Emergence of Omicron FN.1 a descendent of BQ.1.1 in Botswana.

Botswana, like the rest of the world, has been significantly impacted by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In December 2022, we detected a monophyletic cluster of genomes comprising a sublineage of the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) designated as B.1.

Cardiovascular Involvement in Tuberculosis Patients Treated in Southern Africa.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death among people with HIV and a major global health challenge. Subclinical cardiovascular manifestations of TB are poorly documented in high TB and HIV burden countries.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to quantify the prevalence of cardiovascular involvement in TB patients and investigate changes after completion of anti-TB treatment.

Oxidative Stress and Cancer Risk in Schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is considered one of the most devastating parasitic diseases globally, coming second only to malaria in terms of morbidity. The disease-causing parasite can inhabit the body for over a decade, leading to imbalances in the host's metabolic systems. The flukes and their eggs can illicit various immunological and metabolic complications resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Understanding cervical cancer prevention in Africa: a qualitative systematic review of the role of men.

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is a preventable noncommunicable disease if detected early through screening for precancers and appropriately managed. The causal link with high-risk human papillomavirus infection is established, making elimination possible through the WHO multipronged 90:70:90 strategy. However, practical CC elimination efforts need to address issues within the sociocultural context that can facilitate or hinder prevention strategies.

Case study: Evidence of long-term stability in a stereotyped whistle in a single free-ranging humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) found in sympatry (Tursiops aduncus).

This 11-year case study describes the acoustic behaviour of a resident Indian Ocean humpback dolphin during commercial swim-with-dolphin activities in Mozambique. Combining data collected using low-cost action cameras with full bandwidth hydrophone recordings, we identified a temporally stable stereotyped whistle contour that met the SIGnature IDentification bout criteria. This whistle was produced with potential information-enhancing features (bi-phonation and subtle variations in frequency modulation).

Weekly dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine versus monthly sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria chemoprevention in children with sickle cell anaemia in Uganda and Malawi (CHEMCHA): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: In many sub-Saharan African countries, it is recommended that children with sickle cell anaemia receive malaria chemoprevention with monthly sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine or daily proguanil as the standard of care. However, the efficacy of these interventions is compromised by high-grade antifolate resistance of Plasmodium falciparum and poor adherence. We aimed to compare the efficacy of weekly dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine and monthly sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for the prevention of clinical malaria in children with sickle cell anaemia in areas with high-grade sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance of P falciparum in Uganda and Malawi.

Building global collaborative research networks in paediatric critical care: a roadmap.

Paediatric critical care units are designed for children at a vulnerable stage of development, yet the evidence base for practice and policy in paediatric critical care remains scarce. In this Health Policy, we present a roadmap providing strategic guidance for international paediatric critical care trials. We convened a multidisciplinary group of 32 paediatric critical care experts from six continents representing paediatric critical care research networks and groups.

Exploration of demographic prevalence of mild cognitive impairment using Montreal cognitive assessment: A cross-sectional pilot study in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.

Background: The Global prevalence of dementia is projected to rise, particularly in low and middle-income countries like Ghana. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an intermediate phase between normal cognitive aging and dementia, is characterized by an objective and subjective decline in cognitive abilities. Individuals with MCI have a greater likelihood of progression to dementia.

Increase of niche filling with increase of host richness for plant-infecting mastreviruses.

Now that it has been realized that viruses are ubiquitous, questions have been raised on factors influencing their diversity and distribution. For phytoviruses, understanding the interplay between plant diversity and virus species richness and prevalence remains cardinal. As both the amplification and the dilution of viral species richness due to increasing host diversity have been theorized and observed, a deeper understanding of how plants and viruses interact in natural environments is needed to explore how host availability conditions viral diversity and distributions.

"Youth are experts in what they need": experiences and best practice in co-designing and implementing Fast-PrEP, a novel PrEP service for adolescents and youth in Cape Town, South Africa.

Introduction: Defining the prevention needs, motivations, and gender dynamics influencing adolescent and young people's (AYP's) healthcare access is a key component to successful PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention) implementation. WHO encourages a strong people-cantered approach to healthcare delivery, and this is particularly emphasized for HIV services. Enhanced youth engagement is needed to ensure that interventions are tailored to the specific needs and preferences of youth populations.

Epidemiological pattern of trauma among children 0-9 years in Cameroon.

Background: In low- and middle-income countries, trauma is the leading cause of death among youth and it is also a major cause of disability. Globally, more than 1,600 children and adolescents below the age of 19-years die every day from preventable injuries. Traffic-related injuries, falls, sports-related injuries, assaults, burns, and drownings are the most commonly reported causes of traumatic mortality among children.

Management of adult sepsis in resource-limited settings: global expert consensus statements using a Delphi method.

Purpose: To generate consensus and provide expert clinical practice statements for the management of adult sepsis in resource-limited settings.

Methods: An international multidisciplinary Steering Committee with expertise in sepsis management and including a Delphi methodologist was convened by the Asia Pacific Sepsis Alliance (APSA). The committee selected an international panel of clinicians and researchers with expertise in sepsis management.

