Treatment Cost and Psychological Impact of Burkitt Lymphoma on Ghanaian Families and Caregivers.

Objective: Before June 2022, the treatment cost of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in Ghana was mainly borne by the child's family or caregiver. We determined the treatment cost of BL in children and its psychological impact on parents and caregivers.

Method: This prospective observational study assessed the direct medical and nonmedical costs (US dollars [USD]) incurred during the treatment of a child with BL for 6 consecutive months using a cost diary.

Routine hoof-trimming data provides insight into the occurrence of claw lesions in Holstein herds in the central region of South Africa.

Claw lesions in dairy cows contribute significantly to lameness, causing distress and discomfort for affected cows and raising welfare concerns. Despite increased awareness, lameness incidence continues to rise. Defining and recording claw traits are particularly problematic.

Incidence patterns of childhood cancer in two tertiary hospitals in Ghana from 2015 to 2019: A retrospective observational study.

Background: Accurate epidemiological data are vital in estimating the burden of disease in a country. Little is known about the incidence of childhood cancer in Ghana. This study describes the incidence patterns of cancer in children below 14 years and 11 months from 2015 to 2019 at the only two main pediatric cancer referral centers in Ghana: Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

Prescribing patterns of echinocandins in adult patients in a private hospital in Gauteng, South Africa.

Background: Worldwide, the leading cause of invasive candidiasis and the fourth leading cause of hospital-acquired infections are the Candida species (spp.) group. One of the most important tools in fighting such drug-resistant fungi is the appropriate use of antifungal agents.

Surgical-orthodontic retreatment of a severe skeletal Class III malocclusion following an orthodontic camouflage.

Introduction: Class III malocclusions are some of the most difficult occlusal anomalies to be treated. Some patients with this condition may require orthognathic surgery, while others may be treated with dental camouflage. Proper patient assessment and selection remains critical in order to achieve favorable results.

Irregular Astigmatism Management Using SPOT Scleral Lenses in the Treatment of Corneal Ectasia and Penetrating Keratoplasty.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of SPOT scleral lenses in the management of irregular astigmatism in patients with corneal ectasia and penetrating keratoplasty. Second, we analyzed patients' characteristics and tolerance, comfort, and geometries of fitted lenses.

Method: Over a 5-year period, we included patients experiencing irregular astigmatism fitted with SPOT scleral contact lenses, from the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France.

A Deoxyribonucleic Acid Decoy Trapping DUX4 for the Treatment of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy.

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is characterized by a loss of repressive epigenetic marks leading to the aberrant expression of the DUX4 transcription factor. In muscle, DUX4 acts as a poison protein though the induction of multiple downstream genes. So far, there is no therapeutic solution for FSHD.

One-hour universal protocol for mouse genotyping.

Background: Transgenic animals are widely used for research and for most of them, genotyping is unavoidable. Published protocols may be powerful but may also present disadvantages such as their cost or the requirement of additional steps/equipment. Moreover, if more than one strain must be genotyped, several protocols may need to be developed.

The cat on a hot tin roof? Critical considerations in multilingual language assessments.

Background:  In speech-language pathology (SLP), there is a paucity of resources to provide just and equitable services to South Africa's culturally and linguistically diverse population. Although South Africa is a multilingual country, English remains the dominant language. However, there is limited research on resources for English additional language (EAL) speakers.

Antirheumatic Medicine Prescribing Patterns and Direct Medicine Costs in the South African Private Health Sector.

Objectives: To describe antirheumatic medicine prescribing patterns and to estimate the total annual direct medicine cost of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the private health sector of South Africa.

Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional drug utilization study was performed on medicine claims data from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014, for a total of 4,352 patients with RA. Patients were divided into those with RA only and those with RA and other chronic disease list conditions.

Analysing disability policy in Namibia: An occupational justice perspective.

Background: The Namibian disability policy of 1997 has not been reviewed for about 20 years, which has raised concerns with persons with disabilities and stakeholders in the fields of disability and rehabilitation. In March 2017, the government publicised its intention to review the policy. Thus, this study's purpose was to generate evidence that can contribute to the development of a more current disability policy that will promote occupational justice.

Voices on disability issues in Namibia: Evidence for entrenching occupational justice in disability policy formulation.

