Descriptive Mappings of Global-Related Research Studies on Invertebrates in the Context of Agriculture.

Invertebrates form a vital component of agricultural ecosystems, and they are chief actors in sustaining the functions of the ecosystem and soil health. Scholarly publications that concentrated on visualizing the research outputs and trends on invertebrates and agriculture are scarce. In this paper, we adopted a bibliometric model to extract trends/research studies on invertebrates and agriculture between 1991 and 2022, using scholarly studies retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) databank.

Epidemiology of in Sheep and Goats in the Tropics: A Systematic Review.

Sheep and goat influence the socioeconomic sustainability of rural communities in tropical countries, but parasitic diseases and in particular are responsible for their low productivity. The occurrence of in most affected regions of the world has been associated to the presence of stray dogs in the grazing area, which play vital roles in the life cycle of the parasite and poor disposal of contaminated and seized offal, organs, and carcasses. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the epidemiology of infection in sheep and goats in the tropics between 2010 and 2022 through the analysis of published qualitative and quantitative data on prevalence, risk factors, organ distribution, and interventions.

and markers of resistance to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine five years (2016-2020) after the implementation of seasonal malaria chemoprevention in Cameroon.

Background: Antimalarial drug resistance is a major challenge in the fight against malaria. Cameroon implemented seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine (SPAQ) to over 1.5 million children aged 3-59 months from 2016, raising concerns whether drug pressure may lead to a selection of known parasite resistance mutations.

Clinical and Genetic Profiles of 5q- and Non-5q-Spinal Muscular Atrophy Diseases in Pediatric Patients.

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disease characterized by loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and lower brainstem. The term "SMA" usually refers to the most common form, 5q-SMA, which is caused by biallelic mutations in (located on chromosome 5q13). However, long before the discovery of , it was known that other forms of SMA existed.

Differential metabolic secretion between muscular dystrophy mouse-derived spindle cell sarcomas and rhabdomyosarcomas drives tumor type development.

The dystrophin gene () is recognized for its significance in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a lethal and progressive skeletal muscle disease. Some patients with DMD and model mice with muscular dystrophy (mdx) spontaneously develop various types of tumors, among which rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most prominent. By contrast, spindle cell sarcoma (SCS) has rarely been reported in patients or mdx mice.

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in clinical settings in Douala, Cameroon.

Background: The asymptomatic nature of COVID-19 coupled with differential testing are confounders in the assessment of SARS-CoV-2 incidence among people living with HIV (PLWH). As various comorbidities increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, it is crucial to assess the potential contribution of HIV to the risk of acquiring COVID-19. Our study aimed to compare the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence among people living with and without HIV.

Relationship between measures of adiposity and hypertension amongst secondary school adolescents in an urban setting in Cameroon.

Introduction: measures of obesity such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) have been shown to be associated with high blood pressure (BP) in children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of secondary school adolescents with elevated BP and high BP in relation to some measures of adiposity (BMI, WC, WHtR) and to examine the association between BP and adiposity indices amongst the children.

Methods: the study was an institutional-based cross-sectional study involving 534 adolescents (mean age 15.

A scoping review establishes need for consensus guidance on reporting health equity in observational studies.

Objectives: To evaluate the support from the available guidance on reporting of health equity in research for our candidate items and to identify additional items for the Strengthening Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology-Equity extension.

Study Design And Setting: We conducted a scoping review by searching Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Methodology Register, LILACS, and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information up to January 2022. We also searched reference lists and gray literature for additional resources.

Evolution of Plasmodium falciparum antimalarial drug resistance markers post-adoption of artemisinin-based combination therapies in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the evolution of Plasmodium falciparum antimalarial drug resistance markers by comparing the pre- and post-adoption of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Methods: The molecular characterization of known antimalarial drug resistance markers (Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, and Pfk13) in P. falciparum-positive samples collected in 2014 and 2019-2020 was achieved using nested polymerase chain reaction, followed by targeted amplicon deep sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform.

Improving social justice in observational studies: protocol for the development of a global and Indigenous STROBE-equity reporting guideline.

Background: Addressing persistent and pervasive health inequities is a global moral imperative, which has been highlighted and magnified by the societal and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Observational studies can aid our understanding of the impact of health and structural oppression based on the intersection of gender, race, ethnicity, age and other factors, as they frequently collect this data. However, the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guideline, does not provide guidance related to reporting of health equity.

