PET/CT guided tuberculosis treatment shortening: a randomized trial.

Six months of chemotherapy using current agents is standard of care for pulmonary, drug-sensitive tuberculosis (TB), even though some are believed to be cured more rapidly and others require longer therapy. Understanding what factors determine the length of treatment required for durable cure in individual patients would allow individualization of treatment durations, provide better clinical tools to determine the of appropriate duration of new regimens, as well as reduce the cost of large Phase III studies to determine the optimal combinations to use in TB control programs. We conducted a randomized clinical trial in South Africa and China that recruited 704 participants with newly diagnosed, drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis and stratified them based on radiographic disease characteristics as assessed by FDG PET/CT scan readers.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Chest X-ray Computer-Aided Detection Software for Detection of Prevalent and Incident Tuberculosis in Household Contacts.

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) tuberculosis (TB) screening guidelines recommend computer-aided detection (CAD) software for chest radiograph (CXR) interpretation. However, studies evaluating their diagnostic and prognostic accuracy are limited.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of household contacts of rifampicin-resistant TB in South Africa.

Assessment of Cassava Pollen Viability and Ovule Fertilizability under Red-Light, 6-Benzyl Adenine, and Silver Thiosulphate Treatments.

Understanding pollen and ovule fertility as factors influencing fruit and seed set is important in cassava breeding. Extended daylength with red light (RL) and plant growth regulators (PGRs) have been used to induce flowering and fruit set in cassava without any reference to effects on pollen viability or ovule fertilizability. This study investigated the effects of field-applied RL and PGR on pollen viability and ovule fertilizability.

Comparing gene expression profiles of adults with isolated spinal tuberculosis to disseminated spinal tuberculosis identified by FDG-PET/CT at time of diagnosis, 6- and 12-months follow-up: classifying clinical stages of spinal tuberculosis and monitoring treatment response (Spinal TB X cohort study).

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top ten causes of death worldwide, with approximately 10 million cases annually. Focus has been on pulmonary TB, while extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) has received little attention. Diagnosis of EPTB remains challenging due to the invasive procedures required for sample collection.

Multi-level tuberculosis of the spine identified by 18 F-FDG-PET/CT and concomitant urogenital tuberculosis: a case report from the spinal TB X cohort.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and typically infects the lungs. However, extrapulmonary forms of TB can be found in approximately 20% of cases. It is suggested, that up to 10% of extrapulmonary TB affects the musculoskeletal system, in which spinal elements (spinal tuberculosis, STB) are involved in approximately 50% of the cases.

Cassava brown streak virus evolves with a nucleotide-substitution rate that is typical for the family Potyviridae.

The ipomoviruses (family Potyviridae) that cause cassava brown streak disease (cassava brown streak virus [CBSV] and Uganda cassava brown streak virus [UCBSV]) are damaging plant pathogens that affect the sustainability of cassava production in East and Central Africa. However, little is known about the rate at which the viruses evolve and when they emerged in Africa - which inform how easily these viruses can host shift and resist RNAi approaches for control. We present here the rates of evolution determined from the coat protein gene (CP) of CBSV (Temporal signal in a UCBSV dataset was not sufficient for comparable analysis).

Identification of Genomic Regions for Traits Associated with Flowering in Cassava ( Crantz).

Flowering in cassava ( Crantz) is crucial for the generation of botanical seed for breeding. However, genotypes preferred by most farmers are erect and poor at flowering or never flower. To elucidate the genetic basis of flowering, 293 diverse cassava accessions were evaluated for flowering-associated traits at two locations and seasons in Uganda.

To treat or not to treat tuberculosis -clinical decision making in patients with previous pulmonary tuberculosis using 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Post-tuberculosis (TB) radiological changes and symptoms can mimic TB. PCR-based diagnostic tests can show positive results, suggesting the presence of DNA in the absence of viable bacteria. We present a case with two episodes of previous TB.

High resolution imaging and five-year tuberculosis contact outcomes.

Background: The evolution of tuberculosis (TB) disease during the clinical latency period remains incompletely understood.

Methods: 250 HIV-uninfected, adult household contacts of rifampicin-resistant TB with a negative symptom screen underwent baseline F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission and computed tomography (PET/CT), repeated in 112 after 5-15 months. Following South African and WHO guidelines, participants did not receive preventive therapy.

Flowering and fruit-set in cassava under extended red-light photoperiod supplemented with plant-growth regulators and pruning.

Background: Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is staple food and major source of calories for over 500 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. The crop is also a source of income for smallholder farmers, and has increasing potential for industrial utilization. However, breeding efforts to match the increasing demand of cassava are impeded by its inability to flower, delayed or unsynchronized flowering, low proportion of female flowers and high fruit abortions.

HIV status and survival of patients with pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease: the Pan African Pulmonary Hypertension Cohort.

In sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about pulmonary hypertension in left heart disease (PH-LHD). We used multivariate logistic and cox-hazard proportional regression models to examine factors associated with increased right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and the effect of real-world HIV status scenarios on 6-month survival rate in the Pan African Pulmonary Hypertension Cohort (PAPUCO) study, a prospective cohort from four African countries. Exposure to biomass fuel smoke (aOR, 95%CI 3.

Molecular Diversity of Rice Yellow Mottle Virus in Uganda and Relationships with Other Strains from Africa.

Rice yellow mottle virus disease, caused by (RYMV), is the most important disease of lowland rice in Uganda. However, little is known about its genetic diversity in Uganda and relationships with other strains elsewhere across Africa. A new degenerate primer pair that targets amplification of the entire RYMV coat protein gene (circa 738 bp) was designed to aid virus variability analysis using RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing.

