African health sciences
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African health sciences · Sep 2005
Case ReportsSubtotal amelia in a child with autosomal recessive hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.
We report an inbred Tunisian family, in which the proband manifested signs of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, subtotal amelia, scoliosis and left renal agenesis. Two other family members had the full clinical criteria of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, characterized by deficient sweat glands, hypodontia, hypoplasia of the mucous glands, and fine hair. Nine family subjects had variable clinical expression of the disorder.
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African health sciences · Sep 2005
ReviewSocio-behaviour challenges to phase III HIV vaccine trials in Sub-Saharan Africa.
A number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa are preparing for HIV vaccine efficacy trials. Social and behavioural factors related to HIV transmission require examination in each setting where these trials are considered. As part of this, several countries have also recently begun preparatory research investigating relevant social and behavioural issues. There is a need for a review of the literature to help focus such research efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa. ⋯ Social and behavioural research forms an important part of preparations for HIV vaccine efficacy trials, and there is a clear need for more research of this type in Sub-Saharan Africa. Innovative approaches are required to address issues such as willingness to participate in vaccine research, participant retention during efficacy trials, and the accurate reporting by participants of sexual risk behaviours.
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African health sciences · Sep 2005
ReviewNatural history and epidemiology of post transplantation diabetes mellitus.
High patient mortality continues to be the major threat to the success of solid organ transplantation despite improvements in the control of immunologic phenomena post-transplantation with improvements in grafts survival. Post-transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTD) occurring commonly in patients receiving immunosuppressives has been identified as a major culprit. ⋯ The most important risk factor predisposing to the development of PTD is the immunosuppressive drugs. The selection of immunosuppressive regimen should take into account individuals diabetes risk profile and the relative diabetogenicity and risk for diabetes of each immunosuppressant, balancing minimal risk of diabetes with effective immunosuppression.
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African health sciences · Sep 2005
Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder among school children in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
To estimate the prevalence and determinants of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms among school children in Kinshasa, an African urban setting. ⋯ ADHD symptoms are as common among school children in Kinshasa as elsewhere. The socio-demographic factors described as risk factors for ADHD in high-income countries were not identified in this study.
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African health sciences · Sep 2005
Gender power imbalance on women's capacity to negotiate self-protection against HIV/AIDS in Botswana and South Africa.
Gender power imbalance, which translates into a power imbalance in sexual interactions, is increasingly being recognized as a factor in fueling the spread of HIV/AIDS by increasing the number of unsafe sexual encounters. ⋯ Across all levels of society, there is a need to see a social paradigm shift that transforms relationships between women and men, from the one of inequality and dominance as is the case in patriarchal societies, to equality, respect and consideration for one another.