Climate-influenced vector-borne diseases in Africa: a call to empower the next generation of African researchers for sustainable solutions.

We look at the link between climate change and vector-borne diseases in low- and middle-income countries in Africa. The large endemicity and escalating threat of diseases such as malaria and arboviral diseases, intensified by climate change, disproportionately affects vulnerable communities globally. We highlight the urgency of prioritizing research and development, advocating for robust scientific inquiry to promote adaptation strategies, and the vital role that the next generation of African research leaders will play in addressing these challenges.

Where is the 'C' in antenatal care and postnatal care: A multi-country survey of availability of antenatal and postnatal care in low- and middle-income settings.

Objective: Antenatal (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) are logical entry points for prevention and treatment of pregnancy-related illness and to reduce perinatal mortality. We developed signal functions and assessed availability of the essential components of care.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Anatomical variants of the celiac trunk.

Aim Of The Study: Determine the anatomical variants of the celiac trunk and describe it in its modal form using a scanner.

Patients: In total, 200 patients were included in this study.

Material And Methods: The study was carried out using a multi-detector scanner (SIEMENS Somatom Emotion Excel Edition, 16 bars).

Initial Plant Vigor and Short Rotation Coppices Improve Vegetable Production in Sweet (Lamiaceae).

is a major but threatened economic plant collected as a leafy vegetable and fruit in West Africa. How the species withstands coppicing as an agricultural management practice was investigated in this research. Three seedling vigor classes (10-25 mm, 25-30 mm, 30-40 mm) and two coppicing heights (20 and 40 cm) were compared to controls in eight replicates using a randomized complete block design.

Multiple variations of collateral branches of the abdominal aorta associated with pyelic duplication: A case report.

Purpose: We describe a rare case of anatomical variation of the collaterals of the abdominal aorta associated with a duplication of the pyelic.

Material And Method: A 51-year-old patient in whom an abdominal CT scan was performed as part of the exploration of a cystic left renal mass objectified on ultrasound.

Results: A celiomesenteric trunk with two left renal arteries and a duplication of the left pyelon were found.

Cellular gene expression induced by parasite antigens and allergens in neonates from parasite-infected mothers.

Prenatal exposure to parasite antigens or allergens will influence the profile and strength of postnatal immune responses, such contact may tolerize and increase susceptibility to future infections or sensitize to environmental allergens. Exposure in utero to parasite antigens will distinctly alter cellular gene expression in newborns. Gene microarrays were applied to study gene expression in umbilical cord blood cell (UCBC) from parasite-exposed (Para-POS) and non-exposed (Para-NEG) neonates.

Cytokine and chemokine responses to helminth and protozoan parasites and to fungus and mite allergens in neonates, children, adults, and the elderly.

Background: In rural sub-Saharan Africa, endemic populations are often infected concurrently with several intestinal and intravascular helminth and protozoan parasites. A specific, balanced and, to an extent, protective immunity will develop over time in response to repeated parasite encounters, with immune responses initially being poorly adapted and non-protective. The cellular production of pro-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines and chemokines in response to helminth, protozoan antigens and ubiquitous allergens were studied in neonates, children, adults and the elderly.

[Study of the prevalence of neonatal thyroid disturbances in Benin].

Objective: Observing the concentrations of free thyroxine (FT4) and thyrotropin (TSH), in infants born in Cotonou, Benin to establish the profile of neonatal thyroid disturbance.

Design And Subjects: The detection of thyroid immune status was done by measuring the antibodies to thyroglobulin (Tg Ab Anti) and Antibody and Anti Thyroperoxidase (Anti TPO Ab) ratio. Blood was collected from 177 neonates aged 0 to 7 days.

Cytokine and chemokine responses in adults, newborns and children exposed to Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Onchocerca volvulus and Plasmodium falciparum.

Cytokine and chemokine response profiles were studied in newborns, 10-yr-old children and post partum mothers. All study groups were repeatedly exposed to Entamoeba histolytica, Onchocerca volvulus and Plasmodium falciparum infections as indicated by their Immunoglobulin (IgG) responses to parasite-specific antigens. As key indicators for regulatory and pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine responses, Interferon (IFN)gamma and regulatory IL-10 were investigated, along with the chemokines MIP-1 alpha/CCL3, MIP-1 beta/CCL4, MDC/CCL22 and TARC/CCL17.

Applied field research for comprehensive helminth infection control.

The Institute for Tropical Medicine at University of Tübingen has established 30 years ago in Togo a Research Centre and Onchocerciasis Reference Laboratory (ORL). Onchocerca volvulus infection control and of other neglected tropical diseases has been the focus of activities, and those were performed together with the National Institute of Hygiene in Togo, the Medical Faculty at University of Lomé, national disease control programs and district and regional hospitals. The ORL contributed significantly to the assessment of ivermectin as the prime choice for onchocerciasis treatment, and 24 years of repeated annual treatment with ivermectin has progressively reduced disease prevalence and notably the level of ocular and dermal manifestations of onchocerciasis in the endemic population.

Coinfections with Schistosoma haematobium, Necator americanus, and Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar in children: chemokine and cytokine responses and changes after antiparasite treatment.

The effect of polyparasite infections on cytokine and chemokine responses as well as the effect of antiparasite treatment was studied in children without parasite infection (the G0 group), in children singly infected with Schistosoma haematobium (the G1 group), and in children multiply infected with S. haematobium/Schistosoma mansoni, Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar, and Necator americanus (the G3+ group). Linear regression analysis disclosed a significant risk for coinfection with hookworm and Schistosoma species.

Onchocerca volvulus-specific antibody and cytokine responses in onchocerciasis patients after 16 years of repeated ivermectin therapy.

The recommended control option against onchocerciasis is repeated ivermectin treatment, which will need to be implemented for decades, and it remains unknown how repeated ivermectin therapy might affect immunity against Onchocerca volvulus in the long term. O. volvulus-specific antibody reactivity and cellular cytokine production were investigated in onchocerciasis patients receiving ivermectin (150 microg/kg) annually for 16 years.

Parasite-specific antibody and cytokine profiles in newborns from Plasmodium falciparum and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar-infected mothers.

Passage of parasites and their antigens across the placenta occurs with metazoan as well as protozoan parasites, and this study addressed to which extent exposure to and infection of mothers with Plasmodium spp. and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar has sensitized their offspring for parasite-specific immune responses. While at delivery none of the mothers presented with an acute malaria attack, 42% were seropositive for P.