The African Network for Improved Diagnostics, Epidemiology and Management of common infectious Agents.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, acute respiratory infections (ARI), acute gastrointestinal infections (GI) and acute febrile disease of unknown cause (AFDUC) have a large disease burden, especially among children, while respective aetiologies often remain unresolved. The need for robust infectious disease surveillance to detect emerging pathogens along with common human pathogens has been highlighted by the ongoing novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The African Network for Improved Diagnostics, Epidemiology and Management of Common Infectious Agents (ANDEMIA) is a sentinel surveillance study on the aetiology and clinical characteristics of ARI, GI and AFDUC in sub-Saharan Africa.

[Adolescents and teachers´ knowledge, attitude and practice towards contraception: results from a qualitative study conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo].

Introduction: the purpose of this study was to assess adolescents and teachers´ knowledge, attitude and practices towards family planning (FP).

Methods: in 2018, a qualitative study was conducted among seven teachers and 62 teenagers aged 15-19 years based on the Theory of Reasoned Action published by Fishbein and Ajzen in 2011. Data were collected from six focus group (FG) with adolescents and seven semi-structured interviews of teachers.

Systemic disorders and the prognosis of stroke in Congolese patients: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death, disability, and dementia in developing countries. Our study aimed to evaluate the systemic disorders associated with mortality in patients admitted within 72 hours of the initial stroke event.

Setting: The study took place at a tertiary hospital in Kinshasa.

High frequency of Taenia solium antigen positivity in patients admitted for neurological disorders in the Rural Hospital of Mosango, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: The epidemiology of human cysticercosis and neurocysticercosis, caused by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, is not well known in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Within a multicenter etiological and diagnostic study conducted by the NIDIAG consortium ("Better Diagnosis for Neglected Infections") and investigating several challenging syndromes, we consecutively evaluated from 2012 to 2015 all patients older than 5 years presenting with neurological disorders (neurology cohort) and with fever > 7 days (persistent fever cohort) at the rural hospital of Mosango, province of Kwilu, DRC. In both cohorts, etiological diagnosis relied on a systematic set of reference laboratory assays and on pre-established clinical case definitions.

Spirombandakamine A and Cyclombandakamines A and A, Polycyclic Naphthylisoquinoline Dimers, with Antiprotozoal Activity, from a Congolese Plant.

Spirombandakamine A () is only the third known naphthylisoquinoline dimer with a spiro-fused novel molecular framework and the first such representative to possess a relative -configuration at the two chiral centers in both tetrahydroisoquinoline subunits. It was found in the leaves of a botanically as yet unidentified Congolese plant, which is morphologically closely related to the Central African taxon . Likewise isolated were the new cyclombandakamines A () and A (), which belong to another most recently discovered type of unusual oxygen-bridged naphthylisoquinoline dimers and two previously described "open-chain" analogues, mbandakamines C () and D ().

Data-driven methods distort optimal cutoffs and accuracy estimates of depression screening tools: a simulation study using individual participant data.

Objective: To evaluate, across multiple sample sizes, the degree that data-driven methods result in (1) optimal cutoffs different from population optimal cutoff and (2) bias in accuracy estimates.

Study Design And Setting: A total of 1,000 samples of sample size 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 each were randomly drawn to simulate studies of different sample sizes from a database (n = 13,255) synthesized to assess Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) screening accuracy. Optimal cutoffs were selected by maximizing Youden's J (sensitivity+specificity-1).

Onchocerciasis Prevalence among Persons with Epilepsy in an Onchocerciasis Hypo-Endemic Area in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-Sectional Study.

A high epilepsy prevalence has been reported in onchocerciasis meso- and hyper-endemic regions in sub-Saharan Africa, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We investigated whether onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy can also be suspected in onchocerciasis hypo-endemic regions. Stored serum samples from 342 patients admitted with recent onset neurological symptoms admitted to Mosango general hospital, in the Kwilu province, DRC, between 2012 and 2015 were screened for onchocerciasis (OV16) antibodies by ELISA and antigen (using an in-house B158/B60 antigen test).

Cytokines and Onchocerciasis-Associated Epilepsy, a Pilot Study and Review of the Literature.

Neuro-inflammation may be associated with onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE) but thus far very few immunological studies have been performed in children with this form of epilepsy. In a pilot study we measured the cytokine levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of persons with OAE from Maridi, South Sudan, and from Mosango, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and compared these results with cytokine levels in CSF of Africans with non-OAE neurological disorders, and Europeans with epilepsy or other neurological conditions. The following cytokines were studied: IL-6, TNF-α, IL1-β, IL-5, IL-4, IL-13, CCL3 (Mip-1α), VEGF-C, VCAM-1.

[Clinical profile of urinary incontinence in women hospitalized in the University Clinics of Kinshasa from 2015 to 2016].

