Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Mauritius”

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 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The stability of inhibited/uninhibited temperament from ages 3 to 11 years in Mauritian children.

Stability of inhibited/uninhibited temperament was assessed using 1,795 Mauritian children tested at ages 3, 8, and 11 years. Children were divided into uninhibited, middle, and inhibited groups at each age based on social behavior. Results indicated that, relative to uninhibited children (1) those inhibited at age 3 obtained larger inhibition scores at age 8 (p < .0001), (2) those inhibited at age 8 obtained larger inhibition scores at age 11 (p < .002), and (3) those remaining inhibited from ages 3 to 8 obtained larger inhibition scores at age 11 (p < .002). Relative to children who changed classification from ages 3 to 8, those remaining inhibited obtained larger inhibition scores (p < .05) and those remaining uninhibited obtained smaller inhibition scores (p < .015) at age 11. Inhibition scores tended to be higher in females by age 11. Results remained regardless of ethnicity. The results provide some support that inhibited/uninhibited temperament remains stable from ages 3 to 8 and may continue to age 11. The results suggest cross-cultural generalizability of these findings with implications regarding the development of anxiety disorders in the Mauritian population.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed2001

Genetic and environmental nature of the insulin resistance syndrome in Indo-Mauritian subjects with premature coronary heart disease: contribution of beta3-adrenoreceptor gene polymorphism and beta blockers on triglyceride and HDL concentrations.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Insulin resistance syndrome is an important risk factor for developing premature coronary heart disease. It is a complex syndrome which could arise from the interaction of several genes modulated by environmental factors. The Trp64Arg polymorphism in the beta3-adrenoreceptor gene has been found to be associated with insulin resistance, obesity or with earlier onset of Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in different populations. We aimed to study whether features of the insulin resistance syndrome are associated with this polymorphism in Indo-Mauritian patients with premature coronary heart disease. METHODS: We carried out a case control study using PCR-RFLP techniques, of consecutive Indo-Mauritian patients (n = 338) with premature coronary heart disease (onset below age of 60 years) and unrelated control subjects (n = 148) of the same ethnicity. RESULTS: In Indo-Mauritian patients with premature coronary heart disease who were not treated by beta blockers, triglyceride concentrations were lower (median: 1.44 vs 1.93 mmol/l, p < 0.008) and HDL cholesterol concentrations higher (mean: 0.98 vs 0.85 mmol/l, p < 0.015) in those carrying the wild type of the beta3-adrenoreceptor gene than in those carrying the Trp64Arg variant. The latter genotype specific effect on HDL was inverse in patients treated with beta blockers. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: The beta3-adrenoreceptor gene variant seems to modulate the effects of beta blockers on triglyceride and HDL cholesterol concentrations in this group of Indo-Mauritian population. Dyslipidaemia, a key component of the metabolic syndrome has a heterogeneous nature in Indo-Mauritian subjects. This potent risk factor for early-onset coronary heart disease is influenced by the interaction between genetic and environmental effects.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2001

Oxidative stress could precede endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance in Indian Mauritians with impaired glucose metabolism.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: To measure oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance in Indian Mauritians at different stages of development of Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Plasma total 8-epi-PGF2alpha, an indicator of oxidative stress, was determined in age-matched subjects with normal glucose metabolism (n = 39), impaired glucose tolerance (n = 14), newly diagnosed diabetes (n = 8) and established diabetes (n = 14). Plasma glucose and insulin were measured at baseline and 2 h following an oral glucose tolerance test. Endothelial function was assessed by non-invasive digital pulse wave photoplethysmography. RESULTS: Plasma 8-epi-PGF2alpha increased in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (p < 0.05) compared with control subjects, and was even higher in newly diagnosed diabetic patients (p < 0.01) and established (p < 0.01) diabetic patients. A tendency towards reduced endothelial function in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance became significant in patients with newly diagnosed and established diabetes (p < 0.01), and was correlated with 8-epi-PGF2alpha (r = 0.36, p < 0.01). Insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment) did not change in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance compared with control subjects, but increased in newly diagnosed (p < 0.01) and established (p < 0.001) diabetic subjects. The 8-epi-PGF2alpha was correlated with fasting glucose (r = 0.50, p < 0.001), triglycerides (r = 0.40, p < 0.001) and insulin resistance (r = 0.35, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: Oxidant stress is an early event in the evolution of Type II diabetes and could precede the development of endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1988

X-linked mixed deafness with stapes fixation in a Mauritian kindred: linkage to Xq probe pDP34.

