Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Seychelles”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Simple latex agglutination assay for rapid serodiagnosis of human leptospirosis.

A newly developed latex agglutination assay for the detection of genus-specific Leptospira antibodies in human sera was evaluated. The assay is performed by mixing, on an agglutination card, serum with equal volumes of stabilized antigen-coated, dyed test and control latex beads and is read within 2 min. The latex agglutination test was evaluated with groups of serum samples from patients with leptospirosis and control patients from Hawaii, the Seychelles, Thailand, and The Netherlands. The mean overall sensitivity was 82.3%, and the mean overall specificity was 94.6%. The assay is easy to perform and does not require special skills or equipment. The reagents have a long shelf life, even at tropical temperatures. Together, these factors make the assay suitable for use even at the peripheral level of a health care system as a rapid screening test for leptospirosis.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1988

University of Edinburgh veterinary expeditions: 1966 to 1986.

Since 1966, teams of new graduates from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies have organised eight veterinary research expeditions to Africa, tropical America and the Seychelles. The expeditions are now a regular feature of the school's activities. It is now possible to look back, learn and advise on future expeditions regarding timing, research and funding.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Neuroepidemiology of human T-lymphotrophic virus type-I-associated tropical spastic paraparesis.

Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) is a chronic neurological syndrome of gradual onset involving the pyramidal tracts and upper motor neurons, resulting in weakness and stiffness of the lower extremities, hyperactive tendon reflexes, spasticity, low back pain, and urinary disturbances. Clusters of endemic TSP have been noted in Africa, the Seychelles Islands, Colombia, and the Caribbean. Recently, studies have linked human T-lymphotrophic virus type-I (HTLV-I) with the endemic form of the disease. In Japan a very similar clinical syndrome has been identified as HTLV-I-associated myelopathy and may be a non-tropical version of the same disease. The purpose of the present review is to examine the role HTLV-I may play in the pathogenesis of these myelopathies from a neuroepidemiological point of view.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Dose-dependent inverse relationship between alcohol consumption and serum Lp(a) levels in black African males.

Serum or plasma levels of Lp(a) vary widely between individuals and are higher in Africans and their descendants compared with white persons. In whites, high serum levels of Lp(a) are associated with the premature development of atherosclerosis. In both ethnic groups, serum Lp(a) levels are highly genetically determined and only a few environmental or physiological factors, like testosterone or estrogen, have been shown to lower serum Lp(a) levels. In whites, alcohol consumption is associated with lower serum Lp(a) levels. However, the mechanism underlying this association and whether it holds true for blacks is not known. To address these questions, we analyzed serum Lp(a) levels in 333 middle-aged males of African descent from the Seychelles Islands (Indian Ocean). In addition, we analyzed the size of the apo(a) isoforms and the serum levels of albumin and sex hormones in a subset of 279 subjects. Serum Lp(a) levels were similar in teetotalers (median, 32.5 mg/dL; n=42) and occasional drinkers (median, 34.1 mg/dL; n=112). In contrast, individuals consuming 10 to 80 g of ethanol/d (n=83) and heavy drinkers (>80 g of ethanol/d, n=96) had a 9% and 32% lower median Lp(a) level than teetotalers, respectively (P=0.01). The size distribution of the apo(a) isoforms and the mean serum levels of albumin, estradiol, and luteinizing hormone were similar in teetotalers and occasional drinkers compared with moderate and heavy drinkers. These latter 2 groups had lower serum levels of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin. These data indicate that alcohol intake is associated in a dose-dependent manner with lower serum Lp(a) levels in males of African descent and that this association is not related to the size of the apo(a) isoforms, to the synthetic function of the liver, or to sex hormone biochemical status.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

High heritability of ambulatory blood pressure in families of East African descent.

We estimated the heritability of ambulatory systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse pressure (PP) in east African families with at least 2 hypertensive siblings and living in the Seychelles islands (Indian Ocean). The sample consisted of 314 individuals (147 men and 167 women), both normotensive and hypertensive, from 76 pedigrees (mean+/-SD of 4.1+/-2.8 persons per pedigree). After a 2-week off-treatment period, daytime and nighttime ambulatory blood pressure (BP) was monitored. Office BP was measured with a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. We estimated by maximum likelihood the age- and sex-adjusted heritabilities from the additive polygenic component of the variance of the traits allowing for the presence of other familial correlations. We also adjusted for ascertainment (ie, for the fact that 2 siblings had to be hypertensive) and examined the effect of adjusting for body mass index, 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium and potassium, plasma renin activity, and plasma aldosterone concentration. Heritability estimates (+/-SE) for ambulatory SBP, DBP, and PP were, respectively, 0.37+/-0.12/0.24+/-0.12/0.54+/-0.12 for daytime and 0.34+/-0.13/ 0.37+/-0.15/0.47+/-0.12 for nighttime measurements (P<0.05 for all estimates). Heritability estimates for office SBP, DBP, and PP were, respectively, 0.20+/-0.11, 0.05+/-0.09, and 0.37+/-0.12. Heritability estimates for SBP varied markedly according to whether participants were treated for hypertension at baseline. The present data show that ambulatory BP and PP have a high heritability in families of African descent. They also demonstrate that antihypertensive treatment and the number of BP measurements have a major influence on the heritability estimates.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Plasma aldosterone is independently associated with the metabolic syndrome.

