Population genomic evidence of a putative 'far-west' African cryptic taxon in the Anopheles gambiae complex.

The two main Afrotropical malaria vectors - Anopheles coluzzii and An. gambiae - are genetically distinct and reproductively isolated across West Africa. However, populations at the western extreme of their range are assigned as "intermediate" between the two species by whole genome sequence (WGS) data, and as hybrid forms by conventional molecular diagnostics.

Genomic approach to determine sources of neonatal Staphylococcus aureus infection from carriage in the Gambia.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of neonatal infections in various anatomical sites, resulting in high morbidity and mortality in The Gambia. These clinical infections are often preceded by nasal carriage of S. aureus, a known risk factor.

Two assumptions of the prior event rate ratio approach for controlling confounding can be evaluated by self-controlled case series and dynamic random intercept modeling.

Objectives: The prior event rate ratio (PERR) is a recently developed approach for controlling confounding by measured and unmeasured covariates in real-world evidence research and observational studies. Despite its rising popularity in studies of safety and effectiveness of biopharmaceutical products, there is no guidance on how to empirically evaluate its model assumptions. We propose two methods to evaluate two of the assumptions required by the PERR, specifically, the assumptions that occurrence of outcome events does not alter the likelihood of receiving treatment, and that earlier event rate does not affect later event rate.

Accuracy of CAD4TB (Computer-Aided Detection for Tuberculosis) on paediatric chest radiographs.

Background: Computer-aided detection (CAD) systems hold promise for improving tuberculosis (TB) detection on digital chest radiographs. However, data on their performance in exclusively paediatric populations are scarce.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective diagnostic accuracy study evaluating the performance of CAD4TBv7 (Computer-Aided Detection for Tuberculosis version 7) using digital chest radiographs from well-characterised cohorts of Gambian children aged <15 years with presumed pulmonary TB.

Respiratory rates among rural Gambian children: a community-based cohort study.

Normal respiratory rates (RR) for children under five in the tropics are well-documented, but data for older children are limited. This study tracked RR changes with age and examined associations with nutritional status and environmental factors. We monitored rural Gambian children aged 6 months to 14 years, recording RR during home visits twice weekly over two rainy seasons.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing symptomatic and severe infection among healthcare workers: A clinical review.

Introduction: Health care workers (HCWs) have been at increased risk of infection during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and as essential workers have been prioritised for vaccination. Due to increased exposure HCW are considered a predictor of what might happen in the general population, particularly working age adults. This study aims to summarise effect of vaccination in this 'at risk' cohort.

Novel Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2/3 repeat type in Ethiopian malaria infection: does this affect performance of HRP2-based malaria RDT?

Background: Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) provide quick, easy, and convenient early diagnosis of malaria ensuring better case management particularly in resource-constrained settings. Nevertheless, the efficiency of HRP2-based RDT can be compromised by Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2/3 gene deletion and genetic diversity. This study explored the genetic diversity of PfHRP2/3 in uncomplicated malaria cases from Ethiopia.

Food biodiversity and gastrointestinal cancer risk in nine European countries: Analysis within a prospective cohort study.

Background: Food biodiversity in human diets has potential co-benefits for both public health and sustainable food systems. However, current evidence on the potential relationship between food biodiversity and cancer risk, and particularly gastrointestinal cancers typically related to diet, remains limited. This study evaluated how dietary species richness (DSR) was associated with gastrointestinal cancer risk in a pan-European population.

Religious Involvement Is Associated With Higher Fertility and Lower Maternal Investment, but More Alloparental Support Among Gambian Mothers.

Objectives: Human childrearing is cooperative, with women often able to achieve relatively high fertility through help from many individuals. Previous work has documented tremendous socioecological variation in who supports women in childrearing, but less is known about the intracultural correlates of variation in allomaternal support. In the highly religious, high-fertility setting of The Gambia, we studied whether religious mothers have more children and receive more support with their children.

Effects of prenatal small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements on pregnancy, birth, and infant outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data from randomized controlled trials in low- and middle-income countries.

Background: Undernutrition during pregnancy increases the risk of giving birth to a small vulnerable newborn. Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNSs) contain both macro- and micronutrients and can help prevent multiple nutritional deficiencies.

Objectives: We examined the effects of SQ-LNSs provided during pregnancy compared with 1) iron and folic acid or standard of care (IFA/SOC) or 2) multiple micronutrient supplements (MMSs) and identified characteristics that modified the estimates of effects of SQ-LNSs on birth outcomes.

WHO global research priorities for antimicrobial resistance in human health.

The WHO research agenda for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human health has identified 40 research priorities to be addressed by the year 2030. These priorities focus on bacterial and fungal pathogens of crucial importance in addressing AMR, including drug-resistant pathogens causing tuberculosis. These research priorities encompass the entire people-centred journey, covering prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of antimicrobial-resistant infections, in addition to addressing the overarching knowledge gaps in AMR epidemiology, burden and drivers, policies and regulations, and awareness and education.

Determining the optimal diagnostic and risk stratification approaches for people with hypertension in two rural populations in Kenya and The Gambia: a study protocol for IHCoR-Africa Work Package 2.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has one of the highest prevalences of hypertension worldwide. The impact of hypertension is of particular concern in rural SSA, where access to clinics and hospitals is limited. Improvements in the management of people with hypertension in rural SSA could be achieved by sharing diagnosis and care tasks between the clinic and the community.

The PRECISE-DYAD Neurodevelopmental substudy protocol: neurodevelopmental risk in children of mothers with pregnancy complications.

Background: Over 250 million children are not reaching their developmental potential globally. The impact of prenatal factors and their interplay with postnatal environmental factors on child neurodevelopment, is still unclear-particularly in low- and middle-income settings. This study aims to understand the impact of pregnancy complications as well as environmental, psychosocial, and biological predictors on neurodevelopmental trajectories.

Post-tuberculosis lung disease in children and adolescents: A scoping review of definitions, measuring tools, and research gaps.

Tuberculosis (TB) survivors, especially children and adolescents, can develop chronic respiratory problems called post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD). We conducted a scoping review to identify the current knowledge gaps on PTLD definitions, measuring tools, and research specific to this age group. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, CINAHL, and Web of Science for studies published between January 1, 2000, and March 1, 2024, and identified 16 studies.

Effects of ambient heat exposure on risk of all-cause mortality in children younger than 5 years in Africa: a pooled time-series analysis.

Background: Reducing child mortality is a Sustainable Development Goal, and climate change constitutes numerous challenges for Africa. Previous research has shown an association between leading causes of child mortality and climate change. However, few studies have examined these effects in detail.

Effects of global change on snakebite envenoming incidence up to 2050: a modelling assessment.

Background: Human activities are driving climate, land cover, and population change (global change), and shifting the baseline geographical distribution of snakebite. The interacting effects of global change on snakes and communities at risk of snakebite are poorly understood, limiting capacity to anticipate and manage future changes in snakebite risk.

Methods: In this modelling study, we projected how global change will affect snakebite envenoming incidence in Sri Lanka, as a model system that has a high incidence of snakebite.