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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1978

Histoplasmosis in Belize, Central America.

After two small outbreaks of histoplasmosis in Belize, an epidemiologic survey was carried out. Forty percent of 141 persons in two groups tested demonstrated a positive histoplasmin reaction. In one study group there was a significant association between visiting caves and histoplasmin positivity. Histoplasma capsulatum was not isolated in 20 soil specimens collected from outbreak-associated caves, but was isolated from 1 of 26 bats collected from the same caves. The presence of histoplasmosis in Belize, C.A. is documented, and this disease should be considered in differential diagnosis in patients, both residents and visitors in Belize, with compatible clinical presentations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Skin colorimetry in Belize. I. Conversion formulae.

Comparisons between skin colorimetry reports have been hampered by the common use of two different types of portable reflectometers, which sample reflectances at different wavelengths. In an attempt to provide direct comparability between the two machines, multiple linear regression equations were derived from reflectance spectrophotometry readings on 308 Black Caribs and 175 Creoles in Belize, Central America, using both machines. Cross validation tests show the coefficients presented are applicable to independent data sets and generally applicable to other heavily pigmented populations. Comparisons with previously published conversion formulae, which were from very small samples using simple linear regression, show a definite improvement in predictive accuracy when using multiple regression equations based on a large sample.

Belize↗
PubMed1992

Child health outcomes among Central American refugees and immigrants in Belize.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of international migration, including refugee status, upon child health outcomes. Data were drawn from a survey conducted in 1989 in three settlements in Belize, Central America, that have a high proportion of refugees and economic immigrants living side-by-side with the local population. In two of the settlements, the entire population of mothers with children under 6 was interviewed; in the third settlement a two-thirds random sample was interviewed. Health history data were obtained for 255 children of 134 mothers, from whom sociodemographic data were also collected. The majority of children were born to Salvadoran or Guatemalan mothers, but native and naturalized Belizeans in the survey communities were included for comparison purposes. Migration, the exposure variable, was characterized by mother's residency/refugee legal status, nationality, and duration of time in country. Socioeconomic and proximate control variables were included as suggested by the Mosley-Chen framework. Despite normal birthweight averaging 3374 g, a large proportion of children are at the lowest percentiles of the weight-for-age curves (44% below the tenth percentile for the international reference population). A high incidence of diarrheal and respiratory illnesses (30% and 47% of children, respectively, having frequent episodes), and 50% of children with measles vaccination appropriate for age, indicate a population with high potential morbidity. Logistic regression was used to model the effects of migration on weight-for-age and frequency of diarrheal and respiratory tract episodes independent of socioeconomic and proximate factors, as suggested by the Mosley-Chen framework.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Belize↗
PubMed1978

Allometric growth in three species of digenetic trematodes of marine fishes from Belize.

Allometric growth of body proportions and organs is determined for three speciies of digenetic trematodes of marine fishes from Belize: Apocreadium mexicanum Manter, 1937 (Apocreadiidae), Pseudocreadium lamelliforme (Linton. 1907) Manter, 1946 (Lepocreadiidae), Paracryptogonimus americanus Manter, 1940 (Cryptogonimidae). These are compared with three other species in which allometric growth has been studied. In all species only the hindbody shows positive growth, whereas the forebody, suckers, and pharynx are consistently negative. The body width, posttesticular body, testes, and ovary are positive in some species and negative in others. In some instances the body proportion or organ is growing at the same rate as the body length.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Post-operative wound infections in Belize.

The incidence of post-operative wound infections in Belize in 1986 and 1987 was studied. Both military practice in the military hospital and civilian practice in the rural hospitals of the local towns were included. Despite previous misgivings and sub-optimal conditions in the rural hospitals an acceptably low incidence was found in both areas of work.

Belize↗
PubMed1978

American trypanosomiasis (Chagas' disease) in the Caribbean.

Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis) is endemic in nearly all Central and South American countries facing the Caribbean basin. Since 1960, reports from the islands of Aruba, Curaçao, Jamaica, and Trinidad have confirmed the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi, blood-sucking triatomine bugs, and wild animals infected with the parasite. It was also established that T. cruzi, triatomine bugs, infected wild animal reservoirs, and people with a positive serologic test for T. cruzi antibodies are to be found in Belize, the last country in Central America once thought to be free of Chagas' disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Persistence of sterile screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae) flies at a release site.

Studies to determine the persistence of released, sterile screwworms, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), were conducted in Belize, Central America, in 1987-1988. A total of nine releases were made, each consisting of 4,000 females marked with a fluorescent dust. Previous similar studies with baited fly traps indicated that flies died or dispersed from the release site within 3-4 d. For this study, flies were recaptured at sentinel animals. Recapture rates varied greatly between releases, a result that was not correlated with any weather parameter. The pattern of recapture indicated a sharp drop in the released population after 9-10 d, with a few flies persisting in the release area for up to 3 wk. The results suggest that survival of released sterile flies is comparable with estimated survival rate and life span of wild, native flies.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Isolation of Leishmania braziliensis from Lutzomyia ovallesi (Diptera:Psychodidae) in Guatemala.

