Gastrointestinal endoscopy experience of surgical trainees throughout rural Africa.

Background: Gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) is not routinely accessible in many parts of rural Africa. As surgical training expands and technology progresses, the capacity to deliver endoscopic care to patients improves. We aimed to describe the current burden of gastrointestinal (GI) disease undergoing GIE by examining the experience of surgical training related to GIE.

The outcome and cost of a capacity-building training programme on the early recognition and referral of childhood cancer for healthcare workers in North-West Cameroon.

Aim: Early cancer diagnosis is necessary to improve survival rates. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome and cost of the childhood cancer training programme amongst healthcare workers.

Design: This was a prospective pre-post study design, using questionnaires for pre- and post-training testing.

The Evolution of a Hospital-Based Cancer Registry in Northwest Cameroon from 2004 to 2015.

Effective cancer registration is required for the development of cancer management policies, but is often deficient in the developing world. In 2008 cancer registration was set up Banso Baptist Hospital and Mbingo Baptist Hospital in the Northwest region of Cameroon, using the Pediatric Oncology Networked Database (POND). The objective of this study was to analyze the POND registry data for patients with cancer aged 0-15 years for the period 2004-15.

Pre-treatment drug resistance and HIV-1 genetic diversity in the rural and urban settings of Northwest-Cameroon.

Background: With the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART), pre-treatment drug resistance (PDR) appears ≥10% amongst ART-initiators in many developing countries, including Cameroon. Northwest region-Cameroon having the second epidemiological burden of HIV infection, generating data on PDR in these geographical settings, will enhance evidence-based decision-making.

Objectives: We sought to ascertain levels of PDR and HIV-1 clade dispersal in rural and urban settings, and their potential association with subtype distribution and CD4-staging.

Nutritional traditional and complementary medicine strategies in pediatric cancer: A narrative review.

Traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) strategies are commonly used by pediatric cancer patients. Nutritional approaches to T&CM include bioactive compounds, supplements, and herbs as well as dietary approaches. Pediatric cancer patients and their families commonly request and use nutritional T&CM strategies.

Factors associated with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among medical students in Cameroon: a web-based cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic mental disorder that is associated with poor productivity, with a significant impact on the quality of life.

Objectives: To determine factors associated with symptoms of ADHD among medical students in Cameroon.

Design: A web-based cross-sectional study.

Destitution, treatment adherence and survival of children with Burkitt lymphoma in a twinning programme in Northwest Cameroon.

Background: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a curable childhood cancer. Treatment adherence is crucial for a good outcome, but is potentially problematic in low- and middle-income countries owing to parental financial constraints.

Aims: To investigate the association of destitution with treatment adherence and its effect on the survival of patients with BL.

Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Rural Northwest Cameroon.

Objective: Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the precursor for a growing subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) in the developed world. This study was designed to characterize oral HPV infection and OPSCC in a region with high rates of HPV-driven cervical cancer.

Study Design: Cross-sectional cohort study, retrospective case series.

Acute kidney injury as initial presentation of renal lymphoma: Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in a resource-limited setting.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is reportedly common in Africa; however, there is limited data on renal involvement. Acute kidney injury only at presentation is rare for lymphoproliferative malignancies. A 7-year old presented to our facility with a 2-week history of progressive abdominal distension and pain, examination revealed anasarca and hypertension.

Prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Cameroonian blood donors.

Objective: Deficiency in G6PD is the most common enzymopathy worldwide. It is frequently found in individuals of African descent in whom it can lead to hemolytic crises triggered by the use of certain antimalarial medications and infection. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency and its contribution to morbidity in West Africa is under-studied.

Diagnostic yield of gastrointestinal endoscopy in North West Region Cameroon and trends in diagnosis over time.

Introduction: Gastrointestinal endoscopy is an important modality for diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disease, but there are limited data regarding the diagnostic yield of endoscopy in Cameroon and changes in the prevalence of endoscopic findings over time. Our aims were to describe the diagnostic utility of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy, the impact of periodic on-site mentorship on cecal intubation rate and changes in the prevalence of common upper gastrointestinal findings when compared to a similar report from our region published in 1990.

Methods: Retrospective review of all EGD and colonoscopy procedures performed during 2015 at a regional referral hospital in North West Region, Cameroon, with comparison to EGD findings reported by Dent and colleagues in 1990.

Undertreated Medical Conditions vs Trauma as Primary Indications for Amputation at a Referral Hospital in Cameroon.

