African health sciences
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Salivary flow, amylase, and total protein in hospitalized patients with HIV infection / AIDS complications.
Saliva is a complex secretion produced daily by the salivary glands. Saliva consists mainly of water, enzymes, ions and amino acids and performs several important functions in oral health. ⋯ Individuals with HIV / AIDS infection (in hospital treatment) suffer no interference in levels of amylase and total salivary proteins, but they have significantly reduced salivary flow.
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Pattern of congenital heart disease among children presenting to the Uganda Heart Institute, Mulago Hospital: a 7-year review.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital anomaly in children. Over half of the deaths due to CHD occur in the neonatal period. Most children with unrepaired complex heart lesions do not live to celebrate their first birthday. We describe the spectrum of congenital heart disease in Uganda. ⋯ Isolated VSD and Tetralogy of Fallot are the most common acyanotic and cyanotic congenital heart defects. We report an unusually high occurrence of Truncus arteriosus.
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Pre-diagnostic drop out of presumptive TB patients and its associated factors at Bugembe Health Centre IV in Jinja, Uganda.
Drop out of presumptive TB individuals before making a final diagnosis poses a danger to the individual and their community. We aimed to determine the proportion of these presumptive TB drop outs and their associated factors in Bugembe Health Centre, Jinja, Uganda. ⋯ A high risk to individuals and the community is posed by the significant proportion of presumptive TB patients dropping out before final diagnosis. Health systems managers need to consider interventions targeting young persons, male patients, HIV positive persons.
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Consumption of psychotropic medicines at a referral hospital in Namibia: findings and implications.
In Namibia, the burden of mental illnesses is estimated at 25.6% and is expected to double by 2025. Few studies in sub-Saharan Africa estimate the consumption rates of psychotropic medicines as a proxy of irrational use. ⋯ The consumption of new psychotropics contributes to higher costs. There is need for cost-effectiveness analysis of new versus conventional psychotropics to optimize treatment, outcomes and costs.
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Effect of interleukins (IL-2, IL-15, IL-18) on receptors activation and cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells in breast cancer cell.
Breast cancer is one of the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Metastasis in BC is caused by immunosurveillance deficiency, such NK cell maturation, low NK activity and decreasing cytotoxicity. This study was performed to improve activating receptors and cytotoxicity of NK cells using interleukins (ILs). ⋯ IL-2, IL-15, and IL-18 improved activating receptors and proliferation of NK cells. IL-induced NK cells increased TNF-α, IFN-γ, PRF1 and GzmB secretion and cytotoxic activity on BC cells. High NK cell numbers increased BC cell growth inhibition.