Evaluation of a surrogate virus neutralization assay for detecting neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in an African population.

The global resurgence of coronaviruses and the move to incorporate COVID-19 vaccines into the expanded program for immunization have warranted for a high-throughput and low-cost assay to measure and quantify mounted neutralizing antibodies as an indicator for protection against SARS-CoV-2. Hence, we evaluated the surrogate-virus-neutralization-assay (sVNT) as an alternative assay to the pseudo-virus neutralization assay (pVNT). The sVNT was used to measure neutralizing antibodies among 119 infected and/or vaccinated blood samples, against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 (WT) and the Omicron-variant with reference to the pVNT.

Mental Health of Black Canadians: A Scoping Review.

Black Canadians frequently experience significant challenges when attempting to access mental health care, resulting in discrepancies in mental health outcomes. This article describes a scoping review that aimed to understand the range and nature of research conducted on the mental health of black Canadians and to identify the gaps in this literature. An established methodological framework guided the scoping review process.

From Unheard to Empowered: Utilizing Communication Accommodation Theory to Address Black Men's With Prostate Cancer Healthcare Preferences.

Objectives: Communication barriers, such as channels, comfort, and location, can negatively impact Black prostate cancer survivors' experiences and health outcomes after treatment. Addressing these barriers promotes a survivor-centric approach that views survivors as active partners in their care. This study explored the communication preferences of Black prostate cancer survivors, focusing on preferred channels, sources, and locations for enhanced quality of life.

Community-Based Participatory Research to Address the Disproportionate Burden of Breast Cancer in Black Women.

Objective: Black/African American women with breast cancer have disproportionately higher mortality rates and report experiencing a lower quality of life during survivorship compared to non-Hispanic white women. Despite support for the integration of peer navigation in cancer care and survivorship to address these inequities, Black/African American women often have limited access to culturally tailored peer navigation programs. We aimed to investigate the unique needs and strengths of Black/African American women with breast cancer and survivors to inform the development of a culturally tailored peer navigation program for Black/African American women.

An analysis of multilevel factor contributions to breast cancer screening inequities in an academic health system.

Background: Breast cancer screening (BCS) inequities are evident at national and local levels, and many health systems want to address these inequities, but may lack data about contributing factors. The objective of this study was to inform health system interventions through an exploratory analysis of potential multilevel contributors to BCS inequities using health system data.

Methods: The authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis within a large academic health system including 19,774 individuals who identified as Black (n = 1445) or White (n = 18,329) race and were eligible for BCS.

Ethnic disparities in HbA1c and hypoglycemia among youth with type 1 diabetes: beyond access to technology, social deprivation and mean blood glucose.

Introduction: The UK national pediatric diabetes audit reports higher HbA1c for children and young people (CYP) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) of Black ethnicity compared with White counterparts. This is presumably related to higher mean blood glucose (MBG) due to lower socioeconomic status (SES) and less access to technology. We aimed to determine if HbA1c ethnic disparity persists after accounting for the above variables.

Clarification of factors associated with post-artesunate delayed hemolysis (PADH): analysis of 327 patients with severe imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria in France.

Background: Post-Artesunate delayed hemolysis (PADH) occurs in approximately 15% of treated patients 2 to 3 weeks after artesunate administration. Identifying risk markers for PADH would help predict which patients are at higher risk.

Methods: In this prospective national cohort study conducted in a non-malaria endemic area from 2011 to 2016, a Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association between clinical and biological data available at Day 0 and the occurrence of PADH within 30 days of artesunate administration.

Pharmacogenetic Testing in Admixed Populations: Frequency of the AMR PGx Working Group Tier 1 Variant Alleles in Brazilians.

This article examines the frequency distribution of Tier 1 pharmacogenetic variants of the Association for Molecular Pathology Pharmacogenomics Working Group Recommendations in two large (>1.000 individuals) cohorts of the admixed Brazilian population, and in patients from the Brazilian Public Health System enrolled in pharmacogenetic trials. Three Tier 1 variants, all in DPYD, were consistently absent, which may justify their non-inclusion in genotyping panels for Brazilians; 13 variants had frequency < 1.

Behind closed doors: Homeboundness and psychosocial outcomes. Evidence from a longitudinal study of middle-aged and older adults.

Objectives: To examine how homeboundness is associated with psychosocial outcomes in terms of life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect and loneliness among middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: Longitudinal data were taken from the nationally representative sample German Ageing Survey (wave 1 to wave 4; n = 18,491 observations). This study included community-dwelling individuals aged 40 years and over in Germany.

Human Metapneumovirus: an emerging respiratory pathogen and the urgent need for improved Diagnostics, surveillance, and vaccine development.

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a re-emerging respiratory pathogen causing significant morbidity and mortality, particularly among young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. First identified in 2001, HMPV has since been recognised as a leading cause of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) worldwide. Its transmission occurs through droplets, direct contact, and surface contamination, with crowded spaces and healthcare facilities serving as key environmental amplifiers.

Organizational Initiatives for the Recruitment, Retention and Advancement of Black Nurses: A Rapid Review.

Introduction: Black nurses are under-represented in the Canadian nursing workforce. A legacy of discrimination and systemic barriers reinforce the under-representation of Black nurses in the nursing workforce throughout the health system.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify and describe organizational initiatives for the recruitment, retention and advancement of Black nurses in the healthcare system.

Low-Level Zoonotic Transmission of Clade C MERS-CoV in Africa: Insights from Scoping Review and Cohort Studies in Hospital and Community Settings.

