Exploring the burden of cholera in the WHO African region: patterns and trends from 2000 to 2023 cholera outbreak data.

Introduction: Cholera outbreaks remain persistent in the WHO African region, with an increased trend in recent years. This study analyses actual drivers of cholera including correlations with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) indicators, and climate change trends.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytic study.

Development and psychometric testing of the school-life conflict scale (SLCS) among nursing students.

Background: Nursing students often face a heavy academic burden compared to students in other programs, possibly affecting their personal lives. However, a standardized scale assessing how academic demands interfere with the personal well-being in student nurses is lacking.

Objective: This study was conducted to develop and test the psychometric properties of the School-Life Conflict Scale (SLCS).

Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes-Palliative Care in Africa and Quality of Life, Symptoms, Patient Experience, and Caregiver Distress Among Patients With Cancer.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes-Palliative Care (ECHO-PC; ECHO Model-Based comprehensive educational and telementoring intervention) for health care professionals (HCPs) and change in patient-reported quality-of-life (QOL; Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General [FACT-G]) among patients with advanced cancer. We also examined the association between ECHO-PC and changes in symptom distress (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale [ESAS]), patient experience and satisfaction, and caregiver distress scores.

Methods: ECHO-PC Clinic sessions were conducted twice a month for 1 year by an interdisciplinary team of PC clinicians at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, with participation of experts in PC in sub-Saharan Africa, using standardized curriculum on the basis of PC needs in the region.

Retraction Note: SCLAVOEM: hyper parameter optimization approach to predictive modelling of COVID-19 infodemic tweets using smote and classifier vote ensemble: Taiwo Olaleye.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1007/s00500-022-06940-0.].

In silico-based investigation of the molecular mechanism of Artocarpus communis seed hexane fraction against metabolic syndrome.

Context: The medications for metabolic syndromes are very minimal and the available are not effective and show adverse effects. There is a huge need for the development of effective and safe drugs to battle metabolic syndromes. In this context, our study aimed to decipher the key molecules from Artocarpus communis seed hexane fraction and their possible mechanism of action against metabolic syndrome.

The Brussels consensus for non-invasive ICP monitoring when invasive systems are not available in the care of TBI patients (the B-ICONIC consensus, recommendations, and management algorithm).

Background: Invasive systems are commonly used for monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and are considered the gold standard. The availability of invasive ICP monitoring is heterogeneous, and in low- and middle-income settings, these systems are not routinely employed due to high cost or limited accessibility. The aim of this consensus was to develop recommendations to guide monitoring and ICP-driven therapies in TBI using non-invasive ICP (nICP) systems.

Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) hazard assessment of the banned pesticides by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control.

This study carried out a quantitative structure-activity relationship hazard assessment of the banned pesticides in Nigeria with a view of identifying the dangers posed by these pesticides. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs), which link a compound's chemical structure to its biological activity, can be used to create safer and more effective insecticides, prioritize chemicals for testing, and reduce the number of animal studies necessary throughout the regulatory process. The QSAR hazard assessment of the banned pesticides was carried out on the VEGA software.

Prevalence of low-dose aspirin prophylaxis and its impact on maternal and fetal outcome in pre-eclamptic patients.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of low-dose aspirin (LDA), missed opportunities in pre-eclampsia prevention and its impact on maternofetal outcomes among patients with pre-eclampsia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of pre-eclampsia patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria, prospectively recruited from February 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires and medical records.

Identification of promising dipeptidyl peptidase-4 and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors from selected terpenoids through molecular modeling.

Motivation: Investigating novel drug-target interactions is crucial for expanding the chemical space of emerging therapeutic targets in human diseases. Herein, we explored the interactions of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B with selected terpenoids from African antidiabetic plants.

Results: Using molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, molecular mechanics with generalized Born and surface area solvation-free energy, and density functional theory analyses, the study revealed dipeptidyl peptidase-4 as a promising target.

City classification and health burden: Evidence from U5 malaria in the rapidly growing city of Akure, Nigeria.

Objectives: Little is known about the complex interplay between urban structure and health in rapidly urbanizing cities in Nigeria.

Methods: The study broadly used very high-resolution satellite imagery and gathered primary data. With the aid of the very high-resolution imagery and identified neighborhoods, two neighborhoods each were sampled based on their classified urban structure characteristics.

The burden of hepatitis E virus infection among Ghanaian pregnant women.

Introduction: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection poses a significant burden on pregnant women, with associated negative outcomes. Although well-described in many developed countries, the epidemiology of the disease and its impact on maternal and fetal health in Ghana is not fully understood.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the antenatal clinics of 10 district hospitals in five regions of Ghana.

Genotypic variability in stress responses of Sorghum bicolor under drought and salinity conditions.

Introduction: Sorghum bicolor: widely cultivated in Asia and Africa, faces increasing challenges from climate change, specifically from abiotic stresses like drought and salinity. This study evaluates how different sorghum genotypes respond to separate and combined stresses of drought and salinity.

Methods: Carried out with three replications using a randomized complete block design, the experiment measured biochemical and physiological parameters, including stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activities.

Ginkgolide B as a biopsychosocial treatment salvages repeated restraint stress-induced amygdalar anomalies in mice.

