RECENT PUBLICATIONS

  1. Ateko RO, Marais AD, Blom DJ, Adadey SM, Thomford NE, Blackhurst DM. Dysbetalipoproteinaemia in genetically predisposed Ghanaians. Lipids Health Dis.  2025 Nov 17;24(1):367. doi: 10.1186/s12944-025-02787-0.
  2. Blom DJ, Marais AD, Raal FJ. Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia Treatment: New Developments. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2025 Jan 3;27(1):22. doi: 10.1007/s11883-024-01269-5.
  3. Elshorbagy A, Vallejo-Vaz AJ, Barkas F, Lyons ARM, Stevens CAT, Dharmayat KI, Catapano AL, Freiberger T, Hovingh GK, Mata P, Raal FJ, Santos RD, Soran H, Watts GF, Abifadel M, Aguilar-Salinas CA, Alhabib KF, Alkhnifsawi M, Almahmeed W, Alnouri F, Alonso R, Al-Rasadi K, Al-Sarraf A, Arca M, Ashavaid TF, Averna M, Banach M, Becker M, Binder CJ, Bourbon M, Brunham LR, Chlebus K, Corral P, Cruz D, Davletov K, Descamps OS, Dwiputra B, Ezhov M, Groselj U, Harada-Shiba M, Holven KB, Humphries SE, Kayikcioglu M, Khovidhunkit W, Lalic K, Latkovskis G, Laufs U, Liberopoulos E, Lima-Martinez MM, Maher V, Marais AD, März W, Mirrakhimov E, Miserez AR, Mitchenko O, Nawawi H, Nordestgaard BG, Panayiotou AG, Paragh G, Petrulioniene Z, Pojskic B, Postadzhiyan A, Reda A, Reiner Ž, Reyes X, Sadiq F, Sadoh WE, Schunkert H, Shek AB, Stroes E, Su TC, Subramaniam T, Susekov AV, Tilney M, Tomlinson B, Truong TH, Tselepis AD, Tybjærg-Hansen A, Vázquez-Cárdenas A, Viigimaa M, Vohnout B, Yamashita S, Ray KK. Overweight, obesity, and cardiovascular disease in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia: the EAS FH Studies Collaboration registry. Eur Heart J. 2025 Mar 24;46(12):1127-1140. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae791.
  4. Hussey H, Vreede H, Davies MA, Heekes A, Kalk E, Hardie D, van Zyl G, Naidoo M, Morden E, Bam JL, Zinyakatira N, Centner CM, Maritz J, Opie J, Chapanduka Z, Mahomed H, Smith M, Cois A, Pienaar D, Redd AD, Preiser W, Wilkinson R, Boulle A, Hsiao NY. Correction: SARS-CoV-2 seroepidemiology in Cape Town, South Africa, and implications for future outbreaks in low-income communities. PLOS Glob Public  Health. 2025 Jun 12;5(6):e0004804. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004804.  Erratum for: PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024 Aug 6;4(8):e0003554.   doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003554.
  5. Khumalo N, Francis CA, Baloyi SM, Rusch JA. Gamma gap and albumin-globulin ratio show poor sensitivity for monoclonal gammopathy screening in South Africa.  Afr J Lab Med. 2025 Mar 26;14(1):2505. doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v14i1.2505.
  6. Korf M, Rusch J, Aye Khine A, Strauss N, Jacobsz L, Zemlin AE, Vreede H. Mitigating the risk of tube shortages: A blood collection tube validation study conducted in South Africa. Afr J Lab Med. 2025 Apr 23;14(1):2628. doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v14i1.2628.
  7. Kriel M, Opie J, Rusch J, Richardson D, Louw V. Old tests and new paradigms: How to interpret iron studies and related biomarkers for the diagnosis of iron deficiency in adults. Blood Rev. 2025 Nov;74:101337. doi:   10.1016/j.blre.2025.101337.
  8. Meldau S, McCormick EM, George-Sankoh I, Riordan GT, Khan K, MacMullen LE, Dawlat S, Blackhurst D, Falk MJ, Elson JL. Mitochondrial DNA Pathogenic Variant Prevalence in Primary Mitochondrial Disease Patients With African (L) Mitochondrial Genome aplogroups. JIMD Rep. 2025 Jul 11;66(4):e70036. doi: 10.1002/jmd2.70036.
