ABO-incompatible liver transplantation - exploring utilitarian solutions to restricted access and organ shortages: A single-centre experience from Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: Liver transplantation is the definitive management for severe acute liver failure refractory to supportive management, and end- stage chronic liver failure. Owing to a shortage of deceased liver donors, South Africa requires innovative techniques to broaden the donor pool.

Objectives: This study evaluated the outcomes of the Wits Transplant Unit ABO-incompatible liver transplant (ABOi-LT) programme.

Wits Transplant Unit Annual Report 2022: Adult and paediatric liver transplantation.

In 2022, the Wits Transplant Unit performed 57 liver transplants: 33/57 adult (58%) and 24/57 paediatric (42%) recipients. At the beginning of 2022, 28 candidates were on the adult waitlist. Forty-six candidates were added to the waitlist during the year.

A retrospective analysis of outcomes and complications of living- and deceased-donor split-liver transplantation in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: South African transplant centres are faced with significant challenges in meeting the need for liver transplantation, owing to the low and ever-decreasing number of deceased-donor organs. To increase organ utility, deceased-donor split-liver transplant (DDSLT) and living-donor liver transplant (LDLT) programmes were initiated in the Wits Transplant Unit.

Objective: To evaluate outcomes of the LDLT and DDSLT programmes.

Evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of intradermal administration of QR678 Neo hair growth factor formulation: A phase-IV, open-label, single-arm multi-ethnicity clinical trial.

Background: Intradermal administration of QR678 Neo hair re-growth factor formulation has already proven its effectiveness and safety in treating androgenetic alopecia and female pattern hair loss.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate effectiveness and safety of hair re-growth factor formulation at multiple centers for reduction of hair fall and regrowth of hair in androgenetic alopecia and female pattern hair loss.

Materials And Methods: An open-label, prospective, and interventional study was carried out at multiple centers of different countries.

Introduction of the neonatal sepsis calculator at a low-dependency special care nursery in Australia.

Background: The neonatal early onset sepsis calculator (Sepsis Calculator) is a screening tool for managing neonates at risk of early onset sepsis (EOS). In large tertiary centers it has been found to reduce empiric antibiotic use in newborns with suspected EOS by up to half, without missing EOS confirmed by blood culture.

Aims: To evaluate the effect of implementation of the Sepsis Calculator at a low-dependency special care nursery in Australia on rates of antibiotic treatment for suspected EOS in newborns, and, to determine the compliance rate in applying the Sepsis Calculator.

Surgery for sight: outcomes of congenital and developmental cataracts operated in Durban, South Africa.

Purpose: To study the visual outcomes of congenital and developmental cataract surgery and determine variables for presentation for pediatric cataract surgery in KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa.

Methods: Care-givers of children presenting with cataract to a quaternary centre were asked when they first detected the condition. The reasons for delay between detection and surgery were studied.

First detection of human dirofilariasis in South Africa.

Humans are occasionally inadvertently infected with dirofilariae, the zoonotic nematodes. We report two cases of human dirofilariasis in South Africa, an area apparently non-endemic for this infection. Dirofilariasis is frequently misdiagnosed, so increased awareness of this entity in areas that are non-endemic is essential for prevention of inappropriate investigations and invasive therapy.

Clinical outcome after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in children with malignancies.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies (PEG) are little-used in pediatric oncology. We evaluated complications and efficacy of PEGs in children with malignancies in a retrospective case series. Outcome measures were infection and weight gain.

Uveitis in children with human immunodeficiency virus-associated arthritis.

Purpose: To describe the ocular inflammatory manifestations and clinical characteristics of children with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-associated arthritis.

Methods: A retrospective review of the charts of children with chronic uveitis and HIV-associated arthritis seen between June 2004 and September 2006 at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa. The following data were analyzed: age at presentation, gender, race/ethnicity, rheumatologic problems, uveitic diagnosis, laboratory findings, and ocular complications.