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Current Topics in Tropical Medicine
... The recycled-incubator-technology (RIT) systems were constructed using internet-sourced generic components arranged by design and applied to the old casings [11]. The new low-cost systems so-produced were capable of 10 years of life expectancy and easily maintainable by locals [10, 12]. ...
... Hence they assembled all their available old and obsolete incubator casings for recycling. Earlier publications demonstrated the trial, introduction, and standardisation of an incubator recycling technique that has safely been applied with high reliability and safety records for up to ten years [10–12]. The systems were often fully restored at costs that were smaller than 25% of the costs of modern incubators [11]. ...
... Sadly no referral centre could demonstrate the availability of up to 4 functional incubators for a consecutive time period of two years [11]. It was rather common to see a large number of dysfunctional and obsolete incubators littering the hospital walkways, workshops, dump sites, and scrap yards whilst the SCBUs remained empty [12]. The unaffordability of reliable incubator systems in low-income settings was a well-known fact as a modern incubator sold in excess of £25,000 [13]. ...
Millennium development goal target on infant mortality (MDG4) by 2015 would not be realised in some low-resource countries. This was in part due to unsustainable high-tech ideas that have been poorly executed. Prudent but high impact techniques could have been synthesised in these countries. A collaborative outreach was initiated to devise frugal measures that could reduce neonatal deaths in Nigeria. Prevailing issues of concern that could militate against neonatal survival within care centres were identified and remedies were proffered. These included application of (i) recycled incubator technology (RIT) as a measure of providing affordable incubator sufficiency, (ii) facility-based research groups, (iii) elective training courses for clinicians/nurses, (iv) independent local artisans on spare parts production, (v) power-banking and apnoea-monitoring schemes, and (v) 1/2 yearly failure-preventive maintenance and auditing system. Through a retrospective data analyses 4 outreach centres and one "control" were assessed. Average neonatal mortality of centres reduced from 254/1000 to 114/1000 whilst control remained at 250/1000. There was higher relative influx of incubator-dependent-neonates at outreach centres. It was found that 43% of mortality occurred within 48 hours of presentation (d48) and up to 92% of d48 were of very-low birth parameters. The RIT and associated concerns remedies have demonstrated the vital signs of efficiency that would have guaranteed MDG4 neonatal component in Nigeria.
... We also hoped that such thermal-friendly environment would guarantee a more stable nursing of open-cot babies within the environment with lower frequency of hyperthermia due to EFS. An earlier study demonstrated that neonates readily tend to assume body temperatures similar to their environmental room temperatures when exposed to these [1]. This is consequential to the classical procedures of maintaining effective neonatal warming in a cold environment using appropriately designed wrapping suits for full-term neonates and adequately controlled incubator microenvironments for preterm neonates [12, 13]. ...
... Literature has identified and defined evening-fever syndrome (EFS) as the thermal capacitance effect of overheated buildings that manifests in neonatal hyperthermia usually during the mid afternoon and early evening periods of sunny days [1]. EFS affects all newborns, especially the premature escalating morbidity, prolonging hospitalisation period and impoverishing overall outcome. ...
Neonatal thermal stabilisation can become challenging when uncontrollable factors result in excessive body temperature. Hyperthermia can rapidly slow down baby's progress and response to treatment. High sunlight intensity in tropical countries such as Nigeria manifests in incessant high neonatal temperatures towards early evenings. The ugly consequences of this neonatal evening-fever syndrome (EFS) can only be eradicated by the development of a controlled weatherproof nursery environment. Two laboratories and a 'control ward' were applied. Lab-2 was a renovation of an existing room in a manner that could correct an existing nursery. Lab-1 was an entirely new building idea. The laboratories were assessed based on comparative ability to maintain environmental coolness and neonatal thermal stability during hot days. Data collection continued for 12 full calendar months. On average, at evaluated out-wind peak temperature of 43°C (range: 41°C-46°C), the control-ward peak was at 39°C, Lab-2 peak at 36°C, and Lab-1 peak at 33°C. All incubators in the control overheated during the hot periods but there was no overheating in Lab-1. Forty-four (86%) of sampled babies were fever-quenched by water sponging 131 times in the control whilst only one baby received same treatment in Lab-1. Nursery designs patterned after Lab-1 can significantly reduce EFS-induced neonatal morbidity.