  9. Mukonda E, van der Westhuizen DJ, Dave JA, Cleary S, Hannan L, Rusch JA, Lesosky M. Understanding the relationship between the frequency of HbA1c monitoring, HbA1c changes over time, and the achievement of targets: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Endocr Disord. 2025 Jan 6;25(1):3. doi: 10.1186/s12902-024-01816-w.
  10. O'Hagan S, Meldau S, Rose P, Van Niekerk M, Ackermann C, Riordan G, Van Toorn R. Retrospective observational study of the magnetic resonance imaging features of MPV17-related mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome. Pediatr Radiol. 2025 Sep;55(10):2102-2114. doi: 10.1007/s00247-025-06341-z.
  11. Pillay TS, Jafri L, Punchoo R. Formulation of workplace-based assessments (WBAs) and entrustable professional activities (EPAs) for postgraduate medical trainees in clinical biochemistry. J Clin Pathol. 2025 Mar 19;78(4):240-250.  doi: 10.1136/jcp-2024-209796.
  12. Pillay TS, Khan AI, Yenice S. Artificial intelligence (AI) in point-of-care testing. Clin Chim Acta. 2025 Jun 15;574:120341. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2025.120341. 
  13. Pillay TS, Topcu Dİ, Yenice S. Harnessing AI for enhanced evidence-based laboratory medicine (EBLM). Clin Chim Acta. 2025 Mar 1;569:120181. doi:10.1016/j.cca.2025.120181.
  14. Pillay TS. Increasing the Impact and Value of Laboratory Medicine Through Effective and AI-Assisted Communication. EJIFCC. 2025 Feb 28;36(1):12-25.
  15. Pillay TS, Rampul A, Subramoney EL, van Deventer BS, van Niekerk C, Gwiliza S.  The double-edged role of point-of-care testing in modern medicine. Clin Chim Acta. 2026 Feb 15; 582:120770. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2025.120770. Epub 2025 Dec 6
  16. Punchoo R, Dreyer G, Pillay TS. 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol Serum Level Shows an Inverse Relationship with High-Grade Uterine Cervical Dysplasia in HIV- Uninfected Black Women in South Africa. J Clin Med. 2025 May 29;14(11):3817. doi: 10.3390/jcm14113817.
  17. Punchoo R, Pillay TS. Developing Entrustable Professional Activities for Chemical Pathology registrars in South Africa. J Coll Med S Afr. 2025 Feb 14;3(1):133. doi: 10.4102/jcmsa.v3i1.133.
  18. Richardson D, Brown K, Rusch J, Verburgh E, Louw V, Opie J. From the marrow to the blood: optimising the diagnosis of iron deficiency in the setting of inflammation. Pathology. 2025 Feb;57(1):87-93. doi: 10.1016/j.pathol.2024.06.015.
  19. Riedel S, de Buys K, Tshivhase AM, Mendham AE, Venter P, Hoosen F, Dugas LR, D'Alton C, Rusch JA, Southon B, Pheiffer CP, Johnson R, Reddy T, Yende-Zuma N, Muller CJF, Dave JA, Goedecke JH. Effects of Baobab fruit powder on gut and cardiometabolic health in obesity-Protocol for a randomised placebo-controlled trial. PLoS One. 2025 Aug 13;20(8):e0328774. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0328774.
  20. Singh-Gansan R, Pienaar J, Blackhurst DM, Marais AD. Atypical Appearance of Lipoprotein X on Agarose Gel Electrophoresis. J Appl Lab Med. 2025 Sep 3;10(5):1436-1438. doi: 10.1093/jalm/jfaf070.
  21. Sewpersad S, Chale-Matsau B, Pillay TS. Real world feasibility of patient-based real time quality control (PBRTQC) using five analytes in a South African laboratory. Clin Chim Acta. 2025 Jan 15;565:120006. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.120006
  22. Thomford NE, Kellermann T, Twum JA, Anyimadu J, Dixon C, Sappor D, Blackhurst D, Barnie PA, Ryabinina O, Nyarko SB, Biney RP, Ekor M, Kyei GB. Drug-drug interaction between dolutegravir and artemether-lumefantrine in HIV and malaria mono- and co-infections: a pharmacogenetic analysis from Ghana. AIDS Res Ther.  2025 Aug 30;22(1):85. doi: 10.1186/s12981-025-00787-9.
