Hypertension and Its Associated Mental Health Challenges Among Female African Refugees in Durban, South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Hypertension is a serious medical condition that leads to various adverse health complications when left untreated. In addition to psychological challenge that female migrant refugees are exposed to premigration, they encounter barriers to care postmigration from xenophobia that affects their hypertension. We investigated the extent and mental health drivers of hypertension in refugees in Durban, South Africa. We interviewed 178 adult female African help-seeking refugees/migrants for hypertension (blood pressure ≥130/90 mm Hg) and mental health challenges (e.g., adverse childhood experience [ACE] and depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale). Eighty-six percent (n = 153) of participants were hypertensive, and based on the adjusted regression models, exposure to at least one ACE (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-7.26) and depression (aOR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.10-11.37) were associated with hypertension, independent of smoking, alcohol, obesity, and physical exercise status. Hypertension and its associated mental health challenges are overlooked conditions in this population, with further efforts for screening being needed.

Colorectal cancer incidence and mortality trends by sex and population group in South Africa: 2002-2014.

BACKGROUND: South Africa (SA) has experienced a rapid transition in the Human Development Index (HDI) over the past decade, which had an effect on the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to provide CRC incidence and mortality trends by population group and sex in SA from 2002 to 2014. METHODS: Incidence data were extracted from the South African National Cancer Registry and mortality data obtained from Statistics South Africa (STATS SA), for the period 2002 to 2014. Age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR) and age-standardised mortality rates (ASMR) were calculated using the STATS SA mid-year population as the denominator and the Segi world standard population data for standardisation. A Joinpoint regression analysis was computed for the CRC ASIR and ASMR by population group and sex. RESULTS: A total of 33,232 incident CRC cases and 26,836 CRC deaths were reported during the study period. Of the CRC cases reported, 54% were males and 46% were females, and among deaths reported, 47% were males and 53% were females. Overall, there was a 2.5% annual average percentage change (AAPC) increase in ASIR from 2002 to 2014 (95% CI: 0.6-4.5, p-value < 0.001). For ASMR overall, there was 1.3% increase from 2002 to 2014 (95% CI: 0.1-2.6, p-value < 0.001). The ASIR and ASMR among population groups were stable, with the exception of the Black population group. The ASIR increased consistently at 4.3% for black males (95% CI: 1.9-6.7, p-value < 0.001) and 3.4% for black females (95% CI: 1.5-5.3, p-value < 0.001) from 2002 to 2014, respectively. Similarly, ASMR for black males and females increased by 4.2% (95% CI: 2.0-6.5, p-value < 0.001) and 3.4% (, 95%CI: 2.0-4.8, p-value < 0.01) from 2002 to 2014, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The disparities in the CRC incidence and mortality trends may reflect socioeconomic inequalities across different population groups in SA. The rapid increase in CRC trends among the Black population group is concerning and requires further investigation and increased efforts for cancer prevention, early screening and diagnosis, as well as better access to cancer treatment.

Gut microbiome profiling of a rural and urban South African cohort reveals biomarkers of a population in lifestyle transition.

BACKGROUND: Comparisons of traditional hunter-gatherers and pre-agricultural communities in Africa with urban and suburban Western North American and European cohorts have clearly shown that diet, lifestyle and environment are associated with gut microbiome composition. Yet, little is known about the gut microbiome composition of most communities in the very diverse African continent. South Africa comprises a richly diverse ethnolinguistic population that is experiencing an ongoing epidemiological transition and concurrent spike in the prevalence of obesity, largely attributed to a shift towards more Westernized diets and increasingly inactive lifestyle practices. To characterize the microbiome of African adults living in more mainstream lifestyle settings and investigate associations between the microbiome and obesity, we conducted a pilot study, designed collaboratively with community leaders, in two South African cohorts representative of urban and transitioning rural populations. As the rate of overweight and obesity is particularly high in women, we collected single time-point stool samples from 170 HIV-negative women (51 at Soweto; 119 at Bushbuckridge), performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing on these samples and compared the data to concurrently collected anthropometric data. RESULTS: We found the overall gut microbiome of our cohorts to be reflective of their ongoing epidemiological transition. Specifically, we find that geographical location was more important for sample clustering than lean/obese status and observed a relatively higher abundance of the Melainabacteria, Vampirovibrio, a predatory bacterium, in Bushbuckridge. Also, Prevotella, despite its generally high prevalence in the cohorts, showed an association with obesity. In comparisons with benchmarked datasets representative of non-Western populations, relatively higher abundance values were observed in our dataset for Barnesiella (log2fold change (FC) = 4.5), Alistipes (log2FC = 3.9), Bacteroides (log2FC = 4.2), Parabacteroides (log2FC = 3.1) and Treponema (log2FC = 1.6), with the exception of Prevotella (log2FC = - 4.7). CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, this work identifies putative microbial features associated with host health in a historically understudied community undergoing an epidemiological transition. Furthermore, we note the crucial role of community engagement to the success of a study in an African setting, the importance of more population-specific studies to inform targeted interventions as well as present a basic foundation for future research.

