Sickle Cell Trait, Malaria and Sensorineural Hearing Loss–A Case-Control Study from São Tomé and Príncipe

Hearing loss is a problem with higher incidence in South Asia, Asia Pacific and sub-Saharan Africa. In these countries there is also associated history of anemia and malaria.

This study aims to identify a putative role of Beta globin mutation - sickle cell trait and HL in São Tomé and Príncipe population. A retrospective case-control study of a convenience sample was collected during Otolaryngologist Humanitarian Missions in São Tomé and Príncipe.

Control group includes individuals with normal hearing in both ears, and the case group has participants presenting bilateral or unilateral HL.

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Identification of Patient-Perceived Barriers to Communication between Patients and Physicians

Barriers to full disclosure and communication of complete and accurate health history from patients to their physicians can compromise patient care.

Identification of barriers to communication between patients and their physicians, and assessing communication techniques to overcome putative barriers may improve medical training, quality patient care, and patient experience.

The authors performed a cross-sectional study using a novel questionnaire at an urban, inner-city hospital in Toronto, Ontario between January 1, 2011 and January 1, 2012, in order to evaluate potential barriers to communication.

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Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccines: Scope and Implications

High risk human papilloma virus has often been associated with cancer onset and progression by the virtue of the viral oncogenes.

Genital cancers and Oropharyngeal cancers are the two leading carcinomas often induced by HPV infection.

These viral encoded oncogenes are known for their ability to integrate, recombine and interfere with the host cellular genes.

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Determinants of High Fertility among Ever Married Women in Enderta District, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Fertility is one of the major components of population dynamics, which determine the size and structure of a population. According to Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2011 report, the total fertility rate is decreasing from 5.5 children in 2000 to 4.8 in 2011.

However, the rate of decline has been very slow as compared to the developed world. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the magnitude and factors associated with high fertility among ever married women aged 25-49 years in Northern Ethiopia.

A community based cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected 531 subjects in Enderta district using an interviewer administered questionnaire.

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The Need of Incorporating Pharmacoeconomics in Pharmacy Curriculum of Pakistan

The fundamentals of Pharmacoeconomics compare value of a pharmaceutical system over another. Being a sub-discipline of health economics, Pharmacoeconomics appraises the cost and effects of a pharmaceutical product or service hence directs best possible healthcare resource allotment, in a homogeneous and scientifically acceptable approach.

Indeed the use of Pharmacoeconomics in pharmaceutical and medical sciences is a valid and valuable method that is beyond doubt and comparison.

However, there are multiple factors that affect practical application of the Pharmacoeconomical processes in a real time environment.

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Left Ventricular Non-Compaction: Mid-myocardial Distribution of Late Gadolinium Enhancement in Compacted Segments

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) with Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) is a proven method for detecting myocardial fibrosis. Previous CMR studies described the distribution of LGE in patients with LVNC.

however, it still remains unclear. The purpose of the study was to describe the distribution of LGE in patients meeting cardiovascular magnetic resonance criteria for Left Ventricular Non-Compaction (LVNC).

We retrospectively enrolled 15 patients adult patients (11 males and 4 females; mean age, 42 ± 13 years) considered to meet standard CMR criteria for LVNC.

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Results of Investigations for Tuberculosis in Patients with Serpiginous Like Choroiditis in Comparison to Patients with Central Serous Retinopathy and Non-Serpiginous Uveitis

To compare results of tuberculosis investigations in cases of serpiginous like choroiditis (SC), central serous retinopathy (CSR) and non serpiginous uveitis.

Methods: 40 patients each of SC (Group 1), CSR (Group 2) and other non serpiginous uveitis (Group 3) were studied. Mantoux test and chest radiography results were compared. P values for the results were calculated by using a Pearson Chi-square test and Fisher exact test. P value ≤0.05 was considered significant.

56/120 patients (53.3%) were Mantoux positive. 23/40 were Mantoux positive in Group 1, 17/40 positive in Group 2 and 16/40 positive in Group 3. Difference between the groups was not statistically significant (p=0.237). On chest radiography four in Group 1, three in Group 2 and five in Group 3 had past evidence of extraocular tuberculosis (p=0.757).

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A Rare Case of Non-rheumatic Streptococcal Acute Myocarditis

on-rheumatic Streptococcal Acute Myocarditis, also known as Strep Pharyngitis Acute Myocarditis (SPAM) occurs in young adults, typically within five days of the initial streptococcal pharyngitis, and is characterized by typical cardiac symptoms, abnormal electrocardiography, and elevated cardiac biomarkers in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease.

Patients may also report myalgias, arthralgias, and constitutional symptoms. Although a rare complication of Group A and G streptococcal infections, prompt recognition is important to ensure appropriate management.

