Laparoscopic versus Open Pediatric Surgery: Three Decades of Comparative Studies.

Introduction:  Despite its wide acceptance, the superiority of laparoscopic versus open pediatric surgery has remained controversial. There is still a call for well-founded evidence. We reviewed the literature on studies published in the last three decades and dealing with advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopy compared to open surgery.

Disclosure to South African children about their own HIV status over time.

Disclosure to children living with HIV (CLHIV) about their own status is associated with positive outcomes such as treatment adherence, but prior cross-sectional studies in sub-Saharan Africa report disclosure rates of <50%. This study aims to assess pediatric disclosure over time. 548 CLHIV were followed from 2/2013-4/2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Clinical Quiz-A Rare Case of Anal Canal Duplication in the Context of Currarino Syndrome.

Currarino syndrome (CS) is a rare condition that presents with any combination of a sacral defect, a presacral mass, and an anorectal malformation. This collection, referred to as Currarino's triad, may not necessarily present as all three abnormalities in the diagnosis of the syndrome. Anal canal duplication (ACD) is an even rarer occurrence.

A position statement and practical guide to the use of particulate filtering facepiece respirators (N95, FFP2, or equivalent) for South African health workers exposed to respiratory pathogens including and SARS-CoV-2.

Summary: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted mainly by aerosol in particles <10 µm that can remain suspended for hours before being inhaled. Because particulate filtering facepiece respirators ('respirators'; e.g.

Computer-aided X-ray screening for tuberculosis and HIV testing among adults with cough in Malawi (the PROSPECT study): A randomised trial and cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: Suboptimal tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics and HIV contribute to the high global burden of TB. We investigated costs and yield from systematic HIV-TB screening, including computer-aided digital chest X-ray (DCXR-CAD).

Methods And Findings: In this open, three-arm randomised trial, adults (≥18 years) with cough attending acute primary services in Malawi were randomised (1:1:1) to standard of care (SOC); oral HIV testing (HIV screening) and linkage to care; or HIV testing and linkage to care plus DCXR-CAD with sputum Xpert for high CAD4TBv5 scores (HIV-TB screening).

South African Society of Clinical Microbiology infection diagnosis, management and infection prevention and control guideline.

infection (CDI) is a problem in both developed and developing countries and is a common hospital-acquired infection. This guideline provides evidence-based practical recommendations for South Africa and other developing countries. The scope of the guideline includes CDI diagnostic approaches; adult, paediatric and special populations treatment options; and surveillance and infection prevention and control recommendations.

Safety and immunogenicity of a plant-derived rotavirus-like particle vaccine in adults, toddlers and infants.

Background: This study is the first clinical trial for a parenteral non-replicating rotavirus vaccine developed using virus-like particle (VLP) technology.

Methods: This open-labeled, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in two parts: Part A (a first-in-human study in Australian adults) and Part B (ascending dose and descending age in South African adults, toddlers and infants). In Part A, two cohorts of 10 adults were assigned to receive a single intramuscular injection of 1 of 2 escalating dose levels of the rotavirus VLP (Ro-VLP) vaccine (7 μg or 21 μg) or placebo.

Zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8) autoantibody prevalence in black South African participants with type 1 diabetes.

Background: Autoantibodies to β-cell specific antigens are markers of type 1 diabetes. The most recently identified autoantibodies are targeted to the zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8) protein located in the membrane of β-cell insulin secretory granules. The prevalence of ZnT8 autoantibodies in newly diagnosed participants with type 1 diabetes has been found to range from 33 to 80 %.

Association of Post Transplantation Anaemia and Persistent Secondary Hyperparathyroidism with Diastolic Function in Stable Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Introduction: We hypothesized that post transplantation anaemia and persistent secondary hyperparathyroidism are potential determinants of diastolic function in stable kidney transplant recipients.

Methods: We assessed traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors and determined carotid artery intima-media thickness and plaque by ultrasound, arterial function by applanation tonometry using SphygmoCor software and diastolic function by echocardiography in 43 kidney transplant recipients with a transplant duration of ≥6 months, no acute rejection and a glomerular filtration rate of ≥15 mL/min/1.73m.

The comorbidity of HIV, hypertension and diabetes: a qualitative study exploring the challenges faced by healthcare providers and patients in selected urban and rural health facilities where the ICDM model is implemented in South Africa.

Background: PLWH are living longer as a result of advancement and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. As the life expectancy of PLWH increases, they are at increased risk of hypertension and diabetes. HIV chronic co-morbidities pose a serious public health concern as they are linked to increased use and need of health services, decreased overall quality of life and increased mortality.

