Mobile Phone Text Message Reminders to Improve Vaccination Uptake: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Mobile phone text message reminders (MPTMRs) have been implemented globally to promote vaccination uptake and recall rates. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of MPTMRs on vaccination recall rates.

Methods: We included randomized controlled trials of caregivers of children, adolescents, or adults who received MPTMRs for improving vaccine uptake and recall visits.

Performance evaluation of the Xpert MTB/XDR test for the detection of drug resistance to among people diagnosed with tuberculosis in South Africa.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant public health concern in South Africa due to its complexity in diagnosis, treatment, and management. This study assessed the diagnostic performance of the Xpert MTB/XDR test for detecting drug resistance in patients with TB by using archived sputum sediments. This study analyzed 322 samples collected from patients diagnosed with TB between 2016 and 2019 across South Africa, previously characterized by phenotypic and genotypic methods.

Visualising the Dural Venous Sinuses Using Volume Tracing, a Novel Approach.

It is well established that the brain changes dramatically in appearance during gestation and even after birth. Due to the multi-channelled origins and the number of developmental options, the adult venous system is characterised by a higher incidence of anatomical variations than the arterial system. Limited information is available on imaging of the intracranial veins and sinuses.

Focused Multisensory Anatomy Observation and Drawing for Enhancing Social Learning and Three-Dimensional Spatial Understanding.

The concept that multisensory observation and drawing can be effective for enhancing anatomy learning is supported by pedagogic research and theory, and theories of drawing. A haptico-visual observation and drawing (HVOD) process has been previously introduced to support understanding of the three-dimensional (3D) spatial form of anatomical structures. The HVOD process involves exploration of 3D anatomy with the combined use of touch and sight, and the simultaneous act of making graphite marks on paper which correspond to the anatomy under observation.

Evolution of rifampicin treatment for tuberculosis.

Rifampicin was discovered in 1965 and remains one of the most important drugs in tuberculosis treatment that is valued for its sterilizing activity and ability to shorten treatment. Antimicrobial activity of rifampicin was initially proved in vitro; subsequently numerous in vivo studies showed the bactericidal properties and dose-dependent effect of rifampicin. Rifampicin was first during the late 1960s to treat patients suffering from chronic drug-resistant pulmonary TB.

Best practice recommendations for bladder management in spinal cord-afflicted patients in South Africa.

Recent research on the standard of care and related quality of life of the spinal cord-afflicted community in South Africa (SA) has revealed significant gaps in practice, and challenges regarding levels of care and access to services and supplies specifically related to the neurogenic bladder.

Linezolid resistance in patients with drug-resistant TB and treatment failure in South Africa.

Objectives: Limited data exist on clinical associations and genotypic correlates of linezolid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We aimed to describe mutations and clinical factors associated with phenotypic linezolid resistance from patients with drug-resistant TB at two public sector facilities in South Africa.

Methods: Adults and adolescents with treatment failure (culture positivity ≥4 months) on a linezolid-containing regimen were retrospectively identified.

An electromyographic study of abdominal muscle activity in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Background: Inadequate knowledge in the recruitment patterns of abdominal muscles in individuals with spastic-type cerebral palsy (STCP).

Objectives: To determine whether there is any difference between the neuromuscular activity (activation pattern) of the abdominal muscles in children with STCP and those of their typically developing (TD) peers.

Method: The NORAXAN electromyography (EMG) was used to monitor the neuromuscular activity in abdominal muscles of individuals with STCP ( = 63), and the results were compared with the findings from age-matched TD individuals ( = 82).

How Haptics and Drawing Enhance the Learning of Anatomy.

Students' engagement with two-dimensional (2D) representations as opposed to three-dimensional (3D) representations of anatomy such as in dissection, is significant in terms of the depth of their comprehension. This qualitative study aimed to understand how students learned anatomy using observational and drawing activities that included touch, called haptics. Five volunteer second year medical students at the University of Cape Town participated in a six-day educational intervention in which a novel "haptico-visual observation and drawing" (HVOD) method was employed.

An ultrasonographic analysis of the activation patterns of abdominal muscles in children with spastic type cerebral palsy and in typically developing individuals: a comparative study.

Background: Abdominal muscles have stiffer appearance in individuals with spastic type cerebral palsy (STCP) than in their typically developing (TD) peers. This apparent stiffness has been implicated in pelvic instability, mal-rotation, poor gait and locomotion. This study was aimed at investigating whether abdominal muscles activation patterns from rest to activity differ in the two groups.

The value of supplementary anatomy workshops for improving undergraduate performance.

Background: With many anatomy courses within the medical curriculum suffering reductions in lecture and dissection time, supplementary programs in anatomy have shown to improve performance of medical students. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of anatomy workshops on undergraduate anatomy grade performance.

Method: From 2012 to 2014, mean anatomy and physiology scores of medical students who attended anatomy workshops were compared to those who did not attend.

Whole genome sequencing reveals genomic heterogeneity and antibiotic purification in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates.

