Hysterosalpingographic, ultrasonographic and clinical profile of infertile women in Butembo, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Introduction: infertility is a reproductive health issue in modern society. In developing countries, ultrasonography and hysterosalpingography (HSG) are first-line exams investigating infertility in women. It is a highly reported issue in Africa and is linked to abnormalities diagnosed by medical imagery investigations.

Oral amoxicillin plus gentamicin regimens may be superior to the procaine-penicillin plus gentamicin regimens for treatment of young infants with possible serious bacterial infection when referral is not feasible: Pooled analysis from three trials in Africa and Asia.

Background: Hospital referral and admission in many- low and middle-income countries are not feasible for many young infants with sepsis/possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI). The effectiveness of simplified antibiotic regimens when referral to a hospital was not feasible has been shown before. We analysed the pooled data from the previous trials to compare the risk of poor clinical outcome for young infants with PSBI with the two regimens containing injectable procaine penicillin and gentamicin with the oral amoxicillin plus gentamicin regimen currently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) when referral is not feasible.

Health facilities' readiness for safe surgical care provision in Uganda and the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo during Ebola and COVID-19 era.

Objective: This study aimed to assess health facilities' readiness to provide safe surgical care during Ebola and COVID-19 era in Uganda and in the Eastern DR Congo.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in selected national, regional referral and general hospital facilities in Uganda and in the eastern part of DR Congo from 1st August 2020 to 30th October 2020. Data was analysed using Stata version 15.

Clinical signs of possible serious infection and associated mortality among young infants presenting at first-level health facilities.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends inpatient hospital treatment of young infants up to two months old with any sign of possible serious infection. However, each sign may have a different risk of death. The current study aims to calculate the case fatality ratio for infants with individual or combined signs of possible serious infection, stratified by inpatient or outpatient treatment.

Costs and cost-effectiveness of management of possible serious bacterial infections in young infants in outpatient settings when referral to a hospital was not possible: Results from randomized trials in Africa.

Introduction: Serious bacterial neonatal infections are a major cause of global neonatal mortality. While hospitalized treatment is recommended, families cannot access inpatient treatment in low resource settings. Two parallel randomized control trials were conducted at five sites in three countries (Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Nigeria) to compare the effectiveness of treatment with experimental regimens requiring fewer injections with a reference regimen A (injection gentamicin plus injection procaine penicillin both once daily for 7 days) on the outpatient basis provided to young infants (0-59 days) with signs of possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI) when the referral was not feasible.

Prevalence of clinical signs of possible serious bacterial infection and mortality associated with them from population-based surveillance of young infants from birth to 2 months of age.

Background: Community-based data on the prevalence of clinical signs of possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI) and the mortality associated with them are scarce. The aim was to examine the prevalence for each sign of infection and mortality associated with infants in the first two months of life, using community surveillance through community health workers (CHW).

Methods: We used population-based surveillance data of infants up to two months of age from the African Neonatal Sepsis Trial (AFRINEST).

Feasibility Study of a Smartphone Application for Detecting Skin Cancers in People With Albinism.

Purpose: Albinism affects some facets of the eye's function and coloration, as well as hair and skin color. The prevalence of albinism is estimated to be one in 2,000-5,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa and one in 270 in Tanzania. People in Tanzania with albinism experience sociocultural and economic disparities.

Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Therapeutic Approaches of Cryptorchidism at the Panzi General Hospital, DR Congo: A 5-year Retrospective Study.

Background: Cryptorchidism is a common congenital malformation characterized by unilateral or bilateral undescended testis in the scrotum. It is a common disease in pediatric urology although the prevalence is yet to be determined in the East DR Congo. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence, clinical and therapeutic features of cryptorchidism at the Panzi General Hospital.

Attitudes and Barriers to Research Among Oncology Trainees in East Africa.

Background: East Africa is one of the fastest growing regions in the world and faces a rising burden of cancer; however, few people are equipped to effectively conduct research in this area.

Materials And Methods: A 31-item questionnaire was distributed to current trainees and recent graduates of the Master in Medicine in Clinical Oncology Program at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania. Areas that were assessed included (a) demographic information, (b) prior research training, (c) prior and current research activities, (d) attitudes toward the importance of research, and (e) supports and barriers to inclusion of research in an oncology career path.

Oncology Training in Rwanda: Challenges and Opportunities for Undergraduate Medical Students (The EDUCAN Project).

