Snakebite envenomation (SBE) is a neglected tropical disease. It causes substantial morbidity and mortality in Sudan. Despite its endemicity, there is a substantial lack of up-to-date data on venomous snakes and their geographical distribution in Sudan, with most information dating back to the early twentieth century.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Snakebite envenomation (SBE) and scorpion sting envenomation (SSE) are significant neglected tropical diseases that primarily affect impoverished communities in rural areas of developing nations. A lack of understanding about snake and scorpion species and their distribution exacerbates the disabilities and fatalities caused by SBE and SSE. In Sudan, particularly in regions affected by ongoing conflicts where healthcare resources are scarce, social media platforms offer a cost-effective approach to addressing public health challenges.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSub-Saharan Africa is under-represented in global biodiversity datasets, particularly regarding the impact of land use on species' population abundances. Drawing on recent advances in expert elicitation to ensure data consistency, 200 experts were convened using a modified-Delphi process to estimate 'intactness scores': the remaining proportion of an 'intact' reference population of a species group in a particular land use, on a scale from 0 (no remaining individuals) to 1 (same abundance as the reference) and, in rare cases, to 2 (populations that thrive in human-modified landscapes). The resulting bii4africa dataset contains intactness scores representing terrestrial vertebrates (tetrapods: ±5,400 amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) and vascular plants (±45,000 forbs, graminoids, trees, shrubs) in sub-Saharan Africa across the region's major land uses (urban, cropland, rangeland, plantation, protected, etc.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBertolotti Syndrome is a diagnosis given to patients experiencing pain caused by the presence of a lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV), which is characterized by enlargement of the L5 transverse process(es), with potential pseudoarticulation or fusion with the sacrum. The Castellvi classification system is commonly utilized to grade LSTVs based on the degree of contact between the L5 transverse process(es) and the sacrum. LSTVs present a diagnostic dilemma to the treating clinician, as they may remain unidentified on plain x-rays and even advanced imaging; additionally, even if the malformation is identified, patients with a LSTV may be asymptomatic or have nonspecific symptoms, such as low back pain with or without radicular symptoms.
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