African health sciences
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African health sciences · Jun 2016
Prevalence and associated factors of TB/HIV co-infection among HIV Infected patients in Amhara region, Ethiopia.
Tuberculosis is one of the world's most common causes of death in the era of Human immunodeficiency virus. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of TB/HIV co-infection. ⋯ The prevalence of TB/HIV co-infection in adults on ART in our study was moderately high. Having advanced clinical status and presence of risk factors were found to be the predicting factors for co-infection. The health office should open TB/HIV co-infection units in the hospitals and health workers should be cautious when a patient has an advanced disease.
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African health sciences · Jun 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyWeight loss improves biomarkers endothelial function and systemic inflammation in obese postmenopausal Saudi women.
Although postmenopausal associated disorders are important public health problems worldwide, to date limited studies evaluated the endothelial function and systemic inflammation response to weight loss in obese postmenopausal women. ⋯ Weight loss ameliorates inflammatory cytokines and markers of endothelial function in obese postmenopausal Saudi women.
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African health sciences · Jun 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA randomised controlled trial comparing weight adjusted dose versus fixed dose prophylactic phenylephrine infusion on maintaining systolic blood pressure during caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.
Spinal anaesthesia is the standard of care for elective caesarean delivery. It has advantages over general anaesthesia. However the sympathetic blockade induced by spinal anaesthesia results in an 80 percent incidence of hypotension without prophylactic management. Current evidence supports co-loading with intravenous fluids in conjunction with the use of vasopressors as the most effective way to prevent and treat the hypotension. Phenylephrine is the accepted vasopressor of choice in the parturient. A prophylactic phenylephrine infusion combined with a fluid co-load is proven to be an effective and safe method of maintaining maternal hemodynamic stability. While most published studies have assessed the effectiveness of a prophylactic phenylephrine fixed dose infusion, few studies have assessed the effect of a prophylactic phenylephrine weight adjusted dose infusion on maintaining maternal hemodynamic stability following spinal anesthesia for a cesarean delivery. ⋯ Among this population, the incidence of hypotension was significantly less in the weight adjusted dose group than in the fixed dose group. There was no difference in the number of physician interventions required to keep the blood pressure within 20% of baseline, and no difference in the proportion of reactive hypertension or bradycardia between the two groups. Administering prophylactic phenylephrine infusion at a weight adjusted dose of 0.5 micrograms per kilogram per minute results in a lower incidence of hypotension compared to its administration at a fixed dose of 37.5 micrograms per minute.
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African health sciences · Jun 2016
Non-communicable diseases among children in Ghana: health and social concerns of parent/caregivers.
Globally, there is a progressive rise in the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This paper examined the health and social concerns of parents/caregivers on in-patient care for children with NCDs in Ghana. ⋯ Absence of national NCD policy for children is a major challenge. The burden of care rests mainly on the parents/caregivers. A national strategic intervention on the importance of awareness generation on the causes, risk factors, prevention and treatment of NCDs for families and communities is essential. Government support through national health and social policy initiatives are essential.
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African health sciences · Jun 2016
Comparative StudyLevels of vitamin D receptor and CYP24A1 in patients with end-stage renal disease.
This study was performed to detect the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and cytochrome P450, family 24, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 (CYP24A1) in 24 end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and 24 healthy controls. ⋯ VDR levels were reduced and CYP24A1 levels were increased in patients with ESRD, and VDR levels were negatively correlated with CYP24A1.