African health sciences
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of contact lens use in a South African adolescent population.
Contact lens usage is becoming increasingly popular amongst young people. Assessing their knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to contact lens wear is therefore important, so that gaps in understanding or incorrect practices can be rectified to promote continued safety and success of contact lens wear. ⋯ There is a need for contact lens practitioners to educate young contact lens wearers regarding appropriate contact lens-related care, to promote long term ocular health and contact lens-related safety.
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Condom use: a less travelled route among minibus taxi drivers and their taxi queens in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Despite significant gains in the HIV epidemic in South Africa, with reduction in mortality and elimination of vertical transmission, national HIV prevalence remains high, with women rather than men continuing to bear higher burden of the disease. Population subgroups, through ignorance, disbelief or recklessness, continue to engage in risky sexual behaviour. A substantial proportion of minibus taxi drivers engage in risky sex, seldom seeing themselves at risk for STIs or HIV/AIDS. These taxi drivers have been linked with so-called taxi queens, with whom they engage in transactional and intergenerational relationships. ⋯ Our study concludes by recommending a nested public health response that takes cognizance of factors that promote sustainable condom use strategies among this population subgroup.
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Lack of association between genetic variants in the 19q13.32 region and CHD risk in the Algerian population: a population-based nested case-control study.
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality over the world; intermediate traits associated with CHD commonly studied can be influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. ⋯ Although the studied genetic variants were not associated with the risk of CHD, the 19q13.32 locus was associated with some of the cardiometabolic disorders in Algerian subjects.
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Ultrasonographic and biochemical assessments as early prediction of polycystic ovarian syndrome in obese women.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is considered as a common cause of hormonal disturbance and obesity. The diagnosis of PCOS was done by different methods including clinical signs as anovulation, hyperandrogenism, biochemical markers and ultrasounographic investigation. This study investigated comparative outcomes of ultrasonographic and biochemical markers for early prediction of PCOS in obese women. ⋯ According to our study findings, ovarian morphology combined with biochemical markers is more reliable for early prediction and diagnosis of PCOS for interpretation and management.
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Effect of levetiracetam drug on antioxidant and liver enzymes in epileptic patients: case-control study.
There is a limited amount of data regarding levetiracetam (LEV), an antiepileptic drug. ⋯ The results of our study indicated that LEV increased liver enzymes Also, treatment with this drug did not improve oxidative stress, but this could be due to the different in the dietary antioxidant intake. Routine screening of the liver and antioxidant enzymes in patients with chronic use of LEV is recommended.