Medical & Health Sciences

Browse Medical & Health Sciences Topics/Papers by subfields

Medical & Health Sciences Research Papers/Topics

Acceptability of human immunodeficiency virus testing in patients with invasive cervical cancer in Kenya

Abstract/Overview Invasive cervical cancer (ICC) is common in areas where human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is also prevalent. Currently, HIV seroprevalence as well as acceptability of HIV testing in ICC patients in Kenya is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the acceptability of HIV testing among patients with ICC. Women with histologically verified ICC at Kenyatta National Hospital participated in the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to patients who...

Endothelial activation biomarkers increase after hiv-1 acquisition: plasma vcam-1 predicts disease progression

Abstract/Overview Objective—We aimed to determine whether endothelial activation biomarkers increase after HIV-1 acquisition, and whether biomarker levels measured in chronic infection would predict disease progression and death in HIV-1 seroconverters.

Bancroftian filariasis infection, disease, and specific antibody response patterns in a high and a low endemicity community in East Africa

Abstract/Overview Bancroftian filariasis infection, disease and specific antibody response patterns in a high and a low endemicity community in East Africa were analyzed and compared to assess the relationship between these parameters and community transmission intensity. Overall prevalences of microfilaremia and circulating filarial antigenemia were 24.9% and 52.2% in the high and 2.7% and 16.5% in the low endemicity community, respectively. A positive history of acute attacks of adenoly...

Lay knowledge and management of malaria in Baringo County, Kenya

Abstract/Overview Background: Malaria, a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted by female anopheline mosquitoes, is a major cause of morbidity, mortality and loss in productivity in humans. Baringo County is prone to seasonal transmissions of malaria mostly in the rainy seasons. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a mixed methods approach to collect data on knowledge and lay management of malaria. A questionnaire survey was administered to 560 r...

Urinary cytokines in Schistosoma haematobium-infected schoolchildren from Tana Delta District of Kenya

Abstract/Overview Background: Pathological changes due to infection with Schistosoma haematobium include cytokine-mediated urinary tract inflammation. The involved cytokines may be excreted in urine and their presence in urine may therefore reflect S. haematobium-related urinary tract pathology. The present study, for the first time, reports on the relationship between selected cytokines in urine and infection with S. haematobium in children from an area highly affected by this parasite. ...

Increased complement deposition on red blood cells in children with sickle cell trait

Abstract/Overview Aims: Immune-mediated mechanism, such as deposition of complement (C3b) on erythrocytes leading to enhanced receptor-mediated uptake by macrophages has been proposed to contribute partly to the destruction of non-infected cells leading to anaemia. The extent of complement deposition on RBC (red blood cells) may therefore influence an individual's resistance or susceptibility to severe malarial anaemia. Our objective was to see if RBC of sickle cell trait individuals have...

Validity of the vaginal discharge algorithm among pregnant and non-pregnant women in Nairobi, Kenya.

Abstract/Overview Objective: To evaluate the validity of diVerent algorithms for the diagnosis of gonococcal and chlamydial infections among pregnant and non-pregnant women consulting health services for vaginal discharge in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods: Cross sectional study among 621 women with complaints of vaginal discharge in three city council clinics between April and August 1997. Women were interviewed and examined for symptoms and signs of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Speci...

Effect of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria on health and education in schoolchildren: a cluster-randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract/Overview Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in early childhood, yet its consequences for health and education during the school-age years remain poorly understood. We examined the effect of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) in reducing anaemia and improving classroom attention and educational achievement in semi-immune schoolchildren in an area of high perennial transmission.

Filarial-specific antibody response in east African bancroftian filariasis: effects of host infection, clinical disease, and filarial endemicity

Abstract/Overview The effect of host infection, chronic clinical disease, and transmission intensity on the patterns of specific antibody responses in Bancroftian filariasis was assessed by analyzing specific IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, and IgE profiles among adults from two communities with high and low Wuchereria bancrofti endemicity. In the high endemicity community, intensities of the measured antibodies were significantly associated with infection status. IgG1, IgG2, and IgE were negativ...

Malaria morbidity among school children living in two areas of contrasting transmission in Western Kenya

Abstract/Overview Research in malaria-endemic areas is usually focused on malaria during early childhood. Less is known about malaria among older school age children. The incidence of clinical attacks of malaria was monitored, using active case detection in primary schools, in two areas of western Kenya that differ in the intensity of transmission. Clinical malaria was more common in schools in the Nandi highlands, with a six-fold higher incidence of malaria attacks during the malaria epi...

Immunoepidemiology of Wuchereria bancrofti infection: Parasite transmission intensity, Filaria-specific antibodies, and host immunity in two East African communities

Abstract/Overview We compared the age profiles of infection and specific antibody intensities in two communities with different transmission levels in East Africa to examine the contribution of humoral responses to human immunity to the vector-borne helminth Wuchereria bancrofti. The worm intensities were higher and exhibited a nonlinear age pattern in a high-transmission community, Masaika, in contrast to the low but linearly increasing age infection profile observed for a low-transmissi...

Spatial clustering of malaria and associated risk factors during an epidemic in a highland area of western Kenya

Abstract/Overview The epidemiology of malaria over small areas remains poorly understood, and this is particularly true for malaria during epidemics in highland areas of Africa, where transmission intensity is low and characterized by acute within and between year variations. We report an analysis of the spatial distribution of clinical malaria during an epidemic and investigate putative risk factors. Active case surveillance was undertaken in three schools in Nandi District, Western Keny...

Knowledge and practice about cervical cancer and pap smear testing among patients at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract/Overview Invasive cervical cancer (ICC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in developing countries. Population-based cyto-logic screening and early treatment does reduce morbidity and mortality associated with cervical cancer. Some of the factors related to the success of such a program include awareness about cervical cancer and its screening. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge and practice about cervical cancer and Pap smear testing among ...

Effects of HIV-1 infection on malaria parasitemia in milo sub-location, western Kenya

Abstract/Overview Malaria and HIV infections are both highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, with HIV-infected patients being at higher risk of acquiring malaria. HIV-1 infection is known to impair the immune response and may increase the incidence of clinical malaria. However, a positive association between HIV-1 and malaria parasitaemia is still evolving. Equally, the effect of malaria on HIV-1 disease stage has not been well established, but when fever and parasitemia are high, malari...

Patterns and trends of malaria morbidity in Western highlands of Kenya

Abstract/Overview A study of patterns and trends of malaria morbidity was conducted in Kericho district in Kenya western highlands prone to occurrences of malaria epidemics. Kericho district supports small scale and large scale tea farming, sugarcane, horticulture, maize, wheat, potatoes, beans and vegetables besides livestock keeping. Results has shown that malaria hospitalization cases grew by 111.13% and 109.52% per annum in 1988-2002 and 1998-2005 respectively. Hospital records in the...


136 - 150 Of 6406 Results