Molecular linkage analysis was undertaken on a large Mauritian kindred with X-linked mixed deafness, stapes fixation, and perilymphatic gusher (X-LDSF). DNA probe pDP34 (DXYS1) was tightly linked to the disorder, with a lod score of 6.32 at zero recombination. This observation indicates that the gene for this form of deafness maps to the Xq13-q21.1 region and has important implications for carrier screening and antenatal diagnosis.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed2006

Screening for anti-infective properties of several medicinal plants of the Mauritians flora.

Several plants of the Mauritian flora alleged to possess anti-infective properties were studied against different strains of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The grounded dried plant materials were extracted with different extractants and screened for anti-microbial activity using the disk diffusion and the micro-dilution techniques. Preliminary screening revealed that the methanol extracts were most active. Salmonella enteritidis, Enterobacter cloacae and Bacillus subtilis were the three test organisms, which were found to be susceptible to all the crude methanolic extracts of the different plants investigated (100% susceptibility), followed by Escherichia coli (57.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (57.1%), and Staphylococcus aureus (28.6%). The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration recorded for the different crude methanol extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus subtilis and the mould fungus Candida albicans were 500, 1000, 125, 250, 1000 and 125 micro g/ml, respectively. Bioautography using Cladosporium cucumerinum revealed that dichloromethane (DCM) extracts had the highest activity against the phytopathogenic fungus. It was also noted that the DCM extracts of Michelia champaca and Antidesma madagascariense yielded the maximum number of growth inhibiting compounds against Cladosporium cucumerinum. Activity of the different crude extracts was also investigated against several phytopathogenic filamentous fungi, Colletotrichum glocosporoides, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotium, Guignardia sp. and Fusarium oxysporum. It was found that crude hexane extracts as well as crude DCM extracts exhibited marked activity against several strains of fungi, especially Colletotrichum glocosporoides, Sclerotinia sclerotium and Guignardia sp.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed2006

Characterization of the phenolic constituents in Mauritian endemic plants as determinants of their antioxidant activities in vitro.

The phenolic constituents of Mauritian endemic plants from the Rubiaceae and Myrtaceae family were assessed and correlated with their potential antioxidant activities in vitro. The antioxidant activities of the plant extracts ranged from 0.27 to 1.49mmol Trolox equivalent/g FW and from 0.20 to 1.39mmol Fe(II) equivalent/g FW in the TEAC and FAP assays, respectively, with Syzygium commersonii showing the highest activity in these two systems. Eugenia orbiculata and all the Syzygium species were effective scavengers of hypochlorous acid while Monimiastrum acutisepalum was the most potent inhibitor of deoxyribose degradation. The plant extracts inhibited microsomal lipid peroxidation with low IC(50)s ranging from 0.02 to 1.75mgFW/mL when reaction was initiated with Fe(3+)/ascorbate and from 0.093 to 1.55mgFW/mL in the AAPH-dependent lipid peroxidation. The potential prooxidant nature of the plant extracts was compared with ascorbate (250microM) using copper-phenanthroline assay. The plant extracts at concentrations up to 5gFW/L were not prooxidant. However, Myonima nitens, Syzygium commersonii, Syzygium glomeratum and Syzygium mauritianum at concentrations of 10gFW/L had potency approaching 50% of the prooxidant activity of ascorbic acid in vitro, suggesting relative safeties. The total phenolics influenced the antioxidant activities in the TEAC, FRAP and HOCl scavenging assays whereas a negative correlation was observed with the deoxyribose assay. The high levels of polyphenolic compounds and the significant antioxidant activities of these Rubiaceae and Myrtaceae plant family make them suitable candidates as prophylactic agent.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Quantifying submarine groundwater discharge in the coastal zone via multiple methods.