Identifying fetal alcohol spectrum disorder among South African children at aged 1 and 5 years.

BACKGROUND: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are a global health concern. Early intervention mitigates deficits, yet early diagnosis remains challenging. We examined whether children can be screened and meet diagnoses for FASD at 1.5 years compared to 5 years post-birth. METHODS: A population cohort of pregnant women in 24 neighborhoods (N = 1258) was recruited and 84.5 %-96 % were reassessed at two weeks post-birth, 0.5 years, 1.5 years, 3 years, and 5 years later. A two-step process was followed to diagnose FASD; first, a paraprofessional screened the children and then a physician evaluated the child. We evaluated FASD symptoms at 1.5 vs. 5 years. We also examined maternal differences in children receiving a positive FASD screening (n = 160) with those who received a negative FASD screening. RESULTS: Screening positive for FASD more than doubled from 1.5 years to 5 years (from 6.8 % to 14.8 %). About one quarter of children who screened positive and were evaluated by a physician, were diagnosed as having a FASD. However, half did not complete the 2nd stage screening. Compared to mothers of children with a negative FASD screening, mothers of children with a positive FASD screening were less likely to have a high school education and more likely to have lower incomes, have experienced interpersonal partner violence, and have a depressed mood. Mothers of children who did not follow up for a 2nd stage physician evaluation were more like to live in informal housing compared to those who followed-up (81.3 % vs. 62.5 %, p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: We found that children can be screened and diagnosed for FASD at 1.5 and 5 years. As FASD characteristics develop over time, repeated screenings are necessary to identify all affected children and launch preventive interventions. Referrals for children to see a physician to confirm diagnosis and link children to care remains a challenge. Integration with the primary healthcare system might mitigate some of those difficulties.

Replication and expansion of epigenome-wide association literature in a black South African population.

BACKGROUND: DNA methylation is associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and related traits. Methylation data on continental African ancestries are currently scarce, even though there are known genetic and epigenetic differences between ancestral groups and a high burden of NCDs in Africans. Furthermore, the degree to which current literature can be extrapolated to the understudied African populations, who have limited resources to conduct independent large-scale analysis, is not yet known. To this end, this study examines the reproducibility of previously published epigenome-wide association studies of DNA methylation conducted in different ethinicities, on factors related to NCDs, by replicating findings in 120 South African Batswana men aged 45 to 88 years. In addition, novel associations between methylation and NCD-related factors are investigated using the Illumina EPIC BeadChip. RESULTS: Up to 86% of previously identified epigenome-wide associations with NCD-related traits (alcohol consumption, smoking, body mass index, waist circumference, C-reactive protein, blood lipids and age) overlapped with those observed here and a further 13% were directionally consistent. Only 1% of the replicated associations presented with effects opposite to findings in other ancestral groups. The majority of these inconcistencies were associated with population-specific genomic variance. In addition, we identified eight new 450K array CpG associations not previously reported in other ancestries, and 11 novel EPIC CpG associations with alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The successful replication of existing EWAS findings in this African population demonstrates that blood-based 450K EWAS findings from commonly investigated ancestries can largely be extrapolated to ethnicities for which epigenetic data are not yet available. Possible population-specific differences in 14% of the tested associations do, however, motivate the need to include a diversity of ethnic groups in future epigenetic research. The novel associations found with the enhanced coverage of the Illumina EPIC array support its usefulness to expand epigenetic literature.

Idioms of resilience among cancer patients in urban South Africa: An anthropological heuristic for the study of culture and resilience.

