Unusual Signal of Lymphadenopathy in Children with Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Purpose: The current guidelines for initial cross-sectional imaging in pediatric lymphomas involve computed tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. However, whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be favored over CT for diagnosing and staging the disease, given its lack of ionizing radiation and its higher tissue contrast. Imaging characteristics of lymphoid tissue on MRI include a high T2/short tau inversion recovery (STIR) signal.

Comparative Effects of Efavirenz and Dolutegravir on Metabolomic and Inflammatory Profiles, and Platelet Activation of People Living with HIV: A Pilot Study.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced the mortality and morbidity associated with HIV. However, irrespective of treatment, people living with HIV remain at a higher risk of developing non-AIDS-associated diseases. In 2019, the World Health Organization recommended the transition from efavirenz (EFV)- to dolutegravir (DTG)-based ART.

Feasibility Testing of the Health4LIFE Weight Loss Intervention for Primary School Educators Living with Overweight/Obesity Employed at Public Schools in Low-Income Settings in Cape Town and South Africa: A Mixed Methods Study.

Given the high prevalence of overweight and obesity amongst educators, this study investigated the feasibility of the 16-week Health4LIFE weight loss intervention for primary school educators living with overweight/obesity in low-income settings in Cape Town, South Africa. The research comprised two sub-studies, a pilot randomised controlled trial testing the intervention (10 intervention, = 79 and 10 control schools, = 58), and an investigation of the perceptions of participating educators and principals. Feasibility outcomes included reach, applicability, acceptability, implementation integrity, and a hypothesis-generating signal of effect on lifestyle factors and weight.

Morbidity after accelerated enhanced recovery protocol for colon cancer surgery.

Previous studies showed that accelerated enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) with discharge 1-3 days after colorectal surgery are feasible for specific patients without compromising patients' safety. This study aimed to examine the incidence, severity, and treatment of complications after treatment according to an accelerated ERP (CHASE). This accelerated ERP consisted of adjustments in pre-, peri- and postoperative care.

Comparing adults with severe SARS-CoV-2 or influenza infection: South Africa, 2016-2021.

Background: Comparisons of the characteristics of individuals hospitalised with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or seasonal influenza in low-to middle-income countries with high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence are limited.

Objectives: Determine the epidemiological differences with those hospitalised with influenza or SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Method: We investigated hospitalised individuals ≥18 years of age testing positive for seasonal influenza (2016-2019) or SARS-CoV-2 (2020-2021).

A Review and Economic Analysis of the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring as HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for Women, to Inform South African Public-Sector Guidelines.

Background: South Africa has a high HIV incidence and oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is available as public-sector standard of care. Access to alternative prevention methods for women may further reduce HIV acquisition.

Setting: South African public sector.

Missed rifampicin and isoniazid resistance by commercial molecular assays.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) has poor outcomes unless resistance is detected early, ideally by commercially available molecular tests. We present a case of occult multidrug-resistant TB where both rifampicin and isoniazid resistance were missed by molecular testing and were only identified by phenotypic testing.

bacteraemia cases at Helen Joseph Hospital.

Background: bacteraemia (SAB) is associated with a high mortality. Data on SAB cases in South Africa (SA) are limited.

Objectives: This study aimed to establish the demographic profile, risk factors and complications of patients with SAB in a tertiary inpatient setting.

Hyperbaric bupivacaine versus prilocaine for spinal anesthesia combined with total intravenous anesthesia during oncological colon surgery in a 23-hour stay enhanced recovery protocol: A non-randomized study.

After the success of the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol, perioperative care has been further optimized in accelerated enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs), where optimal pain management is crucial. Spinal anesthesia was introduced as adjunct to general anesthesia to reduce postoperative pain and facilitate mobility. This study aimed to determine which spinal anesthetic agent provides best pain relief in accelerated ERP for colon carcinoma.

Southern African HIV Clinicians Society Guideline for the clinical management of syphilis.

Syphilis, 'the great imitator', caused by infection, remains a complex and multifaceted disease with a rich history of clinical diversity. This guideline aims to be a comprehensive guide for healthcare workers in Southern Africa, offering practical insights into the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic testing, therapeutic principles, and public health responses to syphilis. Although the syphilis burden has declined over the years, recent data indicate a troubling resurgence, particularly among pregnant women and neonates.

HIV risk behaviour, viraemia, and transmission across HIV cascade stages including low-level viremia: Analysis of 14 cross-sectional population-based HIV Impact Assessment surveys in sub-Saharan Africa.

As antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage for people living with HIV (PLHIV) increases, HIV programmes require up-to-date information about evolving HIV risk behaviour and transmission risk, including those with low-level viremia (LLV; >50 to ≤1000 copies/mL), to guide prevention priorities. We aimed to assess differences in sexual risk behaviours, distribution of viral load (VL) and proportion of transmission across PLHIV subgroups. We analysed data from Population-based HIV Impact Assessment surveys in 14 sub-Saharan African countries during 2015-2019.

Stroke, HIV and the Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome in the absence of opportunistic infections.

Introduction: Stroke in people living with HIV (PLWH) has been described to occur soon after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) possibly related to the Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS). We sought to investigate whether there was a temporal association between stroke and recent ART initiation in the absence of opportunistic infections (OIs), and to identify risk factors for this.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited PLWH with new-onset stroke at a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 2014 to 2017, excluding all patients with OIs.

Neuroprotective Effect of Curcumin-Loaded RGD Peptide-PEGylated Nanoliposomes.

Curcumin is known for its anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antioxidant properties, but its use in biological applications is hindered by its sensitivity to light, oxygen, and temperature. Furthermore, due to its low water solubility, curcumin has a poor pharmacokinetic profile and bioavailability. In this study, we evaluated the potential application of curcumin as a neuroprotective agent encapsulated in RGD peptide-PEGylated nanoliposomes developed from salmon-derived lecithin.

Dietary Patterns, Socio-Demographic Predictors Thereof, and Associations of Dietary Patterns with Stunting and Overweight/Obesity in 1-<10-Year-Old Children in Two Economically Active Provinces in South Africa.

A review of the literature showed that there were only a few studies that reported on the dietary patterns of children in South Africa. The aim of the present study was to characterise the dietary patterns of children aged 1-<10 years who were studied during the Provincial Dietary Intake Survey (PDIS) in 2018 and to investigate the socio-demographic predictors thereof, as well as the associations with stunting and overweight/obesity. Dietary pattern analysis was conducted within three age groups, namely 1-<3-year-olds, 3-<6-year-olds, and 6-<10-year-olds using iterated principal factor analysis with varimax rotation and 24 h recall data from the PDIS.

Co-Producing Narratives and Indicators as Catalysts for Adaptive Governance of a Common-Pool Resource within a Protected Area.

The theory and practice of adaptive management and adaptive governance have been widely studied in the complex social contexts that mediate how humans interact with ecosystems. Adaptive governance is thought to enable adaptive management in such contexts. In this study, we examine four often-used principles of adaptive governance (polycentric institutions, collaboration, social learning and complexity thinking) to develop a framework for reflecting on adaptive governance of a social-ecological system-the Knysna Estuary in South Africa.

Mediating role of emotional suppression in the relationship between psychological factors and intimate partner violence among couples with mixed-romantic orientations.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is considered a serious public health concern among couples, regardless of the sexual orientation. However, there is a dearth of data about the determining factors of IPV among couples with mixed-romantic orientations, and not much is known about the role that intra-psychic factors play in the relationship between psychological factors and IPV. Therefore, the study set out to examine the mediating role of emotional suppression in the relationship between psychological factors and IPV among couples with mixed-romantic orientations in Nigeria.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Distribution and Reversibility of Lesions in Pediatric Vigabatrin-Related Brain Toxicity.

Background: We aimed to systematically characterize the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in vigabatrin-related neurotoxicity in children and determine the reversibility of lesions based on follow-up images.

Methods: We evaluated children with a history of refractory seizures who had a brain MRI while on vigabatrin therapy. We included available brain MRI studies before vigabatrin therapy initiation, during vigabatrin treatment, and after vigabatrin was discontinued.

Imported Cholera Cases, South Africa, 2023.

Since February 2022, Malawi has experienced a cholera outbreak of >54,000 cases. We investigated 6 cases in South Africa and found that isolates linked to the outbreak were Vibrio cholerae O1 serotype Ogawa from seventh pandemic El Tor sublineage AFR15, indicating a new introduction of cholera into Africa from south Asia.

COVID-19 in-hospital mortality during the first two pandemic waves, at Helen Joseph Hospital, South Africa.

Introduction: there has been significant global variation in Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) mortality at different time points in the pandemic. Contributing factors include population demographics, comorbidities, health system capacity, prior infection with COVID-19, vaccinations, and viral variants. The study aims to describe COVID-19-related mortality of inpatients at Helen Joseph Hospital (HJH), over 12 months, during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.