Retrospective Study of Pediatric Sinonasal Tumors in a Tertiary Hospital Setting.

BACKGROUND Pediatric sinonasal tumors are rare, accounting for about 4% of all pediatric head and neck neoplasms. Due to their nonspecific symptoms such as nasal obstruction, epistaxis, and facial pain, these tumors often present diagnostic challenges and lead to delays in managment. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial to optimize clinical outcomes.

Assessment of awareness and willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention among female sex workers in Rwanda: a cross sectional study.

Background: Female sex workers (FSWs) in sub-Saharan Africa bear a disproportionate burden of HIV acquisition. While pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is increasingly accessible in the region, limited data exist on FSWs awareness of and willingness to use PrEP. This study aimed to assess PrEP awareness and willingness to use it, along with associated factors, among FSWs in Kigali, Rwanda.

Maternal, fetal and neonatal adverse outcomes associated with gestational diabetes: a prospective cohort study at King Faisal Hospital, Kigali.

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the cumulative incidence of gestational diabetes (GD) among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at the King Faisal Hospital (KFH) in Kigali, Rwanda, using the criteria established by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups and endorsed by the WHO in 2013.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: KFH-Kigali, Rwanda.

Terry's Nails Without Systemic Disease: A Case Report of a Unique Clinical Sign.

Terry's nails are a clinical sign of apparent leukonychia, marked by proximal nail whitening and a preserved distal band, commonly linked to systemic diseases such as liver cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease. We report a case of a 26-year-old man with asymptomatic leukonychia of all fingernails and toenails since early childhood. Physical examination revealed features consistent with Terry's nails.

Acute non-traumatic abdominal pain presenting to emergency unit of a university teaching hospital in Rwanda.

Background: Emergency Department consultation for non-traumatic abdominal pain is one of the common reasons for presentation; accounting for 5.76-20 % of all Emergency Department consultations. Research about non-traumatic abdominal pain is limited in Rwanda and East Africa.

Prehospital cardiac arrest resuscitation practices differ around the globe.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major public health problem. This study aims to describe the international variations in the practices related to the initiation, termination, and refraining from resuscitation of adult patients (≥18 years) with a non-traumatic OHCA.

Methods: An exploratory descriptive study was conducted using a cross-sectional online survey.

Immunization Coverage and Barriers among Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims: Insights into Vaccine Uptake and Compliance.

Background: The Hajj pilgrimage poses significant public health challenges due to the risk of infectious disease transmission. Despite mandatory vaccination policies, barriers such as hesitancy, logistical issues, and vaccine availability persist.

Objective: This study assesses vaccine uptake, reasons for compliance or non-compliance, and barriers among Hajj pilgrims.

A programmed decline in ribosome levels governs human early neurodevelopment.

Many neurodevelopmental defects are linked to genes involved in housekeeping functions, such as those encoding ribosome biogenesis factors. How reductions in ribosome biogenesis can result in tissue- and developmental-specific defects remains unclear. Here we describe variants in the ribosome biogenesis factor AIRIM/C1orf109 that are primarily associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Diagnostic utility of thyroid scan and ultrasound in managing thyroglossal cysts: a systematic literature review.

Thyroglossal duct cysts (TGDCs) are the most common congenital neck masses, frequently diagnosed in both pediatric and adult populations. Accurate preoperative diagnosis and imaging are essential for effective management. Ultrasound (US) and thyroid scintigraphy are the primary imaging modalities used in clinical practice.

Onychomycosis Caused by Aspergillus niger in an Immunocompetent Young Female: A Case Report of a Rare Presentation.

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail that may result from dermatophytes, non-dermatophyte molds, or yeasts. Among non-dermatophyte molds, Aspergillus niger is a recognized species with the potential to cause nail infections. While such infections were traditionally reported in immunocompromised individuals, they have also been increasingly observed in immunocompetent hosts.

Investigating the relationship between nurse managers' leadership style and predicted nurses' turnover.

Aim: Nurse turnover presents a significant challenge globally, impacting healthcare costs, patient outcomes and quality of care. This profound issue is very alarming in Saudi Arabia, necessitating an urgent need for effective strategies to mitigate such challenges. Effective management and leadership styles have emerged as pivotal determinants influencing nurse turnover and the intention to leave the profession.

Direct medical costs of congenital heart surgery for isolated lesions in Rwanda.

Cost transparency is important to facilitate national health infrastructure planning for pediatric cardiac surgery in low-resourced settings. The aim of this paper is to determine direct medical costs of common pediatric congenital heart procedures performed by an in-house cardiac surgery program in Rwanda. Billing information for patients with isolated congenital heart disease who underwent surgery between October 2022 and April 2024 was collected from the hospital management system.

