Caries experience by socio-behavioural characteristics in HIV-1-infected and uninfected Ugandan mothers - a multilevel analysis.

Objectives: To assess caries experience in Ugandan mothers according to HIV status, socio-behavioural-characteristics, gingival bleeding status and to examine whether HIV status impacts the association of socio-behavioural characteristics with caries experience. Third, using multilevel analysis, this study assessed to what extent surface-specific caries experience varied between and within individuals.

Materials And Methods: Caries experience was recorded using the World Health Organization's Decayed, Missed and Filled Teeth/Surfaces indices from a cohort of 164 HIV-1-infected Ugandan mothers and a cross sectional comparison group of 181 negative controls.

Policy Challenges Facing the Scale Up of Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) in Uganda.

Background: Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) of malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea is an equity focused strategy, to increase access to care for febrile illness in children under-5 years of age, in rural communities. Lay community members are trained to diagnose and treat malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea in children, and to identify and refer very ill children. Today, many low-income countries including Uganda, have a policy for iCCM which is being rolled out through public sector community health workers (CHWs).

Impact of vitamin D status and cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide on adults with active pulmonary TB globally: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Tuberculosis remains a global threat and a public health problem that has eluded attempts to eradicate it. Low vitamin D levels have been identified as a risk factor for tuberculosis infection and disease. The human cathelicidin LL-37 has both antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties and is dependent on vitamin D status.

Spatial Analysis of Ambient Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Hospitalization Across Sweden.

The associations of multiple pollutants and cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity, and the spatial variations of these associations have not been nationally studied in Sweden. The main aim of this study was, thus, to spatially analyze the associations between ambient air pollution (black carbon, carbon monoxide, particulate matter (both <10 µm and <2.5 µm in diameter) and Sulfur oxides considered) and CVD admissions while controlling for neighborhood deprivation across Sweden from 2005 to 2010.

An Algorithm (LaD) for Monitoring Childbirth in Settings Where Tracking All Parameters in the World Health Organization Partograph Is Not Feasible: Design and Expert Validation.

Background: After determining the key childbirth monitoring items from experts, we designed an algorithm (LaD) to represent the experts' suggestions and validated it. In this paper we describe an abridged algorithm for labor and delivery management and use theoretical case to compare its performance with human childbirth experts.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the LaD algorithm, its development, and its validation.

Linkage to intensive adherence counselling among HIV-positive persons on ART with detectable viral load in Gomba district, rural Uganda.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is a primary determinant of sustained viral suppression, HIV transmission risk, disease progression and death. The World Health Organization recommends that adherence support interventions be provided to people on ART, but implementation is suboptimal. We evaluated linkage to intensive adherence counselling (IAC) for persons on ART with detectable viral load (VL).

Comparative analysis of perinatal outcomes and birth defects amongst adolescent and older Ugandan mothers: evidence from a hospital-based surveillance database.

Background: Uganda has one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in sub-Saharan Africa. We compared the risk of adverse birth outcomes between adolescents (age 12-19 years) and mothers (age 20-34 years) in four urban hospitals.

Methods: Maternal demographics, HIV status, and birth outcomes of all live births, stillbirths, and spontaneous abortions delivered from August 2015 to December 2018 were extracted from a hospital-based birth defects surveillance database.

Quality of life and associated factors among HIV positive patients after completion of treatment for Cryptococcal meningitis.

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis (CCM) remains one of the leading causes of mortality among HIV infected patients. Due to factors such as the severity of CCM pathology, the quality of life (QOL) of patients post-treatment is likely to be poor. Few studies have reported on QOL of CCM patients post treatment completion.

The simple direct slide method is comparable to indirect Lowenstein Jensen proportion culture for detecting rifampicin resistant tuberculosis.

Drug resistant tuberculosis remains a worldwide problem that requires prompt diagnosis. The WHO recommended direct, rapid Xpert MTB/RIF is prohibitively costly, therefore, there is a need to validate a rapid, affordable DST for use in low- and middle-income settings. The technical performance and time to results of a simple, direct microscopy-based slide DST (SDST) assay for diagnosis of rifampicin-resistant TB was evaluated in Uganda.

Deletions of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes were uncommon in rapid diagnostic test-negative Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Uganda.

Background: Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) play a key role in malaria case management. The most widely used RDT identifies Plasmodium falciparum based on immunochromatographic recognition of P. falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2).

Birthweight and gestational age-specific neonatal mortality rate in tertiary care facilities in Eastern Central Uganda.

Background: An estimated 2.8 million neonatal deaths occur each year globally, which accounts for at least 45% of deaths in children aged less than 5 years. Birthweight and gestational age-specific mortality estimates are limited in low-resource countries like Uganda.

Non-uptake of viral load testing among people receiving HIV treatment in Gomba district, rural Uganda.

Background: Viral load (VL) testing is the gold-standard approach for monitoring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment success and virologic failure, but uptake is suboptimal in resource-limited and rural settings. We conducted a cross-sectional study of risk factors for non-uptake of VL testing in rural Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of uptake of VL testing among randomly selected people with HIV (PWH) receiving anti-retroviral treatment (ART) for at least 6 months at all eight primary health centers in Gomba district, rural Uganda.

