African health sciences
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African health sciences · Sep 2013
Epilepsy and its effects on children and families in rural Uganda.
This report aims to assess the impact of childhood epilepsy in an isolated rural area in Western Uganda, with little access to medical care, via its effect on children and families. Basic information on 440 affected children, clinically examined at 19 rural centres, was collated and data on seizure pattern and duration analysed, together with information on school attendance of older children. ⋯ The unexpected prevalence of apparent cognitive delay is discussed, together with strategies for prevention and management of epilepsy at community level.
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African health sciences · Sep 2013
The importance of the mean platelet volume in the diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia.
This retrospective study aimed to investigate the diagnostic relation between the mean platelet volume (MPV) and supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT) in patient with documented atrial tachyarrhythmia in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ The present study described that MPV is helpful parameter for the diagnosis of SVT in emergency department, for the first time in the literature.
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African health sciences · Sep 2013
Determinants of health related quality of life in a sample of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Nigeria using the St. George's respiratory questionnaire.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a multi-systemic and progressive disease. However the determinants of its impact on health related quality of life are not well-studied or understood in Nigeria. ⋯ Self-reported breathlessness and weight loss are independent predictors of low HRQL score in COPD.
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African health sciences · Sep 2013
Chronic inflammatory cells and damaged limbal cells in pterygium.
Chronic inflammation in pterygium occurrence has not been explained. Whether damaged limbal basal epithelial cells are associated with pterygium occurrence in black Africans is not clear. ⋯ Mild chronic inflammation has a tendency to be more frequent than severe inflammation in pterygia. It is clear that damaged limbal basal epithelial cells are unlikely to be related to pterygium occurrence.
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In developing countries, 6% of deaths are due to cancer but cancer prevention is not practiced. Humans can prevent themselves from a number of workplace and environmental carcinogens. ⋯ Exposure to carcinogens is common necessitating case-control and cohort studies in this locality on cancer prevalence and incidence.