Background: Accurate scientific terminology is crucial in health sciences to avoid misinterpretations. The use of 'artemisinin resistance' to describe delayed parasite clearance may be inaccurately equated with full resistance, as is typically the case when 'resistance' is used with other pathogens, leading to potential confusion. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced 'partial artemisinin resistance' to more accurately reflect the delayed parasite clearance observed with artemisinin-based therapies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Despite the widespread prevalence of spina bifida and its impact on individual learners, there is limited information on how infection control is managed in the school environment.
Objective: This scoping review was conducted to map the evidence on infection control programmes at schools for learners with spina bifida (LSB) globally.
Methods: This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for the scoping review.
Acute, transient lymphocytopenia, not clinically significant was observed in the CAPRISA 012B phase 1 clinical trial following administration of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAb)-CAP256V2LS alone or with VRC07-523LS. Lymphocytopenia was assigned upon a > 50% decline in absolute lymphocyte counts following bnAb administration. We posited that systemic immunoglobulins (Igs), and cytokine profiles of eight women who developed lymphocytopenia were different to the 12 women without lymphocytopenia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeople living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) have an increased risk of cancers. Currently, Botswana has no screening guidelines for common cancers in PLHIV except cervical cancer. Also, the proportion of PLHIV who are screened for cancer is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Microbiol Rev
June 2024
SUMMARYThe human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic remains a formidable global health concern, with 39 million people living with the virus and 1.3 million new infections reported in 2022. Despite anti-retroviral therapy's effectiveness in pre-exposure prophylaxis, its global adoption is limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: People living with HIV (PLHIV) are at a high-risk of developing AIDS-defining cancers (ADCs) and non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADCs). This review is aimed at exploring available evidence regarding the trends of ADCs and NADCs and the associated risk factors among adult PLHIV.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO host databases to identify articles published between 2010 and 2023 that reported incidence and mortality rates of cancer, including ADCs and NADCs among PLHIV.
Broad consent is permitted by the South African National Department of Health Ethics Guidelines but appears to be prohibited by section 13(1) of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013. Additionally, the Act mandates that all personal data (including biobank sample data) be collected for lawful, explicit, and clearly defined purposes. There is possibility for ambiguity in interpretation because of this discrepancy between the two instruments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Women-controlled HIV prevention technologies that overcome adherence challenges of available daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis and give women a choice of options are urgently needed. Broadly neutralising monoclonal antibodies (bnAbs) administered passively may offer a valuable non-antiretroviral biological intervention for HIV prevention. Animal and human studies have demonstrated that bnAbs which neutralise HIV can prevent infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe investigated if single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters alter gene expression and tenofovir disposition in South African women taking Truvada for HIV prevention. In 393 women, real-time PCR was used to determine the associations between six SNPs in ABC transporter genes, mRNA expression and circulating-tenofovir. Univariable and multivariable analyses showed that CT and TT relative to CC genotypes for the (3463C/T) SNP had significantly higher tenofovir levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Young women in sub-Saharan Africa continue to bear a high burden of HIV infection. Combination anti-HIV monoclonal antibodies are a potential HIV prevention technology that could overcome adherence challenges of daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis. In this phase 1 clinical trial we aimed to determine the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of the broadly neutralising monoclonal antibody CAP256V2LS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Stunted children have an increased risk of diminished cognitive development, diabetes, degenerative and CVD later in life. Numerous modifiable factors decrease the risk of stunting in children. This study aimed to assess the role of the individual, household and social factors on stunting in Zimbabwean children.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPreventing new HIV infections remains a global challenge. Young women continue to bear a disproportionate burden of infection. Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), offers a novel women-initiated prevention technology and PrEP trials completed to date underscore the importance of their inclusion early in trials evaluating new HIV PrEP technologies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe existing ethico-legal regulation of adolescent children's participation in health research in South Africa is currently unclear. The article interrogates the existing framework governing children's consent to research participation, with specific emphasis on discrepancies in consent norms in law and ethical guidelines. Against the backdrop of the constitutional directive that requires that a child's best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child, the article assesses whether sufficient consideration is given to children's evolving maturity and capacities when consent to their participation in health research is sought.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAfr J Prim Health Care Fam Med
September 2022
Background: There is limited research that describes the growth trajectories of African children. The development of World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards considered a sample of children who lived in environments optimum for human growth.
Aim: This study aimed to develop weight-for-age and height-for-age growth curves from the Zimbabwean 2018 National Nutrition Survey and compare them with the WHO growth standards.
Background: Diet is one important predictor of children's growth, and often dietary interventions can assist with reversing adverse nutrition outcomes. Traditionally research has focused on individual food items or food classes to generate an understanding of disease risk. Dietary patterns provide a holistic approach to understanding the relationship between exposure and outcome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAfr J Prim Health Care Fam Med
July 2022
Background: The child growth monitoring (CGM) programme is an important element of nutrition programmes, and when combined with other child health programmes, it can assist in successful management and control of malnutrition in children.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the extent to which the CGM programme is able to identify instances of childhood malnutrition and how much this contributes towards malnutrition reduction in Zimbabwe.
Setting: The study was conducted in Manicaland and Matabeleland South provinces of Zimbabwe.
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis
March 2022
TB diagnosis in patients with HIV is challenging due to the lower sensitivities across tests. Molecular tests are preferred and the Xpert MTB/RIF assay has limitations in lower-income settings. We evaluated the performance of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and the lipoarabinomannan (LAM) test in HIV-positive, ART-naïve clinic patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Effective, long-acting prevention approaches are needed to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence. We evaluated the safety and pharmacokinetics of VRC07-523LS and PGT121 administered subcutaneously alone and in combination as passive immunization for young women in South Africa.
Methods: CAPRISA 012A was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation phase 1 trial.
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med
September 2021
Background: In South Africa, patients are meant to attend the clinic close to their place of residence. However, patients often choose which clinic to attend, which results in overcrowding.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the structural and process factors influencing patients' choice to attend a community health centre (CHC) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Purpose: A prospective observational study was conducted to assess sterile compounding time and workforce requirements in a hospital pharmacy, resulting in development of staff benchmarking metrics.
Methods: The study was conducted in the IV room of a quaternary hospital over 2 periods totalling 7 weeks. Compounding was directly observed and timing data collected for each compounded sterile preparation (CSP).
Background: Appropriate antimicrobial use is imperative owing to the misuse of antimicrobials, which has resulted in a growing burden of antimicrobial resistance. Evidence-based guidelines should be adhered to in order to ensure the sustainability of effective antimicrobials.
Objectives: To assess the appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing at a private hospital in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
J Child Health Care
September 2022
The World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards provide the most recognized and widely accepted way of assessing child growth. To ensure its applicability, accuracy, and reliability, studies have validated WHO growth standards against local populations and other internationally recognized growth references. We reviewed outcomes of evaluations done on WHO growth standards and assess the appropriateness of using these growth standards on a global level.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAfr J Prim Health Care Fam Med
January 2021
Background: The development of research skills is an important aspect of undergraduate medical training that facilitates the practice of evidence-based medicine. The inclusion of research training into undergraduate medical curricula can take various formats and is compulsory for all students at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine (NRMSM).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough the concept of biobanking is not new, the open and evolving nature of biobanks has created profound ethical, legal, and social implications, including issues around informed consent, community engagement, secondary uses of materials over time, ownership of materials, data sharing, and privacy. Complexities also emerge because of increasing international collaborations and differing national positions. In addition, the degrees and topics of concern vary as legislative, ethical, and social frameworks differ across developed and developing countries.
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