeans. Of a total of 1194 people, 987 (82.7%) were examined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Primary angle closure glaucoma was diagnosed in individuals with previous acute or intermittent symptoms of angle closure and in individuals with an "occludable" angle and an intraocular pressure of greater than 21 mm Hg or a glaucomatous visual field. MAIN RESULTS: An age-related trend toward hypermetropia was found, which was greatest in women older than age 50 years. Gonioscopy identified Shaffer grade 1 angles in 89 (9%) of 987 subjects. The prevalence of primary angle closure glaucoma was 2.3% (23 subjects) and increased with age in both sexes. Women were affected more than four times as often as men and the sex difference persisted across all age groups. In comparison, the prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma was 1.5% (15 subjects). Primary glaucoma (angle closure plus open angle) was the leading cause of bilateral blindness in the community, with a prevalence rate of 0.5% (five subjects). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified primary angle closure glaucoma as a significant public health problem in the Western Cape Province. Because of the ethnic back-ground of the people studied, these findings may also apply to the populations of Southeast Asia.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

European origin of Bradyrhizobium populations infecting lupins and serradella in soils of Western Australia and South Africa.

We applied a multilocus phylogenetic approach to elucidate the origin of serradella and lupin Bradyrhizobium strains that persist in soils of Western Australia and South Africa. The selected strains belonged to different randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR clusters that were distinct from RAPD clusters of applied inoculant strains. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with nodulation genes (nodA, nodZ, nolL, noeI), housekeeping genes (dnaK, recA, glnII, atpD), and 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer sequences. Housekeeping gene phylogenies revealed that all serradella and Lupinus cosentinii isolates from Western Australia and three of five South African narrow-leaf lupin strains were intermingled with the strains of Bradyrhizobium canariense, forming a well supported branch on each of the trees. All nodA gene sequences of the lupin and serradella bradyrhizobia formed a single branch, referred to as clade II, together with the sequences of other lupin and serradella strains. Similar patterns were detected in nodZ and nolL trees. In contrast, nodA sequences of the strains isolated from native Australian legumes formed either a new branch called clade IV or belonged to clade I or III, whereas their nonsymbiotic genes grouped outside the B. canariense branch. These data suggest that the lupin and serradella strains, including the strains from uncultivated L. cosentinii plants, are descendants of strains that most likely were brought from Europe accidentally with lupin and serradella seeds. The observed dominance of B. canariense strains may be related to this species' adaptation to acid soils common in Western Australia and South Africa and, presumably, to their intrinsic ability to compete for nodulation of lupins and serradella.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1990

A centile chart for weight gain in pregnancy for the urban population of the Western Cape, South Africa.

Weight gain during pregnancy was studied. Women with low body mass index (BMI) gained significantly more weight than women with high BMI. Older women gained significantly less weight than younger women. Centile charts were constructed using a maximum likelihood procedure. The centile charts for patients who are less than or equal to 25 years or with a BMI = less than or equal to 24 kg/m2 cannot be regarded as differing significantly, however the chart for patients greater than 25 years with a BMI greater than 24 kg/m2 does lie significantly below the others. For practical purposes the process of weight gain can be regarded as independent of gestational age. These charts can thus be used without knowledge of gestational age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Migrant workers and schistosomiasis in the Gezira, Sudan.