Background: Whole genome sequencing has revolutionised the interrogation of mycobacterial genomes. Recent studies have reported conflicting findings on the genomic stability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during the evolution of drug resistance. In an age where whole genome sequencing is increasingly relied upon for defining the structure of bacterial genomes, it is important to investigate the reliability of next generation sequencing to identify clonal variants present in a minor percentage of the population.

Efflux pump inhibitors: targeting mycobacterial efflux systems to enhance TB therapy.

The emergence of drug resistance continues to plague TB control, with a global increase in the prevalence of MDR-TB. This acts as a gateway to XDR-TB and thus emphasizes the urgency for drug development and optimal treatment options. Bedaquiline is the first new anti-TB drug approved by the FDA in 40 years and has been shown to be an effective treatment option for MDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Comparisons of Bone Mineral Density Between Recreational and Trained Male Road Cyclists.

Objective: To compare measures of training, performance, body composition, and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) between age-matched recreational and competitively trained male road cyclists.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Laboratory.

Embryological and molecular development of the adrenal glands.

In this mini review, the embryological and functional development of the adrenal glands is presented from a molecular perspective. While acknowledging that this is a highly complex series of events, the processes are described in simple and broad strokes in a single text for the reader who is interested in this field but is not an active researcher. The origin of the adrenal glands is in the mesodermal ridge as early as the fourth week of gestation.

Energy metabolism and drug efflux in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The inherent drug susceptibility of microorganisms is determined by multiple factors, including growth state, the rate of drug diffusion into and out of the cell, and the intrinsic vulnerability of drug targets with regard to the corresponding antimicrobial agent. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), remains a significant source of global morbidity and mortality, further exacerbated by its ability to readily evolve drug resistance. It is well accepted that drug resistance in M.

Competence for internship: perceptions of final-year medical students.

Context: A 'new', problem-based medical curriculum was introduced at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2002. The objective of this study was to assess the perceptions of competence for internship and the factors influencing competence of final-year medical students.

Methods: Eighteen focus groups were conducted (six per year) with UCT final-year medical students in 2007 (n =27), 2008 (n =27), and 2009 (n =30).

Who donates their body to science? An international, multicenter, prospective study.

The altruistic act of body donation provides a precious resource for both teaching and researching human anatomy. However, relatively little is known about individuals who donate their bodies to science (donors), and in particular whether donors in different geographical locations share similar characteristics. A multicenter prospective survey of donors registering during 2010 in three different geographical locations, New Zealand, Ireland, and the Republic of South Africa, was conducted to identify donor characteristics.

Rifampicin reduces susceptibility to ofloxacin in rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis through efflux.

Rationale: Central dogma suggests that rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis develops solely through rpoB gene mutations.

Objective: To determine whether rifampicin induces efflux pumps activation in rifampicin resistant M. tuberculosis strains thereby defining rifampicin resistance levels and reducing ofloxacin susceptibility.

The reliance on unclaimed cadavers for anatomical teaching by medical schools in Africa.

The study of gross Anatomy through the use of cadaveric dissections in medical schools is an essential part of the comprehensive learning of human Anatomy, and unsurprisingly, 90% of the surveyed medical schools in Africa used cadaveric dissections. Donated cadavers now make up 80% of the total cadavers in North American medical schools and all the cadavers used for dissection in the United Kingdom are donated. Because the sources of cadavers used in Africa are not clearly known, a questionnaire to gather information on cadavers used at medical schools was designed from the relevant literature and was sent by electronic mail to 123 Anatomy lecturers in 23 African countries (48 medical schools).

The contribution of the palmaris longus muscle to the strength of thumb abduction.

The palmaris longus muscle (PLM) is described as a weak flexor of the wrist and a tensor of the palmar aponeurosis, but not a thumb abductor. The PLM is believed to aid thumb abduction through its insertion onto the thenar eminence. Two groups, both right hand dominant, were selected from 1,200 sampled participants.

The frequency of absence of palmaris longus in a South African population of mixed race.

The palmaris longus (PL) is a weak flexor of the wrist that may be harvested as a tendon graft and used in surgical procedures for reconstructive purposes. The PL is congenitally absent in 15% of the worldwide population. However, the frequency of absence varies considerably among different population groups, being as high as 63.

The place of anatomy in medical education: AMEE Guide no 41.

This Guide, a combined work by three authors from different countries, provides perspectives into the history of teaching gross anatomy, briefly, from the earliest of times, through to a detailed examination of curricula in both traditional didactic approaches and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) curricula. The delivery of a module within a curriculum in tertiary education is interplay between the content (knowledge and skills) of a subject, the teaching staff involved, the students and their approaches to learning, and the philosophy underpinning the delivery of the learning material. The work is divided into sections that deal with approaches to learning anatomy from the perspective of students, to delivery of the content of the curriculum by lecturers, including the assessment of knowledge, and itemises the topics that could be considered important for an appropriate anatomy module in an integrated course, delivered in a way that emphasises clinical application.