CompSafeNano project: NanoInformatics approaches for safe-by-design nanomaterials.

The CompSafeNano project, a Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) project funded under the European Union's Horizon 2020 program, aims to advance the safety and innovation potential of nanomaterials (NMs) by integrating cutting-edge nanoinformatics, computational modelling, and predictive toxicology to enable design of safer NMs at the earliest stage of materials development. The project leverages Safe-by-Design (SbD) principles to ensure the development of inherently safer NMs, enhancing both regulatory compliance and international collaboration. By building on established nanoinformatics frameworks, such as those developed in the H2020-funded projects NanoSolveIT and NanoCommons, CompSafeNano addresses critical challenges in nanosafety through development and integration of innovative methodologies, including advanced models, approaches including machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven predictive models and 1st-principles computational modelling of NMs properties, interactions and effects on living systems.

Biochemical mechanisms and molecular interactions of vitamins in cancer therapy.

Recently, the potential role of vitamins in cancer therapy has attracted considerable research attention. However, the reported findings are inconsistent, with limited information on the biochemical and molecular interactions of different vitamins in various cancer cells. Importantly, the presence of vitamin receptors in tumor cells suggests that vitamins play a significant role in the molecular and biochemical interactions in cancers.

Effects of Conservation Agriculture on Soil NO Emissions and Crop Yield in Global Cereal Cropping Systems.

Conservation agriculture, which involves minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop rotation, has been widely adopted as a sustainable agricultural practice globally. However, the effects of conservation agriculture practices on soil NO emissions and crop yield vary based on geography, management methods, and the duration of implementation, which has hindered its widespread scientific application. In this study, we assessed the impacts of no-tillage (NT), both individually and in combination with other conservation agriculture principles, on soil NO emissions and crop yields worldwide, based on 1270 observations from 86 peer-reviewed articles.

A Systematic Review of Synthetic and Anticancer and Antimicrobial Activity of Quinazoline/Quinazolin-4-one Analogues.

Quinazolines/quinazolin-4-ones are significant nitrogen-containing heterocycles that exist in various natural products and synthetic scaffolds with diverse medicinal and pharmacological applications. Researchers across the globe have explored numerous synthetic strategies to develop safer and more potent quinazoline/quinazolinone analogues, particularly for combating cancer and microbial infections. This review systematically examines scholarly efforts toward understanding this scaffold's synthetic pathways and medicinal relevance, emphasizing the role of metal and non-metal catalysts and other reagents in their synthesis.

Couple-Based Intervention to Improve HIV Care Engagement for Women and their Partners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Outcomes of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

We evaluated a couple-based intervention targeting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care needs of women, with the option to support HIV-related needs of male partners. Adult women with HIV adherence difficulties in a monogamous relationship with a male partner for ≥6 months were recruited in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Twenty couples were randomized (1:1) to either START Together, a five-session manualized behavioral intervention, or treatment as usual, adherence counseling referral.

WildPose: A long-range 3D wildlife motion capture system.

Understanding and monitoring wildlife behavior is crucial in ecology and biomechanics, yet challenging due to the limitations of current methods. To address this issue, we introduce WildPose, a novel long-range motion capture system specifically tailored for free-ranging wildlife observation. This system combines an electronically controllable zoom-lens camera with a LiDAR to capture both 2D videos and 3D point cloud data, thereby allowing researchers to observe high-fidelity animal morphometrics, behavior and interactions in a completely remote manner.

Supporting social justice through equity-based actions for a sustainable future in animal genetics (at the 39th International Society for Animal Genetics Conference).

The 39th International Society for Animal Genetics conference (ISAG) was held for the first time in Africa under the theme 'Animal genetics for a sustainable future' in 2023. The conference convened scientists, policy makers, industry professionals, and students from interdisciplinary fields to share and discuss the latest developments in the space of animal genetics. Since its inception as a society, ISAG has sought to provide a platform advocating for a just and equitable future in animal genetics.

