African health sciences最新文献

Aim: The aim of this study was,to determine the relationship between the systemic immune inflammation index-, which is a new inflammatory marker, and other inflammatory markers in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted by exaimining patients who presented at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic of Derince Training and Research Hospital between 2018-2022. Inflammatory markers were compared in hemogram parameters of 180 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and 178 control group subjects. The two groups were compared in respect of hemoglobin(Hb), white blood cell (Wbc), platelet (Plt), neutrophil (Neu), lymphocyte (Ly), red cell distribution width(RDW), main platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and systemic immune inflammation index (SII)values.

Results: The hemoglobin, white blood cell, platelet, neutrophil, lymphocyte,neutrophil lymphocyte ratio,and systemic immune inflammation index values were determined to be statistically significantly higher in PCOS patients than in the control group.

Conclusion: Elevated values of inflammatory markers can be detected in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome,- supporting the presence of inflammation.

Background: This study aimed to identify demographic predictors influencing the uptake of traditional prenatal care among pregnant women in rural Zimbabwe to inform maternal health policies and programming.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Goromonzi District, focusing on Wards 1, 3, and 6. A census approach recruited 867 pregnant women identified through community health workers. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using binary logistic regression to evaluate the influence of demographic predictors, including age, education, income, employment, parity, marital status, religion, and health complications.

Results: Half (50%) of respondents reported using traditional prenatal services, with 80% preferring a combination of traditional and conventional care. Significant predictors included African Traditional Religion (ATR) (OR = 19.144, p = 0.008), parity (OR = 12.962, p = 0.004), low income (OR = 9.991, p = 0.004), informal employment (OR = 5.134, p < 0.001), and primary education (OR = 5.966, p = 0.006). The model explained 48.4% of the variance in traditional care adoption (Nagelkerke R² =0.484).

Conclusion: Integrated maternal health approaches respecting cultural practices, subsidized maternal services, and collaboration with traditional birth attendants could enhance maternal health outcomes in rural Zimbabwe.

The shortage of biostatisticians across Africa continues to hinder the quality, transparency, and reproducibility of health research on the continent. Drawing on documented regional initiatives and published literature, this Letter to the Editor highlights the ongoing gap in biostatistical capacity and proposes three practical recommendations to address it. These include the organization of structured training through pan-African institutions, the promotion of existing statistical reporting guidelines such as SAMPL, and the integration of applied biostatistics into doctoral and medical education. Strengthening statistical competence through these scalable approaches could support researchers, improve the quality of published research, and foster more rigorous scientific practice throughout Africa.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combining Lactobacillus reuteri with racecadotril in treating pediatric rotavirus enteritis, focusing on its impact on intestinal mucosa and immune function.

Methodology: Eighty-five children diagnosed with pediatric rotavirus enteritis were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (43 cases) receiving racecadotril alone and the observation group (42 cases) treated with both Lactobacillus reuteri and racecadotril. Evaluation of the RV conversion rate and treatment efficacy was conducted at 3d, 5d, and 7d post-treatment. The study also assessed changes in intestinal mucosal barrier function, immune response, and intestinal microbiota.

Results: The observation group exhibited significantly higher RV conversion rates at 3d, 5d, and 7d post-treatment compared to the control group (P<0.05), reaching 61.90%, 76.19%, and 92.86%, respectively. Following treatment, the observation group showed improvements in mucosal barrier function, increased CD4+ levels, decreased AGEs, D-lactic acid, endotoxins, and CD8+ levels. There were notable changes in intestinal microbiota, with elevated Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium levels and decreased Escherichia coli.

Conclusions: Combining Lactobacillus reuteri and racecadotril in treating pediatric rotavirus enteritis demonstrated efficacy in regulating intestinal microbiota, alleviating mucosal barrier dysfunction, improving immune function, and enhancing treatment effectiveness.

Background: This system evaluates the effect of static navigation systems on accuracy (platform, apical and angular deviation) in clinical studies of implant surgery in the anterior aesthetic zone to inform clinical decision-making.

Methodology: Retrieve Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane library databases, as well as randomized controlled trials (RCT) and controlled clinical trials (CCT) comparing dynamic navigation and static guidance published by the US Clinical Trial Registry before May 1, 2023. The outcome indicators included in the study include measuring the deviation between the preoperative design of the implant and the actual site at the top, apex, and angle. The calculation of meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager version 5.2 software.

Results: 1134 articles were screened and retrieved, and finally 4 studies were included for quantitative analysis. Meta analysis results showed that the two groups had lower depth angle deviation (WMD=-0.30, 95%CI: (0.24, 1.78), P=0.01) at the top (WMD=0.14, 95% CI: (-0.26, 0.55), P=0.49) and root tip (WMD=0.25, 95%CI: (-0.34, 0.84), P=0.41) compared to the static guide plate group, and the difference was statistically significant.

