Experimental investigation on the concentration and voltage effects on the characteristics of deposited magnesium–lanthanum powder

International audiencePhone: +33 248 484 065 Highlights x We synthetize Mg-La powders by means of an electrodeposition process. x We characterize Mg-La powders using EDS, SEM, XRD and FTIR techniques

Rapid and Accurate Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Sputum Samples by Cepheid Xpert MTB/RIF Assay-A Clinical Validation Study

Background: A crucial impediment to global tuberculosis control is the lack of an accurate, rapid diagnostic test for detection of patients with active TB. A new, rapid diagnostic method, (Cepheid) Xpert MTB/RIF Assay, is an automated sample preparation and real-time PCR instrument, which was shown to have good potential as an alternative to current reference standard sputum microscopy and culture.Methods: We performed a clinical validation study on diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert MTB/RIF Assay in a TB and HIV endemic setting. Sputum samples from 292 consecutively enrolled adults from Mbeya, Tanzania, with suspected TB were subject to analysis by the Xpert MTB/RIF Assay. The diagnostic performance of Xpert MTB/RIF Assay was compared to standard sputum smear microscopy and culture. Confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a positive culture was used as a reference standard for TB diagnosis.Results: Xpert MTB/RIF Assay achieved 88.4% (95% CI = 78.4% to 94.9%) sensitivity among patients with a positive culture and 99% (95% CI = 94.7% to 100.0%) specificity in patients who had no TB. HIV status did not affect test performance in 172 HIV-infected patients (58.9% of all participants). Seven additional cases (9.1% of 77) were detected by Xpert MTB/RIF Assay among the group of patients with clinical TB who were culture negative. Within 45 sputum samples which grew non-tuberculous mycobacteria the assay's specificity was 97.8% (95% CI = 88.2% to 99.9%).Conclusions: The Xpert MTB/RIF Assay is a highly sensitive, specific and rapid method for diagnosing TB which has potential to complement the current reference standard of TB diagnostics and increase its overall sensitivity. Its usefulness in detecting sputum smear and culture negative patients needs further study. Further evaluation in high burden TB and HIV areas under programmatic health care settings to ascertain applicability, cost-effectiveness, robustness and local acceptance are required

Feeding practices, dietary adequacy, and dietary diversities among caregivers with under-five children: A descriptive cross-section study in Dodoma region, Tanzania.

IntroductionSuboptimal feeding practices among caregivers contribute to nutritional-related health problems in children in low and middle-income countries, such as Tanzania. The continuum of the recommended feeding practices has been an utmost challenge among caregivers during the transition from health facilities to homes for improved under-five children's health.ObjectiveThis study assessed feeding practices, dietary diversities, and dietary adequacy among caregivers with under-five children in the Dodoma region, Tanzania.MethodsA community-based descriptive cross-sectional study in a quantitative research approach was adopted to study 289 randomly selected caregivers of under-five children in Dodoma region, Tanzania from March to August 2022. The World Health Organization Infant and Young Children Feeding Guidelines was the main data collection tool. Data were analyzed descriptively using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences computer software program version 25. Statistical limits were set at a 95% confidence interval and a 5% significance level.ResultsMean age was 26±6.47 of which 68.2% (n = 197) were females. Findings revealed 66.1% of caregivers had unsatisfactory feeding practices. It was observed that 67.8% of the caregivers fed their under-five children inadequately. Only 32.2% of them attained the minimum dietary diversity while 35.3% and 31.5% of caregivers demonstrated feeding practices the recommended minimum Dietary diversity respectively. Moreover, 90.7% of caregivers fed their children group one food while 59.1% of them did not practice feeding the children snacks between meals. Feeding practice, dietary diversity, and dietary adequacy were significantly related to the caregiver's sex, education level, and socioeconomic status (pConclusionUnder-five children are at serious risk of nutritional problems as most caregivers in this study demonstrated unsatisfactory feeding practices on dietary diversities for dietary adequacy below the world health organization recommended Minimum Dietary diversity and Minimum Meal Frequency. Community-based nutritional education programs for caregivers need to be disseminated to the community level to address the problem accordingly

Trend in female genital mutilation and its associated adverse birth outcomes: A 10-year retrospective birth registry study in Northern Tanzania.

BackgroundApproximately 200 million women and girls were reported to have undergone female genital mutilation worldwide in 2015.UNICEF's data based on household survey estimates 15% of women from 15-49 years have undergone FGM from year 2004-2015. Despite this, reliable data on trend of prevalence of female genital mutilation and its associated birth outcomes have not been documented in Tanzania. This study aimed at determining the trends of female genital mutilation and associated maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in northern Tanzania.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using maternally-linked data from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical birth registry involving 30,286 women who gave birth to singletons from 2004-2014. The prevalence of female genital mutilation was computed as proportion of women with female genital mutilation yearly over 10 years. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for adverse birth outcomes associated with female genital mutilation were estimated using multivariable logistic regression model.ResultsOver the 10-year period, the prevalence of female genital mutilation averaged 15.4%. Female genital mutilation decreased from 23.6% in 2005 to 10.6% in 2014. Female genital mutilation was associated with increased odds for caesarean section (aOR1.26; 95% CI: 1.18-1.34), post-partum haemorrhage (aOR 1.31; 95% CI: 1.10-1.57) and long hospital stay (aOR 1.21; 95% CI: 1.14-1.29). Female genital mutilation also increased women's likelihood of delivering an infant with low Apgar score at 5th minute (aOR 1.60; 95% CI: 1.37-1.89).FGM type III and IV had increased odds of caesarean section, episiotomy and prolonged duration of hospital stay as compared to FGM type I and II, although the association was statistically insignificant.ConclusionFemale genital mutilation prevalence has declined over the study period. Our study has demonstrated that postpartum haemorrhage, delivery by caesarean section, long maternal hospital stays and low APGAR score are associated with FGM. Initiatives to mitigate FGM practice should be strengthened further to reduce/eliminate this practice. Moreover, surgical interventions to improve severe form FGM are welcomed to improve the aforementioned aspects of obstetric outcome in this locality