Despite the large body of research on idioms of distress in anthropology and transcultural psychiatry, few scholars have examined the concepts that people use to describe social and psychological resilience. The experience of social and psychological resilience is embedded in and shaped by social, political, and economic contexts-much like the factors that shape idioms of distress. As resilience literature more broadly has adopted a socio-ecological rather than trait-based approach, anthropology has much to contribute. This article investigates what idioms of resilience and cultural scripts emerge among low-income patients with cancer residing in Soweto, a peri-urban neighborhood in Johannesburg, South Africa. We conducted 80 life history interviews to better understand what social and psychological factors led some people to thrive more than others despite extraordinary adversity. We describe one idiom of resilience, acceptance (ukwamukela in isiZulu), and three broader themes of resilience that emerged from life history narrative interviews (social support, religious support, and receiving medical care). We also present two examples from study participants that weave these concepts together. Our findings suggest that rarely is one form of resilience experienced in isolation. A focus on idioms of resilience can help chart the complex dimensions of acceptance and the dynamic social, religious, political, and temporal factors that mediate both suffering and resilience within individuals and communities.

Tobacco use and oral sex practice among dental clinic attendees.

Tobacco use and oral sex (OS) are important risk factors for oral and oropharyngeal Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Little is known about the prevalence of OS practice in South Africa. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of OS practice and tobacco use in a South African patient population. This cross-sectional study used a structured questionnaire to collect socio-demographic characteristics, tobacco use, betel nut use and OS practice data from consenting adults (≥18 years; n = 850). Oral sex practices were recorded for patients 18-45 years-old (n = 514). Data analysis included chi-square and multiple logistic regression analyses. Of the study population, 55.2% (n = 468) were female, 88% (n = 748) self-identified as black Africans and 45.1% (n = 383) were unemployed. Furthermore, 19.7% (n = 167), 6.4% (n = 54) and 2.1% (n = 18) were current smokers, snuff users and betel nut users, respectively. Out of the 514 who answered the questionnaire in relation to OS, 22.8% (n = 115) reported to practice it. Oral sex practice in the age group 18-45 years was most common among the self-identified white participants (41.9%); and among tobacco users than among non-tobacco users (30.9% vs. 20.5%; p = 0.022). A multivariable-adjusted regression model showed that white South Africans were more likely to use tobacco than black Africans (OR = 5.25; 95% CI = 2.21-12.47). The practice of OS was more likely among those 18-35 years-old (OR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.01-2.74), but had no significant association with tobacco use (OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.62-1.83). The observed age and ethnic differences in both risk behaviours suggest a need for targeted population intervention in order to reduce the risk for oral HPV infection.

Characterization of APOBEC3 variation in a population of HIV-1 infected individuals in northern South Africa.

BACKGROUND: The apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like 3 (APOBEC3) genes A3D, A3F, A3G and A3H have all been implicated in the restriction of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication. Polymorphisms in these genes are likely to impact viral replication and fitness, contributing to viral diversity. Currently, only a few studies indicate that polymorphisms in the A3 genes may be correlated with infection risk and disease progression. METHODS: To characterize polymorphisms in the coding regions of these APOBEC3 genes in an HIV-1 infected population from the Limpopo Province of South Africa, APOBEC3 gene fragments were amplified from genomic DNA of 192 HIV-1 infected subjects and sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq platform. SNPs were confirmed and compared to SNPs in other populations reported in the 1000 Genome Phase III and HapMap databases, as well as in the ExAC exome database. Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium was calculated and haplotypes were inferred using the LDlink 3.0 web tool. Linkage Disequilibrium (LD) for these SNPS were calculated in the total 1000 genome and AFR populations using the same tool. RESULTS: Known variants compared to the GRCh37 consensus genome sequence were detected at relatively high frequencies (> 5%) in all of the APOBEC3 genes. A3H showed the most variation, with several of the variants present in both alleles in almost all of the patients. Several minor allele variants (< 5%) were also detected in A3D, A3F and A3G. In addition, novel R6K, L221R and T238I variants in A3D and I117I in A3F were observed. Four, five, four, and three haplotypes were identified for A3D, A3F, A3G, and A3H respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed significant polymorphisms in the APOBEC3D, 3F, 3G and 3H genes in our South African HIV1-infected cohort. In the case of all of these genes, the polymorphisms were generally present at higher frequencies than reported in other 1000 genome populations and in the ExAC exome consortium database .

Patterns of copy number alterations in primary breast tumors of South African patients and their impact on functional cellular pathways.

