Biomarkers.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline. APOE-ε4 has been identified as the most prevalent genetic risk factor for the early onset of AD, while ABCA7-80 (rs115550680) has been shown to have a stronger effect size than the APOE-ε4 allele and is associated with the development of late-onset of AD among African Americans. Although the efficiency of executive functions declines with age, some basic attentional functions and preserved knowledge may help mitigate the effects of aging on working memory.

Developing Topics.

Background: The medial temporal lobe (MTL) is the earliest region to display atrophy in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Apolipoprotein E (APOE-ε4) and ABCA7-80 (rs115550680), two genes involved in lipid metabolism, are the strongest heritable contributors to AD in African Americans. However, the longitudinal influence of these genes on MTL dynamic network flexibility, a novel neuroimaging marker of preclinical AD, is unknown.

Antifungal Resistance Profile, Biofilm Formation, and Virulence Factor Production in Candida krusei Isolates From HIV-Infected Patients in Cameroon.

Background Fungal infections mainly caused by are increasing rapidly and represent a serious public health problem in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal susceptibility profile and virulence factors in isolated from HIV-infected patients. Methodology Isolates were identified by biochemical and molecular methods.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of isolates from Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2019 to 2020.

This study investigated antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotypes and genotypes exhibited by from Yaoundé, Cameroon. AMR to tetracycline, penicillin and ciprofloxacin was observed although none of the isolates had reduced susceptibility to azithromycin, cefixime or ceftriaxone. Whole genome sequence (WGS) data were obtained and, using a threshold of 300 or fewer locus differences in the core gene multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) scheme, four distinct core genome lineages were identified.

Association between early viral lower respiratory tract infections and subsequent asthma development.

Background: The association between hospitalization for human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) bronchiolitis in early childhood and subsequent asthma is well established. The long-term prognosis for non-bronchiolitis lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) caused by viruses different from HRSV and rhinovirus, on the other hand, has received less interest.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between infant LRTI and later asthma and examine the influence of confounding factors.

Hepatitis E Virus in Water Environments: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for acute hepatitis in humans, through foodborne, zoonotic, and waterborne transmission routes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of HEV in water matrices. Six categories were defined: untreated and treated wastewater, surface water (river, lake, and seawater), drinking water, groundwater, and other water environments (irrigation water, grey water, reservoir water, flood water, and effluent of pig slaughterhouse).

Global epidemiology of occult hepatitis B virus infections in blood donors, a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to assess the global prevalence of occult hepatitis B in blood donors. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Global Index Medicus, and Excerpta Medica Database. Study selection and data extraction were performed by at least two independent investigators.

Global prevalence of occult hepatitis C virus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Occult hepatitis C infection (OCI) is characterized by the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in the liver, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and/or ultracentrifuged serum in the absence of detectable HCV-RNA in serum. OCI has been described in several categories of populations including hemodialysis patients, patients with a sustained virological response, immunocompromised individuals, patients with abnormal hepatic function, and apparently healthy subjects.

Aim: To highlight the global prevalence of OCI.

COVID-19 and myocarditis: a review of literature.

Myocarditis has been discovered to be a significant complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a condition caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. COVID-19 myocarditis seems to have distinct inflammatory characteristics, which make it unique to other viral etiologies. The incidence of COVID-19 myocarditis is still not clear as a wide range of figures have been quoted in the literature; however, it seems that the risk of developing myocarditis increases with more severe infection.

Global prevalence and case fatality rate of Enterovirus D68 infections, a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A substantial amount of epidemiological data has been reported on Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infections after the 2014 outbreak. Our goal was to map the case fatality rate (CFR) and prevalence of current and past EV-D68 infections. We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO, CRD42021229255) with published articles on EV-68 infections in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Global Index Medicus up to January 2021.

Prevalence of alcohol among drivers, riders and pedestrians injured in road traffic crashes in Cameroon: a cross-sectional study.

The use of alcohol among road users injured in road traffic crashes and admitted to three major hospitals in Cameroon was studied. Alcohol use was measured using breathalyzers, and data on age, gender, education level, religion, type of road user, time of the crash, crash characteristics, and injury severity were recorded using a questionnaire. Of the 350 participants, 30.

Measuring the accuracy of gridded human population density surfaces: A case study in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea.

