Poor neurodevelopment, nutritional and physical growth outcomes among children born to mothers with nodding syndrome.

Introduction: Nodding syndrome (NS), a poorly understood severe neurological disorder develops in children. In Uganda, some NS cases have grown into child-bearing adults. Babies born to mothers with NS may be prone to impaired neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Academic achievement in Ugandan children with sickle cell anaemia: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: Academic achievement in school-age children is crucial for advancing learning goals. Children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in Sub-Saharan Africa may be at risk of disease-associated school difficulties. Limited data exist on the academic achievement of children with SCA in the region.

Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemistry of medicinal plants used in the management of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Uganda.

Currently, highly active antiretroviral therapy is unable to cure HIV/AIDS because of HIV latency. This study aimed at documenting medicinal plants used in the management of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Uganda so as to identify phytochemicals with HIV latency reversing potential. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted across eight districts in Eastern Uganda.

Efficacy of the Gulu University Reproductive Health Simulation Training for final year medical students and interns: a before-and-after study.

Background: Reproductive health emergencies, such as postpartum hemorrhage, contribute significantly to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in Uganda due to knowledge and skills gaps. Medical interns, intern midwives, and nurses are crucial as frontline healthcare workers in responding to these emergencies. Our proposed hands-on strategy involves comprehensive simulation-based training (SBT) to equip these healthcare workers with the essential knowledge to manage common reproductive health emergencies and procedures in the country.

Rare Variable Antigens induce predominant Th17 responses in human infection.

CD4 T cells are essential for immunity to (), and emerging evidence indicates that IL-17-producing Th17 cells contribute to immunity to . While identifying protective T cell effector functions is important for TB vaccine design, T cell antigen specificity is also likely to be important. To identify antigens that induce protective immunity, we reasoned that as in other pathogens, effective immune recognition drives sequence diversity in individual antigens.

Prevalence and risk factors of gross neurologic deficits in children after severe malaria: a systematic review protocol.

Background: Children exposed to severe malaria may recover with gross neurologic deficits (GND). Several risk factors for GND after cerebral malaria (CM), the deadliest form of severe malaria, have been identified in children. However, there is inconsistency between previously reported and more recent findings.

Association between Brain White Matter Lesions and Disease Activity in HAM/TSP Patients.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) patients may have brain white matter (WM) lesions, but the association of these lesions with disease activity is poorly understood. We retrospectively evaluated the brain WM lesions of 22 HAM/TSP patients (male 4: female 18) including 5 rapid progressors, 16 slow progressors, and 1 very slow progressor. The severity of WM brain lesions on axial Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery images was evaluated utilizing the Fazekas scale, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, and proviral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Active Tuberculosis Is Associated with Depletion of HIV-Specific CD4 and CD8 T Cells in People with HIV.

Infection with (Mtb) in people with HIV (PWH) is associated with depletion of Mtb-specific CD4 T cell responses, increased risk of progression to active tuberculosis (TB) disease, and increased immune activation. Although higher HIV viral loads have been reported in Mtb/HIV co-infection, the extent to which Mtb infection and TB disease impact the frequency and phenotype of HIV-specific T cell responses has not been well described. We enrolled a cohort of PWH in Kenya across a spectrum of Mtb infection states, including those with no evidence of Mtb infection, latent Mtb infection (LTBI), and active pulmonary TB disease, and evaluated the frequency, immune activation, and cytotoxicity phenotype of HIV-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell responses in peripheral blood by flow cytometry.

Isoniazid preventive therapy completion between July-September 2019: A comparison across HIV differentiated service delivery models in Uganda.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV (PLHIV). To prevent TB among PLHIV, the Ugandan national guidelines recommend Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) across differentiated service delivery (DSD) models, an effective way of delivering ART. DSD models include Community Drug Distribution Point (CDDP), Community Client-led ART Delivery (CCLAD), Facility-Based Individual Management (FBIM), Facility-Based Group (FBG), and Fast Track Drug Refill (FTDR).

Integrated management of HIV, diabetes, and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa (INTE-AFRICA): a pragmatic cluster-randomised, controlled trial.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, health-care provision for chronic conditions is fragmented. The aim of this study was to determine whether integrated management of HIV, diabetes, and hypertension led to improved rates of retention in care for people with diabetes or hypertension without adversely affecting rates of HIV viral suppression among people with HIV when compared to standard vertical care in medium and large health facilities in Uganda and Tanzania.

Methods: In INTE-AFRICA, a pragmatic cluster-randomised, controlled trial, we randomly allocated primary health-care facilities in Uganda and Tanzania to provide either integrated care or standard care for HIV, diabetes, and hypertension.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis use among female sex workers in Gulu city, Uganda: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an important intervention for reducing the risk of HIV transmission among high-risk populations such as female sex workers in Africa, where HIV prevalence remains high. We aimed to assess the use of PrEP among female sex workers in Gulu, Uganda.