Leishmania braziliensis is endemic in Guatemala and Belize in Central America. To help identify the vector(s) of this parasite in Guatemala, phlebotomine sand flies that were aspirated from the clothing of collectors at Tikal National Park in the Department of the Peten were examined for flagellates. Lutzomyia ovallesi was found infected with flagellates that were identified as L. braziliensis by isoenzyme electrophoresis. The isoenzyme profile of this isolate matched those from humans from the same area.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Lactation, nutrition and fertility and the secretion of prolactin and gonadotrophins in Mopan Mayan women.

The effect of lactation on menstrual cycles, ovulation and conception was studied in a group of non-contracepting Amerindian Mopan Mayan women. Anthropological observations of relevant events were made over a 21-month period. Blood samples were assayed to determine the plasma concentrations of prolactin, luteinising hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin, placental lactogen, oestrogen, progesterone and cortisol. The data show that: frequent and prolonged breast-feeding was associated with a marked increase in plasma prolactin concentrations to levels similar to those in lactating Gaing but higher than those in lactating Scottish women; ovulatory menstrual cycles and pregnancy occurred during frequent lactation; in lactating menstruating women there was an inverse correlation between fat weight and months post-partum. These data suggest that other factors as well as suckling account for the effects of lactation on fecundity.

Belize↗
PubMed1992

Further bioactive acetylenic compounds from the Caribbean sponge Cribrochalina vasculum.

In addition to the known 3-hydroxydocosa-(4E, 15E)-dien-1-yne [1], 3-hydroxy-16-methyleicos-(4E)-en-1-yne [2], and 3-hydroxy-19-methyleicos-(4E)-en-1-yne [3], the lipophilic extract of the Caribbean sponge Cribrochalina vasculum was shown to contain four new bioactive acetylene metabolites, (3R)-hydroxy-14-methyldocos-(4E)-en-1-yne [4], (3R)-hydroxy-16-methyleicos-1-yne [7], (3R)-hydroxy-19-methyleicos-1-yne [8], and docosa-(3E, 15Z)-dien-1-yne [9], whose structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral studies. The previously unassigned chirality at C-3 of the known compounds 1-3 has been also established as R.

Acetylene↗
PubMed2026

Spitz tumours: Current insights and challenges in diagnosis and management.

Spitz tumours are a distinct subtype of melanocytic lesions composed of epithelioid and/or spindled cells. They comprise Spitz naevi (SN), atypical Spitz tumours/Spitz melanocytoma (AST), and Spitz melanoma (SM). According to the 5th WHO Classification, SM is defined by the co-occurrence of spitzoid morphology and a Spitz-defining genomic alteration, typically a kinase fusion or HRAS mutation, making it a molecularly distinct entity. Molecularly confirmed SM is exceedingly rare, usually occurs in younger adults, and appears to demonstrate a more favorable clinical course than spitzoid melanoma driven by BRAF or NRAS mutations, although robust comparative data remain limited. Dermoscopy may raise clinical suspicion based on characteristic patterns and remains an important first-line diagnostic tool; however, it cannot reliably distinguish AST from SM. In addition, Spitz tumours may exhibit overlapping histopathological features, further complicating their differentiation. In particular, the distinction between ASTs and SMs is often challenging. Immunohistochemical and molecular analyses, particularly next-generation sequencing (NGS), play a crucial role in resolving diagnostically challenging Spitz tumours and in differentiating true Spitz tumours from their morphological mimics. Furthermore, NGS contributes to improved risk stratification and has revealed high-risk genomic alterations associated with progression. Increased application of molecular techniques is expected to refine prognostic assessment and support individualized management strategies.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Renal abnormalities in microfilaremic patients with Bancroftian filariasis.

To determine the frequency of renal abnormalities occurring with Bancroftian filarial infections and to assess the effects of treatment on such abnormalities, we initiated a prospective, hospital-based study of 20 microfilaremic and five amicrofilaremic patients with Wuchereria bancrofti infections. Thorough clinical evaluations and detailed renal assessments were made prior to treatment and at multiple time points for 60 days following a standard twelve-day course of treatment with diethylcarbamazine (DEC). There were two important findings. First, even prior to DEC treatment, almost half of the microfilaremic patients had hematuria and/or proteinuria. Second, treatment with DEC induced these same abnormalities in almost all of the remaining microfilaremic patients. However, this DEC-induced hematuria and/or proteinuria was transient, and the long-term response to DEC in all of the microfilaremic patients was resolution of the abnormal renal findings during the two-month followup period. In the amicrofilaremic study patients, no hematuria or proteinuria was detected before, during, or after treatment with DEC.

Adolescent↗