The impact of malaria parasites on the placenta and perinatal outcome at Korle Bu teaching hospital, Accra, Ghana: a case control study

Objective: Malaria remains a complex and overwhelming health problem affecting vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and their infants in Ghana. Malaria during pregnancy does not only pose a threat to the mother but can cause serious structural damages to the placenta and subsequently affect the pregnancy outcome. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of Plasmodium parasites on the placenta and perinatal outcome of women delivering at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. A better understanding of the impact of malaria parasites on the placenta morphology and prenatal outcome is crucial for better management of pregnant women and their babies. Methods: The study involved testing blood collected from postpartum placentas and examining the placental tissue for Plasmodium parasites, after which they were classified as study group (Plasmodium positive) or control (Plasmodium negative). The patients in the study group with similar gestational and maternal age were matched with patients from the control group. The morphological characteristics of the placenta and the perinatal outcome of the two patient groups were compared using an unpaired t-test. Results: Sixteen (16, 13.6%) out of 118 women tested positive for Plasmodium parasites on the maternal side of the placenta by both rapid diagnostic test and microscopy and /or tested positive for malarial parasite during pregnancy, whiles the rest (102, 86.4%) had no history of malaria in the index pregnancy and tested negative. The mean placenta weight was significantly reduced in the study group (difference: -102.0g; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 424.4g, 486.6g) who delivered during early term (p=0.02). Patients in the study group, who delivered during late term, had a significantly reduced mean placenta diameter (difference: -2.5cm; 95% CI: 20.0cm, 21.4cm) (p=0.003) and delivered infants with lower mean birth weight (difference: - 0.693kg; 95 CI: 3.268kg, 3.475kg) (p<0.001). Conclusion: Malaria during pregnancy does not only pose a threat to the mother but to the fetus and our results add evidence that malaria parasites cause alterations to certain morphological characteristics of the placenta which subsequently affect the birth weight as the pregnancy progresses to late term

Incidental inflammatory adenoma with ß-catenin activation in the setting of paediatric NASH.

Hepatocellular adenomas (HCA) are benign tumours with potential for malignant transformation with no recommendations regarding management in the paediatric population. We report a case of an inflammatory adenoma with ß-catenin activated pathway in an obese, paediatric patient with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). CASE REPORT: An 11-year-old female presented with a microlobulated liver lesion measuring >5 cm in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with inflammatory adenoma with ß-catenin activated pathology arising in a background of NASH, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score 5/8. Imaging follow-up demonstrated stable disease without progression for 3 years. DISCUSSION: Malignant transformation of Hepatocellular adenomas in a child is approximately 4.2%. It is unknown if hepatic steatosis increases this risk. Obese patients mainly develop inflammatory and ß-catenin activated (highest risk for malignant transformation) adenomas. Our patient had inflammatory and ß-catenin activation, which led to monitoring for malignant transformation. CONCLUSION: We report a ß-catenin activated inflammatory adenoma in a child with obesity and NASH with ongoing expectant management.

Pathological fractures in children: Diagnosis and treatment options.

A fracture is defined as pathological when it arises in a bone tissue that has been modified and reshaped by a local or systemic pathological process. In children, pathological fractures can be secondary to several conditions, ranging from metabolic diseases to tumors, infections or neuromuscular pathologies. History, clinical examination and radiologic assessment are essential to making a diagnosis, to identifying the underlying cause and to planning the right treatment of a pathological fracture. Treatment must be tailored to both the fracture and the underlying cause. The objective of this work is to present the diagnostic approach and the course to follow when a child presents with a pathological fracture. The most common causes of pathological fractures, as well as their characteristics, will be described. Pathological fractures occurring in osteogenesis imperfecta and in abused children as well as stress fractures will not be discussed.

Evaluation of a point-of-care blood test for identification of Ebola virus disease at Ebola holding units, Western Area, Sierra Leone, January to February 2015.

Current Ebola virus disease (EVD) diagnosis relies on reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) technology, requiring skilled laboratory personnel and technical infrastructure. Lack of laboratory diagnostic capacity has led to diagnostic delays in the current West African EVD outbreak of 2014 and 2015, compromising outbreak control. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the EVD bedside rapid diagnostic antigen test (RDT) developed by the United Kingdom's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, compared with Ebola virus RT-PCR, in an operational setting for EVD diagnosis of suspected cases admitted to Ebola holding units in the Western Area of Sierra Leone. From 22 January to 16 February 2015, 138 participants were enrolled. EVD prevalence was 11.5%. All EVD cases were identified by a positive RDT with a test line score of 6 or more, giving a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval (CI): 78.2-100). The corresponding specificity was high (96.6%, 95% CI: 91.3-99.1). The positive and negative predictive values for the population prevalence were 79.0% (95% CI: 54.4-93.8) and 100% (95% CI: 96.7-100), respectively. These results, if confirmed in a larger study, suggest that this RDT could be used as a 'rule-out' screening test for EVD to improve rapid case identification and resource allocation.

A comparison of the simplified olecranon and digital methods of assessment of skeletal maturity during the pubertal growth spurt.

