December
MALNUTRITION
The effect of malnutrition on cardiac function in African Children. Archives of Dis Child on-line publication Nov 9th 2015
- How did the investigators measure cardiac function?
- What is the difference between cardiac output and cardiac index?
- What were the main findings of the study?
- What factors might influence cardiac index in malnutrition?
HIV
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and the health-related Millennium Development Goals: time for a public health approach. Lancet 2011; 378:282-84
- What is Option B+?
- Why did Malawi change to this option?
- Prior to Option B+, what was the recommended CD4 count for starting ART in pregnant women?
- In Option B+, what treatment is given to the baby, and for how long?
- Are there any potential disadvantages of Option B+?
TUBERCULOSIS
Interventions to improve adherence to treatment for paediatric tuberculosis in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Bull World Health Organ 2015;93:700-711
- What factors did the authors find promoted or threatened adherence to treatment for paediatric tuberculosis?
- What interventions had the most success in promoting adherence?
Achieving high treatment success for multidrug resistant TB in Africa: initiation and scale up of MDR TB care in Ethiopia – an observational cohort study. Thorax 2015;70:1181-1188
- In Ethiopia what rate of treatment completion was achieved for MDR TB?
- What drugs were used in the treatment, and what was the treatment duration?
- What were the key elements of the follow-up program? What adherence strategies were used?
- What side effects were described from the MDR TB treatment?