Health trends, inequalities and opportunities in South Africa's provinces, 1990-2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study.

Background: Over the last 30 years, South Africa has experienced four 'colliding epidemics' of HIV and tuberculosis, chronic illness and mental health, injury and violence, and maternal, neonatal, and child mortality, which have had substantial effects on health and well-being. Using data from the 2019 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD 2019), we evaluated national and provincial health trends and progress towards important Sustainable Development Goal targets from 1990 to 2019.

Methods: We analysed GBD 2019 estimates of mortality, non-fatal health loss, summary health measures and risk factor burden, comparing trends over 1990-2007 and 2007-2019.

COVID-19 Is a Multi-Organ Aggressor: Epigenetic and Clinical Marks.

The progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulting from a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, may be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Several viruses hijack the host genome machinery for their own advantage and survival, and similar phenomena might occur upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. Severe cases of COVID-19 may be driven by metabolic and epigenetic driven mechanisms, including DNA methylation and histone/chromatin alterations.

Contextualised strategies to increase childhood and adolescent vaccination coverage in South Africa: a mixed-methods study.

Introduction: Despite the unparalleled success of immunisation in the control of vaccine preventable diseases, immunisation coverage in South Africa remains suboptimal. While many evidence-based interventions have successfully improved vaccination coverage in other countries, they are not necessarily appropriate to the immunisation needs, barriers and facilitators of South Africa. The aim of this research is to investigate barriers and facilitators to optimal vaccination uptake, and develop contextualised strategies and implementation plans to increase childhood and adolescent vaccination coverage in South Africa.

Effectiveness of the female condom in preventing HIV and sexually transmitted infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The effectiveness of female condoms for preventing HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains inconclusive. We examined the effects of female condoms on the acquisition of HIV and STIs.

Methods: We searched four databases, two trial registries, and reference lists of relevant publications in October 2018 and updated our search in February 2020.

Systematic review protocol on Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) revaccination and protection against tuberculosis.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by (M.TB) and other species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Globally, TB is ranked as the ninth leading cause of death and the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent.

A systematic review of immunogenicity, clinical efficacy and safety of human papillomavirus vaccines in people living with the human immunodeficiency virus.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection worldwide. People living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at high risk of HPV infection. This systematic review evaluates the immunogenicity, clinical efficacy, and safety of prophylactic HPV vaccines in people living with HIV.

A global review of seasonal influenza vaccine introduction: analysis of the WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form.

: Influenza is a highly contagious disease that affects the upper and lower respiratory tract caused by several subtypes of influenza viruses. While vaccination remains the mainstay strategy to protect populations against influenza, there is a global shortage and inequitable access to influenza vaccines. Although influenza vaccine production capacity increased from 500 million doses in 2006 to 1.

Access to HIV care and treatment for migrants between Lesotho and South Africa: a mixed methods study.

Background: HIV treatment and care for migrants is affected by their mobility and interaction with HIV treatment programs and health care systems in different countries. To assess healthcare needs, preferences and accessibility barriers of HIV-infected migrant populations in high HIV burden, borderland districts of Lesotho.

Methods: We selected 15 health facilities accessed by high patient volumes in three districts of Maseru, Leribe and Mafeteng.

CD14(+) macrophages that accumulate in the colon of African AIDS patients express pro-inflammatory cytokines and are responsive to lipopolysaccharide.

Background: Intestinal macrophages are key regulators of inflammatory responses to the gut microbiome and play a central role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and epithelial integrity. However, little is known about the role of these cells in HIV infection, a disease fuelled by intestinal inflammation, a loss of epithelial barrier function and increased microbial translocation (MT).

Methods: Phenotypic and functional characterization of intestinal macrophages was performed for 23 African AIDS patients with chronic diarrhea and/or weight loss and 11 HIV-negative Africans with and without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Impaired CD4+ T-cell restoration in the small versus large intestine of HIV-1-positive South Africans receiving combination antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is associated with a massive depletion of intestinal CD4(+) T cells that is only partially reversed by combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Here, we assessed the ability of nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor/nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor treatment to restore the CD4(+) T-cell populations in the intestine of South African patients with AIDS.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with advanced HIV-1 infection who had chronic diarrhea (duration, >4 weeks) and/or unintentional weight loss (>10% decrease from baseline) of uncertain etiology were enrolled.

Persistent microbial translocation and immune activation in HIV-1-infected South Africans receiving combination antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Microbial translocation contributes to immune activation and disease progression during chronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. However, its role in the African AIDS epidemic remains controversial. Here, we investigated the relationship between markers of monocyte activation, plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and HIV-1 RNA in South Africans prioritized to receive combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).

PPE and PE_PGRS proteins of Mycobacterium marinum are transported via the type VII secretion system ESX-5.

ESX-5 is one of the five type VII secretion systems found in mycobacteria. These secretion systems are also known as ESAT-6-like secretion systems. Here, we have determined the secretome of ESX-5 by a proteomic approach in two different strains of Mycobacterium marinum.