Browsing by Author "Opio, Christopher K."

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    Atypical presentation of colon adenocarcinoma: a case report
    (Journal of Medical Case Reports, 2012) Tumwine, Lynnette K.; Kagimu, Magid; Ocama, Ponsiano; Segamwenge, Innocent; Masiira-Mukasa, Noah; Wamala, Dan; Dworak, Otto; Opio, Christopher K.
    Adenocarcinoma of the colon is the most common histopathological type of colorectal cancer. In Western Europe and the United States, it is the third most common type and accounts for 98% of cancers of the large intestine. In Uganda, as elsewhere in Africa, the majority of patients are elderly (at least 60 years old). However, more recently, it has been observed that younger patients (less than 40 years of age) are presenting with the disease. There is also an increase in its incidence and most patients present late, possibly because of the lack of a comprehensive national screening and preventive health-care program. We describe the clinicopathological features of colorectal carcinoma in the case of a young man in Kampala, Uganda. Case presentation: A 27-year-old man from Kampala, Uganda, presented with gross abdominal distension, progressive loss of weight, and fever. He was initially screened for tuberculosis, hepatitis, and lymphoma, and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome infection. After a battery of tests, a diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma was finally established with hematoxylin and eosin staining of a cell block made from the sediment of a liter of cytospun ascitic fluid, which showed atypical glands floating in abundant extracellular mucin, suggestive of adenocarcinoma. Ancillary tests with alcian blue/periodic acid Schiff and mucicarmine staining revealed that it was a mucinous adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry showed strong positivity with CDX2, confirming that the origin of the tumor was the colon. Conclusions: Colorectal carcinoma has been noted to occur with increasing frequency in young adults in Africa. Most patients have mucinous adenocarcinoma, present late, and have rapid disease progression and poor outcome. Therefore, colorectal malignancy should no longer be excluded from consideration only on the basis of a patient’s age. A high index of suspicion is important in the diagnosis of colorectal malignancy in young African patients.
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    The diagnostic accuracy of routine clinical findings for detection of esophageal varices in rural sub-Saharan Africa where schistosomiasis is endemic
    (African health sciences, 2019) Opio, Christopher K.; Rejani, Lalitha; Kazibwe, Francis; Ocama, Ponsiano
    Variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is common in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, poor access to endoscopy services precludes the diagnosis of varices. Objectives: We determined the diagnostic accuracy of routine clinical findings for detection of esophageal varices among patients with UGIB in rural SSA where schistosomiasis is endemic. Methods: We studied patients with a history of UGIB. The index tests included routine clinical findings and the reference test was diagnostic endoscopy. Multivariable regression with post-estimation provided measures of association and diagnostic accuracy. Results: We studied 107 participants with UGIB and 21% had active bleeding. One hundred and three (96%) had liver disease and 86(80%) varices. Factors associated with varices (p-value <0.05) were ≥ 4 lifetime episodes of UGIB, prior blood transfusion, splenomegaly, liver fibrosis, thrombocytopenia, platelet count spleen diameter ratio <909, and a dilated portal vein. Two models showed an overall diagnostic accuracy of > 90% in detection of varices with a number needed to misdiagnose of 13(number of patients who needed to be tested in order for one to be misdiagnosed by the test). Conclusion: Where access to endoscopy is limited, routine clinical findings could improve the diagnosis of patients with UGIB in Africa.
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    Factors associated with carcinoma of the oesophagus at Mulago Hospital, Uganda
    (African health sciences, 2008) Ocama, Ponsiano; Kagimu, Magid M.; Odida, Michael; Wabinga, Henry; Opio, Christopher K.; Colebunders, Britt; Ierssel, Sabrina van; Colebunders, Robert
    In Uganda, as in many other parts of the world cancer of the oesophagus (CAE) is on the rise. Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma are the common subtypes. Risk factors for this cancer have been identified but not studied systematically in Uganda. Identification of these factors would enable establishment of preventive measures. Objective To determine the prevalence, histological features and associated factors for CAE among patients referred to the endoscopic unit of Mulago hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Methods: We performed a 1-year cross-sectional study in 2004 and 2005 of all patients presenting for oesophageal-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) at Mulago Hospital. Demographic characteristics, behavioural practices, endoscopy findings and histology results where biopsies were performed were collected using a study tool. Data analysis was done using STATA 8® statistical package Results: Two hundred nineteen patients were enrolled in the study, three were excluded because they could not tolerate the endoscopy procedure. Fifty five (19%) of the 287 had histologically proven CAE. Squamous cell carcinoma was found in 100% of tumours of the upper third, 91% middle third, and 73% lower third of the oesophagus. Four patients had a histological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. Factors that were associated with CAE included age (OR 1.63, CI 1.34-1.98, p value <0.001), smoking (OR 3.63, CI 1.82-7.23, p value <0.001) and gender (OR 2.17, CI 1.07-4.41, p value 0.032). Conclusion: Many patients referred for EGD in Uganda had esophageal cancer most of which were.squamous cell type. Smoking, male gender and older age were risk factors. Preventive measures should target stopping smoking.
