COVID-19 impact on HIV PrEP uptake and retention at selected health facilities in Eswatini.

Background:  Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uses antiretroviral medication to reduce HIV risk in HIV-negative individuals. Despite its effectiveness, global uptake faces policy and accessibility challenges. In Eswatini, PrEP introduction in 2017 showed promise despite stigma and COVID-19 disruptions.

Gastrointestinal parasite prevalence, diversity and association in free-ranging Chacma baboon troops in a semi-arid savanna ecosystem of Zimbabwe.

Free-ranging Chacma baboon species are known to harbour a wide range of zoonotic parasites, and their frequent close interactions with humans pose a risk of transmission of zoonotic parasites between the two species. This research study focused on understanding parasite dynamics in free-ranging baboon populations that inhabit human-wildlife interface areas, a case of Gwanda State University's Epoch Mine campus in Filabusi at Insiza district. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional design was used to investigate the prevalence, diversity and association of gastrointestinal parasites among three baboon troops found at the Epoch Mine campus.

Quantitative analysis and health risk assessment of selected heavy metals in pet food samples using ultrasound assisted hydrogen peroxide extraction followed by ICP-OES analysis.

There is a lack of information regarding the presence of heavy metals in feed ingredients for animals. Therefore, this study examines 10 feed samples collected from commercial pet food in South African market. The optimal working parameters for ultrasound assisted hydrogen peroxide extraction (UA-HPE) confirmed by multivariate optimization were sonication temperature at 80 °C for 60 min, sample mass of 0.

Leveraging computational tools to combat malaria: assessment and development of new therapeutics.

As the world grapples with the relentless challenges posed by diseases like malaria, the advent of sophisticated computational tools has emerged as a beacon of hope in the quest for effective treatments. In this study we delve into the strategies behind computational tools encompassing virtual screening, molecular docking, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML). We assess their effectiveness and contribution to the progress of malaria treatment.

A combined strategies intervention on the World Health Organization prescribing indicators: A quasi-randomised trial.

Background: Irrational medicine use is a global problem that may potentiate antimicrobial resistance.

Aim: This study aims to assess prescribing practices and the effect of a prescription audit and feedback coupled with small-group education intervention on prescribing indicators.

Setting: The study was conducted in public-sector healthcare facilities in Eswatini.

Empowering and supporting frontline providers in the paediatric-adolescent HIV response: results from participatory priority-setting and group discussions in twenty-four sites in twelve high HIV-burden African countries.

Children and adolescents living with HIV in Africa experience poor outcomes across the HIV cascade of care. Paediatric and adolescent-friendly services are crucial to their well-being, and recent years have seen a call for urgent service improvements. While frontline health workers are responsible for these services, less attention has been given to their contextual realities, and what constitutes an enabling service delivery environment.

Translating the consent form is the tip of the iceberg: using cognitive interviews to assess the barriers to informed consent in South African health facilities.

The increasing digitisation of personal health data has led to an increase in the demand for onward health data. This study sought to develop local language scripts for use in public sector maternity clinics to capture informed consent for onward health data use. The script considered five possible health data uses: 1.

Synthesis, characterization, in vitro antimycobacterial and cytotoxicity evaluation, DFT calculations, molecular docking and ADME studies of new isomeric benzimidazole-1,2,3-triazole-quinoline hybrid mixtures.

New benzimidazole-1,2,3-triazole-quinoline hybrids and their intermediates, differing in substitutions at the C-2 and/or C6 positions of the benzimidazole ring, were successfully synthesized in 55---80 % yields, with the C6-substituted ones forming as inseparable tautomeric mixtures. The synthesized compounds were fully characterised by FT-IR, 1D- and 2D-NMR, and HRMS. In-depth NMR analysis and DFT molecular calculations showed that the tautomeric mixtures formed in a ratio of almost 1:1 ratio (cis and trans), except for 5 g, where the ratio is 1:2.

The impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the first COVID-19 epidemic wave in South Africa.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the impact of COVID-19 NPIs in South Africa to understand their effectiveness in the reduction of transmission of COVID-19 in the South African population. This study also investigated the COVID-19 testing, reporting, hospitalised cases, excess deaths and COVID-19 modelling in the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in South Africa.

Methods: A semi-reactive stochastic COVID-19 model, the ARI COVID-19 SEIR model, was used to investigate the impact of NPIs in South Africa to understand their effectiveness in the reduction of COVID-19 transmission in the South African population.

The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages (Variants) and COVID-19 Vaccination on the COVID-19 Epidemic in South Africa: Regression Study.

Background: Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants have been attributed to the occurrence of secondary, tertiary, quaternary, and quinary COVID-19 epidemic waves threatening vaccine efforts owing to their immune invasiveness. Since the importation of SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa, with the first reported COVID-19 case on March 5, 2020, South Africa has observed 5 consecutive COVID-19 epidemic waves. The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has played a major role in the resurgence of COVID-19 epidemic waves in South Africa and across the globe.

A double-Cox model for non-proportional hazards survival analysis with frailty.

