Antimicrobial activity and brine shrimp toxicity of extracts of Terminalia brownii roots and stem.

Background: Ternimalia brownii Fresen (Combretaceae) is widely used in traditional medicine to treat bacterial, fungal and viral infections. There is a need to evaluate extracts of this plant in order to provide scientific proof for it's wide application in traditional medicine system.

Methods: Extraction of stem bark, wood and whole roots of T.

Bilateral hands and feet postaxial polydactyly presenting with renal vascular anomalies.

The current Observation reports polydactyly of both the hands and feet in a 36 years old male cadaver that presented also with supernumerary renal vessels. The right kidney received the upper and lower supernumerary renal arteries from the abdominal aorta and was drained by the two renal veins. The anterior and posterior supernumerary renal veins opened separately into the inferior vena cava.

Rape against women: the magnitude, perpetrators and patterns of disclosure of events in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

This cross-sectional household survey was conducted in Dar es Salaam between July and August 2000. The objectives were to establish the magnitude of rape against women, the perpetrators, disclosure of events and other related factors. Among the 1004 women who completed their interviews, 20% said they were ever raped.

Lack of impact of artesunate on the disposition kinetics of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine when the two drugs are concomitantly administered.

Objective: To determine the effect of artesunate (AT) on the disposition kinetics of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) in humans.

Methods: In a randomized cross-over study, 16 healthy volunteers were given a dose of three SP tablets containing 500 mg of sulfadoxine (SDX) and 25 mg of pyrimethamine (PYR) (=SP group), while the second arm received three SP tablets + two AT tablets of 200 mg in total followed by 100 mg AT for the next 4 days (SP+AT group). Blood samples (100 microl) were collected by means of a finger prick and dried on filter paper.

Rare origin of supernumerary renal vessels supplying the lower pole of the left kidney.

The current observations have documented rare vascular anomalies in the right and left kidneys from a male and female cadaver, respectively. In the female left kidney in addition to being supplied by the normal renal artery and vein it contained a left lower polar renal artery and vein. The polar artery took origin from the inferior mesenteric artery to supply the lower pole and was drained by the left lower polar vein that opened into the left common iliac vein.

Morphology of neuropeptide Y immunopositive ganglia in the mouse pancreas.

The current immunohistochemical study used the antibody against neuropeptide Y (NPY) to observe the morphology of the autonomic ganglia in the mouse pancreas. The results indicated that intrapancreatic ganglion cells stained positively for NPY. Two types of ganglia were observed and they included the endocrine-contact ganglia that made contact with the endocrine pancreas and the interstitial ganglia, which were located in the interstitial space.

Observation of the position of the lingula in relation to the mandibular foramen and the mylohyoid groove.

There are contradicting data and reports regarding the position of the mandibular lingula in relation to the mandibular foramen and the mylohyoid groove. The current observation attempts to describe the location of the lingula in relation to the mandibular foramen, and the location of the mylohyoid groove in relation to the lingula and mandibular foramen. Fifty adult black Tanzanian mandibles were used in this study.

Bifid liver presenting with anomalous quadrate and caudate lobes and a transverse gallbladder.

The current Observation reports multiple anomalies of the liver of a 55-year-old male cadaver. Observations revealed the presence of anomalies on the diaphragmatic and visceral surfaces of the liver. The diaphragmatic surface presented with a deep furrow that run obliquely from the fissure for the inferior vena cava to the inferior border of the liver.

Experience of initiating collaboration of traditional healers in managing HIV and AIDS in Tanzania.

Collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical practitioners is now being accepted by many African countries south of the Sahara because of the increasing problem of HIV/AIDS. The key problem, however, is how to initiate collaboration between two health systems which differ in theory of disease causation and management. This paper presents findings on experience learned by initiation of collaboration between traditional healers and the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Arusha and Dar-es-Salaam Municipalities, Tanzania where 132 and 60 traditional healers respectively were interviewed.

Sickle cell disease in Africa: burden and research priorities.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) has recently been recognised as a problem of major public-health significance by the World Health Organization. Despite the fact that >70% of sufferers live in Africa, expenditure on the related care and research in the continent is negligible, and most advances in the understanding and management of this condition have been based on research conducted in the North. In order to target limited resources, African countries need to focus research and interventions on areas that will lead to the maximum impact.

Baseline mycobacterial immune responses in HIV-infected adults primed with bacille Calmette-Guérin during childhood and entering a tuberculosis booster vaccine trial.

Background: Most new tuberculosis vaccines will be administered as a booster to subjects primed with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) during childhood.

Methods: We investigated in vivo and in vitro immune responses to mycobacteria in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive subjects in Tanzania primed with BCG during childhood and entering a tuberculosis booster vaccine trial. Tests included intradermal skin testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD) and Mycobacterium avium sensitin (MAS); lymphocyte proliferation assays and interferon (IFN)-gamma levels after stimulation with Mycobacterium vaccae sonicate (MVS), M.

Knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases among secondary school students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background: In Tanzania, it is considered a taboo for teachers and parents to talk with children about sexual matters including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in schools and at home because of cultural and religious barriers. Political pressure also keeps sexual education and thus education on STDs out of classrooms. Generally, there is disagreement over STDs education on what to teach, by whom, and to what extent.

