Leaf decomposing fungi influence Saccharomyces paradoxus growth across carbon environments.

Saccharomyces paradoxus is a model organism in ecology and evolution. However, its metabolism in its native habitat remains mysterious: it is frequently found growing on leaf litter, a habitat with few carbon sources that S. paradoxus can metabolize. We hypothesized that leaf-decomposing fungi from the same habitat break down the cellulose in leaf litter extracellularly and release glucose, supporting S. paradoxus growth. We found that facilitation by leaf-decomposing fungi was possible on cellulose and inhibition was common on glucose, suggesting diverse interactions between S. paradoxus and other fungi that have the potential to support S. paradoxus in nature.

Perceptions and experiences of prostate cancer patients in a public tertiary hospital in urban South Africa.

ABSTRACTProstate cancer is among the most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide and is reported to have the highest incidence, mortality, and 5-year prevalence rate of all cancers among men living in Africa. Despite this widespread burden in the African continent, little is known about the perspectives and experience of prostate cancer among African men. To further understand experiences among patients living in urban South Africa, we conducted in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews to examine the perceptions and experiences of 28 Black African prostate cancer patients receiving treatment at a major tertiary hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. Our data explored four major areas of patients' experiences with prostate cancer: detection, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. Our results showed that the experience of living with prostate cancer among low-income, Black South African men is a stressful and emotionally painful experience due in part to men feeling that they had insufficient knowledge about their own condition and feeling disempowered or ill-equipped to manage their cancer. These feelings were strongly associated with distrust or dissatisfaction with physicians and the health care system. Resilience factors include social support from family, friends, and religious communities, acceptance of their diagnosis, religion, and positive appraisals of their medical care.

Health system experiences of breast cancer survivors in urban South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally and among South African women. Women from socioeconomically disadvantaged South African communities more often present later and receive total mastectomy compared to those from more affluent communities who have more breast conserving surgery (which is less invasive but requires mandatory radiation treatment post-operatively). Standard chemotherapy and total mastectomy treatments are known to cause traumatizing side effects and emotional suffering among South African women; moreover, many women face limited communication with physicians and psychological support. OBJECTIVE: This article investigates the experiences of women seeking breast cancer treatment at the largest public hospital in South Africa. METHODS: We interviewed 50 Black women enrolled in the South African Breast Cancer Study to learn more about their health system experiences with detection, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for breast cancer. Each interview was between 2-3 hours, addressing perceptions, experiences, and concerns associated with breast cancer and comorbidities such as HIV and hypertension. RESULTS: We found most women feared diagnosis, in part, because of the experience of chemotherapy and physical mutilation related to mastectomy. The importance of social support from family, religion, and clinical staff was fundamental for women coping with their condition and adhering to treatment and medication. CONCLUSIONS: These findings exemplify how interventions might promote early detection of breast cancer and better adherence to treatment. Addressing community perceptions of breast cancer, patient needs and desires for treatment, structural barriers to intensive therapies, and the burden of invasive treatments are imperative next steps for delivering better breast cancer care in Soweto and other resource-constrained settings.