Could Nodding Syndrome (NS) in Northern Uganda be an environmentally induced alteration of ancestral microbiota?

Hippocrates stated in 460-C.370 BC that, "All diseases begin in the Gut." This statement may be beginning to have meanings in the advent of new diseases such as Nodding Syndrome (NS) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Could nodding syndrome in Northern Uganda be a form of autism spectrum disorder? an observational study design.

Introduction: Nodding syndrome (NS) is associated with high anion gap, biotinidase and acetyl carnitine deficiency, vitamin B6 and D deficiency and internal displacement. The objective of this study was to conduct a metabolic analysis on NS children and review literature on its similarities with ASD.

Methods: We conducted biochemical analysis on blood and urine of NS children at Hope for HumaNs (HfH) centre in 2014 and reviewed literature on its similarities with ASD.

Community-based training of medical students is associated with malaria prevention and treatment seeking behaviour for children under 5 years in Uganda: a study of MESAU-MEPI COBERS in Uganda.

Background: Four university medical training institutions in Uganda have trained students at off-site health facilities under community-based education and Research Service (COBERS) programme for over 5 years. One of the major components of COBERS placement is for the students to provide health education in the communities about malaria as a major public health disease in Uganda. This study seeks to assess if targeted community-based medical education programme is associated with better prevention and treatment seeking behaviours in the management of malaria, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality of children under five in Uganda.

Identification of human African Trypanosomiasis foci using school-going children in post-conflict era in Nwoya District, Northern Uganda: A cross-sectional study.

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is fatal if untreated; the drugs to treat it are toxic making its management difficult and diagnosis complex. Nwoya district has a long history of sleeping-sickness dating back to pre-colonial times. The civil war of 1986-2008 displaced many who upon return complained of cattle and dogs dying of unknown causes alongside increased tsetse flies infestation hence, the needs for the study.

Nodding syndrome (NS) and () in Northern Uganda.

Nodding Syndrome (NS) is a childhood neurological disorder characterized by atonic seizures, cognitive decline, school dropout, muscle weakness, thermal dysfunction, wasting and stunted growth. There are recent published information suggesting associations between Nodding Syndrome (NS) with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) VGKC antibodies and serum leiomidin-1 antibody cross reacting with (). These findings suggest a neuro-inflammatory cause of NS and they are important findings in the search for the cause of Nodding Syndrome.

Reduced plasma concentrations of vitamin B6 and increased plasma concentrations of the neurotoxin 3-hydroxykynurenine are associated with nodding syndrome: a case control study in Gulu and Amuru districts, Northern Uganda.

Introduction: Nodding syndrome was first reported in Uganda in 2003 among internally displaced populations. Risk factors for the syndrome remain unknown. We therefore explored vitamin B6 deficiency and resulting high 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) levels as risk factor for nodding syndrome in Northern Uganda.