Long-term non-progression and risk factors for disease progression among children living with HIV in Botswana and Uganda: A retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: We utilize a large retrospective study cohort derived from electronic medical records to estimate the prevalence of long-term non-progression (LTNP) and determine the factors associated with progression among children infected with HIV in Botswana and Uganda.

Methods: Electronic medical records from large tertiary HIV clinical centers in Botswana and Uganda were queried to identify LTNP children 0-18 years enrolled between June 2003 and May 2014 and extract demographic and nutritional parameters. Multivariate subdistribution hazard analyses were used to examine demographic factors and nutritional status in progression in the pre-antiretroviral therapy era.

Bibliometric analysis of cancer research outputs in Botswana between 2009 and 2021.

Introduction: Cancer research is critical for cancer control policies; however, the state of cancer research activities in Botswana is largely unknown. The goal of this review was to describe trends and patterns of cancer research outputs in Botswana.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, African Journals Online, and African Index Medicus databases were systematically searched for peer-reviewed, primary cancer-related research articles published on the Botswana population or by Botswana institutions between January 2009 and June 2021.

High concordance in plasma and CSF HIV-1 drug resistance mutations despite high cases of CSF viral escape in individuals with HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis in Botswana.

Objectives: We compared the patterns of HIV-1 drug resistance mutations between the CSF and plasma of individuals with HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of archived CSF and plasma samples collected from ART-exposed participants recruited in the Phase 3 AmBisome Therapy Induction Optimisation randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN72509687) conducted in Botswana between 2018 and 2021. HIV-1 RT and protease genes were genotyped using next-generation sequencing and HIV-1 drug resistance mutations were compared between the CSF and plasma compartments stratified by thresholds of ≥20% and <20%.

Pharmacogenetics of Breast Cancer Treatments: A Sub-Saharan Africa Perspective.

Breast cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death in low- and middle-income countries, in particular among sub-Saharan African women, where response to available anticancer treatment therapy is often limited by the recurrent breast tumours and metastasis, ultimately resulting in decreased overall survival rate. This can also be attributed to African genomes that contain more variation than those from other parts of the world. The purpose of this review is to summarize published evidence on pharmacogenetic and pharmacokinetic aspects related to specific available treatments and the known genetic variabilities associated with metabolism and/or transport of breast cancer drugs, and treatment outcomes when possible.