Cardiovascular journal of Africa
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Review Case Reports
Dyspnoea and chest pain as the presenting symptoms of pneumomediastinum: two cases and a review of the literature.
Pneumomediastinum is the presence of air in the mediastinum. It may occur as spontaneous, traumatic, or iatrogenic pneumomediastinum. Although spontaneous pneumomediastinum is usually observed in healthy young men, traumatic pneumomediastinum may be caused by blunt or penetrating trauma to the chest and neck. ⋯ Case 2 was a 23-year-old man who had a two-day history of dyspnoea and chest pain with no history of trauma. In both patients, diagnosis of pneumomediastinum was confirmed with thoracic computed tomography scans, and the condition resolved within five days of in-patient observation. In conclusion, the diagnosis of pneumomediastinum should be considered for all patients who present to the emergency department with chest pain and dyspnoea.
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Information on the current burden of stroke in Africa is limited. The aim of this review was to comprehensively examine the current and projected burden of stroke in Africa. ⋯ While the available study data and evidence are limited, the burden of stroke in Africa appears to be increasing.
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Review
Socio-cultural, environmental and behavioural determinants of obesity in black South African women.
South Africa (SA) is undergoing a rapid epidemiological transition and has the highest prevalence of obesity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with black women being the most affected (obesity prevalence 31.8%). Although genetic factors are important, socio-cultural, environmental and behavioural factors, as well as the influence of socio-economic status, more likely explain the high prevalence of obesity in black SA women. ⋯ In addition, the role of maternal and early life factors and cultural aspects relating to body image are discussed. This information can be used to guide public health interventions aimed at reducing obesity in black SA women.
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Review Meta Analysis
Efficacy and safety of sirolimus-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents in coronary artery disease patients with diabetes: a meta-analysis.
To compare by meta-analysis the efficacy and safety of sirolimus-eluting and bare-metal stents in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with diabetes. ⋯ Our study confirmed that SES are safer and more effective than BMS in CAD patients with diabetes, as far as major cardiac events are concerned.
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Acute ischaemic stroke can be treated by clot busting and clot removal. Thrombolysis using intravenous recombinanttissue plasminogen activator (IV r-TPA) is the current gold standard for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). The main failure of this type of treatment is the short time interval from stroke onset within which it has to be used for any benefit. ⋯ This can easily be done in any emergency facility in any part of the world. What is needed is public awareness, and campaigns of 'stroke attack' should be revisited, especially in the resource-limited context. This approach at present will halt to some extent the stroke pandemic that we are facing.