Serum albumin levels in elderly rural Africans.

Reports on white populations indicate an inverse relationship between serum albumin level and total death rate, also death rates from cardiovascular diseases (CHD) and cancer. Among rural African blacks, CHD is absent, and diet-related cancers rare, so that albumin levels in the elderly would be expected to be elevated. Studies on 50 men and 50 women, representative elderly rural blacks, revealed mean values to be high, 47.6 +/- 4.9 g/l and 48.2 +/- 4.2 g/l. Levels were not significantly associated with Body Mass Index, blood pressure, serum cholesterol level, nor blood glucose level. Hence, in the setting described, even elevated levels of these variables appear less noxious to health than is the case in white populations, since such levels are consistent with low mortality from the diseases mentioned. Explanation of the relationship between serum albumin and life expectancy is unknown. Longitudinal studies are necessary to clarify the situation.     

Obesity in indigent elderly rural African women: effects on hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and hyperglycaemia.

To learn more of the sequelae of obesity in South African elderly rural indigent black women (aged 58-85 years), studies were made on 40 women with BMI greater than or equal to 30, and on 50 non-obese women with BMI of 25 or less, all in outward good health. In the two groups, hypertension (greater than or equal to 160/95 mm Hg) was present in 9 and 5 women (22% and 10%), hypercholesterolaemia (greater than or equal to 5.2 mmol/l) in 28 and 26 women (70% and 52%), hypertriglyceridaemia (greater than or equal to 1.8 mmol/l) in 20 and 16 (50% and 32%), and hyperglycaemia (greater than or equal to 6.7 mmol/l) in 8 and 7 women (20% and 14%). Differences between the obese and non-obese attained significance with blood pressure and serum lipids (P less than 0.01), although not with blood glucose. Both groups were habituated to a low fat high fibre diet. In this context, obesity appeared less evocative of adverse sequelae than prevails in a white population. However, for appropriate validation, longitudinal studies are required.     

The utility of an rTeGM6-4r-based immunochromatographic test for the serological diagnosis of non-tsetse-transmitted equine trypanosomosis in rural areas of Mongolia

Parasitology Research - Our previous studies report epidemics of non-tsetse-transmitted equine trypanosomosis in Mongolia. However, the current status of non-tsetse-transmitted equine...     

Bridging nursing practice and education through a strategic global partnership

To forge strong relationships among nurse scholars from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA (USA); University of Botswana School of Nursing, Gaborone, Botswana; the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Princess Marina Hospital (PMH), Gaborone; and the Ministry of Health of Botswana, a strategic global partnership was created to bridge nursing practice and education. This partnership focused on changing practice at PMH through the translation of new knowledge and evidence‐based practice. Guided by the National Institutes of Health team science field guide, the conceptual implementation of this highly successful practice change initiative is described in detail, highlighting our strategies, challenges and continued collaboration for nurses to be leaders in improving health in Botswana.