Assuntos
Ponte Cardiopulmonar , Detergentes/farmacologia , Hemostasia/efeitos dos fármacos , Plasma/efeitos dos fármacos , Adulto , Fatores de Coagulação Sanguínea/efeitos dos fármacos , Doadores de Sangue , Transfusão de Sangue , Humanos , Plasma/virologia , Segurança , Método Simples-Cego , Solventes/farmacologiaRESUMO
The age- and race-specific seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 786 subjects between the ages of 6 months to 60 years. More than 50% of African children were seropositive by the age of 5 years. In blood donors (17-60 years), 50% (93/187) of Whites, 67% (110/163) of Indians, 85% (117/137) of Coloureds, and 91% (115/127) of Africans were seropositive. There was a significant difference in the seroprevalence of HAV infection between White blood donors and blood donors from the other three racial groups [Coloureds (P < 0.0001), Africans (P < 0.0001), and Indians (P < 0.001)] and between Indians and Coloureds (P < 0.0001) and Indians and Africans (P < 0.0001). There was no significance difference in HAV infection between Coloureds and Africans (P < 0.200). Eighty-seven per cent (32/37) of rural Africans had previous infection. In the African population HAV infection is acquired in childhood. There are significant racial differences in the seroprevalence of HAV infection. The surveillance of HAV infection may be used as a valuable yardstick to monitor the changing standards of hygiene and socioeconomic conditions of a community in transition in South Africa and to make rational public health decisions regarding a hepatitis A vaccination policy.
Assuntos
Hepatite A/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Hepatite A/sangue , Hepatite A/etnologia , Hepatite A/imunologia , Anticorpos Anti-Hepatite A , Anticorpos Anti-Hepatite/sangue , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Lactente , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , África do Sul/epidemiologia , África do Sul/etnologiaRESUMO
A limited nutritional survey was carried out in 229 first attenders at an antenatal clinic in Gazankulu during the winter of 1984. Haemoglobin concentrations equal to or less than 11 g/dl were found in 33% of these women, the prime reason being folate deficiency. Serum folate concentrations were less than a 3.5 ng/ml in 60% of subjects and less than 3.0 ng/ml in 48%. A mean corpuscular volume of 100 fl or more, which reflects a defect in red cell DNA synthesis, was present in 35%. Iron related measurements indicated that only 17% were also iron deficient but the figure is certainly an underestimate, since the presence of folate deficiency tends to mask concomitant iron deficiency. The findings underline the need for folate and iron supplementation in pregnancy; the very high prevalence of significant folate deficiency also indicates that serious consideration should be given to the fortification of maize meal with folic acid.
Assuntos
Ácido Fólico/sangue , Ferro/sangue , Gravidez , Negro ou Afro-Americano , População Negra , Feminino , Ferritinas/sangue , Ácido Fólico/administração & dosagem , Hemoglobinas/análise , Humanos , Ferro/administração & dosagem , África do SulRESUMO
Ferritin levels in serum and milk were investigated in series of 15 urban and 18 rural black mothers. No mother was anaemic. Mean serum ferritin levels in the urban and rural groups were 57 +/- 55 ug/l and 25 +/- 28 ug/l (mean +/- SD). Corresponding milk ferritin concentrations were 21 +/- 22 ug/l and 29 +/- 30 ug/l respectively. The significance of ferritin in human milk is discussed.
Assuntos
Ferritinas/metabolismo , Leite Humano/metabolismo , Adulto , Negro ou Afro-Americano , Disponibilidade Biológica , Feminino , Ferritinas/sangue , Humanos , Ferro/metabolismo , Gravidez , População Rural , População UrbanaRESUMO
In 1969 a group of hunter-gatherer San were studied (Am J Clin Nutr 1971;24:229-42). Their state of hematological nutrition was excellent with a negligible incidence of iron, folate, or vitamin B12 deficiency. A genetically and linguistically similar San community who have been settled for the past 15 yr were the subjects of the present study. Anemia, due in the main to iron and/or folate deficiency, has become more common. Alcoholism has become rife in both sexes and all age groups. Our findings show that a settled lifestyle has resulted in a significant deterioration in the San's hematological nutrition.
Assuntos
Etnicidade , Ácido Fólico/metabolismo , Ferro/metabolismo , Estilo de Vida , Mudança Social , Vitamina B 12/metabolismo , Adolescente , Adulto , Fosfatase Alcalina/sangue , Anemia/epidemiologia , Botsuana , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Lactação , Masculino , Menopausa , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Namíbia , Doenças Parasitárias/epidemiologia , Gravidez , gama-Glutamiltransferase/sangueRESUMO
The levels of erythrocytic 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-DPG) in a group of patients with megaloblastic anaemia were compared with levels in an iron-deficient subject. The megaloblastic cells appeared to have 2 mumol more 2,3-DPG per g Hb than the iron-deficient cells, at the average haemoglobin level found in the megaloblastic group. The anticipated adaptive decrease in the oxygen affinity of the blood was not apparent when the relationship of P50 (7,4) to haemoglobin level was examined. This was shown to be due to a decreased mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), which counteracted the effect of the increased 2,3-DPG.