The aim of this study was to analyze the associations of plasma aldosterone and plasma renin activity with the metabolic syndrome and each of its components. We analyzed data from a family based study in the Seychelles made up of 356 participants (160 men and 196 women) from 69 families of African descent. In multivariable models, plasma aldosterone was associated positively (P < 0.05) with blood pressure in older individuals (interaction with age, P < 0.05) and with waist circumference in men (interaction with sex, P < 0.05) and negatively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, in particular in individuals with elevated urinary potassium excretion (interaction with urinary potassium, P < 0.05); plasma renin activity was significantly associated with triglycerides and fasting blood glucose. Plasma aldosterone, but not plasma renin activity, was associated with the metabolic syndrome per se, independently of the association with its separate components. The observation that plasma renin activity was associated with some components of the metabolic syndrome, whereas plasma aldosterone was associated with other components of the metabolic syndrome, suggests different underlying mechanisms. These findings reinforce previous observations suggesting that aldosterone is associated with several cardiovascular risk factors and also suggest that aldosterone might contribute to the increased cardiovascular disease risk in individuals of African descent with the metabolic syndrome.

Africa, Eastern↗
PubMed1992

Migration and development: a critical relationship.

"Wide income differentials, the threat of increased illegal immigration from developing countries, and sub-replacement fertility in the developed countries are some reasons for the recent reassessment of the relationship between migration and development.... The model presented in this article proposes different roles for permanent immigrants, contract workers, professional transients, illegal migrants and others according to the stages of modernization of the sending and receiving countries. The model was found consistent with the experiences of Mauritius, Seychelles, Singapore and, to a lesser extent, Malaysia."

Africa↗
PubMed2006

Clustering of smoking, alcohol drinking and cannabis use in adolescents in a rapidly developing country.

BACKGROUND: Smoking, alcohol drinking and cannabis use ("risk behaviors") are often initiated at a young age but few epidemiological studies have assessed their joined prevalence in children in developing countries. This study aims at examining the joint prevalence of these behaviors in adolescents in the Seychelles, a rapidly developing country in the Indian Ocean. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey in a representative sample of secondary school students using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire (Global Youth Tobacco Survey). The questionnaire was completed by 1,321 (92%) of 1,442 eligible students aged 11 to 17 years. Main variables of interest included smoking cigarettes on > or =1 day in the past 30 days; drinking any alcohol beverage on > or =1 day in the past 30 days and using cannabis at least once in the past 12 months. RESULTS: In boys and girls, respectively, prevalence (95% CI) was 30% (26-34)/21% (18-25) for smoking, 49% (45-54)/48% (43-52) for drinking, and 17% (15-20)/8% (6-10) for cannabis use. The prevalence of all these behaviors increased with age. Smokers were two times more likely than non-smokers to drink and nine times more likely to use cannabis. Drinkers were three times more likely than non-drinkers to smoke or to use cannabis. Comparison of observed versus expected frequencies of combination categories demonstrated clustering of these risk behaviors in students (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Smoking, drinking and cannabis use were common and clustered among adolescents of a rapidly developing country. These findings stress the need for early and integrated prevention programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a middle-income country and estimated cost of a treatment strategy.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a middle-income country in rapid epidemiological transition and estimated direct costs for treating all individuals at increased cardiovascular risk, i.e. following the so-called "high risk strategy". METHODS: Survey of risk factors using an age- and sex-stratified random sample of the population of Seychelles aged 25-64 in 2004. Assessment of CVD risk and treatment modalities were in line with international guidelines. Costs are expressed as USD per capita per year. RESULTS: 1255 persons took part in the survey (participation rate of 80.2%). Prevalence of main risk factors was: 39.6% for high blood pressure (> or =140/90 mmHg or treatment) of which 59% were under treatment; 24.2% for high cholesterol (> or =6.2 mmol/l); 20.8% for low HDL-cholesterol (<1.0 mmol/l); 9.3% for diabetes (fasting glucose > or =7.0 mmol/l); 17.5% for smoking; 25.1% for obesity (body mass index > or =30 kg/m2) and 22.1% for the metabolic syndrome. Overall, 43% had HBP, high cholesterol or diabetes and substantially increased CVD risk. The cost for medications needed to treat all high-risk individuals amounted to USD 45.6, i.e. 11.2 dollars for high blood pressure, 3.8 dollars for diabetes, and 30.6 dollars for dyslipidemia (using generic drugs except for hypercholesterolemia). Cost for minimal follow-up medical care and laboratory tests amounted to 22.6 dollars. CONCLUSION: High prevalence of major risk factors was found in a rapidly developing country and costs for treatment needed to reduce risk factors in all high-risk individuals exceeded resources generally available in low or middle income countries. Our findings emphasize the need for affordable cost-effective treatment strategies and the critical importance of population strategies aimed at reducing risk factors in the entire population.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Tropical myeloneuropathies: the hidden endemias.