Breast cancer is the most common and the leading cause of female mortality among South African (SA) women. Several non­biological and biological risk factors may be attributed to their observed high mortality rate; however, the molecular profiles associated with their breast tumors are poorly characterized. The present study examined the patterns of genome-wide copy number alterations (CNAs) and their potential impact on functional cellular pathways targeted by cancer driver genes in patients with breast cancer from the Western Cape region of SA. Array-comparative genomic hybridization analysis, performed in 28 cases of invasive breast cancer, revealed a mean number of 8.68±6.18 CNAs per case, affecting primarily the Xp22.3 and 6p21-p25 cytobands (57.14% of the cases), followed by 19p13.3-p13.11 (35.7%), 2p25.3-p24.3, 4p16.3-p15.3, 8q11.1-q24.3 and 16 p13.3-p11.2 (32.14%). Functional enrichment analysis of genes and microRNA targets mapped in these affected cytobands revealed critical cancer-associated pathways, including fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism, extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, hippo and tumor protein p53 signaling pathways, which are regulated by known cancer genes, including CCND1, CDKN1A, MAPK1, MDM2, TP53 and SMAD2. An inverse correlation was observed among the number of CNAs and tumor size and grade; CNAs on the 4p and 6p cytobands were also inversely correlated with tumor grade. No association was observed in the number of CNAs and/or the affected cytobands and the different ethnic groups of the SA patients, indicating that their tumor genome is affected by CNAs, irrespectively of their genetic descent. Additional genomic tumor profiling in SA and other Sub-Saharan African patients with breast cancer is required to determine the associations of the CNAs observed with prognosis and clinical outcome.

Utility of reticulocyte haemoglobin content and percentage hypochromic red cells as markers of iron deficiency anaemia among black CKD patients in South Africa.

INTRODUCTION: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) worsens the prognosis and outcomes of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, while the haemoglobin level is unreliable for early detection of IDA, reticulocyte haemoglobin content (CHr) and hypochromic red cells (%HYPO) are early markers of IDA. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study of black adult participants (n = 258) with CKD and apparently healthy members of staff and patients' relatives (n = 141) at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, South Africa, between 1 June 2016 and 31 December 2016. Serum iron, serum ferritin and transferrin were measured using standard laboratory methods, while the haematology analyser was employed to measure CHr and %HYPO. The validity of CHr and %HYPO as markers of IDA were evaluated. Multivariable binary logistic regression was conducted to determine predictors of the relationship between IDA, CHr and %HYPO. The area under the receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curve (AUC) of the final models were utilised to evaluate the discriminatory value of CHr and %HYPO respectively. RESULTS: About one-quarter (26.1%) of the participants had IDA which was more than three times more frequent among CKD patients, compared to controls (35.3% vs 9.2%); 32.3% (95%CI: 27.90%- 37.10%) of the study population had iron deficiency without anaemia and the prevalence of iron deficiency without anaemia was lower in CKD patients compared to controls (29.5% vs 37.6%). The mean age of CKD patients was higher than in controls (52.7 ±14.3 vs 40.4 ±12.6 years, P-value<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing IDA among CKD participants was 62.6% and 80.2% respectively for CHr (at a cut-off value of <28pg) and 63.3% and 79.8% respectively for %HYPO. CKD participants with CHr levels >28pg were 82% less likely to be diagnosed as having IDA as compared to those with CHr levels ≤ 28pg) (adj odds ratio = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.09-0.37). The AUC of CHr (0.81, 95% CI: 0.76-0.87) was higher than the AUC of %HYPO (0.76, 95%CI: 0.70-0.82). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic usefulness of CHr and the screening performance of %HYPO in predicting IDA among CKD patients are high. Their lower cost compared to conventional markers of ID recommend their use in clinical practice. Further cost effectiveness studies of these parameters are warranted.

