Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 5 Variability in Treatment-Naïve Patients in South Africa.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 5 was originally identified in South Africa, where it represents 35-60% of all HCV infections. There are limited data on resistance-associated variants (RAVs) in South Africa. Thus, we investigated variability within the NS3/NS4A, NS5A, and NS5B genes of treatment-naïve individuals with HCV genotype 5 infection at the Dr.

Post hoc longitudinal assessment of the efficacy and safety of recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein in hemophilia B.

Long-term efficacy and safety of the extended half-life recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein (rFIXFc) has been established among previously treated patients with severe hemophilia B in 2 phase 3 trials (B-LONG [#NCT01027364] and Kids B-LONG [#NCT01440946]) and a long-term extension study (B-YOND [#NCT01425723]). In this study, we report post hoc analyses of pooled longitudinal data for up to 6.5 years for rFIXFc prophylaxis.

The Association between Symptomatic Rotavirus Infection and Histo-Blood Group Antigens in Young Children with Diarrhea in Pretoria, South Africa.

Objectives: Recently, histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) have been identified as receptors or attachment factors of several viral pathogens. Among rotaviruses, HBGAs interact with the outer viral protein, VP4, which has been identified as a potential susceptibility factor, although the findings are inconsistent throughout populations due to HBGA polymorphisms. We investigated the association between HBGA phenotypes and rotavirus infection in children with acute gastroenteritis in northern Pretoria, South Africa.

Tuberculosis control at a South African correctional centre: Diagnosis, treatment and strain characterisation.

Background: Correctional centres provide ideal conditions for tuberculosis (TB) transmission and disease progression. Despite the high TB incidence and incarceration rate in South Africa, data from South African correctional centres are scarce. Thus, the study evaluated TB diagnosis, treatment initiation and completion, and identified prevalent Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains among detainees entering a South African correctional centre.

Intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) and CXC3L1 evaluation as biomarkers for patients at high-risk for coeliac disease in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder and one of the few gastroenteropathies with accurate serological testing. CD serology has decreased accuracy for patients on a gluten-free diet and for monitoring mucosal healing. New ancillary tests would, therefore, be useful.

HIV-associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (HIV-TTP): A practical guide and review of the literature.

Background: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a serious thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), is prevalent in the South African HIV-infected population. The exact pathogenesis of HIV-associated TTP (HIV-TTP) is however still unclear with diagnostic and therapeutic inconsistancies.

Methods: A systematic review of the published literature regarding HIV-TTP was performed.

Using text mining techniques to extract prostate cancer predictive information (Gleason score) from semi-structured narrative laboratory reports in the Gauteng province, South Africa.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the leading male neoplasm in South Africa with an age-standardised incidence rate of 68.0 per 100,000 population in 2018. The Gleason score (GS) is the strongest predictive factor for PCa treatment and is embedded within semi-structured prostate biopsy narrative reports.

Feasibility of Cell-Free DNA Collection and Clonal Immunoglobulin Sequencing in South African Patients With HIV-Associated Lymphoma.

Purpose: Diagnosis of AIDS lymphoma in low-resource settings, like South Africa, is often delayed, leaving patients with limited treatment options. In tuberculosis (TB) endemic regions, overlapping signs and symptoms often lead to diagnostic delays. Assessment of plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) by next-generation sequencing (NGS) may expedite the diagnosis of lymphoma but requires high-quality cfDNA.

SARS-CoV-2 Antigens Expressed in Plants Detect Antibody Responses in COVID-19 Patients.

: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has swept the world and poses a significant global threat to lives and livelihoods, with 115 million confirmed cases and at least 2.5 million deaths from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the first year of the pandemic. Developing tools to measure seroprevalence and understand protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is a priority.

Impact of Lamivudine-Based Antiretroviral Treatment on Hepatitis B Viremia in HIV-Coinfected South Africans.

This prospective study investigated the impact of lamivudine-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) on HIV-positive patients in South Africa with baseline hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Follow-up samples from 56 HBV/HIV co-infected patients, 25 with occult HBV infection (OBI) and 31 with chronic HBV infection (CHB), were available for analysis. HBV viral loads were quantified at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-ART initiation by the COBAS TaqMan HBV Test 48 assay, and the HBV polymerase gene was amplified with an in-house nested polymerase chain reaction assay.

Comparison of Alere q whole blood viral load with DBS and plasma viral load in the classification of HIV virological failure.

Background: In remote settings, timely plasma separation and transportation to testing laboratories is an impediment to the access of HIV viral load (VL) testing. Potential solutions are whole blood testing through point of care (POC) assays or dried blood spots (DBS).

Methods: We evaluated the performance of a prototype Alere q whole blood VL protocol and compared it against plasma (Abbott RealTime HIV-1) and DBS VL (Abbott RealTime HIV-1 DBS revised prototype protocol and Roche CAP/CTM HIV-1 v2.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)-like syndrome in the HIV era.

Background: The thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) is a heterogeneous group of relatively uncommon but serious disorders presenting with thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic haemolysis. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is one of these microangiopathic processes. HIV infection is an acquired cause of TTP but the pathogenesis is poorly understood.

A recurrent mutation causing Melnick-Needles syndrome in females confers a severe, lethal phenotype in males.

Melnick-Needles syndrome (MNS; MIM 309350) is an X-linked skeletal dysplasia caused by mutations in FLNA. Females with the condition present with characteristic facial features, short stature, skeletal anomalies, including poorly modeled and sclerotic bones, and structural abnormalities such as cardiac and urological defects. Previously males were thought to present with either a mild phenotype compatible with life or a severe lethal presentation depending on the maternal phenotype.

The dubious value of cerebrospinal fluid adenosine deaminase measurement for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis.

Background: The diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) can be extremely difficult in the absence of culture confirmation. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) adenosine deaminase (ADA) can potentially assist in this regard, although its current value remains unclear. The literature on the usefulness of CSF ADA in TBM diagnosis is inconsistent, especially from an analytical point of view.

Novel APOB missense variants, A224T and V925L, in a black South African woman with marked hypocholesterolemia.

Background: One genetic cause of markedly low plasma concentrations of apolipoprotein (apo) B and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is familial hypobetalipoproteinemia.

Objective: We aimed to determine the molecular basis for the marked hypocholesterolemia consistent with heterozygous familial hypobetalipoproteinemia in a black female subject of Xhosa lineage.

Methods: Coding regions of APOB, MTTP, PCSK9,ANGPTL3, SAR1B and APOC3 were sequenced, and APOE was genotyped.

The walking dead: is hydroethidine a suitable viability dye for intra-erythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum?

Hydroethidine has been used as a viability dye in various haemoparasites, including Plasmodium species. We compared flow cytometric quantification by hydroethidine and thiazole orange in P. falciparum.

Good clinical laboratory practice (GCLP): the need for a hybrid of good laboratory practice and good clinical practice guidelines/standards for medical testing laboratories conducting clinical trials in developing countries.

There has been a significant increase in the number of clinical drug trials (particularly phase III) being conducted in developing countries for infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. Laboratory results provided by medical testing laboratories in the region are critical to ensuring the safety of patients and the generation of good quality data. A number of well accepted Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) guidelines govern the conduct of clinical trials internationally.