Long-Term Follow-up of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension: Clinical Features and Survival Outcomes of the Pan Africa Pulmonary Hypertension Cohort (PAPUCO).

Background: Data characterizing risk factors and long-term outcome studies on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated pulmonary hypertension (PH) in Africa are lacking.

Methods: The Pan African Pulmonary Hypertension Cohort, a multinational registry of 254 consecutive patients diagnosed with PH (97% of African descent) from 9 centers in 4 African countries was implemented. We compared baseline characteristics and 3-year survival of an HIV-infected cohort newly diagnosed with PH (PH/HIV) to an HIV-uninfected cohort with PH (PH/HIV).

Validation of KASP markers associated with cassava mosaic disease resistance, storage root dry matter and provitamin A carotenoid contents in Ugandan cassava germplasm.

Introduction: The intrinsic high heterozygosity of cassava makes conventional breeding ineffective for rapid genetic improvement. However, recent advances in next generation sequencing technologies have enabled the use of high-density markers for genome-wide association studies, aimed at identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to major traits such as cassava mosaic disease (CMD) resistance, dry matter content (DMC) and total carotenoids content (TCC). A number of these trait-linked SNPs have been converted to Kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) markers for downstream application of marker assisted selection.

Prevalence and predictors of hypertension among adults in Mbarara City, Western Uganda.

Objective: The study aim was to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of hypertension among an urban adult population in Mbarara city, Western Uganda.

Methods: We evaluated blood pressure measurements, social demographic and clinical parameters of adults living in Mbarara city, Uganda. These parameters were extracted from medical records of adults who participated in the Uganda World Kidney Day 2020 health screening activities.

Use of timelapse photography to determine flower opening time and pattern in banana (Musa spp.) for efficient hand pollination.

Sterility and low seed set in bananas is the main challenge to their conventional genetic improvement. The first step to seed set in a banana breeding program depends on pollination at the right time to ensure effective fertilization. This study aimed at determining bract opening time (BOT) to enhance efficient pollination and seed set in bananas.

Histopathologic, Genetic and Molecular Characterization of Endometrial Cancer Racial Disparity.

In contrast to the decline in incidence and mortality of most other cancers, these rates are rising for endometrial cancer. Black women with endometrial cancer have earlier diagnosis, more aggressive histology, advanced stage and worse outcomes compared with their White counterparts. Socioeconomic status, a higher incidence of aggressive histology, and comorbid conditions are known factors leading to racial disparity in patients with endometrial cancer; nevertheless, they do not account for the entire racial disparity; which emphasizes the roles of molecular, histopathological and genetic factors.

Protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis: impact of statins as immune-modulatory agents on inflammatory markers in adults with chronic diseases.

Introduction: Statins, also known as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, are lipid-lowering agents that are central in preventing or reducing the complications of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Because statins have anti-inflammatory properties, there is considerable interest in their therapeutic potential in other chronic inflammatory conditions. We aim to identify the statin with the greatest ability to reduce systemic inflammation, independent of the underlying disease entity.

Illumina Sequencing Reveals the First Near-Complete Genome Sequence of .

Here, we present the first near-complete genome of (UPV) sequenced from a symptomatic sample of KH7 passion fruit ( Sims) variety. UPV had limited amino acid identity with other potyviruses known to cause passion fruit woodiness disease (PWD). The closest relationship (71.

A systematic review of selected human rights programs to improve HIV-related outcomes from 2003 to 2015: what do we know?

Background: Repressive legal environments and widespread human rights violations act as structural impediments to efforts to engage key populations at risk of HIV infection in HIV prevention, care, and treatment efforts. The identification and scale-up of human rights programs and rights-based interventions that enable coverage of and retention in evidence-based HIV prevention and treatment approaches is crucial for halting the epidemic.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies that assessed the effectiveness of human rights interventions on improving HIV-related outcomes between 1/1/2003-28/3/2015 per PRISMA guidelines.

prediction and segregation analysis of putative virus defense genes based on SSR markers in sweet potato F1 progenies of cultivars 'New Kawogo' and 'Resisto'.

In sweet potato, an anti-virus defense mechanism termed reversion has been postulated to lead to virus freedom from once infected plants. The objectives of this study were to identify anti-virus defense genes and evaluate their segregation in progenies. Reference genes from different plant species were used to assemble transcript sequences of each sweet potato defense gene .

Factors influencing reversion from virus infection in sweetpotato.

Viruses limit sweetpotato () production worldwide. Many sweetpotato landraces in East Africa are, however, largely virus-free. Moreover, some plants infected by the prevalent Sweet (SPFMV) may be able to revert to virus-free status.

Next-Generation Sequencing Reveals the First Complete Genome Sequence of from Uganda.

We present here the first complete genome sequence of (CABMV) isolated from cowpea in Uganda and compare it with five CABMV complete genome sequences from Brazil (2), India (2), and Zimbabwe (1). It most resembled the genomes of two Brazilian isolates (MG-Avr and BR1) and one Indian isolate (RR3).

Deep Sequencing Reveals a Divergent Isolate from Malawi.

Illumina sequencing of RNA from a cassava cutting from northern Malawi produced a genome of (UCBSV-MW-NB7_2013). Sequence comparisons revealed stronger similarity to an isolate from nearby Tanzania (93.4% pairwise nucleotide identity) than to those previously reported from Malawi (86.

Variability in P1 gene redefines phylogenetic relationships among cassava brown streak viruses.

Background: Cassava brown streak disease is emerging as the most important viral disease of cassava in Africa, and is consequently a threat to food security. Two distinct species of the genus Ipomovirus (family Potyviridae) cause the disease: Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV). To understand the evolutionary relationships among the viruses, 64 nucleotide sequences from the variable P1 gene from major cassava producing areas of east and central-southern Africa were determined.