Trabecular bone deficits predominate in the appendicular skeleton of midlife women living with HIV: findings from a cross-sectional study in Zimbabwe.

HIV-related mortality has fallen due to scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART), so more women living with HIV (WLH) now live to reach menopause. Menopausal estrogen loss causes bone loss, as do HIV and certain ART regimens. However, quantitative bone data from WLH are few in Africa.

doubletrouble: an R/Bioconductor package for the identification, classification, and analysis of gene and genome duplications.

Summary: Gene and genome duplications are major evolutionary forces that shape the diversity and complexity of life. However, different duplication modes have distinct impacts on gene function, expression, and regulation. Existing tools for identifying and classifying duplicated genes are either outdated or not user-friendly.

Limited reactivity of pyroxene and plagioclase in batch experiments with supercritical CO in the presence of NaCl and NaHCO in the context of CO sequestration via carbonation.

One-step high-pressure and high-temperature direct aqueous mineral carbonation of tailings derived from mining of Platinum Group Metals in South Africa requires a fundamental understanding of the reactivity of the most dominant mineral phases, i.e. pyroxene and plagioclase (66 wt.

Quantifying natural amyloid plaque accumulation in the continuum of Alzheimer's disease using ADNI.

Brain amyloid beta neuritic plaque accumulation is associated with an increased risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD) [Pfeil, J., et al. in Neurobiol Aging 106: 119-129, 2021].

Distribution of informal caregiving for older adults living with or at risk of cognitive decline within and beyond family in rural South Africa.

Objectives: Aging populations will increasingly need care, much of this provided informally particularly in rural areas and in low and middle-income countries. In rural South Africa, formal support is severely limited, and adult children are frequently unavailable due to morbidity, early mortality, employment and migration. We describe how care is shared within and between households.

Human Metapneumovirus: an emerging respiratory pathogen and the urgent need for improved Diagnostics, surveillance, and vaccine development.

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a re-emerging respiratory pathogen causing significant morbidity and mortality, particularly among young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. First identified in 2001, HMPV has since been recognised as a leading cause of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) worldwide. Its transmission occurs through droplets, direct contact, and surface contamination, with crowded spaces and healthcare facilities serving as key environmental amplifiers.

'It is scary to pause treatment': perspectives on HIV cure-related research and analytical treatment interruptions from women diagnosed during acute HIV in Durban, South Africa.

Background: HIV remains a major challenge in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, particularly for young women who face disproportionate risks and barriers to prevention and treatment. Most HIV cure trials, however, occur in high-income countries.

Objective: To examine the perspectives of young women diagnosed with acute HIV in a longitudinal study, focusing on their perceptions on ATI-inclusive HIV cure trials and the barriers and facilitators to participation.

A Survey of Wild Indigenous Orchid Populations in Western Australia Reveals Spillover of Exotic Viruses.

is a terrestrial orchid endemic to southwestern Australia. The virus status of has not been studied. Eighty-three samples from 16 populations were collected, and sequencing was used to identify RNA viruses from them.

The Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Liver Function Among Pregnant Women Living with HIV in Co-Existence with and Without Pre-Eclampsia.

Pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWHIV) are at an increased risk of developing obstetrics complications such as pre-eclampsia (PE). Antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains the standard treatment for PWLWHIV and non-pregnant women. However, its use has been associated with adverse liver conditions, particularly hepatotoxicity, often marked by elevated liver enzymes (LEEs) as demonstrated by an increased aspartate transferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in PWLWHIV on ART.

Bioactive Molecules, Ethnomedicinal Uses, Toxicology, and Pharmacology of Sond (Fabaceae): Systematic Review.

Plants have long been used to treat serious illnesses in both humans and animals. A significant underappreciated medicinal tree, Sond is utilized by many different ethnic groups to cure a wide range of illnesses. A variety of electronic databases, including ScienceDirect, Scopus, Scielo, Scifinder, PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and Google Scholar, were used to search the literature on , using key words such as uses, survey, pharmacology, antigonococcal, toxicity, phytochemistry and others.

Optimizing In Vitro Propagation of Schönland Using Leaf, Root, and Inflorescence.

, a species native to South Africa, is characterized by its limited growth and scarcity, contributing to high production costs. Countries like China and Turkey are known for exporting globally. Tissue culture offers an efficient method for mass-producing unique and beautiful species such as This study tested Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal media supplemented with various concentrations of IBA (0.

Extraction and Processing of Bioactive Phytoconstituents from Widely Used South African Medicinal Plants for the Preparation of Effective Traditional Herbal Medicine Products: A Narrative Review.

Medicinal plants are sources of crude traditional herbal medicines that are utilized to reduce the risk of, treat, or manage diseases in most indigenous communities. This is due to their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It is estimated that about 80% of the population in developing countries rely on herbal traditional medicines for healthcare.

Climate Change-Induced Decline in Succulent in Namibia's Arid Regions.

