31 research outputs found
Discrepancies in Peripheral Arterial Function Indices Among Healthy Young Black Africans: Findings from Pilot Study Interpreted Using AHA Reference Values
No full textAbstract Background Accumulating evidence points to a rise in the incidence of peripheral arterial diseases (PAD) among young adults in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) highlighting the need for assessing peripheral arterial function (PAF) in this demographic. Current research from Asian populations suggests that established cut-off values for diagnosing PAD—using assessment parameters, such as Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), Toe-Brachial Index (TBI), and Pulse Volume Waveform (PVW)—may not accurately represent population-specific reference values. This study evaluates these parameters in a carefully selected population of healthy young black Africans, using American Heart Association (AHA) reference values for ABI and TBI to assess their agreement in classifying normal and abnormal readings compared to PVW. The results were also analyzed across sex and between the left and right sides. Methods We carefully and systematically recruited 156 healthy black Africans aged 18–35 years with no characteristics indicative of peripheral arterial dysfunction. An automated device that use oscillometry and photoplethysmography, concurrently measured ABI, TBI, and PVW in a controlled environment. The visual comparison and Student’s t test were employed to compare these values with the AHA references. Results Approximately 19.1% (n = 23) of participants had an ABI < 0.9, and 41.3% (n = 50) had a TBI < 0.7 in at least one limb, indicating abnormally low peripheral arterial indices according to AHA criteria. The prevalence of ABI < 0.9 was higher in the left leg (17.4%) compared to the right leg (6.6%), and among males (18.7%) compared to females (15.3%). Similarly, TBI < 0.7 was more prevalent in the left leg (33.9%) than the right leg (24.8%), and higher in females (40.4%) than males (28.1%). Notably, 91% of participants with ABI < 0.9 in the right leg and 97% in the left leg had normal (grade A) PVWs, while 97.6% of those with TBI < 0.7 also had grade A PVWs. Conclusion Healthy young black Africans' ABI and TBI values differed between the right and left legs. A significant proportion of individuals classified as abnormal according to ABI had normal PVWs based on AHA criteria. These findings highlight the need to carefully interpret ABI results in young populations and emphasize the importance of concurrent ABI and PVW measurements. Larger studies are warranted to refine population-specific reference ranges and explore right–left differences' physiological and clinical implications
Capacity building in participatory community project design, development and management in a local based youth organization
No full textThe objective of the study is capacity building in participatory community project design for a local community based organization.
This is a case study of a project design for Mbeya Community Development Organization. The organization is a youth organ based in Mwanjelwa area in Luanda Ward within Mbeya Municipality in Mbeya Region. Mbeya Region is located in the Southwestern part of Tanzania, about 850 km from Dar es Salaam.
Mbeya Community Development Organization (MCDO) was picked out of five Community based organizations that were approached for a similar exercise in Mbeya Municipality. The other organizations are MRECA, CORRECT, Bread for the Orphan Center and Eradicate Poverty Mbeya Region (ERAPO)
Mbeya Community Development Organization (MCDO) was selected because of the following reasons:
-Its objectives are compatible to my future-career and aspiration of becoming a professional consultant in community based organizations.
-These objectives cover aspects of establishing projects that address poverty reduction, environmental conservation, promoting community education and gender issues.
Organization of the report:-Chapter one gives an overview of community-based organizations, the background information of the area of the study and in particular, Mbeya Community Development Organization. The chapter explains in a nutshell the purpose of the assignment and provides an overview of Mbeya Municipal profile. This chapter also provides the details of study proceedings, work plan, resources and the project's study funding.
Chapter two focus on literature review. Both theoretical and imperial reviews on the study subject are covered. Policy literature review on Community Based Organizations in Tanzania is also covered in this chapter. To achieve the purpose of the assignment, various literatures related to poverty, development, environment - poverty linkage and deforestation have been consulted. Key terms, concepts and theories are also defined.
Chapter three provides a detailed explanation of the research methodology used in the study.
