Novel lateral flow assay for point-of-care detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in syndromic management settings: a cross-sectional performance evaluation.

Background: A rapid and affordable point-of-care test is a priority for Neisseria gonorrhoeae control. WHO and Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) have a target product profile for a non-molecular N gonorrhoeae rapid point-of-care test that requires a clinical sensitivity of greater than 80% and a specificity over 95% to be considered useful in syndromic management; test turnaround time should be 30 min or under, and the test should cost less than US$3. A novel lateral flow assay (LFA) was developed to achieve that profile.

Implementation considerations for a point-of-care Neisseria gonorrhoeae rapid diagnostic test at primary healthcare level in South Africa: a qualitative study.

Background: South Africa maintains an integrated health system where syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STI) is the standard of care. An estimated 2 million cases of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) occur in South Africa every year.

Genital tract infections, the vaginal microbiome and gestational age at birth among pregnant women in South Africa: a cohort study protocol.

Introduction: Preterm birth complications are the most common cause of death in children under 5 years. The presence of multiple microorganisms and genital tract inflammation could be the common mechanism driving early onset of labour. South Africa has high levels of preterm birth, genital tract infections and HIV infection among pregnant women.

Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods Graduation: Lessons From a Single-center Series of 48 Patients.

Background: Magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) treatment for early-onset scoliosis (EOS) has become a widely utilized method of deformity control, but long-term follow-up reports are sparse. We evaluated the outcomes of a large group of consecutive pediatric patients diagnosed with EOS who were treated by MCGR to the endpoint of definitive spinal fusion in a single center. We hypothesized that lessons learned from treating a large volume of MCGR patients would lower the complication rate in comparison to what was previously reported by other studies.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Typing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolates From the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa.

Background: There is a paucity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial resistance data from resource-constrained settings because of the lack of diagnostic testing and limited scale of surveillance programs. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile of N. gonorrhoeae in the rural Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

Usability of a novel lateral flow assay for the point-of-care detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: A qualitative time-series assessment among healthcare workers in South Africa.

Accurate and user-friendly rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests (POCT) are needed to optimize treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, especially in low-resource settings where syndromic management is the standard of care for sexually transmitted infections. This study aimed to assess the acceptability and usability of a novel lateral flow assay and portable reader for the point-of-care detection of N. gonorrhoeae infection (NG-LFA).

Vulvovaginal yeast infections during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Vulvovaginal yeast infections in pregnancy are common and can cause extensive inflammation, which could contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Symptomatic yeast infections are likely to cause more inflammation than asymptomatic. The objective of this study was to investigate associations between symptomatic and asymptomatic vulvovaginal yeast infections in pregnancy and perinatal outcomes.

3D-printed Cutting Guides for Lower Limb Deformity Correction in the Young Population.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) virtual surgical planning technology has advanced applications in the correction of deformities of long bones by enabling the production of 3D stereolithographic models, patient-specific instruments and surgical-guiding templates. Herein, we describe the implementation of this technology in young patients who required a corrective osteotomy for a complex 3-plane (oblique plane) lower-limb deformity.

Patients And Methods: A total of 17 patients (9 males, average age 14.

Acetabular volume and femoral coverage change following Dega-like osteotomy in treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Although Dega's acetabuloplasty has become a commonly used osteotomy, there is still an ongoing debate regarding its impact on the volume and depth of the acetabulum. The purpose of our study was to assess the postoperative images of the transverse acetabular plane and version obtained from developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) patients after a modified Dega osteotomy. We performed a retrospective study of the morphologic indices obtained from the pelvic X-rays and computer tomography (CT) scans of patients with DDH, who were operated in our institution between July 2005 and October 2013, using the modified Dega osteotomy.

Auto Strut: a novel smart robotic system for external fixation device for bone deformity correction, a preliminary experience.

Purpose: Several hexapod external fixators are used in the treatment of bone fracture and deformity corrections. One characteristic of all of them is the requirement for manual adjustment of the fixator struts. The purpose of this study was to introduce a novel robotic system that executes automatic adjustment of the struts.

Changes in the femoral osteotomy level coefficient and neck shaft angle during limb lengthening with an intramedullary magnetic nail.

Background: The intramedullary magnetic IM nail enables bone graduated distraction. Proximal femur osteotomies for ante grade IM lengthening nails have a tendency towards varus-procurvatum malalignment. We examined the effect of the level of the osteotomy and of trochanteric versus piriformis entry points on the neck shaft angle (NSA) during lengthening with the PRECICE IM magnetic nail.

Differential physiological response of slow- and fast-growing broiler lines to hypoxic conditions during chorioallantoic membrane development.

Ambient conditions during chicken embryogenesis, such as insufficient oxygen or changes in temperature, are expected to cause permanent phenotypic changes and affect their posthatch performance. Decades of genetic selection for high growth rate resulted with various physiological and morphological changes that can affect the broiler fitness under environmental stress. To evaluate the selection effect on responses to environmental challenge during embryonic development, and the long-term implications, we have used a unique genetic line, that was not selected for over 30 yr (since 1986), as control for the modern commercial genetic line.

When to start treatment? Dilemma illustrated by a paediatric case of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis of the central nervous system.

An HIV-positive mother infected her daughter with extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite adhering to the then current guidelines for prevention, the infant was diagnosed with extensively drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of 4 months and developed tuberculous meningitis. After a short delay, appropriate treatment was initiated, followed by an inhospital stay at a specialised hospital.

The efficacy of guided growth as an initial strategy for Blount disease treatment.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the success of guided growth by temporal hemiepiphysiodesis of the lateral proximal tibia as a first line treatment option for Blount disease.

Methods: This was a retrospective multicentre study conducted in five centres, covering data on 55 limbs in 45 patients, with an average follow-up of 24.5 months following plate insertion.

Late presentation of spinal cord compression in hereditary multiple exostosis: case reports and review of the literature.

Introduction: Osteochondromas are usually found in the long bones of patients with hereditary multiple exostoses (HME). The spine is reported to be involved in over 50% of cases, but few of these patients are symptomatic as the result of an existing spinal exostosis.

Methods: We reviewed the current literature in order to find the right approach to patients with HME-complicated spinal exostosis and describe three paediatric patients that were diagnosed late with spinal cord compression due to cervical exostosis.

Delayed ossification and abnormal development of tarsal bones in idiopathic clubfoot: should it affect bracing protocol when using the Ponseti method?

Purpose: To point out the need to take into account the dysplastic nature of tarsal bones when treating idiopathic clubfoot (CF).

Methods: Review the published evidence on the developmental abnormalities of tarsal bones in idiopathic CF.

Results: The literature review provides abundant proof of the existence of delayed appearance and slower development of ossification centres of tarsal bones in idiopathic clubfoot.

The significance of foot length at the initiation of the Ponseti method: a prospective study.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate foot length (FL) and forefoot circumference (FC) and their impact on the severity of idiopathic clubfoot (CF) and results of treatment. We hypothesized that a smaller foot size at birth that represents a lesser than term newborn may affect the response of the CF to the treatment.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study documenting FL and FC of all neonates presented with idiopathic CF.

Adult Closed Distal Radius Fracture Reduction: Does Fluoroscopy Improve Alignment and Reduce Indications for Surgery?

Background: This study compared the radiological outcomes of adult closed distal radius fractures (DRFs) reduction with and without fluoroscopy. We hypothesized that fluoroscopy-assisted reduction would not improve radiographic alignment or decrease the need for surgery.

Methods: Hospital medical records and radiographic images of all patients who presented with DRFs between April to June 2009 and April to June 2013 were reviewed.