Comparison of Adding Sildenafil Versus Estradiol to Clomiphene Citrate on the Applebaum Score and Pregnancy Rate in Patients With Unexplained Infertility: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Both sildenafil and estradiol are seen to improve endometrial thickness in patients with infertility who are undergoing clomiphene induction cycles. However, the correlation between endometrial thickness and pregnancy rate is debatable. This study investigated the effect of adding oral sildenafil to clomiphene citrate (CC), compared to adding estradiol valerate, on the uterine biophysical profile (Applebaum score) and pregnancy rate.

Field assessment of active ingredient quantity in pharmaceutical tablets with limited calibration of near infrared spectra: An application to ciprofloxacin tablets.

Portable near-infrared (NIR) spectrophotometers have emerged as valuable tools for identifying substandard and falsified pharmaceuticals (SFPs). Integration of these devices with chemometric and machine learning models enhances their ability to provide quantitative chemical insights. However, different NIR spectrophotometer models vary in resolution, sensitivity, and responses to environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, necessitating instrument-specific libraries that hinder the wider adoption of NIR technology.

Newborn screening for sickle cell disease in Butembo and Beni: a pilot experience in a highland region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Introduction: sickle cell disease is an inherited autosomal recessive hemoglobin disorder resulting in acute and chronic systemic complications. Despite the high burden of sickle cell disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, limited data on disease prevalence is available and systematic screening is not offered to newborns. This study aimed to provide neonatal prevalence and associated factors to the phenotypic manifestation of sickle cell disease in an eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Detection of Substandard and Falsified Antibiotics Sold in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Using Validated HPLC and UV-Visible Spectrophotometric Methods.

The access to afford safe, effective, and genuine medications is a major challenge for people in low- to middle-income countries. This study aimed at developing and validating simple, accurate, and inexpensive analytical liquid chromatography and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometric methods to ensure quality control of antibiotics sold in formal and informal pharmaceutical markets. It focused on four antibiotics (azithromycin [AZT], cefadroxil [CFD], cefixime [CFX], and erythromycin [ERH]) used to treat infectious diseases in the region of Haut-Katanga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Newborn screening for sickle cell disease in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo: an update.

Background: Neonatal screening is the first action necessary to identify children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and thus ensure their care. Using rapid tests to give an immediate result to families is a new resilient approach of great interest. These two aspects are essential for establishing an adequate health policy for this disease.

Prevalence of Poor Quality Ciprofloxacin and Metronidazole Tablets in Three Cities in Cameroon.

Quality is one of the essential components of medicines and needs to be ensured to preserve the population's health. This can be achieved through post-marketing quality control of medicines and is one of the most important duties of national regulatory authorities. In collaboration with the Cameroonian National Drug Quality Control and Valuation Laboratory, the decision was made to initiate a prevalence study to assess the quality of antiinfective medicines in Cameroon.

Red blood cell alloimmunisation in sickle cell disease patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunisation and alloantibody specificity in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in comparison with those followed at the Centre Hospitalier Régional (CHR) de la Citadelle of Liège (Belgium).

Background: Data regarding RBC alloimmunisation (immune response of the organism to foreign erythrocyte antigens, antigens that lack on its own RBC) in SCD patients are scarce in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We conducted a multi-site-based cross-sectional study among 125 SCD patients at Kisangani and 136 at the CHR de la Citadelle of Liège.

Pairing parents and offspring's HemoTypeSC Test to validate results and confirm sickle cell pedigree: a case study in Kisangani, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Objectives: HemoTypeSC is one of the immunoassay methods currently used for the early diagnosis of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in newborns. Earlier diagnosis remains the key strategy for early preventive care needs and parents' education about the child's future well-being throughout his life. Before considering these children as sick and aligning them for regular medical monitoring, it may be valuable to confirm the HemoTypeSC result with a secondary laboratory testing method.

Assessment of the Quality of Injectable Antibiotics in Benin.

Substandard and falsified medicines are an enormous threat to global health. Poor quality antibiotic preparations contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance. In surgery, where the occurrence of healthcare-associated infections is high, healthcare teams need to rely on the quality of antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infections.

Renal Abnormalities among Sickle Cell Disease Patients in a Poor Management Setting: A Survey in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background And Objective: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is now a well-established cause of renal damage. In the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), SCD is common. However, sickle cell nephropathy remains unstudied in this region.

Does glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency worsen the clinical features of sickle cell disease? A multi-hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Background: The impact of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency(G-6-PD) on the clinical course of sickle cell disease(SCD) is still controversial. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of G-6-PD deficiency in patients with SCD and its effect on their clinical course.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 122 SCD patients and 211 healthy blood donors was conducted in Kisangani city.

