Faculty of Health Sciences
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14155/170
2024-03-29T12:17:21ZKnowledge, perceptions and practices of adults towards dementia at a selected hospital in Lesotho
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14155/1780
Knowledge, perceptions and practices of adults towards dementia at a selected hospital in Lesotho
Mahlelehlele, Bokang; Masakoane, Reentseng; Maselinyane, Tseko; Contable, Nthabiseng
Objective: This study aimed to determine knowledge, perceptions and practices towards dementia in adults
seeking health services at a selected hospital in Lesotho.
Method: The descriptive quantitative research design was used in conducting the study. A sample of 52
participants were selected using convenience sampling method. Data was collected using pre-tested semistructured questionnaire written in both English and Sesotho languages. Data was analyzed through the use of
Microsoft Excel, presented on frequency tables, pie charts and bar charts.
Results: The study results revealed that there is dearth of knowledge towards dementia (27%), majority of
participants (n=26) had insuffient knowledge towards dementia. On the perception, 26.9% strongly perceived
dementia as witchcraft and 34.6% of participants disregard dementia as part of the aging process. As much as
majority of participants (63.5%) reported that demented people should be hospitalized, 13.5% of adults still
believed that demented people should seek prophetic help.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that there is need to raise awareness regarding mental health such as dementia
so that affcted individuals and families may be supported accordingly.
2023-10-01T00:00:00ZAutophagic regulation of P62 is critical for cancer therapy
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14155/1775
Autophagic regulation of P62 is critical for cancer therapy
Ariful, Islam; Sooro, MA
Sequestosome1 (p62/SQSTM 1) is a multidomain protein that interacts with the autophagy
machinery as a key adaptor of target cargo. It interacts with phagophores through the LC3-interacting
(LIR) domain and with the ubiquitinated protein aggregates through the ubiquitin-associated
domain (UBA) domain. It sequesters the target cargo into inclusion bodies by its PB1 domain.
This protein is further the central hub that interacts with several key signaling proteins. Emerging
evidence implicates p62 in the induction of multiple cellular oncogenic transformations. Indeed,
p62 upregulation and/or reduced degradation have been implicated in tumor formation, cancer
promotion as well as in resistance to therapy. It has been established that the process of autophagy
regulates the levels of p62. Autophagy-dependent apoptotic activity of p62 is recently being reported.
It is evident that p62 plays a critical role in both autophagy and apoptosis. Therefore in this review
we discuss the role of p62 in autophagy, apoptosis and cancer through its different domains and
outline the importance of modulating cellular levels of p62 in cancer therapeutics.
2018-05-08T00:00:00ZTargeting EGFR-mediated autophagy as a potential strategy for cancer therapy
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14155/1774
Targeting EGFR-mediated autophagy as a potential strategy for cancer therapy
Sooro, MA; Zhang, Ni; Zhang, P
Autophagy is a naturally occurring programed cellular catabolic process stimulated by cellular stress for energy homeostasis
maintenance and elimination of harmful substances. It mostly works as pro-survival mechanism but on the other hand deregulation
of autophagy has been linked to non-apoptotic cell death known as “type II programed cell death.” Emerging evidences
indicate that EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor)-mediated RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway plays a critical role in
the induction of autophagy in various tumors. It has further been established that this signaling pathway is also involved in
several other anti-proliferative events such as apoptosis and senescence. However, the signaling pathway activity and effects
are highly dependent on the cell type and the stimulus. It is currently being evident that autophagy induction by RAS/RAF/
MEK/ERK pathway through small molecules may be a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer. However, to our best knowledge,
the role of EGFR-mediated RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in autophagy-mediated cell death and survival have not
previously been reviewed. In this review, we discuss the current state of knowledge on how RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway
regulates autophagy and the role of this EGFR-mediated autophagy in diseases. We further examine the cross-talk
between this EGFR-mediated autophagy and apoptosis as well as how this process is currently being utilized for cancer treatment
and suggest promoting autophagy-related cell death by small molecules may be exploited to design better therapeutic
strategies for early stage and locally advanced tumors
2018-03-01T00:00:00ZAn observational study of hypertension treatment and patient outcomes in a primary care setting
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14155/1773
An observational study of hypertension treatment and patient outcomes in a primary care setting
Thinyane, KH; Mothebe, T; Sooro, M; Namole, LD; Cooper, V
Evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure are vital to reducing hypertension-related morbidity. There are limited data on
treatment of hypertension in Lesotho. The aim of this study was to investigate hypertension treatment and control in a primary care setting in
Lesotho. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among hypertensive patients treated at Domiciliary Health Clinic in Maseru, Lesotho
between April and May 2013. We reviewed medical records and evaluated hypertension treatment and blood pressure control in the past 12
months. Patients were interviewed to assess adherence to hypertension treatment. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors
associated with poor blood pressure control. Results: 70 patients were enrolled in the study; 90.0% were female, the mean age was 57.7 years,
80.0% were overweight/obese and 27.1% had diabetes mellitus. 90.0% of the patients received combination antihypertensive therapy; the most
frequently prescribed drugs were hydrochlorothiazide (90.0%), captopril (67.1%) and atenolol (51.4%). The majority of the patients had chronic
uncontrolled hypertension. 67.2% of the patients had continuous access to antihypertensive drugs in the past 12 months; adherence to
medication, diet and exercise was 64.3%, 37.1% and 7.1% respectively. Age ≥65 was the strongest independent predictor of poor blood pressure
control (AOR = 10.3, 95% CI: 1.21-88.98, p = 0.033). Conclusion: There is a need for interventions to improve hypertension care and outcomes
in this setting. Efforts should be made to improve assessment of hypertensive patients, optimise antihypertensive therapy and promote patient
adherence to treatment.
2015-04-04T00:00:00Z