Clinical epidemiology, genetic diversity, and drug susceptibility patterns by whole genome sequencing of complex isolates in Gabon from 2012 to 2022.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate genotypic characteristics and drug resistance profiles of complex (Mtbc) strains isolated from patients with suspected tuberculosis (TB) in Gabon.

Methods: We performed whole genome sequencing of 430 Mtbc strains cultured between 2012 and 2022. Phylogenetic strain classification, genomic resistance prediction, and cluster analysis were also performed.

Incidence and prevalence of traumatic and non-traumatic wounds and burns and access to wound care in Sierra Leone; data from a nationwide household survey (PRESSCO) 2020.

Objectives: This wound section of the PREvalence Study on Surgical COnditions (PRESSCO) determines the incidence and prevalence of wounds and burns in Sierra Leone. It further describes access to wound care and wound-related healthcare-seeking behaviour.

Methods: Between October 2019 and March 2020, a nationwide cross-sectional household survey was performed.

Shaping the structural dynamics of motor learning through cueing during sleep.

Enhancing the retention of recent memory traces through sleep reactivation is possible via Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR), involving cueing learned material during post-training sleep. Evidence indicates detectable short-term microstructural changes in the brain within an hour after motor sequence learning, and post-training sleep is believed to contribute to the consolidation of these motor memories, potentially leading to enduring microstructural changes. In this study, we explored how TMR during post-training sleep affects performance gains and delayed microstructural remodeling, using both standard Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and advanced Neurite Orientation Dispersion & Density Imaging (NODDI).

How to facilitate the wider use of pharmacogenetic tests?

4P medicine (personalized, preventive, predictive, and participatory) is experiencing a remarkable rise, and pharmacogenetics is an essential part of it. However, several obstacles are hindering its deployment. This round table brought together a group of experts to take stock of the situation, reflecting on ways to facilitate the prescription of these tests and the dissemination of the results on a national scale.

How to reduce the adverse effects of weight stigma on the quality of life: a preferred reported items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA).

Introduction: Obesity, affecting 38% of adults globally, carries economic burdens and health risks like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Weight-loss programs often face challenges due to stigma and poor body image, impacting individuals' quality of life. Research on interventions targeting weight stigma is lacking, emphasizing the need for comprehensive approaches addressing psychological and behavioral aspects for effective care.

Non-Invasive Malaria Detection in Sub-Saharan Africa Using a DNA-Based Sensor System.

Malaria poses a serious global health problem, with half the world population being at risk. Regular screening is crucial for breaking the transmission cycle and combatting the disease spreading. However, current diagnostic tools relying on blood samples face challenges in many malaria-epidemic areas.

Nasopharyngeal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in a rural population, Sierra Leone.

Background: Nasopharyngeal colonization with Staphylococcus aureus is a risk factor for subsequent infection. Isolates from colonization can therefore provide important information on virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance when data from clinical isolates are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess colonization rates, resistance patterns and selected virulence factors of S.

Entanglement microscopy and tomography in many-body systems.

Quantum entanglement uncovers the essential principles of quantum matter, yet determining its structure in realistic many-body systems poses significant challenges. Here, we employ a protocol, dubbed entanglement microscopy, to reveal the multipartite entanglement encoded in the full reduced density matrix of the microscopic subregion in spin and fermionic many-body systems. We exemplify our method by studying the phase diagram near quantum critical points (QCP) in 2 spatial dimensions: the transverse field Ising model and a Gross-Neveu-Yukawa transition of Dirac fermions.

Mechanical compressive forces increase PI3K output signaling in breast and pancreatic cancer cells.

Mechanical stresses, including compression, arise during cancer progression. In solid cancer, especially breast and pancreatic cancers, the rapid tumor growth and the environment remodeling explain their high intensity of compressive forces. However, the sensitivity of compressed cells to targeted therapies remains poorly known.

The multi-faceted roles of MYC in the prognosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

In this review, we focus on the pro-oncogene MYC, the modes of deregulation in mouse and human B-cells, its undisputable importance in the evaluation of biological prognostication of patients, but also how it impacts on response to modern therapeutics, and how it should be targeted to improve the overall survival of chronic lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL) patients. After an overview of the current understanding of the molecular dysregulation of c-MYC, we will show how CLL, both in its indolent and transformed phases, has developed among other B-cell lymphomas a tight regulation of its expression through the chronic activation of B-Cell Receptors (among others). This is particularly important if one desires to understand the mechanisms at stake in the over-expression of c-MYC especially in the lymph nodes compartment.

