African health sciences
-
African health sciences · Sep 2017
Effects of meteorological factors on the incidence of meningococcal meningitis.
Substantial climate changes have led to the emergence and re-emergence of various infectious diseases worldwide, presenting an imperative need to explore the effects of meteorological factors on serious contagious disease incidences such as that of meningococcal meningitis (MCM). ⋯ Public health institutions should pay more attention to the meteorological variables of humidity, sunshine, and temperature in prospective MCM control and prevention.
-
African health sciences · Sep 2017
Patients' perceptions of a rural decentralised anti-retroviral therapy management and its impact on direct out-of-pocket spending.
Geographical and financial barriers hamper accessibility to HIV services for rural communities. The government has introduced the nurse initiated management of anti-retroviral therapy at primary health care level, in an effort to improve patient access and reduce patient loads on facilities further up the system. ⋯ Patients seem to indicate that they preferred decentralisation of HIV care to PHC level and that this might minimise out-of-pocket spending. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.
-
African health sciences · Sep 2017
Onset and duration of cycloplegic action of 1% cyclopentolate - 1% tropicamide combination.
To study the time course (onset, time and duration of maximal cycloplegia, and the full duration) of cycloplegic action of 1% Cyclopentolate - 1% Tropicamide. ⋯ Cyclopentolate -Tropicamide combination was comparable to Cyclopentolate in depth of cycloplegia produced, and clinically superior to 1% Cyclopentolate in rapidity of cycloplegic onset, time of maximal cycloplegia and recovery from cycloplegia.
-
African health sciences · Sep 2017
Cigarette smoke condensate attenuates phorbol ester-mediated neutrophil extracellular trap formation.
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) constitute a network of chromatin fibres containing histone and antimicrobial peptides that are released by activated neutrophils. NETs protect the host against infection by trapping and facilitating phagocytosis of potentially harmful pathogens. ⋯ The inhibition of NETosis observed in the presence of CSC correlated with attenuation of oxygen consumption by PMA-activated neutrophils suggesting a mechanistic relationship between these events. If operative in vivo, smoking-related attenuation of NETosis may impair host immune responses and increase the risk of respiratory infections.
-
African health sciences · Sep 2017
Diagnosis and treatment of unconsummated marriage in an Iranian couple.
Unconsummated marriage is a problem among couples who would not be able to perform natural sexual intercourse and vaginal penetration. This disorder is more common in developing countries and sometimes couples would come up with non-technical and non-scientific methods to overcome their problem. Multi-dimensional approach and narrative exposure therapy used in this case. ⋯ Unconsummated marriage is one of the main sexual problems; it is more common in developing countries than developed countries and cultural factors are effective on intensifying this disorder. The use of multi-dimensional approach in this study led to expedite diagnosis and treatment of vaginismus.