Publications by authors named "N Mkandawire"

Background: Femoral shaft fractures are common in Malawi, with an annual incidence of 44 per 100,000 people. Inadequate treatment and delayed presentation often result in functional, biopsychosocial, and financial challenges for patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the socioeconomic consequences of femoral shaft fractures for patients in Malawi.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is responsible for many childhood cancers in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is linked to recurrent or chronic infection by Epstein-Barr virus or Plasmodium falciparum. However, whether human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphisms, which regulate immune response, are associated with BL has not been well investigated, which limits our understanding of BL etiology. Here we investigate this association among 4,645 children aged 0-15 years, 800 with BL, enrolled in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Malawi.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • In high-income countries, mosaic chromosomal changes in blood cells are linked to a higher risk of serious health issues, including blood cancers.
  • A study in Ghana analyzed 931 children with Burkitt lymphoma, along with a control group of 3822 Burkitt-free kids and 674 cancer-free men, revealing different rates of chromosomal alterations between these groups.
  • The findings suggest that certain chromosomal changes are more prevalent in children with Burkitt lymphoma and introduce the need for further research on chromosomal alterations in sub-Saharan African populations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers studied 800 BL patients and 3,845 controls across four East African countries to see if genetic traits that protect against malaria also protect against BL, focusing on specific gene variants.
  • * Findings showed that the sickle cell gene variant (HBB-rs334(T)) was linked to lower risks of both malaria infection and BL, suggesting a possible connection between malaria and the development of Burkitt lymphoma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF