Transfusion transmitted infections among blood donors of Kamenge Teaching Hospital blood bank in Burundi.

Background: The current risk of contracting a transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) is unknown in Burundi.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess sociodemographic profiles of blood bank donors at Kamenge Teaching Hospital, the prevalence and associated risk factors of HIV, syphilis, HBV and HCV from 2015 to 2020.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including all blood donors of Kamenge Teaching Hospital blood bank.

Cancer in Patients Referred Abroad For Health Care and Related Foreign Currency Expenses.

Background: There is limited access to health services in Burundi, as most of the services such as cancer care are unavailable. Burundian citizen who can afford the costs involved in seeking treatment elsewhere are referred abroad. The purpose of this study was to assess the proportion of patients suffering from cancer among patients referred abroad for healthcare and to evaluate the costs incurred by those patients in relation to what the country would save by establishing cancer healthcare facilities.

Comparison of Survival Outcomes between Early Breast Cancer Patients who Underwent Mastectomy and Patients Treated by Breast Conserving Therapy: A Meta Analysis.

Background: Early stage of breast cancer requires mastectomy or breast conserving therapy. However, there are disagreements regarding the outcome of these two types of therapies in term of overall survivals.

Objectives: The first aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the overall survival between patients who underwent mastectomy and those treated by breast conserving therapy.

Aloe and its Effects on Cancer: A Narrative Literature Review.

Many years ago, was cited to have a lot of therapeutic properties including; anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, skin protection, wound healing, and regulation of blood glucose and cholesterol. However, Aloe could present some side effects. This review focused on the latest discoveries regarding the therapeutic role of Aloe plant or its compounds on the acquired biological capabilities for tumour growth and progression namely; evading growth suppressor, avoiding immune destruction, enabling replicative immortality, tumour promoting inflammation, activating invasion and metastasis, inducing angiogenesis, genome instability and mutation, resisting cell death, deregulating cellular energetics and sustaining proliferating signalling.

Metabolic Syndrome in Offspring of Parents with Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a clustering of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases that includes abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to reassess the parent-offspring association of MetS since the available findings are still controversial.

Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant articles.

The use of Broca index to assess cut- off points for overweight in adults: A short review.

The Broca formula was developed in 1871 by Pierre Paul Broca (a French Army Doctor) to help establish ideal body weight or normal body weight. Initially, the Broca Index (BI) was used to work out the normal weight but was later expanded to ideal Body Weight. Ideal Body weight (kg) = [Height (cm)-100].

Efficacy and Safety of Fentanyl Compared With Morphine among Adult Patients with Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Cancer pain is experienced by numerous patients; thus, the main pain-relieving opioid analgesics, fentanyl and morphine, are of great importance. However, their analgesic efficacy and safety are different among individuals and are still controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of fentanyl and morphine among patients with cancer.

Adrenal venous sampling with or without adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation: A meta-analysis.

Context: Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) with or without adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation is the test of choice to identify patients with a surgically curable subtype of primary aldosteronism (PA). Whether AVS with ACTH stimulation is more effective than AVS without ACTH stimulation remains controversial.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of AVS with ACTH stimulation and AVS without ACTH stimulation in patients with PA.

Efficacy and safety of apatinib treatment for gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

Apatinib (Aitan, brand name in China) is a new anti-antiangiogenic agent that has recently been approved for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer (GC) in China. Nevertheless, its therapeutic efficacy against other types of advanced solid tumors remains unclear. This meta-analysis examines the short-term efficacy and safety of apatinib or combination therapy for GC, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC); and provides a discussion of its anti-angiogenesis therapy applications.

Liquid L-thyroxine versus tablet L-thyroxine in patients on L- thyroxine replacement or suppressive therapy: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of liquid L-T4 (L-thyroxine) and tablet L-T4 in patients on L-T4 replacement or suppressive therapy.

Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant articles. All prospective or randomized controlled studies (RCTs) comparing liquid L-T4 and tablet L-T4 in patients on L-T4 replacement or suppressive therapy were included in the analysis.

Efficacy and Time Sensitivity of Amniotic Membrane treatment in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are complex chronic wounds which have a major long-term impact on the morbidity, mortality and quality of patients. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and time sensitivity of human amnion/chorion membrane treatment in patients with chronic DFUs.

Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases were systematically searched to identify relevant articles up to 10 April 2017.