Occupational lung disease among Basotho ex-miners in a large outreach medical assessment programme

Background: Current initiatives in southern Africa to medically assess former migrant miners for silicosis and tuberculosis, including statutory and lawsuit derived compensation programmes, require burden of disease information. nObjective: To use clinical information collected on ex-miners examined at the Occupational Health Service Centre (OHSC) in Lesotho, operated under the Tuberculosis in Mining Sector in Southern Africa (TIMS) project, to measure the burden of lung disease and respiratory impairment. Methods: Demographic, occupational and medical history information, chest radiology, spirometry, GeneXpert testing for tuberculosis, and pulse oximetry outcomes were analysed, and descriptive summary measures calculated, in a group of ex-miners examined in 2017 and 2018. Results: The study sample comprised 2 758 Basotho former underground miners, with median age of 62 years and median length of service of 28 years. Among ex-gold miners (n = 2 678), disease prevalence was high: radiological tuberculosis (consistent with previous or current disease) 60.9%, silicosis 42.5%, HIV 30.7%, silicotuberculosis 25.7%, and current active tuberculosis 6.8%. Of those with tuberculosis diagnosed microbiologically, 6.7% had no radiological evidence of tuberculosis and 54.1% did not report cough. Conclusion: The findings have public health and compensation implications. There are large numbers of ex-miners with potentially compensable disease under both the statutory system and a settlement trust set up following litigation. This overlaps with a tuberculosis-HIV co-epidemic which requires screening and treatment for tuberculosis and HIV, and managing a considerable disability and care burden on families and the Lesotho health system. Coordinated planning and substantial resources are needed for these programmes to do justice to their mandates

Endoscopic carpal tunnel release in jamaica: seven years experience / Liberación endoscópica del túnel carpiano en jamaica: siete anos de experiencia

OBJECTIVE: To assess the patient profile and outcome of treatment, by endoscopic release, of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. METHODS: A descriptive study was done using data from two sets ofpatients who had endoscopic carpal tunnel release in Jamaica from 2004 to 2006 and 2006 to 2010. The medical records of patients who had a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome using symptoms, clinical signs and confirmation by nerve conduction test were reviewed. The data were analysed using SPSS and Micosoft Excel®. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients with 75 cases of carpal tunnel syndrome were done. Fifty-two (76%) of these patients were females and about 50% were older than 41 years old. There were 61 (90%) unilateral cases. Of these, the majority of cases affected the right hand. All patients had improvement in symptoms after one week, required minimal analgesic use, had good compliance with rehabilitation and returned to work after about two weeks. There were three cases of pilar tenderness, two cases of transient paraesthesia in the index finger which resolved after three weeks. There were three failed cases from the first series which had to be converted to open carpal tunnel release. The complication rate was 6.7%. No serious complications occurred in the second series and all were treated successfully without interventional surgery. The rate ofconversion to open release was 4%. CONCLUSION: Carpal tunnel affects mostly middle aged females and when treatment is done by endoscopic release, there is a fast resolution of symptoms and early return to work.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el perfil del paciente y el resultado clínico del tratamiento de pacientes con el síndrome del túnel carpiano tratados mediante liberación endoscópica. MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo, usando datos de dos conjuntos de pacientes a quienes se les realizó una liberación endoscópica del túnel carpiano en Jamaica entre 2004 y 2006; 2006 y 2010. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de pacientes con un diagnóstico de síndrome del túnel carpiano, usando síntomas, senales clínicas y confirmación mediante la prueba de conducción de nervio. Los datos fueron analizados usando SPSS y Micosoft Excel®. RESULTADOS: Se analizó un total de 68 pacientes con 75 casos de síndrome del túnel carpiano. Cincuenta y dos (76%) de estas pacientes fueron mujeres, y aproximadamente 50% tenían más de 41 anos de edad. Hubo 61 (90%) casos unilaterales. De éstos, la mayoría de casos tuvo afectación de la mano derecha. Todos los pacientes experimentaron una mejoría en los síntomas después de una semana; necesitaron un uso mínimo de analgésicos, cumplieron bien con la rehabilitación, y regresaron al trabajo luego de dos semanas aproximadamente. Hubo tres casos de sensibilidad del talón de la mano, y dos casos deparestesia transitoria del dedo índice, que se resolvieron después de tres semanas. Hubo tres casos fallidos que tuvieron que ser convertidos en liberación abierta del túnel carpiano. La tasa de complicación fue 6.7%. No ocurrió ninguna complicación seria en esta serie, y todas fueron tratadas exitosamente sin intervención quirúrgica. La tasa de conversión para abrir la liberación fue 4%. CONCLUSIÓN: El túnel carpiano afecta principalmente a las mujeres de mediana edad, y cuando el tratamiento se realiza mediante liberación endoscópica, se produce una resolución rápida de los síntomas y un temprano regreso al trabajo.

