63 research outputs found
Incidence of variations in human cadaveric renal vessels
Background: Awareness of discrepancies of renal vasculature is crucial for some medical procedures. The present study investigated origin and course of aberrant and accessory renal vessels and any associated variations.
Materials and methods: Renal blood vessels of 63 cadavers were examined. Number of renal veins and arteries, arrangement, location where the vasculature attached to the kidneys, and presence of variations were recorded. Incidence of renal vasculature variations was determined, and associations were tested with age at death, sex, and cause of death and whether variations were more common on a specific side.
Results: Variations were found in 7 (11%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 5–22%) cadavers. For renal veins, double, triple, and quadruple veins unilaterally (5; 8%) and veins that drained the superior pole (1; 2%) or inferior pole only (5; 8%) were found. For renal arteries, double and triple arteries unilaterally (3; 5%) and arteries attached to the superior pole only (1; 2%) or inferior pole only (2; 3%) were found. Other variations (polycystic kidney, variations in the common iliac or gonadal veins) were observed. Only renal failure as a cause of death was different between those with or without variations (4/7 [57%] vs. 1/56 [2%]; p < 0.001).
Conclusions: The present study found many variations in renal vasculature. Awareness of such variations may be useful for physicians concerned with this region
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in Normal Hausa-Fulani Children and Adolescents of Northern Nigeria
Background: Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) is a useful parameter
for assessing respiratory function in health and disease. However there
are few studies reporting normal values of this parameter in Northern
Nigeria in general and the North western zone in particular. Also
prediction formulae for predicting PEFR from anthropometric parameters
are not available for this population. The present study was therefore
designed to measure Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in normal
Hausa-Fulani children and adolescents in Sokoto and to derive
prediction formulae for this population. Methods: Apparently healthy
boys (n=376) and girls (n=240) aged between 6 and 18 years were
randomly selected and their height, weight and chest circumference
determined. PEFR was measured at ambient temperature and pressure
saturated with water vapour (ATPS) in the erect position. Regression
analyses were carried out on the relationship between PEFR and each
anthropometric parameter and prediction formulae with the least
standard error of estimates chosen. Data obtained in this study were
also subjected to prediction formulae derived from Nigerian populations
elsewhere. Results: PEFR (L/min) was significantly (P<0.001)
higher in boys (382.5 \ub1 118.3) than in girls (332.6 \ub1 88.3).
It correlated positively and significantly with age, height, weight and
chest circumference in both sexes. The prediction formulae derived from
the present data in boys and girls respectively are: PEFR (L/min) =
85.83 + 8.25 x weight (kg) (\ub1 3.15) and PEFR (L/min) = 3.67 +
28.15 x age (years) (\ub1 3.51). The predicted PEFR values obtained
using earlier formulae were generally lower than the observed values.
Conclusion: PEFR has been obtained in normal healthy Hausa-Fulani
children and adolescents in Sokoto and prediction formulae derived for
use in this population. The results of this study suggest that the
usefulness of prediction formulae may be limited to the ethnic group or
locality from which they were derived.Fond : Le d\ue9bit expiratoire maximal (DEM) est un param\ue8tre
utile pour \ue9valuer la fonction respiratoire dans la sant\ue9 et
la maladie. Cependant, il y a peu d'\ue9tudes indiquant des valeurs
normales de ce param\ue8tre au nord du Nig\ue9ria en
g\ue9n\ue9ral et la zone occidentale du nord en particulier. En
outre les formules de pr\ue9vision pour pr\ue9voir le DEM des
param\ue8tres anthropom\ue9triques ne sont pas disponibles pour
cette population. La pr\ue9sente \ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 donc
con\ue7ue pour mesurer le d\ue9bit expiratoire maximal (DEM) dans
les enfants et les adolescents normaux de hausa-Fulani-Fulani \ue0
Sokoto et pour d\ue9river des formules de pr\ue9vision \ue0 cette
population. M\ue9thodes : Les gar\ue7ons apparent en bonne
sant\ue9 (n=376) et les filles (n=240) \ue2g\ue9s entre 6 et 18
ans ont \ue9t\ue9 al\ue9atoirement choisis et leur
circonf\ue9rence de taille, de poids et de coffre ont \ue9t\ue9
d\ue9termin\ue9es. Le DEM a \ue9t\ue9 mesur\ue9 \ue0 la
temp\ue9rature ambiante et \ue0 la pression satur\ue9es avec la
vapeur d'eau (TAPS) en position droite. Des analyses de r\ue9gression
ont \ue9t\ue9 effectu\ue9es sur le rapport entre le DEM et chaque
param\ue8tre anthropom\ue9trique et formules de pr\ue9vision avec
la moindre erreur type des \ue9valuations choisies. Des donn\ue9es
obtenues dans cette \ue9tude ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9galement
soumises aux formules de pr\ue9vision d\ue9riv\ue9es des
populations nig\ue9rianes ailleurs. R\ue9sultats : Le DEM (L/min)
\ue9tait de mani\ue8re significative (P<0.001) plus haut dans
les gar\ue7ons (382,5 \ub1 118,3) que dans les filles (332,6 \ub1
88,3). Il s'est corr\ue9l\ue9 positivment et de mani\ue8re
significative avec l'\ue2ge, la taille, et la circonf\ue9rence de
poids et de coffre dans les deux sexes. Les formules de pr\ue9vision
d\ue9riv\ue9es des donn\ue9es actuelles dans les gar\ue7ons et
dans les filles respectivement sont : DEM (L/min) = 85,83 + 8,25 x poid
(kilogramme) (\ub1 3,15) et DEM (L/min) = 3,67 + 28,15 x \ue2ge
(ann\ue9es) (\ub1 3,51). Les valeurs du DEM pr\ue9vues obtenues
en utilisant des premi\ue8res formules \ue9taient
g\ue9n\ue9ralement inf\ue9rieures aux valeurs observ\ue9es.
