Prevalence, Predictors, and Outcomes of HIV Care in HIV-Positive Clients Entering HIV Care With Advanced HIV Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa 2010-2022: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Aims: Sub-Saharan Africa drives global HIV-related mortality, and patients continuously present with advanced HIV disease (AHD) at diagnosis. We describe prevalence, predictors, and treatment outcomes in HIV clients with AHD.

Methods: We systematically reviewed PUBMED, SCOPUS, Web of Science, JSTOR, and CINAHL for relevant studies conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2010 to 2022.

Causes of death in people living with HIV: Lessons from five health facilities in Eswatini.

Background: Eswatini has a high HIV prevalence in adults and, despite being one of the first countries to achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, AIDS-related deaths are still high.

Objectives: This study describes the causes of death among people living with HIV (PLHIV) receiving care at five clinics in Eswatini.

Method: A cross-sectional review of sociodemographic, clinical and mortality data of deceased clients who received care from 01 January 2021 to 30 June 2022, was conducted.

Cervical cancer screening outcomes for HIV-positive women in the Lubombo and Manzini regions of Eswatini-Prevalence and predictors of a positive visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) screen.

This study aimed to describe the prevalence and predictors of a positive VIA (visual inspection with acetic acid) cervical cancer screening test in women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We retrospectively analysed data from women aged ≥15 who accessed VIA screening from health facilities in the Lubombo and Manzini regions of Eswatini. Sociodemographic and clinical data from October 2020 to June 2023 were extracted from the client management information system (CMIS).

Tuberculosis services during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study on the impact of COVID-19 and practices for continued services delivery in Eswatini.

Objectives: To describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis services and the different approaches healthcare workers adopted to ensure continued tuberculosis service delivery in Eswatini.

Study Design: This is a qualitative study with a cross-sectional design.

Methods: Thirteen nurses and 9 doctors who provide tuberculosis care from 10 health facilities participated in an in-depth interview to describe how the COVID-19 pandemic affected tuberculosis services and the approaches adopted to ensure continued patient care.

Implementation of the Automated Medication Dispensing System-Early Lessons From Eswatini.

This article describes the implementation of an automated medication dispensing system (AMDS) in Eswatini to increase medication access and presents the early lessons from this implementation. The AMDS was installed at four health facilities across two regions through collaborative stakeholder engagement. Healthcare workers were trained, and clients who met the inclusion criteria accessed their medications from the system.

Diabetes-Tuberculosis Care in Eswatini: A Qualitative Study of Opportunities and Recommendations for Effective Services Integration.

This study describes the availability of basic services, equipment, and commodities for integrated DM-TB services, best practices by healthcare workers, and opportunities for better integration of DM-TB care in Eswatini. A qualitative design was used. Twenty-three healthcare workers participated in a survey and key informant interview.

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the etiology of bacterial pneumonia in children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Introduction: Before the introduction of vaccination to protect children from pneumonia, and type B (HiB) were the most frequent aetiological agents causing bacterial pneumonia in children under five years old. However, the etiology of childhood pneumonia appears to be changing and nonvaccine- type , non-typeable , and are becoming more relevant.

Objective: We conducted a systematic review aimed at identifying the common causes of bacterial pneumonia in children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Tuberculosis treatment and resulting abnormal blood glucose: a scoping review of studies from 1981 - 2021.

Background: Hyperglycaemia is a risk factor for tuberculosis. Evidence of changes in blood glucose levels during and after tuberculosis treatment is unclear.

Objective: To compile evidence of changes in blood glucose during and after tuberculosis treatment and the effects of elevated blood glucose changes on treatment outcomes in previously normoglycaemic patients.

GeneXpert rollout in three high-burden tuberculosis countries in Africa: A review of pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis and outcomes from 2001 to 2019.

Background: The rollout of GeneXpert aimed at increasing early diagnosis of tuberculosis to improve treatment outcomes and global tuberculosis targets.

Objective: This study evaluated trends in tuberculosis diagnosis and outcomes pre- and post-introduction of GeneXpert in three African countries - the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria and South Africa.

Methods: Data from 2001 to 2019 were extracted from the World Health Organization's data repository.

Epidemiology and Control of diabetes - tuberculosis comorbidity in Eswatini: protocol for the prospective study of tuberculosis patients on predictive factors, treatment outcomes and patient management practices.

