ZnO-Polyaniline Nanocomposite Functionalised with Laccase Enzymes for Electrochemical Detection of Cetyltrimethylammonuium Bromide (CTAB).

The direct discharge of cationic surfactants into environmental matrices has exponentially increased due to their wide application in many products. These compounds and their degraded products disrupt microbial dynamics, hinder plant survival, and affect human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop electroanalytical assessment techniques for their identification, determination, and monitoring.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Sulphated Polysaccharides Derived from Marine Macro Algae or Seaweeds: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Sulphated polysaccharides (SPs) are negatively charged compounds found in the cell wall of seaweeds or marine macro algae. These compounds exhibit a range of pharmacological activities, including anti-obesity effects. The aim of this systematic review as well as meta-analysis was to assess the potentials of seaweed-derived SPs to mitigate obesity through a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal model-based studies.

Factors influencing knowledge translation into critical care practice: The reality facing intensive care nurses in Limpopo Province.

Background: Nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs) must incorporate new knowledge and evidence-based practice (EBP) into their daily routines to enhance patient outcomes. However, this integration often falls short in ICU settings. Weekly clinical audits reveal incidents where ICU nurses neglect evidence-based interventions, impacting patient outcomes and ICU stays.

Plants used for the management of venereal diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and critical assessment of their research status.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa faces one of the highest burdens of venereal diseases (VDs) globally. This review aims to critically evaluate the existing literature on the diverse Indigenous knowledge and medicinal plants utilised for treating VDs in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol to guide the execution of the review.

Genetic characterization of diagnostic epitopes of cardiac troponin I in African rhinoceros.

African rhinoceros undergo chemical immobilization and prolonged transport during translocations for conservation purposes and, hence, experience several pathophysiologic changes, including skeletal muscle injury. Potential concurrent myocardial injury has not been investigated due to a lack of validated immunoassays. We aimed to use inferred cardiac troponin I (cTnI) amino acid sequences of southern white () and southern-central black () rhinoceros to assess the potential usefulness of several commercial cTnI immunoassays for detecting cTnI in African rhinoceros.

A549 Alveolar Carcinoma Spheroids as a Cytotoxicity Platform for Carboxyl- and Amine-Polyethylene Glycol Gold Nanoparticles.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) present with unique physicochemical features and potential for functionalization as anticancer agents. Three-dimensional spheroid models can be used to afford greater tissue representation due to their heterogeneous phenotype and complex molecular architecture. This study developed an A549 alveolar carcinoma spheroid model for cytotoxicity assessment and mechanistic evaluation of functionalized AuNPs.

Pilot cluster randomised controlled trial of Stepping Stones and Creating Futures Plus to reduce emotional dysregulation among young men in rural areas and urban informal settlements in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

Aim: Emotional dysregulation (ED) - the difficulty to control emotional responses to stressors - is a potential driver of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration among young men in HIV endemic resource-limited settings. This two-armed pilot cluster randomised controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of Stepping Stones and Creating Futures Plus (SSCF+), a participatory gender transformative and livelihood strengthening intervention, on the emotional dysregulation (ED) among young men in South Africa (SA).

Methods: A total of 163 young men ages 18 to 30 years were recruited in 30 clusters (friendship groups) in urban informal settlements and rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal, SA.

Emergence of Omicron FN.1 a descendent of BQ.1.1 in Botswana.

Botswana, like the rest of the world, has been significantly impacted by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In December 2022, we detected a monophyletic cluster of genomes comprising a sublineage of the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) designated as B.1.

Case report: Discovery of tuberculosis caused by in free-ranging vervet monkeys in the Greater Kruger Conservation Area.

Animal tuberculosis (TB) has been reported in several wildlife species in the Greater Kruger Conservation Area (GKCA), South Africa. This report describes the discovery of clinical tuberculosis, caused by (), in free-ranging vervet monkeys (). The "One Health" concept is especially relevant to TB since this is a multi-host disease with zoonotic potential and is endemic in GKCA.

Enhancing maize drought and heat tolerance: single vs combined plant growth promoting rhizobacterial inoculation.

Maize ( L.), a key staple crop in Sub-Saharan Africa, is particularly vulnerable to concurrent drought and heat stress, which threatens crop yield and food security. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have shown potential as biofertilizers to enhance plant resilience under such abiotic stresses.

Global prevalence, resistance rates, and underlying resistance mechanisms of clinical Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species.

Mycoplasmas are significant pathogens in human health, implicated in a range of clinical conditions from respiratory infections to urogenital disorders. Their resistance to commonly used antibiotics poses a substantial challenge to treatment and control. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the global distribution of clinical mycoplasmas, elucidate their resistance to various antibiotics, and identify the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying their resistance.

Curriculum Development for the South African Essential Steps in Managing Obstetric Emergencies (ESMOE) Anesthesiology Training Module: A Delphi Study.

