Advanced Journal of Graduate Research

Knowledge and Awareness of Glaucoma and Their Associated Eye Care Practices in 3 Areas With Different Tiers in Khartoum State 2020-2021

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most prevalent type of glaucoma in Africa, in which the patient is usually asymptomatic early in the disease course; so early presentation is the only way to prevent blindness progression. This study is a community-based cross-sectional study in 3 different socioeconomic areas in Khartoum state among adults who were selected using systemic random sampling inside the area. Data were collected using an interviewing questionnaire after obtaining ethical approval from the Department of Community Medicine- University of Khartoum and a sample of 384 was collected. The overall level of awareness was 62%, which differed significantly with: tier-level, educational level, diagnosis of refractive error, use of medical eyeglasses, family history of blindness, and attendance history of eye care services. The main source of knowledge and awareness of Glaucoma was the local community (57%) followed by ophthalmologists (23%). Among the aware population, the second socioeconomic area residents possessed higher knowledge of glaucoma than those in the first area (P=0.032). Ophthalmologists as a source of knowledge are associated positively with higher knowledge. Attendance of eye care services is associated positively with a family history of blindness and a university degree. The awareness of glaucoma is low in low socioeconomic area compared to the middle and high socioeconomic areas. Middle socioeconomic area residents possessed higher knowledge than the highest socioeconomic area. The high awareness in the population was not translated into good knowledge in most of the population so health education is recommended.

The Possibilities of Finding a Cure for HIV

Samantha Jia Qing Oon, Pamela Anne Knight — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major worldwide health concern, affecting millions of people globally, and when untreated progresses into acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). With the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV infection is defined as a manageable, but not curable, chronic health condition. ART inhibits viral replication and prevents HIV transmission but does not eliminate the virus due to viral latency in memory T cells, exacerbated by the rise in drug resistant mutations (DRMs), so lifelong treatment and monitoring is required. In this review, we discuss the justifications and research approaches towards finding a “cure” for HIV i.e. complete elimination or control of the virus without the need for further treatment. The two main barriers to developing a cure for HIV infection are the property of HIV viral latency and high mutation rate of the virus. A few cases of HIV have been cured through bone marrow transplants to treat acute myeloid leukaemia, where the donors had rare mutations in the CCR5 gene, required for viral entry. More viable approaches to a cure include the “Shock and Kill” method which aims to use reverse viral latency allowing these cells to be detected and destroyed with ART, and the “Block and Lock” method aims to block viral transcription in HIV-infected latent cells, preventing a rebound viral replication after the cessation of ART. The possibility of vaccination has been widely explored, but an effective HIV vaccine has yet to be developed after more than 40 years of the pandemic. Currently, the “Block and Lock” approaches appear to be the most favourable, possibly in conjunction with other recently developed interventions such as passive immunisation with broadly neutralizing antibodies. However, approaches taken to develop a cure for HIV cannot be detached from ethical concerns which need to be acknowledged and navigated.

Expanding the Disciplinary Scope of AJGR

Adam A Bahishti — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Advanced Journal of Graduate Research (AJGR) was established as a specific journal for publishing mentored research conducted by bachelor’s and master’s degree students, with a focus primarily on science and allied disciplines. As student research across academic domains continues to grow in quality and scope, AJGR is expanding its scope to include all disciplines. This editorial outlines the rationale behind the decision, the submission expectations, and the continued emphasis on research mentorship, ethical publishing, and process improvements. The journal invites submissions from all academic fields, provided the research was carried out under an officially assigned supervisor as part of a formal academic research course.