Inflammatory, Hematological, and Biochemical Biomarkers in COVID-19 Patients.

Introduction: There are few accurate prognostic indications of the illness's development and severity for COVID-19, despite certain biomarkers having been investigated. The unexpected nature of COVID-19's course, which can quickly progress from asymptomatic to life-threatening symptoms, lies at the heart of the disease's intricacy. Predicting SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity through laboratory biomarkers and as such, identifying the patients' illness severity at the time of their initial admission would be crucial in improving patient care.

Mutational spectrum of DNA damage and mismatch repair genes in prostate cancer.

Over the past few years, a number of studies have revealed that a significant number of men with prostate cancer had genetic defects in the DNA damage repair gene response and mismatch repair genes. Certain of these modifications, notably gene alterations known as homologous recombination (HRR) genes; , , , , and genes for DNA mismatch repair (MMR); , , , and are connected to a higher risk of prostate cancer and more severe types of the disease. The DNA damage repair (DDR) is essential for constructing and diversifying the antigen receptor genes required for T and B cell development.

Pioneering Informed Consent for Return of Research Results to Breast Cancer Patients Facing Barriers to Implementation of Genomic Medicine: The Kenyan BRCA1/2 Testing Experience Using Whole Exome Sequencing.

Introduction: Obtaining informed consent from study participants and disseminating the findings responsibly is a key principle required for ethically conducted clinical and genetic research. Reports from African researchers providing feedback on insights gained during the return of whole exome sequencing (WES) results to breast cancer patients treated in resource-limited settings is lacking.

Aim: The empirical process used to fill this gap in relation to variant detection using WES provided unique insights incorporated into a pathology-supported genetic testing algorithm for return of research results to Kenyan breast cancer patients.

Epstein barr virus IgG and EBER-1 in Burkitt's lymphoma children at a referral hospital in western Kenya.

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is a frequent childhood B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in equatorial Africa associated with infections. Chronic Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infections can lead to host immune stimulation that may trigger genetic translocation(s), neoplastic transformation and proliferation of B cells. We determined EBV immunoglobulin G (IgG) in sera from participants and EBER-1 in tumour sections in confirmed BL cases at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH).

Cytokines associated with Burkitt's lymphoma in western Kenya.

Objective: Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is a common aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in East and Central Africa among children. Persistent infections with Epstein Barr virus or Plasmodium falciparum are associated with immune hyperstimulation. It is hypothesised that inadvertent cytokine responses to infections indirectly or directly influence B cell neoplastic transformation through c-myelocytomatosis (c-myc) gene translocation.

Tumor infiltrating leukocyte density is independent of tumor grade and molecular subtype in aggressive breast cancer of Western Kenya.

Background: Tumors commonly are infiltrated by leukocytes, or tumor infiltrating leukocytes (TILs). It remains unclear, however, if the density and type of individual TILs has a direct or simply correlative role in promoting poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Breast cancer in Kenyan women is aggressive with presentation at a young age, with advanced grade (grade III), large tumor size (>2.

Aggressive breast cancer in western Kenya has early onset, high proliferation, and immune cell infiltration.

Background: Breast cancer incidence and mortality vary significantly among different nations and racial groups. African nations have the highest breast cancer mortality rates in the world, even though the incidence rates are below those of many nations. Differences in disease progression suggest that aggressive breast tumors may harbor a unique molecular signature to promote disease progression.

Hepatitis B infection is highly prevalent among patients presenting with jaundice in Kenya.

Background: Viral hepatitis is a major concern worldwide, with hepatitis A (HAV) and E (HEV) viruses showing sporadic outbreaks while hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses are associated with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The present study determined the proportion, geographic distribution and molecular characterization of hepatitis viruses among patients seeking medical services at hospitals throughout Kenya.

Methods: Patients presenting with jaundice at four selected hospitals were recruited (n = 389).

Career choices and global health engagement: 24-year follow-up of U.S. participants in the Indiana University-Moi University elective.

Background: Global health experiences evoke a profound awareness of cultural differences, inspire learners to prioritize professional values, and provide a lens for addressing global health care challenges. This study compares the long-term career and practice choices of participants in a 2-month Indiana University-Moi University, Kenya elective from 1989-2013 with those of a control group.

Methods: Global health elective (GHE) participants and a random sample of alumni without GHE experience were surveyed on their clinical practice, public health and global health activities.

High Prevalence of HIV Low Abundance Drug-Resistant Variants in a Treatment-Naive Population in North Rift Kenya.

The advent of antiretroviral treatment (ART) has resulted in a dramatic reduction in AIDS-related morbidity and mortality. However, the emergence and spread of antiretroviral drug resistance (DR) threaten to negatively impact treatment regimens and compromise efforts to control the epidemic. It is recommended that surveillance of drug resistance occur in conjunction with scale-up efforts to ensure that appropriate first-line therapy is offered relative to the resistance that exists.

Level of CD8 T Lymphocytes Activation in HIV-Infected Pregnant Women: In the Context of CD38 and HLA-DR Activation Markers.

Background. To date the effect of pregnancy on the immune activation of CD8 T cells that may affect HIV disease progression has not been well studied and remains unclear. Objective.

Esophageal Cancer, the Topmost Cancer at MTRH in the Rift Valley, Kenya, and Its Potential Risk Factors.

Esophageal cancer at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) is the leading cancer in men with a poor prognosis. A case control study (n = 159) aimed at the histology type, gender, and risk indicators was carried out at MTRH. Mantel Haenszel chi-square and logistic regression were employed for analysis.

TP53 mutations, human papilloma virus DNA and inflammation markers in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma from the Rift Valley, a high-incidence area in Kenya.

Background: Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Esophagus is one of the most common malignancies in both men and women in eastern and south-eastern Africa. In Kenya, clinical observations suggest that this cancer is frequent in the Rift Valley area. However, so far, there has been no report on the molecular characteristics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in this area.

Cerebral malaria in children: serum and cerebrospinal fluid TNF-alpha and TGF-beta levels and their relationship to clinical outcome.

This was a prospective study conducted at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya. Twenty-three children admitted to the hospital with cerebral (CM) and 10 children with non-cerebral malaria (NCM) were studied. The aim of the study was to establish and compare levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor (TGF-beta1) in these children.