Women Anesthesiologists in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Pre-COVID Era: A Multinational Demographic Study.

Background: Gender imbalance and poor representation of women complicate the anesthesiology workforce crisis in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study was performed to obtain a better understanding of gender disparity among medical graduates and anesthesiologists in SSA.

Methods: Using a quantitative, participatory, insider research study, led by female anesthesiologists as the national coordinators in SSA, we collected data from academic or national health authorities and agencies.

Toxoplasma membrane inositol phospholipid binding protein TgREMIND is essential for secretory organelle function and host infection.

Apicomplexan parasites possess specialized secretory organelles called rhoptries, micronemes, and dense granules that play a vital role in host infection. In this study, we demonstrate that TgREMIND, a protein found in Toxoplasma gondii, is necessary for the biogenesis of rhoptries and dense granules. TgREMIND contains a Fes-CIP4 homology-Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (F-BAR) domain, which binds to membrane phospholipids, as well as a novel uncharacterized domain that we have named REMIND (regulator of membrane-interacting domain).

An image-based high-content screening for compounds targeting repurposed inhibitors effective against the malaria parasite .

phylum includes numerous obligate intracellular protozoan parasites that are life threatening for humans and animals. In this context, and are of particular interest, as they are responsible for malaria and toxoplasmosis, respectively, for which efficient vaccines are presently lacking and therapies need to be improved. Apicomplexan parasites have a highly polarized morphology, with their apical end containing specific secretory organelles named rhoptries and micronemes, which depend on the unique receptor and transporter sortilin TgSORT for their biogenesis.

The luminal domain of sortilin adopts a ring-shaped structure exhibiting motifs specific to apicomplexan parasites.

Rhoptries and micronemes are essential for host cell invasion and survival of all apicomplexan parasites, which are composed of numerous obligate intracellular protozoan pathogens including (malaria) and (toxoplasmosis) that infect humans and animals causing severe diseases. We identified SORT as an essential cargo receptor, which drives the transport of rhoptry (ROP) and microneme (MIC) proteins to ensure the biogenesis of these secretory organelles. The luminal domain of 752 amino acid long situated at the N-terminus end of TgSORT has been described to bind to MIC and ROP proteins.

Risk of obstructive sleep apnea and quality of sleep among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a sub-Saharan Africa city.

Introduction: diabetes mellitus (DM) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are two major and interconnected non-communicable diseases. Both negatively impact on sleep quality. This study aimed to determine among persons with type 2 DM, the proportions at high risk of OSA and of self-reported poor sleep quality along with their associated-factors in Parakou city, Benin.

The Management of Primary Hyperaldosteronism in a Poor Technology Environment.

We report a case of Conn's adenoma in a 35-year-old female successfully managed in a poor hospital technology environment.

Comparison of motorcycle taxi driver's respiratory health using an air quality standard for carbon monoxide in ambient air: a pilot survey in Benin.

Introduction: Ambient air quality standards are not designed to protect people occupationally exposed to outdoor air pollution on a routine basis. This study aimed to assess the effect of exceeding the US ambient air quality standard for carbon monoxide (CO) on motorcycle taxi drivers respiratory health.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 85 current motorcycle taxi drivers with at least 5 years of job tenure in Cotonou (Benin) was conducted.

Low-dose combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia for caesarean section in a patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome.

A 34-year-old woman (G3,P0) with Eisenmenger's syndrome and positive HIV serology presented to hospital at 16 weeks of pregnancy. She was hospitalised at 20 weeks under the care of a multidisciplinary team. At 33 weeks caesarean section was performed under low-dose combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia using a needle-through-needle technique.

When to start supplementary iron to prevent iron deficiency in early childhood in sub-Saharan Africa setting.

Background: To study the efficacy of oral ferrous fumarate, an inexpensive, readily available preparation on iron deficiency in infants in Africa.

Procedure: Four months old (group 1, n = 252) and 6-18 months old (group 2, n = 360) healthy infants attending four primary health care centers (PHC) for vaccination/well-child visits in Benin were studied. Ninety-six pregnant women (PW) over 36 weeks gestational age attending the same PHC during the study period were also studied.