Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Public Health, 2001. / Bibliography: leaves 148-163.

The objective of this study was to evaluate copper sulphate densitometry as a screening method for anaemia in children. The accuracy of copper sulphate densitometry was also compared to clinical assessment for the presence of pallor and haemoglobin measurement with a BMS-haemoglobinometer. Different observers performed these three screening tests independently. For the purposes of this study, anaemia was defined as a laboratory haemoglobin (Hb) concentration below 10 g/dl. A cross-sectional screening study was undertaken, where the results of the different screening tests were compared to laboratory haemoglobin determination (gold standard). The study sample consisted of one hundred consecutive children, aged between 6 months and 6 years, whose parents had given informed written consent for participation. The study was conducted in the Paediatric Outpatient Department of Pretoria Academic Hospital (73 children) and a local creche (27 children). In this study sample, the prevalence of anaemia (Hb < 10 g/dl) was 17% (95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) 10.2; 25.8). Clinical assessment by students for the presence of pallor had a sensitivity of 41.2% (95%CI 19.4; 66.5), specificity of 81.9% (95%CI 71.6; 89.2), positive predictive value of 31.8% (95% CI14.7; 54.9) and negative predictive value of 87.2%(95%CI 77.2; 93.3). The likelihood ratio for detection of anaemia by clinical assessment was 2.3. Copper sulphate densitometry had a sensitivity of 88.2% (95%CI 62.3; 97.9), specificity of 89.2% (95%CI 79.9; 94.6), positive predictive value of 62.5% (95% CI 40.8; 80.5) and negative predictive value of 97.4% (95%CI 90.0; 99.5) to screen for anaemia. The Likelihood Ratio of a positive copper sulphate-screening test was 8.17. On average, haemoglobin concentration was underestimated by 0.29 g/dl with the BMS-haemoglobinometer, with the 95% limits of agreement ranging from underestimation by 1.3 g/dl to over-estimation by 1.9 g/dl. Logistic regression analysis revealed that both the copper sulphate test and measurements with the BMS-haemoglobinometer predicted anaemia accurately. The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve for the haemoglobinometer was 0.94 (95%CI 0.87; 1), while the area under the curve for copper sulphate densitometry was 0.89 (95% CI 0.73; 1). Used together, the area under the ROC curve was 0.95 (95% CI 0.89; 1). In resource-poor settings, copper sulphate densitometry could be an accurate, inexpensive and simple screening method for anaemia in children. / Dissertation (MSc (Clinical Epidemiology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Clinical Epidemiology / unrestricted

In a study of the natural history of homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease 154 of 160 Jamaican children in whom SS genotype had been diagnosed by cord blood haemoglobin electrophoresis were followed to age 1 to 5 years. Seventeen girls and five boys died. Severe bacterial infections and acute splenic sequestration (ASS) were the principal causes of death. The incidence of each of these complications of SS disease was studied in relation to the natural history of splenomegaly and of splenic reticuloendothelial function. Splenomegaly was assessed by physical examination at each clinic visit. 37&percnt; SS children had had palpable spleens by age 6 months, 66&percnt; by age 12 months, 79&percnt; by age 24 months and 85&percnt; by age 36 months. Splenic reticuloendothelial function was assessed by estimating the percentage of pitted blood cells (pit count) using differential interference contrast microscopy. Pit counts in 139 control children with normal haeomoglobin genotype AA were always below 9&percnt;. Pit counts performed serially in 130 of the SS children (in 46 from birth) rose with age, and were greater than 9&percnt; in 23 SS children at age 1 year, 42&percnt; at age 2 years and 52&percnt; at age 3 years. Radioactive colloid spleen scans showed no splenic uptake of colloid in 11 SS children with palpable spleens and pit counts greater than 9&percnt;, confirming impairment of their splenic reticuloendothelial activity.

Corrigenda tipped to title page. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 313-353). / xxvii, 353 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Investigates the iron status and dietary intakes in 6-24 month old children in Australia and Ghana and assesses the effects of dietary calcium on intestinal iron absorption. The true prevalence of non-anaemic iron deficiency (NAID) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and dietary intakes in infants and toddlers from a broad socio-economic background were assessed by haematological and biochemical parameters, semi-quantitative diet recall and anthropometric measurements. The high prevalence of iron deficiency and anaemia found in Australian and Ghanaian children can be attributed to the low intake of bioavailable iron in weaning diets which are often ingested with large amounts of calcium. While calcium has been shown to inhibit the absorption of iron, its mechanism of interaction with iron absorption at the intestinal level is not known. The rat was used as an experimental model to investigate the effects of dietary calcium on duodenal iron uptake. The results indicate there is a critical period during weaning when the consumption of high dietary calcium with low iron can retard growth potential. Dietary calcium significantly inhibits non-haem iron absorption at the intracellular level by up-regulating villus enterocyte ferritin concentrations under iron deficiency conditions. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Animal Science, 1998

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Animal Science, 1998? / Corrigenda tipped to title page. Bibliography: leaves 313-353.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1941.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2003. / Advisor: Dr. Marcia L. Rosal, Florida State University, College of Visual Arts and Dance, Dept. of Art Education. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Jan. 31, 2005). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1941.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Alliant International University, California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (61-64) and abstract.

Corrigenda tipped to title page. Bibliography: leaves 313-353. This study investigated the iron status and dietary intakes in 6-24 month old children in Australia and Ghana and assessed the effects of dietary calcium on intestinal iron absorption. The true prevalence of non-anaemic iron deficiency (NAID) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and dietary intakes in infants and toddlers from a broad socio-economic background were assessed by haematological and biochemical parameters, semi-quantitative diet recall and anthropometric measurements. The high prevalence of iron deficiency and anaemia found in Australian and Ghanaian children can be attributed to the low intake of bioavailable iron in weaning diets which are often ingested with large amounts of calcium. While calcium has been shown to inhibit the absorption of iron, its mechanism of interaction with iron absorption at the intestinal level is not known. The rat was used as an experimental model to investigate the effects of dietary calcium on duodenal iron uptake. The results indicate there is a critical period during weaning when the consumption of high dietary calcium with low iron can retard growth potential. Dietary calcium significantly inhibits non-haem iron absorption at the intracellular level by up-regulating villus enterocyte ferritin concentrations under iron deficiency conditions.