Colon Cancer and Obesity: A Narrative Review.

Obesity has played a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Obesity has shown to increase the blood levels of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), leptin, resistin, inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) which in turn acts via various signaling pathways to induce colonic cell proliferation and in turn CRC development. It has been shown that estrogen can prevent and cause CRC based on which receptor it acts.

The Role of Capsule Endoscopy in Crohn's Disease: A Review.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with a predilection for the small bowel. Although awareness of this disorder has increased over the years, it remains a diagnostic challenge for many physicians. This is exacerbated by the rising incidence and high recurrence rate following therapy in certain individuals.

Prevalence and correlates of common mental disorders among children and adolescents in Blantyre-Urban, Malawi.

Background: The high global prevalence of mental disorders justifies the need to quantify their burden in the sub-Saharan Africa where there is a dearth of information. These mental disorders are linked to different socio-demographic factors.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of, and factors associated with mental disorders among children and adolescents in Blantyre City, Malawi.

Multilevel analysis of grand multiparity: Trend and its determinants in the Sidama National Regional State of Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study design from demographic and health survey 2000-2016.

Objective: The study was aimed at examining the magnitude, trends and determinants of grand multiparity in the Sidama regional state of Ethiopia.

Design: We retrieved cross-sectional data from the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey from 2000 to 2016.

Setting: Community-based demographic and health survey (DHS) was conducted in Ethiopia.

Epidemiology of uterine fibroid in black African women: a systematic scoping review.

Objective: Studies, mainly from high-income countries, suggest that there are ethnic and racial variations in prevalence of uterine fibroids (UF). However, there have been few studies of the epidemiology of UF in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We reviewed published articles on the epidemiology of UF in SSA.

Strategies to Improve Women's Leadership Preparation for Early Career Global Health Professionals: Suggestions from Two Working Groups.

Background: Despite advances in gender equality, women still experience inequitable gaps in global health leadership, and barriers to women's advancement as leaders in global health have been well described in the literature. In 2021, the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health conducted two virtual working groups for emerging women leaders to share challenges and suggest solutions to advance women's leadership in global health. In this paper, we present emerging themes from the working groups, provide a framework for the results, and discuss strategies for advancing women's leadership in global health.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associated Lung Diseases: A Comprehensive Review.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent autoimmune disorder affecting 0.5-1% of the population in North America and Europe. Pulmonary manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis patients result in significant morbidity and mortality.

Comorbidity of Epilepsy and Depression: Associated Pathophysiology and Management.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. Depression may arise as a result of other mental or physical problems or as a side effect of the drugs used to treat such illnesses, or it could be caused by epilepsy-related structural abnormalities. However, physicians are hesitant to prescribe antidepressants to patients with epilepsy due to concerns about decreasing seizure thresholds and the harmful drug interactions between antidepressants and antiepileptic medicines.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Atrial Fibrillation: A Review.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited cardiological condition that exhibits various clinical symptoms. The leading cause of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with HCM is advanced diastolic dysfunction and left atrial dilatation and remodeling. In addition to the gradual symptomatic and functional decline caused by AF, there is an increased risk of thromboembolic disease and mortality, especially if there is a rapid ventricular rate or obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract.

Relationship Between Vitamin D and Thyroid: An Enigma.

Hypothyroidism is a frequently encountered endocrine disorder in clinical practice. Besides its traditional role in bone health, vitamin D has been shown to have favorable effects in a variety of different systems due to its pleiotropic qualities and ubiquitous receptor expression. Over the years, researchers have been fascinated by the intricate molecular interplay between vitamin D and thyroid.

Vitamin K-dependent anticoagulant use and level of anticoagulation control in sub-Saharan Africa: protocol for a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Given that vitamin K-dependent anticoagulants (VKAs) will continue to be the primary anticoagulant in Africa for a long time, understanding the quality of anticoagulation services in the continent is vital for optimising the intended benefits. Notably, a few small studies have assessed the quality of anticoagulation in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. This study will describe the current VKA use and anticoagulation control among patients in selected SSA countries.

Timing of first antenatal care contact, its associated factors and state-level analysis in Nigeria: a cross-sectional assessment of compliance with the WHO guidelines.

Objectives: To assess the compliance of WHO guidelines on the timeliness of antenatal care (ANC) initiation in Nigeria and its associated factors and to provide subcountry analysis of disparities in the timing of the first ANC in Nigeria.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Nationally representative data of most recent pregnancies between 2013 and 2018 in Nigeria.

Impact evaluation of immunisation service integration to nutrition programmes and paediatric outpatient departments of primary healthcare centres in Rumbek East and Rumbek Centre counties of South Sudan.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of immunisation service integration to nutrition programmes and under 5-year-old paediatric outpatient departments of primary healthcare centres in Rumbek East and Rumbek Centre counties of South Sudan.

Design: Retrospective intervention study.

Setting: Three primary healthcare centres in Rumbek East county and three primary healthcare centres in Rumbek Centre county of Lakes state in South Sudan.

Assessing community engagement in Nigeria polio eradication initiative: application of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Objective: This study employed the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to assess factors that enhanced or impeded the implementation of community engagement strategies using the Nigerian polio programme as a point of reference.

Design: This study was a part of a larger descriptive cross-sectional survey. The CFIR was used to design the instrument which was administered through face-to-face and phone interviews as well as a web-based data collection platform, Qualtrics.

Effectiveness of community outreach screening for glaucoma in improving equity and access to eye care in Nigeria.

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of community outreach screening for glaucoma in improving equity and access to eye care in Nigeria.

Methodology: This was a prospective study in which two cohort of participants were recruited in Nigeria: 1 from 24 outreach screenings and another from consecutive patients presenting spontaneously to a tertiary eye clinic in Nigeria. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained from participants and compared.

30 years of polio campaigns in Ethiopia, India and Nigeria: the impacts of campaign design on vaccine hesitancy and health worker motivation.

Introduction: The debate over the impact of vertical programmes, including mass vaccination, on health systems is long-standing and often polarised. Studies have assessed the effects of a given vertical health programme on a health system separatelyfrom the goals of the vertical programme itself. Further, these health system effects are often categorised as either positive or negative.

The influence of gender dynamics on polio eradication efforts at the community, workplace, and organizational level.

Background: Globally, gender as a barrier or facilitator in achieving health outcomes is increasingly being documented. However, the role of gender in health programming and organization is frequently ignored. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, one of the largest globally coordinated public health programs in history, has faced and worked to address gender-based challenges as they emerge.

Burden of adult neurological diseases in Odeda Area, Southwest Nigeria.

Background: Few population-based studies have been conducted to determine the burden of neurological diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. A better understanding of the magnitude and impact of these disorders is pivotal to effective planning and provision of neurological services.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 2392 adults in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria was conducted between May and June 2015.

Protocol for process evaluation of integration of mental health into primary healthcare in two states in Nigeria: the mhSUN programme.

Background: Current international recommendations to address the large treatment gap for mental healthcare in low- and middle-income countries are to scale up integration of mental health into primary care. There are good outcome studies to support this, but less robust evidence for effectively carrying out integration and scale-up of such services, or for understanding how to address contextual issues that routinely arise.

Aims: This protocol is for a process evaluation of a programme called Mental Health Scale Up Nigeria.

Conflict, community, and collaboration: shared implementation barriers and strategies in two polio endemic countries.

Background: Afghanistan and Nigeria are two of the three remaining polio endemic countries. While these two countries have unique sociocultural characteristics, they share major polio risk factors. This paper describes the countries' shared contexts and highlights important lessons on implementing polio eradication activities among hard-to-reach populations relevant for future global health programs.