Cardiovascular risk factors in Tobagonians: comparisons with other African populations

Comparative studies on cardiovascular risk factors in Tobagonians with other African populations show that Tobagonians had higher blood pressure levels of body bulk and obesity. T-wave inversion was also more common in Tobagonians were similar to those of two other Caribbean studies and were significantly higher than those of a white population in Wales (AU)

Fansidar resistant falciparum import to Trinidad from Tanzania

A 27 year old Tanzanian female with an acute P. falciparum malaria infection failed to respond to the recommended radical Fansidar treatment. The case is classified as RII resistance because after 7 days, parasitemia clearance was not achieved. The infection was certainly acquired in Tanzania but diagnosed and treated in a non-malarious country. This is possibly the first case of Fansidar resistant falciparum malaria found sensitive to Chloroquine. Chloroquine and Primaquine effectively eradicated the P. falciparum malaria from the patient. (AU)

A comparison of cardiovascular measurements in the Gambia, Jamaica, and the United Republic of Tanzania

Epidemiological studies of the cardiovascular characteristics of three typically rural communities in the Gambia, Jamaica, and the United Republic of Tanzania were carried out by means of standardized methodology. This paper reports comparisons of arterial blood pressure distribution and electrocardiographic findings in relation to age, sex, and body build. Marked differences in blood pressure were found, with higher values in Jamaicans than in Tanzanians, who in turn had higher values than Gambians. These differences are not explicable in terms of body build. Heart rates and ECG amplitudes were also strikingly different, with higher values in Jamaicans than in Tanzanians and Gambians. The differences in ECG amplitudes cannot be explained by differences in body build, heart rate, or blood pressure. The findings agree with the hypothesis that some factor or factors associated with development contributes to the risk of cardiovascular disease in peoples of African origin (AU)

A review of cardiovascular diseases in developing countries

This review examines the possible association in undeveloped and developing communities between 'development' and blood pressure, coronary heart disease and rheumatic heart disease. Previous studies have shown that hypertension is rare and coronary heart disease almost unknown in many of the more isolated and less developed communities, whilst rheumatic heart disease is relatively common. Consideration is given to the possibility that development in such communities may lead to a higher incidence of hypertension and coronary heart disease and to a reduction in the amount of rheumatic heart disease. Epidemiological methods for separating environmental and genetic causes are discussed. Some more recent studies in genetically different 'primitive' groups are reviewed, and then methods are discussed for the control of the genetic component, based on the examination of one genetic group living at different levels of development, either at the same time or at different times. The advantages of using migrant studies are outlined and some examples are given. The evidence appears to favour the hypothesis that development is associated with a greater incidence of hypertension and coronary heart disease, but there is little to suggest that the incidence of rheumatic heart disease is decreasing with development (AU)

Comparison of geographical strains of Schistosoma mansoni in the mouse

Mice were killed 7, 11, 19, and 27 weeks after infection with strains of Schistosoma mansoni from Puerto Rico, Brazil, St Lucia, and Tanzania. The percentage recovery of adult worms was variable in different experiments and no consistent strain differences were observed. The prepatient period was prolonged in mice infected with the Mwanza strain. Significant differences were noted in the number of eggs per worm pair in the tissues, in the distribution of eggs in the tissues, and in the weight of liver of mice infected with different strains. No differences in hepatic histopathology were detected. Although the behaviour of various worms in this mammalian host is clearly different, we feel that the observed differences are trivial when considering the effects of the parasite on the host, and that the result in mice probably cannot be used to predict possible differences in the behaviour of geographical strains of S. mansoni in infected persons (AU)

Comparative radiology of the proximal gastro-intestinal tract in Jamaica

A study of the radiological appearances and pathological features of a series of 17 cases of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis of the adult revealed several interesting features. It was shown that the generally accepted radiological description of smooth, severe and regular narrowing and elongation of the pyloric canal is only present in a proportion of cases. The radiological picture is very variable and many cases presented with an irregular pyloric canal and antrum with only moderate degree of narrowing or of pyloric stenosis. The classical pathological changes are said to be those of hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the circular muscle of the pyloric canal and adjacent part of the antrum. The use of special staining techniques revealed varying amounts of fibrous tissue in the hypertrophied smooth muscle in every case, a feature only briefly referred to in one or two previous communications. The presence of fibrous tissue is compatible with the theory that hypertrophic pyloric stenosis of the adult is secondary to pyloric channel ulcer and further evidence is presented in support of this. In a significant proportion of cases, the pyloric muscle hypertrophy is complicated by the presence of a benign ulcer on the lesser curvature of the stomach. The significance of this is also discussed