Individual- and community-level correlates of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy in Ghana: further analysis of the 2019 Malaria Indicator Survey.

Background: Ghana adopted the policy on Intermittent Preventive Treatment of malaria in pregnancy using Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) in 2004. Notwithstanding the government's and other stakeholders' efforts in Ghana, optimal uptake (three or more doses of IPTp-SP) has slightly declined since 2016. The study examined the individual and community-level correlates of pregnant women who take optimal or none/partial doses (less than three doses) of IPTp-SP using the Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey (GMIS) 2019.

Pharmacokinetics of ethambutol and weight banded dosing in South African adults newly diagnosed with tuberculosis and HIV.

Ethambutol is used to treat tuberculosis (TB) in individuals living with HIV. Low concentrations of ethambutol have been reported in patients dosed with the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended first-line regimen. We analyzed the pharmacokinetics of ethambutol in 61 HIV-positive individuals diagnosed with drug-sensitive TB enrolled in the tuberculosis and highly active antiretroviral therapy (TB-HAART) study.

Genetic counseling in South Africa: A growing profession.

The Genetic Counseling profession in South Africa (SA) was established 35 years ago when the first degree program was initiated at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1989. A second program was developed at the University of Cape Town in 2004. This article aims to describe the development of the profession in SA, with a focus on the last decade.

The global status of genetic counselors in 2023: What has changed in the past 5 years?

Purpose: The profession of genetic counselors has existed for over 50 years. This article provides an update on the global state of the genetic counseling (GC) profession in 2022 and 2023.

Methods: We used a survey approach to collect data from individuals who were identified as being leaders in GC practice and/or education around the world.

Genetic counseling development and milestone in Oman.

Genetic counseling as an emerging profession has seen an expansion around the world. In the Sultanate of Oman, the profession has developed with the establishment of clinical and biochemical genetic services in 2010 and genetic counseling services in 2011. Currently, 3 main genetic counseling teams serve the country through qualified genetic counselors who completed internationally recognized MSc program.

Relationship Between Criminal and Status Offense Behaviors, Substance Use, and HIV Risk Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cape Town, South Africa.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between externalizing behaviors, substance use, and sexual risk among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Cape Town, South Africa, who experience social disadvantage characterized by poverty and school dropout. We analyzed baseline data from 500 AGYW in a cluster-randomized trial who had dropped out of school. Multivariate logistic regression models explored associations between self-reported criminal behaviors and other status offenses, heavy episodic drinking, polydrug use, and condomless sex.

Human genetics and genomics as a unifying factor for harmony and progress in Africa: a report from the 12 African Society of Human Genetics meeting in Bamako, Mali.

Since its inception in 2003, the African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG) has been central to the promotion of genetics research on the continent, and facilitated the networking of African researchers within Africa and abroad, thereby significantly contributing to the career development of African geneticists. The continuation of these accomplishments was stimulated by the 12 international conference of AfSHG held jointly with the 1 Congress of the Malian Society of Human Genetics (MSHG) in Bamako, Mali from September 18 to 21 2019. The main theme of the conference was "Human Genetics and Genomics as a Unifying Factor for Harmony and Progress in Africa".

Integrating modern and herbal medicines in controlling malaria: experiences of orthodox healthcare providers in Ghana.

Background: In Ghana, the government has integrated herbal medicine into the formal healthcare system in response to widespread use of traditional remedies. However, empirical evidence supporting the contribution of integrated healthcare to malaria control remains limited. This study employed a phenomenological qualitative research design to explore the experiences of medical doctors and pharmacists from the coastal, forest and savannah regions of Ghana regarding the integration of modern and herbal medicine in the treatment and control of malaria.

Effectiveness of the primary Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine against the risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis disease: a meta-analysis of individual participant data.

Background: Tuberculosis vaccine trials using disease as the primary endpoint are large, time consuming, and expensive. An earlier immunological measure of the protection against disease would accelerate tuberculosis vaccine development. We aimed to assess whether the effectiveness of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for prevention of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection was consistent with that for prevention of tuberculosis disease.

Identifying priority conservation areas for threatened amphibian habitats in the Yangtze river Delta region to maintain regional biodiversity.

The complex life cycle traits of amphibians make them especially sensitive to environmental change, and their ongoing conservation requires the maintenance of suitable habitat that accounts for such life cycle characteristics which may impacted by local environmental dynamics arising from climate change and human disturbance. Many existing studies on amphibian habitats disregard this important issue, leading to uncertainty in managing critical habitats. The application of appropriate conservation practices is therefore constrained by the fact that the major factors influencing amphibian habitats, and their spatio-temporal dynamics at different life stages, are poorly understood.

Adverse birth outcome research case definitions associated with maternal HIV and antiretroviral drug use in pregnancy: a scoping review.

Background: Adverse birth outcomes (preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age, and stillbirth) seem to persist in infants born to people with HIV, even in the context of maternal antiretroviral therapy. However, findings have been disparate, inconclusive, and difficult to compare directly across settings, partly owing to variable outcome definitions. We aimed to collate, compare, and map existing adverse birth outcome definitions to inform a harmonized approach to universally measure these outcomes in studies including pregnant people with HIV.