  23. Zhou E, Bhoora S, Pillay TS, Punchoo R. Induction of Cell Death and Regulation of Autocrine Vitamin D Metabolism in Cervical Cancer by Physiological and GI20 Doses of 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Apr 24;26(9):4008. doi: 10.3390/ijms26094008.
  24. International Urology and Nephrology – 2020
    Mothusi W. Moloi; Jody A. Rusch; Fierdoz Omar; Udeme Ekrikpo; Collet Dandara; Aminu K. Bello; David Jayne; Ikechi G. Okpechi
    Urinary MCP‑1 and TWEAK as non‑invasive markers of disease activity and treatment response in patients with lupus nephritis in South Africa
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-020-02780-9
  25. Wits Journal of Clinical Medicine – 2020
    Nina E. Diana, Ismail S. Kalla, Nicola Wearne, Sarah Kariv, Bianca Davidson, Jody Rusch, Zibya Barday, Abid M. Sheikh, Samantha Reiche, Farzahna Mohamed, Sara Saffer, Chandni Dayal, Jacqueline P. Venturas, Jarrod M. Zamparini, Dieter van der Westhuizen, Sean Wasserman, Nectarios Papavarnavas, Linda Boloko, Timothy de Wet, Graham Paget, Adam Mahomed2, Sagren Naidoo, Erika S.W. Jones
    Acute Kidney Injury during the COVID-19 Pandemic – Experience from Two Tertiary Centres in South Africa
    http://dx.doi.org/10.18772/26180197.2020.v2n3a2
  26. ScienceDirect - ELSEVIER - 2020
    Chale-Matsau, B; Mokoena, S; Kemp, T; Pillay, TS 
    Hyperthyroidism in molar pregnancy: beta-HCG levels do not always reflect severity.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2020.09.028
  27. African Journal of Laboratory Medicine – 2020
    Swart, C; Meldau, S; Centner, CM; Marais, AD; Omar, F
    Validation of PHASE for deriving N-acetyltransferase 2 haplotypes in the Western Cape mixed ancestry population.
    https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v9i1.988
  28. BMJ Journals – Journal of Clinical Pathology - 2020
    Meldau S, Owen EP, Khan K, Riordan GT. 
    Mitochondrial molecular genetic results in a South African cohort: divergent mitochondrial and nuclear DNA findings. 
    https://doi.org/10.1136/jclinpath-2020-207026
  29. ScienceDirect – ELSEVIER - 2020
    Meldau S, Fratter C, Bhengu LN, et al. 
    Pitfalls of relying on genetic testing only to diagnose inherited metabolic disorders in non-western populations - 5 cases of pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency from South Africa.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgmr.2020.100629
  30. African Journal of Laboratory Medicine - 2020
    Swart C, Meldau S, Centner CM, Marais AD, Omar F. 
    Validation of PHASE for deriving N-acetyltransferase 2 haplotypes in the Western Cape mixed ancestry population.
    https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v9i1.988
  31. Wiley Online Library - 2020
    Roberts L, Julius S, Dawlat S, Yildiz S, Rebello G, Meldau S, Pillay K, Esterhuizen A, Vorster A, Benefeld G, Da Rocha J, Beighton P, Sellars SL, Thandrayen K, Pettifor JM, Ramesar RS. 
    Renal dysfunction, rod-cone dystrophy, and sensorineural hearing loss caused by a mutation in RRM2B. 
    https://doi.org/10.1002/humu.24094
  32. Journal of Wildlife Diseases – 2020
    Friederike Pohlin, Markus Hofmeyr, Emma H. Hooijberg, Dee Blackhurst, Mmadi Reuben, Dave Cooper, Leith C.R. Meyer.
    Challenges to animal welfare associated with capture and long road transport in boma-adapted black- (Diceros bicornis) and semi-captive white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceroses. 
    https://doi.org/10.7589/2019-02-045
  33. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology – 2020
    Roeland Huijgen, Dirk Blom, Merel Hartgers, Kevin Chemello, Asier Benito-Vicente, Kepa Uribe, Zorena Behardien, Dee Blackhurst, Brigitte Brice, Joep Defesche, Annemiek De Jong, Rosemary Jooste, Bharati Ratanjee, Gabriele Solomons, Karen Wolmarans, G. Hovingh, Cesar Martín, Gilles Lambert, and A. David Marais.
