Error correction enhancement with interleavers for DC free codes

Abstract: Spectral shaping codes are digital codes especially designed in such a manner that their alphabets give rise to predetermined frequency spectrum envelopes. This implies that the signal energy of these alphabets will be concentrated into a predetermined range of a given frequency spectrum. The design of digital codes in the above mentioned fashion is done in order to match specific channel constraints in the design of transmission, multiplexing or storage systems. In certain applications it is desirable that spectral shaping codes provide some error correction capability or that they possess an increased robustness to errors. These errors may be introduced during transmission, processing or storage of digital information. In this paper, an interleaving method is introduced to increase the robustness of DC free codes toward burst errors whilst maintaining the spectral shaping property of DC free codes. Interleaving when applied to a coded communication system results in a reduction in the mean bit error rate (BER) of coded bit streams

Evaluation of cost per test of clinical biochemistry tests at Parirenyatwa Central Hospital laboratory, Harare, Zimbabwe

A CAJM evaluation on cost per test of clinical biochemistry tests done in one of Zimbabwe's major referral hospitals.In many countries, including Zimbabwe, there is increasing concern at the high and increasing cost of providing quality healthcare to the community. Pathology services represent about 25% of this expenditure. However, little is known about the actual cost to the Pathology Department of performing any individual pathology service or test. The health care market in Zimbabwe is characterised by a dominant public sector in both provision and financing of health services. Hongoro and Kumaranayake estimated that, in 1993, about 92% of health services in the country were provided by public institutions. In Zimbabwe, the rise in the cost of providing pathology services has been further exacerbated by perennial foreign currency constraints. This has resulted in regular increases in the cost of laboratory consumables since most of these are imported. As pressure on scarce resources mounts, there is need for a greater focus on the use of cost and cost effectiveness information to guide policy formulation

Investigation of the effect of Stalanev (Stavudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine) treatment on plasma lactate levels in adults attending Beatrice Road and Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital opportunistic infections clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe

A journal article on the effects of Stalanev (Stavudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine) treatment on patients suffering from HV/AIDS in Zimbabwe.HIV/AIDS has become a significant public health problem in Zimbabwe, threatening the socio-economic fibre of the country and placing a tremendous strain on health delivery capacity. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) roll out has reduced morbidity and mortality due to HIV/ AIDS, new challenges have arisen because of the development of metabolic changes induced by ART. These include impaired glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, lactic acidosis, osteopenia and dyslipidaemia1. Stavudine has been reported to cause mitochondrial toxicity that manifests as lactic acidosis in the majority of patient

Clinical laboratory test prices in Zimbabwe: a case of profiteering?

A journal study of profiteering in the pricing of clinical laboratory test prices in Zimbabwe.Cost containment has become a major cause of concern for health insurance companies and laboratory services-the traditional cash cow of hospitals can no longer be milked for institutional profit. In developing countries, studies and data on laboratory test prices are scanty. Measuring and understanding the reasons for the price of laboratory tests may contribute to the development of laboratory tests pricing policies that would ensure their affordability. Although public institutions in most developing countries provide some laboratory tests for free, equipment is often broken down and service unreliable. As a result, patients increasingly have to pay for services in better resourced independent laboratories. Laboratory technology has advanced to the point where high volumes of tests can be handled quickly and cheaply on automated equipment. Regardless of whether the resultant lower costs are passed on to the patient or his insurer, price has taken on new significance to all parties concerned with laboratory testing

Evaluating the contribution of APOBEC3G haplotypes, on influencing HIV infection in a Zimbabwean paediatric population

Background. Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing catalytic polypeptide like-3G (APOBEC3G) is an antiviral enzyme that reduces viral fitness by introducing uracil to thymidine hypermutations in viral genomes. Thus, polymorphisms in the APOBEC3G gene have been implicated in differential outcomes of HIV infection and disease progression. However, there is insufficient evidence on the role of APOBEC3G gene variants on HIV infection, especially in African populations. This study therefore describes polymorphisms in the APOBEC3G gene in a Zimbabwean paediatric population and evaluates their effects on susceptibility to HIV infection among children born to HIV-infected mothers. Methods. A total of 104 children aged between 7 and 9 years, comprising 68 perinatally exposed to HIV (32 born infected (EI) and 36 born uninfected (EU)) and 36 unexposed and uninfected (UEUI) controls were recruited. Allelic variants (n=5) in the APOBEC3G gene were characterised. Results. Frequencies for minor APOBEC3G alleles in the HIV-uninfected groups (EU and UEUI) were c.557G (40%), g.-90C (32%), g.-571C (12%), c.467-85C (42%), and c.582-162G (6%). APOBEC3G c.467-85C frequency was statistically significantly different when compared to the Masai of Kinyawa, Kenya population (42% v. 18%). None of the single nucleotide polymorphisms individually or as part of haplotypes were significantly associated with HIV infection when comparing the EI and EU groups. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that APOBEC3G polymorphisms alone may not have significant predictive power for inferring genetic susceptibility to vertical transmission of HIV in children perinatally exposed to HIV

Clinical laboratory test prices in Zimbabwe: A case of profiteering?

