Control of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Africa through improved diagnosis and utilisation of data on acaricide resistance.

A meeting, sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and organised by Clinglobal, was held at The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 19th - to 21st October 2022. The meeting assembled a unique group of experts on tick control in Africa. Academia, international agencies (FAO and ILRI), the private Animal Health sector and government veterinary services were represented.

Impact of sleep deficiency on surgical performance: a prospective assessment.

Study Objectives: Sleep deficiency can adversely affect the performance of resident physicians, resulting in greater medical errors. However, the impact of sleep deficiency on surgical outcomes, particularly among attending surgeons, is less clear.

Methods: Sixty attending surgeons from academic and community departments of surgery or obstetrics and gynecology were studied prospectively using direct observation and self-report to explore the effect of sleep deprivation on patient safety, operating room communication, medical errors, and adverse events while operating under 2 conditions, post-call (defined as > 2 hours of nighttime clinical duties) and non-post-call.

Diarrhoeagenic E. coli occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases isolated from diarrhoea patients attending health facilities in Accra, Ghana.

Introduction: Diarrhoea accounts for high morbidity and mortality in children and adults worldwide. Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) and Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) contribute to prolonged hospitalization because of their resistance and virulence properties aiding in the spread of diarrhoeal disease and delayed treatment.

Aim: To determine DEC and the antimicrobial resistance of ESBL-PE isolated among diarrhoea patients attending two health facilities in Ghana.

Hepatitis E seroprevalence and risk factors in humans and pig in Ghana.

Background: Although Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has significant negative impact on the health and wellbeing of underprivileged populations, the burden of HEV in Ghana is still unclear, despite widespread water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) related conditions that predispose people to the risk of infection.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore rates of HEV seroprevalence and HEV prevalence, as well as risk factors in humans and domestic pigs in Ghana. These were determined using ELISAs manufactured by Wantai Beijing Biopharmaceuticals, China.

Seroprevalence of and among Humans and Pigs in Ghana.

In this study, the seroprevalence of the intestinal worms and in humans and pigs was assessed. A cross-sectional serological study design was performed. Blood samples were collected from 322 humans and 245 pigs used in the study.

Analgesic and opioid sparing effects of preoperative thoracic paravertebral block: A double blind evaluation of 0.5% bupivacaine with adrenaline in patients scheduled for simple mastectomy.

Background: Various regional anaesthetic techniques are used for post-mastectomy pain relief; however, thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) has shown some advantages over other methods. This study sought to demonstrate the post-operative benefit of pre-operative TPVB in patients scheduled for simple mastectomy.

Methods: The study was carried out on 60 adult female patients with the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Class I to III scheduled for unilateral mastectomy.

Ciliogenesis and autophagy are coordinately regulated by EphA2 in the cornea to maintain proper epithelial architecture.

Purpose: To understand the relationship between ciliogenesis and autophagy in the corneal epithelium.

Methods: siRNAs for EphA2 or PLD1 were used to inhibit protein expression in vitro. Morpholino-anti-EphA2 was used to knockdown EphA2 in Xenopus skin.

Neurocysticercosis: Current Perspectives on Diagnosis and Management.

Porcine cysticercosis, human taeniasis, and (neuro)cysticercosis are endemic in many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where they present a significant health burden to affected communities. Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is one of the leading causes of human epilepsy in many hyperendemic regions in Latin America, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports an estimated 2.

Hepatitis E in Sub Saharan Africa - A significant emerging disease.

Hepatitis E is an emerging endemic disease found across the African continent, but there are clear differences in epidemiology between North Africa and countries south of the Sahara. In this systematic review, Google scholar and PubMed databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles on HEV epidemiology. Publications meeting our inclusion criteria were critically reviewed to extract consistent findings and identify knowledge gaps.

Centriole Number and the Accumulation of Microtubules Modulate the Timing of Apical Insertion during Radial Intercalation.

Centrioles are microtubule (MT)-based structures that provide important functions during cell migration, cell division, and cell signaling [1]. Modulating centriole number in 3D cell cultures has been shown to influence protrusive behavior [2-5]. Here, we address in vivo the role of centrioles and the accumulation of MTs on the protrusive behavior required during the initiation of radial intercalation.

Comparative Cytology of Female Meiosis I Among Species.

The physical connections established by recombination are normally sufficient to ensure proper chromosome segregation during female Meiosis I. However, nonexchange chromosomes (such as the Muller element or "dot" chromosome in can still segregate accurately because they remain connected by heterochromatic tethers. A recent study examined female meiosis in the closely related species and , and found a nearly twofold difference in the mean distance the obligately nonexchange dot chromosomes were separated during Prometaphase.

Integrated value-chain and risk assessment of Pig-Related Zoonoses in Ghana.