The Cox regression, a semi-parametric method of survival analysis, is extremely popular in biomedical applications. The proportional hazards assumption is a key requirement in the Cox model. To accommodate non-proportional hazards, we propose to parameterize the shape parameter of the baseline hazard function using the additional, separate Cox-regression term which depends on the vector of the covariates.

Tackling antimicrobial resistance across sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and implications for the future.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a concern as this increases morbidity, mortality, and costs, with sub-Saharan Africa having the highest rates globally. Concerns with rising AMR have resulted in international, Pan-African, and country activities including the development of national action plans (NAPs). However, there is variable implementation across Africa with key challenges persisting.

Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Position Statement: Respiratory nursing.

The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand's (TSANZ) Position Statement recognizes the pivotal role respiratory nurses play in the lung health of Australians and New Zealanders. The national and international lung health strategies are evidence based to ensure optimal professional clinical support for patients. Respiratory nurses are essential to the success of these strategies as a professional workforce, irrespective of healthcare setting, as they are at the forefront of the delivery of world-class evidence-based respiratory care.

New Quinoline-Urea-Benzothiazole Hybrids as Promising Antitubercular Agents: Synthesis, In Vitro Antitubercular Activity, Cytotoxicity Studies, and In Silico ADME Profiling.

A series of 25 new benzothiazole−urea−quinoline hybrid compounds were synthesized successfully via a three-step synthetic sequence involving an amidation coupling reaction as a critical step. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by routine spectroscopic tools (1H and 13C NMR and IR) and by mass spectrometry (HRMS). In vitro evaluation of these hybrid compounds for their antitubercular inhibitory activity against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv pMSp12::GPF bioreporter strain was undertaken.

Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in South African Local Communities: The VaxScenes Study.

South Africa launched a mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign in May 2021, targeting 40 million adults. Understanding predictors of COVID-19 vaccine intentions was required to achieve this goal. We conducted a population-based survey in June-July 2021 using the WHO Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSD) of COVID-19 Vaccination tool to determine predictors of vaccine hesitancy, defined as intention to refuse or uncertainty whether to accept COVID-19 vaccination.

Health system actors' perspectives of prescribing practices in public health facilities in Eswatini: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Rational medicines use (RMU) is the prescribing/dispensing of good quality medicines to meet individual patient's clinical needs. Policy-makers, managers and frontline providers play critical roles in safeguarding medicine usage thus ensuring their rational use. This study investigated perspectives of key health system actors on prescribing practices and factors influencing these in Eswatini.

Changes in Care- A Systematic Scoping Review of Transitions for Children with Medical Complexities.

Background: Children with medical complexity (CMC) and their parents are affected physically and mentally during transitions in care. Coordinated models of care show promise in improving health outcomes.

Objective: The purpose of this scoping review was to examine research related to CMC and their parents and transitions in care.

Antiretroviral Therapy-associated Adverse Drug Reactions and their Effects on Virologic Failure- A Retrospective Cohort Study in Nigeria.

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) can rapidly reverse the gains of ART resulting in poor health outcomes. We need an improved understanding of specific ART-related ADRs that influence virologic outcomes.

Objective: To investigate the frequency of clinical ADRs and assess their effect on virologic failure in patients on ART.

An "All-In-One" Pharmacophoric Architecture for the Discovery of Potential Broad-Spectrum Anti-Flavivirus Drugs.

A precipitous increase in the number of flaviviral infections has been noted over the last 5 years. Despite these outbreaks, treatment protocols for infected individuals remain ambiguous. Numerous studies have identified NITD008 as a potent flavivirus inhibitor; however, clinical testing was dismissed due to undesirable toxic effects.

Antibiotic prescription patterns of South African general medical practitioners for treatment of acute bronchitis.

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a significant public health problem. Prudent use of antibiotics is crucial in reducing this resistance. Acute bronchitis is a common reason for consultations with general medical practitioners, and antibiotics are often prescribed even though guidelines recommend not prescribing them for uncomplicated acute bronchitis.

A qualitative study of migrant-related stressors, psychosocial outcomes and HIV risk behaviour among truck drivers in Zambia.

Truck drivers are part of mobile populations which have been noted as a key population at risk of HIV in Zambia. This study was aimed at: (1) determining potentially traumatic events (PTEs), labour migrant-related stressors, psychosocial problems and HIV risk behaviours among truck drivers in Zambia; and (2) examining the relationship between PTEs, migrant-related stressors, psychosocial outcomes and HIV sexual risk behaviour among truck drivers in Zambia. We conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with purposively sampled male truck drivers at trucking companies in Lusaka, Zambia.

The effect of polyaniline on TiO2 nanoparticles as anode materials for lithium ion batteries.

Polyaniline (PANI) additives have been shown to have a significant effect on titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles as lithium ion battery anode materials. TiO2/PANI composites were prepared using a solid coating method with different ratios of PANI and then characterized using XRD and SEM. These composites have shown increased reversible capacity compared with pure TiO2.

Knowledge and attitudes of non-occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis amongst first- and second-year medical students at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a worldwide problem, with 68% of infected people residing in sub-Saharan Africa. Antiretroviral therapy is used as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent infection in cases of occupational exposure, and use has recently been expanded to nonoccupational exposure. Studies have demonstrated a lack of awareness of non-occupational PEP (NOPEP) in the general population.