Analysis of risk factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in black South Africans: 2000-2012.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of risk factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in black adult South Africans and to estimate the size of the associated risks. METHODS: A case-control analysis of 150 black South African patients (aged 18-75 years) with HCC-who were a subset of patients recruited for the Johannesburg Cancer Case Control Study 2000 to 2012-was undertaken. The association between this tumour and hepatitis B/C virus infections, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) mono- and co-infections was investigated. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for age, year of diagnosis, marital status, place of birth and selected modifiable risk factors were calculated. RESULTS: HCC was significantly associated with a rural birthplace (p<0.05), being male and living in an urban area for 14 years or less. The Odds Ratio (OR) for HCC increased significantly with HBV DNA+/HBsAg+ (OR 34.5; CI:16.26-73.13), HBV DNA+/HBsAg- (OR 3.76; CI:1.79-7.92), HBV DNA level >2000 IU/ml (OR 8.55; CI:3.00-24.54) to ≥200,000 (OR 16.93; CI:8.65-33.13), anti-HCV (OR 8.98; CI:3.59-22.46), HBV DNA+/HIV+ co-infection (OR 5.36; CI:2.59-11.11), but not with HBV DNA-/HIV+ (OR 0.34; CI:0.14-0.85). We did not find a synergistic interaction between HBV and HIV. Modifiable risk factors (alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, number of sexual partners, diabetes and hormonal contraceptive use) were nonsignificant. DISCUSSION: A considerable portion of the HCC burden in Johannesburg and surrounding provinces falls on rural migrants to urban areas, most of whom are men. The HBV will continue to contribute to HCC incidence in older age-groups and in others who missed vaccination. Although we did not find an increased risk for HCC in HIV positive individuals this may change as life expectancy increases due to greater access to antiretroviral therapies, necessitating the addition of hepatitis virus screening to preventive medical care.

68Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC PET/CT imaging in Black versus White South African patients with prostate carcinoma presenting with a low volume, androgen-dependent biochemical recurrence: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-HBED-CC PET/computed tomography (CT) imaging for the detection of androgen-dependent recurrent prostate carcinoma (ADPC) in Black South Africans (BSAs) versus White South Africans (WSAs) with increasing serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values below or equal to 10 ng/ml. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 61 patients with ADPC were prospectively included in the study (mean age: 66.7 years): 38 WSAs and 23 BSAs. Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC PET/CT imaging results obtained were related to serum PSA levels and to ethnicity. RESULTS: A total of 41 (67%) patients had a positive Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC scan result. Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC PET/CT positivity was significantly higher in patients with PSA values more than 2 ng/ml [32/38 (84%) patients] when compared with patients with PSA values less than 0.5 ng/ml [6/11 (55%) patients] or PSA values of 0.5-2 ng/ml [3/12 (25%) patients] (P=0.0001). Mean PSA values proved not significantly different in patients presenting with extrapelvic involvement when compared with those with intrapelvic involvement or between patients who presented with bone involvement versus those who did not on Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC PET/CT) (P≥0.147). Age, Gleason-scores, median PSA values, the frequency of a positive scan result, the frequency of bone involvement, and extrapelvic involvement proved similar in WSAs and BSAs (P≥0.417). CONCLUSION: Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC PET/CT imaging identified a recurrence in 67% of the patients under study. Higher PSA levels were associated with Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC PET/CT positivity and the detection rate. Imaging results obtained proved similar in BSAs and WSAs, suggesting that the tumor burden and growth rate of ADPC are similar in both races.

68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in primary staging of prostate carcinoma: preliminary results on differences between black and white South-Africans.

PURPOSE: The incidence of prostate cancer is 60% higher and the mortality rate is two- to three-times greater in black versus white men. We report on differences in 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging findings in 77 black South-African (BSAs) and 18 white South-African (WSAs) treatment-naïve primary prostate carcinoma (PPC) patients. METHODS: 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging findings were compared to histological, biochemical and morphological imaging data. Patients were grouped into three Gleason grade groups (GG), GG 1 (scores 3 + 3 and 3 + 4), GG2 (scores 4 + 3 and 4 + 4) and GG3 (scores 9 and 10), and the PSA difference among the groups was determined. Inter-racial difference in SUVmax of the primary tumor as well as its correlation with serum PSA were also determined. RESULTS: Ninety-three out of 95 PPC where readily identified on 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging. Median PPC SUVmax and serum PSA values proved significantly higher (p = 0.033 and p = 0.003) in GG3 patients (median 16.4 and 180 ng/ml) when compared to GG1 patients (median 9.6 and 25.1 ng/ml) or GG2 patients (median 8.8 and 46.2 ng/ml). SUVmax significantly correlated with serum PSA-values (r = 0.377 (p = 0.0001)). Age, frequency of lymph node involvement and distant metastases, and GGs (p ≥ 0.153) were similar in BSAs and WSAs, both median serum PSA-values as well as SUVmax values proved significantly higher in BSAs when compared to WSAs, respectively, 81.6 ng/ml versus 14.5 ng/ml (p = 0.0001) and 11.9 versus 4.38 (p = 0.004). Moreover, Gleason-score normalized median SUVmax values proved 2.5 times higher in BSAs when compared to WSAs (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: SUVmax values proved significantly related to GG and to be significantly higher in BSAs when compared to WSAs. Also, SUVmax significantly correlated with serum PSA values, which was significantly higher in BSAs when compared with WSAs.

