Challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence in African health space.

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) to healthcare in Africa has the potential to transform productivity, diagnosis, disease surveillance, and resource allocation by improving accuracy and efficiency. However, to fully realize its benefits, it is necessary to consider issues concerning data privacy, equity, infrastructure integration, and ethical policy development. The use of these tools may improve the detection of diseases, the distribution of resources, and the continuity of care.

Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries.

Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists.

Perceptions of science, science communication, and climate change attitudes in 68 countries - the TISP dataset.

Science is integral to society because it can inform individual, government, corporate, and civil society decision-making on issues such as public health, new technologies or climate change. Yet, public distrust and populist sentiment challenge the relationship between science and society. To help researchers analyse the science-society nexus across different geographical and cultural contexts, we undertook a cross-sectional population survey resulting in a dataset of 71,922 participants in 68 countries.

An Integrative Computational Approach for the Identification of C-Abl Kinase Inhibitors from Anti-Parkinson Plant-Derived Bioactive.

Background: Oxidative stress is strongly linked to neurodegeneration through the activation of c-Abl kinase, which arrests α-synuclein proteolysis by interacting with parkin interacting substrate (PARIS) and aminoacyl tRNA synthetase complex-interacting multifunctional protein 2 (AIMP2). This activation, triggered by ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase, leads to dopaminergic neuron loss and α-synuclein aggregation, a critical pathophysiological aspect of Parkinson's disease (PD). To halt PD progression, pharmacological inhibition of c-Abl kinase is essential.

Experience of primary dental care teams in managing the oral health of oncology patients.

Background: Estimates suggest that one in two people will experience cancer in their lifetime. Cancer and the treatment of cancer can have several impacts on oral health. It is therefore important that dental teams are supported in managing this group of patients especially in primary care dental settings, where most of these patients will first present to dental services.

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and its related determinants in Nigeria: An online survey.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a major challenge in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Identifying the sociodemographic factors associated with vaccine acceptance among Nigerians is crucial for improving vaccine uptake.

Aim: To assess the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccine and its related determinants among Nigerians.

Non-viral gene therapy for Leber's congenital amaurosis: progress and possibilities.

Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA) represents a set of rare and pervasive hereditary conditions of the retina that cause severe vision loss starting in early childhood. Targeted treatment intervention has become possible thanks to recent advances in understanding LCA genetic basis. While viral vectors have shown efficacy in gene delivery, they present challenges related to safety, low cargo capacity, and the potential for random genomic integration.

Embryotoxicity of statins and other prescribed drugs with reported off-target effects on cholesterol biosynthesis.

Cholesterol plays pivotal cellular functions ranging from maintaining membrane fluidity to regulating cell-cell signaling. High cholesterol causes cardiovascular diseases, low cholesterol is linked to neuropsychiatric disorders, and inborn errors of cholesterol synthesis cause multisystem malformation syndromes. Statins lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting the first, rate-limiting reaction of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway catalyzed by hydroxymethyl-glutaryl-Coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR).

Validation and optimization of smart eye camera as teleophthalmology device for the reduction of preventable and treatable blindness in Nigeria.

Background/objectives: Limited resources and staffing hinders efforts to reduce preventable blindness, especially in low- to middle-income countries. The slit-lamp examination (SLE), which is essential for ophthalmology practices, is often unavailable in primary and secondary eye care facilities due to the high costs and lengthy training required for operation. We conducted a cross-sectional, multicentre study exploring the potential for a smart eye camera (SEC; a tele-ophthalmology handheld device developed by OUI Inc.

Repurposing of PSMA-targeted diagnostic and therapeutic agents for the detection and treatment of giant cell tumors of bone.

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a rare bone tumor often necessitating surgical intervention, radiation therapy, or treatment with bisphosphonates or denosumab. Tc-MDP bone scintigraphy for GCTB has limited specificity, and the relatively high uptake of F-FDG in GCTB makes it challenging to differentiate it from other benign bone tumors. More specific detection and treatment modalities for GCTB are needed to enhance patient monitoring and outcomes.

Serum albumin as a biomarker of (nutritional status in) sarcopenia.

Introduction: To explore the possible associations between blood markers including albumin, hemoglobulin, creatinine and 25 OH vitamin D with sarcopenia using the ISarcoPRM algorithm.

Materials And Methods: A total of 2094 community-dwelling males and postmenopausal females (495 males, 1599 females)aged ≥ 50 years were recruited and their demographic data along with all comorbidities and laboratory evaluations were noted. Functional measurements were also quantified and the ISarcoPRM algorithm was used for the diagnosis/confirmation of the participants into sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic categories.

Factors associated with quality of life among newly diagnosed acute ischemic stroke patients: a community-based case-control study.

Background: Stroke burden is expected to increase and surviving a bout of stroke may leave one with a chronic or disabling outcome decreasing significantly the quality of life of the sufferer. The study aimed to explore the association between quality of life (QoL) in stroke and non-stroke individuals in a predominantly agricultural community.

Method: A community-based case-control study was conducted among 154 cases aged 18 and 75 diagnosed with incident stroke.

Thiourea-based rotaxanes: anion transport across synthetic lipid bilayers and antibacterial activity against .

We report the synthesis of two rotaxanes (1 and 2) whose rings have appended thiourea units for the selective recognition of Cl anions. Rotaxane 1 transports Cl across synthetic lipid bilayers more efficiently than 2, exhibiting EC values of 0.243 mol% 0.