Assessment of skeletal age is important in children's orthopaedics. We compared two simplified methods used in the assessment of skeletal age. Both methods have been described previously with one based on the appearance of the epiphysis at the olecranon and the other on the digital epiphyses. We also investigated the influence of assessor experience on applying these two methods. Our investigation was based on the anteroposterior left hand and lateral elbow radiographs of 44 boys (mean: 14.4; 12.4 to 16.1 ) and 78 girls (mean: 13.0; 11.1 to14.9) obtained during the pubertal growth spurt. A total of nine observers examined the radiographs with the observers assigned to three groups based on their experience (experienced, intermediate and novice). These raters were required to determined skeletal ages twice at six-week intervals. The correlation between the two methods was determined per assessment and per observer groups. Interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) evaluated the reproducibility of the two methods. The overall correlation between the two methods was r = 0.83 for boys and r = 0.84 for girls. The correlation was equal between first and second assessment, and between the observer groups (r ≥ 0.82). There was an equally strong ICC for the assessment effect (ICC ≤ 0.4%) and observer effect (ICC ≤ 3%) for each method. There was no significant (p < 0.05) difference between the levels of experience. The two methods are equally reliable in assessing skeletal maturity. The olecranon method offers detailed information during the pubertal growth spurt, while the digital method is as accurate but less detailed, making it more useful after the pubertal growth spurt once the olecranon has ossified.

Anterior dislocation of the shoulder in skeletally immature patients: comparison between non-operative treatment versus open Latarjet's procedure.

The ideal treatment for traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder in the skeletally immature patient is controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes after either conservative and/or surgical treatment using the Latarjet technique. A retrospective series of 49 out of 80 patients were reviewed. We found no significant differences between either treatment method regarding functional scores and pain levels. Although not statistically significant, post-surgical patients showed better signs of shoulder stability than others who have a higher rate of recurrence. Further, 92% of the post-surgical group had returned to the same level of activity versus 52% in the non-surgically treated group. We found no contraindications to operate on a skeletally immature patient.

Functional results of displaced proximal humerus fractures in children treated by elastic stable intramedullary nail.

PURPOSE: Displaced proximal humerus fractures within the pediatric population can be treated by elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN). The main objective of our study is to evaluate functional outcome of the displaced proximal humeral fractures treated by ESIN within the pediatric group using a standardized evaluation scale. The secondary goal is to compare functional outcome of epiphyseal and metaphyseal injuries and functional outcome of children younger and older than 10 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2010 to December 2011, 27 children had been treated surgically using ESIN for displaced fractures at the proximal extremity of the humerus. These fractures were displaced and closed without neurovascular insult. Patients were followed radiographically and clinically on a regular basis. After hardware removal, the functional outcomes had been homogeneously assessed by using the French edition of the QuickDash(®) evaluation scale. The descriptive statistics including mean, standard deviation, and confidence interval have been realized. RESULTS: We included 27 children who were operated on consecutively (10 boys, 17 girls). The mean age at the time of operation is 11.2 ± 2.7 years (range 7.1-15.9). The mean angulation is 55.9° ± 20.3° (range 20-90). The mean apposition is 52.8 % ± 33.1 (range 10-100). The mean follow-up period is 15.2 ± 5.6 months (range 6.1-28.5). Results were considered good for children between 7.1 and 15.9 years old with epiphyseal and meataphyseal fractures. The mean QuickDash(®) score is 2.0 (range 0-6.5), with 14 cases showing a score of 0 (58.3 %), 2 cases with 4.3 (8.3 %), 4 cases with 4.5 (16.7 %), and 4 cases with a score of 6.5 (16.7 %). Ranges of movement were preserved. The patients regained their daily and sportive activity over the time without pain or discomfort. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a good outcome of functional results within a pediatric population who had a sustained displaced proximal humeral fracture and treated by ESIN. Using a standardized evaluation scale is recommended in order to be able to evaluate the patients in a homogeneous manner.

Preference of ghanaian women for vaginal or caesarean delivery postpartum.

OBJECTIVE: To determine Ghanaian women's preferred mode of delivery and opinion of caesarean section after caesarean delivery. DESIGN: A cross sectional study of women who recently delivered by caesarean section prior to hospital discharge. SETTING: Two teaching hospitals in Ghana: Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. RESPONDENTS: 154 patients who delivered by caesarean section between the 1(st) and 31(st) August, 2003 were interviewed. Of the 154 initiating the interview, 151 completed, and 145 had complete data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Delivery preference and general opinion of caesarean delivery. RESULTS: The majority of women interviewed indicated that they preferred vaginal delivery (55%). Despite preference for vaginal delivery among these women who had delivered by caesarean section, the majority had a generally positive opinion of caesarean section (53%). CONCLUSION: Ghanaian women with experience of caesarean delivery prefer vaginal delivery.

Optimised helper virus-free production of high-quality adeno-associated virus vectors.

BACKGROUND: Clinical development of adeno-associated virus (AAV) requires standardised, safe, efficient and scalable procedures for the manufacture of the rAAV vector, including production, purification and testing. Several strategies have been reported for the approach to the manufacturing problem. We report a helper virus-free process that produces high quality rAAV stocks. METHODS: rAAV were produced by triple transfection, a helper virus-free process. After lysis of the cells in the presence of nuclease, the rAAV produced were purified by HPLC through two ion-exchange columns in tandem followed by dialysis. rAAV stocks were thoroughly characterised for biological activity and for the presence of residual contaminants. The titer of infectious particles and of rep + particles was determined by dRA assay. Contaminating DNA and RNA were determined by fluorescent dye binding and real-time PCR. The protein content of the rAAV stocks was characterised by SDS-PAGE, ELISA test, Western blot and specific enzymatic assays for putative residual contaminating protein. The in vivo biological activity of the stocks was evaluated in mouse muscle. RESULTS: rAAV stocks obtained following this procedure elicit: 2-5 x 10(12) pp/ml; 3-6 x 10(10) ip/ml; < 10(3) rep + particles/ml; <0.3 mUeq/ml of residual benzonase activity; non-detectable Ad or beta-galactosidase proteins; <35 pg/ml of cellular genomic DNA; in vivo expression in mouse muscle without any immune reaction detected. CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrates the possibility of producing purified high-quality rAAV free of helper virus. The procedure described in this paper is easily adaptable for large-scale production of clinical rAAV vectors.