    Novel PCSK9 (Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin Type 9) Variants in Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia from Cape Town. 
    https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.120.314482
  34. Science Direct – ELSEVIER - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology – 2020
    Rodrigo Hohl, Dee M Blackhurst, Byron Donaldson, Kathryn M van Boom, Tertius A Kohn. 
    Wild Antelope skeletal muscle antioxidant enzyme activities do not correlate with muscle fibre type or oxidative metabolism. 
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.110638
  35. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Animal Behavior and Welfare – 2020
    Friederike Pohlin, Emma Henriette Hoojiberg, Peter Erik Buss, Nikolaus Huber, Francois Petrus Viljoen, Dee Blackhurst, Leith Carl Rodney Meyer.
    A comparison of hematological, immunological and stress responses to capture and transport in wild white rhinoceros bulls (Ceratotherium simum simum) supplemented with azaperone or midazolam. 
    https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.569576
  36. Science Direct – ELSEVIER – Journal of Clinical Lipidology – 2020 
    Justine Cole, Diane Mary Blackhurst, Gabriele Anna Eva Solomon, Bharati Dhanluxmi Ratanjee, Ryan Benjamin, Adrian David Marais
    Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in hyperalphalipoproteinemia due to LIPG variants.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacl.2020.12.007
  37. ScienceDirect – ELSEVIER – Pharmacological Research - 2020
    Niki Katsiki, Dimitri P. Mikhailidis, Gani Bajraktari, Andre R. Miserez, Arrigo F.G. Cicero, Eric Bruckert, Maria-Corina Serban, Erkin Mirrakhimov, Fahad Alnouri, Željko Reiner, György Paragh, Amirhossein Sahebkar and Maciej Banach on behalf of the International Lipid Expert Panel (ILEP)#.
    Statin therapy in athletes and patients performing regular intense exercise – Position paper from the International Lipid Expert Panel (ILEP)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104719
  38. JAMA Cardiology - 2020
    Representatives of the Global Familial Hypercholesterolemia Community including David Marais
    Reducing the Clinical and Public Health Burden of Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A Global Call to Action.
    https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2019.5173.
  39. Archives of Medical Science - 2020
    Vincent A. Pallazola, Vasanth Sathiyakumar, Jihwan Park, Rachit M. Vakil, Peter P. Toth, Mariana Lazo-Elizondo, Emily Brown, Renato Quispe, Eliseo Guallar, Maciej Banach, Roger S. Blumenthal, Steven R. Jones, David Marais, Daniel Soffer, Allan D. Sniderman, Seth S. Martin
    Modern prevalence of dysbetalipoproteinemia (Fredrickson-Levy-Lees type III hyperlipoproteinemia)
    https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2019.86972
  40. Expert Opinion on Orphan Drugs - Volume 8 – Issue 6 - 2020
    A David Marais, Dirk J Blom & Frederick J Raal
    Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and its treatment by inclisiran
    https://doi.org/10.1080/21678707.2020.1784721
  41. ResearchGate - 2020
    Reinhardt Hesse; Dieter van der Westhuizen; Jaya A George
    COVID-19 Related Laboratory Analyte Changes and the Relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and HIV, TB and HbA1c in South Africa
    https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.20854.01600/2
  42. ScienceDirect – ELSEVIER – Results in Chemistry – 2020
    Bianca Southon; Gareth Riley; Puleng Matatiele; Boitumelo Kgarebe
    Simultaneous analysis of acetone, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and methyl
    isobutyl ketone (MIBK) in urine by headspace gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection (HS GC-FID)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rechem.2020.100084
  43. South African Journal of Child Health - 2020
    Christopher Bismarck Eke, FWACPaed, M Phil; Adrian David Marais, FCPaedSA; Ronalda J De Lacy, FCPaed; Amanda J Hooper, PHD; Bharati Dhanlumi Ratanjee, B Sc; Elizabeth A Goddard, PhD
    Abetalipoproteinaemia causing chronic diarrhoea in child- A case report