Acute toxicity and 28-day oral administration of euclea natalensis extract in Swiss albino mice
The use of traditional medicine has been of great importance since ancient times. This has been part of traditional practices within different societies worldwide. In addition, a lot of work has been done on the ethnobotanical use of medicinal plants in South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mexico and Asia. Well documented records stipulate that many African and Mexican plants have been used in the management and treatment of various diseases such as tuberculosis and related symptoms, stomach problems, infertility and many more.
Genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis from vaginal swabs by restriction analysis of the outer membrane protein gene
In both industrialised and developing countries, reproductive tract infections are one of the most important public health challenges. Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is a Gramnegative, obligate intracellular bacterium that can replicate only within a host cell. It is the most common cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in young women globally. Up to 80% of C. trachomatis infections in women are asymptomatic. Infection with C. trachomatis is becoming more common throughout the world.
Evaluation of the simplified Carbapenem Inactivation Method (sCIM) for detection of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli
The emergence and surge of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) is a serious clinical and global health concern. Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are increasing both locally and internationally. These infections are analogous to high rates of morbidity and mortality. The development of resistance to a class of drugs called carbapenems, which are appraised as compounds of last resort in the treatment of infections attributed to resistant Gram-negative pathogens, is therefore concerning. Resistance to carbapenems is mostly due to the production of hydrolysing enzymes, the carbapenemases. Discerning these enzymes on time can have a remarkable effect on patient care and antimicrobial stewardship strategies.
A review of 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome: clinical and diagnostic perspective
The occurrence of microdeletion around the 22q11.2 region is common in diseases such as velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS), DiGeorge syndrome (DGS), and conotruncal anomaly face syndrome. These diseases share similar chromosomal abnormalities with different phenotypes and are very common in humans with an incidence of 1:4 000–1:6 000 live births and remain undiagnosed in diverse populations.
The impact of Chlamydia trachomatis infection on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes
The physiological changes that occur during pregnancy induce a weakened immune system in pregnant women, which renders them more susceptible to infections and ailments. Reproductive tract infections rank among the most significant public health concerns in both developed and developing nations, including South Africa.
Moving towards a value-added procurement process in the medical laboratory in Africa
Medical laboratories play a critical role in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of diseases, as 70–80% of clinical decisions are based on laboratory results. For laboratories to play these key roles, the procurement process must be properly managed. However, the procurement of in vitro diagnostics and services remains a challenge in resource-restrained countries.
Validation of GeneXpert using extrapulmonary samples at the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory in Lesotho
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health concern around the world. It is confirmed to be amongst the top 10 killer diseases. Despite this, there has been a significant shift in the overall diagnosis of TB during the previous decades. This shift is the result of the emergence of several technologies that use polymerase chain reactions (PCR) which directly detect the nucleic acids of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) in clinical specimens.
The effect of first-line TB treatment on carbapenem-resistance in faecal Enterobacterales
Carbapenems are beta-lactam antibiotics belonging to three out of the four Ambler classification classes for beta-lactamases (Class A, Class B, and Class D) and can be used to treat a variety of infections, such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, gynaecological infections, and soft tissue infections. The carbapenems are indicated for antimicrobial therapy in cases where resistance to first-line agents is expected, as they have a broad spectrum of activity.