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"Obesity paradox" and Cardiovascular Disease: Myth or a Better Clinical Outcome?

Obesity is linked to traditional cardiovascular risk factors like, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnoea syndrome, reduced insulin sensitivity, enhanced free fatty acid turnover, increased basal sympathetic tone, a hypercoagulable state, systemic inflammation and suspected to incur increased morbidity and mortality.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a patient's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.

BMI to define underweight, normal weight, overweight, and various classes of obesity

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Clinical Validation of a Next Generation Sequencing Panel Test for Hereditary Colorectal Cancer

Application of next generation sequencing (NGS) is revolutionizing the clinical molecular diagnostics industry. As this occurs, guidelines for validating NGS processes are limited, non-specific, and rapidly evolving.

NGS validation projects are complex and expensive, so the validation experiments must be carefully considered, while being certain all current and evolving regulatory requirements are met.

We validated an end-to-end genetic testing process for a 16-gene hereditary colorectal cancer NGS panel. Global work flow was designed to provide high quality sequencing data for 100% of our targeted regions.

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A Validated Method for Titanium Implant Anchorage Analysis using Micro CT and Biomechanical Testing

The use of uncemented titanium endosseous implants for restorative dentistry and orthopaedic surgery has been the standard of care for several decades.

Still, the mechanisms involved in this fascinating and unique interaction between a living tissue and foreign substance are poorly understood. An important reason for the absence of sufficient mechanistic information is the lack of robust experimental models combined with solid tools to analyze structurefunction relationships of the implant-bone system.

Qualitative and quantitative ex vivo analysis of peri-implant tissues is typically done by means of light microscopy using thin histological sections following implant removal or thicker ground sections which contain the implant and undecalcified bone.

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Experiences, Strengths and Challenges of Integration of Mental Health into Primary Care in Ethiopia

The burden of mental disorders is increaasing in low and middle income countries including Ethiopia but the number of psychiatry professionals is scarce. Integrating mental health in primary health care is vital to address the problem. This survey aimed in assessing the experiences, strengths and challenges of integrating mental health in primary health care in Ethiopia.

Facility based supervisions was done in primary health care centers where the scale up program was implemented and giving mental health services. Semi structured and standardized WHO mental health Global Action Programme support and supervision questionnaires was used to collect information's.

Findings: A total of 1576 mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders were identified and treated in selected four regions. Majority of identified cases were epilepsy (46.64%) followed by psychosis (28.49%). Essential drugs for treating psychosis, depression and epilepsy were available in almost all health institutions.

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Dynamics of Swallowing Tablets during the Recovery Period following Surgery for Tongue Cancer

Compared to foods, medicinal tablets are difficult to swallow: even 10-20% of healthy subjects have trouble swallowing tablets. Compared to healthy subjects, patients with dysphagia reportedly experience more difficulty swallowing tablets and require an increased volume of water for tablet ingestion, a longer ingestion time, and an increase in the number of swallowing attempts.

In order to improve compliance with taking medication, investigations into the dosage forms and physical properties of tablets that can be easy to ingest have been conducted in the past.

The larger the tablets, the harder they are to ingest; conversely, if they are too small, they can be difficult to handle. A tablet size of 7-8 mm in diameter is considered the easiest for Japanese people to swallow.

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Is there a Gender Difference in Cost-related Medication Non-adherence?

Access barriers to medication have been a persistent challenge in care for the poor in the U.S. According to a study funded by the Commonwealth Fund and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, twenty-six percent of the elderly did not take medication as prescribed due to a cost barrier.

The Medicare Part D outpatient prescription drug program, aiming to reduce access barriers to medication use, was seen to have increased medication utilization in the general Medicare population.

However, for those high-need patients with high-cost disease, multiple morbidities, and disabilities, access to medications has not been shown to improve after the implementation of the Medicare Part D.

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Economic Evaluation of Social Care Interventions: Lessons Drawn from a Systematic Review of the Methods Used to Evaluate Reablement

Reablement helps individuals to regain or retain the ability to live independently after an injury and/or exacerbation of an illness.

Despite the lack of clear evidence on its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, or on the optimal model for its implementation, reablement is hailed as one solution to the increased demand for long term care.

This study systematically reviews, synthesises and critically appraises the economic evidence on reablement, and makes recommendations to improve future research. A total of 13 studies were included.

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Multimodality Imaging for Malignant Transformation Assessment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Neurofibromatosis is a common autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder.

It is also defined as a RASopathy (developmental syndromes caused by germ line mutationsin genes that alter the Ras subfamily and Mitogen activated protein kinases that control signal transduction).

It has an incidence of 1:3000 live births and has variable expressivity. Half of the cases of NF demonstrate de novo mutations and it has equal male to female preponderance.

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