Ethical issues surrounding the implementation of long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: This article discusses the ethical issues surrounding the integration of long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy (LA-ART) in the programmatic management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As the medical landscape evolves, implementing LA-ART introduces many ethical issues that should be considered for the success of scale-up in diverse settings.

Methods: This article examines key issues such as bioethical concerns around the rollout of LA-ART, including regulatory requirements, a person's autonomy, informed consent, privacy and confidentiality; the societal implications of providing LA-ART, including the impact on stigma and discrimination; ethics around who receives LA-ART, financial accessibility, equitable access, inclusive decision-making and cultural sensitivity; and the ethics of providing an expensive intervention, including cost-effectiveness, supply chain sustainability and resource allocation.

Role of metal(ii) hexacyanocobaltate(iii) surface chemistry for prebiotic peptides synthesis.

Double metal cyanide (DMC), a heterogeneous catalyst, provides a surface for the polymerization of amino acids. Based on the hypothesis, the present study is designed to evaluate favorable environmental conditions for the chemical evolution and origin of life, such as the effects of temperature and time on the oligomerization of glycine and alanine on metal(ii) hexacyanocobaltate(iii), MHCCo. A series of MHCCo complexes were synthesized and characterized by XRD and FT-IR techniques.

Diagnosis of Primary Trimethylaminuria in an Affected Patient With a Rare Genotype in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Primary trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is characterized by systemic accumulation of trimethylamine (TMA) due to the deficient activity of flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3). The disorder does not have detrimental pathophysiological consequences, but patients develop psychological symptoms due to the emotionally debilitating bodily odor defined as decaying fish that affects their quality of life. Here, we illustrate the utility of a diagnostic workup on an adolescent with primary TMAU, including biochemical and genetic investigations that confirm the diagnosis.

Belonging: a meta-theme analysis of women's community-making in group antenatal and postnatal care.

Health care systems are social institutions simulating microcosms of wider societies where unequal distribution of power and resources translate into inequities in health outcomes, experiences and access to services. Growing research on participatory women's groups positively highlights the influence of group-based care on health and wellbeing for women, their infants, families and wider communities across different countries. With similarities in ethos and philosophies, group care combines relational, group-based facilitation and clinical care, uniquely offering an opportunity to examine the intersections of health and social care.

Full genomic sequence characterization of the chikungunya virus from an imported case with serum viral concentration below culturable level.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection, responsible for chikungunya fever and occasionally severe symptoms, has emerged as an increasing global health concern following several large-scale outbreaks from Africa, Asia, Europe, and America. Over the past two decades, South and Southeast Asia regions have gradually become hot spots for outbreaks involving multiple CHIKV lineages. In China, most CHIKV infections are imported, making it crucial to trace the origins and transmission routes for effective prevention and control.

Human mpox co-infection with advanced HIV-1 and XDR-TB in a MSM patient previously vaccinated against smallpox: A case report.

Mpox is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the mpox virus (MPXV). Historically, the majority of mpox cases have been documented in Central Africa. However, since May 2022, there has been a notable rise in reported cases from regions beyond Africa.

Expanding Global Surgery Services to Include Reduction Mammaplasty Procedures.

Background: Global surgery is a multidisciplinary field that aims to deliver equitable and improved surgical services. Surgical care has been previously considered to play a limited role in the global burden of disease, in part due to its complexity and associated expense. A functional health system mandates high-quality, accessible, and timely surgical care.

The Social Organization of Quality of Life of Older People in Long-Term Care Facilities: An Institutional Ethnography Approach.

With the growing population in South Africa, there is a need for long-term care facilities. Using institutional ethnography, this study investigates the quality of life for older adults in South African long-term care facilities. Twenty key informants and 10 staff members were purposively sampled across 5 long-term care facilities in Gauteng, South Africa, for participation in in-depth interviews and observations.

Winner-loser effects on life history traits.

