No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-01

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-01

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-01

Porcine Periweaning Failure-to-Thrive syndrome (PFTS) is a clinical syndrome of newly weaned pigs with unknown etiology and characterized by anorexia, lethargy and progressive debilitation. The hypothesis of this thesis is that PFTS is an infectious disease. Investigation in an index farm affected by PFTS from Saskatchewan Canada ruled out most common swine pathogens as the etiology and identified several lesions that were consistent across many cases. A larger study including multiple farms in North America was then undertaken. A total of 8 farms were investigated, within which 5 met the clinical definition of PFTS. Gross and histological examinations were performed on 8 case and 4 control pigs on each farm. Detection of relevant porcine pathogens, complete blood count, serum chemistry, and serum cytokine analysis were performed on each pig. Thymic atrophy, superficial gastritis and small intestinal villous atrophy were significantly more prevalent in case pigs compared to control pigs. All case pigs had at least two of these three lesions. All case and control pigs were negative for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, swine influenza virus and were free of porcine circovirus associated diseases. Although several pathogens, such as porcine cytomegalovirus, haemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus, porcine enteric calicivirus, group A rotavirus, enteroviruses and Cystoisospora suis were detected in some of the case and control pigs, none were associated with clinical status. Clinical pathology findings of case pigs was consistent with anorexia and dehydration, such as increases in haematocrit, blood urea, serum bilirubin, albumin, beta-hydroxybutyrate and decreases in blood glucose, calcium and phosphorous. Case pigs had similar levels to IL1-β than control pigs, which suggested that PFTS was not a result of excessive cytokines. In subsequent experiments, a snatched-farrowed porcine-colostrum-deprived (SF-pCD) pig model was developed and tissue homogenates were used to inoculate SF-pCD pigs in an attempt to reproduce the clinical signs of PFTS. The SF-pCD pigs were immunologically characterized and shown to be suitable for inoculation studies. However, inoculation of tissue homogenate from PFTS pigs failed to reproduce the clinical signs of PFTS in SF-pCD pigs. All together, PFTS is a clinical syndrome with consistent pathological and serum analytical changes among affected pigs. Despite the efforts of this research to establish an infectious etiology, there is a lack of evidence that PFTS is an infectious disease.

The study sought to determine the prevalence and the risk factors for malnutrition in 88 HIV positive children less than 18 months attending Hospital Paediatric ARV Clinic (HPAC). The study used quantitative methods. A questionnaire was administered to the child’s caregiver to assess infant, caregiver and socio-economic risk factors for malnutrition after written consent had been obtained. The history of the patient was extracted from the HIV patient care booklet. Nutritional status was assessed using WHO standard growth charts in children and body mass index (BMI) in adults.

<p>Background-Namibia has a high HIV and malnutrition burden. HIV increases the risk of&nbsp / malnutrition and malnutrition results in rapid progression of the disease and worsening malnutrition. Nutrition plays an important role in the management of an HIV positive child. Optimal nutrition delays disease progression, improves immune function and the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs thereby improving the quality of life of the child. Early identification of children at risk of malnutrition is therefore essential to prevent malnutrition in HIV positive children. Methodology-The study sought to determine the prevalence and the risk factors for malnutrition in 88 HIV positive children less than 18 months attending Hospital Paediatric ARV Clinic (HPAC). The study used quantitative methods. A questionnaire was administered to the child&rsquo / s caregiver to assess infant, caregiver and socio-economic risk factors for malnutrition after written consent had been obtained. The history of the patient was extracted from the HIV patient care booklet. Nutritional status was assessed using WHO standard growth charts in children and body mass index (BMI) in adults. Results- The study showed that 56.8% of children were wasted (14.8% had severe wasting), 52.3% were stunted (18.2% had severe stunting) and 69.3% underweight (20.5% were severely underweight). This level of malnutrition is much higher than the rates of 8% wasting, 29% stunting and 17% underweight in the general paediatric population. Malnutrition in children was associated with fewer number of working adults per family, frequent illnesses in the child, low level of caregiver education, caregiver unemployment, low household income and lack of adequate food in the family. Children of malnourished caregiver were more likely to be underweight. Conclusions- The results showed a high prevalence of malnutrition (56.8%wasting, 52.3%stunting and 69.3% underweight) among HIV positive infants attending the HPAC. The study showed that poverty and food insecurity were strongly associated with malnutrition in children. This therefore&nbsp / highlights the urgent need to address poverty to reduce malnutrition in the community. Although the study did not show any statistically significant association between feeding practices and malnutrition in children, health workers should encourage HIV positive mothers to breastfeed their infants as per the WHO and Namibian antiretroviral therapy guidelines (2010). Recommendations - There is need to train health workers to identify and manage malnourished children early. Linkages with social services must be improved and strengthened to help reduce poverty in the community.</p>

The study sought to determine the prevalence and the risk factors for malnutrition in 88 HIV positive children less than 18 months attending Hospital Paediatric ARV Clinic (HPAC). The study used quantitative methods. A questionnaire was administered to the child’s caregiver to assess infant, caregiver and socio-economic risk factors for malnutrition after written consent had been obtained. The history of the patient was extracted from the HIV patient care booklet. Nutritional status was assessed using WHO standard growth charts in children and body mass index (BMI) in adults.

<p>Background-Namibia has a high HIV and malnutrition burden. HIV increases the risk of&nbsp / malnutrition and malnutrition results in rapid progression of the disease and worsening malnutrition. Nutrition plays an important role in the management of an HIV positive child. Optimal nutrition delays disease progression, improves immune function and the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs thereby improving the quality of life of the child. Early identification of children at risk of malnutrition is therefore essential to prevent malnutrition in HIV positive children. Methodology-The study sought to determine the prevalence and the risk factors for malnutrition in 88 HIV positive children less than 18 months attending Hospital Paediatric ARV Clinic (HPAC). The study used quantitative methods. A questionnaire was administered to the child&rsquo / s caregiver to assess infant, caregiver and socio-economic risk factors for malnutrition after written consent had been obtained. The history of the patient was extracted from the HIV patient care booklet. Nutritional status was assessed using WHO standard growth charts in children and body mass index (BMI) in adults. Results- The study showed that 56.8% of children were wasted (14.8% had severe wasting), 52.3% were stunted (18.2% had severe stunting) and 69.3% underweight (20.5% were severely underweight). This level of malnutrition is much higher than the rates of 8% wasting, 29% stunting and 17% underweight in the general paediatric population. Malnutrition in children was associated with fewer number of working adults per family, frequent illnesses in the child, low level of caregiver education, caregiver unemployment, low household income and lack of adequate food in the family. Children of malnourished caregiver were more likely to be underweight. Conclusions- The results showed a high prevalence of malnutrition (56.8%wasting, 52.3%stunting and 69.3% underweight) among HIV positive infants attending the HPAC. The study showed that poverty and food insecurity were strongly associated with malnutrition in children. This therefore&nbsp / highlights the urgent need to address poverty to reduce malnutrition in the community. Although the study did not show any statistically significant association between feeding practices and malnutrition in children, health workers should encourage HIV positive mothers to breastfeed their infants as per the WHO and Namibian antiretroviral therapy guidelines (2010). Recommendations - There is need to train health workers to identify and manage malnourished children early. Linkages with social services must be improved and strengthened to help reduce poverty in the community.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D. in Clinical Science) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-146). Free to UCD affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;