Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy for osteosarcoma: Recent advancements.

Recent advancements in the treatment of osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer, have seen significant progress with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Chemotherapy, the conventional approach, has witnessed refined drug regimens and novel agents tailored to enhance efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. This evolution aims to strike a balance between eradicating cancer cells and preserving patients' overall well-being.

Exploring the impact of early exposure and mentorship on the neurosurgery career aspirations of medical students in low- and middle-income countries.

Early exposure to neurosurgery has been shown to have a positive influence on students' perceptions and attitudes towards the field of neurosurgery. This review delves into the problems faced by the neurosurgery workforce in LMICs, highlighting the necessity for local and international collaborative strategies and plans to enhance the medical education curriculum, training, and retention of neurosurgeons in their home countries. Mentorship also emerges as a crucial factor in neurosurgical career progress, narrowing the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world practical skills, and providing guidelines in career pathways.

Innovative pharmacological approaches to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: The emerging role of Aficamten.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiac disorder characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which can lead to left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. Traditional treatments often provide limited symptom relief and may not adequately reduce the LVOT gradient. Myosin inhibitors, such as Aficamten , offer a new therapeutic approach by modulating myocardial contractility and improving symptoms.

Navigating Challenges and Embracing Opportunities: The Outlook of Functional Neurosurgery in Africa.

This narrative review explores the current landscape of functional neurosurgery in Africa, focusing on the challenges and opportunities facing the field. Drawing upon existing literature and expert insights, the review highlights the scarcity of resources, including trained personnel, infrastructure, and specialized equipment, as major hurdles impeding the widespread adoption of advanced neurosurgical techniques. Despite these challenges, the review identifies a growing recognition of the importance of functional neurosurgery in addressing neurological disorders prevalent across the continent.

A landscape review of malaria vaccine candidates in the pipeline.

Background: Globally, malaria continues to pose a major health challenge, with approximately 247 million cases of the illness and 627,000 deaths reported in 2021. However, the threat is particularly pronounced in sub-Saharan African countries, where pregnant women and children under the age of five face heightened vulnerability to the disease. As a result, the imperative to develop malaria vaccines especially for these vulnerable populations, remains crucial in the pursuit of malaria eradication.

Management of traumatic brain injury in Africa: challenges and opportunities.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health concern globally, with significant implications for morbidity, mortality, and long-term disability. While extensive research has been conducted on TBI management in high-income countries, limited attention has been given to the specific challenges and opportunities faced by healthcare systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This perspective study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of TBI management in SSA, focusing on the unique challenges and potential opportunities for improvement.

Sleep patterns and quality among Nigerian medical students: A cross-sectional study.

Adequate sleep is crucial for individuals' well-being and cognitive functioning. However, medical students face unique challenges that disrupt their sleep patterns, such as a rigorous curriculum, long study hours, and high-stress levels. Understanding the sleep patterns and quality among medical students in Nigeria is important to develop targeted interventions and support their overall well-being.

Exploring strategies for building a sustainable healthcare system in Africa: lessons from Japan and Switzerland.

Strengthening healthcare infrastructure is an important strategy for building a sustainable healthcare system in Africa. This involves investing in facilities, equipment, and supplies, as well as training and retaining skilled healthcare workers. Additionally, improving healthcare infrastructure and investing in healthcare education and training can lead to significant improvements in health outcomes, such as reducing maternal and child mortality.

Hydroxyurea for secondary stroke prevention in children with sickle cell anaemia: a systematic review of clinical evidence and outcomes.

Background: Stroke remains one of the leading complications of sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in children. Traditionally, SCA treatment focused on symptom relief. However, the high incidence of strokes in children has prompted a reevaluation of treatment, particularly hydroxyurea, for secondary stroke prevention.

Inclisiran siRNA technology in the management of dyslipidemia: A narrative review of clinical trials.

RNA interference therapies, particularly small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) like Inclisiran, have shown great potential in managing dyslipidemia, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Inclisiran targets pro-protein convertasesubtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) mRNA to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. This review evaluates Inclisiran's efficacy, safety, and clinical applications in managing dyslipidemia.