Ageing of adult males could be accelerated by both high mating/reproductive effort and fighting for mates. Testing the relative importance of these factors is challenging, however, because males that win fights also tend to have more mates. We used a 2 x 2 experimental design to test how a prolonged (9 week) period of either winning or losing fights, and either high or low reproductive effort (manipulating by varying access to females) interact to affect male ageing and future reproduction allocation in the mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki.

Women with Symptoms Suggestive of ADHD Are More Likely to Report Symptoms of Iron Deficiency and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding.

Background/objectives: Iron deficiency has been suggested as a potential mechanism for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) development due to involvement in neurotransmitter synthesis and transporter expression. As iron deficiency is particularly common in women of reproductive age, often due to heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), we aimed to explore the relationship between iron deficiency, HMB and ADHD in women.

Methods: We screened women (18-49 years) at university and local sporting events in Western Australia.

Factors Influencing Energy Drink Usage Amongst Pupils in the Mahikeng Sub-District, Northwest.

The high consumption rate of energy drinks among pupils is a serious public health concern in various countries, including South Africa. Excessive consumption of energy drinks that contain elevated caffeine and sugar levels has the potential to lead to the development of addictions, strokes, dehydration, sleeping disorders, mental health and central nervous disorders, hypertension, digestive problems, and anxiety. Most pupils regard energy drinks as regular soft drinks and lack knowledge of the active ingredients contained in energy drinks and their side effects.

Multiclass Determination of 87 Mixed Veterinary Drugs, Pesticides and Mycotoxin Residues in Beef Muscle Samples by Ionic Liquid-Based Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction and Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

A miniaturised, eco-friendly and efficient multiclass method for the simultaneous determination of 87 veterinary drugs, pesticides and mycotoxin residues in beef muscle samples by ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (IL-DLLME) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808 and ISO/IEC 17025: 2017. Under IL-DLLME optimum conditions, matrix calibration yielded a coefficient of determination () ranging from 0.99942 to 0.

Fabrication of Cu/SiC Surface Composite via Thermo-Mechanical Process (Friction Stir Processing) for Heat Sink Application.

For the busting of heat, generated in electronic packages, relevant materials need to be developed. Metal matrix composites may be considered as an option to tailor the properties of a material (Cu) by incorporating an additional phase (SiC) for fulfilling the requirements of thermal management systems. The composite (Cu/SiC) was manufactured by friction stir processing.

"Grooving in My Body": A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study of Vibroacoustic Therapy's Effects on Emotion Regulation and Attention in Autistic Children.

: Autistic children often face challenges with attention and emotion regulation, which can impact their socio-communication skills and overall well-being. Vibroacoustic therapy (VAT), a sensory-based intervention using low-frequency sound vibrations, may offer a novel approach to address these challenges. The objective of this pilot study is to explore the feasibility and potential efficacy of VAT in improving attention and emotion regulation in autistic children aged 9-12 years.

Blood-Based DNA Methylation Biomarkers to Identify Risk and Progression of Cardiovascular Disease.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide, with cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounting for half of all NCD-related deaths. The biological onset of CVD may occur long before the development of clinical symptoms, hence the urgent need to understand the molecular alterations underpinning CVD, which would facilitate intervention strategies to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. There is evidence to suggest that CVD develops through a complex interplay between genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors.

Genomic Advancements in Assessing Growth Performance, Meat Quality, and Carcass Characteristics of Goats in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.

Goats play a vital role in global livestock systems, particularly in developing regions, where they contribute significantly to meat production and smallholder livelihoods. Indigenous goats in sub-Saharan Africa are essential to low-input farming systems, valued for their adaptability to harsh environments and their provision of meat, milk, and income. However, genomic research on these goats remains limited despite their importance.

Molecular Epidemiology of Serotype 1: A Systematic Review of Circulating Clones and Clonal Clusters.

serotype 1 is one of the most prevalent serotypes commonly associated with invasive pneumococcal disease cases and outbreaks worldwide. Several sequence types of this serotype have been identified globally, including those exhibiting both high virulence potential and antimicrobial resistance profiles. This systematic review presents the global distribution of clones of pneumococcal serotype 1, describing their circulating patterns in various regions in the world.

