University of Zimbabwe

About: University of Zimbabwe is a education organization based out in Harare, Harare, Zimbabwe. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The organization has 4378 authors who have published 6800 publications receiving 160720 citations. The organization is also known as: UZ & University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

Double blind randomised placebo controlled trial of adjunctive prednisolone in the treatment of effusive tuberculous pericarditis in HIV seropositive patients

Abstract: OBJECTIVE—To determine the effect of adjunctive prednisolone on morbidity, pericardial fluid resolution, and mortality in HIV seropositive patients with effusive tuberculous pericarditis. DESIGN—Double blind randomised placebo controlled trial. SETTING—Two medical school affiliated referral hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe. PATIENTS—58 HIV seropositive patients aged 18-55 years with tuberculous pericarditis. INTERVENTIONS—All patients received standard short course antituberculous chemotherapy and were randomly assigned to receive prednisolone or placebo for six weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES—Clinical improvement, echocardiographic and radiologic pericardial fluid resolution, and death. RESULTS—29 patients were assigned to prednisolone and 29 to placebo. After 18 months of follow up there were five deaths in the prednisolone treated group and 10 deaths in the placebo group. Mortality was significantly lower in the prednisolone group (log rank χ2 = 8.19, df = 1, p = 0.004). Resolution of raised jugular venous pressure (p = 0.017), hepatomegaly (p = 0.007), and ascites (p = 0.015), and improvement in physical activity (p = 0.02), were significantly more rapid in the prednisolone treated patients. However, there was no difference in the rate of radiologic and echocardiographic resolution of pericardial effusion. CONCLUSIONS—Adjunctive prednisolone for effusive tuberculous pericarditis produced a pronounced reduction in mortality. It is suggested prednisolone should be added to standard short course chemotherapy to treat HIV related effusive tuberculous pericarditis. Keywords: tuberculous pericarditis; HIV infection; echocardiography; prednisolone

Cattle manure effects on structural stability and water retention capacity of a granitic sandy soil in Zimbabwe

Abstract: The evaluation of soil aggregate stability and water retention is important in the assessment of soil management options. A 3-year study was conducted in 1999 to determine the effects of two cattle manure application methods on soil aggregate stability and water retention capacity of a sandy soil (Haplic Lixisol). Manure application increased soil organic C by 10–38% in the 0–10 cm layer. Compared with the control, manure management treatments increased the aggregate stability of soil as measured by the mean weight diameter (MWD) and aggregates between 2 and 10 mm (AGG2) indices from 0.243 to 0.733–0.926 mm, and from 27.3 to 128.3–148.3 g kg −1 , respectively. The readily available water (RAW) capacity of the soil was significantly increased by manure addition, whereas the increase in AWC was not significant. The increase in water retention capacity in the soil was more affected at low suctions and this was related to the effects of manure on macroporosity. It was concluded that cattle manure was beneficial to the structural stability and water retention of this soil.