Endemic Kaposi's Sarcoma Vs. Kaposi's Sarcoma in AIDS: A Brief Communication

Five cases of Kaposi's Sarcoma are presented to highlight the clinical course of the African or Endemic Kaposi's Sarcoma and point out the differences against the Epidemic form of Kaposi's Sarcoma common in AIDS patients in the United States and Europe. Groups at risk of developing the Epidemic form of Kaposi's Sarcoma are well identified in the United States whereas there is no special group at risk of developing the Endemic form in Africa. Genital Kaposi's Sarcoma of the Endemic form, a rare site for the disease is also presented. Three clinical and histological types of the endemic form are described

Thirty years old lady with nephrotic syndrome: a case of biopsy proven lupus nephritis in Tanzania

We describe a case of a 30 years old female patient who presented with nephrotic syndrome and impaired renal function which was diagnosed to have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with lupus nephritis. This is the first biopsy proven lupus nephritis in Tanzania. SLE is common among females and is reported be more common among Africans as compared to other races. This patient presented with nephrotic syndrome, pleural effusion and pericardial effusion which depicts the multisystem effects of SLE. This patient was treated with cyclophosphamide in combination with steroid as induction therapy and attained remission after one month of treatment. Systemic lupus erythematosus should be considered in patients with nephrotic syndrome and these patients should have renal biopsy to determine renal involvement

Mob justice in Tanzania: a medico-social problem

Objective: To investigate the magnitude of mob justice and associated factors. Background: Mob justice is a social and public health problem that has grown in Tanzania in recent decades that has negative effects on social and health of the country, communities, and families. Materials and Methods: A four-year autopsy study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, MUCHS. Information on the cases was obtained from police, the relatives, friends and other witnesses if available. Results: 1249 persons were killed by mobs in Dar es Salaam during the period of 5 years (2000-2004). The alleged offense ranged from a serious crime like theft or murder to a mere violation of local customs or religious beliefs. The mode of the killings were mostly burning (48.11%) and stoning (49.96%). Other modes accounted for only 3.0% of the cases. The pattern of injuries ranged from skull and other skeletal fractures to viscera rupture. Conclusion: MJ is a social, legal and public health problem in Tanzania that needs immediate attention. Unemployment of youth and perceived economic inequalities should be addressed. As long as the judicial system doesn't work and corruption is not punished, people will continue to organize their own trials and judge their suspects in the street. These must be tackled in order to reduce the growing incidences of mob justice, hence saving life. It must be ensured that criminals do not violate the freedom, dignity and respect of each and every human or member of the society. African Health Sciences Vol. 6(1) 2006: 36-3

Mob justice in Tanzania: a medico-social problem

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the magnitude of mob justice and associated factors. BACKGROUND: Mob justice is a social and public health problem that has grown in Tanzania in recent decades that has negative effects on social and health of the country, communities, and families. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A four-year autopsy study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, MUCHS. Information on the cases was obtained from police, the relatives, friends and other witnesses if available. RESULTS: 1249 persons were killed by mobs in Dar es Salaam during the period of 5 years (2000–2004). The alleged offense ranged from a serious crime like theft or murder to a mere violation of local customs or religious beliefs. The mode of the killings were mostly burning (48.11%) and stoning (49.96%). Other modes accounted for only 3.0% of the cases. The pattern of injuries ranged from skull and other skeletal fractures to viscera rupture. CONCLUSION: MJ is a social, legal and public health problem in Tanzania that needs immediate attention. Unemployment of youth and perceived economic inequalities should be addressed. As long as the judicial system doesn't work and corruption is not punished, people will continue to organize their own trials and judge their suspects in the street. These must be tackled in order to reduce the growing incidences of mob justice, hence saving life. It must be ensured that criminals do not violate the freedom, dignity and respect of each and every human or member of the society

Expression of cytokeratin and neuron-specific enolase in small cell carcinomas of the lung

Using a polyclonal antibody against human epidermal keratins and a monoclonal antibody against cytokeratins characteristic of simple epithelia, and the Avidin-Biotin system of immunohistochemistry, we have demonstrated cytokeratin expression in 46% and in 60% of small cell carcinomas of the lung at autopsy respectively. The latter gave a diffuse stronger reaction product than the polyclonal antibody. The results suggest that there is a cytokeratin rich and a cytokeratin poor type of small cell carcinoma. Neuron-specific enolase immunohistochemistry was positive in 60% of the cases. Coexpression with cytokeratin was seen in ten cases (30%). The expression of cytokeratin and neuronspecific enolase in small cell carcinomas strongly suggests that they are of an epithelial origin, but are capable of neuroendocrine differentiation