Conclusion: The static guide plate provides a small implant placement error, which is comparable to the error obtained using dynamic navigation systems, but dynamic navigation exhibits a smaller angle deviation.

Background: Increase in antimicrobial resistance poses a global threat for treatment of Salmonellosis.

Objectives: In this study, serovar distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility, resistance genes, and clonal diversity were characterized in clinical Salmonella isolates.

Methods: In this study, serovar distribution of clinical Salmonella isolates was characterized by the Kauffman-White scheme. The antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the broth microdilution method. Resistance genes and clonal diversity were investigated by PCR and PFGE.

Results: The serovars were Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (n=92), Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (n=14), and others (n=25). Resistance to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, azithromycin, meropenem, and colistin were 13.3%, 2.2%, 5.2%, 3.0%, 0%, 29.6%, respectively. Two ESBL-positive isolates carried TEM-type β-lactamases. Carbapenemases, mcr-1 and mcr-2 could not be detected. Colistin-resistant S. Enteritidis isolates were grouped in 4 pulsotypes [A1 (n=12), A2 (n=2), A3 (n=13) and B (n=1)]. All except one (B) were found closely related.

Conclusions: A relative decrease in resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was detected with time. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin can be good alternatives to the widely-used ciprofloxacin and third-generation cephalosporins. High resistance of colistin and ciprofloxacin may be due to the extensive use of antibiotics in poultry, which highlights the significance of one health concept.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of apatinib plus tenozolomide in the treatment of recurrent malignant brain glioma.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 108 patients with recurrent malignant brain glioma was conducted at our hospital. Out of these, 54 patients received apatinib plus tenozolomide as combination therapy (Combination group) while the remaining 54 were treated with temozolomide alone (Control group). Clinical data was collected and analyzed to compare the treatment efficacy and incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. Additionally, patient survival and progression-free survival (PFS) were monitored and recorded.

Results: The study evaluated the efficacy of a treatment among patients who completed it. The Combination group had a higher objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) compared to the Control group. Treatment-related adverse reactions were mostly grade I-II and improved with symptomatic treatment. The Combination group had higher incidence rates of hypertension, proteinuria, and hand-foot syndrome. Follow-up results showed that the Combination group had a significantly better overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) than the Control group.

Conclusion: Compared with temozolomide alone, apatinib plus tenozolomide can significantly improve the clinical efficacy in treating recurrent malignant brain glioma, prolong the survival of patients and produce tolerable adverse reactions.

Background and objective: Even though the pathogenesis of vitiligo is still unclear, recent studies have suggested that miRNAs can contribute to the occurrence and progression of the disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between SNPs of miRNA processing genes and their expression levels with vitiligo susceptibility.

Methods: 55 patients and 56 controls were investigated for Dicer, Drosha, and DGCR8 gene expressions and genotyped for Drosha rs493760, DGCR8 rs1640299, and Dicer rs1057035 by real-time PCR. The correlation of the expression levels of these three genes was analyzed. The ROC curve was used to analyze their diagnostic efficacy for vitiligo.

Results: The current findings showed that the Dicer CT genotype was more frequent in vitiligo (p=0.046) compared to controls, while Drosha and DGCR8 polymorphisms did not show significant associations. The relative expression levels of the three genes in vitiligo patients were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). The areas under the curves for Drosha, DGCR8, and Dicer were 0.969, 0.66, 0.67.

Conclusions: For the first time, we demonstrate that the Dicer rs1057035 polymorphism is associated with vitiligo susceptibility, and the downregulation of Drosha, DGCR8, and Dicer suggests their potential roles as biomarkers in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

Background: To compare and analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of Three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in the treatment of obesity complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methodology: A total of 132 T2DM patients were divided into LSG group (n=66) and LRYGB group (n=66). The operation time, time of postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery, postoperative hospital stay, and incidence rate of complications were compared. The glucolipid metabolism indexes [fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS), fasting C-peptide (FCP), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)], body weight and nutritional status [body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin (Hb)], insulin function and insulin resistance were recorded. Short-from 36 (SF-36) questionnaire was also conducted.

Results: LSG group had shorter operation time, less blood loss, and quicker postoperative recovery than LRYGB group. Both groups showed significant improvements in BMI, FBG, FINS, FCP, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR. After 12 months, LRYGB group had significantly higher scores in physical function, general health, vitality, role emotional, and mental health in SF-36 questionnaire compared to LSG group. Compared with LRYGB group, LSG group had significantly decreased operation time, reduced intraoperative blood loss, and shortened postoperative off-bed time. BMI, FBG, FINS, FCP, HbA1c and HOMA-IR all markedly declined in the two groups after operation. At 12 months after operation, the scores of physical function, general health, vitality, role emotional and mental health in the SF-36 questionnaire were all remarkably higher in LRYGB group than those in LSG group.

Conclusion: LSG can be used to treat obesity complicated with T2DM, which is characterized by simple operation, small trauma and quick postoperative recovery.