African health sciences
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African health sciences · Jun 2023
Frequency of latent tuberculosis in patients receiving Anti-TNF-Alpha therapy.
In this study, it was aimed to reveal the incidence of tuberculosis development in patients receiving tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blocker therapy, despite tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis. ⋯ The incidence of tuberculosis development in patients treated with anti TNF-α was found to be higher than the general population. In our country, where tuberculosis is still prevalent, patients receiving Anti TNF-α treatment (especially infliximab) should be carefully questioned and examined about tuberculosis.
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African health sciences · Jun 2023
Pulmonary artery diameter and NT-proBNP in patients with Covid-19: Predicting prognosis and mortality.
The diverse and complex presentations of COVID-19 continue to impact the world. Factors related to prognosis and mortality are still not fully illuminated. ⋯ Accurate and effective interpretation of available radiological and laboratory data is essential to reveal the factors predicting prognosis and mortality in COVID-19. In this study,we evaluated that the thorax CTs and determined that the MPAD/AAD and NT-proBNP level were independent risk factors in predicting mortality.
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African health sciences · Jun 2023
Clinical application of optical coherence tomography angiography in diabetic macular edema.
Diabetic macular edema (DME) is characterized by a retinal thickening or hard exudation deposition in the fundus microvasculature, capillary leakage, increased vascular permeability, extracellular fluid accumulation in the fovea of a foveal disc. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a new item of fundus structure examination. OCTA is to reconstruct the retinal choroidal vascular structure from the continuous same cross-sectional views and blood flow signals obtained by optical scanning, thereby obtaining an image. It is very significant to evaluate, diagnose, treat and manage the disease.
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African health sciences · Jun 2023
Prevalence and factors associated with suboptimal blood pressure among ambulatory patients with diabetic kidney disease attending a tertiary hospital in Uganda.
Kidney failure prevalence is increasing among diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients in low-income countries. Suboptimal blood pressure (BP) drives kidney failure and mortality. The burden of suboptimal BP and its associated factors among these patients are not well documented. ⋯ The prevalence of suboptimal BP was high among the overweight, obese, unemployed and alcohol users. Thus, there is a need for better BP control interventions.
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African health sciences · Jun 2023
Antibody response to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 10 among Nigerian children under 5 years.
Invasive pneumococcal diseases have been a major contributor to childhood mortality, particularly in the developing world and pneumococcal vaccines were introduced to reduce the burden. The Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 10 (PCV 10) was incorporated into the Nigerian National Programme on Immunization (NPI) in 2014 to reduce the incidence of childhood pneumococcal infections. This study was done to determine the immunogenicity of the vaccine in our clime. ⋯ All the children under the age of five years who had received PCV 10 at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age, who participated in this study formed protective levels of antibodies to the vaccine. Antibody levels increased slightly with age. The PCV 10 currently used in the Nigerian programme is sufficiently antigenic and a downward trend in pneumococcal diseases should soon be noticeable.