Background: Geospatial datasets of population are becoming more common in models used for health policy. Publicly-available maps of human population make a consistent picture from inconsistent census data, and the techniques they use to impute data makes each population map unique. Each mapping model explains its methods, but it can be difficult to know which map is appropriate for which policy work.

Roadside surveys of drinking and driving in Cameroon.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of drinking and driving on roadways in urban areas and highways in Cameroon, and to determine the associations between drinking and driving and socio-demographic factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of motor vehicle drivers was performed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between May and September 2020 with three driver groups: (1) random motor vehicle drivers (including riders) on major highways, (2) drivers recruited at car stations in Yaoundé, and (3) at fuel stations in Douala. Alcohol was measured using breathalyzers, and a questionnaire collected socio-demographic data.

Knowledge, attitudes, practices of/towards COVID 19 preventive measures and symptoms: A cross-sectional study during the exponential rise of the outbreak in Cameroon.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (COVID 19) has plagued the world with about 7,8 million confirmed cases and over 430,000 deaths as of June 13th, 2020. The knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) people hold towards this new disease could play a major role in the way they accept measures put in place to curb its spread and their willingness to seek and adhere to care. We sought to understand if: a) demographic variables of Cameroonian residents could influence KAP and symptomatology, and b) KAP could influence the risk of having COVID19.

Persistence at the final stage of volcanic island ontogeny: Abiotic predictors explain native plant species richness on 111 remote Pacific atolls.

Aim: The final island ontogeny of the general dynamic model (GDM) (i.e., before island submergence) in tropical oceans corresponds to the coral atoll stage.

Pathology of lymph node tuberculosis in Yaounde: diagnostic agreement based on the Kappa coefficient.

Introduction: Lymph node tuberculosis remains widespread in Cameroon. Our goal was to compare the diagnostic agreement between the hematein-eosin coloration technique and the Ziehl-Neelsen technique.

Methods: This study is a retrospective and comparative study realized in the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital over a period of 5 years.

Prevalence of Inherited Hemoglobin Disorders and Relationships with Anemia and Micronutrient Status among Children in Yaoundé and Douala, Cameroon.

Information on the etiology of anemia is necessary to design effective anemia control programs. Our objective was to measure the prevalence of inherited hemoglobin disorders (IHD) in a representative sample of children in urban Cameroon, and examine the relationships between IHD and anemia. In a cluster survey of children 12-59 months of age ( = 291) in Yaoundé and Douala, we assessed hemoglobin (Hb), malaria infection, and plasma indicators of inflammation and micronutrient status.

Epidemiological and histopathological patterns of salivary gland tumors in Cameroon.

Introduction: Tumors of salivary glands are rare. According to Johns and Goldsmith in 1989, their annual incidence is less than 1/100000 without noteworthy geographical gap. But other authors suggest that their distribution may vary according to the race and geographical location.

The diagnosis of uterine cervical polyps in a low resource setting: the positive predictive value of clinical judgment--a series of 192 cases at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital, Cameroon.

As far as we know, the accuracy of clinical judgment in diagnosing uterine cervical polyps has not been assessed in sub-Saharan Africa. Our objective was to discover the positive predictive value (PPV) of clinical judgment in the diagnosis of cervical polyps. This is a retrospective descriptive study of 192 patients, carried out by the Departments of Pathology and Gynaecology of the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital, Cameroon.

Breastfeeding practices of Cameroonian mothers determined by dietary recall since birth and the dose-to-the-mother deuterium-oxide turnover technique.

Exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of infant's life is a public health recommendation and important factor for the promotion of optimal growth, health and behavioural development of each child. The accuracy of the mothers' self-reported past infant-feeding events was examined and compared with the isotopic dilution technique. Breastfeeding practices were assessed in a sample of 44 Cameroonian mother-infant pairs using dietary recall since birth.

Measure of viral load by using the Abbott Real-Time HIV-1 assay on dried blood and plasma spot specimens collected in 2 rural dispensaries in Cameroon.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the use of dried blood spots (DBSs) and dried plasma spots (DPSs) locally collected in 2 rural dispensaries in Cameroon for the quantification of HIV-1 RNA.

Methods: Forty-one subjects were sampled and spots of whole blood and plasma were deposited onto Whatman 903 cards and dried at ambient temperature under local conditions. Two sets of DBS and DPS cards were done per patient.