African health sciences
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African health sciences · Dec 2017
Characteristics of astigmatism in Black South African high school children.
Astigmatism impairs vision at various distances and causes symptoms of asthenopia which negatively impacts reading efficiency. ⋯ The prevalence of astigmatism is relatively low in this population studied. Older children and those in high school grade levels were more likely to have with-the-rule or against-the-rule astigmatism. The prevalence of astigmatism were comparable within but not across regions.
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African health sciences · Dec 2017
QTc prolongation in Black diabetic subjects with cardiac autonomic neuropathy.
Prolonged corrected QT (QTc) has been identified as a risk factor for malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Caucasian studies have shown a definite relationship between QTc prolongation and Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy (CAN) in diabetic subjects. ⋯ This study in a Black population is in agreement with the well-known relationship between QTc prolongation and CAN reported in Caucasian studies. In view of the wide variability of QTc in this study population, it is suggested that relative QTc increase may be a better indicator of CAN than a definite QTc prolongation of greater than 0.440.
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Different histo-pathological types and treatment response patterns of Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) have been associated with differences in ethnicity and geographical location. ⋯ There appears to be a higher rate of FSGS in all the racial groups, and also a higher rate of MCD in the black race group, when compared to previous reports.
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African health sciences · Dec 2017
Prevalence of mecA gene among staphylococci from clinical samples of a tertiary hospital in Benin City, Nigeria.
The staphylococci have increasingly been associated with infections worldwide and anti-microbial resistance has made these versatile pathogens more recalcitrant in the hospital setting. ⋯ This study draws attention on the increase in the prevalence of mecA gene (39.6%) and an increase in multidrug resistant staphylococci when compared to previous studies in our country; it recommends laboratory guidance and periodic review to stem the tide of resistance.
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African health sciences · Dec 2017
Changes in erythrocyte ATPase activity under different pathological conditions.
Studies have shown that Na+-K+ ATPase activity was altered in disrupted red blood cell membranes and this enzyme is believed to be the site of active transport of Na+ and K+ in intact red blood cells. The enzyme is often referred to as Na+-K+ pump because it pumps Na+ out and K+ into the cell against gradients with the concomitant hydrolysis of intracellular ATP. ⋯ Na+-K+ATPase specific activity is a biomarker for the diagnosis of individuals with different physiological diseases.