Base-Labile Safety-Catch Linker: Synthesis and Applications in Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis.

The safety-catch concept involves a protecting group that remains stable under a range of chemical conditions and subsequently becomes labile under one of those conditions upon a chemical modification of the protecting group. The safety-catch approach introduces flexibility into the scheme, enabling the use of the same reagent in two distinct steps of the chemical process. For example, it facilitates α-amino deprotection and final cleavage in a solid-phase peptide synthesis scheme.

A Retrospective Analysis of the Changes in Prediabetes-Associated Markers of Thyroid Function in Patients from Durban, South Africa.

Thyroid dysfunction and type 2 diabetes melittus (T2DM) are two of the most common endocrine disorders, and the emerging condition of prediabetes necessitates additional research to better understand the complex interactions between thyroid hormones, metabolic regulation, and the progression from prediabetes to T2DM. This study sought to investigate changes in selected markers of thyroid function in patients with pre-diabetes. Upon obtaining ethics permission, blood samples were collected from patients in King Edward Hospital in Durban, South Africa.

Structure-Function Analysis of the Self-Sufficient CYP102 Family Provides New Insights into Their Biochemistry.

Cytochromes P450 are a superfamily of heme-containing monooxygenases involved in a variety of oxidative metabolic reactions, primarily catalyzing the insertion of an oxygen atom into a C-H bond. CYP102 represents the first example of a bacterial P450 that can be classified as a type II (eukaryotic-like) P450 and functions as a catalytically self-sufficient enzyme. These unique features have made CYP102 an attractive system for studying P450 structure and function.

Genetic Variants Associated with Suspected Neonatal Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy: A Study in a South African Context.

Neonatal encephalopathy suspected to be due to hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (NESHIE) carries the risk of death or severe disability (cognitive defects and cerebral palsy). Previous genetic studies on NESHIE have predominantly focused on exomes or targeted genes. The objective of this study was to identify genetic variants associated with moderate-severe NESHIE through whole-genome, unbiased analysis.

Rat Model of Endogenous and Exogenous Hyperammonaemia Induced by Different Diets.

Two different diets able to induce dietary hyperammonaemia (a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet and a methionine-deficient diet enriched with ammonium acetate (MAD + 20% ammonium acetate)) were tested in a rat model. The diets were shown to have different modes of action, inducing significant hyperammonaemia (HA) and growth retardation in the rats, with different metabolic consequences. The MCD diet resulted in the development of endogenous HA, with a decrease in bilirubin levels and an increase in hepatic fat content.

Exploring the Inhibitory Potential of Sodium Alginate Against Digestive Enzymes Linked to Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are major health concerns worldwide, often managed with treatments that have significant limitations and side effects. This study examines the potential of sodium alginates, extracted from and , to inhibit digestive enzymes involved in managing these conditions. We chemically characterized the sodium alginates and confirmed their structural integrity using FTIR, NMR, and TGA.

An Evaluation of the Potential Radiosensitization Effect of Spherical Gold Nanoparticles to Induce Cellular Damage Using Different Radiation Qualities.

Global disparities in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment demand a unified international effort to reduce the disease's burden and improve outcomes. Despite advances in chemotherapy and radiotherapy, many tumors remain resistant to these treatments. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have shown promise as radiosensitizers, enhancing the effectiveness of low-energy X-rays by emitting Auger electrons that cause localized cellular damage.

A Review of Recent Developments in Analytical Methods for Determination of Phosphorus from Environmental Samples.

Phosphorus is essential to environmental systems because it affects both agricultural productivity and ecological balance. Since it contributes to eutrophication and pollution problems, its existence in a variety of environmental matrices, including soil, water, and air, necessitates precise and effective determination methods for monitoring and managing its levels. This review paper provides an extensive overview of the latest advancements in analytical techniques for measuring phosphorus in environmental samples.