Men's perceptions and perceived acceptability of their female partner's use of self-administered intravaginal therapies for treatment of cervical precancer in Kenya.

Background: Cervical cancer continues to be a major health issue in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite increasing access to screening, access to precancer treatment remains a significant challenge in LMICs, highlighting a need for innovative, accessible and resource-appropriate treatment approaches, including self-administered therapies.

Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted among men aged 25-65 with a current female partner in Kisumu County, Kenya.

Perceived acceptability of self-administered topical therapy for cervical precancer treatment among women undergoing cervical cancer screening in Kenya.

Purpose: Innovative strategies are urgently needed to meet the World Health Organization's 2030 target of treating 90% of women with precancerous cervical lesions, especially in countries most affected by cervical cancer. We assessed the acceptability of self-administered intravaginal therapies for treating cervical precancer in women undergoing cervical cancer screening and precancer treatment in Kenya.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among women aged 18 to 65 years undergoing cervical cancer screening or precancer treatment between January and October 2023 in Kisumu County, Kenya.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Adolescents and Young Adults in Malawi.

Purpose: There are limited data on treatment and outcomes for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) among adolescents and young adults in sub-Saharan Africa. We describe a prospective observational cohort in Malawi.

Methods: Patients age 15-39 years with newly diagnosed ALL at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Malawi, were enrolled from 2013 to 2019; follow-up was censored on December 2020.

Implementation and Evaluation of Educational Videos to Improve Cancer Knowledge and Patient Empowerment.

Purpose: Low health literacy is a leading cause of treatment abandonment among patients receiving cancer care at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Malawi.

Methods: We developed cancer educational videos featuring Malawian providers and played them in the KCH oncology clinic. The videos addressed cancer-related topics, including disease biology, common myths, diagnostic procedures, treatment, side effects, and survivorship.

Pediatric lymphoma patients in Malawi present with poor health-related quality of life at diagnosis and improve throughout treatment and follow-up across all Pediatric PROMIS-25 domains.

Background: Patient-reportedoutcomes (PROs) that assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are increasingly important components of cancer care and research that are infrequently used in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods: We administered the Chichewa Pediatric Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Pediatric (PROMIS)-25 at diagnosis, active treatment, and follow-up among pediatric lymphoma patients in Lilongwe, Malawi. Mean scores were calculated for the six PROMIS-25 HRQoL domains (Mobility, Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms, Fatigue, Peer Relationships, Pain Interference).

Feasibility of upfront mobile money transfers for transportation reimbursement to promote retention among patients receiving lymphoma treatment in Malawi.

Background: Cancer outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain suboptimal, in part due to poor patient retention. Many patients travel long distances to receive care, and transportation costs are often prohibitively expensive. These are well-known and established causes of delayed treatment and care abandonment in Malawi and across SSA.

The early Aurignacian dispersal of modern humans into westernmost Eurasia.

Documenting the first appearance of modern humans in a given region is key to understanding the dispersal process and the replacement or assimilation of indigenous human populations such as the Neanderthals. The Iberian Peninsula was the last refuge of Neanderthal populations as modern humans advanced across Eurasia. Here we present evidence of an early Aurignacian occupation at Lapa do Picareiro in central Portugal.

Outcomes and prognostic factors for women with breast cancer in Malawi.

Background: Breast cancer incidence in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is increasing, and SSA has the highest age-standardized breast cancer mortality rate worldwide. However, high-quality breast cancer data are limited in SSA.

Materials And Methods: We examined breast cancer patient and tumor characteristics among women in Lilongwe, Malawi and evaluated risk factor associations with patient outcomes.

Modified EPOCH for high-risk non-Hodgkin lymphoma in sub-Saharan Africa.

Aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is among the most common cancers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where CHOP is standard treatment and outcomes are poor. To address this, we treated 17 newly diagnosed adult patients in Malawi with Burkitt (n = 8), plasmablastic (n = 8), and primary effusion lymphoma (n = 1) with a modified EPOCH regimen between 2016 and 2019. Twelve patients (71%) were male and the median age was 40 years (range 16-63).

Lipid oxidation and modification of amyloid-β (Aβ) in vitro and in vivo.

Oxidative damage and amyloid-β (Aβ) protein misfolding are prominent features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In vitro studies indicated a direct linkage between these two features, where lipid oxidation products augmented Aβ misfolding. We tested this linkage further, mimicking specific conditions present in amyloid plaques.

When symptoms of disease overlap with symptoms of depression.

Background: The diagnosis of depression is often dependent on somatic symptoms which overlap with the symptoms of many medical illnesses.

Method: We analysed tape recorded interviews of 46 out of 61 eligible community dwelling older adults with advanced disease and many somatic symptoms of depression. Participants answered an open question about feelings, and structured questions about symptoms of depression.