African health sciences
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African health sciences · Sep 2016
Stroke in patients with diabetes mellitus: a study from North Western Nigeria.
Stroke is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and apart from being exceedingly harmful in diabetics, stroke is a disabling disorder. The study was undertaken to describe the clinical characteristics, outcome pattern and predictors of mortality in a cohort of diabetic patients presenting with stroke in two tertiary health facilities in North Western Nigeria. ⋯ In DM patients studied, infarctive stroke was more common, case fatality was 30.6%. Male gender, past history of TIA, abnormal respiratory pattern, hemorrhagic stroke, aspiration pneumonitis, and worsening Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) were associated with mortality. Aspiration pneumonitis and worsening GCS were independent predictors of one month mortality of stroke in diabetic patients.
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African health sciences · Sep 2016
Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school children in capital areas of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, West Africa.
Although the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe (DRSTP) has undertaken school children-based deworming programs against intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) using a single dose of mebendazole annually since 2005, it remains unclear as to the outcome to date. The present study intends to investigate the recent IPIs status among school children living in capital areas of the DRSTP. ⋯ Improving the detection method, sanitation facilities and personal hygiene as well as utilizing combined drugs are all important measures to greatly reduce IPIs in DRSTP school children.
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African health sciences · Sep 2016
Experiences of patients undergoing chemotherapy - a qualitative study of adults attending Uganda Cancer Institute.
Cancer is a global public health challenge and how patients in countries with poor healthcare infrastructure experience cancer treatment is largely unknown. ⋯ Receiving chemotherapy treatment is difficult, and the side effects negatively influenced patients' bodies and moods. Dealing actively with discomfort and accepting negative impacts in hope of a cure helped the participants manage the acute complications related to the treatment. We recommend the development of interventions to ease discomfort due to chemotherapy.
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African health sciences · Sep 2016
Comparative StudyAssociation of interleukin 17 / angiotensin II with refractory hypertension risk in hemodialysis patients.
The study was performed to investigate the association of interleukin 17 (IL 17) or angiotensin II (Ang II) with refractory hypertension risk in hemodialysis patients. ⋯ IL17 and Ang II were associated with refractory hypertension risk in hemodialysis patients. There was also a positive correlation between IL 17and Ang II.
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African health sciences · Sep 2016
The quality of rapid HIV testing in South Africa: an assessment of testers' compliance.
The aim of this study was to assess the quality of rapid HIV testing in South Africa. ⋯ Quality of HIV rapid testing may be highly compromised through poor adherence to guidelines as observed in our study.