Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28493920›Full record

ArticlePloS one2017

Haemolytic activity of soil from areas of varying podoconiosis endemicity in Ethiopia.

Jennifer S Le Blond, Peter J Baxter, Dhimiter Bello, Jennifer Raftis, Yordanos B Molla, Javier Cuadros, Gail Davey

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 42% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 6 institutions in 3 countries.

Jennifer S Le BlondDepartment of Earth Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
Peter J BaxterInstitute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Dhimiter BelloDepartment of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, United States of America.
Jennifer RaftisThe Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Little France, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Yordanos B MollaDepartment of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Javier CuadrosDepartment of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.
Gail DaveyWellcome Trust Centre for Global Health Research, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex United Kingdom.
Wellcome Trust · GBImperial College London · GBNatural History Museum · GBThe Queen's Medical Research Institute · GBUniversity of Cambridge · GBUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell · US

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPodoconiosis, non-filarial elephantiasis, is a non-infectious disease found in tropical regions such as Ethiopia, localized in highland areas with volcanic soils cultivated by barefoot subsistence farmers. It is thought that soil particles can pass through the soles of the feet and taken up by the lymphatic system, leading to the characteristic chronic oedema of the lower legs that becomes disfiguring and disabling over time.

methodsThe close association of the disease with volcanic soils led us to investigate the characteristics of soil samples in an endemic area in Ethiopia to identify the potential causal constituents. We used the in vitro haemolysis assay and compared haemolytic activity (HA) with soil samples collected in a non-endemic region of the same area in Ethiopia. We included soil samples that had been previously characterized, in addition we present other data describing the characteristics of the soil and include pure phase mineral standards as comparisons.

resultsThe bulk chemical composition of the soils were statistically significantly different between the podoconiosis-endemic and non-endemic areas, with the exception of CaO and Cr. Likewise, the soil mineralogy was statistically significant for iron oxide, feldspars, mica and chlorite. Smectite and kaolinite clays were widely present and elicited a strong HA, as did quartz, in comparison to other mineral phases tested, although no strong difference was found in HA between soils from the two areas. The relationship was further investigated with principle component analysis (PCA), which showed that a combination of an increase in Y, Zr and Al2O3, and a concurrent increase Fe2O3, TiO2, MnO and Ba in the soils increased HA.

conclusionThe mineralogy and chemistry of the soils influenced the HA, although the interplay between the components is complex. Further research should consider the variable biopersistance, hygroscopicity and hardness of the minerals and further characterize the nano-scale particles.

Indexed as

HemolysisBariumCalcium CompoundsChromiumElephantiasisEthiopiaFerric CompoundsHumansManganese CompoundsMicroscopy, Electron, TransmissionMineralsOxidesPrincipal Component AnalysisSoilTitaniumBariumCalcium CompoundsChromiumFerric CompoundslimeManganese Compoundsmanganese oxideMineralsOxidesSoilTitaniumtitanium dioxide

Identifiers

PMID28493920
PMCPMC5426718
OpenAlexW2613494812

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.