Conclusion : Le DEM a \ue9t\ue9 obtenu dans les enfants et les
adolescents de sant\ue9 normale d' Hausa-Fulani \ue0 Sokoto et les
formules de pr\ue9vision d\ue9riv\ue9es pour l'usage dans cette
population. Les r\ue9sultats de cette \ue9tude sugg\ue8rent que
l'utilit\ue9 des formules de pr\ue9vision puisse \ueatre
limit\ue9e au groupe ou \ue0 la localit\ue9 ethnique desquels ils
ont \ue9t\ue9 d\ue9riv\ue9s
Effects of low birth weight on time to BCG vaccination in an urban poor settlement in Nairobi, Kenya: an observational cohort study
Strengthening health system governance using health facility service charters: a mixed methods assessment of community experiences and perceptions in a district in Kenya
Effect of l-glutamine on myenteric neuron and of the mucous of the ileum of diabetic rats
Perceptions of body size, obesity threat and the willingness to lose weight among black South African adults: a qualitative study
BACKGROUND: The obesity epidemic is associated with rising rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among adults,
particularly in countries undergoing rapid urbanisation and nutrition transition. This study explored the perceptions
of body size, obesity risk awareness, and the willingness to lose weight among adults in a resource-limited urban
community to inform appropriate community-based interventions for the prevention of obesity.
METHOD: This is a descriptive qualitative study. Semi-structured focus group discussions were conducted with
purposively selected black men and women aged 35–70 years living in an urban South African township. Weight
and height measurements were taken, and the participants were classified into optimal weight, overweight and
obese groups based on their body mass index (Kg/m2). Participants were asked to discuss on perceived obesity
threat and risk of cardiovascular disease. Information on body image perceptions and the willingness to lose excess
body weight were also discussed. Discussions were conducted in the local language (isiXhosa), transcribed and
translated into English. Data was analysed using the thematic analysis approach.
RESULTS: Participants generally believed that obesity could lead to health conditions such as heart attack, stroke,
diabetes, and hypertension. However, severity of obesity was perceived differently in the groups. Men in all groups
and women in the obese and optimal weight groups perceived obesity to be a serious threat to their health,
whereas the overweight women did not. Obese participants who had experienced chronic disease conditions
indicated strong perceptions of risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Obese participants, particularly men,
expressed willingness to lose weight, compared to the men and women who were overweight. The belief that
overweight is ‘normal’ and not a disease, subjective norms, and inaccessibility to physical activity facilities,
negatively influenced participants’ readiness to lose weight.
CONCLUSION: Low perception of threat of obesity to health particularly among overweight women in this
community indicates a considerable challenge to obesity control. Community health education and promotion
programmes that increase awareness about the risk associated with overweight, and improve the motivation for
physical activity and maintenance of optimal body weight are needed.IS
Nutritional characterisation of low-income households of Nairobi: socioeconomic, livestock and gender considerations and predictors of malnutrition from a cross-sectional survey
Background:
In sub-Saharan Africa, urban informal settlements are rapidly expanding, leading to overcrowding and constituting challenging environments for food and water supplies, health and nutrition. The study objectives were to characterise and compare two low-income areas of Nairobi according to socioeconomic (including livestock and gender) indicators and the nutritional status of non-pregnant women of reproductive age and 1 to 3 year-old children; and to investigate socioeconomic predictors of malnutrition in these areas.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional survey 205 low-income households in deprived areas of Dagoretti and Korogocho (Nairobi) were randomly selected. Socioeconomic data were collected via an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Maternal and child dietary data were collected by a 24-h dietary recall. Maternal and child anthropometric and haemoglobin measurements were taken. Chi-square, t-test and Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney test were used to compare groups and multivariable linear regression to assess predictors of malnutrition.
Results:
Dagoretti consistently showed better socioeconomic indicators including: income, education and occupation of household head, land ownership, housing quality and domestic asset ownership. Animal ownership was more than twice as high in Dagoretti as in Korogocho (53.0 % vs 22.9 % of households; p-value < 0.0001). A double burden of malnutrition existed: 41.5 % of children were stunted, and 29.0 % of women were overweight. In addition, 74.0 % of the children and 25.9 % of the women were anaemic, and were at risk of inadequate intakes for a number of micronutrients. Nutritional status and nutrient intakes were consistently better in Dagoretti than Korogocho; height-for-age (0.47 Z-scores higher; p-value = 0.004), the minimum dietary diversity (80.0 % vs 57.7 % in children, p-value = 0.001) and intakes of several nutrients were significantly higher. Positive predictors of maternal nutritional status were income, age and not having a premature delivery. Positive predictors of child nutritional status were area, household head education, mother not being married, female animal ownership and child’s sex (female).
Conclusions:
Malnutrition is prevalent in these settings, which could be partly due to low nutrient intakes, and to socioeconomic factors (including poverty), thus requiring comprehensive approaches that include increased accessibility and affordability of nutrient-dense foods. This study indicates that differences among low-income areas may need consideration for prioritisation and design of interventions
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