Background: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) for 2030 aims at <70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. South Africa (SA) falls short of this goal and most deaths occur in district and regional hospitals. Due to low anesthesiologist (specialist anesthetist) numbers in the public sector, the anesthetic workforce in these hospitals consists mainly of nonspecialist (general practitioner) junior doctors with limited supervision.

Advances in nano-delivery of phytochemicals for glioblastoma treatment.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor characterized by cellular and molecular diversity. This diversity presents significant challenges for treatment and leads to poor prognosis. Surgery remains the primary treatment of choice for GBMs, but it often results in tumor recurrence due to complex interactions between GBM cells and the peritumoral brain zone.

Known from trees and the tropics: new insights into the species complex.

The species complex (FLSC) currently comprises 11 phylogenetic species, including accepted names such as , , and , which have mostly been reported in association with citrus and coffee. Many varieties were documented by Wollenweber & Reinking (1935), which is indicative of a wider diversity of species within this group. The lack of type material in some cases, especially for the older names, means that definition by molecular phylogeny is very difficult.

: an important genus of canker pathogens.

species have commonly been reported as important plant pathogenic fungi with wide host ranges and geographic distributions. With the increase in the number of cryptic species being described, a comprehensive global taxonomic revision of the genus is required. The present study includes 399 isolates from 32 countries.

Dual suppression of using entomopathogenic fungal-based biopesticides and sterile insect technique.

Tsetse flies and trypanosomosis significantly impact bovine production and human health in sub-Saharan Africa, exacerbating underdevelopment, malnutrition, and poverty. Despite various control strategies, long-term success has been limited. This study evaluates the combined use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and the sterile insect technique (SIT) to combat tsetse flies.

A field-friendly alternative to freeze-drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite quantification in animals of different feeding classes.

Monitoring stress-related faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations is a reliable, popular and established approach for understanding wildlife responses to perceived stressors. To maintain fGCM integrity post-defaecation, faecal material must be promptly stored frozen, or dried to prevent continued suspected bacterial enzyme activity. We compare the effectiveness of freeze-drying with other field-friendly drying techniques (food dehydrator and homemade solar oven).

Dimensions and position of the eye for facial approximations in a South African cone beam computed tomography sample.

Accurate population and sex-specific normative values for the orbital and ocular dimensions, including the position and protrusion of the eye relative to the orbital rim, are vital for reliable facial approximations. In studies utilizing cadaveric tissue and computed tomography scans, the observed measurements may be influenced by desiccation, distortion or gravity, respectively. This study assessed the dimensions of the eye and orbit and established the position and protrusion of the eye relative to the orbital margin using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans to negate the effect of gravity in the supine position.

"If we work as a team, there are success stories." Unpacking team members' perceptions and experiences of what impacts team performance in a maternal and neonatal quality improvement programme in South Africa, before, and during COVID-19.

Many maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths can be avoided if quality of care is improved. The South African National Department of Health implemented a multi-partner quality improvement (QI) programme between 2018 and 2022, in 21 facilities, with the aim to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality. We conducted a qualitative evaluation to explore QI team members' perceptions of the factors shaping variation in team performance.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in melanoma: from prognostic assessment to therapeutic applications.

Malignant melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, is characterized by unpredictable growth patterns, and its mortality rate has remained alarmingly high over recent decades, despite various treatment approaches. One promising strategy for improving outcomes in melanoma patients lies in the early use of biomarkers to predict prognosis. Biomarkers offer a way to gauge patient outlook early in the disease course, facilitating timely, targeted intervention.

Image use in aphasia rehabilitation: Practices of speech-language pathologists in South Africa and international contexts.

Purpose: The study aimed to explore speech-language pathologists' practices regarding image selection and use in the treatment of people living with aphasia. Images are widely utilised with people living with aphasia, however, supporting their communication optimally remains challenging.

Method: Ninety-two speech-language pathologists from South Africa, Australia, USA, and the UK completed a custom-designed online survey.

Prevalence of gender-based violence and factors associated with help-seeking among university students in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global public health problem. While research exists on GBV and associated help-seeking behaviors among university students, few studies have assessed the prevalence of GBV, including experiences and barriers to help-seeking, within sub-Saharan African university settings.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of GBV victimization among university students in six sub-Saharan African countries and describe experiences of formal and informal help-seeking among students who self-identified as victims of GBV since attending university.

Global burden of tuberculous meningitis in children aged 0-14 years in 2019: a mathematical modelling study.

Background: Tuberculous meningitis is fatal if untreated and can lead to lifelong neurological sequelae. However, to our knowledge, there are no data on the number of children affected by this disease. We aimed to estimate the global disease burden and attributable mortality of childhood tuberculous meningitis by WHO regions, age groups, treatment status, and HIV status in 2019.