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is now recognized as an important pathway between land and sea. As such, this flow may contribute to the biogeochemical and other marine budgets of near-shore waters. These discharges typically display significant spatial and temporal variability making assessments difficult. Groundwater seepage is patchy, diffuse, temporally variable, and may involve multiple aquifers. Thus, the measurement of its magnitude and associated chemical fluxes is a challenging enterprise. A joint project of UNESCO and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has examined several methods of SGD assessment and carried out a series of five intercomparison experiments in different hydrogeologic environments (coastal plain, karst, glacial till, fractured crystalline rock, and volcanic terrains). This report reviews the scientific and management significance of SGD, measurement approaches, and the results of the intercomparison experiments. We conclude that while the process is essentially ubiquitous in coastal areas, the assessment of its magnitude at any one location is subject to enough variability that measurements should be made by a variety of techniques and over large enough spatial and temporal scales to capture the majority of these changing conditions. We feel that all the measurement techniques described here are valid although they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. It is recommended that multiple approaches be applied whenever possible. In addition, a continuing effort is required in order to capture long-period tidal fluctuations, storm effects, and seasonal variations.

Brazil↗
PubMed2001

Substandard drugs.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2006

[Chikungunya on Reunion Island: chronicle of an epidemic foretold].

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by a mosquito of the genus Aedes. It is currently epidemic on Reunion Island, in the Indian Ocean. It is essentially characterized by an influenza syndrome but associated with polyarthralgia and an eruption. The disabling and chronic nature of the arthralgia is the most remarkable clinical aspect of chikungunya infection. Severe and unusual forms have appeared, not previously described in the literature. These forms must be studied to determine whether there is a direct relation between the chikungunya virus and the severity factors. Treatment is solely symptomatic, combining analgesic and/or antiinflammatory agents. There is no vaccine. The epidemic is not limited to Reunion: cases of chikungunya have also been reported in neighboring islands (Maurice, Seychelles, and Madagascar). Travelers planning to visit the region should be counseled.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Malaria transmission rates estimated from serological data.

A mathematical model was used to estimate malaria transmission rates based on serological data. The model is minimally stochastic and assumes an age-dependent force of infection for malaria. The transmission rates estimated were applied to a simple compartmental model in order to mimic the malaria transmission. The model has shown a good retrieving capacity for serological and parasite prevalence data.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Spatial but not verbal cognitive deficits at age 3 years in persistently antisocial individuals.

Previous studies have repeatedly shown verbal intelligence deficits in adolescent antisocial individuals, but it is not known whether these deficits are in place prior to kindergarten or, alternatively, whether they are acquired throughout childhood. This study assesses whether cognitive deficits occur as early as age 3 years and whether they are specific to persistently antisocial individuals. Verbal and spatial abilities were assessed at ages 3 and 11 years in 330 male and female children, while antisocial behavior was assessed at ages 8 and 17 years. Persistently antisocial individuals (N = 47) had spatial deficits in the absence of verbal deficits at age 3 years compared to comparisons (N = 133), and also spatial and verbal deficits at age 11 years. Age 3 spatial deficits were independent of social adversity, early hyperactivity, poor test motivation, poor test comprehension, and social discomfort during testing, and they were found in females as well as males. Findings suggest that early spatial deficits contribute to persistent antisocial behavior whereas verbal deficits are developmentally acquired. An early-starter model is proposed whereby early spatial impairments interfere with early bonding and attachment, reflect disrupted right hemisphere affect regulation and expression, and predispose to later persistent antisocial behavior.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Heart rate and skin conductance in behaviorally inhibited Mauritian children.