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    Hepatic schistosomiasis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and health related quality of life measurements from the Albert Nile Basin
    (Journal of patient-reported outcomes, 2021) Opio, Christopher K.; Kazibwe, Francis; Rejani, Lalitha; Kabatereine, Narcis B.; Ocama, Ponsiano
    Health related quality of life measurements are vital elements of public health surveillance that uncover unmet health needs and predict the success of health interventions. We described health related quality of life measurements using the EuroQoL 5-dimension (EQ-VAS/EQ-5D) instrument and associated factors among patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) and hepatic schistosomiasis at a rural health facility in the Albert Nile Basin, Uganda. Methods and materials: This was a cross-sectional study at Pakwach Health Centre IV. Participants included adult inpatients and outpatients with a history of UGIB and ultrasound evidence of hepatic schistosomiasis. We evaluated and recorded each participant’s medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests results, ultrasound results, and endoscopy findings. We also recorded health related quality of life measurements using the EuroQoL 5-dimension instrument and derived disability weights from EQ-VAS and EQ-5D measurements. These were our dependent variables. Descriptive and inferential statistics were generated summarizing our findings. Results: We found 103 participants had a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Sixty percent were between the ages of 30–49 years, 59% were females, 74% were farmers, 92% had splenomegaly, 88% had varices at endoscopy, 22% were medical emergencies with acute variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and 62% had anemia. Measures of the different dimensions of health from 101 participants with patient reported outcomes revealed 77 (76%) participants experienced problems in self-care, 89 (88%) participants reported anxiety or depression, and 89 (88%) participants experienced pain or discomfort. The median EQ-VAS derived disability weights and median EQ-5D index-derived disability weights were 0.3 and 0.34, respectively. Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, praziquantel drug treatment, and age by decade predicted higher EQ-VAS derived disability weights (p value < 0.05). Under weight (Body mass index ≤ 18.5), acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, age by decade, female gender, and praziquantel drug treatment predicted higher EQ-5D index- derived disability weights (p value < 0.05). Conclusion: Adult patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hepatic schistosomiasis from this primary health facility experience poor health and considerable health loss. Several factors predicted increased health loss. These factors probably represent key areas of health intervention towards mitigating increased health loss in this population.
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    Hepatitis B virus genotypes A and D in Uganda
    (Journal of virus eradication,, 2016) Zirabamuzale, Jackie T.; Opio, Christopher K.; Bwanga, Freddie; Seremba, Emmanuel; Apica, Betty S.; Colebunders, Robert; Ocama, Ponsiano
    The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Uganda is 10%. Hepatitis B virus genotypes impact on treatment response, rate of spontaneous recovery and progression of chronic HBV infection and hepatocellular carcinoma. There is little information on the HBV genotypic distribution in Uganda. Objectives: To determine HBV genotypes in Uganda. Methods: The MBN clinical laboratory performs HBV viral load and genotype testing in Uganda. It receives hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive samples from all over the country for additional HBV testing. Samples are stored for 6 months before being discarded. Our study used delinked stored samples. PCR-positive samples had DNA extracted and used as template for HBV genome amplification by nested PCR. Reverse hybridisation was performed and genotypes were determined by the line probe assay method (INNO-LiPA). Results: One hundred stored HBsAg-positive plasma samples with detectable viral loads were analysed. Of these, 93 samples showed PCR amplification products and gave genotype-specific probe lines on the INNO-LiPA assay. Of the patients, where gender was recorded, 60.9% were female, and the overall median age (IQR) was 25 (2–60) years. There was a predominance of HBV genotype D (47 patients; 50.5%), followed by genotype A, (16 patients; 17.2%). One patient (1.1%) had genotype E. In 28% of the samples mixed infections were detected with genotypes A/E (9.7%) and A/D (6.5%) being most common. Genotypes B, C, E and H only occurred as part of mixed infections. Conclusion Hepatitis B genotypes D and A were predominant in our study population.
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    Hepatitis B virus infection: current status
    (Elsevier, 2005) Ocama, Ponsiano; Opio, Christopher K.; Lee, William M.
    Hepatitis B virus currently affects more than 400 million people world wide. Despite the availability of Hepatitis B vaccine, the overall prevalence of Hepatitis B infection has declined little in recent years.