Tropical myeloneuropathies include tropical ataxic neuropathy and tropical spastic paraparesis. These disorders occur in geographic isolates in several developing countries and are associated with malnutrition, cyanide intoxication from cassava consumption, tropical malabsorption (TM), vegetarian diets, and lathyrism. TM-malnutrition was a probable cause of myeloneuropathies among Far East prisoners of war in World War II. Clusters of unknown etiology occur in India, Africa, the Seychelles, several Caribbean islands, Jamaica, and Colombia. Treponemal infection (yaws) could be an etiologic factor in the last two. Tropical myeloneuropathies, a serious health problem, are multifactorial conditions that provide unsurpassed opportunities for international cooperation and neurologic research.

Ataxia↗
PubMed2005

[Neurodevelopmental effects from prenatal exposure to methylmercury in the Seychellois and Faroes cohorts and the critical concentration: a review].

A workshop on the Scientific Issues Relevant to Assessment of Health Effects from Exposure to Methylmercury was held in Raleigh, North Carolina, November 18-20, 1998. At that time, most discussions focused on two of the major epidemiologic studies, e.g., Seychelles child development study and Faroese birth cohort study, associating methylmercury exposure with an array of developmental measures in children. These two studies seemed to provide different conclusions on the potential health effects of methylmercury and significant uncertainties remained because of issues related to exposure, neurobehavioral endpoints, confounders and statistics, and design. Since then, each group researching the Seychellois or Faroes cohort has reported some new findings on the risk assessment of methylmercury. This article is intended to present an overview of the above research, as well as benchmark dose calculations. One implication is that neuropsychological measures may depend on social and cultural factors including race and language, and another is that a key to resolve whether the exposure has harmed the fetus appears to lie in neurophysiological measures such as brainstem auditory evoked potentials and electrocardiographic R-R interval variability. In addition, it is likely that the findings published tend to underestimate the neurotoxic effects of developmental methylmercury exposure. In light of the precautionary principle, a conclusion on health effects of low-level dietary exposures to methylmercury needs to be drawn from all available data including the New Zealand study.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed2002

Developmental neurotoxicity following prenatal exposures to methylmercury and PCBs in humans from epidemiological studies.

Adverse health effects following prenatal exposures to methylmercury (MeHg) have been apparent from several prospective cohort studies conducted in a fish-eating population. A prospective study in a Faroese birth cohort documented subtle deficits of several functional domains at prenatal MeHg exposure levels previously thought to be safe. Recent additional studies also showed neurobehavioral deficits associated with exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with concomitant MeHg poisoning. In contrast, a prospective study in the Seychelles did not detect a similar association between MeHg exposure and neurodevelopmental deficits; children of the highest MeHg exposure group showed better scores in some developmental tests than those of the lower exposure groups for both prenatal and postnatal MeHg exposures. This paradoxical difference between both studies is summarized herein. The primary source of human exposure to MeHg is fish. Since a considerable number of pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides, are also present in fish, and since some organochemical substances including PCBs are also well documented to be neurotoxic to the developing brain from epidemiological studies, the combined effects of these pollutants should be considered in discussing the neurotoxicity of MeHg. In this article, therefore, major prospective cohort studies focusing on the exposures to PCBs were reviewed.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1999

Association between prenatal exposure to methylmercury and developmental outcomes in Seychellois children: effect modification by social and environmental factors.

UNLABELLED: The Seychelles Child Development Study (SCDS) is testing the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to low doses of MeHg from maternal consumption of fish is associated with the child's developmental outcomes. No deleterious relationships between exposure to MeHg and cognitive functions have been identified in the primary analysis of the main cohort through 66 months of age. We performed secondary analyses to determine if effect modification (EM) from social and environmental factors was affecting associations between MeHg and outcomes. METHODS: MeHg exposure was determined by analysis of maternal hair growing during pregnancy. Children in our Main Study cohort were evaluated at 6.5 months (N = 740) for visual recognition memory and visual attention using the Fagan Infantest, at 19 months (N = 738) and 29 months (N = 736) with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID). Interactions between MeHg and Caregiver Intelligence, Family Income and Home Environment were examined by multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The median prenatal MeHg exposure was 5.9 ppm (Range 0.5-26.7 ppm). No EM occurred for preferential looking or visual attention at 6.5 months, for the BSID Psychomotor Scale at either 19 or 29 months, or for activity level at 29 months as measured by the BSID Infant Behavior Record. Interactions between MeHg level and both caregiver intelligence and family income were statistically significant for the BSID Mental Scale at 19 months but not at 29 months. These showed enhancement of MDI scores with increasing maternal MeHg in higher caregiver IQ groups at several levels of family income. CONCLUSIONS: In Seychellois children, consistent major EM by social or environmental factors were not identified. The small EM by caregiver intelligence and social factors at 19 months is consistent with the enhanced performance we reported when this cohort was examined at 66 months.