Introduction: Previous studies indicate people with diabetes mellitus (DM) may have varying treatment outcomes when receiving treatment for tuberculosis (TB) and that TB infection or its treatment may predispose them to develop an abnormal blood glucose or type 2 DM. This has implications for Eswatini which is a high TB burden country and with increasing cases of non-communicable diseases including DM. This study will describe the epidemiology of DM-TB comorbidity in a prospective cohort of patients receiving TB treatment and identify best practices for integration of care for non-communicable diseases into TB services in Eswatini.

COVID-19-related research in Africa: a cross-sectional review of the International Clinical Trial Registration Platform (ICTRP).

Objective: The declaration of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a pandemic in early 2020, has seen an upsurge in research globally to fill gaps in the epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 virus impact on health care and clinical management, as well as possible prevention and treatment modalities. Published literature on the different types of COVID-19 research conducted globally is varied and is particularly limited in Africa. This study sets out to describe the COVID-19-related research registered and conducted on the African continent.

Trends in clinical trial registration in sub-Saharan Africa between 2010 and 2020: a cross-sectional review of three clinical trial registries.

Objective: Prospective registration of clinical trials is an ethical, scientific, and legal requirement that serves several functions, including minimising research wastage and publication bias. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is increasingly hosting clinical trials over the past few years, and there is limited literature on trends in clinical trial registration and reporting in SSA. Therefore, we set out to determine the trends in clinical trials registered in SSA countries between 2010 and July 2020.

Considerations for Establishing Successful Coronavirus Disease Vaccination Programs in Africa.

The accelerated development of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) candidate vaccines is intended to achieve worldwide immunity. Ensuring COVID-19 vaccination is crucial to stemming the pandemic, reclaiming everyday life, and helping restore economies. However, challenges exist to deploying these vaccines, especially in resource-limited sub-Saharan Africa.

Estimating the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on childhood pneumonia in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review.

: This study aimed to summarise the evidence on the impact of routine administration of 10-valent and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on pneumonia in children under five years of age in sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic search of the literature was conducted including primary research reporting on the impact of 10- or 13-valent pneumococcal vaccines on childhood pneumonia in a sub-Saharan African country. Case-control, cohort, pre-post and time-series study designs were eligible for inclusion.

Factors associated with COVID-19 infections and mortality in Africa: a cross-sectional study using publicly available data.

Introduction: The current COVID-19 pandemic is a global threat. This elicits questions on the level of preparedness and capacity of health systems to respond to emergencies relative to other parts of the world.

Methods: This cross-sectional study uses publicly available core health data for 53 African countries to determine risk factors for cumulative COVID-19 deaths and cases per million in all countries in the continent.

Cervical and anal human papillomavirus infection in adult women in American Samoa.

The prevalence of cervical and anal human papillomavirus (HPV) and risk factors associated with infections were evaluated in a cross-sectional study of 211 adult women in American Samoa. Overall, 53% of women reported ever having a Pap smear. Cervical and anal HPV was detected in 10% and 16% of women, respectively; 4% of women had concurrent cervical and anal HPV.

Cancer in American Samoa.

This study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, assessed cancer awareness and service needs in American Samoa. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in American Samoa, yet cancer specific resources are lacking. Assistance is needed to help: 1) increase cancer outreach and community awareness; 2) increase the cancer capacity of health professionals; 3) improve laboratory capacity for cancer screening and detection; and 4) establish a comprehensive and coordinated system of cancer services.

Expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptors during ischemia-reperfusion and its role in determination of apoptosis and left ventricular dysfunction.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to determine the role of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptors (LOX-1), a recently identified oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) receptor, in ischemia-reperfusion injury to the heart.

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) released during ischemia-reperfusion oxidize low-density lipoproteins; LOX-1 is upregulated by ox-LDL and ROS, and is involved in cell injury.

Methods: Anesthetized rats were subjected to left coronary artery ligation for 60 min (n = 10, ischemia group), or ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion (n = 30, ischemia-reperfusion group).

LOX-1 inhibition in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury: modulation of MMP-1 and inflammation.

A recently identified lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor (LOX-1) mediates endothelial cell injury and facilitates inflammatory cell adhesion. We studied the role of LOX-1 in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 60 min of left coronary artery (LCA) ligation, followed by 60 min of reperfusion.