Correction: Noguchi et al. PCR-Based Screening of Spinal Muscular Atrophy for Newborn Infants in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. 2022, , 2110.

The authors wish to make the following correction to this paper [...

Conflict, healthcare and professional perseverance: A qualitative study in a remote hospital in an Anglophone Region of Cameroon.

Armed conflicts are a major contributor to global disease burden owing to their deleterious effects on health and healthcare delivery. The Anglophone crisis in Cameroon is one of the ongoing conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa and has led to massive displacement of healthcare workers (HCWs). However, some HCWs have stayed back and continued working.

Population structure and evolutionary history of the greater cane rat () from the Guinean Forests of West Africa.

Grasscutter () is a large-body old world rodent found in sub-Saharan Africa. The body size and the unique taste of the meat of this major crop pest have made it a target of intense hunting and a potential consideration as a micro-livestock. However, there is insufficient knowledge on the genetic diversity of its populations across African Guinean forests.

PCR-Based Screening of Spinal Muscular Atrophy for Newborn Infants in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common devastating neuromuscular disorder, usually involving homozygous deletion of the gene. Newly developed drugs can improve the motor functions of infants with SMA when treated in the early stage. To ensure early diagnosis, newborn screening for SMA (SMA-NBS) via PCR-based genetic testing with dried blood spots (DBSs) has been spreading throughout Japan.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic across Africa: Current Status of Vaccinations and Implications for the Future.

The introduction of effective vaccines in December 2020 marked a significant step forward in the global response to COVID-19. Given concerns with access, acceptability, and hesitancy across Africa, there is a need to describe the current status of vaccine uptake in the continent. An exploratory study was undertaken to investigate these aspects, current challenges, and lessons learnt across Africa to provide future direction.

Prevalence and factors associated with post-partum depression in a rural area of Cameroon: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: post-partum depression is one of the many challenges associated with childbirth. In Cameroon, the focus is more on post-partum obstetric complications resulting in underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis of this condition. The current socio-political crisis plaguing the English-speaking part of Cameroon has increased the stressors that may inherently increase the prevalence.

Prevalence of Occupational Exposure to HIV and Factors Associated with Compliance with Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Health Workers of the Biyem-Assi, Buea, and Limbe Health Districts of Cameroon Maternal and Child Health and AIDS.

Background: Although a few studies have assessed occupational exposure and knowledge on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV among health care workers (HCWs), limited information is available on the factors that influence the use of HIV PEP among HCWs after occupational exposure in Cameroon. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of occupational exposure to HIV infection and identify factors (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) that influence compliance to the use of HIV PEP among HCWs in the Biyem-Assi, Buea, and Limbe health districts.

Methods: A stratified cross-sectional study was carried out among health care workers from the Biyem-Assi, Buea, and Limbe health districts of Cameroon.

Tackling antimicrobial resistance across sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and implications for the future.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a concern as this increases morbidity, mortality, and costs, with sub-Saharan Africa having the highest rates globally. Concerns with rising AMR have resulted in international, Pan-African, and country activities including the development of national action plans (NAPs). However, there is variable implementation across Africa with key challenges persisting.

Trends in Pediatric Hospitalizations and Mortality during the COVID-19 Pandemic in an Urban Setting in Cameroon.

Background: The first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Cameroon was recorded in March 2020. In response to the pandemic, most countries like Cameroon instituted a number of control measures to curb its spread accross the country. These COVID-19 control measures added to the fear of this disease within the population may have led to other detrimental health effects like: the pattern of hospitalizations and hospital outcomes.

Stability and Oligomerization of Mutated SMN Protein Determine Clinical Severity of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common autosomal recessive neuromuscular disease characterized by defects of lower motor neurons. Approximately 95% of SMA patients are homozygous for () gene deletion, while ~5% carry an intragenic mutation. Here, we investigated the stability and oligomerization ability of mutated SMN1 proteins.

Effectiveness and safety of artesunate-amodiaquine versus artemether-lumefantrine for home-based treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria among children 6-120 months in Yaoundé, Cameroon: a randomized trial.

Background: Many studies have reported high efficacy and safety of artesunate-amodiaquine (AS-AQ) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) when administered under direct observation in Cameroon. There is paucity of data to support their continuous use in home-based treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Cameroon. Hence, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of AS-AQ versus AL for home-based treatment of uncomplicated P.