African health sciences
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African health sciences · Mar 2019
Community participation to improve health services for children: a methodology for a community dialogue intervention in Uganda.
Like other developing countries, Uganda still struggles to meaningfully reduce child mortality. A strategy of giving information to communities to spark interest in improving child survival through inducing responsibility and social sanctioning in the health workforce was postulated. By focusing on diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria, a Community and District Empowerment for Scale up (CODES) undertaking used "community dialogues" to arm communities with health system performance information. This empowered them to monitor health service provision and demand for quality child-health services. ⋯ The perception that community dialoging is "a lot of talk" that never advances meaningful action was debunked since participant-initiated actions were conceived and implemented. Potential for use of electronic communication in real-time feedback and stimulating discussion proved viable. Post-dialogue monitoring captured in community contracts facilitated process evaluation and added plausibility for observed effects. Capacitated organizations during post-dialogue monitoring guaranteed sustainability.
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African health sciences · Mar 2019
A geographical analysis of ethnic distribution of jaw ameloblastoma in Nigerians.
Ameloblastoma is the most common odontogenic tumour in Nigeria. A definite geographic variation has been observed in the frequency of odontogenic tumors from different parts of the world. However, there is no study on the regional variations in Nigeria. Hence, this study was designed to document the ethnic and geographical distribution of jaw ameloblastoma in Nigeria. ⋯ The study hypothesized that the geographical distribution of ameloblastoma in Nigeria is the result of all or one of the following: the country's tropical climate, migration patterns and health seeking behavior. Hopefully, these claims should lead to further enquiry on the underlying causes.
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African health sciences · Mar 2019
Disinfection efficacy of green synthesized gold nanoparticles for medical disinfection applications.
In recent times, biosyntheses of metal nanoparticles were used for several life rescue applications. In this study, Dillenia indica leaf aqueous extract was utilized for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles. ⋯ The antibacterial activity of AuNPs revealed significant activity towards both gram negative and gram positive bacteria signifying their potential disinfection related applications in medicine and biology.
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African health sciences · Mar 2019
Mitochondrial DNA deletions in patients with esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer globally. Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) and esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) are the two major types of esophageal cancer with poor prognosis. The mechanisms of the progression of normal esophagus to Barrett's esophagus (BE) and EA are not fully understood. Mitochondria play a central role in generating energy, apoptosis and cell proliferation. Mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been identified in many diseases including cancers. Mutations of mtDNA were investigated as a part of carcinogenesis. ⋯ We can say that, these deletions are not associated with progression of normal esophagus to BE and EA and they do not have an important role in detecting esophagitis, BE, EA, and ESSC.