African health sciences
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African health sciences · Sep 2015
Comparative StudyComparison of the inhibition capability of oleanolic acid and betulinic acid towards drug-metabolizing enzymes.
Human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are important membrane proteins located in endoplasmic reticulum, and play important roles in metabolism of a variety of endogenous and exogenous compounds. ⋯ Given that UGT1A6 and UGT1A8 play key role in the the inhibition of oleanolic acid towards UGT1A6 and UGT1A8 will induce drug-drug interaction and the risk of diseases.
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African health sciences · Sep 2015
Evaluating the use of cell phone messaging for community Ebola syndromic surveillance in high risked settings in Southern Sierra Leone.
Most underdeveloped countries do not meet core disease outbreak surveillance because of the lack of human resources, laboratory and infrastructural facilities. The use of cell phone technology for disease outbreak syndromic surveillance is a new phenomenon in Sierra Leone despite its successes in other developing countries like Sri Lanka. In this study we set to evaluate the effectiveness of using cell phone technology for Ebola hemorrhagic fever syndromic surveillance in a high risked community in Sierra Leone. ⋯ Our study suggests some form of underreporting by the traditional sentinel Ebola hemorrhagic fever disease surveillance system in Moyamba District southern Sierra Leone for August-September 2014. Cell phone messaging technology can be effectively use as a tool for community epidemic surveillance from peripheral health care facilities to higher levels.
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African health sciences · Sep 2015
Upper gastrointestinal diseases in patients for endoscopy in South-Western Uganda.
There is a paucity of published data regarding upper gastrointestinal diseases in Ugandans with upper gastrointestinal symptoms referred for endoscopy. ⋯ Gastritis, ulcerative disease, and upper gastrointestinal malignancies are common in South-Western Ugandans and are associated with a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori.
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African health sciences · Sep 2015
Comparative StudyPolymerase chain reaction to search for Herpes viruses in uveitic and healthy eyes: a South African perspective.
To analyse aqueous polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results in patients diagnosed with undifferentiated uveitis and determine prevalence of herpesviridae in non-uveitic patients undergoing routine cataract extraction. ⋯ We recommend PCR testing for Herpesviridae as a safe second line test for patients with undifferentiated uveitis. We were unable to establish prevalence and suggest that the idea of a commensal herpes virus is unlikely if the blood-ocular barrier is intact.
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African health sciences · Sep 2015
Variations in antimalarial components of Artemisia annua Linn from three regions of Uganda.
Artemisia annua plant from the family Asteracea is a powerful antimalarial plant introduced to Uganda around 2003. In addition to the artemisinin component, the plant also contains flavonoids which work in synergy to artemisinin against malaria parasites. The plant also contains aromatic oils which repel mosquitoes. In this paper we report the variations in antimalarial components of A. annua samples from the regions cultivating it in Uganda. ⋯ Our findings show that the active components in Artemisia annua cultivated and used in the Uganda vary with geographical regions and this calls for standardisation by source.