The global rise in temperatures due to climate change has made it difficult even for specialised desert-adapted plant species to survive on sandy desert soils. Two of Namibia's iconic desert-adapted plant species, and the quiver tree , have recently been shown to be under threat because of climate change. In the current study, three ecologically important Namibian milk bushes were evaluated for their climate change response.

The Effect of the 14:10-Hour Time-Restricted Feeding (TRF) Regimen on Selected Markers of Glucose Homeostasis in Diet-Induced Prediabetic Male Sprague Dawley Rats.

Background: Prediabetes is a condition that often precedes the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Literature evidence indicates that prediabetes is reversible, making it an important therapeutic target for preventing the progression to T2DM. Several studies have investigated intermittent fasting as a possible method to manage or treat prediabetes.

Risk Factors of Standalone and Coexisting Forms of Undernutrition Among Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Study Using Data from 26 Country-Based Demographic and Health Surveys.

Introduction: Undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains a leading public health challenge. It accounts for one-third of the under-five mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study applied the composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) to assess the prevalence of various standalone and coexisting forms of undernutrition and identify associated risk factors.

Cell Morphology, Material Property and Ni(II) Adsorption of Microcellular Injection-Molded Polystyrene Reinforced with Graphene Nanoparticles.

Graphene's incorporation into polymers has enabled the development of advanced polymer/graphene nanocomposites with superior properties. This study focuses on the use of a microcellular foamed polystyrene (PS)/graphene (GP) nanocomposite (3 wt%) for nickel (II) ion removal from aqueous solutions. Adsorption behavior was evaluated through FTIR, TEM, SEM, TGA, and XRD analyses.

Survey and Identification of Fusarium Head Blight Pathogens of Wheat in the Western Cape Region of South Africa.

head blight (FHB) is a major disease affecting wheat production worldwide, caused by multiple species. In this study, seven strains were isolated from wheat fields across the Western Cape region of South Africa and identified through phylogenetic analysis. The strains were classified into three species complexes: the species complex (FGSC), species complex (FIESC), and species complex (FTSC).

HIV Drug Resistance Profile in Clients Experiencing Treatment Failure After the Transition to a Dolutegravir-Based First-Line Antiretroviral Treatment Regimen in Mozambique.

Real-world data on HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) after transitioning to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/lamivudine/dolutegravir (TLD) are limited. We assessed HIVDR rates and patterns in clients with virological failure (VF) after switching from an NNRTI-based regimen to TLD. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gaza, Mozambique (August 2021-February 2022), including adults on first-line ART for ≥12 months who transitioned to TLD and had unsuppressed viral load (VL) ≥ 1000 copies/mL six months post-transition.

Identification of Strains from Animal Cases in Ethiopia and Genetic Characterization by Whole-Genome Sequencing.

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease characterized by rapid onset with usual fatal outcomes in livestock and wildlife. In Ethiopia, anthrax is a persistent disease; however, there are limited data on the isolation and molecular characterization of strains. This study aimed to characterize isolated from animal anthrax outbreaks between 2019 and 2024, from different localities in Ethiopia.

A Novel Strain of Detected from Chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae) on Wild Rodents.

Scrub typhus is caused by intracellular bacteria belonging to the genus . Until 2010, the endemic region was thought to be restricted to the Asia-Pacific region. species have recently been discovered in South America, Africa, Europe, and North America.

Machine Learning Models for the Early Real-Time Prediction of Deterioration in Intensive Care Units-A Novel Approach to the Early Identification of High-Risk Patients.

Predictive machine learning models have made use of a variety of scoring systems to identify clinical deterioration in ICU patients. However, most of these scores include variables that are dependent on medical staff examining the patient. We present the development of a real-time prediction model using clinical variables that are digital and automatically generated for the early detection of patients at risk of deterioration.

Compounds Involved in the Invasive Characteristics of .

L. is native to tropical America and has naturalized in many other tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions in Asia, Africa, Oceania, North and South America, and Europe. infests diverse habitats with a wide range of climatic factors, and its population increases aggressively as one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species.

Qualitative Phytochemical Profiling and In Vitro Antioxidant Potential Evaluation of South African Momordica Balsamina Linn Fruit Pulp.

Linn is a well-known African traditional herb due to its tremendous medicinal and nutritional properties. It is used worldwide for the treatment of different ailments and diseases. In the present study, the phytochemical and antioxidant activity of South African fruit pulp extracts was evaluated.

Millière (Pyralidae, Phycitinae): An Emerging Grapevine Pest in Greece.

The honeydew moth, Millière (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is native to the Mediterranean Basin. However, it has recently been reported as an emerging grapevine pest in southern European Union countries and in the Middle East, North Africa, and South America. This may be attributed to the global warming trends.

Postharvest Practices and Farmers' Knowledge in Managing Maize Pests in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

This study aims to establish the pest management approach for pests of stored maize and determine the current control practices. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 77 smallholder farmers from 16 villages at King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The results revealed that about 50% of the farmers had a formal education, the average farm size was 1 hectare, and they were predominantly cultivating yellow maize.