Setting research priorities across science, technology, and health sectors: the Tanzania experience.

Background: Identifying research priorities is key to innovation and economic growth, since it informs decision makers on effectively targeting issues that have the greatest potential public benefit. As such, the process of setting research priorities is of pivotal importance for favouring the science, technology, and innovation (STI)-driven development of low- and middle-income countries.

Methods: We report herein on a major cross-sectoral nationwide research priority setting effort recently carried out in Tanzania by the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) in partnership with the Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) and the NEPAD Agency.

Acute phase proteins as markers of systemic illness in acute diarrhoea.

Fifty-seven Tanzanian children, 6-25 months, hospitalized with acute diarrhoea were grouped according to whether there was clinical evidence of systemic infection (SI) (n = 35) or not (n = 22). Serum acute phase proteins were measured in samples taken within 48 h of admission. Means for C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) were significantly higher in children with SI compared to those without (geometric means (95% CI); CRP, mg/l: 22.

Enteropathogenic bacteria in faecal swabs of young children fed on lactic acid-fermented cereal gruels.

The influence of consumption of a lactic acid-fermented cereal gruel togwa with pH < or = 4 on the presence of faecal enteric bacteria such as campylobacter, enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC:O157), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), salmonella and shigella was evaluated. Under 5 years old healthy children listed in an ascending order of age were alternatively assigned and given either a lactic-acid fermented cereal gruel togwa (test diet) or an unfermented cereal gruel uji (control diet) once a day for 13 consecutive days. The presence of the enteropathogens was examined in rectal swabs collected from the children at baseline (before feeding session started), on days 7 and 13, and additionally 14 days (follow-up day) after the feeding session had stopped.

Dietary management of acute diarrhoea in children: effect of fermented and amylase-digested weaning foods on intestinal permeability.

Background: There is a strong relationship between diarrhoea, malnutrition, and intestinal integrity. To investigate the effect of different dietary-treatment on intestinal permeability during acute diarrhoea, 87 Tanzanian children aged 6-25 months were recruited to this study when admitted to hospital.

Methods: Children with acute diarrhoea were rehydrated and then randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatment groups: a conventional low-energy density porridge, a high-energy density amylase digested porridge (AMD), or a high-energy density amylase digested and then fermented porridge (FAD).

Improved energy intakes using amylase-digested weaning foods in Tanzanian children with acute diarrhea.

Amylase from germinating cereal grains enables the preparation of porridge with a higher energy density than conventional weaning foods. This food can be combined with fermentation, which inhibits pathogen growth. These food technologies are inexpensive, can be implemented at the household level, and are therefore particularly appropriate for use in developing countries.

Inhibition of different strains of enteropathogens in a lactic-fermenting cereal gruel.

Twenty-eight strains of enteropathogens, including Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, enterotoxigenic Escherichica coli (ETEC), Staphylococcus and Bacillus were added to cereal gruels prepared from low-tannin sorghum and inoculated with a lactic acid starter culture. Campylobacter strains were not detectable after 6 h, and Salmonella, Shigella and Staphylococcus strains not after 12 h. No viable cells of Bacillus strains were detected after 16 h of fermentation and the ETEC strains were completely inhibited after 24 h.

pH and acidity in lactic-fermenting cereal gruels: effects on viability of enteropathogenic microorganisms.

Survival of Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter jejuni, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Shigella flexneri during lactic acid fermentation of cereal gruels prepared from low-tannin (white) and high-tannin (red) sorghum varieties was studied. A previously fermented gruel (starter culture, SC) recycled daily or stored for 7, 14 or 28 days, germinated cereal flour (power flour, PF), or a combination of PF and SC (PF+SC) were used as starters. At 24 h, the pH of all gruels with added starter was ≤4; the pH in control gruels without starter was ≥5.