... The worms were washed in RPMI 1640 medium (Gibco) supplemented with 200 μg/mL of streptomycin, 200 UI/mL of penicillin (Invitrogen), and 25 mM of Hepes. Pairs of adult worms (male and female) were incubated in a 24-well culture plate (Techno Plastic Products, TPP) containing 2 mL of the same medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated calf serum at 37°C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere [27, 28]. All experiments were authorized by the Committee for Ethics in Animal Care of Adolfo Lutz Institute, in accordance with nationally and internationally accepted principles for laboratory animal use and care. ...
... Additionally, morphological alterations on S. mansoni tegument were evaluated quantitatively after exposure to different concentrations of TV. In this quantitative analysis, areas of tegument of male worms were assessed, and the numbers of tubercles on the dorsal surface of parasites were counted [23, 27–29]. As shown in Figure 5, TV caused changes on tubercles of S. mansoni male worms in a dose-dependent manner. ...
Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, affects more than 200 million people worldwide, and its control is dependent on a single drug, praziquantel. Tanacetum vulgare (Asteraceae) is used in folk medicine as a vermifuge. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro schistosomicidal activity of the crude extract (TV) and the essential oil (TV-EO) from the aerial parts of T. vulgare. TV-EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS, which allowed the identification of β -thujone (84.13%) as the major constituent. TV and TV-EO, at 200 μ g/mL, decreased motor activity and caused 100% mortality of all adult worms. At 100 and 50 μ g/mL, only TV caused death of all adult worms, while TV-EO was inactive. TV (200 μ g/mL) was also able to reduce viability and decrease production of developed eggs. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed morphological alterations in the tegument of the S. mansoni surface after incubation with TV (50 and 100 μ g/mL). Quantitative analysis on the schistosomes tegument showed that TV caused changes in the numbers of tubercles of S. mansoni male worms in a dose-dependent manner. The findings suggest that T. vulgare is a potential source of schistosomicidal compounds.
... Approximate death rate of children in a year is represented fig.1. The rate of mortality found higher in males in comparison to females [8]- [10]. The infection begins when the host swallows the mature quadrinucleate cyst along with the contaminated food or water. ...
Amoebiasis is an infectious disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica), the common symptoms are cramping, abdominal pain, watery or bloody diarrhea, and weight loss. Sometimes patients suffer amoebiasis as an asymptomatic behavior. In 1859 scientist W.D. Lambl first described the amoebiasis vector E. histolytica. In developing countries, millions of people die due to amoebiasis. A doctor diagnosed the disease detection of E. histolytic antigen in stool or antibodies against the parasite in serum. Metronidazole, tinidazole, lodoquinol, diloxanide furoate are given for amoebiasis patients. In this review, we have summarized the statistics, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategy of amoebiasis disease. It also gives information about the life cycle of E. histolytica.
... These results reflect the similarity of situation of others [21] who found the same findings but disagree to other studies [13,14,16]. These controversies might be related to individual variations that could be related to epidemiogeographical factors that affect distribution of the disease. ...
Out of 180 children, 60 (33.3%) have Amoebiasis infection as diagnosed by direct wet smear and Saturated Salt Solution (SSS). SSS method is more significant (P=0.001) in diagnosis of the disease. Number of children infected with Amoebiasis infection is higher in infants aged 1-6 months, but without any significant difference to ages 6-12 or 12-18 months. In contrast, infants aged 18-24 months are significantly differant (P=0.01) as the infection rate is 16.6%. Gender also is seen to be reduced in significance (P= 0.001) for females aged 18-24 months. Blood profile of the involved infants has shown a significant variation (P=0. 01) for all blood profile parameters (RBC (P=0.05), WBC (P=0.001), Lymphocytes (P=0.05), Granulated WBC (P=0.05), Hb (P=0.01) and Platelets counts (P=0.001). Many medicinal regimes are dependent in the treatment of Amoebiasis, Metronidazole (Flagyl) in significant variation (P=0.01), combination of Metronidazole and Bactrim
... These results reflect the similarity of situation of others [21] who found the same findings but disagree to other studies [13,14,16]. These controversies might be related to individual variations that could be related to epidemiogeographical factors that affect distribution of the disease. ...