A critical shortage of trained cancer specialists is one of the major challenges in addressing the increasing cancer burden in low- and middle-income countries. Inadequate undergraduate cancer education in oncology remains a major obstacle for both task shifting to general practitioners and for training of specialists. We provide the first report of cancer education in Rwanda's undergraduate program to survey how new graduates are prepared to provide care for cancer patients.

Scientific rationale for study design of community-based simplified antibiotic therapy trials in newborns and young infants with clinically diagnosed severe infections or fast breathing in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Newborns and young infants suffer high rates of infections in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Timely access to appropriate antibiotic therapy is essential for reducing mortality. In an effort to develop community case management guidelines for young infants, 0-59 days old, with clinically diagnosed severe infections, or with fast breathing, 4 trials of simplified antibiotic therapy delivered in primary care clinics (Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Nigeria) or at home (Bangladesh and Nigeria) are being conducted.

[The epidemiological approach of clefts lip and palate in the eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo].

Objective: This study aims to present the epidemiological profile of clefts lip/palate observed in the eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from January 2002 to May 2004, period of civil wars.

Method: It is a retrospective study realized at Doctors on Call for service Learning Center (DOCS LC) in Goma/DRC concerning 89 cases of cleft lip/palate operated during the same period. The data processing was facilitated by the software package SPSS 17.

Career intentions of medical students trained in six sub-Saharan African countries.

Introduction: Sub-Saharan Africa(SSA) is the world region worst affected by physician migration. Identifying reasons why medical students wish to stay or leave Africa could assist in developing strategies which favour retention of these graduates. This study investigated the career intentions of graduating students attending medical schools in SSA to identify interventions which may improve retention of African physicians in their country of training or origin.

Medical schools in rural areas--necessity or aberration?

Introduction: There is major maldistribution of physicians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). While 70% of Congolese live in rural areas, relatively few doctors practice there. Of the 25 medical schools in the DRC (14 public and 11 private) only one private medical school is located in a rural area.

Fistula and traumatic genital injury from sexual violence in a conflict setting in Eastern Congo: case studies.

The Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently undergoing a brutal war. Armed groups from the DRC and neighbouring countries are committing atrocities and systematically using sexual violence as a weapon of war to humiliate, intimidate and dominate women, girls, their men and communities. Armed combatants take advantage with impunity, knowing they will not be held to account or pursued by police or judicial authorities.

Research on medical migration from sub-Saharan medical schools: usefulness of a feasibility process to define barriers to data collection and develop a practical study.

Context: The maldistribution of physicians in sub-Saharan Africa is having serious impacts on population health. Understanding the effect requires investigation from both donor and recipient countries. However, investigation from the perspective of donor countries has been lacking.

Obstetric uterine ruptures in a rural area in Zaïre.

Uterine ruptures with their deplorable sequelae constitute a major obstetrical problem in the rural areas of Africa. The maternal and perinatal mortality remain high as a result, mainly due to the lack of early and adequate care for these patients. Grande-multiparity is one of the major predisposing factors.

Penile cancer in rural Zaïre.

Penile cancer is a malignant tumour which we rarely encounter in rural Zaïre because circumcision is practised in several tribes at early age. We describe in 5 patients, penile cancer all from the same ethnic group (Hema, Nilotic ethnic group) living both in Zaïre and Uganda. In this tribe circumcision is not a routine surgical act.

Selenium deficiency mitigates hypothyroxinemia in iodine-deficient subjects.

Studies were performed to assess the role of combined selenium and iodine deficiency in the etiology of endemic myxedematous cretinism in a population in Zaire. One effect of selenium deficiency may be to lower glutathione peroxidase activity in the thyroid gland, thus allowing hydrogen peroxide produced during thyroid hormone synthesis to be cytotoxic. In selenium-and-iodine-deficient humans, selenium supplementation may aggravate hypothyroidism by stimulating thyroxin metabolism by the selenoenzyme type I iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase.

Selenium and the thyroid: how the relationship was established.

Several hypotheses concerning consequences of selenium deficiency on iodine metabolism can be proposed on the basis of experimental studies in rats and from epidemiological and experimental studies in humans. By decreasing intracellular GSH peroxidase activity, selenium deficiency may increase hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) supply and lead over several weeks to the thyroid atrophy observed in myxoedematous cretins. By improving thyroid hormone synthesis and by decreasing peripheral thyroxin (T4) deiodination, selenium deficiency could protect fetal brain T4 supply and thus prevent neurologic cretinism.