African health sciences
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African health sciences · Dec 2020
Case Reports Classical ArticleNon- pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour presenting with hypoglycemia in an elderly patient.
Hypoglycemia is a common, symptom seen in individuals. Hypoglycemia in the elderly is both under-recognized and misdiagnosed due to nonspesific hypoglycemic symptoms and accompanying comorbidities in this population. In diabetic individuals, hypoglycemia is most commonly caused by administering insulin or sulphonylureas and insulin secretagogues. Other drugs, such as antibiotics or beta-blockers, have been reported to reduce blood glucose to abnormally low levels. Hypoglycemia in non-diabetic patients is considered a rare event, and the possible reasons may be reactive hypoglycemia, insulin-secreting tumours and other malignancies, hypopituitarism, hypocortisolism, alcohol abuse, inappropriate insulin self-administration, malnutrition, renal failure and sepsis. ⋯ For patients with hypoglycemia who are unable/decline to receive any further treatment, low dose glucocorticoid is a good choice to achieve normoglycemia. It seems to be more cost effective compared to other treatment options. Furthermore hospitalisation rates may decrease due to decreased hypogylcemic attacks.
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African health sciences · Dec 2020
Comparative StudyComparison of breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding success of obese and normal-weight mothers in the early period.
Body mass index (BMI) of overweight and obese women is a risk factor for breast milk secretion. ⋯ In the light of the data of, to increase the breastfeeding success among obese mothers, it is suggested that the perception of self-efficacy is enhanced, and additional consultation is provided on breastfeeding starting from the antenatal period. The trainings given to mothers by the midwife and nurse are supported with home visits especially in the obese women in the postnatal period in order for them to breastfeeding.
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African health sciences · Dec 2020
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 overexpression in gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma in patients seen at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.
There are scanty data on the occurrence of gastric tumours overexpressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in Africa. ⋯ The occurrence of GGEAC HER2 overexpression in Zambian patients is similar to proportions reported elsewhere, and it is associated with moderately differentiated tumours of the intestinal type.
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African health sciences · Dec 2020
Effects of body weight and posture on pulmonary functions in asthmatic children.
Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the world. Pulmonary function tests are important tools in monitoring of asthmatic patients. There is need for investigating if spirometric indices were affected by body weight or posture or not. ⋯ There was no effect of weight on standing spirometric data. Weight showed significant negative correlation with asthma control level. We concluded that in overweight/obese asthmatic children, spirometric position might affect the results.
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African health sciences · Dec 2020
Association between osteoporosis and hepatitis B cirrhosis: a case-control study.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis is associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD); however, the mechanism is yet unknown. To assess the incidence of osteoporosis in patients with HBV-associated cirrhosis and relevant mechanisms. ⋯ Enhanced bone resorption accounted for increased risk of osteoporosis in severe cirrhosis. Thus, HBV-associated cirrhosis was a risk factor for osteoporosis.