HIV prevalence among first-presentation psychotic patients.

OBJECTIVES: First-episode psychosis is a frequent emergency department (ED) presentation that may potentially be secondary to an underlying life-threatening HIV-related condition. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV infection in patients presenting with a first episode of psychosis. METHODS: Medical records of 159 consecutive African, Asian, White and mixed ethnicity patients presenting to a tertiary academic hospital ED with a first episode of psychotic features were prospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 159 subjects, 63 (39.6%) were HIV positive. An underlying medical condition was the most common aetiology of psychosis in both HIV-positive (84.2%) and HIV-negative (35.4%) subjects, but was significantly more common in HIV-positive individuals (P < 0.001). Substance-induced psychotic disorders and other primary psychiatric disorders were significantly more common in subjects without HIV infection (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). While there were more men in the HIV-negative group (66.7%), gender distribution was almost equal in the HIV-infected group (49.2% male). Overall, as well as in both groups, most subjects were of African race, were unemployed and had not completed high school. CONCLUSIONS: Co-occurrence of HIV infection was a frequent finding in first-episode psychotic individuals residing in a high-prevalence HIV setting. These individuals are more likely to have an underlying medical condition precipitating the onset of psychosis, not to have been initiated on antiretroviral therapy and to present with a low CD4 cell count and high HIV viral load.

Review: Metabolic Syndrome in Black South African Women.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing in African populations, and is particularly high in Black South African women (42%) vs women in the United Kingdom (23%) and the United States of America (36%). This population group is also known to have the highest prevalence of obesity in the sub-Saharan African region (42%), and consequently, a high risk of non-communicable diseases. In this article, we discuss factors (abdominal subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, lean mass, adiponectin, leptin, vitamin D, smoking and menopausal status) that have been investigated for their possible association with metabolic syndrome in African women, and discuss some recommendations for management of the syndrome. In particular, the infrastructural development of HIV/AIDS clinics in South Africa provides an ideal integrated platform to cater to the treatment needs of patients with multiple chronic morbidities.

Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 and Large Artery Structure and Function in Young Individuals: The African-PREDICT Study.

To better understand hypertension development, the authors determined whether monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is associated with arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity [PWV]) and carotid intima-media wall thickness (cIMT) in a young apparently healthy black and white population (N=403, aged 20-30 years). Carotid-femoral PWV, central systolic blood pressure, and cIMT were measured, and MCP-1, reactive oxygen species, inflammatory markers (interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor α), and endothelial activation (intercellular adhesion molecule, vascular cell adhesion molecule) were determined from blood samples. Although carotid-femoral PWV and cIMT were similar between blacks and whites, black men and women showed higher central systolic blood pressure, MCP-1, and reactive oxygen species than whites (all P<.05). In addition, black women had higher brachial blood pressure and interleukin 6 (all P<.001). A consistent positive association only in black women between cIMT and MCP-1 in multiple regression analyses was found (R²=0.151, ß=0.248; P=.021). In this model, cIMT was also independently associated with vascular cell adhesion molecule (ß=0.251; P=.022). The authors found elevated central systolic blood pressure and MCP-1 in young blacks, where cIMT was independently associated with MCP-1 in black women.

Investigation of breast cancer sub-populations in black and white women in South Africa.

PURPOSE: Bimodal age distributions at diagnosis have been widely observed among US and European female breast cancer populations. To determine whether bimodal breast cancer distributions are also present in a sub-Saharan African population, we investigated female breast cancer in South Africa. METHODS: Using the South African National Cancer Registry data, we examined age-at-diagnosis frequency distributions (density plots) for breast cancer overall and by their receptor (oestrogen, progesterone and HER2) determinants among black and white women diagnosed during 2009-2011 in the public healthcare sector. For comparison, we also analysed corresponding 2010-2011 US SEER data. We investigated density plots using flexible mixture models, allowing early/late-onset membership to depend on receptor status. RESULTS: We included 8857 women from South Africa, 7176 (81 %) with known oestrogen receptor status, and 95064 US women. Bimodality was present in all races, with an early-onset mode between ages 40-50 years and a late-onset mode among ages 60-70 years. The early-onset mode was younger in South African black women (age 38), compared to other groups (45-54 years). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent patterns of bimodality and of its receptor determinants were present across breast cancer patient populations in South Africa and the US. Although the clinical spectrum of breast cancer is well acknowledged as heterogeneous, universal early- and late-onset age distributions at diagnosis suggest that breast cancer etiology consists of a mixture two main types.