Addressing the concept of total pain in palliative care: A postcolonial South African hospice view.

Objectives: Palliative care, which was formally established in the Global North, is now recognized globally as part of health care. As part of a larger study, we were interested in how decision-makers at a leading hospice in South Africa understood the changing local context and its influence on the delivery of services. We were interested in how the concept of "total pain," as outlined by Saunders, applies in a very unequal and under-resourced society in the shadow of a long, oppressive colonial, and apartheid past.

Cytotoxic Effects Of (Planch.) Extract and Triterpenoids-derived Gold Nanoparticles On MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

Background: The prevalent disease known as breast cancer has a significant impact on both men's and women's health and quality of life.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the potential roles of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides (planch.) extract and triterpenoid-derived gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in cancer therapy, specifically targeting MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines.

Shaping the future rural healthcare landscape: perspectives of young healthcare professionals.

Introduction: Rural communities continue to struggle to access quality healthcare services. Even in countries where the majority of the population live in rural and remote areas, resources are concentrated in big cities, and this is continuing. As a result, countries with the highest proportion of rural residents correlate with the poorest access, which has negative implications for the health and wellbeing of people.

Trends and contributors of complete continuum of maternal healthcare service utilization in Ethiopia: a multivariate decomposition analyses.

Background: Most maternal deaths are preventable by accessing essential maternity healthcare services. However, maternal mortality rates remain high in Ethiopia partly due to only a few women using a complete Continuum of Maternal Healthcare Services (CMHS). This study aims to assess trends and contributors for complete CMHS utilization in Ethiopia.

Exploring the clinical profiles and management of juvenile dermatomyositis in Africa: a survey of African rheumatology care providers.

Background: There are limited studies of juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). Many demonstrate delays to care, high prevalence of severe manifestations, and high mortality. Given the disease-associated damage with JDM, understanding JDM in Africa further is critical.

Accessing medical records for research in South African public hospitals: a reflective narrative.

Background: Access to medical data is important for health system research in South Africa. Researchers must obtain authorization from gatekeepers to enter hospitals and access medical records. They engage with street-level bureaucrats to retrieve specific records and extract necessary data.

Antenatal care and breastfeeding practices in Sub-Saharan Africa: an analysis of demographic and health surveys.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends immediate breastfeeding (within the first hour after birth) and exclusive breastfeeding (for the first six months of life), particularly in low-resource settings such as sub-Saharan Africa. In 2016, WHO updated its antenatal care (ANC) guidelines, recommending at least eight (8+) ANC contacts during pregnancy to improve maternal and child health outcomes. This study investigates i) trends in breastfeeding practices across sub-Saharan Africa following the rollout of the revised WHO 2016 ANC policy and ii) the relationship between ANC uptake and exclusive or early breastfeeding.

The biodiversity of ice-free Antarctica database.

Antarctica is one of Earth's most untouched, inhospitable, and poorly known regions. Although knowledge of its biodiversity has increased over recent decades, a diverse, wide-ranging, and spatially explicit compilation of the biodiversity that inhabits Antarctica's permanently ice-free areas is unavailable. This absence hinders both Antarctic biodiversity research and the integration of Antarctica in global biodiversity-related studies.

Quantification of ivermectin in veterinary products consumed off-label as a treatment for COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused global pandemonium, and due to an unprecedented global response, the popularity and use of (veterinary) ivermectin, amongst many other conceivable 'treatments', experienced a meteoric rise. Ivermectin is a macrocyclic lactone compound belonging to the avermectin drug class and is a registered medicine in many countries, although the most common use is as veterinary medicine. In this study, a fast HPLC method was developed and validated for the quantification of ivermectin in veterinary products that were used off-label by a substantial number of people during COVID-19.

Social epidemiology of early adolescent nutrition.

Background: This study aimed to investigate associations between sociodemographic factors and dietary intake among a diverse population of early adolescents ages 10-13 years in the United States.

