African health sciences
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Elabela levels in patients with type 2 diabetes: can it be a marker for diabetic nephropathy?
Elabela (ELA) is a hormone that is secreted at high levels in the kidneys of a healthy adult. This study aims to investigate whether serum ELA levels of patients with Type 2 Diabetes vary with the severity of renal damage. ⋯ The fact that ELA levels are higher in healthy individuals compared to diabetic patients without microalbuminuria, and higher in diabetic patients without microalbuminuria compared to patients with advanced albuminuria and kidney damage, suggests that the ELA level can be an important clinical prognostic variable and even a promising agent for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy patients.
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Determinants of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia: an analysis of the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey.
The first 28 days of life, the neonatal period, are the most vulnerable time for a child's survival. Neonatal mortality accounts for about 38% of under-five deaths in low and middle income countries. This study aimed to identify the determinants of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia. ⋯ To reduce neonatal mortality in Ethiopia, there is a need to implement sex specific public health intervention mainly focusing on male neonate during pregnancy, child birth and postnatal period. A relatively simple and cost-effective public health intervention should be implemented to make sure that all pregnant women are screened for multiple pregnancy and if positive, extra care should be given during pregnancy, child birth and postnatal.
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
A retrospective descriptive investigation of adult patients receiving third-line antiretroviral therapy in the North West province, South Africa.
Greater access and prolonged exposure to ART may inevitably lead to more treatment failure and increase the need for third-line ART (TLART) in a resource-limited setting. ⋯ This study support the need for earlier resistance testing. It firstly reported on time duration post diagnosis on various ART regimens and secondly resistance patterns of adults before TLART was initiated in these districts.
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African health sciences · Jun 2020
Fertility characteristics and related factors impacting on Syrian refugee women living in Istanbul.
Women's fertility characteristics are affected by many different factors. ⋯ It has been noted that fertility characteristics of refugee women who migrated to Turkey changed according to their ethnic backgrounds and were sustained in the country they migrated to. Along with harsh living conditions and insufficient access to health services the situation has been observed to pose serious risks on reproductive health.
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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.