Prevalent human papillomavirus infection increases the risk of HIV acquisition in African women: advancing the argument for human papillomavirus immunization.

Objective: Vaccine-preventable human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is common, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where HIV risk is also high. However, unlike other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HPV's role in HIV acquisition is unclear. We evaluated this relationship using data from MTN-003, a clinical trial of HIV chemoprophylaxis among cisgender women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Posterior Cloacal Variant with Clitorolabial Transposition and a Rectoperineal Fistula.

We present a case and discuss the management of a posterior cloacal variant not as yet described in the literature. A 5-week-old infant presented to our institution with a posterior cloacal variant and transposition of the clitoris and labia. After initial radiological investigations, staged operative intervention was performed over a 1-year period.

Formal institutional guidelines promotes the vaginal approach to hysterectomy in patients with benign disease and non-prolapsed uterus.

Objectives: This study was undertaken at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital to determine if the use of formal guidelines and a standardised surgical technique would increase the rate of vaginal hysterectomy (VH) and result in an overall decline in open abdominal hysterectomy (AH).

Study Design: All women admitted between July 2001 and December 2014 for hysterectomy due to benign conditions, meeting the guidelines criteria (vaginally accessible uterus, uterus ≤ 12 weeks size or ≤ 280 g on ultrasound examination and pathology confined to the uterus) were included. The surgical route was determined using the Unit surgical decision tree algorithm.

Identification of Novel UGT1A1 Variants Including UGT1A1 454C>A through the Genotyping of Healthy Participants of the HPTN 077 Study.

Cabotegravir (CAB) is an integrase strand-transfer inhibitor of HIV that has proven effective for HIV treatment and prevention in a long-acting injectable formulation, typically preceded by an oral formulation lead-in phase. Previous studies have demonstrated that CAB is primarily metabolized via glucuronidation by uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 and 1A9. In this study, we performed next-generation sequencing of genomic DNA isolated from the HPTN 077 participants to explore the variants within and .

A global point prevalence survey of antimicrobial use in neonatal intensive care units: The no-more-antibiotics and resistance (NO-MAS-R) study.

Background: Global assessment of antimicrobial agents prescribed to infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may inform antimicrobial stewardship efforts.

Methods: We conducted a one-day global point prevalence study of all antimicrobials provided to NICU infants. Demographic, clinical, and microbiologic data were obtained including NICU level, census, birth weight, gestational/chronologic age, diagnoses, antimicrobial therapy (reason for use; length of therapy), antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP), and 30-day in-hospital mortality.

Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities in urban African people living with HIV in South Africa.

Background: Studies from high income countries report that HIV-positive people have an impaired systolic and diastolic cardiac function compared to HIV-negative people. It is unclear if results can be translated directly to the Sub-Saharan Africa context. This study assesses electro- and echocardiographic characteristics in an urban African population, comparing HIV-positive people (treated and not yet treated) with HIV-negative controls.

A Narrative Review of Motor Competence in Children and Adolescents: What We Know and What We Need to Find Out.

Lack of physical activity is a global public health problem causing not only morbidity and premature mortality, but it is also a major economic burden worldwide. One of the cornerstones of a physically active lifestyle is Motor Competence (MC). MC is a complex biocultural attribute and therefore, its study requires a multi-sectoral, multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary approach.

The DIANA Study: Continued Access to Darunavir/Ritonavir (DRV/r) and Long-Term Safety Follow-Up in HIV-1-Infected Pediatric Patients Aged 3 to < 18 Years.

Introduction: Darunavir is a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitor boosted with ritonavir (DRV/r) or cobicistat.

Objective: This study provided continued access to DRV/r and assessed long-term safety in patients aged 3 to < 18 years.

Methods: Patients who had completed treatment in the DELPHI (TMC114-C212), DIONE (TMC114-TiDP29-C230), or ARIEL (TMC114-TiDP29-C228) studies were eligible to participate if they derived benefit from using DRV/r in countries where it was not available to them.

The effect of calcium supplementation on blood pressure in non-pregnant women with previous pre-eclampsia: A randomized placebo-controlled study.

Background: Low dietary calcium is associated with the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and evidence suggests that the risks associated with pre-eclampsia are reduced by calcium supplementation. In the general (non-pregnant) population, low dietary calcium intake is associated with hypertension with inconsistent evidence that calcium supplementation may reduce blood pressure. Women with pre-eclampsia are also at risk of hypertension later in life.