AE37 HER2-targeted vaccine in the prevention of breast cancer recurrence: A mini narrative review of current evidence.

Breast cancer remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. This review synthesizes findings from multiple studies investigating the safety profile and efficacy of the AE37 human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted vaccine, offering insights into its potential role in breast cancer immunotherapy. A systematic search of electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, was conducted to identify relevant articles published up to October 2023.

Exploring the efficacy of virtual reality-based rehabilitation in stroke: a narrative review of current evidence.

Background: Stroke rehabilitation presents a complex challenge, necessitating innovative approaches to optimise functional recovery. Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation (VRBR) has emerged as a promising intervention that capitalises on immersive technology to engage stroke survivors in their recovery journey. This review aims to examine the efficacy of VRBR in stroke rehabilitation, focusing on its advantages and challenges.

Revolutionizing stroke care in Africa: A mini review of the transformative potential of mobile stroke units.

Stroke is a major health concern worldwide, and its impact is particularly pronounced across Africa. This paper delves into the challenges faced in African stroke care and explores the significant potential benefits of mobile stroke units (MSUs) in mitigating these issues. Key challenges include the limited healthcare infrastructure, funding constraints, difficulties reaching remote and rural areas, and shortages of qualified healthcare professionals, especially neurologists and stroke specialists.

Unveiling the growing significance of metabolism in modulating immune cell function: exploring mechanisms and implications; a review.

Immunometabolism has emerged as a rapidly growing field of research, holding significant promise for personalised medicine and precision immunotherapy. This review explores the intricate relationship between immune function and metabolic processes, emphasising their profound impact on various immune-related disorders. Understanding how metabolic dysregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of these disorders remains a critical research gap.

Unveiling the potential of galectin-3 as a diagnostic biomarker for pancreatic cancer: a review.

Early detection of pancreatic cancer is crucial for improving patient outcomes, and identifying reliable biomarkers is a critical research area in this field. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a promising candidate for utilisation as a diagnostic biomarker in early-stage pancreatic cancer. This review aims to explore the potential of Gal-3 in pancreatic cancer diagnosis and its implications for precision medicine.

The impact of diabetes in cognitive impairment: A review of current evidence and prospects for future investigations.

Cognitive impairment in individuals with diabetes represents a multifaceted and increasingly prevalent health concern. This review critically examines the current evidence regarding the intricate relationship between diabetes and cognitive decline. It highlights the existing knowledge on the impact of diabetes on cognitive function, spanning from mild cognitive impairment to dementia, including vascular and Alzheimer dementia.

Navigating unique challenges and advancing equitable care for children with ADHD in Africa: a review.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that presents distinct challenges for African children due to a complex interplay of social, economic and cultural factors. This review examines the various obstacles faced by children with ADHD in Africa, focusing on the lack of awareness and stigma surrounding the disorder, limited access to mental health services, educational system constraints, economic limitations and cultural beliefs and practices. The review underscores the significance of public awareness campaigns and educational initiatives to dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding ADHD.

The landscape of neuroscience research in Africa: current state, progress, and challenges; a perspective.

The field of neuroscience research in Africa has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, contributing to understanding the brain and neurological disorders. This paper provides an overview of the current state of neuroscience research in Africa, highlighting the progress made, ongoing efforts, and the challenges researchers face. Despite limited resources and funding constraints, African scientists have made remarkable strides in various areas of neuroscience.

The promise of RNA-based therapeutics in revolutionizing heart failure management - a narrative review of current evidence.

This review elucidates the potential of RNA-based therapeutics to revolutionize heart failure (HF) management. Through a comprehensive analysis of relevant studies, this review reveals the promising prospects of these novel interventions in personalized treatment strategies, targeted modulation of specific molecular pathways, and the attainment of synergistic effects via combination therapies. Moreover, the regenerative capacity of RNA-based therapeutics for cardiac repair and the inherent advantages associated with noninvasive routes of administration are explored.