The burden of Burkitt lymphoma in Africa.

Background: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a relatively common cancer of childhood in tropical Africa, although its precise incidence and continent-wide geographic distribution have not been previously systematically studied.

Methods: Using the methods employed to produce national estimates of cancer incidence for the "Globocan" series of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, along with detailed information on cancer incidence by histological subtype from cancer registries in Africa, we estimate the numbers and rates of incidence by sex, age group, country and region of Africa.

Results: We estimate that the number of new cases that occurred in 2018 to be about 3900, two thirds in males, and 81% in children aged 0-14.

Facility readiness in low and middle-income countries to address care of high risk/ small and sick newborns.

Background: The successful promotion of facility births in low and middle-income countries has not always resulted in improved neonatal outcome. We evaluated key signal functions pertinent to Level II neonatal care to determine facility readiness to care for high risk/ small and sick newborns.

Method: Facility readiness for care of high risk/ small and sick babies was determined through self-evaluation using a pre-designed checklist to determine key signal functions pertinent to Level II neonatal care in selected referral hospitals in Uganda (10), Indonesia (4) and India (2) with focus on the Sub-Saharan country with greater challenges.

Risk factors for Burkitt lymphoma in East African children and minors: A case-control study in malaria-endemic regions in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.

Endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL) is the most common childhood cancer in sub-Saharan African countries, however, few epidemiologic studies have been undertaken and none attempted enrolling cases from multiple countries. We therefore conducted a population-based case-control study of eBL in children aged 0-15 years old in six regions in Northern Uganda, Northern Tanzania and Western Kenya, enrolling 862 suspected cases and 2,934 population controls (response rates 98.5-100%), and processing ~40,000 vials of samples using standardized protocols.

Genome-wide discovery of somatic coding and noncoding mutations in pediatric endemic and sporadic Burkitt lymphoma.

Although generally curable with intensive chemotherapy in resource-rich settings, Burkitt lymphoma (BL) remains a deadly disease in older patients and in sub-Saharan Africa. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positivity is a feature in more than 90% of cases in malaria-endemic regions, and up to 30% elsewhere. However, the molecular features of BL have not been comprehensively evaluated when taking into account tumor EBV status or geographic origin.

Cancer incidence in Northern Uganda (2013-2016).

Gulu Cancer Registry was established in 2014 to assess the incidence and survival of cancer in 4 districts of the Acholi Sub-region of northern Uganda. Here we report the results of the first 4 years of registration (2013-2016) in this largely rural population of 771,514. In total there were 1627 cases of cancers registered; 644 among men (corresponding to an ASR of 106.

Hepatitis B assessment without hepatitis B virus DNA quantification: a prospective cohort study in Uganda.

Background: Chronic hepatitis B infection affects 240 million people, with the highest prevalence in Africa and Asia, and results in 700 000 deaths annually. Access to diagnostics, particularly for hepatitis B virus viral load quantification (HBV DNA), is a major barrier to treatment. We aimed to test World Health Organization guidelines for hepatitis B management in resource-limited settings.

Patterns and treatment outcomes of anorectal malformations in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda.

Background/purpose: Anorectal malformation (ARM) is a common condition. Owing to scarcity of pediatric surgery services in Uganda, however, relatively little is known about this condition.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of medical records of all patients admitted to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) from January 2014 to May 2016.

Where have all the children gone? High HIV prevalence in infants attending nutrition and inpatient entry points.

Introduction: Despite notable progress towards PMTCT, only 50% of HIV-exposed infants in sub-Saharan Africa were tested within the first 2 months of life and only 30% of HIV-infected infants are on antiretroviral treatment. This study assessed HIV prevalence in infants and children receiving care at various service entry points in primary healthcare facilities in Uganda.

Methods: A total of 3600 infants up to 24 months of age were systematically enrolled and tested at four regional hospitals across Uganda.

Estimating the met need for emergency obstetric care (EmOC) services in three payams of Torit County, South Sudan: a facility-based, retrospective cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine the met need for emergency obstetric care (EmOC) services in three Payams of Torit County, South Sudan in 2015 and to determine the frequency of each major obstetric complication.

Design: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: Four primary healthcare centres (PHCCs) and one state hospital in three payams (administrative areas that form a county) in Torit County, South Sudan.

Rapid Serological Tests Ineffectively Screen for HIV Exposure in HIV-Positive Infants.

Background: Data on the performance and utility of rapid serological tests in infants to determine HIV exposure are unclear and in some instances contradictory. This study sought to understand the performance of rapid serological tests in high HIV burden, high Option B+ coverage settings to be used as an HIV exposure screening tool.

Methods: A total of 3600 infants up to 24 months of age at 4 regional hospitals in Uganda were systematically enrolled and tested simultaneously using both HIV rapid serological and nucleic acid-based tests.

Assessment of hospital-based adult triage at emergency receiving areas in hospitals in Northern Uganda.

Background: Limited health service resources must be used in a manner which does "the most for the most". This is partly achieved through the use of a triage system. Whereas efforts have been made to introduce paediatric triage in Uganda such as Emergency Triage Assessment and Treatment Plus (ETAT+), it is not clear if hospitals have local protocols for adult triage being used in each setting.

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma of the head and neck. Literature review and report of the tonsil occurrence in a Ugandan patient.