Management and outcomes of patients with obstructive jaundice from pancreatobiliary diseases in Rwanda.

Background: Obstructive jaundice from pancreatobiliary diseases represents a significant global health challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings like Rwanda. While endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) are now available at tertiary centers in Kigali, there is limited local clinical data on the management and outcomes of these conditions. This study aims to assess the patterns, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes of obstructive jaundice in the Rwandan healthcare context.

Healthcare providers' perceptions of the kidney transplant program at King Faisal Hospital Rwanda: A one-year evaluation.

The living donor kidney transplant program was established at King Faisal Hospital Rwanda (KFH) in 2023, to reduce medical abroad referrals and strengthen the health care delivery system. The study aimed to explore healthcare provider perspectives, their needs for further developing the kidney transplant program at KFH and provide recommendations to fill these gaps. This study employed a sequential explanatory mixed methods approach embedded within an overarching exploratory research design, collecting data from healthcare workers who participated in at least one kidney transplant mission at KFH since 2023.

Clinical outcomes of children operated for congenital heart diseases in Rwanda: a 14-year retrospective analysis.

Background: Congenital heart disease surgery and catheterization for Rwandan children has historically been accomplished with the assistance of visiting external teams and referrals abroad. However, follow-up information on patient-specific clinical outcomes is lacking.

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of clinical outcomes among Rwandan children under 15 years of age at the time of heart surgery operated between 2006 and 2020.

Surveillance of Common Circulating Enteric Bacteria and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns in Five Satellite Laboratories in Rwanda, 2014-2022.

Diarrhea diseases are a significant public health problem in Africa. In Rwanda, they are ranked third among the top causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five years of age. However, limited studies have been conducted to identify common circulating enteric pathogenic bacteria in Rwanda.

Differences in metabolic adaptations during mid and late pregnancy: a comparative cohort study between Rwanda and Germany.

Background: While cross-ancestral differences in glucose and lipid metabolism are widely reported in adults, there is a paucity of data on pregnant women during various stages of pregnancy. There is no consensus on what defines normal lipid ranges during pregnancy. Establishing reference ranges is crucial to reduce the risk of missing associated maternal and fetal health issues.

Perspectives of adult advanced pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients about kidney replacement therapy in three referral hospitals in Rwanda.

Background: Limited access to kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in Rwanda results from financial constraints, geographic challenges, a shortage of nephrologists and equipment, as well as low public awareness. We aimed to identify the factors contributing to patients' decisions regarding KRT and understand their perspectives on KRT, including their understanding, attitudes, and expectations.

Methods: A cross-sectional mixed method design was conducted between May 2023 and March 2024, involving 180 chronic kidney disease (CKD) adult patients (> 18 years old) with an estimated GFR < 30 ml/min/1.

Knowledge, attitudes, and factors associated with the utilization of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services among teenagers and young adults in Kigali City, Rwanda.

Background: Youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services support teenagers and Young Adults' development into healthy adults by preventing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. In Rwanda, these services are provided by trained health providers in health facilities and youth centers. In particular, youth centers may also offer vocational courses like welding, cooking, football, and computer literacy.

Incidental finding of two epiglottic cysts: Case report and literature review.

Introduction And Importance: Epiglottic cysts are rare benign lesions of the larynx, frequently discovered incidentally. Though usually asymptomatic, they can occasionally result in life-threatening airway obstruction. This case report details the incidental discovery of two epiglottic cysts in an adult female during an elective surgical procedure and outlines their clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and surgical management, supported by a literature review.

ePOCT+ Rwanda: A Clinical Decision Support Algorithm For Managing Sick Children Below 15 Years of Age in Primary Healthcare Settings.

Primary health systems in resource-constrained settings suffer from human resource shortages, low quality care, and diagnostic uncertainty, resulting in over-reliance on antibiotics, increasing risks of antimicrobial resistance. Digital clinical decision support algorithms (CDSAs) help healthcare workers adhere to clinical guidelines and improve prescribing practices. In this manuscript, we present the scope and content of 'ePOCT+ Rwanda' (electronic Point-Of-Care Tests +), a CDSA trialed in primary health centers of Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts during the DYNAMIC project.

A 17-Year Experience of Valvular Heart Surgery in Rwanda.

Background: The advanced presentation of rheumatic heart disease in Rwanda often necessitates surgical intervention. We summarize the outcomes of valvular heart operations in Rwanda between 2006 and 2023.

Methods: The study included 366 patients in the Rwandan cardiac surgery registry who underwent valvular surgery.