Methods: In this community-based cross-sectional study, we included HIV-negative female sex workers purposely selected from hotspots within Gulu city, Uganda between February and March 2023.

Dual contraceptive use and associated factors among female sex workers in Gulu City, Uganda in 2023.

Background: Dual contraception is an essential approach to mitigating the heightened risks of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections faced by female sex workers (FSWs). We determined the prevalence and factors associated with dual contraceptive use among FSWs in Northern Uganda.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gulu city, Uganda between February, and March 2023.

Victimization among adolescents of female sex workers: findings from the children of at-risk parents (CARP) study in Uganda.

Background: Female sex workers (FSWs) live and work in high-risk environments, experience high levels of adversity, and have multigenerational trauma that can negatively affect their children. Yet not much is known about the prevalence of victimization (i.e.

Associations of psychological inflexibility with posttraumatic stress disorder and adherence to COVID-19 control measures among refugees in Uganda: The moderating role of coping strategies.

Refugees are vulnerable to developing mental health problems. The unprecedented appearance and rapid spread of COVID-19 exacerbated this vulnerability, especially in low-income countries where refugees survive on humanitarian aid and live in congested settlements. These appalling living conditions are a stressor, making adherence to COVID-19 control measures impractical and an additional psychological strain for refugees.

Characteristics, treatment outcomes and experiences of COVID-19 patients under home-based care in Kapelebyong district in Uganda: a mixed-methods study.

Background: A rapid increase in community transmission of COVID-19 across the country overwhelmed Uganda's health care system. In response, the Ministry of Health adopted the home-based care strategy for COVID-19 patients with mild-to-moderate disease. We determined the characteristics, treatment outcomes and experiences of COVID-19 patients under home-based care during the second wave in Kapelebyong district, in eastern Uganda.

Evaluation of a tailored epilepsy training program for healthcare providers in Uganda.

Objective: This study evaluated an epilepsy training program for healthcare workers that was designed to improve their knowledge of epilepsy, its treatment, and its psychosocial effects.

Methods: This single group, before and after survey was conducted in three regional referral hospitals in Uganda. Healthcare workers participated in a 3-day epilepsy training program and were assessed immediately prior to and following the program using a 39-item epilepsy knowledge questionnaire.

An exploratory, open-label, randomized, multicenter trial of hachimijiogan for mild Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegeneration and is the most prevalent form of dementia. Intervention at an early stage is imperative. Although three acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are currently approved for the treatment of mild AD, they are not sufficiently effective.

Role of cytochrome P450 for vitamin D metabolisms in patients with neurodegenerative disorders.

Introduction: We previously reported lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Multiple system atrophy (MSA) compared to healthy controls (HC), whereas 1,25-di-hydroxyvitamin D levels were solely lower in MSA patients. We investigate serum concentrations of P450 involved in Vitamin D(VD) hydroxylation to clarify the responsible hydroxylase for the low serum concentrations of VD metabolites.

Methods: A total of 79 individuals were enrolled including 20 HC, 20 AD, 19 PD and 20 MSA patients.

Incidence of tuberculosis among PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy who initiated isoniazid preventive therapy: A multi-center retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) is effective in treating tuberculosis (TB) infection and hence limiting progression to active disease. However, the durability of protection, associated factors and cost-effectiveness of IPT remain uncertain in low-and-middle income countries, Uganda inclusive. The Uganda Ministry of health recommends a single standard-dose IPT course for eligible people living with HIV (PLHIV).

Cabotegravir for the prevention of HIV-1 in women: results from HPTN 084, a phase 3, randomised clinical trial.

Background: Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis has been introduced in more than 70 countries, including many in sub-Saharan Africa, but women experience considerable barriers to daily pill-taking, such as stigma, judgement, and the fear of violence. Safe and effective long-acting agents for HIV prevention are needed for women. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of injectable cabotegravir compared with daily oral tenofovir diphosphate plus emtricitabine (TDF-FTC) for HIV prevention in HIV-uninfected women.

Fluctuating pain in Parkinson's disease: Its prevalence and impact on quality of life.

Pain is a common non-motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, and the incidence of fluctuating pain may be improved by taking levodopa. There are only a few detailed reports regarding fluctuating pain. In this study, 331 PD patients were classified into three groups: no-pain group (67.

Circulatory 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)D as differential biomarkers between multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease patients.

Background And Purpose: There is sufficient evidence to support vitamin D's noncalcemic effects and the role of vitamin D deficiency in the development of a wide range of neurological disorders. This study aimed to evaluate whether serum 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH) 2 D could be used as biomarkers to differentiate between healthy subjects (HS), multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease (PD) patients of both genders.

Methods: A total of 107 subjects were included in this study, divided into three groups: 1- HS ( = 61), 2- MSA patients ( = 19), and 3- PD patients ( = 27).