African health sciences
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African health sciences · Jun 2018
Sexuality experiences of secondary school students in Nakuru, Kenya: a cross-sectional study.
Adolescence is a phase where one is inquisitive about sex and sexuality. It is but natural to exchange the half-baked feelings and experiences with peers. These days the environment that includes public media has sexually suggestive flavors. ⋯ There is urgency for intervention by the parents and the church in filing the gap in sexual knowledge.
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African health sciences · Jun 2018
Observational StudyCongenital genital abnormalities detected during routine circumcision at a South African institution: a retrospective record review.
Due to the reduction in HIV transmission through male medical circumcisions (MMC), numerous clinics throughout South Africa offer a voluntary free service to boys from the age of ten years and above. An examination prior to the procedure may detect congenital abnormalities missed after birth. ⋯ The incidence of congenital genital abnormalities of males presenting for routine circumcision is low. Despite the low incidence the effect on fertility, sexuality, ability to urinate and on psychological wellbeing is significant. Referral services to the urology department should be restructured to improve all outcomes.
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African health sciences · Jun 2018
An eight cytokine signature identified from peripheral blood serves as a fingerprint for hepatocellular cancer diagnosis.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is an aggressive disease in Asia and Africa with poor prognosis partially due to lack of disease-specific biomarkers. ⋯ We identified a unique eight-peripheral blood cytokines signature for hepatocellular carcinoma detection. This work will serve as the basis for further studies about the clinical value of peripheral blood cytokines in forecasting prognosis.
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African health sciences · Jun 2018
Estimation of salivary cortisol level in post-menopausal women with psychosomatic disorders.
Stress is an undesirable or health threatening response of the body, which is brought on by deleterious external influences (stressors). Objective measurement of psychosocial stress helps in assessment of pivotal role of stress in precipitation of multitude of health problems and a solution to the same. Salivary biomarkers are suggested to provide a reliable and non-invasive method for the estimation of these general health problems. Salivary cortisol is such biomarker used as tool in the examination of human physiological stress response. Post-menopausal women show an increase in stress levels and hence suffer with multiple health related problems. Hence the present study aimed to estimate salivary cortisol levels in post-menopausal women with clinically diagnosed psychosomatic disorder/disorders of the head and neck region, so as to establish salivary cortisol as a biochemical indicator of stress. ⋯ The geriatric patients feel that they have very little skills or resources to deal with the high levels of stress that they are experiencing and hence suffer from lack of self-worth. The results of this study recommend that stress evaluation should be done on a regular basis for all post- menopausal women. For individuals who do not reveal their psychological distress, salivary analysis of cortisol may be used as an aid to diagnose their situation in conjunction with clinical diagnosis.
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African health sciences · Jun 2018
MicroRNA expression profiling in human acute organophosphorus poisoning and functional analysis of dysregulated miRNAs.
Acute organophosphorus(OP) pesticide poisoning is associated with dysfunctions in multiple organs, especially skeletal muscles, the nervous system and the heart. However, little is known about the specific microRNA (miRNA) changes that control the pathophysiological processes of acute OP poisoning damage. We aimed to explore miRNA expression profiles and gain insight into molecular mechanisms of OP toxic effects. ⋯ This study mapped changes in the serum miRNA expression profiles of poisoning patients and predicted functional links between miRNAs and their target genes in the regulation of acute OP poisoning. Our findings are an important resource for further understanding the role of these miRNAs in the regulation of OP-induced injury.