Five-year survival analysis and predictors of death in HIV-positive serology patients attending the Military Hospital of Nampula, Mozambique.

An observational retrospective study was conducted over a 5-year period to assess survival and predictors of death in people with HIV-positive serology undergoing antiretroviral treatment with first-line regimens at the Military Hospital of Nampula, Mozambique. We collected data from 332 patient records. Kaplan-Meier boundary product estimator, log-rank, Gehan-Breslow, Tarone-Ware, time-dependent Cox models and estimates of hazard ratios (HR), with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Meantime survival for females and males was 54.8 months [95% CI 50.32-55.40] and 49.7 months [95% CI 45.89-53.53], respectively. Cox regressions indicated higher death rates significantly or potentially associated with: male sex (HR = 1.3; [95% CI 0.7-2.39]); suspected diagnosis reported only by the physician (HR = 3.6; [95% CI 1.8-7.4]); disease stages III (HR=1.2 [95% CI 0.3-3.6]) or IV (HR 1.4 [95% CI 0.4-5.8]); first TCD4+ lymphocyte count lower than 350 cells per ml (HR = 3.2; [95% CI 0.9-11.2]) or between 350-500 cells per ml (HR = 1.3; [95% CI 0.3-5.8]); or do not present cells count (HR = 3.6; [95% CI 1.2-10.2]). The above variables were significant for HIV prognosis and as predictors of death and should be considered in the clinical care of these patients.

Antidiabetic potential of Musa spp. inflorescence: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Extracts of parts Musa spp. have been used for the treatment of various diseases in traditional medicine. Studies have shown that these extracts have hypoglycaemic properties. The aim of this work was to gather evidence on the antidiabetic effects of Musa spp. inflorescence. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted with searches in three electronic databases, along with manual searches. Studies evaluating the antidiabetic properties of extracts of flower or bract of the genus Musa (in vitro or in vivo) were included. KEY FINDINGS: Overall, 16 studies were found. The reported assays were of hypoglycaemic effects, oral glucose tolerance, inhibitory activities in carbohydrate metabolism and digestive enzymes, enhanced glucose uptake activity and popular use of the extract in patients with diabetes type 2. In vitro studies showed that use of the extract was associated with antidiabetic effects (e.g. increased glucose uptake and inhibition of carbohydrate digestion enzymes). In induced diabetic models, Musa spp. extracts showed dose-dependent glycaemic level reductions compared with pharmacological drugs (P < 0.05). SUMMARY: In general, promising results regarding antidiabetic activity were found for inflorescence of Musa spp., suggesting that this plant could represent a natural alternative therapy for treating diabetes mellitus type 2.