This cohort study identifies the primary indications for amputation among patients at a Cameroon hospital.

Peritoneal Dialysis for AKI in Cameroon: Commercial vs Locally-Made Solutions.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in low- and middle-income countries, and is associated with a high mortality. The high mortality rate is in large part due to the inability to perform dialysis in resource-limited settings. Due to significant cost advantages, peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been used to treat AKI in these settings.

Qualitative Assessment of Face Validity and Cross-Cultural Acceptability of the Faces Pain Scale: "Revised" in Cameroon.

The Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) is a self-report pain scale validated in numerous countries, but not in Cameroon. We postulated that while cultural factors influence pain perception and expression, the FPS-R should remain culturally acceptable for pediatric use. A convenience sample of 36 pediatric patients, aged 4 to 16 years, representing three primary language groups, was enrolled at Mbingo Baptist Hospital (MBH).

Improved outcome at end of treatment in the collaborative Wilms tumour Africa project.

Background: The Collaborative Wilms Tumour (WT) Africa Project has implemented an adapted WT treatment guideline in sub-Saharan Africa as a multi-centre prospective clinical trial. A retrospective, baseline evaluation of end-of-treatment outcome was performed for a 2-year period prior to the introduction of this guideline. The collaborative project aims to reduce both treatment abandonment and death during treatment to less than 10% for improving survival.

Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment in Fundong District, North West Cameroon: Results of a Population-Based Survey.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in Fundong Health District, North West Cameroon.

Methods: A total of 51 clusters of 80 people (all ages) were sampled with probability proportionate to size and compact segment sampling. Visual acuity (VA) was measured with a tumbling "E" chart.

Subdissociative intranasal ketamine plus standard pain therapy versus standard pain therapy in the treatment of paediatric sickle cell disease vaso-occlusive crises in resource-limited settings: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Pediatric sickle cell disease, highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, carries great morbidity and mortality risk. Limited resources and monitoring make management of acute vaso-occlusive crises challenging. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of subdissociative intranasal ketamine as a cheap, readily available and easily administered adjunct to standard pain therapy.

Characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Africa: a multicountry observational study from the Africa Liver Cancer Consortium.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a leading cause of cancer-related death in Africa, but there is still no comprehensive description of the current status of its epidemiology in Africa. We therefore initiated an African hepatocellular carcinoma consortium aiming to describe the clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Africa.

Methods: We did a multicentre, multicountry, retrospective observational cohort study, inviting investigators from the African Network for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases to participate in the consortium to develop hepatocellular carcinoma research databases and biospecimen repositories.

Peritoneal Dialysis to Treat Patients with Acute Kidney Injury-The Saving Young Lives Experience in West Africa: Proceedings of the Saving Young Lives Session at the First International Conference of Dialysis in West Africa, Dakar, Senegal, December 2015.

In December 2015, as part of the First African Dialysis Conference organized in Dakar, Senegal, 5 physicians from West African countries who have participated in the Saving Young Lives Program reviewed their experiences establishing peritoneal dialysis (PD) programs to treat patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). Thus far, nearly 200 patients have received PD treatment in these countries. The interaction and discussion amongst the participants at the meeting was meaningful and informative.

Practical and Sustainable Teledermatology and Teledermatopathology: Specialty Care in Cameroon Africa.

Teledermatology is a rapidly expanding niche within telemedicine still in its infancy. It has become increasingly more feasible in recent years with the expansion of information and communication technologies. Here, the authors present the details of their collaboration and propose a model for constructing a teledermatology network.

Beyond Infrastructure: Understanding Why Patients Decline Surgery in the Developing World: An Observational Study in Cameroon.

Objective: The aim of this study was to quantify and describe a population of patients in rural Cameroon who present with a surgically treatable illness but ultimately decline surgery, and to understand the patient decision-making process and identify key socioeconomic factors that result in barriers to care.

Background: An estimated 5 billion people lack access to safe, affordable surgical care and anesthesia when needed, and this unmet need resides disproportionally in low-income countries (LICs). An understanding of the socioeconomic factors underlying decision-making is key to future efforts to expand surgical care delivery in this population.

A practical guide for short-term pediatric surgery global volunteers.

Introduction: The tremendous need for increasing the quantity and quality of global pediatric surgical care in underserved areas has been well documented. Concomitantly there has been a significant increase in interest by pediatric surgeons in helping to relieve this problem through surgical volunteerism. The intent of the article is to serve as a practical guide for pediatric surgeons contemplating or planning a short-term global volunteer endeavor.