The development of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) was a great milestone in the management of HIV infection. ARVs suppress viral activity in the host cell, thus minimizing injury to the cells and prolonging life. However, an effective treatment has remained elusive for four decades due to the successful immune evasion mechanisms of the virus. A thorough understanding of the molecular interaction of HIV with the host cell is essential in the development of both preventive and curative therapies for HIV infection. This review highlights several inherent mechanisms of HIV that promote its survival and propagation, such as the targeting of CD4⁺ lymphocytes, the downregulation of MHC class I and II, antigenic variation and an envelope complex that minimizes antibody access, and how they collaboratively render the immune system unable to mount an effective response.

Hypertensive heart disease (HHD) is characterized by pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling, in which mitochondrial dysfunction has emerged as a central contributor to pathophysiology. Mitochondria occupy roughly one-third of the volume of a cardiomyocyte and serve as the primary source of ATP for the constantly active heart, while also regulating calcium homeostasis, redox balance, and apoptotic signaling. Chronic hypertension imposes energetic and oxidative stress on cardiomyocytes, disrupting mitochondrial structure and function. Key mitochondrial quality control processes including organelle fusion–fission dynamics, biogenesis, and mitophagy become dysregulated in HHD, leading to impaired energy production and heightened cell injury. This unstructured review discusses the physiological roles of mitochondria in cardiac muscle and examines how altered mitochondrial dynamics contribute to hypertensive cardiac damage. We detail mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction in HHD, such as excessive fission, cristae disruption, and oxidative stress, and how these changes are exacerbated by aging. Age-related mitochondrial remodeling such as loss of cristae and decreased organelle volume may synergistically worsen hypertensive cardiac injury. We further integrate findings from recent studies in animal and human models, including advanced three-dimensional ultrastructural analyses and molecular investigations that illuminate new aspects of mitochondrial network organization, the mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS), cristae maintenance complex, and quality control pathways in HHD. Understanding mitochondrial dysfunction in HHD reveals potential therapeutic avenues targeting mitochondrial quality and dynamics to preserve cardiac function in hypertension.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is strongly associated with cervical cancer with almost all cases being associated with the infection. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in Zambia and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. However, there is limited data on the burden and associated factors of HPV in sub-Saharan Africa. This study therefore aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of HPV infection in the Southern province of Zambia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) among 4,612 women from different districts of the southern province being screened for HPV infection between September 2021 and August 2022. Demographic and clinical data were collected from an existing laboratory programmatic database. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the factors associated with HPV infection. Results: The study participants had a median age of 39 years [interquartile range (IQR) 30, 47]. The prevalence of HPV infection was 35.56% (95%CI). At multivariable analysis, the factors associated with a positive HPV result were younger age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98–0.99; p. value 0.001), having provider collected sample (AOR 2.15; 95%CI 1.66–2.79; p. value <0.001) and living with HIV (AOR 1.77; 95%CI 1.22–2.55; p. value <0.002). Conclusion: The prevalence of HPV in women in the southern province of Zambia is high, and likely influenced by age and HIV status. Additionally, the outcome of the HPV test is affected by the sample collection method. Therefore, there is a necessity to enhance HPV and cervical cancer screening, especially among people with HIV.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a significant obstetric complication associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Zambia, like several Sub-Saharan African nations, experiences a high prevalence of pregnancy-related hypertension, with PE being a major contributor to maternal and foetal mortality. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the development of PE. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital in Zambia (LUTH). PE was defined as new-onset hypertension with systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg occurring after 20 weeks of gestation, accompanied by proteinuria with dipstick reading of 1 + . Data from patients’ most recent hospital visits was collected by trained research assistants using medical record abstraction. A total of 1018 participants were included. Demographic, clinical, and haematological parameters were analysed. We conducted both descriptive and inferential analyses using Stata version 17. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were employed to investigate factors associated with PE. Results: The median age of participants was 27 years (IQR: 21–33). The prevalence of PE was 12.2% (n = 124). Among the 17.7% (n = 172) of participants who were employed, 19.1% (n = 33) had PE. Factors positively associated with PE included increasing age (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 1.07, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.02–1.12, p = 0.002), a previous history of PE (AOR: 30.8, 95% CI: 8.7–108.6, p < 0.001), and a family history of PE (AOR: 9.97, 95% CI: 2.53–39.27, p = 0.001). Conversely, a unit (week) increase in gestational age was negatively associated with PE (AOR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83–0.97, p = 0.007). Conclusion: This study identifies maternal age, family history, and prior obstetric history as key associated factors for PE, emphasizing the need for targeted screening and early intervention. Enhanced prenatal care, including routine risk assessments, patient education, and regular monitoring through blood pressure checks, urine protein testing, and fetal growth assessments, is cardinal for early detection and effective management of high-risk individuals.

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is strongly associated with cervical cancer with almost all cases being associated with the infection. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in Zambia and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. However, there is limited data on the burden and associated factors of HPV in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of HPV infection in the Southern province of Zambia. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) among 4,612 women from different districts of the southern province being screened for HPV infection between September 2021 and August 2022. Demographic and clinical data were collected from an existing laboratory programmatic database. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the factors associated with HPV infection. Results The study participants had a median age of 39 years [interquartile range (IQR) 30, 47]. The prevalence of HPV infection was 35.56% (95%CI). At multivariable analysis, the factors associated with a positive HPV result were younger age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98-0.99; p. value 0.001), having provider collected sample (AOR 2.15; 95%CI 1.66 -2.79; p. value <0.001) and living with HIV (AOR 1.77; 95%CI 1.22 – 2.55; p. value <0.002). Conclusion The prevalence of HPV in women in the southern province of Zambia is high, and likely influenced by age and HIV status. Additionally, the outcome of the HPV test is affected by the sample collection method. Therefore, there is a necessity to enhance HPV and cervical cancer screening, especially among people with HIV.