Death anxiety among the oldest old in Germany. Evidence from the nationally representative 'Old Age in Germany (D80+)'.

Background: There is a lack of studies investigating death anxiety among the oldest old based on a large, nationally representative sample during the pandemic. Thus, our aim was to investigate the prevalence and determinants of death anxiety among the oldest old in Germany during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were taken from the 'Old Age in Germany' (D80+) study.

Circumstances leading to home childbirths among women living in Winterveldt, Tshwane Municipality of South Africa.

Childbirth complications, which may include maternal and perinatal mortality are common among women giving birth at home compared to those giving birth at health care facilities. Increasing access to childbirth in health care facilities improves the maternal and perinatal health outcomes for both the mother and child. There are however reported cases of home childbirth and decreasing numbers of health care facilities' births in developing countries.

Experiences of occupational nurses regarding non-adherent mineworkers with chronic illnesses.

Background: Occupational nurses continue to provide service to mineworkers diagnosed with chronic illnesses, however, non-adherence to medication is prevalent, cause overcrowding, long queues and admission at hospitals as they become sick.

Aim: This study aimed to describe the experience of occupational nurses (ONs) regarding non-adherence to medication among mineworkers diagnosed with chronic illnesses.

Setting: The study was conducted at a selected mine in Gauteng province, South Africa.

Emerging theragnostic radionuclide applications for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health problem. Theragnostic is a term that refers to the integration of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities into a single system for personalized medicine. Theragnostic care in HCC involves the use of imaging techniques to diagnose the cancer and assess its characteristics, such as size, location, and extent of spread.

Understanding the struggle: Unique challenges of adherence in male diabetic patients in Tshwane.

Background: Type 2 diabetes prevalence is steadily increasing worldwide, and South Africa is one of the countries in Africa with the highest prevalence of this disease, along with other non-communicable diseases. The adherence to treatment in male patients with type 2 diabetes is influenced by their attitudes towards medication and how they perceive their condition. To some extent, these factors impact the treatment outcomes for patients undergoing type 2 diabetes treatment.

An evaluation of support to the second victims in Tshwane District Health Services, South Africa.

Background: Initiatives to reduce patient safety incidents (PSI) and support healthcare professionals who may experience psychological trauma as a result are becoming increasingly common. However, little is known about the quality of the support provided by Tshwane District Health Services. Therefore, it is necessary to assess their assistance for the second victims in order to evaluate their effectiveness.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among unvaccinated individuals in a primary care setting, Pretoria.

Background: South Africa faced challenges while implementing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) measures such as mass vaccination. Some people rejected or were hesitant to receive government-recommended vaccines. This study explored COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among unvaccinated individuals in a primary care setting in Pretoria, South Africa.

Role of inter- and extra-lesion tissue, transfer learning, and fine-tuning in the robust classification of breast lesions.

Accurate and unbiased classification of breast lesions is pivotal for early diagnosis and treatment, and a deep learning approach can effectively represent and utilize the digital content of images for more precise medical image analysis. Breast ultrasound imaging is useful for detecting and distinguishing benign masses from malignant masses. Based on the different ways in which benign and malignant tumors affect neighboring tissues, i.

PrEP discontinuation, cycling, and risk: Understanding the dynamic nature of PrEP use among female sex workers in South Africa.

PrEP cycling among women is thought to be safe when there are distinct "seasons of risk." However, cyclical PrEP use over short periods may be associated with increased risk of HIV acquisition. We aimed to characterize key social ecological factors contributing toward PrEP cycling among female sex workers (FSW) in the context of high HIV risk.

Performance of an in-house multiplex PCR assay for HIV-1 drug resistance testing - A cheaper alternative.

Background: Currently, most HIV drug resistance PCR assays amplify the protease-reverse transcriptase (PR-RT) fragment separately from the integrase (IN) fragment. The aim of this study was to develop a multiplex PCR assay that simultaneously amplifies PR-RT and IN fragments for HIV-1 drug-resistance testing.

