Medical & Health Sciences

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Research Papers/Topics Medical & Health Sciences

COVID-19 changing the face of the world. Can sub-Sahara Africa cope?

Abstract: We formulate a mathematical model for the spread of the coronavirus which incorporates adherence to disease prevention. The major results of this study are: First, we determined optimal infection coefficients such that high levels of coronavirus transmission are prevented. Secondly, we have found that there exists several optimal pairs of removal rates, from the general population of asymptomatic and symptomatic infectives respectively that can protect hospital bed capacity and fla...

Antibacterial and antioxidant potential of Albizia anthelmintica as a medicinal plant on pathogenic veterinary isolates

Abstract: Albizia anthelmintica is a medicinal plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. It is widely used by smallholder farmers and pastoralists to treat internal parasites in their livestock.This study aimed to determine the antibacterial and antioxidant potential of A. anthelmintica on pathogenic veterinary isolates. 100% hexane (He100), 100% chloroform (Ch100), 100% ethanol (E100), and 70% ethanol (E70) extracts of the roots and barks of A. anthelmintica were tested against four bacterial...

Age structured mixture model for early COVID-19 spread: a Zimbabwean risk factor analysis

Abstract: Unique severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) prevention measures to distinct age, geographical and community groupings can only be effectively and efficiently implemented with a clear understanding on dynamics of the disease. Dynamics include disease spread, different risk factors and their level of influence and individual attributes that aid the spread. The paper aims at determining the major COVID-19 spread risk factors in Zimbabwe by identifying ...

Myrothamnus flabellifolius attenuates streptozotocin-high energy diet-induced type 2 diabetes in male sprague dawley rats

Abstract: Several medicinal plants have anti-diabetic properties and can be considered as an alternative therapy because of their actions which are like those of conventional antidiabetic drugs. In this study, we investigated Myrothamnus flabellifolius (MF) ethanol: water (70:30) extract for its possible anti-diabetic potential in streptozotocin-high energy diet (STZ-HED) induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats and its possible mechanisms of action. Diabetic rats were divided into MF-50...

The complete mitogenome of the fairy shrimp Streptocephalus cafer (Lovén, 1847) (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Anostraca) from an ephemeral pond in Botswana, southern Africa

Abstract: Fairy shrimps (Anostraca) constitute an important component of seasonally aquatic habitats, but few complete mitochondrial genomes have been published for this group. Here, we report the mitoge nome of a common southern African species, Streptocephalus cafer, from Botswana (accession number: MN720104). Low-coverage shotgun sequencing recovered two contigs 15653 bp and 1347 bp in length that are separated by a repetitive region of unknown length within the non-coding control region....

Virtual healthcare services and digital health technologies deployed during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in South Africa: a systematic review

Abstract: Aims: To identify virtual healthcare services and digital health technologies deployed in South Africa during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the challenges associated with their use. Methods: To determine the status of digital health utilization during COVID-19 in South Africa, the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses model was used to perform a systematic and in-depth critical analysis of previously published studies in well-known and trusted...

Hygiene Risk and the Virtual Handshake: A Case of the Biometric Identification Machine

Abstract: This study was carried out to assess hand hygiene practices in the context of an institution that uses biometric identity machines to monitor employee attendance. The study involved 103 employees. The study revealed that 67.3% of the respondents felt the institution had adequate hand hygiene facilities but only 51.4 % said they always disinfect their hands after using the toilet. 33.6% said they never disinfected their hands when using the biometric machine due to unavailability of...

Mixed layer sub-tropical clayey soil-AMD percolation: analysis of permeation limits and breakthrough patterns

Abstract: The increasing population growth, depletion of natural recourses from mining and similar activities, and consequent insistent climate change have triggered diverse environmental challenges. It is well known that acid mine drainage (AMD) from mining operations in South Africa constitutes a serious environmental problem which requires heightened and crucial attention. The contamination threats from AMD presents a severe risk requiring prevention and mitigation measures for curbing co...

Performance evaluation of waste stabilisation ponds

Abstract: Waste stabilisation pond system has been used more especially in developing countries for sewage treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate the hydraulic and performance efficiency of Palapye waste stabilisation ponds. The hydraulic efficiency was evaluated through drogue, pond geometry and sludge accumulation assessment. The performance efficiency was evaluated through periodic sampling and analysis of physiochemical and bacteriological parameters of individual unit...

Accumulation of heavy metals and bacteriological indicators in spinach irrigated with further treated secondary wastewater

Abstract: Shortage of water for agriculture has resulted in the need to explore the use of wastewater for irrigation, however this can pose a health problem to the people emanating from the produced food as a result of the accumulation of pollutants. The purpose of this research was to investigate the accumulation of some heavy metals and bacteriological indicators in the different parts of spinach vegetable irrigated with secondary wastewater effluent treated through a pilot filtration syst...

The Plight of policy and Legislation on Health care Provision in Uganda: Care of Maternal Health Care

Uganda practices what is called legal pluralism. Where more than one type of law is practiced in her jurisdiction. The customary laws, statutes, common laws (case laws, legal precedents). Despite all these laws. Maternal health is insufficiently covered by the law. As there is little guideness of the law on this issue but even the overall law as a block is seemingly gender biased, neutral and blind. As it lacks sensitivity on the heterogeneity of men and women in social aspects. 

Exploring Maternal Biomarkers and Risk Factors in Preeclampsia: Insights from a Ghanaian Case-control Study

Aims: The involvement of maternal sociodemographic, obstetric, clinical, anthropometric and biochemical variables in preeclampsia has been demonstrated in previous studies. However, there are intra- and inter-population variabilities in study findings due to differences in genetic and environmental factors. This requires population-specific studies to aid the formulation of local protocols for the early detection and management of preeclampsia. Study Design: This was a case-control study Pl...

Larvicidal activity of Neem oil and three plant essential oils from Senegal against Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper, 1789)

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the insecticide, larvicidal and repellent activity of the essential oils from Callistemon viminalis, Melaleuca leucadendron, and Hyptis suaveolens against Chrysodeixis chalcites and to compare it with neem oil (Azadirachta indica). Methods: The essential oils of the leaves of these aromatiques plants were extracted by steam distillation and contacts tests were carried out. Results: Essential oils in ethanol from Callistemon viminalis showed a higher biologica...

Modelling and manipulation of aphid-mediated spread of non-persistently transmitted viruses

Abstract: Aphids vector many plant viruses in a non-persistent manner i.e., virus particles bind loosely to the insect mouthparts (stylet). This means that acquisition of virus particles from infected plants, and inoculation of uninfected plants by viruliferous aphids, are rapid processes that require only brief probes of the plant’s epidermal cells. Virus infection alters plant biochemistry, which causes changes in emission of volatile organic compounds and altered accumulation of nutrien...

Endophytic Colonization of Onions Induces Resistance Against Viruliferous Thrips and Virus Replication

Abstract: In agricultural ecosystems, insect pests, pathogens, weather patterns, and reduced soil fertility pose major challenges to crop productivity and are responsible for significant yield losses worldwide. Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) vectored by Thrips tabaci Lindeman,is a major hindrance to onion production in eastern Africa. Control measures often rely on insecticides with deleterious effects. Endophytes are one key alternative as they can play important roles in mediating induced s...


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