Analysis of the indications for routine lumbar puncture and results of cerebrospinal fluid examination in children admitted to the paediatric wards of two hospitals in East Africa.

Lumbar puncture (LP) is an important diagnostic tool for investigating neurological conditions/diseases. This study was carried out to compare the indications for lumbar puncture and findings of cerebrospinal fluid examination in children admitted to Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania and Kilifi District Hospital (KDH) in Kenya. Records of all children admitted to the paediatric wards of the two hospitals from 1st November 2004 to 30th April 2005 with suspected central nervous system infections and had LPs performed were analysed.

A novel isoflavonoid from Millettia puguensis.

From the roots of Millettia puguensis (Leguminosae), a novel isoflavonoid (5), 2'-methoxy-4',5'-methylenedioxy-7,8-[2-(1-methylethenyl)furo]isoflavone, and four known compounds, i. e., lupeol (1), (-)-maackiain (2), 6,7-dimethoxy-3',4'-methylenedioxyisoflavone (3) and 7,2'-dimethoxy-4',5'-methylenedioxyisoflavone (4) were isolated and identified by 1H-, 13C-NMR and mass spectroscopy.

Oral health knowledge and practices among Dar es Salaam institutionalized former street children aged 7-16 years.

Objectives: To find out level of knowledge on causes and prevention of dental caries and bleeding gums, oral hygiene and eating practices among institutionalized former street children.

Methods: A structured standardized questionnaire was used to collect data for this study. Chi-square test was used to test for significant differences.

Oral hygiene practices, periodontal conditions, dentition status and self-reported bad mouth breath among young mothers, Tanzania.

Objectives: To determine the oral hygiene practices, periodontal conditions, dentition status and self-reported bad mouth breath (S-BMB) among young mothers.

Study Participants And Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A total of 302 postpartum mothers, aged 14-44 years, were interviewed on oral hygiene practices and S-BMB using structured questionnaire.

Clinical and echocardiographic study of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Tanzania.

There are few published reports of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Africans, partly due to lack of Echocardiography machines at most hospitals. Among 6680 patients referred for echocardiography at Muhimbili National Hospital between June 1998 and October 2002, 134 (0.19%) patients had HCM.

Chronic suppurative otitis media in Tanzanian school children and its effects on hearing.

Objectives: To compare different treatment regimens of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) in school children, in regard to their consequence in hearing and discharge from the ear drum perforation.

Design: Randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Randomly selected primary schools within Dar es Salaam.

Socio-economic and demographic factors associated with prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background: HIV/AIDS epidemic has become generalised in low resource settings in sub-Saharan Africa where 90% of all maternal-foetal transmission of HIV infection occurs. Global effort to scale-up pMTCT is underway, however, mechanisms to maximise screening of HIV- 1 positive women for Nevirapine treatment and other interventions, are not clear.

Objective: To identify socioeconomic and demographic characteristics associated with the prevalence of HIV- 1 infection among Tanzanian women.

Parental oral health care of mentally retarded children in Ilala municipality, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate oral hygiene practices and oral health care given by parents to mentally retarded children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Methods: A total of 140 questionnaires were distributed; only 100 questionnaires were completed and thus were included in the analysis, a 71.4% response rate.

Burden of diseases in poor resource countries: meeting the challenges of combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Poverty, ill health and ignorance are closely interlinked and each is a determinant of the other. HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis are by far the commonest causes of ill-health and death in the poorest countries of the world which happen to be in the tropics and temperate countries in Africa, Asia and South America. Morbidity and mortality from these three diseases have a major socio-economic impact on individuals, communities and nations, due to the vicious cycle of poverty, ill health and ignorance.

Current and future prospects of integrating traditional and alternative medicine in the management of diseases in Tanzania.

Traditional medicine and medicinal plants, in general, continue to be a powerful source of new drugs, now contributing about 90% of the newly discovered pharmaceuticals. Traditional medicine continues to provide health coverage for over 80% of the world population, especially in the developing world. The past and the present are all full of living examples of discoveries of drugs, ranging from anticancer, antiasthma, antidiabetic, antihypertensives and many others which owe their origin to traditional medicine.

The morphological features of major and accessory fissures observed in different lung specimens.

The current study reports the presence of accessory fissure and anomalies in the major fissure and lobation in both the right and left lungs. The results indicated that out 102 lung specimens observed in the dissection room 37.26% appeared to have fissural or lobation anomalies and 63% of the anomalies were described in the right lung.

Specifications provided by practitioners for fabrication of removable acrylic prostheses in Tanzania.

This study aimed at determining the standard of communication between practitioners and dental laboratory technicians in fabrication of removable acrylic prosthetic appliances using written prescriptions. Three hundred and seventy-nine prescriptions submitted to the Dental Laboratory of Muhimbili National Hospital (January 1998-May 2004) were assessed for their instructive quality. Only specifications necessary for the fabrication of a removable acrylic prosthesis were considered.

Oral manifestations of HIV infection in children and adults receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy [HAART] in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence and types of HIV-related oral lesions between children and adult Tanzanian patients on HAART with those not on HAART and to relate the occurrence of the lesions with anti-HIV drug regimen, clinical stage of HIV disease and CD4+ cell count.

Methods: Participants were 532 HIV infected patients, 51 children and 481 adults, 165 males and 367 females. Children were aged 2-17 years and adults 18 and 67 years.