Tuberculosis and Migrant Pathways in an Urban Setting: A Mixed-Method Case Study on a Treatment Centre in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease associated with poverty. In the European Union TB tends to concentrate in urban settings. In Lisbon, previous studies revealed, the presence of migrant populations from a high endemic country, is one of the risk factors contributing to TB.

HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS and UHPLC-ESI/QTOF/MS characterization of polyphenols in the leaves of Neocarya macrophylla (Sabine) Prance ex F. White and cytotoxicity to gastric carcinoma cells.

Among several extracts from species from Guinea-Bissauan flora, the hydroethanol extract obtained from the leaves of gingerbread plum (Neocarya macrophylla (Sabine) Prance ex F. White.) revealed to be one of the most cytotoxic towards human gastric AGS carcinoma cells.

The rose chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) of Guinea-Bissau: an annotated checklist and new records.

An annotated checklist of the species and subspecies of rose chafers (Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) hitherto known from Guinea-Bissau is given. This list includes historical and published species records, but also novel information from several entomological expeditions/missions to that country carried by the author (1983, 1992, 1995, 2006 and 2009). A total of 49 species and 3 subspecies are recorded for Guinea-Bissau.

Adverse pregnancy outcome disclosure and women's social networks: a qualitative multi-country study with implications for improved reporting in surveys.

Background: Globally, approximately 6,700 newborn deaths and 5,400 stillbirths occur daily. The true figure is likely higher, with under reporting of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) noted. Decision-making in health is influenced by various factors, including one's social networks.

Tuberculosis contact investigation in African Portuguese-speaking countries at End TB Strategy era: a scoping review.

Objectives: The contact investigation of tuberculosis (TB) index case is one of the critical elements pointed by the WHO to reach the end of the TB epidemic. The scoping review aimed to map out the recommended and the adopted processes applied to active contact investigation of TB index case in African Portuguese-speaking countries (PALOP).

Design: Scoping review.

Twins in Guinea-Bissau have a 'thin-fat' body composition compared to singletons.

The 'thrifty phenotype' hypothesis proposed that fetal undernutrition increases risk of diabetes in later life. Undernourished low birthweight Indian babies are paradoxically more adipose compared to well-nourished European babies, and are at higher risk of diabetes in later life. Twin pregnancies are an example of growth restrictive environment due to shared maternal nutrition.

Xpert MTB/RIF on urine samples to increase diagnosis of TB in people living with HIV in Guinea-Bissau.

Objectives: We investigated if Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) testing on urine samples among newly diagnosed HIV-patients as an adjunctive test to Xpert testing on sputum increases diagnosis. We sought to define subgroups of patients, for whom testing with either test is especially advantageous.

Methods: We included patients >15 years, newly diagnosed with HIV, that delivered a urine sample on the day of HIV-diagnosis at the biggest HIV-clinic in Guinea-Bissau between September 5, 2016 and October 13, 2017 into a cross-sectional study.

Linking trophic ecology with element concentrations in a coastal fish community of the Bijagós Archipelago, West Africa.

We report the concentration of 13 elements in the muscle and liver of 17 coastal fish species of the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau, and link element concentrations to trophic ecology as assessed by carbon (δC) and nitrogen (δN) stable isotopes. We found higher concentrations of Hg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se and As in liver as compared to muscle tissue, and the opposite pattern for Sr and Ca in all fish species. The concentration of Hg and Se in muscle samples increased significantly with δN, suggesting a biomagnification of these elements in this food chain.

Global progress toward the elimination of active trachoma: an analysis of 38 countries.

Background: Global elimination of trachoma as a public health problem was targeted for 2020. We reviewed progress towards the elimination of active trachoma by country and geographical group.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis of national survey and implementation data, all countries ever known to be endemic for trachoma that had either implemented at least one trachoma impact survey shown in the publicly available Trachoma Atlas, or are in Africa were invited to participate in this study.

Growth, maturity, and diet of the pearl whipray () from the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau.

The pearl whipray (Compagno & Roberts, 1984) is a common elasmobranch in coastal western African waters. However, knowledge on their life-history and trophic ecology remains limited. Therefore, we aimed to determine the growth, maturity and diet of from the Bijagós Archipelago in Guinea-Bissau.

Inter-community behavioural variation confirmed through indirect methods in four neighbouring chimpanzee communities in Cantanhez NP, Guinea-Bissau.

Culture, while long viewed as exclusively human, has now been demonstrated across diverse taxa and contexts. However, most animal culture data are constrained to well-studied, habituated groups. This is the case for chimpanzees, arguably the most 'cultural' non-human species.