The marked increase in the pig-trade in Ghana has raised concerns about increased transmission of related zoonotic diseases. A study on pig-related zoonoses along the pork value-chain was conducted in Greater Accra and Upper East Regions of Ghana. Results showed significant taenia (60%) and trichinella (8%) seroprevalence in pigs in Upper East with little evidence of transmission to humans.

Participatory epidemiology of endemic diseases in West African cattle - Ethnoveterinary and bioveterinary knowledge in Fulani disease control.

Fulani pastoralists in Nigeria lack adequate access to good quality veterinary services and often resort to treating their animals themselves. There are several negative aspects to this, including poor treatment outcomes, misuse of veterinary drugs and subsequent resistance, and further barriers to good relations between pastoralists and veterinary services. A participatory epidemiology survey was undertaken in Fulani communities, to examine their ability to diagnose and treat bovine diseases.

Incidence of postoperative residual paralysis in a nigerian teaching hospital.

Background: Postoperative residual paralysis (PORP) is a known risk factor after general anesthesia (GA) for critical respiratory events and increased postoperative morbidity. PORP is defined as a train-of-four ratio (TOFR) of <0.9 using acceleromyography (AMG).

Patterns of passage into protected areas: Drivers and outcomes of Fulani immigration, settlement and integration into the Kachia Grazing Reserve, northwest Nigeria.

Increasing land use and associated competition for natural resources in the wake of high human and livestock population pressures have been major challenges confronting pastoralists of West Africa. This is especially true in Nigeria where Fulani make up 4% of the national population and prevailing national insecurity issues are impacting on pastoral livelihoods, including violent conflicts over land and ethnic, religious and political disparities. This study examined the dynamics of immigration within the Kachia Grazing Reserve (KGR), an exclusively Fulani pastoralist community in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria, prompted by concerns from both the farming communities and the authorities about mounting pressure on existing limited resources, particularly in regard to availability of cattle grazing resources.

Shifting livelihood strategies in northern Nigeria - extensified production and livelihood diversification amongst Fulani pastoralists.

This paper presents an in-depth investigation of the livelihood strategies of Fulani pastoralists in north central Nigeria. Results show a diversified crop-livestock system aimed at spreading risk and reducing cattle offtake, adapted to natural resource competition and insecurity by extensification, with further diversification into off-farm activities to spread risk, increase livelihood security and capture opportunities. However, significant costs were associated with extensification, and integration of crop and livestock enterprises was limited.

Modelling CD4 T Cell Recovery in Hepatitis C and HIV Co-infected Children Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy.

Background: The effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection on CD4 T cell recovery in treated HIV-infected children is poorly understood.

Objective: To compare CD4 T cell recovery in HIV/HCV coinfected children with recovery in HIV monoinfected children.

Method: We studied 355 HIV monoinfected and 46 HIV/HCV coinfected children receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) during a median follow-up period of 4.

The impact of self-help groups on pastoral women's empowerment and agency: A study in Nigeria.

While women in pastoralist communities are key stakeholders in the production of milk and dairy products for income generation, they are largely ignored in other areas of development such as health. The need to involve women self-help groups, in pastoralist areas in both animal health and human health development programmes, is essential, particularly given the high incidence of zoonotic diseases in these communities (Maudlin I, Eisler MC and Welburn SC, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1530):2777-2787, 2009). Understanding the process and impact of social networks on livelihoods is essential for any development programme that aims to prevent and control zoonotic diseases.

The challenges of cardiothoracic surgery practice in Nigeria: a 12 years institutional experience.

Background: Although the specialty of cardiothoracic surgery has been practiced in Nigeria for many years, open heart surgery (OHS) has only in the last decade become relatively more frequent, mainly through visiting foreign cardiac surgical teams. At this early phase of development it is faced with multiple challenges, especially financing and local skilled manpower for which solutions have to be identified in order to ensure sustainability and future growth. This study is aimed at highlighting these obstacles to growth of cardiothoracic surgery based on our own institutional experience at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the current status of OHS activity in other cardiothoracic centers in Nigeria.

Canine and ovine tick-borne pathogens in camels, Nigeria.

In April 2008, whole blood samples were collected from 36 dromedary camels in Sokoto, North-western Nigeria. Following PCR and reverse line blotting, twenty-two samples (61%) resulted positive for Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. and three (8%) for Theileria/Babesia spp.

The role of cervical mediastinoscopy in Nigerian thoracic surgical practice.

Introduction: Cervical mediastinoscopy is the gold standard for obtaining histological diagnosis of mediastinal pathology. It has been used for the staging of lung cancer as well as to determine the cause of Isolated Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy. There is very limited evidence in the literature of its use in Nigeria to assess mediastinal pathology.