The challenges of reliably collecting, storing, organizing, and analyzing research data are critical in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where several healthcare and biomedical research organizations have limited data infrastructure. The Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) System has been widely used by many institutions and hospitals in the USA for data collection, entry, and management and could help solve this problem. This study reports on the experiences, challenges, and lessons learned from establishing and applying REDCap for a large US-Nigeria research partnership that includes two sites in Nigeria, (the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (CMUL) and Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH)) and Northwestern University (NU) in Chicago, Illinois in the United States. The largest challenges to this implementation were significant technical obstacles: the lack of REDCap-trained personnel, transient electrical power supply, and slow/ intermittent internet connectivity. However, asynchronous communication and on-site hands-on collaboration between the Nigerian sites and NU led to the successful installation and configuration of REDCap to meet the needs of the Nigerian sites. An example of one lesson learned is the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) as a solution to poor internet connectivity at one of the sites, and its adoption is underway at the other. Virtual Private Servers (VPS) or shared online hosting were also evaluated and offer alternative solutions. Installing and using REDCap in LMIC institutions for research data management is feasible; however, planning for trained personnel and addressing electrical and internet infrastructural requirements are essential to optimize its use. Building this fundamental research capacity within LMICs across Africa could substantially enhance the potential for more cross-institutional and cross-country collaboration in future research endeavors.
Background Erythropoietin(EPO) response to anaemia has been reported to be suboptimal in HIV infected anaemic patients. Objectives To assess the relationship between EPO levels and degree of anaemia, CD4+ cell count and viral load of HIV infected treatment naive subjects and if there is any association with inflammatory cytokines. Subjects and Methods A total of 120 subjects aged 18-66 years, comprises (1) HIV infected treatment naive subjects who had anaemia with Hb level <10g/dL. Control subjects were: (2) HIV infected non-anaemic, (3) non-HIV infected anaemic and (4) non-HIV infected non-anaemic individuals. Full blood count using automated counter; CD4+ cell count by semi-automated flow cytometer; and viral load were estimated. Serum erythropoietin levels, serum ferritin levels, CRP levels, TNF-α levels and IL-6 levels were estimated. Appropriateness of EPO response was determined by calculating EPO response ratio. Results Majority (72%) of the HIV infected anaemic patients had a normocytic hypochromic type of anaemia. A weak positive correlation between EPO levels and CD4+ cell count (r=0.075, p=0.572) was obtained. A significant negative correlation between EPO levels and haemoglobin levels (r=-0.268, p=0.003). Twenty-seven (71.05%) of the 38 HIV infected anaemic subjects had EPO response ratio less than 0.8. Serum ferritin level was significantly higher in HIV infected anaemic subjects compared to the controls (p=0.000). Serum interleukin-6 level was significantly higher in HIV infected anaemic subjects compared to HIV infected non-anaemic subjects (p=0.003). Serum C-reactive protein level was significantly higher in HIV infected anaemic subjects compared to non-HIV infected non-anaemic (p=0.004) and non-HIV infected anaemic subjects and(0.001). Serum tumour necrosis factor-α level was significantly higher in HIV infected anaemic subjects compared to other arms of the study population (p=0.000). Conclusion The present study revealed that HIV infected anaemic subjects had reduced serum EPO levels. However, serum inflammatory cytokines levels were raised in the same subjects. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.