Chapter four provides the findings and recommendations. In this chapter various shortcomings and problems of the area of study are highlighted.
Chapter five provides details of the projects study implementation status and concluding remarks. (Author abstract)Mahinya, O. M. (2005). Capacity building in participatory community project design, development and management in a local based youth organization. Retrieved from http://academicarchive.snhu.eduMaster of Science (M.S.)School of Community Economic Developmen
Early vessel destabilization mediated by Angiopoietin-2 and subsequent vessel maturation via Angiopoietin-1 induce functional neovasculature after ischemia.
Get PDFWe assessed whether Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2), a Tie2 ligand and partial antagonist of Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1), is required for early vessel destabilization during postischemic angiogenesis, when combined with vascular growth factors. In vitro, matrigel co-cultures assessed endothelial-cell tube formation and pericyte recruitment after stimulation of VEGF-A, Apelin (APLN), Ang1 with or without Ang2. In a murine hindlimb ischemia model, adeno-associated virus (rAAV, 3×10(12) virusparticles) transduction of VEGF-A, APLN and Ang1 with or without Ang2 (continuous or early expression d0-3) was performed intramuscularly (d-14). Femoral artery ligation was performed at d0, followed by laser doppler perfusion meassurements (LDI) 7 and 14. At d7 (early timepoint) and d14 (late timepoint), histological analysis of capillary/muscle fiber ratio (CMF-R, PECAM-1) and pericyte/capillary ratio (PC-R, NG2) was performed. In vitro, VEGF-A, APLN and Ang1 induced ring formation, but only APLN and Ang1 recruited pericytes. Ang2 did not affect tube formation by APLN, but reduced pericyte recruitment after APLN or Ang1 overexpression. In vivo, rAAV.VEGF-A did not alter LDI-perfusion at d14, consistent with an impaired PC-R despite a rise in CMF-R. rAAV.APLN improved perfusion at d14, with or without continuous Ang2, increasing CMF-R and PC-R. rAAV.Ang1 improved perfusion at d14, when combined with rAAV.Ang2 (d0-3), accompanied by an increased CMF-R and PC-R. The combination of early vessel destabilization (Ang2 d0-3) and continuous Ang1 overexpression improves hindlimb perfusion, pointing to the importance of early vessel destabilization and subsequent vessel maturation for enhanced therapeutic neovascularization
Recommended from our members
Processing, structure property relationships in polymer layer double hydroxide multifunctional nanocomposites
Get PDFDan Beaty (1937-2002) was a prolific composer, pianist, researcher, educator, and writer. His large compositional output included chamber works, choral works, songs, orchestral pieces, electronic music, and keyboard works. Beaty was well versed in traditional Western music as well as the more avant-garde and perplexing idioms of the twentieth century. Beaty's compositions reflect the many fascinating, if not always popular, musical trends of his time. His music encompasses styles from serial to jazz, shows compositional influences from Arnold Schoenberg to Indonesian music, and demonstrates thought-provoking and highly intellectual craftsmanship. This document explores several of Beaty's songs through a discussion of the composer's life and compositional process. Songs included in this document are Three Weeks Songs, October, November, A Sappho Lyric, Love Song, That Night When Joy Began, and War Lyrics. This document was written to accompany the author's DMA Lecture-Recital at the University of North Texas. Unfortunately, Beaty's vocal music was never published and is mostly unknown. One goal of the project was to initiate interest in Beaty's songs. Through this document, Lecture-Recital, and additional performances, considerable strides have been made to bring Beaty's songs to new audiences throughout the United States. In addition, the author has received permission from the Beaty family to publish Dan Beaty's songs
Perivascular Mast Cells Govern Shear Stress-Induced Arteriogenesis by Orchestrating Leukocyte Function
