African health sciences
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African health sciences · Mar 2023
Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum among asymptomatic pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in Nigeria.
This study investigated the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum among asymptomatic pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-Sp) in Osogbo, southwest Nigeria. Blood sample was obtained from consenting pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. Microscopy and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were employed to diagnose and analyse genetic diversity. ⋯ Nine alleles were detected with glurp gene, presenting with the highest monoclonal and the lowest polyclonal infection. The multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1.5, 1.8, and 1.2 were obtained for msp-1, msp-2 and glurp genes. In light of the high P. falciparum genetic diversity among pregnant women on IPT-Sp in this study, additional strategies for preventing and controlling malaria in pregnancy might be required.
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African health sciences · Mar 2023
An evaluation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (Mmp-9) and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1 (Timp-1) Serum levels and the Mmp-9/Timp-1 Ratio in Covid-19 patients.
The progression of COVID-19 has different clinical presentations, which raises a number of immunological questions. ⋯ Diagnostic and treatment methods targeting MMP-9 activity or neutrophil activation may be important in predicting lung involvement in COVID-19 and directing clinical outcomes.
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African health sciences · Mar 2023
Evaluation of some immune and inflammatory responses in diabetes and HIV co-morbidity.
Co-existence of diabetes in the HIV infected reportedly further complicates the attendant impairment of immunity and increases susceptibility to opportunistic infections. ⋯ The increased IL-6, CRP, IgG, IgM and decreased CD4+ T cell counts observed in co-morbidity suggest that HIV and T2D co-morbidity exacerbate the immune and inflammatory impairment observed in either disease entity.
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African health sciences · Mar 2023
Laboratory characteristics among patients with COVID-19: a single-center experience from Khartoum, Sudan.
COVID19 is associated with a number of laboratory characteristics and changes with different levels of prognostic significance. We report changes in lab findings between severe and non-severe COVID-19 in patients that had molecular testing of nasopharyngeal swabs in Khartoum, Sudan. ⋯ The laboratory findings of CBC, D-dimer and CRP provide an essential contribution to predicti COVID-19 severity and prognosis.
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African health sciences · Mar 2023
Evaluation of sexual function and sexual quality of life in women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: the Turkish case.
Sexual health is an important component of general health. ⋯ Less than half of the women participating in this study had sexual dysfunction, and overall SQOL was moderate to high. These results were associated with some descriptive characteristics of the women and were similar to those reported in pre-pandemic studies conducted in Turkey.