Objective: To compare the prices charged for clinical laboratory tests in Zimbabwean institutions with those o f similar institutions abroad. Design: An online analytical cross sectional study was conducted Setting: An online survey Subjects: We did an online survey of clinical laboratories that published prices of the tests offered on their websites. We also extracted price information from documents published by fees regulatory authorities. Main Outcome Measures: Laboratory test prices for independent institutions, Laboratory test prices for State institutions. Results: Overally for all countries, laboratory test prices were lower in state laboratories compared to the independent laboratories. In Zimbabwe, state laboratories generally charged about 50% of the independent laboratory tariff for most tests. However prices from both Zimbabwean institutions were generally much higher than those of the comparison countries (United Kingdom, South Africa, India, United States of America and New Zealand). Conclusion: Prices of laboratory tests are indeed higher in Zimbabwean institutions compared to other centres abroad. These higher prices could be attributed to challenges in consumable procurement logistics. We also present measures that could be put in place to reduce the costs and therefore prices

Evaluation of rapid one-step prostate specific antigen test against an established ELISA method

Main Objective: To evaluate the analytical performance of the rapid one-step immunochromatographic PSA assay against an established ELISA method.Design: A comparative study was conducted in the Department of Chemical Pathology at the University of Zimbabwe, College Health Sciences, between June 2012 and May 2013.Setting: Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Zimbabwe, College Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe.Samples: Serum samples from patients referred for routine Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) assays. Serum samples from female patients were used as negative controls.Results: The rapid test correctly classified 46 (97.9%) as negative (PSA <4ng/ml) and 94 (95%) as positive (PSA ≥4ng/ml). However one (2.1%) sample and 5 samples (5%) were wrongly classified as positive and  negative respectively.All 18 (100%) of PSA Rapid Test Devices (RTD) performed on female samples were correctly judged as negative. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity negative and positive predictive values of PSA RDT were 95.9%, 94.95%, 97.87%, 90.2% and 98.95% respectively. There was a strong positive correlation between the ELISA PSA values and the semiquantitative PSA values from the RDT (r=0.91)Conclusion: The rapid one-step immunochromatographic test is a useful preliminary screening tool from which positive results can be quantified to give an indication of the magnitude of PSA elevation by semiquantitative estimation. The test is cheap, simple to perform and avails results within a short period of time

Evaluation of cost per test of clinical biochemistry tests at Parirenyatwa Central Hospital Laboratory, Harare, Zimbabwe

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Effect of Stalanev and Zidolam on kidney function of HIV positive children attending Parirenyatwa General Hospital, Opportunistc Infections Clinic, Harare, Zimbabwe

Objective: To investigate the relationship between antiretroviral regimens used in a national HIV treatment programme and development of nephropathy in pediatric patients.Study Design: An analytical cross sectional study carried out from January 2011 to September 2011.Setting: The Opportunistic Infections Clinic (OI Clinic) at Parirenyatwa General Hospital, Harare.Subjects: HIV positive pediatric patients attending Parirenyatwa General Hospital Opportunistic Infections (OI) clinic.Results: Based on serum creatinine levels >88.4μmol/L 0.02% (n=3) of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive participants on Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) had kidney dysfunction whereas only 0.9% (n=1) had serum cystatin C levels>1.27mg/L indicating kidney dysfunction. Using a microalbuminuria cut off point of 30mg/L, there was no statistical difference in the microalbumin levels between the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) experienced (7.5 mg/L) and the HAART naïve (4.6mg/L) children, p=0.02. There was no statistically significant difference in serum creatinine, urine microalbumin, serum cystatin C, eGFR based on creatinine and eGFR based on cystatin C between participants on ART and ART naïve (p>0.05) .Conclusion: Our results confirm that serum creatinine levels and cystatin C levels are not sensitive markers for the early detection of nephropathy in children on HAART. The results indicate that both HIV seropositivity and HAART contributed to the development of HIV associated nephropathy as defined by microalbuminuria in Zimbabwean children

Serum iron and ferritin levels in pregnant Zimbabwean women

Background: In the human body, iron forms part of haemoglobin, myoglobin and enzymes such as cytochromes, catalase, succinic dehydrogenase and peroxidase. Diet is the major source of iron. Iron deficiency anaemia is a common outcome of nutritional iron deficiencies of pregnancy resulting in low birth weight babies and high morbidity and mortality rates. Serum ferritin has been reported to be the most useful and accurate measure of body iron stores particularly in the pregnancy state when the iron deficiency state may not be severe enough to produce microcytosis. There is limited data in Zimbabwe about iron status in pregnancy based on both iron and ferritin measurements.Objective: To determine the iron status by gestational age of Zimbabwean women.Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out by determining serum iron and ferritin concentrations on 96 pregnant women attending the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Antenatal Clinic during the month of February 2016 after receiving ethical approval.Results: The median serum iron and ferritin concentrations were 18.0 μmol/l and 34.3 ng/ml respectively. Serum iron and ferritin decreased with increasing gestation from 21.5 to13.9 μmol/l and from 47.3 to 20.4 ng/ml respectively from the first to the third trimester. There was a strong relationship between low iron and ferritin concentration and having more than 3 children (p<0.05). Twenty-six percent and 15.7% of pregnant women had decreased serum iron and ferritin respectively.Conclusion: Low serum iron and ferritin at second and third gestation were indicative of potential iron deficiency. Zimbabwean pregnant women are at high risk of developing iron deficiency anaemia