Tobacco and alcohol use among adolescents in South Africa: shared and unshared risks.

OBJECTIVE: Tobacco and alcohol use by adolescents are major public health concerns in South Africa. However, the extent to which key psychosocial risk factors for tobacco use and alcohol use by adolescents in South Africa are shared or unshared is unclear. This study sought to examine the shared and unshared risk factors for tobacco and alcohol use among adolescents in Johannesburg. METHOD: Participants comprised 736 males and females aged 12-17 years who were recruited via a household survey conducted during 2004. The participants were interviewed using a questionnaire comprising measures of personal, family (parental bonding and family legal drug use) and contextual (school and neighbourhood) factors. Separate multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict lifetime alcohol use and lifetime tobacco use from variables within each domain (personal, family and contextual), controlling for demographic factors. RESULTS: Personal, family (parental bonding) and contextual factors (school factors) were primarily shared risk factors for tobacco and alcohol use, while family legal drug use and neighbourhood factors were largely unshared. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions addressing personal, parenting and schooling factors are likely to have an impact on preventing both tobacco and alcohol use, whereas interventions focused on ameliorating family drug use and neighbourhood factors may need to be more substance-specific.

Fibrosis and coronary perfusion - a cardiovascular disease risk in an African male cohort: The SABPA study.

Low-grade inflammation has been correlated with risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Whether the pro-inflammatory and thrombotic ratio (fibrosis) may contribute to CVD is not known. We therefore aimed to assess whether Cornell Product left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with fibrosis and coronary perfusion (silent ischemia) in a bi-ethnic male cohort from South Africa. A cross sectional study was conducted including 165 African and Caucasian men between the ages of 20-65. Fasting blood samples were obtained to measure fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). Ambulatory blood pressure, ECG and 12 lead ECG measures were obtained to determine silent ischemic events (ST events) and LVH, respectively. Africans revealed more silent ischemia, higher 24 h blood pressure, inflammatory, coagulation as well as fibrosis levels than Caucasians. In a low-grade inflammatory state (CRP > 3 mg/l), Africans revealed higher fibrosis (p ≤ 0.01) values, but lower IL-6 and TNF-α values than Caucasians. Linear regression analyses in several models demonstrated positive associations between silent ischemia and fibrosis [Adj. R(2) 0.23; ß 0.35 (95% CI 0.13, 0.58), p ≤ 0.01]. In a low-grade inflammatory state (CRP>3mg/l), fibrinogen predicted AV-block in African men [OR 3.38 (95% CI 2.24, 4.53); p = 0.04]. Low-grade inflammation may induce AV-block through mechanisms involving fibrosis and ischemia to increase the burden on the heart in African men.

Tuberculosis Among Temporary Visa Holders Working in the Tourism Industry - United States, 2012-2014.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial disease of global concern. During 2013, an estimated nine million incident TB cases occurred worldwide (1). The majority (82%) were diagnosed in 22 countries, including South Africa and the Philippines, where annual incidence was 860 TB cases per 100,000 persons and 292 TB cases per 100,000 persons, respectively (1). The 2013 TB incidence in the United States was three cases per 100,000 persons (2). Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, TB screening is required for persons seeking permanent residence in the United States (i.e., immigrants and refugees), but it is not routinely required for nonimmigrants who are issued temporary visas for school or work (3). A portion of the U.S. tourism industry relies on temporary visa holders to accommodate seasonal and fluctuating demand for service personnel (4). This report describes three foreign-born persons holding temporary visas who had infectious TB while working at tourist destinations in the United States during 2012-2014. Multiple factors, including dormitory-style housing, transient work patterns, and diagnostic delays might have contributed to increased opportunity for TB transmission. Clinicians in seasonally driven tourist destinations should be aware of the potential for imported TB disease in foreign-born seasonal workers and promptly report suspected cases to health officials.