An Integrative Computational Approach for the Identification of C-Abl Kinase Inhibitors from Anti-Parkinson Plant-Derived Bioactive.

Background: Oxidative stress is strongly linked to neurodegeneration through the activation of c-Abl kinase, which arrests α-synuclein proteolysis by interacting with parkin interacting substrate (PARIS) and aminoacyl tRNA synthetase complex-interacting multifunctional protein 2 (AIMP2). This activation, triggered by ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase, leads to dopaminergic neuron loss and α-synuclein aggregation, a critical pathophysiological aspect of Parkinson's disease (PD). To halt PD progression, pharmacological inhibition of c-Abl kinase is essential.

Disparities in dolutegravir utilisation in children, adolescents and young adults (0-24 years) living with HIV. An analysis of the IeDEA Pediatric West African cohort.

Introduction: We describe the 24-month incidence of Dolutegravir (DTG)-containing antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation since its introduction in 2019 in West Africa.

Methods: We included all patients aged 0-24 years on ART from nine clinics in Côte d'Ivoire (n=4), Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Benin, and Burkina Faso. Baseline varied by clinic and was defined as date of first DTG prescription; patients were followed up until database closure/death/loss to follow-up (LTFU, no visit ≥7 months), whichever came first.

Prevalence and factors associated with childhood malaria and anaemia in Osun state, Nigeria: a baseline household malariometric study.

Background: Under-5 children have been known to bear a significant burden of malaria in endemic countries. Though significant progress has been made towards malaria prevention and control in Nigeria, it is expected that the addition of new malaria prevention strategy, such as perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) can contribute to a more rapid decline in malaria cases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with malaria and anaemia among children aged 2-18 months in Osun State.

Machine learning insights on the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Background: The lack of effective pharmacological measures during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) as initial mitigation strategies. The impact of these NPIs on COVID-19 in Nigeria is not well-documented. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of NPIs to support future epidemic responses.

Attitudes toward scale-up of an Intensive Combination Approach to Rollback the Epidemic in Nigerian adolescents (iCARE) intervention for youth in Nigeria: results of a mixed methods early-implementation study.

Background: Youth living with HIV (YLH) are disproportionately impacted by HIV with poor outcomes along the entire HIV care continuum. In a 2020-2022 pilot study, iCARE Nigeria, successfully tested a combination intervention incorporating mobile health technology and peer navigation to: 1) improve testing and linkage to HIV care for young men, especially young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and 2) improve medication adherence and treatment outcomes for YLH. The intervention was scaled up to 5 sites in 3 Nigerian cities.

Early childhood caries risk prediction using machine learning approaches in Bangladesh.

Background: In the last years, artificial intelligence (AI) has contributed to improving healthcare including dentistry. The objective of this study was to develop a machine learning (ML) model for early childhood caries (ECC) prediction by identifying crucial health behaviours within mother-child pairs.

Methods: For the analysis, we utilized a representative sample of 724 mothers with children under six years in Bangladesh.

User-centered adaption of , A novel mhealth application integrating medication reminders with virtual peer support and social/financial incentives to improve medication adherence.

Youth living with HIV (YLWH) have high rates of virologic failure due to medication non-adherence. is a novel, gamified mobile health (mHealth) application designed with user-centered principles to improve medication adherence by integrating medication reminders with social and financial incentives, virtual peer social support and early clinic outreach for non-adherent YLWH in Nigeria. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted to identify reactions to key prototype features (user interface, medication reminders, incentives, and peer support), facilitators and barriers to app use, and how well the app would meet adherence needs.

Factors associated with the dental service utilization by enrollees on the Lagos State health insurance scheme, Nigeria.

Background: Despite assumptions that insurance coverage would boost oral healthcare utilization in Nigeria, there is insufficient evidence supporting this claim. This study investigates the associations between residential location, awareness of the oral health insurance scheme, history of dental service utilization, and acceptance of oral health insurance among individuals benefiting from the Ilera Eko Scheme; a scheme that integrates preventive and curative oral health care into the state health insurance scheme.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to November 2023 recruiting from a database of 1520 enrollees aged of 18 and 72-years-old who had been on the scheme for at least three months.

Implementation of malaria vector surveillance and insecticide resistance monitoring interventions in Nigeria.

Malaria vector surveillance is required to determine disease transmission dynamics, vector insecticide susceptibility status, suitable control strategies and impact of control interventions. However, capacity and resources for vector surveillance and insecticide resistance monitoring is often inadequate in most countries at risk of vector-borne diseases. Collaborations and linkages between malaria control policy makers and existing research institutions generating vector surveillance research data are often weak, thereby hindering the availability of data for decision-making.