Methods: The in-house multiplex PCR assay was evaluated on extracted total nucleic acids obtained from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and Lancet laboratories.

Thriving beyond the stethoscope: Unveiling positive mental health among medical students at a University in South Africa.

Introduction: Medical education presents significant challenges for medical students' mental health. Medical students are a vulnerable group, experiencing higher rates of mental health disorders, which can have implications for their well-being and academic performance. Consequently, evaluating Positive mental health (PMH) has become significant in a contemporary and demanding society, particularly among university students.

Corrigendum to "Whole genome molecular analysis of respiratory syncytial virus pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Free State province, South Africa" [Virus Research, Volume 347, September 2024, 199421].

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most predominant viral pathogen worldwide in children with lower respiratory tract infections. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and resulting non-pharmaceutical interventions perturbed the transmission pattern of respiratory pathogens in South Africa. A seasonality shift and RSV resurgence was observed in 2020 and 2021, with several infected children observed.

Highlight selection of radiochemistry and radiopharmacy developments by editorial board.

Background: The Editorial Board of EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry releases a biannual highlight commentary to update the readership on trends in the field of radiopharmaceutical development.

Main Body: This selection of highlights provides commentary on 19 different topics selected by each coauthoring Editorial Board member addressing a variety of aspects ranging from novel radiochemistry to first-in-human application of novel radiopharmaceuticals.

Conclusion: Trends in radiochemistry and radiopharmacy are highlighted.

Monovalent rotavirus vaccine effectiveness and long-term impact among children <5 years old in Antananarivo, Madagascar, 2010-2022.

Background: Monovalent rotavirus vaccine substantially reduced rotavirus disease burden after introduction (May 2014) in Madagascar. We examined the effectiveness and long-term impact on acute watery diarrhea and rotavirus-related hospitalizations among children <5 years old at two hospitals in Antananarivo, Madagascar (2010-2022).

Methods: We used a test-negative case-control design to estimate monovalent rotavirus vaccine effectiveness (VE) against laboratory-confirmed rotavirus hospitalizations among children age 6-23 months with documented vaccination status adjusted for year of symptom onset, rotavirus season, age group, nutritional status, and clinical severity.

A Retrospective Review of the Management of Impacted Coin Ingested in Children.

Introduction: Accidental coin ingestion is a common presentation amongst paediatric patients in emergency departments (ED) worldwide, necessitating prompt management to prevent complications.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the clinical features of paediatric patients with impacted oesophageal coins at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital ED and compare outcomes between the balloon catheter and oesophagoscopic techniques for coin extraction.

Effects of voluntarily consumed sweetened alcohol and naringin on cardiac function in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats.

This study assessed the impact of sweetened alcohol and naringin on cardiac function in Sprague-Dawley rats. Male (n = 40) and female (n = 40) rats were allocated to control, sweetened alcohol (SOH), naringin (NA), and sweetened alcohol with naringin (SOH + NA) groups. SOH and SOH + NA rats received 10% alcohol + 20% fructose in gelatine; SOH + NA and NA rats received 50 mg/kg naringin in gelatine daily for 10 weeks.

A micro-computed tomographic evaluation of maxillary first molar accessory root canal morphology in a Black South African subpopulation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the accessory root canal morphology of maxillary first molars in a Black South African subpopulation.

Methods: Micro-computed tomography was used to investigate 101 maxillary first molars (from 50 male and 51 female teeth, right 53 teeth, left 48 teeth). The prevalence of chamber canals, and the number, type and location (root third) of accessory canals were recorded.

A Quantitative Review of Un-licensed and Off-label Medicines Use in Children Aged 0-2 Years in the Private Sector in South Africa: Extent, Challenges, and Implications.

Background: The global lack of suitable formulations for children leads to off-label and unlicensed medicine use, posing significant risks of adverse effects. Understanding this usage on a national level can help guide interventions for better formulations. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of off-label and unlicensed medicines among children in South Africa's private sector.