From preclinical and clinical findings, it has been shown that the amygdala is a critical mediator of stress and primary target for stress effects in the brain. We investigated the neuroprotective effect of Ginkgolide B (GB) in repeated restraint stress-induced behavioral deficit and amygdalar inflammation in mice. Mice were orally pre-treated with GB 20 mg/kg 1 h prior to 4 h restraint stress for 21 consecutive days.

Mpox vaccination hesitancy, previous immunisation coverage, and vaccination readiness in the African region: a multinational survey.

Background: Vaccination hesitancy poses a serious threat to mpox vaccination programs. Historically, vaccine uptake in the African region has been low, and this trend may impact future vaccination efforts. Our aim was to investigate the relationships between mpox vaccination hesitancy, immunisation coverage for other vaccines, and vaccination readiness among African adults.

Healthcare worker views on antimicrobial resistance in chronic respiratory disease.

Background And Objective: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global crisis, however, relatively little is known regarding its impact in chronic respiratory disease and the specific challenges faced by healthcare workers across the world in this field. We aimed to assess global healthcare worker views on the challenges they face regarding AMR in chronic respiratory disease.

Methods: An online survey was sent to healthcare workers globally working in chronic respiratory disease through a European Respiratory Society clinical research collaboration (AMR-Lung) focussed on AMR in chronic lung disease.

Compliance with research participant protection guidelines by Nigerian medical journals.

Background: Stakeholders in medical research have roles in ensuring that research participants are protected. Medical journals play gatekeeping roles in the responsible conduct of research. They help guard against the publication of findings of unethical research, such as those with compromised participant welfare.

Prevalence, characteristics, and treatment outcome of congenital malaria in Nigeria: a systematic review.

Background: Congenital malaria remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, particularly in regions with high malaria endemicity. The increased vertical transmission of malaria is partly associated with the high susceptibility of women to malaria during pregnancy. This systematic review aimed to assess the prevalence, characteristics, and treatment outcomes of congenital malaria in Nigeria.

Factors associated with occupational injuries among bricklayers and carpenters in Building Construction: insights from a mixed methods study in Osun State, Nigeria.

Background: Occupational injuries (OI) remains a global health issue, claiming approximately 1000 lives daily. More needs to be known about OI burdens among artisans in low-income settings. Therefore, this study assessed the factors influencing OIs among carpenters and bricklayers, who are informal artisans in Nigeria.

Empowering African Expertise: Enhancing Safety Data Integration and Signal Detection for COVID-19 Vaccines Through the African Union Smart Safety Surveillance Joint Signal Management Group.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated new vaccine development. Limited safety data necessitated robust global safety surveillance to accurately identify and promptly communicate potential safety issues. The African Union Smart Safety Surveillance (AU-3S) program established the Joint Signal Management (JSM) group to support identification of potential vaccine safety concerns in five pilot countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa), accounting for approximately 35% of the African population.

Acetate ameliorates ovarian mitochondrial dysfunction in letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome rat model by improving mitofusin-2.

Androgen excess and metabolic abnormality largely contribute to the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which primarily precipitates ovarian dysfunction and infertility in reproductive-age women. Impaired mitochondrial function and epigenetic alteration have been linked to the development of PCOS. However, it is unknown whether acetate would exert a therapeutic effect on ovarian mitochondrial dysfunction in PCOS.

Structural elucidation and anti-asthmatic effects of semi-crystalline polysaccharides from Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation. Lignosus rhinocerotis (LR), a medicinal mushroom rich in polysaccharide, has been traditionally used to treat various diseases, including asthma. This study aimed to fractionate, characterize and evaluate the anti-asthmatic effects of polysaccharides from LR (LRP).

ATEDU-NET: An Attention-Embedded Deep Unet for multi-disease diagnosis in chest X-ray images, breast ultrasound, and retina fundus.

In image segmentation for medical image analysis, effective upsampling is crucial for recovering spatial information lost during downsampling. This challenge becomes more pronounced when dealing with diverse medical image modalities, which can significantly impact model performance. Plain and standard skip connections, widely used in most models, often fall short of maintaining high segmentation accuracy across different modalities, because essential spatial information transferred from the encoder to the decoder is lost.

Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups.

The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions.

A Review of Nanomaterials and Microwave Synthesized Metal Oxides Nanoparticles in Schistosomiasis Diagnosis.

Point of Care (POC) diagnosis provides an effective approach for controlling and managing Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Electrochemical biosensors are well-suited for molecular diagnostics due to their high sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, and ease of integration into POC devices. Schistosomiasis is a prominent NTD highly prevalent in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with significant socioeconomic implications such as discrimination, reduced work capacity, or mortality, perpetuating the cycle of poverty in affected regions worldwide.

Contact Lenses in Therapeutic Care: A Comprehensive Review of Past Innovations, Present Applications, and Future Directions.

Contact lenses have become integral tools in the realm of ocular therapeutics, extending beyond their primary function of refractive correction to encompass a diverse array of therapeutic applications. This review explores the evolving role of contact lenses in managing various ocular conditions, highlighting their efficacy in enhancing patient outcomes. Initially developed to correct refractive errors, contact lenses now serve as effective vehicles for delivering medications directly to the ocular surface, offering targeted treatment for conditions such as dry eye syndrome and corneal ulcers.