Get PDFSummaryThe body has the capacity to compensate for an occluded artery by creating a natural bypass upon increased fluid shear stress. How this mechanical force is translated into collateral artery growth (arteriogenesis) is unresolved. We show that extravasation of neutrophils mediated by the platelet receptor GPIbα and uPA results in Nox2-derived reactive oxygen radicals, which activate perivascular mast cells. These c-kit+/CXCR-4+ cells stimulate arteriogenesis by recruiting additional neutrophils as well as growth-promoting monocytes and T cells. Additionally, mast cells may directly contribute to vascular remodeling and vascular cell proliferation through increased MMP activity and by supplying growth-promoting factors. Boosting mast cell recruitment and activation effectively promotes arteriogenesis, thereby protecting tissue from severe ischemic damage. We thus find that perivascular mast cells are central regulators of shear stress-induced arteriogenesis by orchestrating leukocyte function and growth factor/cytokine release, thus providing a therapeutic target for treatment of vascular occlusive diseases
Novel AI-based face recognition framework using deep neural networks and bounding box annotation
No full text2nd International Conference of Mathematics, Applied Sciences, Information and Communication Technology -- 1 May 2022 through 2 May 2022 -- Baghdad -- 195280This advanced research focuses on multi-exposure image processing for face identification using image processing and deep learning approaches. The construction of an image deep learning system based on image processing optimization task utilizing a Deep Neural Network (DNN) is a hot topic, with special attention paid to the smoothening of all the picture's edges for face detection. For the project, a DNN-based profound learning custom model was created, and the DNN approach was used with varying degrees of altering half breed image handling procedures. Evaluating for high edge channel to distinguish edges at high exactness has been under banter. In current conversation, the recommended smoothening system is bone thickness based including conceivable prescreening strategies utilizing the picture handling and improvement where 70% of information was utilized for the preparation, 20% for testing and staying 10% for the approval interaction. The custom profound learning model structures were intended to address various profundities. The concentrate likewise endeavors to observe answers for useful profound learning difficulties, for example, low preparation speed and absence of straightforwardness with a precision of 98.19% totally. The imaging and deep learning pipelines are optimized to exploit the available parallelism using the MATLAB programming language with multiple tools under consideration. © 2023 Author(s)
Prevalence and Determinants of Obesity among Primary School Children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Get PDFChildhood obesity has increased dramatically and has become a public health concern worldwide. Childhood obesity is likely to persist through adulthood and may lead to early onset of NCDs. However, there is paucity of data on obesity among primary school children in Tanzania. This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of obesity among primary school children in Dar es Salaam. A cross sectional study was conducted among school age children in randomly selected schools in Dar es Salaam. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were taken using standard procedures. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters (kg/m2). Child obesity was defined as BMI at or above 95th percentile for age and sex. Socio-demographic characteristics of children were determined using a structured questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to determine association between independent variables with obesity among primary school children in Dar es Salaam. A total of 446 children were included in the analysis. The mean age of the participants was 11.1±2.0 years and 53.1% were girls. The mean BMI, SBP and DBP were 16.6±4.0 kg/m2, 103.9±10.3mmHg and 65.6±8.2mmHg respectively. The overall prevalence of child obesity was 5.2% and was higher among girls (6.3%) compared to boys (3.8%). Obese children had significantly higher mean values for age (p=0.042), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (all p<0.001). Most obese children were from households with fewer children (p=0.019) and residing in urban areas (p=0.002). Controlling for other variables, age above 10 years (AOR=3.3, 95% CI=1.5-7.2), female sex (AOR=2.6, 95% CI=1.4-4.9), urban residence (AOR=2.5, 95% CI=1.2-5.3) and having money to spend at school (AOR=2.6, 95% CI=1.4-4.8) were significantly associated with child obesity. The prevalence of childhood obesity in this population was found to be low. However, children from urban schools and girls were proportionately more obese compared to their counterparts. Primary preventive measures for childhood obesity should start early in childhood and address socioeconomic factors of parents contributing to childhood obesity
Elevated blood pressure among primary school children in Dar es salaam, Tanzania: prevalence and risk factors
No full text
