African health sciences最新文献

Background: This study compared the changes in alveolar ridge height in adult and adolescent patients with Angle Class I malocclusion before and after orthodontic treatment.

Methodology: A total of 110 patients, 55 adults (18 years and above) and 55 adolescents (10 to less than 18 years), were included. The research focused on alveolar bone thickness and changes in ridge height.

Results: Results showed no significant differences in alveolar ridge thickness between the groups at various locations. Adults had thinner alveolar ridges at 7 mm and 9 mm compared to adolescents. Post-treatment, adults experienced increased ridge height in specific regions, while adolescents had minor changes. Some craniofacial angles and chin concavity differed between the groups. Adults exhibited a higher incidence of bone cracking, with an increase post-treatment. Adolescents didn't show significant changes in bone cracking.

Conclusion: In conclusion, orthodontists should customize treatment for Angle Class I malocclusion based on age-specific findings. Adolescents may experience minor alveolar changes, while adults exhibit increased ridge height and higher fracture risk post-treatment. Monitoring and adapting plans accordingly ensure effective and safe outcomes.

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease condition and one of public health importance in Africa and indeed globally. Its potential complications can be mitigated by tight control of blood glucose, achievable by both short and long term glucose monitoring. The values of these measures are expected to both be within target, but for some reasons, sometimes these values become discordant.

Objective: This study is aimed at determining the pattern of short and long term glycemic control prevalent among Type 2 diabetic patients in the study environment and the extent of the discordance between them.

Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. Research participants comprised consenting adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin were used to assess short and long term glycemic control respectively.

Results: The study included 148 participants (60 males and 88 females). Glycated haemoglobin (HbAlc) correlated significantly with Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) (P < 0.00001). Prevalence of optimal long and short term glycemic control was 42.6% and 35.8% respectively. The proportion of individuals with concordance between FPG and HbA1c was 116 (78.4%) while 32 (21.6%) had discordant values.

Conclusion: Glycemic control, both long and short terms, was sub-optimal among participants. Discordance observed between HbA1c and FPG creates some dilemma in clinical decision making, and calls for guidelines and uniformity in the clinical management of these conditions.

Background: Onchocerciasis is a vector-borne disease caused by the tissue nematode Onchocerca volvulus. Despite its importance for targeted intervention, the national prevalence is not well addressed in Ethiopia.

Objective: This review aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of human onchocerciasis in Ethiopia.

Methods: All literature published from 1973 to July 2022 were included in the present review A systematic review and meta-analysis was done following PRISMA guideline and checklists. Studies conducted on the prevalence of onchocerciasis in Ethiopia were searched from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and MEDLINE databases. Comprehensive meta-analysis version 2.2 software was used to calculate the pooled prevalence. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using Cochrane Q test and I2 test statistics based on the random effects model.

Results: Twenty-one studies, which recruited a total of 14,983 participants, were included in the present review. The overall pooled prevalence of Onchocerca volvulus in Ethiopia was 31.8% using the random effect model. The heterogeneity between studies was high and significant (Q = 2881.2, I2 = 99.3%, P-value < 0.001).

Conclusions: The prevalence of onchocerciasis is high in Ethiopia, despite the implementation of prevention and control measures. Therefore, the existing mass drug administration program should be strengthened.

Background: To analyze the value of thoracoscopic lung wedge resection, thoracoscopic lobectomy and open lobectomy in patients with lung cancer.

Methodology: Ninety-six patients with lung cancer were divided into three groups: thoracoscopic lung wedge resection (F1 group), thoracoscopic lobectomy (F2 group), and open lobectomy (F3 group). The study assessed the patients' general condition, pulmonary function, oxidative stress indicators, quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), and occurrence of postoperative complications, including pulmonary infections.

Results: The F1 and F2 groups outperformed the F3 group in most surgical indicators, except for lymph node count. F1 group had better results than the F2 group. Pulmonary function was better in the F1 group postoperatively compared to F2 and F3 groups. F1 and F2 groups exhibited lower levels of oxidative stress indicators, while having higher levels of SOD than the F3 group. At 3 and 6 months' post-surgery, F1 group had lower EORTC QLQ-C30 scores than F2 and F3 groups. The incidence of complications, including lung infections within 6 months after surgery, was lower in F1 and F2 groups than the F3 group.

Conclusion: Thoracoscopic lung wedge resection can reduce surgical trauma and oxidative stress, alleviate lung function damage and postoperative complications, and improve the level of quality of life.

Objective: To investigate the effect of anterior decompression with bone graft and internal fixation for dislocation of lower cervical vertebra, and to analyze the influencing factors of early postoperative complications.

Methods: The retrospective study included 90 patients with lower cervical fractures and dislocations who received anterior decompression and internal fixation in our hospital from November 2018 to October 2021. Postoperative indexes, therapeutic effects, postoperative recovery of cervical and spinal functions and complications were observed. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted with early postoperative complications as the dependent variable.