Outcomes of long bone fractures treated by open intramedullary nailing at the St Ann's bay hospital, Jamaica / Resultados clínicos de las fracturas de huesos largos tratadas mediante enclavijado intramedular abierto en el hospital de Saint Ann's bay, Jamaica

Between May 2001 to August 2004, 35 patients had open nailing of long bones. There were 40 fractures fixed. Of these 40 fractures, there were 25 femoral fractures, 11 were tibial fractures and 4 were humeral fractures. There were 33 (82.5%) closed fractures and 7 (17.5%) open fractures. In the group of patients with open fractures, there were two Grade I, two Grade II and three Grade IIIB. Seven (20%) patients were lost to follow-up; all of whom had closed fractures. The final analysis as it relates to complications was done using 28 patients with 32 fractures. The majority of fractures healed without significant complication. All the patients with closed fractures went on to bony union. There was one non-union and three delayed unions. There were two infections (osteomyelitis) and this was from the open fracture cohort. This represents an infection rate of 28.6% in this cohort. Two (7.0%) patients had persistent pain and one (3.6%) patient had early removal of the nail because of failure of fixation. The mean time from injury to surgery for the fractured femur was 15.5 (range 0-49) days; fractured tibia 24.4 (range 0-40), days and fractured humerus 41.5 (20-81) days. The mean hospital stay was 18.9 (range 9-37) days for patients with fractured femur; for fractured tibia, it was 20.5 (range 3-82) days and for fractured humerus, it was 22.7 (range 3-82) days. The mean postoperative stay was 4.1 (range 1-14) days for fractured femur, 4.5 (range 1-14) days for fractured tibia and 4.0 (range 1-10) days for fractured humerus. The mean time to healing (consolidation) as defined by X-rays was 5.0 (range 3-11) months for fractured femur, 5.2 ( range 3-11) months for tibia and 7.0 (range 6- 8) months for fractured humerus.

Desde mayo de 2001 hasta agosto de 2004, 35 pacientes recibieron reducción de fracturas de huesos largos mediante enclavijado a cielo abierto. Se produjeron 40 fijaciones de fracturas. De estas 40 fracturas, 25 fracturas fueron del fémur, 11 fueron de la tibia, y 4 del húmero. Hubo 33 (82.5%) fracturas cerradas y 7 (17.5%) fracturas abiertas. En el grupo de pacientes con fracturas abiertas, hubo dos fracturas de grado I, dos de grado II y tres de grado IIIB. El análisis final en cuanto a las complicaciones, se realizó con 28 pacientes con 32 fracturas. La mayoría de las fracturas se curaron sin complicaciones significativas. Todos los pacientes con fracturas cerradas lograron finalmente la unión ósea. Hubo uno que no logró la unión y tres uniones retardadas. Se produjeron dos infecciones (osteomielitis), provenientes de la cohorte de fractura abierta. Esto representa una tasa de infección del 28.6% en dicha cohorte. Dos (7.0%) pacientes presentaban dolores persistentes, y a un (3.6%) paciente le fue retirado el clavo tempranamente debido a que la fijación falló. El tiempo promedio desde la lesión hasta la cirugía, fue de 15.5 días (rango 0-49) para la fractura del fémur; 24.4 días (rango 0-40) para la fractura de la tibia, y 41.5 días (20-81) para la fractura del húmero. La estancia promedio en el hospital fue de 18.9 días (rango 9-37) para los pacientes con el fémur fracturado; para la fractura de la tibia fue de 20.5 días (rango 3-82), y para el húmero fracturado fue 22.7 días (rango 3-82). La estadía postoperatoria promedio fue 4.1 días (rango 1-14) para el fémur fracturado, 4.5 días (rango 1-14) para la tibia fracturada, y 4.0 días (rango 1-10) días para los casos de fractura del húmero. El tiempo promedio de sanación (consolidación) tal como lo definieron los rayos X fue 5.0 meses (rango 3-11) para el fémur fracturado, 5.2 meses (rango 3-11) para la tibia y 7.0 meses (rango 6-8) para el húmero fracturado.

A chromosome 9 deletion in Plasmodium falciparum results in loss of cytoadherence

Many lines of Plasmodium falciparum undrgo a deletion of the right end of chromosome 9 during in vitro culture accompanied by loss of cytoadherence and gametocytogenesis. Selection of cytoadherent cells from a mixed population co-selects for those with an undeleted chromosome 9 and selected cells produce gametocytes. The deletion also results in loss of expression of PfEMP1, the putative cytoadherence ligand, suggesting PfEMP1 or a regulatory gene controlling PfEMP1 expression and gametocytogenesis may be encoded in this region. We have isolated several markers for the deleted region and are currently using a YAC-P. falciparum library to investigate this region of the genome in detail