Epidemiology and diversity of Plasmodium species in Franceville and their implications for malaria control.

Malaria is a significant public health challenge in Gabon, with high prevalence rates in rural and semi-urban areas. This study investigated Plasmodium infection prevalence among outpatients at a medical laboratory in Franceville, Gabon, in 2020. Data from 500 patients were analyzed, revealing an overall infection rate of 33.

Genome sequencing of Plasmodium malariae identifies continental segregation and mutations associated with reduced pyrimethamine susceptibility.

Plasmodium malariae parasites are widely observed across the tropics and sub-tropics. This slow-growing species, known to maintain chronic asymptomatic infections, has been associated with reduced antimalarial susceptibility. We analyse 251 P.

COMPOSIT study: evaluating osimertinib combination with targeted therapies in EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: The emergence of diverse resistance mechanisms after osimertinib therapy, including on-target epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and off-target alterations, warrants investigation of novel therapeutics to overcome these challenges and improve patient outcomes.

Methods: COMPOSIT was a French, retrospective, multicenter, cohort study of the effectiveness and tolerability of osimertinib in combination with other targeted therapies in patients with advanced EGFR-mutant (EGFRm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who harbored other oncogenic drivers as primary or acquired resistance mechanisms. Real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate (ORR) were the primary endpoints.

TKK130 is a 3-Hydroxy-Propanamidine (HPA) with Potent Antimalarial Activity and a High Barrier to Resistance.

Malaria continues to pose a significant burden on populations in endemic areas and requires innovative treatment options. Here, we report the synthesis and preclinical evaluation of the novel 3-hydroxypropanamidine (HPA) , which shows excellent antiplasmodial activity against drug-sensitive and -resistant strains. Moreover, in various human cell lines, the compound shows no cytotoxicity and excellent parasite selectivity.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis: a literature review and case study.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare but treatable inherited neurometabolic disorder that can lead to severe sequelae if left untreated. Chenodeoxycholic acid is a safe and effective treatment for CTX. Early diagnosis is essential to improve patient outcomes.

Automated total nucleic acid extraction with magnetic beads for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum in large study cohorts.

Background: Molecular methods play an important role in clinical trials assessing anti-malarial drugs and vaccines, as well as in epidemiological studies aimed at detecting Plasmodium species, especially when dealing with large sample sizes. Molecular techniques are more sensitive and generally have a higher throughput compared to the gold standard microscopy. Further optimization can be achieved with automation of nucleic acid isolation, allowing for rapid and precise extraction.

Immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in sub-Saharan Africa and western Europe: a retrospective, population-based, cross-sectional study.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with a higher proportion of asymptomatic infections and lower mortality in sub-Saharan Africa than high-income countries. However, there is currently a lack of data on cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in people living in Africa compared with people in high-income regions of the world. We aimed to assess geographical variation in peripheral and mucosal immune responses.

The experimental hut efficacy of next-generation insecticide-treated nets against pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors after 12, 24 and 36 months of household use in Benin.

Background: Cluster-randomized controlled trials (cluster-RCTs) have demonstrated variation in the epidemiological efficacy of different next-generation insecticide-treated net (ITN) types, with some providing shorter-lived impact than others. Further studies are needed to assess changes in the insecticidal durability of these ITNs over time to complement cluster-RCT results.

Methods: A series of experimental hut trials were performed to evaluate the bioefficacy of new and field-aged next-generation ITNs (PermaNet 3.

Randomness as a driver of inactivity in social groups.

Social insects, such as ants and bees, are known for their highly efficient and structured colonies. Division of labour, in which each member of the colony has a specific role, is considered to be one major driver of their ecological success. However, empirical evidence has accumulated showing that many workers, sometimes more than half, remain idle in insect societies.

Plasmodium knowlesi Infection Is Associated With Elevated Circulating Biomarkers of Brain Injury and Endothelial Activation.

Background: Malaria remains a major public health concern with substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Malaysia, the emergence of Plasmodium knowlesi has led to a surge in zoonotic malaria cases and deaths in recent years. Signs of cerebral involvement have been observed in a noncomatose, fatal case of knowlesi infection, but the potential impact of this malaria species on the brain remains unexplored.