Prevalence and patterns of substance use in West Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Substance use is a growing public health concern in West Africa, contributing to significant morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic challenges. Despite the increasing prevalence, comprehensive data on the patterns and factors influencing substance use in the region remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesize existing research on the prevalence and patterns of substance use in West Africa, providing critical insights for developing targeted interventions and policies.

Isolation and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from bovine mastitis in North West Cameroon: public health implications.

Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a zoonotic pathogen that poses a serious threat to veterinary and public health worldwide. We investigated mastitis milk samples for contamination with MRSA and also characterized the MRSA isolates by investigating antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors.

Result: We confirmed MRSA in 69 of 201 (34.

Surveillance of public health pathogens in Lagos wastewater canals: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is already being adopted for the surveillance of health conditions of communities and shows great potential for the monitoring of infectious pathogens of public health importance. There is however paucity of robust data to support extensive WBE in Nigeria. This study evaluated the prevalence of clinically relevant infectious pathogens and provided antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacteria pathogens in wastewater canals in Lagos State at a single point in time.

An innovation bootcamp model for developing youth-led HIV self-testing delivery strategies in Nigeria: post-designathon capacity building.

Introduction: Many designathons, hackathons, and similar participatory events suffer from minimal training and support after the events. Responding to this need, we organized a health innovation bootcamp: an intensive, team-based apprenticeship training with research and entrepreneurial rigor among young people in Nigeria to develop HIV self-testing (HIVST) delivery strategies for Nigerian youth. The purpose of this paper was to describe an innovation bootcamp that aimed to develop HIVST delivery strategies for Nigerian youth.

Expediting pathogen genomics adoption for enhanced foodborne disease surveillance in Africa.

The role of genomics in public health surveillance has been accentuated by its crucial contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating its potential in addressing global disease outbreaks. While Africa has made strides in expanding multi-pathogen genomic surveillance, the integration into foodborne disease (FBD) surveillance remains nascent. Here we highlight the critical components to strengthen and scale-up the integration of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in foodborne disease surveillance across the continent.

Evaluation of three rapigen biocredit point-of-care tests for malaria case management in Lagos, Nigeria.

Introduction: Histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) antigen kits are widely used for malaria diagnosis in tropical regions due to their heat stability. The Plasmodium Lactate Dehydrogenase (pLDH) used in BIOCREDIT® malaria test kit is claimed to be heat-stable. This study aimed to evaluate the heat stability and field performance of three BIOCREDIT® kits.

Impact of Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 Viral Shedding on COVID-19 Disease Outcome and Viral Dynamics.

This article aimed to review the current literature on the impact of continuous shedding of the COVID-19 virus in infected patients in relation to disease outcome variables and viral dynamics. Electronic databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and MedlinePlus were searched using relevant keywords, restricting the selection to thirty-two peer-reviewed articles and four gray literatures from the WHO websites. Findings from this study showed that several variables such as sex, age, immune status, treatments, and vaccines were found to affect the outcomes associated with the COVID-19 virus shedding.

A bibliometric analysis of African dental research and the sustainable development goals, 2016-2023.

Background: The successful implementation of the 2030 sustainable development Agenda in Africa requires active participation from all sectors, including the dental research sector. The aim of this study was to review dental research published by authors affiliated with institutions in African countries from 2016 to 2023, to map papers related to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and to identify areas of emphasis and gaps in SDGs-related papers on oral health in Africa.

Methods: We conducted a bibliometric analysis of dental literature in Africa (2016-2023) using Scival for performance analysis and VOSviewer for science mapping.

A Comparative Analysis of Hydroxyurea Treatment on Coagulation Profile Among Sickle Cell Anaemia Children in Lagos, Nigeria.

Hydroxyurea (HU) is a disease-modifying therapy with significant clinical and laboratory efficacy among individuals living with sickle cell anaemia (SCA). This is evident through increased fetal haemoglobin, higher packed cell volume, improved red cell hydration, reduced leukocytes, and platelet function. The effect on the coagulation pathway and pathophysiologic mechanism remains unclear, especially in children living with SCA.

A qualitative evaluation of the short and long-term impacts of an implementation science training program in South Africa.

Background: As implementation science (IS) in low and middle-income country settings continues to grow and generate interest, there is continual demand for capacity building in the field. Training programs have proliferated, but evaluations of these efforts are sparse and primarily from high-income countries. There is little knowledge about the impact of IS training on students' careers post-graduation.

Bioinformatics designing of an mRNA vaccine for Mokola virus (MOKV) using immunoinformatics as a secure strategy for successful vaccine development.

The Mokola Virus belongs to the family Rhabdoviridae and is genotype 3 of the Lyssavirus genera. A small number of cases of animal and human encephalomyelitis, mainly scattered over sub-Saharan Africa, have been linked to the Mokola Virus (MOKV). Currently there is no vaccine to protect against MOKV infection in people or animals.