Results: All the 90 patients underwent surgical treatment successfully, the operation time was (85.11 ± 11.57) min, the intraoperative blood loss was (148.05±36.75) mL. Compared with preoperative results, Cobb Angle and anterior atlas space were significantly smaller at 6 months and 1 year after surgery (P < 0.05). No broken plate, broken nail and loose plate were observed in the patient one year after surgery, and the bone graft fusion was good. JOA score and ASIA score were significantly improved at 6 months and 1 year after surgery (P < 0.05). ASIA scores of patients with incomplete nerve injury were improved in different degrees 6 months and 1 year after surgery (P < 0.05). Of the 90 patients, 10 had related complications after surgery, with an incidence of 11.11%. The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that the time from injury to operation and the longer operation time were both influencing factors of early postoperative complications (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Anterior cervical approach decompression bone grafting and internal fixation in the treatment of lower cervical fracture and dislocation has remarkable effects, which is helpful to promote the recovery of spinal nerve function. However, postoperative complications still exist, among which the time from injury to operation and the longer the operation time are both influencing factors of early postoperative complications, which should be paid attention to in clinic.

Background: The study describes the diagnose of fetal micrognathia by the two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional color doppler ultrasound, and evaluates its clinical value.

Methodology: The case group comprised 100 fetuses with highly suspected mandibular deformity, and the control group consisted of 100 normal fetuses. Various ultrasonic equipments and multimedia data processing system were used to obtain 2D and 3D images of fetal mandible, and the Biparietal Diameter (BPD) and Fetal Mandibular Longitudinal Diameter (FML) were measured. The Jaw Indices (JI) and Inferior Facial Angle (IFA) were calculated, and all suspected cases underwent chromosome examination. Eight confirmed cases of mandibular deformity were identified in the case group.

Results: This study examined eight cases of fetal micrognathia and found positive correlations between transverse diameters and FMLs of normal fetuses and gestational weeks. There was no significant correlation between JI, IFA, and gestational weeks. The study also compared JI, IFA, and FML between normal and small mandibular groups, finding significant differences. The smallest FML in the small mandibular group was only approximately equal to the normal fetus FML in the 18th week.

Conclusion: The study provides insights into the measurement and analysis of fetal micrognathia. Combining FML, JI, and IFA with ultrasonic diagnosis reduces fetal micrognathia misdiagnosis.

Background: Despite several efforts to educate adolescents about HIV/AIDS in Uganda, many still engage in unsafe behaviors, putting them at risk of HIV infection.

Objective: We aimed to assess the level of HIV knowledge and associated factors and establish association with sexual behavior among 13 to 19-year-old adolescents living in an urban division in Kampala district.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 976 adolescents selected through multistage sampling and administered one pretested questionnaire to collect data. We analyzed the data using Stata version 14.0.

Results: Knowledge on HIV was moderate (mean score = 11.30, SD= 2.91), and it was not associated with sexual behavior (OR= 0.97, p-value = 0.565). HIV knowledge was associated with age, school status, and knowledge of HIV status.

Conclusions: Knowing about HIV did not imply engaging in safe sex practices. There is, therefore, a need to encourage adolescents to adopt safe sexual behavior in the fight against HIV.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the variations in quantitative analysis of lung adenocarcinoma based on gender using dual-energy Computed Tomography (DECT), as well as its correlation with Ki-67, a proliferative marker.

Methodology: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 79 patients diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, categorized into two groups based on gender. These patients underwent dual-energy CT scans, and the corresponding Ki-67 index was obtained. The study involved statistical analysis of general clinical characteristics, conventional chest imaging features, and dual-energy quantitative iodine values of the lung cancer patients in each gender group. Additionally, correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the statistically significant parameters and Ki-67.

Results: A significant disparity was observed in the values of virtual non-contrast (VNC) and Ki-67 between male and female patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Notably, male patients exhibited lower iodine concentration and a smaller increase in iodine value. Several quantitative iodine parameters showed a correlation with Ki-67. Among these parameters, OVERLAY_VP exhibited the strongest correlation. Distinct quantitative iodine parameters were identified for male and female lung adenocarcinoma patients, which exhibited a correlation with Ki-67, thereby facilitating the evaluation of the proliferative activity of lung adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion: Dual-energy quantitative iodine parameters in lung adenocarcinoma patients exhibited gender-specific variations.

Background: Tuberculosis(TB) is still among the leading causes of death from a single infectious pathogen worldwide. TB treatment is long, requires multiple drug combinations, and therefore adherence monitoring. TB hair drug levels have been suggested as a technique of treatment adherence monitoring; however, the drug levels might be affected by physiological factors, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking. This can affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TB drugs.

Objective: To assess the effect of physiological factors, smoking, and alcohol on isoniazid hair drug levels during TB treatment.

Methods: Patients were assessed for diabetes Mellitus, smoking, alcohol consumption, age, weight, and gender. Hair drug levels were measured by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry(LC-MS).

Results: We screened a total of 102 TB patients and enrolled 56 participants out of which 50 completed the study. We excluded 15 participants who were not sampled exactly at 1-month appointment dates and of the remaining 35; the mean hair drug level was 0.0706ng/mg, 95% CI: 0.0303-0.1109. Tests of interaction across the different subgroups yielded no statistically significant interaction coefficients(IC) except for age and gender (IC=-0.36.95%, CI: -0.55-0.17, P=0.001).

Conclusion: Physiological factors, alcohol, and smoking do not affect isoniazid hair drug levels.