Systematic review on the compliance of WHO guidelines in the management of patients with advanced HIV disease in Africa: The case of cryptococcal antigen screening.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) screening for people presenting with advanced HIV disease (AHD) and for those with positive CrAg without evidence of meningitis to initiate preemptive antifungal medication. Data on the implementation of WHO recommendations regarding CrAg screening is limited. We estimated pooled prevalence of CrAg screening uptake, cryptococcal antigenemia, lumbar puncture, cryptococcal meningitis and initiation of preemptive antifungal medication from available eligible published studies conducted in Africa.

Using Human-Centered Design to Bridge Zero-Dose Vaccine Gap: A Case Study of Ilala District in Tanzania.

Immunization plays a substantial role in reducing the under-five mortality rate. However, Tanzania still has a significant number of zero-dose and under-vaccinated children and was ranked among the top ten African countries with the highest numbers of zero-dose children in 2022. The human-centered design (HCD) approach is more ethical and effective at addressing public health challenges in complex sociocultural settings.

Interpretable COVID-19 chest X-ray detection based on handcrafted feature analysis and sequential neural network.

Deep learning methods have significantly improved medical image analysis, particularly in detecting COVID-19 chest X-rays. Nonetheless, these methodologies frequently inhibit some drawbacks, such as limited interpretability, extensive computational resources, and the need for extensive datasets. To tackle these issues, we introduced two novel algorithms: the Dynamic Co-Occurrence Grey Level Matrix (DC-GLM) and the Contextual Adaptation Multiscale Gabor Network (CAMSGNeT).

Atypical presentation of gouty tophi in a resource-limited setting.

A man in his early 50s from Tanzania presented with chronic nodular skin lesions and joint pain, likely due to gout complicated by obesity, after over 15 years of misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment. Despite various therapies for leprosy, tuberculosis and steroid use, his condition worsened, leading to hyperglycaemia and significant financial strain. Missed opportunities to use simple, low-cost diagnostic tests such as ultrasound and examining nodule fluid for urate crystals led to delays in diagnosis.

Extensive Inactive Neurocysticercosis: A Case Report in Mbeya, Southern Highlands of Tanzania.

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) and Acquired Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are both highly prevalent in Africa. Clinical presentation of NCC ranges from asymptomatic to manifestations, including epileptic seizures, severe progressive headache, and focal neurological deficits. It is influenced by the number, size, location, and stage of the cysts, as well as the parasite's potential to cause inflammation and the immunological response of the host.

Empirical effect of the Dr Lee Jong-wook Fellowship Program to empower sustainable change for the health workforce in Tanzania: a mixed-methods study.

Purpose: This study evaluated the Dr Lee Jong-wook Fellowship Program's impact on Tanzania's health workforce, focusing on relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability in addressing healthcare gaps.

Methods: A mixed-methods research design was employed. Data were collected from 97 out of 140 alumni through an online survey, 35 in-depth interviews, and one focus group discussion.

adapted to steppe-desert climate extremes one million years ago.

Questions about when early members of the genus adapted to extreme environments like deserts and rainforests have traditionally focused on . Here, we present multidisciplinary evidence from Engaji Nanyori in Tanzania's Oldupai Gorge, revealing that thrived in hyperarid landscapes one million years ago. Using biogeochemical analyses, precise chronometric dating, palaeoclimate simulations, biome modeling, fire history reconstructions, palaeobotanical studies, faunal assemblages, and archeological evidence, we reconstruct an environment dominated by semidesert shrubland.

Bayesian predictive modelling to ascertain factors affecting cattle milk production in Tanzania: Evidence from the national panel surveys 2012 - 2021.

This study aimed to evaluate and compare Bayesian predictive models to identify and quantify the key household inputs affecting cattle milk production in Tanzania. A sample of 1,266 households with at least one milked cow was extracted from the National Panel Survey datasets, the data were collected in 2012/2013 (wave 3), 2014/2015 (wave 4), and 2020/2021 (wave 5). Two generalized linear and generalized additive mixed models were fitted using the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation.

"If my husband was in the labor ward with me, my baby wouldn't have died"; experiences on birth companionship from a tertiary health facility, Tanzania.

Background: Despite existing policies promoting companionship, it remains uncommon in Tanzania. Pregnant women select a trusted individual to accompany them during childbirth, providing emotional, physical, and spiritual support. The World Health Organization recommends birth companionship as integral to intrapartum care for positive maternal and fetal outcomes.

Cross-sectional analysis of risk factors associated with the coexistence of three undernutrition indicators among children aged 0-23 months in Tanzania.

Background: Undernutrition in children under two years is a persistent challenge in Tanzania. This study investigates demographic, maternal, and child-related factors associated with stunting, wasting, and underweight coexistence.

Methods: Secondary data from 2,158 children aged 0-23 months in the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) were analyzed.

An In Vitro Evaluation of Industrial Hemp Extracts Against the Phytopathogenic Bacteria , pv. , and pv. .

Pests and diseases have caused significant problems since the domestication of crops, resulting in economic loss and hunger. To overcome these problems, synthetic pesticides were developed to control pests; however, there are significant detrimental side effects of synthetic pesticides on the environment and human health. There is an urgent need to develop safer and more sustainable pesticides.

"Harnessing the power of soil microbes: Their dual impact in integrated nutrient management and mediating climate stress for sustainable rice crop production" A systematic review.

Sustainable agricultural practices are essential to meet food demands for the increased population while minimizing the environmental impact. Considering rice as staple food for most of the world's population, it requires innovative approaches to ensure sustainable production. In this paper, we create a hypothesis that integrated nutrient management (INM) acts as a source of energy for microbes and improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils, but the current understanding of how soil microbiomes interact in integrated nutrient management toward mediating climate stress to support sustainable rice crop production is limited.