The national policy on disability in Namibia is overdue for review having been in existence for over 20 years. In 2017 the government of Namibia expressed intentions to review the policy. Concerns that can be framed as occupational injustice were raised by persons with disabilities in Namibia.

Evidence-Based Clinical Algorithm for Hypotonia Assessment: To Pardon the Errs.

Despite the many advances in diagnostics, the clinical assessment of children with hypotonia presents a diagnostic challenge for clinicians due to the current subjectivity of the initial clinical assessment. The aim of this paper is to report on an evidence-based clinical algorithm (EBCA) that was developed for the clinical assessment of hypotonia in children as part of the output of a multiphased study towards assisting clinicians in more accurate assessments. This study formed part of a larger advanced mixed methods design.

Targeting the Polyadenylation Signal of Pre-mRNA: A New Gene Silencing Approach for Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy.

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is characterized by the contraction of the D4Z4 array located in the sub-telomeric region of the chromosome 4, leading to the aberrant expression of the DUX4 transcription factor and the mis-regulation of hundreds of genes. Several therapeutic strategies have been proposed among which the possibility to target the polyadenylation signal to silence the causative gene of the disease. Indeed, defects in mRNA polyadenylation leads to an alteration of the transcription termination, a disruption of mRNA transport from the nucleus to the cytoplasm decreasing the mRNA stability and translation efficiency.

Chronic disease list conditions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the private healthcare sector of South Africa.

Introduction: Little is known about the burden of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in South Africa. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of RA and coexisting chronic disease list (CDL) conditions in the private health sector of South Africa.

Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis was performed on medicine claims data from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 to establish the prevalence of RA.

Downregulation of myostatin pathway in neuromuscular diseases may explain challenges of anti-myostatin therapeutic approaches.

Muscular dystrophies are characterized by weakness and wasting of skeletal muscle tissues. Several drugs targeting the myostatin pathway have been used in clinical trials to increase muscle mass and function but most showed limited efficacy. Here we show that the expression of components of the myostatin signaling pathway is downregulated in muscle wasting or atrophying diseases, with a decrease of myostatin and activin receptor, and an increase of the myostatin antagonist, follistatin.

Community stakeholders' perspectives on the role of occupational therapy in primary healthcare: Implications for practice.

Background: Primary healthcare (PHC) is central to increased access and transformation in South African healthcare. There is limited literature about services required by occupational therapists in PHC. Despite policy being in place, the implementation of services at grassroots level does not always occur adequately.

Retinoic Acid Engineered Amniotic Membrane Used as Graft or Homogenate: Positive Effects on Corneal Alkali Burns.

Purpose: Alkali burns are the most common, severe chemical ocular injuries, their functional prognosis depending on corneal wound healing efficiency. The purpose of our study was to compare the benefits of amniotic membrane (AM) grafts and homogenates for wound healing in the presence or absence of previous all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) treatment.

Methods: Fifty male CD1 mice with reproducible corneal chemical burn were divided into five groups, as follows: group 1 was treated with saline solution; groups 2 and 3 received untreated AM grafts or grafts treated with atRA, respectively; and groups 4 and 5 received untreated AM homogenates or homogenates treated with atRA, respectively.

Species of Metarhizium anisopliae complex implicated in human infections: retrospective sequencing study.

Objectives: Fungi belonging to the Metarhizium anisopliae complex comprise ubiquitous arthropod pathogenic moulds used as mycopesticides. Rare cases of human infections due to M. anisopliae have been reported.

Kinesio Taping of the metacarpophalangeal joints and its effect on pain and hand function in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: In persons suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints are commonly affected, resulting in inflammation, pain, joint instability, diminished grip strength and difficulties with function. However, the effectiveness of Kinesio Taping of the MCP joints in alleviating the symptoms has not been established.

Aim: To determine the effectiveness of bilateral Kinesio Taping of the MCP joints on pain, range of motion, grip strength and hand function in elderly individuals previously diagnosed with RA.

[Unilateral maculopathy in a young male patient: A photic laser injury].

We report the case of a twenty-year-old man with a unilateral maculopathy responsible for an acute visual acuity loss and a sudden absolute central scotoma. His schizoid personality made the medical history fruitless. The patient's best corrected visual acuity was 20/60.