Out of 180 children, 60 (33.3%) have Amoebiasis infection as diagnosed by direct wet smear and Saturated Salt Solution (SSS). SSS method is more significant (P=0.001) in diagnosis of the disease. Number of children infected with Amoebiasis infection is higher in infants aged 1-6 months, but without any significant difference to ages 6-12 or 12-18 months. In contrast, infants aged 18-24 months are significantly differant (P=0.01) as the infection rate is 16.6%. Gender also is seen to be reduced in significance (P= 0.001) for females aged 18-24 months. Blood profile of the involved infants has shown a significant variation (P=0. 01) for all blood profile parameters (RBC (P=0.05), WBC (P=0.001), Lymphocytes (P=0.05), Granulated WBC (P=0.05), Hb (P=0.01) and Platelets counts (P=0.001). Many medicinal regimes are dependent in the treatment of Amoebiasis, Metronidazole (Flagyl) in significant variation (P=0.01), combination of Metronidazole and Bactrim.
... 15 16 As of 2012, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania contained 60% of the world's vulnerable populations. 17 Ethiopia, however, committed in 2012 to mapping the distribution of schistosomiasis in the area and in 2015 began an initiative for deworming the most vulnerable populations. 18 19 These efforts were made possible through collaborations with the WHO, private donors and other non-governmental organisations. ...
This is a case report of a 24-year-old Ethiopian woman with a medical history of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. She suffers from chronic liver failure and portal hypertension. She has been hospitalised for ‘hysteria’ in the past but did not receive follow-up, outpatient treatment or psychiatric evaluation. After discontinuing her medications and leaving her family to use holy water, a religious medicine used by many Ethiopians, she was found at a nearby monastery. She was non-communicative and difficult to arouse. The patient was rushed to nearby University of Gondar Hospital where she received treatment for hepatic encephalopathy and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Her illness is the result of neglected tropical disease, reliance on traditional medicine as opposed to biomedical services and the poor state of psychiatric care in the developing world.
Rickettsioses share common clinical manifestations, such as fever, malaise, exanthema, the presence or
absence of an inoculation eschar, and lymphadenopathy. Some of these manifestations can be suggestive
of certain species of Rickettsia infection. Nevertheless none of these manifestations are pathognomonic,
and direct diagnostic methods to confirm the involved species are always required. A syndrome is a set of
signs and symptoms that characterizes a disease with many etiologies or causes. This situation is
applicable to rickettsioses, where different species can cause similar clinical presentations. We propose a
syndromic classification for these diseases: exanthematic rickettsiosis syndrome with a low probability
of inoculation eschar and rickettsiosis syndrome with a probability of inoculation eschar and their
variants. In doing so, we take into account the clinical manifestations, the geographic origin, and the
possible vector involved, in order to provide a guide for physicians of the most probable etiological agent.
Rickettsioses share common clinical manifestations, such as fever, malaise, exanthema, the presence or absence of an inoculation eschar, and lymphadenopathy. Some of these manifestations can be suggestive of certain species of Rickettsia infection. Nevertheless none of these manifestations are pathognomonic, and direct diagnostic methods to confirm the involved species are always required. A syndrome is a set of signs and symptoms that characterizes a disease with many etiologies or causes. This situation is applicable to rickettsioses, where different species can cause similar clinical presentations. We propose a syndromic classification for these diseases: exanthematic rickettsiosis syndrome with a low probability of inoculation eschar and rickettsiosis syndrome with a probability of inoculation eschar and their variants. In doing so, we take into account the clinical manifestations, the geographic origin, and the possible vector involved, in order to provide a guide for physicians of the most probable etiological agent.
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