Evaluation of Xpert® MTB/RIF and Ustar EasyNAT™ TB IAD for diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis of children in Tanzania: a prospective descriptive study.

Background: Fine needle aspiration biopsy has become a standard approach for diagnosis of peripheral tuberculous lymphadenitis. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF and Ustar EasyNAT TB IAD nucleic acid amplification assays, against acid-fast bacilli microscopy, cytology and mycobacterial culture for the diagnosis of TB lymphadenitis in children from a TB-endemic setting in Tanzania.

Methods: Children of 8 weeks to 16 years of age, suspected of having TB lymphadenitis, were recruited at a district hospital in Tanzania.

High prevalence of tuberculosis diagnosed during autopsy examination at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The primary aims of tuberculosis (TB) control programmes is early diagnosis and prompt treatment of infectious cases to limit transmission. Failure to diagnose and adequately treat TB could lead to premature death and unrecognized transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The proportion of missed TB cases has not been reported in Tanzania.

Assessment of women's knowledge and attitude towards carcinoma of the cervix in Ilala Municipality.

Main Objective: To asses knowledge and attitudes of women towards carcinoma of the cervix in Ilala Municipality.

Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study targeting all women in Ilala municipality. Therefore the sample size was 196 women but for the purpose of this study it was increased up to 201 women.

Prevalence of and factors associated with alcohol consumption in Temeke in August/September, 2002.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of alcohol consumption in Temeke district by social demographic characteristics.

Methodology: Population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Temeke district involving persons above 15 years of age. We selected Keko ward for the study and simple random sampling procedure was used to select clusters of ten-cell leaders.

How does clinical diagnosis of mycobacterial adenitis correlate with histological findings?

Objective: To describe and compare histopathological findings with clinical criteria in diagnosis of TB adenitis.

Methods: Lymph node biopsies were obtained from 213 patients. Specimens were processed for culture and histopathologic examination, using standard methods.

Patient knowledge, practices and challenges to health care system in early diagnosis of mycobacterial adenitis.

Objective: To assess diagnostic delay, knowledge and practices related to tuberculosis among patients with mycobacterial adenitis.

Design: A cross sectional study involving comparison analysis of high-risk groups.

Setting: Seven hospitals in rural and semi-rural districts of Arusha.

99mTc sestamibi scintimammography in the diagnosis of palpable breast masses.

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 99mTc sestamibi scintimammography in a region with a low incidence of breast cancer (East, central and West Africa) and to verify the clinical usefulness of this technique in identifying benign breast diseases. Thirty-eight women (age range 22-38 years) with palpable breast masses (n =38) and inconclusive mammograms were included. Prone scintimammography was performed 10 min and 60-90 min in all patients after injection using an isotime acquisition of 10 min.

Evaluation of risk factors for Alzheimer's disease in elderly east Africans.

A number of biological risk factors have been implicated for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The investigation of prevalence rates of AD in crosscultural populations has much potential in validating these factors. We previously assessed brain amyloid beta (A beta) protein deposition and other lesions associated with AD as possible markers for preclinical AD in elderly nondemented East Africans.

Cerebral amyloid beta protein deposits and other Alzheimer lesions in non-demented elderly east Africans.

There is little knowledge of the existence of Alzheimer disease (AD) or Alzheimer type of dementia in indigenous populations of developing countries. In an effort to evaluate this, we assessed the deposition of amyloid beta (A beta) protein and other lesions associated with AD in brains of elderly East Africans. Brain tissues were examined from 32 subjects, aged 45 to 83 years with no apparent neurological disease, who came to autopsy at two medical Institutions in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.

Clinical features of HIV seropositive and HIV seronegative patients with tuberculous lymphadenitis in Dar es Salaam.

Setting: The medical wards of a referral hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Objective: To investigate the impact of HIV infection on clinical features in tuberculous lymphadenitis.

Design: A prospective clinical study of HIV seropositive and HIV seronegative patients with lymphadenopathy.

Clinical features of HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative patients with tuberculous pleural effusion in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

In a prospective study, we investigated whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection alters the clinical presentation in patients with tuberculous pleuritis. One hundred twelve of 118 patients who presented with pleural effusion suffered from tuberculosis (TB); 65 patients (58%) were HIV seropositive. Evidence of disseminated TB was found more often in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative patients (30.

Influence of HIV status on pathological changes in tuberculous pleuritis.

Setting: The AIDS epidemic has been associated with an increase in the incidence of tuberculosis, pulmonary or extrapulmonary.

Objective: To compare morphological changes in tuberculous pleurisy, and response to therapy in HIV-positive and-negative patients.

Design: 57 consecutive patients admitted between January and August 1991 with tuberculous pleurisy who were biopsy proven were studied.

Diagnosis of tuberculosis in patients with pleural effusion in an area of HIV infection and limited diagnostic facilities.

In a prospective study of 118 patients with pleural effusion, tuberculosis (TB) was diagnosed in 112. In 84 patients the diagnosis of TB was made by detection of acid-fast bacilli by stain (auramine, Ziehl-Neelsen) or by culture of mycobacteria (Löwenstein-Jensen medium) in pleural fluid or pleural tissue (obtained by closed biopsy) or by the presence of caseating granulomas in histological sections. In 28 patients the diagnosis of TB was considered probable, based on good response to anti-tuberculous therapy.

Diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis in an area of HIV infection and limited diagnostic facilities.

In order to evaluate procedures leading to the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis, a prospective clinical study was carried out of patients with lymphadenopathy admitted to the medical wards of a referral hospital in Tanzania. The yield of diagnostic procedures (direct auramine/Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stained smears, Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ) cultures, cytology and histological examinations of fine needle aspirations (FNA) and biopsy material of lymph nodes, respectively, was compared. We also tried to identify clinical diagnostic markers.

Chylopericardium and chylothorax, resulting from a catheter to the left subclavian vein: an autopsy report.

A 47-year-old woman with long-standing myelofibrosis and thrombocytosis whose spleen was removed 9 days prior to death, died of a heart tamponade. Subsequent autopsy revealed the development of chylothorax and chylopericardium due to the existence of a thrombus obstructing the ostium of the left thoracic duct, as a consequence of the particular location of a central venous catheter in the left subclavian vein in the proximity of the confluence of the left thoracic duct in the afore-mentioned vein.