Urinary Incontinence (UI) in women is a very common disease. Given the shortage of epidemiological and clinical data in our environment, we here provide an update on the status of this disease and its management at the University Clinics of Kinshasa. We conducted a descriptive study in the University Clinics of Kinshasa from January 2015 to December 2016.

Photodynamic Antimicrobial Action of Asymmetrical Porphyrins Functionalized Silver-Detonation Nanodiamonds Nanoplatforms for the Suppression of Planktonic Cells and Biofilms.

New asymmetrical porphyrin derivatives containing a -hydroxyphenyl moiety and -acetylphenyl moieties along with their functionalized silver-detonation nanodiamonds nanohybrids were characterized and their photophysicochemical properties were established. The study provides evidence that the metalated porphyrin derivatives were red-shifted in absorption wavelength and possessed high singlet oxygen quantum yield comparative to the unmetalated core, thus making them suitable agents for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy. As a result of conjugation to detonation nanodiamonds and silver nanoparticles, these compounds proved to be more effective as they exhibited stronger antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities on the multi-drug resistant strain due to synergetic effect, compared to Ps alone.

The COVID-19 pandemic is deepening the health crisis in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Objective: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo raised concerns regarding additional morbidity and mortality. Updating these indicators before a second wave is essential in order to prepare for additional help.

Methods: From mid-May to mid-December 2020, weekly surveys were undertaken in sampled streets from 10 health areas to quantify the use of barrier measures, and interview pedestrians about sickness and deaths in their households.

[Spatio-temporal dynamics of bacillary dysentery outbreaks in Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1999-2013].

Problem Statement: From 1999 to 2013 in the Democratic RC, monitoring of bacillary dysentery in bloody diarrhea revealed an average rate of attack in 620 out of 100,000 inhabitants. Within the study period, biological confirmation was available in less than 1% of cases. A dozen dysentery outbreaks were confirmed in laboratories as shigellosis.

Factors associated with adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): results of an online survey.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to identify factors associated with non-adherence.

Design: A cross-sectional population-based online survey.

Settings: The study was conducted in 22 provinces of the DRC.

Modern contraceptive availability and stockouts: a multi-country analysis of trends in supply and consumption.

Approximately 214 million women of reproductive age lack adequate access to contraception for their family planning needs, yet patterns of contraceptive availability have seldom been examined. With growing demand for contraceptives in some areas, low contraceptive method availability and stockouts are thought to be major drivers of unmet need among women of reproductive age, though evidence for this is limited. In this research, we examined trends in stockouts, method availability and consumption of specific contraceptive methods in urban areas of four sub-Saharan African countries (Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Nigeria) and India.

[Determinants of non-compliance with antiretroviral therapy in adult patients in Kinshasa].

Introduction: the purpose of this study was to identify the determinants of non-compliance of persons living with HIV with antiretroviral treatment in Kinshasa.

Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study in Kinshasa from 1 May to 31 August 2015. The study population was composed of patients aged at least 18 years living with HIV who had been treated with antiretroviral drugs for at least 3 months.

Variation of physical durability between LLIN products and net use environments: summary of findings from four African countries.

Background: Physical durability of long-lasting-insecticidal nets (LLIN) is an important aspect of the effectiveness of LLIN as a malaria prevention tool, but there is limited data on performance across locations and products. This secondary analysis of data from the VectorWorks project from 10 sites in four African countries involving six LLIN brands provides such data.

Methods: A total of 4672 campaign nets from 1976 households were recruited into prospective cohort studies 2-6 months after distribution through campaigns and followed for 3 years in Mozambique, Nigeria, DRC and Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Correlation of textile 'resistance to damage' scores with actual physical survival of long-lasting insecticidal nets in the field.

Background: Attempts have been made to link procurement of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) not only to the price but also the expected performance of the product. However, to date it has not been possible to identify a specific textile characteristic that predicts physical durability in the field. The recently developed resistance to damage (RD) score could provide such a metric.

Insecticide susceptibility of and identification of some resistance mechanisms in Kwilu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Introduction: the control of the mosquito malaria vectors by the National Malaria Control Programme of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) relies mainly on the use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs). However, the widespread emergence of resistance to pyrethroids is jeopardizing this control strategy. The objective of this study is to determine the status and resistance mechanisms involved in Anopheles gambiae s.

Antibiotic use prior to seeking medical care in patients with persistent fever: a cross-sectional study in four low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: Community-level antibiotic use contributes to antimicrobial resistance, but is rarely monitored as part of efforts to optimize antibiotic use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We investigated antibiotic use in the 4 weeks before study inclusion for persistent fever.

Methods: The NIDIAG-Fever (Neglected Infectious diseases DIAGnosis-Fever) study investigated aetiologies of infections in patients ≥5 years old with fever ≥1 week in six healthcare facilities in Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nepal, and Sudan.