Bean-based nutrient-enriched puffed snacks: Formulation design, functional evaluation, and optimization.

School-age children frequently consume snacks. However, most of the snacks they consume are of low nutritional quality. The objective of this study was to develop a nutrient-rich and acceptable extruded bean-based snack, which could contribute to improved nutrient intake, especially for school-age children.

Antiretroviral treatment and its impact on oral health outcomes in 5 to 7 year old Ugandan children: A 6 year follow-up visit from the ANRS 12174 randomized trial.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy for HIV in sub-Saharan Africa has transformed the highly infectious virus to a stable chronic condition, with the advent of Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The longterm effects of HAART on the oral health of children are understudied.

Objective: To compare the effect of lopinavir-ritonavir and lamivudine on oral health indicators (dental caries, gingivitis, tooth eruption, and oral health related quality of life) in 5 to 7 year old HIV-1 exposed uninfected children from the ANRS 12174 trial.

Descriptive sensory analysis and consumer preferences of bean sauces.

Sensory acceptability of value-added bean products is a critical determinant of their consumption. This study determined the factors influencing consumer preference of processed beans. Dry common beans ( L) processed by boiling, roasting, and extrusion were milled into flour and used to make bean sauces.

"You would not be in a hurry to go back home": patients' willingness to participate in HIV/AIDS clinical trials at a clinical and research facility in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Few studies have examined factors associated with willingness of people living with HIV (PLHIV) to participate in HIV treatment clinical trials in Sub-Saharan Africa. We assessed the factors associated with participation of PLHIV in HIV treatment clinical trials research at a large urban clinical and research facility in Uganda.

Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), adult HIV clinic between July 2016 and January 2017.

Implementation of the Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response guidelines: Lessons from annual health system strengthening interventions in the Rwenzori Sub-Region, Western Uganda.

Aim: To determine the health facility-based perinatal mortality rate, its causes and avoidable factors using the perinatal mortality surveillance and response guidelines.

Design: This was an action study conducted in one of the districts in Western Uganda from 1 January-31 December 2019.

Methods: A total of 20 perinatal death cases were recruited consecutively.

Association Between Immunoglobulin E Levels and Kaposi Sarcoma in African Adults With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

It has been demonstrated that activated mast cells (MCs) are enriched in Kaposi sarcoma (KS) tumors and contribute to the inflammatory microenvironment. Mechanisms driving MC activation, however, are incompletely understood. We sought to understand whether immunoglobulin E (IgE), a potent activator of MCs, was associated with KS incidence and severity.

What explains sub-national variation in maternal mortality rates within developing countries? A political economy explanation.

Available evidence on maternal mortality rates (MMR) reveals stark differences not only between but also sub-nationally within countries. However, the causes of sub-national variation in MMR remain under-researched and under-theorised. This is a serious problem given the widespread reliance on local authorities to deliver health services in developing countries, which means that sub-national efforts to curb MMR are critical.

Determinants of loss to follow-up among HIV positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in a test and treat setting: A retrospective cohort study in Masaka, Uganda.

Background: Retaining patients starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) and ensuring good adherence remain cornerstone of long-term viral suppression. In this era of test and treat (T&T) policy, ensuring that patients starting ART remain connected to HIV clinics is key to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. Currently, limited studies have evaluated the effect of early ART initiation on loss to follow up in a routine health care delivery setting.

Haemoparasitic Infections in Cattle from a Rhodesiense Sleeping Sickness Endemic District of Eastern Uganda.

We carried out a baseline survey of cattle in Kaberamaido district, in the context of controlling the domestic animal reservoir of human African trypanosomiasis (rHAT) towards elimination Cattle blood was subjected to capillary tube centrifugation followed by measurement of the packed cell volume (PCV) and examination of the buffy coat area for motile trypanosomes. Trypanosomes were detected in 561 (21.4%) out of 2621 cattle screened by microscopy.

Molecular genetic diversity and differentiation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, L. 1758) in East African natural and stocked populations.

Background: The need for enhancing the productivity of fisheries in Africa triggered the introduction of non-native fish, causing dramatic changes to local species. In East Africa, the extensive translocation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the major factors in this respect. Using 40 microsatellite loci with SSR-GBS techniques, we amplified a total of 664 individuals to investigate the genetic structure of O.

Association of maternal HIV-1 severity with dental caries: an observational study of uninfected 5- to 7-yr-old children of HIV-1-infected mothers without severe immune suppression.

Treatment programs to prevent perinatal and postnatal HIV-1 transmission have become available in sub-Saharan Africa, leading to an emerging population of HIV-1 exposed uninfected (HEU) children. Exposure to HIV-1 in utero and during breastfeeding may increase the risk of morbidity and mortality in HEU children. This study estimated the association of the severity of maternal HIV-1 infection as assessed by CD4 count and viral load at baseline (7 d postpartum), with  dmft count of their 5- to 7-yr-old HEU offspring.

Multi-response optimization of extrusion conditions of grain amaranth flour by response surface methodology.

The study was designed to optimize extrusion processing conditions for production of instant grain amaranth flour for complementary feeding. Multi-response criteria using response surface methodology and desirability function analysis were employed during the study. The central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used to determine the level of processing variables and to generate the experimental runs.