African health sciences
-
African health sciences · Mar 2019
Risk factors and causes of stillbirths among pregnant women in Pakistan.
Globally 3 million stillbirths occur per year, and Pakistan is ranked 3rd among the countries having the highest burden. Despite being a major public health problem, efforts to reduce this figure are insufficient. ⋯ The study concluded that to achieve gain in child survival, there is need to promote antenatal care, birth spacing, and family planning programs in developing countries.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2019
Glyceryl trinitrate blocks staphyloxanthin and biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus.
Staphylococcus aureus is an important nosocomial bacterium that is responsible for a number of infections that may be fatal. The treatment of such infections is limited by emergence of antibiotic resistance. Targeting virulence of Staphylococcus aureus may provide an alternative option to antibiotic that may bypass the emergence of resistant strains due to lack of stress on viability. ⋯ The present study revealed the ability of GTN to serve as a potential anti-virulence candidate for attenuation of S. aureus pathogenicity.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2019
The relation between echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness and mitral annular calcification.
Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is associated with several cardiovascular disorders including coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation, heart failure, ischemic stroke and increased mortality. Epicardial fat thickness (EFT) has strong correlation with obesity, CAD, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis. There are strong similarities between EFT and MAC from the aspect of risk factors and pathogenesis. ⋯ We showed that EFT was significantly elevated in patients with MAC and it was positively correlated with MAC.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2019
Improved adherence to anti-retroviral therapy among traditionalists: reflections from rural South Africa.
Medical pluralism is common place in sub-Saharan Africa. The South African pluralistic health care environment is varied and includes traditionalist beliefs relating to the efficacy of African traditional medicine. Prior research indicates that traditionalism is associated with delays in testing for HIV and treatment interruption. Despite numerous reports about this in South Africa, there is a paucity of documented strategies to counter this trend. ⋯ A nascent strategy has been developed which is contributing to improved adherence and a reduction in internalised stigma among traditionalists living with HIV in Waterberg district, South Africa.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2019
Evaluation of resistance to temephos insecticide in Culex pipiens pipiens larvae collected from three districts of Tunisia.
Mosquitoes are considered as the main groups of arthropods that cause nuisance and public health problems. ⋯ The low and high resistance recorded to temephos insecticides is particularly interesting, because it leaves a range of tools useable by vector control services. However, further studies are needed to determine its spread and anticipate vector control failure where these insecticides are used.