Attention↗
PubMed2006

[Epidemiology and prevention of malaria in the southwestern islands of the Indian Ocean].

Malaria epidemiology differs greatly in the geographically close islands of the southwestern Indian Ocean. In Madagascar and the Comoros Union malaria is still a major public health problem. In Mayotte indigenous transmission resumed in 1995 and is currently high in some communities. In the Mascarene Islands (Reunion and Mauritius), indigenous transmission has been eradicated (Reunion) or become rare (Mauritius). The Seychelles Islands are malaria-free since local conditions are unfavorable for Anopheles mosquitoes. The level of resistance to antimalarials also differs from one island to another. Resistance to chloroquine ranges from moderate in Madagascar to high in the Comoros Union. Health recommendations for travelers must be adapted to the epidemiological features on each island.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Amoebiasis: a surgeon's view.

A small series of patients with amoebiasis presenting to the surgical service in Seychelles is described. The varied nature of the symptomatology indicates that this may be a local pattern of the disease process. The value of specific clinical features and the use of a therapeutic trial for diagnosis is emphasised. The features of common 'Third-World' diseases should be well known to all surgeons wherever they practise in view of the rapidity with which people can now travel from country to country.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1977

Necessity into choice. An appraisal of inguinal herniorrhaphy under local anaesthesia.

A policy of using local anaesthesia whenever possible for the repair of inguinal hernias was adopted in Seychelles primarily because a constant supply of anaesthetic gases could not be depended upon. The technique adopted is described and the results obtained over an 18-month period are reported. Experience has shown that local anaesthesia for this operation has many advantages and few disadvantages and is now preferred to general anaesthesia except when contraindicated by special circumstances.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

A pilot neurodevelopmental study of Seychellois children following in utero exposure to methylmercury from a maternal fish diet.

It is not known if fetal neurodevelopmental damage occurs in humans at the low-level methylmercury exposure achieved by eating fish. To address this question, a cohort of 804 children in the Republic of Seychelles was identified who had fetal methylmercury exposure from a maternal diet high in oceanic fish. Mercury was determined by measuring the maternal total hair mercury during pregnancy, a standard index of methylmercury exposure. The median fetal mercury exposure was 6.6 ppm. Children were evaluated once between 5 to 109 weeks of age. Testing included the revised Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST-R) and a neurological examination. The association between maternal hair mercury levels and developmental outcome was evaluated by multiple logistic regression analysis. Covariates for the child included gender, birth weight, one and five-minute Apgar score, age at testing, and medical problems, and, for the mother, age, tobacco and alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and medical problems. An association between fetal mercury exposure and development was found when DDST-R scores of questionable and abnormal were combined, a procedure used by previous investigators. These results should be viewed with caution since the association disappeared when DDST-R scores of questionable were treated in the standard manner as passes.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of Seychellois children sixty-six months after in utero exposure to methylmercury from a maternal fish diet: pilot study.

The Seychelles Child Development Study (SCDS) is testing the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to low concentrations of methylmercury from a maternal diet high in fish is related to the child's developmental outcome. In this report, 217 children from a pilot cohort were reevaluated at 66 months of age. The evaluation included the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities, the Preschool Language Scale, and age-appropriate sub-tests from the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement. Maternal hair total mercury, measured by cold vapor atomic absorption in a maternal hair segment corresponding to pregnancy, revealed a median exposure of 7.1 ppm. The association between maternal hair mercury levels and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 66 months of age was examined by multiple linear regression analysis with adjustment for important confounding variables. The results indicated that mercury exposure was negatively associated with four endpoints (the McCarthy General Cognitive Index and Perceptual Performance subscale and The Preschool Language Scale Total Language and Auditory Comprehension subscale). After normalizing the data by removal of a small number of outliers or highly influential scores, the mercury effects were no longer significant except for auditory comprehension. These results should be viewed as preliminary and interpreted with caution, since the SCDS main study 66-month evaluations, which are better controlled with more detailed endpoints are being analyzed. This study highlights the difficulties in interpreting epidemiologic studies of this type and the degree to which overall results in multivariate analyses can be influenced by a very small number of cases.

Animals↗