This study tested predictions that inhibited versus uninhibited children exhibit higher heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) arousal. Mauritian children (N = 1,795) were tested at age 3 and classified as inhibited, middle, or uninhibited on the basis of social behavior. HR level and several SC measures were obtained immediately before or during a tone task. Inhibited children displayed significantly higher HR and SC levels and longer SC latency relative to uninhibited children. Results remained regardless of ethnicity, gender, height, weight, respiratory complaints, or crying behavior. Findings suggest that HR and SC levels may be early indicators of inhibited or uninhibited behavior at age 3 and support the notion of heightened sympathetic reactivity due to limbic arousal in inhibited children.

Arousal↗
PubMed2000

Globalization, coca-colonization and the chronic disease epidemic: can the Doomsday scenario be averted?

There are at present approximately 110 million people with diabetes in the world but this number will reach over 220 million by the year 2010, the majority of them with type 2 diabetes. Thus there is an urgent need for strategies to prevent the emerging global epidemic of type 2 diabetes to be implemented. Tackling diabetes must be part of an integrated program that addresses lifestyle related disorders. The prevention and control of type 2 diabetes and the other major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) can be cost- and health-effective through an integrated (i.e. horizontal) approach to noncommunicable diseases disease prevention and control. With the re-emergence of devastating communicable diseases including AIDS, the Ebola virus and tuberculosis, the pressure is on international and regional agencies to see that the noncommunicable disease epidemic is addressed. The international diabetes and public health communities need to adopt a more pragmatic view of the epidemic of type 2 diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases. The current situation is a symptom of globalization with respect to its social, cultural, economic and political significance. Type 2 diabetes will not be prevented by traditional medical approaches; what is required are major and dramatic changes in the socio-economic and cultural status of people in developing countries and the disadvantaged, minority groups in developed nations. The international diabetes and public health communities must lobby and mobilize politicians, other international agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF, and the World Bank as well as other international nongovernmental agencies dealing with the noncommunicable diseases to address the socio-economic, behavioural, nutritional and public health issues that have led to the type 2 diabetes and noncommunicable diseases epidemic. A multidisciplinary Task Force representing all parties which can contribute to a reversal of the underlying socio-economic causes of the problem is an urgent priority.

Africa↗
PubMed2006

Stimulatory effects of Antidesma madagascariense on D-glucose, L-tyrosine, fluid and electrolyte transport across rat everted intestine, comparable to insulin action in vitro.

Medicinal plants are believed to be an important source of potential therapeutic agents. This study investigates the effects of Antidesma madagascariense (AM) extract on the transport of D-glucose, L-tyrosine, fluid and electrolytes (Na+ and K+) across rat everted intestinal sacs. These sacs were mounted in an organ bath containing Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate (KHB) buffer. Experimental findings showed that incubation with graded aqueous AM extracts above 0.375 mg/mL significantly (P < 0.05) stimulated the mucosal disappearance and serosal appearance of glucose and fluid. The concentration of glucose accumulated in the intestinal tissues also increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared to that found in the controls. Transport of the amino acid L-tyrosine was not significantly enhanced (P > 0.05) when incubated with increasing concentrations of AM extract. Effects on electrolyte (K+ and Na+) transport were assessed. Na+ uptake and transport was significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) when incubated with 0.75 mg/mL AM extract; however, K+ transport was not significantly enhanced (P > 0.05). For comparison, insulin (1 and 2 units/mL) was incubated in the mucosal solution. Aqueous AM extract produced similar stimulatory effects on the transport of glucose, fluid and Na+ as were found with insulin. It is hypothesised that bioactive phytochemicals such as flavonoids, alkaloids, leucoanthocyanins, phenols and saponins from AM leaf extract might interfere with the Na+/glucose carrier, thereby enhancing the transport of glucose, Na+ and fluid across rat everted intestinal sacs. Thus, AM may represent a possible alternative dietary supplement for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Animals↗