Postural control patterns in gravid women-A systematic review.

Background: Postural stability is essential for functional independence in the pregnant population. The contradictions between existing studies and the lack of consistent characteristics in the strategies used by pregnant women for postural control demonstrate the need for further investigation.

Objectives: The aim was to review the available literature on postural strategies throughout pregnancy in both static and dynamic conditions and to provide an assessment of the quality of these studies in terms of methodological issues to identify the reasons for the inconsistencies in findings between research centers.

Race as a prognostic factor of breast mucinous carcinoma.

Purpose: The rarity of breast mucinous carcinoma (BMC) makes it challenging to study the prognosis of this disease across diverse racial populations. This study aimed to leverage epidemiological data on immigrant populations to elucidate the prognostic differences in BMC patients from various racial/ethnic backgrounds. The goal was to help formulate more personalized clinical practice guidelines for the management of this rare malignancy.

Evolving Landscape of Sickle Cell Anemia Management in Africa: A Critical Review.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent inherited blood disorder, particularly affecting populations in Africa. This review examined the disease's burden, its diverse clinical presentations, and the challenges associated with its management in African settings. Africa bears a significant burden of SCD, with prevalence varying across countries and age groups.

Aflatoxin Contamination of Various Staple Foods from Angola and Mozambique.

Aflatoxins constitute a significant risk in staple foods produced in African countries. This research aimed to analyze the total aflatoxin (AFT) contamination of various staple foods in Angola and Mozambique. A total of 233 samples of corn, peanuts, beans, rice, and cassava flour collected from farmers or local markets from the province of Cuanza Sul, Angola, and the provinces of Gaza and Inhambane, South Mozambique, were analyzed for the presence of AFT using the lateral flow strip method via AgraStrip Pro WATEX (Romer).

A Numerical Simulation Study of the Impact of Kesterites Hole Transport Materials in Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells Using SCAPS-1D.

Energy generation and storage are critical challenges for developing economies due to rising populations and limited access to clean energy resources. Fossil fuels, commonly used for energy production, are costly and contribute to environmental pollution through greenhouse gas emissions. Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) offer a promising alternative due to their stability, low cost, and high-power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to other third-generation solar cells.

Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Hotspots in Oliver Reginald Tambo District Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Background: The global push to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) as a public health threat is increasingly urgent, particularly in high-burden areas like the Oliver Reginald Tambo District Municipality, South Africa. Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) poses a significant challenge to TB control efforts and is a leading cause of TB-related deaths. This study aimed to assess DR-TB transmission patterns and predict future cases using geospatial and predictive modeling techniques.

HLA Class I (A and B) Allele Polymorphism in a Moroccan Population Infected with Hepatitis C Virus.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major health burdens worldwide. Its course depends on the virus itself and the host's immune responses. The latter are conditioned by immunogenetic factors, in particular human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), whose role in determining the outcome of infection varies according to populations and ethnic groups.

Epigenome-Wide and Methylation Risk Score Analysis of Body Mass Index Among People with HIV.

People with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) often gain weight, which increases their risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The role of DNA methylation (DNAm) markers in obesity among PWH is understudied. This research explores the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and epigenetic patterns to better understand and manage obesity-related risks in PWH.

Vulnerability in Colorectal Cancer: Adjusted Gross Income and Geography as Factors in Determining Overall Survival in Colorectal Cancer: A Single-Center Study Across a Broad Income Inequality in an American Context.

: Regional differences in socioeconomic status (SES) are well known, and we believe that the use of geocoding (zip code) can facilitate the introduction of targeted interventions for underserved populations. This is a single-center, retrospective analysis of data extracted from the cancer registry at the Capital Health Cancer Center in Pennington, N. The Capital Health Cancer Center in central New Jersey primarily serves two counties, catering to a diverse patient population from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds.

Optimization of a Web-Based Self-Assessment Tool for Preconception Health in People of Reproductive Age in Australia: User Feedback and User-Experience Testing Study.

Background: Good preconception health reduces the incidence of preventable morbidity and mortality for women, their babies, and future generations. In Australia, there is a need to increase health literacy and awareness about the importance of good preconception health. Digital health tools are a possible enabler to increase this awareness at a population level.

Behavioral and social predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among persons with disabilities in Kenya.

Access and uptake of COVID-19 vaccine by persons with disabilities remains largely unknown in low-and middle-income countries, despite the unique barriers they face, their special vulnerabilities and higher risk to severe outcomes. We aimed to identify behavioral and social predictors of COVID-19 uptake among persons with disability in Kenya. A convergent parallel mixed method study design was conducted among 792 persons with disability in four regions (counties) in Kenya.

Assessing the Risk of Kidney Stone Development in Patients With Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treated With Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors.

Background: The prevalence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is rising with the global obesity epidemic. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs), such as acetazolamide, have been shown to be effective in IIH but can also lead to kidney stone formation. This study evaluates the risk of kidney stone development in patients with IIH treated with CAIs.

