An Cardiomyocyte Reveals the Impact of Changes in CaMKII Signalling on Cardiomyocyte Contraction Kinetics in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterised by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular arrhythmias, and cardiomyocyte dysfunction that may cause sudden death. HCM is associated with mutations in sarcomeric proteins and is usually transmitted as an autosomal-dominant trait. The aim of this study was to assess the mechanisms that underlie the altered electrophysiological activity, contractility, regulation of energy metabolism, and crossbridge cycling in HCM at the single-cell level.

The performance of different models of primary care provision in Southern Africa.

Despite the emphasis placed during the last two decades on public delivery of comprehensive and equitable primary care (PC) to developing country populations, coverage remains far from universal and the quality often poor. Users frequently patronise private providers, ranging from informal drug sellers to trained professionals. Interest is increasing internationally in the potential for making better use of private providers, including contractual approaches.

A new face for private providers in developing countries: what implications for public health?

The use of private health care providers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is widespread and is the subject of considerable debate. We review here a new model of private primary care provision emerging in South Africa, in which commercial companies provide standardized primary care services at relatively low cost. The structure and operation of one such company is described, and features of service delivery are compared with the most probable alternatives: a private general practitioner or a public sector clinic.