A cross sectional study of schistosomiasis in migrant laboureres in the Sudan Gezira is described. The people examined were of two ethnic groups: (i) those of local Arabic origin and (ii) those from Western Sudan, West Africa or west of longitude 27 degrees E. These two migrant groups were examined in one area treated with molluscicide and in another that was not. Almost all the schistosome infections were with Schistosoma mansoni, with a prevalence of 57% over-all and up to 89% in particular groups. The prevalence was lower in the treated than in the untreated area, and slightly lower in the Arab nomads than in the others, except that it was markedly lower in females from the West in the treated area. These results are consistent with the known water-contact habits of the two migrant groups. An association was observed between infection and liver and spleen enlargement, but not between infection and other symptoms. The potential importance of migrants in transmitting the infection is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Pitfalls with rapid HIV antibody testing in HIV-infected children in the Western Cape, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Rapid HIV antibody tests are commonly used for HIV diagnosis in the developing world. These tests are generally reported as sensitive, despite paucity of evaluations in paediatric populations. OBJECTIVES: We tested specimens of paediatric patients, known to be HIV-infected, to detect any false negative tests and determine associations with such an outcome. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred and fifty-three specimens, from 109 patients, recorded to be HIV-infected by standard testing, were tested on the Capillustrade mark HIV-1/HIV-2 test (Trinity Biotech, Ireland); 150 specimens also had sufficient volume to be tested on Abbott Determinetrade mark HIV1/2 assay (Abbott GmbH, Wiesbaden, Germany). Treatment information, CD4 counts and HIV-1 viral load measurements were obtained from patient files and laboratory databases. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 153 specimens tested negative on the Capillus (sensitivity 86.3%). False negative results by Capillus were associated with antiretroviral treatment (ART) (p=0.0018) and lower HIV-1 viral load (p=0.013). Serial dilutions of some of the specimens indicated that both rapid tests, and the Capillus in particular, became negative at lower dilutions than an HIV enzyme immunoassay (EIA). CONCLUSIONS: The Capillus test had an unexpectedly low sensitivity in a South African population of HIV-infected children that had access to antiretroviral treatment, posing a risk of false negative HIV testing.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed2005

Perspectives of the management of childhood lymphoma: experience at Tygerberg Hospital, Western Cape, South Africa.

Hodgkin's disease (HD) in children corresponds to a large degree to HD in adults. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) in children, however, differs from NHL in adults with respect to the classification, natural history, management and course. For practical reasons clinicians generally classify and treat NHL in children as either B-cell or T-cell disease. Over the past 22 years, the Paediatric Oncology Unit of the Tygerberg Hospital has treated HD with three different regimens. Use of the CLVPP and MOPP/ABVD regimens resulted in late relapses that adversely affected event free survival (EFS). For the last four years HD has been treated according to the regimen suggested by Schellong with good short term survival rates. Lymphoblastic or T-cell NHL is treated with regimens normally used for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (e.g. BFM protocols) or modified leukaemia treatments for leukaemia-lymphoma syndromes (e.g. LSA2L2). We lately use a modified BFM regimen with a 70% EFS for all stages. Three consecutive regimens have been used to treat B-cell NHL over the past 22 years. The first was a COMP regimen, followed by the LMB-89 and LMB-96 regimens. Although toxicity has increased with the increased intensity of the treatment regimen, EFS has improved from 25% to 87% for all B-cell NHL. The majority of patients had stage III and IV disease. Although the LMB regimens are toxic, the implementation is manageable provided good laboratory back up and supportive facilities are available.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Rainfall-induced sediment and pesticide input from orchards into the Lourens River, Western Cape, South Africa: importance of a single event.

Rainfall-induced runoff transported sediments and pesticides into the Lourens River and its tributaries during a 28.8-mm rainstorm in mid-December 1998. Average 1-h peak levels of current-use insecticides applied to adjacent orchard plots were 1.5 micrograms l-1 azinphos-methyl, 0.2 microgram l-1 chlorpyrifos and 2.9 micrograms l-1 total endosulfan (alpha, beta, S) in the river itself. Respective average 1-h pesticide levels associated with suspended particles were 1247, 924 and 12,082 micrograms kg-1, along with 980 micrograms kg-1 of prothiofos. Total suspended solids increased during runoff from 32 to 520 mg l-1. The contaminated edge-of-field runoff entered the river via the tributaries directly bordering the orchard-growing areas. Increased concentrations of azinphos-methyl and prothiofos associated with suspended sediments were demonstrated to persist for about 3.5 months without any further input in one of the tributaries. This illustrates that the short-term exposure has the potential to result in long-term contamination of surface waters. In terms of chemical load during the 1-h peak discharge period, the single rainfall event caused a loss of 173 g h-1 azinphosmethyl, 55 g h-1 chlorpyrifos, 740 g h-1 total endosulfan (alpha, beta, S) and 41 g h-1 prothiofos. Levels of contamination were extremely high; they exceed the national water quality standards and those established by the US EPA. A comparison with standard toxicity data and 24-h LC50 s for the local amphipod species Paramelita nigroculus, obtained during this study, indicates that the concentrations found in the river may result in acute toxic effects on aquatic invertebrates and fishes. A probability analysis of 10-y rainfall data revealed that the frequency of a similar storm event occurring within the main spraying season is 1.7 y-1.

Agriculture↗