Evaluation of a training intervention to improve cancer care in Zimbabwe: Strategies to Improve Kaposi Sarcoma Outcomes (SIKO), a prospective community-based stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial.

Introduction: Most Zimbabweans access medical care through tiered health systems. In 2013, HIV care was decentralized to primary care clinics; while oncology care remained centralized. Most persons in Zimbabwe with Kaposi sarcoma (KS) are diagnosed late in their disease, and the prognosis is poor.

Rapid Multiplexed Immunoassay for Detection of Antibodies to Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus.

Diagnosis of KSHV-infected individuals remains a challenge. KSHV prevalence is high in several populations with high prevalence of HIV, leading to increased risk of development of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). While current assays are reliable for detecting antibodies to KSHV, none are routinely utilized to identify individuals with KSHV infection and thus at increased risk for KS due to assay complexity, lack of access to testing, and cost, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Relationship of vitamin D insufficiency to AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma outcomes: retrospective analysis of a prospective clinical trial in Zimbabwe.

Objectives: The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in Africans with AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-KS) and the role of vitamin D in AIDS-KS progression are unknown. We hypothesized that a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency would be found in Zimbabweans with AIDS-KS and that low baseline vitamin D would correlate with progression of AIDS-KS.

Methods: Ninety subjects were enrolled in a prospective pilot study investigation of the effect of antiretroviral therapy in the treatment of AIDS-KS in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Evaluation of plasma human herpesvirus 8 DNA as a marker of clinical outcomes during antiretroviral therapy for AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma in Zimbabwe.

Background: The usefulness of plasma human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) DNA as a marker of response to treatment for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-KS) in an African setting is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a prospective pilot study at the Parirenyatwa Hospital Kaposi Sarcoma Clinic (Harare, Zimbabwe) to investigate the hypothesis that the clinical response of AIDS-KS is associated with suppression of HHV-8 DNA. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was provided as coformulation of abacavir, lamivudine, and zidovudine.

Genetic diversity of the Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus K1 protein in AIDS-KS in Zimbabwe.

Background: Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes genetically diverse K1 alleles which have unique geographic distributions. Little is known about K1 genetic diversity in Zimbabwe where acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated KS (AIDS-KS) is epidemic.

Objective: Evaluate K1 diversity in Zimbabwe and compare Zimbabwean K1 diversity to other areas in Africa.

Gender differences in AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Reasons for gender-related differences in the risk of AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-KS) are unknown. Four hundred thirty-eight male and 166 female AIDS-KS patients were evaluated in Harare, Zimbabwe. Female patients were younger than male patients in this study (median of 33 vs.

Treatment of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma in Zimbabwe: results of a randomized quality of life focused clinical trial.

Kaposi's sarcoma is currently the most common tumor in Zimbabwe. The purpose of our study is to compare the effectiveness of supportive care vs. 3 intervention approaches, namely oral Etoposide, a 3-drug combination, and radiotherapy using quality of life (QOL) as the primary measure of success.

Relationship of Kaposi sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus viremia and KS disease in Zimbabwe.

The relationship between Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) viremia and KS disease was investigated in 500 subjects who received treatment in Harare, Zimbabwe. Subjects were grouped by results of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 serological tests, KS diagnosis, and KS clinical stage. The plasma KSHV DNA concentration was associated with concomitant KS and HIV-1 infection (AIDS-KS; P<.

Relationship of human herpesvirus 8 peripheral blood virus load and Kaposi's sarcoma clinical stage.

Objective: To determine the relationship between human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8 or Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus) peripheral blood virus load and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) clinical stage.

Design: Blinded, cross-sectional analysis of peripheral blood HHV-8 DNA levels in persons with AIDS-related KS in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Methods: Subjects were stratified by KS clinical stage.

Hepatitis C virus and HIV antibodies in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Zimbabwe: a pilot study.

To determine the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the aetiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Zimbabwe, HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) were determined in sera from 63 HCC patients using a second generation enzyme immunoassay. Anti-HCV was found in 15 patients (23.8%), 12 of whom (80%) were males.

Fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the liver without ultrasound guidance was performed on 110 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The median age was 52 years, with a range of 16 to 86 years. There were 90 males and 20 females (a male: female ratio of 4.