Pathology Commons^™

Utility Of Liver Biopsy In Hiv-Infected Patients Presenting With Febrile Illnesses And Inconclusive Evaluation, J. Shavadia, Sitna Mwanzi, F. Rana, Majid Twahir

Pathology, East Africa

Objectives: To determine the utility of liver biopsy in providing a diagnosis in HIVinfected patients presenting with febrile illnesses and inconclusive initial investigative work up.

Design: A retrospective descriptive study.

Setting: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.

Subjects: Twelve in-patients with HIV disease who underwent liver biopsy following inconclusive initial investigative work up for febrile illnesses between January and December 2007.

Results: Seven out of 12 patients had granulomatous hepatitis reported on histology with characteristic tuberculous epitheloid granulomas all having stainable acid-alcohol fast bacilli on Ziehl-Nielsen (ZN) stain. The mean alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels in …

Genetic Analysis Of Hiv-1 Subtypes In Nairobi, Kenya, Suhail Khoja, Peter Ojwang, Saeed Khan, Nancy Okinda, Reena Harania, Syed Ali

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Genetic analysis of a viral infection helps in following its spread in a given population, in tracking the routes of infection and, where applicable, in vaccine design. Additionally, sequence analysis of the viral genome provides information about patterns of genetic divergence that may have occurred during viral evolution.

Objective: In this study we have analyzed the subtypes of Human Immunodeficiency Virus -1 (HIV-1) circulating in a diverse sample population of Nairobi, Kenya.

Methodology: 69 blood samples were collected from a diverse subject population attending the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Total DNA was extracted from peripheral blood …

Primary Cerebral Angitis Of The Central Nervous System: Case Report, S. Das, J. O. Jowi, K. Hameed, F. S. Rana

Pathology, East Africa

We report a case of a 28 year old female who presented with variedly progressive stroke like illness and raised intracranial pressure. Brain MRI scans revealed pericallosal and periventricular hyperintensities with oedema. Various medications like intravenous immunoglobulin, antibiotics, acyclovir, methyl prednisolone and management for raised intracranial pressure were instituted. She rapidly deteroriated and died on tenth hospital day. Only at autopsy was the diagnosis of primary angitis of central nervous system established.

Willingness And Ability To Pay For Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy In Rural Tanzania, E.C. Saulo, B.C. Forsberg, Zul Premji, S.M. Montgomery, A. Bjorkman

Pathology, East Africa

Background: The aim of this study was to analyse willingness to pay (WTP) and ability to pay (ATP) for ACT for children below five years of age in a rural setting in Tanzania before the introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria. Socio-economic factors associated with WTP and expectations on anti-malaria drugs, including ACT, were also explored.

Methods: Structured interviews and focus group discussions were held with mothers, household heads, health-care workers and village leaders in Ishozi, Gera and Ishunju wards in north-west Tanzania in 2004. Contingent valuation method (CVM) was used with "take-it-or-leave- it" …

The Content Of African Diets Is Adequate To Achieve Optimal Efficacy With Fixed-Dose Artemether-Lumefantrine: A Review Of The Evidence, Zul Premji, S. Abdulla, B. Ogutu, A. Ndong, C.O. Falade, I. Sagara, N. Mulure, O. Nwaiwu, G. Kokwaro

Pathology, East Africa

A fixed-dose combination of artemether-lumefantrine (AL, Coartem®) has shown high efficacy, good tolerability and cost-effectiveness in adults and children with uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Lumefantrine bioavailability is enhanced by food, particularly fat. As the fat content of sub-Saharan African meals is approximately a third that of Western countries, it raises the question of whether fat consumption by African patients is sufficient for good efficacy. Data from healthy volunteers have indicated that drinking 36 mL soya milk (containing only 1.2 g of fat) results in 90% of the lumefantrine absorption obtained with 500 mL milk (16 g fat). African …

Conclusions And Recommendations Of A Who Expert Consultation Meeting On Iron Supplementation For Infants And Young Children In Malaria Endemic Areas [Conclusions Et Recommandations À L'Issue De La Consultation De L'Oms Sur La Lutte Contre La Carence Martiale Chez Le Nourrisson Et Le Jeune Enfant Dans Les Pays D'Endémie Palustre], L. Allen, R.E. Black, N. Brandes, G. Brittenham, G. Chazot, C Chunming, J. Crawley, B. De Benoist, N. Dalmiya, I. Darnton-Hill, K. Dewey, S. El-Arifeen, O. Fontaine, C. Geissler, H. Haberle, P. Harvey, J. Hasler, C. Hershko, R. Hurrell, M.A. Juma, B. Lonnerdal, B. Lozoff, S. Lynch, H. Martines Salgado, E. Mclean, J. Metz, S. Oppenheimer, Zul Premji, A. Prentice, M. Ramsan, C. Ratledge, R. Stoltzfus, J. Tielsch

Pathology, East Africa

This article presents the results of an expert consultation meeting aimed at evaluating the safety and public health implications of administering supplemental iron to infants and young children in malaria-endemic areas. Participants at this meeting that took place in Lyon, France on June 12-14, 2006 reached consensus on several important issues related to iron supplementation for infants and young children in malaria-endemic areas. The conclusions in this report apply specifically to regions where malaria is endemic.

Impact Of Training In Clinical And Microscopy Diagnosis Of Childhood Malaria On Antimalarial Drug Prescription And Health Outcome At Primary Health Care Level In Tanzania: A Randomized Controlled Trial, B. Ngasala, M. Mubi, M. Warsame, M.G. Petzold, A.Y. Massele, L.L. Gustafsson, G. Tomson, Zul Premji, A. Bjorkman

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Prescribing antimalarial medicines based on parasite confirmed diagnosis of malaria is critical to rational drug use and optimal outcome of febrile illness. The impact of microscopy-based versus clinical-based diagnosis of childhood malaria was assessed at primary health care (PHC) facilities using a cluster randomized controlled training intervention trial.

Methods: Sixteen PHC facilities in rural Tanzania were randomly allocated to training of health staff in clinical algorithm plus microscopy (Arm-I, n = 5) or clinical algorithm only (Arm-II, n = 5) or no training (Arm-III, n = 6). Febrile under-five children presenting at these facilities were assessed, treated and scheduled …

Causes, Magnitude And Management Of Burns In Under-Fives In District Hospitals In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania., M. Justin-Temu, G. Rimoy, Zul Premji, G. Matemu

Pathology, East Africa

Objectives: To determine the causes, magnitude and management of burns in children under five years of age who were admitted in the district hospitals of Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania.

Methods: In this study, a total of 204 under fives were enrolled. Questionnaires were used to elicit if the parent/caretaker had the knowledge of the cause of the burns, what was done immediately after burn injury, first aid given immediately after burn, source of the knowledge of first aid and when the child was taken to the hospital. Also the questionnaire was cited with data on the management of burns …