Human outbreaks of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are more common in Middle Eastern and Asian human populations, associated with clades A and B. In Africa, where clade C is dominant in camels, human cases are minimal. We reviewed 16 studies (n = 6198) published across seven African countries between 2012 and 2024 to assess human MERS-CoV cases.

A Survey of Wild Indigenous Orchid Populations in Western Australia Reveals Spillover of Exotic Viruses.

is a terrestrial orchid endemic to southwestern Australia. The virus status of has not been studied. Eighty-three samples from 16 populations were collected, and sequencing was used to identify RNA viruses from them.

Viral Hepatitis B and Its Implications for Public Health in DR Congo: A Systematic Review.

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection remains high in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), constituting a public health problem in view of the fatal complications it causes, notably cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the situation of viral hepatitis B in the DRC and in particular its implications for public health. A systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) group guidelines.

The Frequency of c.557A>G in the Dominican Population and Its Association with African Ancestry.

Genetic polymorphism of the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene () is responsible for the variability found in the metabolism of fluoropyrimidines such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), capecitabine, or tegafur. The genotype is linked to variability in enzyme activity, 5-FU elimination, and toxicity. Approximately 10-40% of patients treated with fluoropyrimidines develop severe toxicity.

Extraction and Processing of Bioactive Phytoconstituents from Widely Used South African Medicinal Plants for the Preparation of Effective Traditional Herbal Medicine Products: A Narrative Review.

Medicinal plants are sources of crude traditional herbal medicines that are utilized to reduce the risk of, treat, or manage diseases in most indigenous communities. This is due to their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It is estimated that about 80% of the population in developing countries rely on herbal traditional medicines for healthcare.

Food Insecurity Predictors Differ for White, Multicultural, and International College Students in the United States.

Higher education institutions and public health agencies in the United States (US) have recognized that food insecurity is pervasive and interferes with student learning on multiple levels. However, less research has examined food insecurity among culturally diverse college students. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence and predictors of food insecurity for US-born White, US-born Multicultural, and International students aged 18-34 at a Midwest university.

Diet Quality, Metabolic Syndrome, and Nativity Status: Elucidating Metabolic Advantage and Disadvantage Among Non-US-Native and US-Native Populations Using NHANES Data (2013-2018).

Background/objectives: Nutrient-poor diet quality is a major driver of the global burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The US ranks among the lowest in diet quality and has the highest rate of immigration, which may present unique challenges for non-US-native populations who experience changes in access to health-promoting resources. This study examined associations among MetS, nativity status, diet quality, and interaction effects of race-ethnicity among Hispanic, Asian, Black, and White US-native and non-US-native adults.

Molecular Epidemiology, Drug-Resistant Variants, and Therapeutic Implications of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis D Virus Prevalence in Nigeria: A National Study.

Information on circulating HBV (sub-)genotype, variants, and hepatitis D virus (HDV) coinfection, which vary by geographical area, is crucial for the efficient control and management of HBV. We investigated the genomic characteristics of HBV (with a prevalence of 8.1%) and the prevalence of HDV in Nigeria.

Plasma Endothelin-1 Levels: Non-Predictors of Alzheimer's Disease Reveal Age Correlation in African American Women.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD) disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minorities. Contributing biological factors that explain this disparity have been elusive. Moreover, non-invasive biomarkers for early detection of AD are needed.

The Interspecific Competition Between Larvae of and Major African Malaria Vectors in a Semi-Field System in Tanzania.

Interspecific competition between mosquito larvae may affects adult vectorial capacity, potentially reducing disease transmission. It also influences population dynamics, and cannibalistic and predatory behaviors. However, knowledge of interspecific competition between and species is limited.

Impact of COVID-19 on Utilization of Healthcare Services Among People Living with HIV (PLHIV): A Systematic Review.

People living with HIV/AIDS have been impacted notably by the COVID-19 pandemic in diverse dimensions. Although some impacts of COVID-19 on PLHIV have been well documented, there is still insufficient research that captures the overall understanding of the implications of COVID-19 for the healthcare utilization among PLHIV. This review aims to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on PLHIV, narrowing it down to women living with HIV/AIDS.

Origin and Genealogy of Rare mtDNA Haplotypes Detected in the Serbian Population.

: The Balkan Peninsula has served as an important migration corridor between Asia Minor and Europe throughout humankind's history and a refugium during the Last Glacial Maximum. Past migrations such as the Neolithic expansion, Bronze Age migrations, and the settlement of Slavic tribes in the Early Middle Ages, are well known for their impact on shaping the genetic pool of contemporary Balkan populations. They have contributed to the high genetic diversity of the region, especially in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Motivations, Expectations, and Systemic Factors Regarding Antimicrobial Use Amongst Community Members Seeking Care at the Primary Healthcare Level: A Scoping Review.

Background/objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Understanding the knowledge, attitudes, motivations, and expectations of community members regarding antimicrobial use is essential for effective stewardship interventions. This scoping review aimed to identify key themes relating to the critical areas regarding antimicrobial use among community members in primary healthcare (PHC), with a particular focus on LMICs.

Unmasking Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in United States Chordoma Clinical Trials: Systematic Review.

Background: Chordoma is a rare bone cancer with limited treatment options. Clinical trials are crucial for developing effective therapies, but their success depends on including diverse patient populations. The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the reporting of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity in United States clinical trials exploring treatment for chordoma.