Painful mycetoma: a study to understand the risk factors in patients visiting the Mycetoma Research Centre (MRC) in Khartoum, Sudan.

Background: Mycetoma, a neglected tropical disease endemic to Sudan, is traditionally characterized as a painless condition. However, recent studies reporting painful mycetoma lesions have challenged this assumption. With limited reports in the medical literature regarding pain in mycetoma, this study was conducted to investigate the risk factors for painful mycetoma lesions in patients visiting the Mycetoma Research Centre (MRC) in Khartoum, Sudan.

Construction and validation of an algorithm to separate focal and generalised epilepsy using clinical variables: A comparison of machine learning approaches.

Purpose: Epilepsy type, whether focal or generalised, is important in deciding anti-seizure medication (ASM). In resource-limited settings, investigations are usually not available, so a clinical separation is required. We used a naïve Bayes approach to devise an algorithm to do this, and compared its accuracy with algorithms devised by five other machine learning methods.

The first -induced Guillain-Barré syndrome in Sudan.

Key Clinical Message: This case report highlights the role of infection in the development of GBS. Healthcare providers should consider .  in their differential diagnosis for patients with neurological syndromes.

An epilepsy type algorithm developed in India is accurate in Sudan: A prospective validation study.

Purpose: The effects of epilepsy are worse in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where most people with epilepsy live, and where most are untreated. Correct treatment depends on determining whether focal or generalised epilepsy is present. EEG and MRI are usually not available to help so an entirely clinical method is required.

Guillain-Barre syndrome associated with hepatitis E virus infection: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can be manifested with several neurological syndromes including GBS. Therefore, healthcare providers should consider HEV in their differential diagnosis for patients with neurological disorders.

Abstract: We report a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with hepatitis E virus infection.

Knowledge and attitudes towards cervical cancer prevention among women in Khartoum state, Sudan.

Background: Cervical cancer is considered the third leading cause of death among women worldwide, and human papillomavirus was identified as a major causative agent for developing cervical cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes towards cervical cancer prevention among women in Khartoum state, Sudan.

Design: A community-based cross-sectional study implemented in Khartoum state, Sudan, from 1 August 2020 to 1 September 2020.

Guillain-Barre syndrome associated with COVID-19 infection: A case series.

In this communication, we reported a series of six patients presented with Guillain-Barré syndrome that associated with COVID-19 infection, which was confirmed with RT-PCR. Here we discuss the laboratory investigation and case management, as well as clinical presentation and outcome of each case. The current report demonstrated the first case series of COVID-19-associated GBS-cases in Sudan.

Methylation of alpha-synuclein in a Sudanese cohort.

Background: Several studies suggested a significant role of epigenetic changes, including alterations in miRNA, histone modifications, and DNA methylation of α-synuclein (SNCA) in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenicity. As of yet, only very few studies have been carried out in this field in Africa and none in Sudan.

Materials And Methods: We collected DNA from 172 Sudanese individuals (90 cases, 82 controls) who donated saliva for DNA extraction (mean age of onset: 40.

Obstacles faced by healthcare providers during COVID-19 pandemic in Sudan.

The impacts of COVID -19 pandemic have been quite significant on healthcare providers. I was particularly challenging for those in Low and Middle-Income Countries including Sudan . Unfortunately, the pandemic has hit Sudan on extremely difficult time for the country and its people.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of caregivers of children with epilepsy in Sudan.

Objective: To explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of caregivers of children with epilepsy.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 107 consecutive caregivers of children diagnosed with epilepsy, attending the neurology outpatient clinic in a Pediatric tertiary university hospital, in Khartoum, Sudan for regular check-up. Data were obtained by an interviewer through a structured questionnaire, while clinical parameters of children with epilepsy were taken from medical records.

Availability of Therapies and Services for Parkinson's Disease in Africa: A Continent-Wide Survey.

Background: The growing burden of Parkinson's disease (PD) in Africa necessitates the identification of available therapies and services to improve patient care.

Objective: To investigate the availability, affordability, frequency of usage, and insurance coverage of PD therapies (pharmacological, surgical, physical, and speech therapies) and services including specialized clinics, specialists, and nurses across Africa.

Methods: A comprehensive web-based survey was constructed and distributed to neurologists/physicians with a special interest in PD across Africa.

COVID-19 in Sudan.

The steadily growing COVID-19 pandemic is challenging health systems worldwide including Sudan. In Sudan, the first COVID-19 case was reported on 13th March 2020, and up to 11 November 2020 there were 14,401 confirmed cases of which 9,535 cases recovered and the rest 3,750 cases were under treatment. Additionally, 1,116 deaths were reported, indicating a relatively high case fatality rate of 7.

Intelligence quotient (IQ) among children with epilepsy: National epidemiological study - Sudan.

Background: Many studies of selected groups of children with epilepsy have demonstrated an association between epilepsy and cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to assess the intellectual skills of children with epilepsy and to investigate the influence of gender, age at seizure onset, type of epilepsy, antiepileptic drug used, and control of epilepsy on their intellectual function.

Methods: This is a descriptive prospective study in which one hundred and eighty-seven patients at school age (6-14 years) were recruited.

Intra-familial phenotypic heterogeneity in a Sudanese family with DARS2-related leukoencephalopathy, brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation: a case report.

Background: Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation (LBSL, OMIM #611105) is a genetic disease of the central nervous system characterized by lower limb spasticity, cerebellar ataxia and involvement of the dorsal column. The disease is caused by mutations in the DARS2 gene but has never been reported in sub-Saharan Africa so far.

Case Presentation: Two siblings, aged 18 years and 15 years, from a consanguineous family presented with pyramidal signs and symptoms since infancy and developmental delay.

Prevalence of epilepsy in 74,949 school children in Khartoum State, Sudan.

Background: Data on childhood epilepsy in Sudan are scarce and the only published study on its prevalence was published in 1983. This study aimed to determine the current prevalence of epilepsy in school children in Khartoum State.

Methods: This is an analytical population-based, cross-sectional study conducted in Khartoum State, Sudan.

Hereditary spastic paraplegias: identification of a novel SPG57 variant affecting TFG oligomerization and description of HSP subtypes in Sudan.

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) are the second most common type of motor neuron disease recognized worldwide. We investigated a total of 25 consanguineous families from Sudan. We used next-generation sequencing to screen 74 HSP-related genes in 23 families.