Methods: We examined data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study in Year 2 (2018-2020, ages 10-13 years, N = 10,280). Multivariable linear regression models were conducted to estimate the adjusted associations between sociodemographic factors (age, sex, race and ethnicity, household income, parental education) and dietary intake of various food groups, measured by the Block Kids Food Screener.

Adsorption of Acid Yellow 36 and direct blue 86 dyes to Delonix regia biochar-sulphur.

This study aims to investigate a new approach to removing hazardous dyes like Direct Blue 86 (DB86) and Acid Yellow 36 (AY36) from aqueous environments. Delonix regia biochar-sulphur (DRB-S), made from Delonix regia seed pods (DPSPs), is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly adsorbent. Different characterization investigations using BJH, BET, FTIR, SEM, DSC, TGA, and EDX were utilized in the descriptions of the DRB-S biosorbent.

Density functional theory study of Chlorine, Fluorine, Nitrogen, and Sulfur doped rutile TiO for photocatalytic application.

This study uses the Quantum ESPRESSO code to introduce Hubbard correction (U) to the density functional theory (DFT) in order to examine the effects of non-metals (C, F, N, and S) doping on the structural, electronic, and optical characteristics of rutile TiO. Rutile TiO is a substance that shows promise for use in renewable energy production, including fuels and solar energy, as well as environmental cleanup. Its wide bandgap, however, restricts their uses to areas with UV light.

Developing anti-TDE vaccine for sensitizing cancer cells to treatment and metastasis control.

Tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) mediate oncogenic communication, which modifies target cells to reinforce a tumor-promoting microenvironment. TDEs support cancer progression by suppressing anti-tumor immune responses, promoting metastasis, and conferring drug resistance. Thus, targeting TDEs could improve the efficacy of anti-cancer treatments and control metastasis.

Evidence-Based Surgical Guidelines for Treating Children With Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Background: Surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in children. However, there is considerable variation in surgical management practices worldwide, highlighting the need for standardized Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG).

Methods: The CPG development involved assembling a multidisciplinary group, prioritizing 10 key topic areas, conducting evidence searches, and synthesizing findings.

Age- and sex-specific incidence rates and future projections for hip fractures in Zimbabwe.

Introduction: Population ageing in Africa is increasing healthcare demands. Hip fractures require multidisciplinary care and are considered an indicator condition for age-related health services. We aimed to estimate current hip fracture incidence in Zimbabwe, compare rates against other regional estimates and estimate future fracture numbers.

The Application of Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict HIV Testing in Repeated Adult Population-Based Surveys in South Africa: Protocol for a Multiwave Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background: HIV testing is the cornerstone of HIV prevention and a pivotal step in realizing the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) goal of ending AIDS by 2030. Despite the availability of relevant survey data, there exists a research gap in using machine learning (ML) to analyze and predict HIV testing among adults in South Africa. Further investigation is needed to bridge this knowledge gap and inform evidence-based interventions to improve HIV testing.

Exome sequencing identifies existing and novel variants in a South African cohort presenting with anterior segment dysgenesis.

Anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) defines a collection of congenital eye disorders that affect structures within the anterior segment of the eye. Mutations in genes that initiate and regulate the complex pathways involved in eye development can cause a spectrum of disorders such as ASD, congenital cataracts and corneal opacity. In South Africa, causes of ASD are poorly understood with few studies looking at the possible genetic basis for these disorders.

Lerodalcibep and evolocumab for the treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia with PCSK9 inhibition (LIBerate-HoFH): a phase 3, randomised, open-label, crossover, non-inferiority trial.

Background: Lerodalcibep, a small binding anti-PCSK9 protein (adnectin), showed effective LDL cholesterol reduction in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of lerodalcibep and evolocumab in a globally diverse homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia population.

Methods: This phase 3, randomised, open-label, crossover, non-inferiority study consisted of two 24-week treatment periods separated by an 8-week washout.