Genomic and transmission dynamics of the 2024 Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda.

The ongoing outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Rwanda marks the third largest historically, although it has shown the lowest fatality rate. Genomic analysis of samples from 18 cases identified a lineage with limited internal diversity, closely related to a 2014 Ugandan case. Our findings suggest that the Rwandan lineage diverged decades ago from a common ancestor shared with diversity sampled from bats in Uganda.

Germline sequence variation in cancer genes in Rwandan breast and prostate cancer cases.

Cancer genetic data from Sub-Saharan African (SSA) are limited. Patients with female breast (fBC), male breast (mBC), and prostate cancer (PC) in Rwanda underwent germline genetic testing and counseling. Demographic and disease-specific information was collected.

Making Advance Care Planning a part of cancer patients' end-of-life care in Rwanda.

After the devastating damage inflicted by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda made great strides in reconstructing its healthcare system from scratch. Although cancer mortality rates continue to rise, there is still a dearth of qualified healthcare workers for advance care planning (ACP) for terminally ill patients. I will draw on lessons learned through the literature search for the initiation of ACP and reflect on their adaptation to the existing policies, healthcare systems, and workforce in Rwanda.

Multidisciplinary approach to cancer care in Rwanda: the role of tumour board meetings.

Introduction: Cancer treatment is complex and necessitates a multidisciplinary approach. Tumour Board Meetings (TBMs) provide a multidisciplinary platform for health care providers to communicate about treatment plans for patients. TBMs improve patient care, treatment outcomes and, ultimately, patient satisfaction by facilitating information exchange and regular communication among all parties involved in a patient's treatment.

Impact of COVID-19 on diagnosis of tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and on mortality in 11 countries in Europe, Northern America, and Australia. A Global Tuberculosis Network study.

Objectives: Although evidence is growing on the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis (TB) services, global studies based on national data are needed to better quantify the extent of the impact and the countries' preparedness to tackle the two diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the number of people with new diagnoses or recurrence of TB disease, the number of drug-resistant (DR)-TB, and the number of TB deaths in 2020 vs 2019 in 11 countries in Europe, Northern America, and Australia.

Methods: TB managers or directors of national reference centers of the selected countries provided the agreed-upon variables through a validated questionnaire on a monthly basis.

A Prospective, Cohort Study of the Effect of Acute and Chronic Malnutrition on Length of Stay in Children Having Surgery in Rwanda.

Background: Malnutrition is common in pediatric surgical patients, but there are little data from low-income countries that estimate the association of malnutrition with surgical outcomes. We aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and its association with length of stay (LOS) among pediatric surgical patients in Kigali, Rwanda.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study.

Rationale and design of a screening study to detect schistosomiasis-associated pulmonary hypertension in Ethiopia and Zambia.

Schistosomiasis is a major cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) worldwide, but the prevalence and risk factors for schistosomiasis-associated PAH (SchPAH) development are not well understood. Schistosomiasis-associated hepatosplenic disease (SchHSD) is thought to be a major risk factor for PAH development. Herein, we describe our plans for prospectively screening SchHSD subjects for clinical evidence of PAH at two major academic medical centers and national referral hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Lusaka, Zambia.

Vitamin D Levels in Mother-Baby Pairs: A Cross-Sectional Prospective Study in a Rwandan Tertiary Hospital.

Background: Exposure to the sunlight contributes largely to the production of vitamin D. However, vitamin D deficiency is a reality in tropical countries, despite enjoying enough sunlight, especially bearing women in their last trimester whose foetuses exclusively depend on their reserves. This work aimed at demonstrating the state of vitamin D in mother-baby pairs and associated factors in one of the University Hospitals in Rwanda.

Schistosomiasis Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease of the lung blood vessels that results in right heart failure. PAH is thought to occur in about 5% to 10% of patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, particularly due to . The lung blood vessel injury may result from a combination of embolization of eggs through portocaval shunts into the lungs causing localized Type 2 inflammatory response and vessel remodeling, triggering of autonomous pathology that becomes independent of the antigen, and high cardiac output as seen in portopulmonary hypertension.

Efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens in Rwanda: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Successful H. pylori treatment requires the knowledge of local antimicrobial resistance. Data on the efficacy of H.

Clinical Referral Laboratories in Rwanda.

Objectives: We investigated the quality system performance in Rwandan referral laboratories to determine their progress toward accreditation.

Methods: We conducted audits across five laboratories in 2017, using the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation checklist. Laboratories were scored based on the World Health Organization grading scale (0-5 stars scale) and compared with earlier audits.

Barriers and facilitators to postoperative pain management in Rwanda from the perspective of health care providers: A contextualization of the theory of planned behavior.

Aims: Identify opportunities to improve knowledge translation for post-operative pain management in Rwanda by exploring clinician and environmental factors affecting this practice.

Methods: The theory of planned behavior (TPB) guided development of a questionnaire to measure intent to assess and treat postoperative pain. Focus groups and individual interviews were used to contextualize the final questionnaire and generate questions related to pain management practice.

Assessment of hemodynamic response to fluid resuscitation of patients with intra-abdominal sepsis in low- and middle-income countries.

Background: Patients with intra-abdominal infections need to achieve adequate hemodynamic status before being taken to the operating room. Multiple parameters (urinary output [UOP], vital signs, inferior vena cava collapsibility index, and central venous pressure) may be used to assess hemodynamic response to fluid resuscitation, but the options are few in limited-resource settings. This study aimed at assessing if a bedside-performed ultrasound to assess the inferior vena cava collapsibility index is superior to UOP in assessing hemodynamic response to fluid resuscitation.

Validation of the Kinyarwanda-version Short-Form Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire and Short-Form Nepean Dyspepsia Index to assess dyspepsia prevalence and quality-of-life impact in Rwanda.

Objectives: We aimed to develop and validate Kinyarwanda versions of Short-Form Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire (SF-LDQ) and Short-Form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SF-NDI) to measure the frequency and severity of dyspepsia and associated quality-of-life impact in Rwanda.

Setting: A single, tertiary care centre in Rwanda.

Participants: 200 consecutive Kinyarwanda-speaking patients referred to endoscopy (100 patients) or medical outpatients (100 patients).

Spectrum of nontraumatic myelopathies in Ethiopian patients: hospital-based retrospective study.

Study Design: This is a retrospective hospital-based study.

Objectives: The study aimed at a better understanding of the etiology, clinical presentation and treatment outcome of nontraumatic myelopathies in Ethiopian patients.

Setting: Etiologies of nontraumatic myelopathies have not been evaluated extensively in most sub-Saharan African countries.

High prevalence of cysticercosis in people with epilepsy in southern Rwanda.

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC), the central nervous system infection by Taenia solium larvae, is a preventable and treatable cause of epilepsy. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the role of NCC in epilepsy differs geographically and, overall, is poorly defined. We aimed at contributing specific, first data for Rwanda, assessing factors associated with NCC, and evaluating a real-time PCR assay to diagnose NCC in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Efficacy of sublingual lorazepam versus intrarectal diazepam for prolonged convulsions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, intrarectal diazepam is the first-line anticonvulsant mostly used in children. We aimed to assess this standard care against sublingual lorazepam, a medication potentially as effective and safe, but easier to administer. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the pediatric emergency departments of 9 hospitals.

Prevalence of classic erythrocyte polymorphisms among 749 children in southern highland Rwanda.

Classic erythrocyte polymorphisms were assessed by PCR-based methods among 749 children in southern highland Rwanda. Sickle cell trait, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, and α(+)-thalassaemia were observed in 2.8%, 9.