We report a case of follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) in a 60-year-old Ugandan female who presented with a 6-year history of a progressive left sided tonsillary mass. General systemic examination was unrevealing and the patient underwent left tonsillectomy. She was subsequently lost to follow-up.

Absence of in vivo selection for K13 mutations after artemether-lumefantrine treatment in Uganda.

Background: Individual drug treatment may select resistant parasites in the human body, a process termed in vivo selection. Some single nucleotide polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-resistance transporter (pfcrt) and multidrug resistance gene 1 (pfmdr1) genes have been reportedly selected after artemether-lumefantrine treatment. However, there is a paucity of data regarding in vivo selection of P.

"The Cango Lyec Project - Healing the Elephant": HIV related vulnerabilities of post-conflict affected populations aged 13-49 years living in three Mid-Northern Uganda districts.

Background: The protracted war between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army in Northern Uganda (1996-2006) resulted in widespread atrocities, destruction of health infrastructure and services, weakening the social and economic fabric of the affected populations, internal displacement and death. Despite grave concerns that increased spread of HIV/AIDS may be devastating to post conflict Northern Uganda, empirical epidemiological data describing the legacy of the war on HIV infection are scarce.

Methods: The 'Cango Lyec' Project is an open cohort study involving conflict-affected populations living in three districts of Gulu, Nwoya and Amuru in mid-northern Uganda.

Intensive care medicine in rural sub-Saharan Africa.

We undertook an audit in a rural Ugandan hospital that describes the epidemiology and mortality of 5147 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. The most frequent admission diagnoses were postoperative state (including following trauma) (2014/5147; 39.1%), medical conditions (709; 13.

Prevalence and factors associated with use of herbal medicines during pregnancy among women attending postnatal clinics in Gulu district, Northern Uganda.

Background: According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 80 % of the population living in rural areas in developing countries depends on traditional medicine for their health needs, including use during pregnancy. Despite the fact that knowledge of potential side effects of many herbal medicines in pregnancy is limited and that some herbal products may be teratogenic, data on the extent of use of herbal medicines by women during pregnancy in the study setting is largely unknown. We determined the prevalence and factors associated with herbal medicine use during pregnancy among women attending postnatal clinics in Gulu district, Northern Uganda.

Health Seeking Behaviours among Caretakers of Children with Nodding Syndrome in Pader District - Northern Uganda: A Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Nodding syndrome is a neurological disorder which had affected about 3000 children with over 170 deaths in northern Uganda by 2012. With limited data on health seeking, the study aimed to assess the health seeking behavior and associated factors among caretakers of children with nodding syndrome in Pader district.

Methods: A mixed methods cross sectional study was conducted in July 2013 among 249 caretakers of children with nodding syndrome in three sub-counties of Pader.

Application of a cell microarray chip system for accurate, highly sensitive, and rapid diagnosis for malaria in Uganda.

Accurate, sensitive, rapid, and easy operative diagnosis is necessary to prevent the spread of malaria. A cell microarray chip system including a push column for the recovery of erythrocytes and a fluorescence detector was employed for malaria diagnosis in Uganda. The chip with 20,944 microchambers (105 μm width and 50 μm depth) was made of polystyrene.

High prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care: a cross-sectional study in two hospitals in northern Uganda.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positivity among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in two referral hospitals in northern Uganda.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Setting: Two tertiary hospitals in a postconflict region in a low-income country.

Knowledge, Perceptions and Acceptability to Strengthening Adolescents' Sexual and Reproductive Health Education amongst Secondary Schools in Gulu District.

Adolescents in Northern Uganda are at risk of teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). There is silence on sex both at home and school. This cross sectional descriptive analytical study interviews a random sample of 827 students and 13 teachers on knowledge, perception and acceptability to a comprehensive adolescent sexual and reproductive health education in "O" and "A" level secondary schools in Gulu District.

Prevalence of hospital-associated infections can be decreased effectively in developing countries.

Background: Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) are an important public health problem worldwide. Little information is available from African countries, but published data show that the burden of HAI is greater in Africa than in developed countries. In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) published guidelines for preventing HAI.

The prevalence and antibiotics susceptibility pattern of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in patients attending OPD clinics at St. Mary's Hospital Lacor Uganda.

Introduction: Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STls) in developing countries, and the emergence of resistance to antimicrobial agents in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a major obstacle in the control of gonorrhoea. Periodical determination of the prevalence and monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae is essential for the early detection of emergence of drug resistance.

Micro-albuminuria in Ugandan children with sickle cell anaemia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA), recurrent episodes of sequestration, micro-infarction, ischaemia and necrosis within the renal cortex cause nephron damage. Micro-albuminuria results from compensatory mechanisms aimed at preserving the glomerular filtration rate.

Aims: To establish the prevalence of micro-albuminuria among children with SCA and to describe associated factors.

Lactose intolerance among severely malnourished children with diarrhoea admitted to the nutrition unit, Mulago hospital, Uganda.

Background: Lactose intolerance is a common complication of diarrhoea in infants with malnutrition and a cause of treatment failure. A combination of nutritional injury and infectious insults in severe protein energy malnutrition reduces the capacity of the intestinal mucosa to produce lactase enzyme necessary for the digestion of lactose. The standard management of severe malnutrition involves nutritional rehabilitation with lactose-based high energy formula milk.