Comparing fresh root yield and quality of certified and farmer-saved cassava seed.

Formal systems supporting the delivery of high-quality cassava seed are being established in several key cassava producing countries in Africa. Questions remain, however, about the value of certified cassava seed when compared to seed which is recycled multiple times, which is standard farmer practice. A study was therefore conducted to compare fresh cassava root yields of high-quality seed (HQS) versus farmer-saved (recycled) seed (FSS) for three widely grown improved cassava varieties in Tanzania namely: , and .

Evaluation of dose distribution to the tumor and organs at risk for cervical cancer patients treated using HDR-ICBT without central tandem applicator: A single center based experience.

Background And Purpose: Cervical cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among women in numerous low and middle-income countries. Tandem-based applicator is a widely used technique in High Dose Rate Intercavitary Brachytherapy (HDR-ICBT) for treating cervical cancer. For cases where central tandem insertion is not feasible due to patient-specific conditions, a ring-only applicator is used as an alternative.

Heavy metal pollution and evaluation of health risk of amaranth around Don Bosco wastewater treatment plant, Iringa, Tanzania.

One of the world's most significant sources of environmental pollution is heavy metals contamination of soil, water, and agricultural products. Liver cancer, kidney damage, anaemia, coma, hypertension and sporadic fever are among the illnesses that might result from consuming plants contaminated with heavy metals. This study assesses heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb) contamination and associated human health risks in amaranth () grown near Don Bosco wastewater treatment plant in Iringa municipal, Tanzania.

Brief communication: Long-term treatment outcomes of transitioning to dolutegravir-based ART from efavirenz in HIV study participants in Mbeya, Tanzania.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) as the preferred first-line regimen for HIV treatment. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the long-term virologic outcomes and safety of transitioning from an efavirenz-based regimen (tenofovir, lamivudine, efavirenz [TLE]) to a dolutegravir-based regimen (tenofovir, lamivudine, dolutegravir [TLD]) among adult HIV participants in Mbeya, Tanzania.

Methods: Medical records of 250 adult HIV participants who transitioned from TLE to TLD at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital were reviewed from August 2022 to December 2022.

Pyrethroid-resistant malaria vector Anopheles gambiae restored susceptibility after pre-exposure to piperonyl-butoxide: results from country-wide insecticide resistance monitoring in Tanzania, 2023.

Background: Effective vector control interventions, notably insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) are indispensable for malaria control in Tanzania and elsewhere. However, the emergence of widespread insecticide resistance threatens the efficacy of these interventions. Monitoring of insecticide resistance is, therefore, critical for the selection and assessment of the programmatic impact of insecticide-based interventions.

Long-term effects of adding biochar to soils on organic matter content, persistent carbon storage, and moisture content in Karagwe, Tanzania.

Soils require the application of biochar to improve degradation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of a field experiment on soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil moisture content in Karagwe, Tanzania. Seven years ago, a field experiment was conducted using a Latin rectangle design with four replications.

Prognostic and clinicopathological significance of survivin in gynecological cancer.

Survivin belongs to the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family and is encoded by the baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis repeat-containing, or BIRC5, gene. It is preferentially expressed in cancers with functional complexity in cell signaling cascades such as extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), heat shock protein-90 (HSP90), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and others. Survivin plays a role in cell division and cell death, properties that have attracted a large body of research to decipher its therapeutic and prognostic significance in cancer.

Automated quantitative mineralogy and plastics - A new view of the plastic surface in aquatic environments.

Plastics are a ubiquitous pollutant, and are rapidly colonized by biofilms that sorb inorganic and organic components, forming the interface between plastics and the environment. This study provides a proof of concept for the use of automated quantitative mineralogy (AQM) to illuminate and analyse the metal and mineral component of the plastisphere on plastics sampled from temperate and tropical aquatic localities. The method is non-destructive and requires minimal sample preparation, providing a 2-dimensional visualisation and semi-quantitative analysis of the arrangement of biogenic and abiogenic components, highlighting potential interactions between these components.

Potential substrates for biogas production through anaerobic digestion-an alternative energy source.

Energy is a crucial part of a comprehensive desire to reach any country's long-term economic and social development. Fossil fuels have for a long time been used as the major global cause of energy. However, dependence on fossil fuels contributes to environmental damage.

Insecticide tolerance of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae following larval exposure to microplastics and insecticide.

Microplastic (MP) pollution poses a global threat to urban and rural environments and can have negative effects on a range of organisms. Mosquito larvae often breed in water contaminated with MPs, and given their important role as disease vectors, understanding the effects of larval exposure to MPs is critical for understanding the potential impact on their life history traits and subsequent methods for their control. Here, we have exposed first instar larvae of Anopheles gambiae s.

Human health risk assessment of heavy metals in beer brands from Tanzania market.

Heavy metal contamination in the environment, often resulting from industrial activities, mining, and improper waste disposal, leads to the accumulation of heavy metals in soil, water, air, drinks and food. Prolonged exposure to these metals can cause serious health issues in humans, including neurological damage, kidney failure, respiratory problems, and an increased risk of cancer. High levels of heavy metals in food are hazardous to human health.

Computational analysis of Urolithin A as a potential compound for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neurodegenerative pathways.

Urolithin A, an active precursor derived from the metabolism of ellagitanins in rats and humans, is known for its potential health benefits, including stimulating mitophagy and promoting muscular skeletal function. While experimental studies have demonstrated Urolithin A's potential to enhance cellular health, the detailed molecular interactions through which Urolithin A exerts its effects are not fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory, antioxidation and neuroprotective abilities of Urolithin A in selected targets using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation methods.