Access to specialist plastic surgery in rural vs. Urban areas of Africa.

Introduction: Plastic surgery is an essential yet underdeveloped field in many African nations, especially in rural areas. The demand for plastic surgery is increasing, but differences in access to respective services between rural and urban domiciles remain ever existent, despite the exponentiation of trauma, burns, and congenital disorders. According to this review, urban areas have access to better facilities and specialized surgeons, while rural areas frequently lack infrastructure, educated healthcare personnel, and medical resources.

The Association between Sociodemographic Factors and Delays to Minimally Invasive Surgery for Stage IA-IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Surgical resection is the gold standard treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Prior studies have found that delayed treatment carries risk of disease progression. However, factors that predict delay to surgery are relatively understudied.

Air pollution exposure disparities among ethnic groups in high-income countries: A scoping review.

Background: The adverse health effects of air pollution are well-established. Previous reviews have highlighted disparities in air pollution exposure between minoritized ethnic groups and majoritized ethnic groups. However, these reviews primarily focused on proximity to pollution sources rather than objectively measured concentrations.

More twins expected in low-income countries with later maternal ages at birth and population growth.

Study Question: How are the changing maternal age structure and population growth expected to shape future twinning rates in low-income countries?

Summary Answer: With maternal age at birth projected to shift toward older ages, twinning rates are also estimated to increase in most low-income countries by 2050 and even more by 2100.

What Is Known Already: Many of the sub-Saharan African and South Asian countries are undergoing, and projected to further experience, the shift of maternal age at birth to older ages. Advanced maternal age is a well-established predictor of multiple births at the individual level, but currently, it is unknown how the changes in maternal age distribution are associated with the changes in twinning rates at the population level in low-income countries.

Prevalence and trends of pregnancy-related acute kidney injury in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pregnancy-Related Acute Kidney Injury (PRAKI) is an important contributor to maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality. The burden of PRAKI in sub-Saharan Africa is not well documented. We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of PRAKI in sub-Saharan Africa.

Morphological and biological characterization of Spermophagus niger (Motschulsky, 1866) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from four West African countries.

In Burkina Faso and many West African countries, Spermophagus niger (L.) is the main insect pest of Hibiscus sabdariffa seeds stored with considerable damage. Variations in bioclimatic conditions can lead to significant changes in the morphology and biology of populations of the same insect species, leading to strains that are morphologically and biologically different and that would react differently to a given control method.

Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in US-Born and Non-US-Born Black Pregnant People in the US.

Importance: With disparate Black maternal health outcomes in the US and a steadily expanding non-US-born Black population, it is beneficial to investigate Black maternal health outcomes by country of origin.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of maternal morbidity and infant birth outcomes between US-born and non-US-born Black populations in the US.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study included all registered hospital births in the US from the 2021 National Vital Statistics Systems (NVSS) Natality Data.

Persistent Short Sleep Duration From Pregnancy to 2 to 7 Years After Delivery and Metabolic Health.

Importance: Short sleep duration during pregnancy and the perimenopausal period has been associated with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. However, it remains unclear how sleep duration changes after delivery and whether such changes are associated with the cardiometabolic health of birthing people.

Objective: To investigate whether persistently short sleep during pregnancy and after delivery is associated with incident hypertension and metabolic syndrome.

Ten-year trends in clinical characteristics and outcome of children hospitalized with severe wasting or nutritional edema in Malawi (2011-2021): Declining admissions but worsened clinical profiles.

Background: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) constitutes a substantial burden in African hospitals. Despite adhering to international guidelines, high inpatient mortality rates persist and the underlying contributing factors remain poorly understood.

Objective: We evaluated the 10-year trend (2011-2021) in clinical factors and outcomes among children with severe wasting and/or nutritional edema at Malawi's largest nutritional rehabilitation unit (NRU).

Whole exome-seq and RNA-seq data reveal unique neoantigen profiles in Kenyan breast cancer patients.

Background: The immune response against tumors relies on distinguishing between self and non-self, the basis of cancer immunotherapy. Neoantigens from somatic mutations are central to many immunotherapeutic strategies and understanding their landscape in breast cancer is crucial for targeted interventions. We aimed to profile neoantigens in Kenyan breast cancer patients using genomic DNA and total RNA from paired tumor and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples of 23 patients.

The movement and distribution of pregnant spotted ragged-tooth sharks, , in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa.

The spotted ragged-tooth shark, , is widely distributed in subtropical continental coastal seas. In South Africa, it is commonly found along the entire south and east coasts, including the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (IWP) in the far north, which is the largest Marine Protected Area on the South African coast. Pregnant females occur there for much of the year, with the largest aggregations in summer.

Prevalence and associated factors of non-consensual sexual acts among adolescents in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Introduction: During adolescence, due to lack of experience, individuals may engage in or tolerate certain non-consensual acts under coercion. There are significant associations between forced sexual intercourse and a range of negative effects on reproductive health, as well as psychological and emotional health. Studies on non-consensual sexual acts among adolescents are rare in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).