Overview of current progress and challenges in diagnosis, and management of pediatric sickle cell disease in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Objectives: Sickle cell disease (SCD) encompasses health complications, primarily affecting the hematologic system and leading to high death rates in childhood. As a rule, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stepwise gold-standard about the strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of SCD must be multidimensional. This overview aimed to highlight current advances and challenges linked to strategic issues, diagnosis, the prevalence, and treatment of pediatric cases in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Bio-surveillance of environmental pollutants in the population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): a small pilot study.

Background: Environmental pollutants are known to be ubiquitous and may present toxic effects (endocrine-disruption properties, carcinogenicity …) and represent a real threat to human health. The aim of the present pilot study was to assess the content of environmental pollutants (inorganic, persistent, and non-persistent pollutants) in biological samples (urine, serum, and whole blood), collected from volunteers in Kinshasa, capital of Democratic Republic of Congo, in order to identify pollutants of interest and to design a protocol for a larger scale study.

Methods: From randomly selected 15 volunteers living in Kinshasa, aged from 25 to 66 years, (mean age = 43.

Pentas longiflora Oliv. (Rubiaceae), a plant used in the treatment of Pityriasis Versicolor in Rwanda: Chemical composition and standardization of leaves and roots.

In Rwanda, the roots of Pentas longiflora Oliv. (Rubiaceae) have been used for a long time to treat Pityriasis versicolor. However, many people reported the use of leaves instead of roots.

Poor-Quality Medicines in Cameroon: A Critical Review.

Poor-quality medicines are the cause of many public health and socioeconomic problems. We conducted a review to acquire an overview of the situation concerning such medicines in Cameroon. Different searches were performed on databases from several websites of the WHO, the Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon, the Anti-Counterfeit Medicine Research Institute, the Global Pharma Health Fund, and the Infectious Disease Data Observatory.

Self-testing for HIV, HBV, and HCV using finger-stick whole-blood multiplex immunochromatographic rapid test: A pilot feasibility study in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: The burden of HIV, HBV, and HCV infections remains disproportionately high in sub-Saharan Africa, with high rates of co-infections. Multiplex rapid diagnostic tests for HIV, HBV and HCV serological testing with high analytical performances may improve the "cascade of screening" and quite possibly the linkage-to-care with reduced cost. Based on our previous field experience of HIV self-testing, we herein aimed at evaluating the practicability and acceptability of a prototype finger-stick whole-blood Triplex HIV/HCV/HBsAg self-test as a simultaneous serological screening tool for HIV, HBV, and HCV in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

[Acceptability of neonatal screening of the sickle cell disease during the pandemic of COVID-19 in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo].

Introduction: the implementation of neonatal screening to identify infants with sickle cell disease during the COVID-19 pandemic is a major challenge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The purpose of this study is to determine whether socio-economic factors are associated with acceptability of newborn screening to identify infants with sickle cell disease during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kisangani, DRC.

Methods: we conducted an observational study of mothers sensitized to neonatal screening to detect sickle cell disease in their newborns with hemotypeSC (HT401RUO-USA).

Management of sickle cell disease: current practices and challenges in a northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the third most affected country worldwide by sickle cell disease (SCD). However, this disease is still orphaned in the country; large-scale control actions are rare, and little is known about its management.

Objective: To assess current practices in the management of SCD in Kisangani, DRC.

Efficacy and safety of malarial prophylaxis with mefloquine during pregnancy in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo: A randomized clinical trial.

Aims: Kisangani is an area with intense malaria transmission and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance. Alternative antimalaria prophylaxis medication and protocols are needed, particularly with pregnant individuals. In this study, we compare the tolerance and effectiveness of mefloquine regimen as a split dose with a meal vs.

Comparison of practicability and effectiveness between unassisted HIV self-testing and directly assisted HIV self-testing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a randomized feasibility trial.

Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) can be performed using directly assisted and unassisted approaches in facilities or communities to reach different populations. The aim of this study was to compare the practicability and effectiveness of the two delivery approaches for HIVST, unassisted HIVST (UH) and directly assisted HIVST (DAH), in the field setting of Kisangani, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Methods: A randomized (1:1), non-blinded, non-inferiority trial using a blood-based and facility-based HIVST method was carried out in four facilities in Kisangani, the DRC, targeting populations at high risk for HIV infection.

Comorbidity of sickle cell trait and albinism: a cross-sectional survey in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Introduction: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and albinism are both recessive hereditary diseases in human kind with a high prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to determinate the prevalence of sickle cell trait in people living with albinism (PLA).

Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted in PLA attending the "Hôpital du Cinquantenaire de Kisangani".

Students' knowledge on sickle cell disease in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Education is needed as an action to reduce morbidity and mortality from sickle cell disease (SCD), an important but largely neglected risk to child survival in most African countries as Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To assess the knowledge of Kisangani University students in DRC regarding SCD. In this non-experimental, cross-sectional study, a validated questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of 2 112 Kisangani University students in DRC and data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.