The Effect of a Second Dose of Measles Vaccine at 18 Months of Age on Nonaccidental Deaths and Hospital Admissions in Guinea-Bissau: Interim Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The world is set on the eradication of measles. Continuation of the measles vaccine (MV) after eradication could still reduce morbidity because the MV has so-called beneficial nonspecific effects. We evaluated the effect of a "booster" dose of the MV on overall severe morbidity.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Bissau, Western Africa.

Hypertension is the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In Guinea-Bissau there are no previous population-based hypertension surveys. Therefore, the authors aimed to estimate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of high blood pressure among adults living in Bissau.

The association between parental and neonatal BCG vaccination and neonatal T helper 17 cell expansion.

Background: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination reduces the severity of neonatal infections; this effect appears enhanced if the mother has received BCG. We performed immunophenotyping of the T-cell subset and characterized T-cell proliferation responses to assess possible immune response pathways.

Methods: Healthy BCG-vaccinated (n = 8) and unvaccinated (n = 9) neonates born by elective caesarean section were sampled 3 weeks after birth.

Chloroquine-susceptible and -resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains survive high chloroquine concentrations by becoming dormant but are eliminated by prolonged exposure.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum strains that are resistant to standard-dose chloroquine can be treated by higher chloroquine concentrations maintained for a longer time in vivo.

Objectives: To determine the relative importance of chloroquine concentrations versus exposure time for elimination of chloroquine-susceptible and -resistant P. falciparum in vitro.

Randomized controlled trial of early, small-volume formula supplementation among newborns: A study protocol.

Childhood undernutrition is a major health burden worldwide that increases childhood morbidity and mortality and causes impairment in infant growth and developmental delays that can persist into adulthood. The first weeks and months after birth are critical to the establishment of healthy growth and development during childhood. The World Health Organization recommends immediate and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF).

A self-rated health score predicts severe disease and high mortality in patients with pulmonary TB.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with pulmonary TB may be predictive of disease outcome; however, HRQoL instruments are often complicated and unsuitable for use in low-resource settings. A single-item self-rated health (SRH) score may represent a simpler alternative which could be used in clinical decision-making. To evaluate internal and external validity of SRH and its correlation with TBscore/TBscoreII in a low-resource setting.

SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey among adults involved in healthcare and health research in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa.

Objectives: Many African countries have reported fewer COVID-19 cases than countries elsewhere. By the end of 2020, Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, had <2500 PCR-confirmed cases corresponding to 0.1% of the ∼1.

Treatment of Advanced Retinoblastoma in Children Evacuated from Low-Income Countries: Experience from a National Referral Center in Portugal.

Objective: The aim of our study was to characterize the evacuated African patients diagnosed with retinoblastoma and referred to the Portuguese national referral center (Centro Hospital e Universitário de Coimbra, University of Coimbra), identifying inequalities in the stage of diagnosis and prognostic results.

Design: Retrospective observational study of evacuated African patients diagnosed with retinoblastoma and referred to the Portuguese National Referral Center (Centro Hospital e Universitário de Coimbra, University of Coimbra).

Results: The study included 15 patients between October 2015 and October 2020 from Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Morphological and microsatellite DNA diversity of Djallonké sheep in Guinea-Bissau.

Background: The present study aimed at characterizing the Djallonké Sheep (DS), the only local sheep breed raised in Guinea-Bissau. A total of 200 animals were sampled from four regions (Bafatá, Gabú, Oio and Cacheu) and described using 7 visual criteria and 8 measurements. These parameters have been studied by principal components analysis.

Does Influenza Vaccination during Pregnancy Have Effects on Non-Influenza Infectious Morbidity? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

The recommendation to provide inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) to pregnant women is based on observed protection against influenza-related morbidity in mother and infant. Non-live vaccines may have non-specific effects (NSEs), increasing the risk of non-targeted infections in females. We reviewed the evidence from available randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of IIV to pregnant women, to assess whether IIV may have NSEs.

Prevalence of Underweight, Overweight and Obesity among Adults in Urban Bissau, Western Africa.

Overweight and obesity affect a large proportion of the population and are important causes of death in both developed and low- and middle-income countries. In Guinea-Bissau, there are no previous population-based studies assessing this phenomenon. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity among adults in Bissau.

Maternal BCG primes for enhanced health benefits in the newborn.

Objectives: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination lowers the risk of severe infection; we tested whether effects are modulated by maternal BCG in a large cohort of BCG-vaccinated newborns from Guinea-Bissau.

Methods: Maternal BCG scar status were inspected at enrolment in a BCG trial conducted from 2014 to 17 in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. We tested associations with background factors for potential confounding; maternal age affected effect estimates >5% and accordingly, all analyses were adjusted for maternal age.