Fatal pulmonary oedema associated with severe pre-eclampsia: challenges and lessons.

Pre-eclampsia complicated by pulmonary oedema, severe hypertension, tachycardia and desaturation is a devastating condition. A comprehensive understanding of the aetiopathogenesis during such an emergency is challenging in the absence of functional and responsive point-of-care imaging, and laboratory and other critical-care services. An unbooked 26-year-old gravida 3 para 1+1 presented to a primary healthcare clinic with features of pre-eclampsia, severe hypertension and pulmonary oedema.

Vaccination against Hepatitis B among health care workers in the Bamenda Health District: influence of knowledge and attitudes, Cameroon.

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most serious occupational hazards faced by healthcare workers (HCW). This study aimed at assessing the influence of knowledge and attitudes of HCWs in the Bamenda Health District (BHD) on their vaccination status.

Methods: this was a cross-sectional analytic study carried out in Bamenda health district, Cameroon.

Effectiveness of Double-Hit Model (Post-Weaning Social Isolation and NMDA Receptor Antagonist) in the Development of Schizophrenic like Symptoms on Rodents: A Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Background: Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous neuropsychiatric disorder, categorized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. In trying to improve the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia, researchers have turned to "dual hit" models of schizophrenia that are able to reproduce all symptoms of the disorder. The main objective of this protocol is to present a transparent process on how we plan to review the existing international literature on the effectiveness of "dual hit" models used to induce schizophrenia on rodents.

Early Life Stress and Brain Plasticity: From Alterations of Brain Morphology to Development of Psychopathology.

Advances in our understanding of the genetics of mental disorders (MD) have contributed to a better understanding of their pathophysiology. Nonetheless, several questions and doubts remain. Recent research has focused on the role of the environment in developing mental disorders, and the advent of neuroscientific methodologies has opened up new avenues of inquiry.

Expression, Purification, and Biophysical Characterization of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Nicotinate Nucleotide Adenylyltransferase.

Patients in health-care settings develop nosocomial infections due to prolonged hospital stay. The Gram negative Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), is a bacterial pathogen responsible for most nosocomial infections and are resistant to most current antibiotics.

A proposed magnetic resonance imaging grading system for the spectrum of central neonatal parasagittal hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury.

Aim: To describe the spectrum of parasagittal injury on MRI studies performed on children following severe perinatal term hypoxia-ischaemia, using a novel MRI grading system, and propose a new central pattern correlated with neuropathologic features.

Methods: MR scans of 297 patients with perinatal term hypoxia-ischaemia were evaluated for typical patterns of brain injury. A total of 83 patients that demonstrated the central/basal ganglia-thalamus and perirolandic pattern of injury were categorised according to the degree of severity.

Caseinolytic Proteins (Clp) in the Genus : Special Focus on ClpK.

Caseinolytic proteins (Clp), which are present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, play a major role in cell protein quality control and survival of bacteria in harsh environmental conditions. Recently, a member of this protein family, ClpK was identified in a pathogenic strain of which was responsible for nosocomial infections. ClpK is linked to the thermal stress survival of this pathogen.

Despite Major Therapeutic Advances, Vena Caval Trauma Remains Associated with Significant Morbidity and Mortality.

Background: Penetrating inferior vena caval injuries remain a challenging operative entity. This study reviews our local experience with the injury over a nine-year period and attempts to contextualize it within the published literature that emanates from South Africa on the topic.

Methods: A single-centre retrospective review of prospectively collected data was performed of all patients who underwent a laparotomy for a penetrating IVC injury.

Cross-sectional study to predict subnational levels of health workers' knowledge about severe malaria treatment in Kenya.

Objectives: This study applied a Bayesian hierarchical ecological spatial model beyond predictor analysis to test for the best fitting spatial effects model to predict subnational levels of health workers' knowledge of severe malaria treatment policy, artesunate dosing, and preparation.

Setting: County referral government and major faith-based hospitals across 47 counties in Kenya in 2019.

Design And Participants: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from 345 health workers across 89 hospitals with inpatient departments who were randomly selected and interviewed.

Omicron infection of vaccinated individuals enhances neutralizing immunity against the Delta variant.

Omicron variant (B.1.1.

Marburg virus disease outbreak in Guinea: a SPIN framework of its transmission and control measures for an exemplary response pattern in West Africa.

Responding to highly infectious diseases relies on a thorough understanding of transmission epidemiology. With the recent outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Guinea, we saw the need to shed some technical light based on published literature and our field experiences. We reviewed 14 previous MVD outbreaks globally.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and child behaviour problems in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: Adverse childhood events (ACEs) are associated with negative health effects in adulthood. Despite knowledge of these later impacts, little is known about the earlier effect of ACEs on later child behaviour in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Methods: The population-based Asenze cohort study was implemented in a peri-rural area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, comprising five Zulu tribal areas.

DNA Methylation and Schizophrenia: Current Literature and Future Perspective.

Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by dissociation of thoughts, idea, identity, and emotions. It has no central pathophysiological mechanism and precise diagnostic markers. Despite its high heritability, there are also environmental factors implicated in the development of schizophrenia.

THE ROLE OF HUMAN COMPLEMENT PROTEIN FACTOR B AND FACTORP/PROPERDIN IN HIV-ASSOCIATED PRE-ECLAMPSIA.

Objectives: This study seeks to discover how the concentration of complement proteins, factors B and P are affected in HIV-associated PE.

Methods: This study included 72 pregnant women: 36 preeclamptic and 36 normotensive. Serum concentrations of factors B and P were measured using a Bioplex immunoassay.

Consensus statement on measures to promote equitable authorship in the publication of research from international partnerships.

Despite the acknowledged injustice and widespread existence of parachute research studies conducted in low- or middle-income countries by researchers from institutions in high-income countries, there is currently no pragmatic guidance for how academic journals should evaluate manuscript submissions and challenge this practice. We assembled a multidisciplinary group of editors and researchers with expertise in international health research to develop this consensus statement. We reviewed relevant existing literature and held three workshops to present research data and holistically discuss the concept of equitable authorship and the role of academic journals in the context of international health research partnerships.

Investigation of astrovirus, coronavirus and paramyxovirus co-infections in bats in the western Indian Ocean.

Co-infections have a key role in virus transmission in wild reservoir hosts. We investigated the simultaneous presence of astroviruses, coronaviruses, and paramyxoviruses in bats from Madagascar, Mayotte, Mozambique, and Reunion Island. A total of 871 samples from 28 bat species representing 8 families were tested by polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) targeting the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase genes.

Assessment of Sigma Metrics for Routine Chemistry Testing in 4 Laboratories in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.

Background: Sigma metrics is a quantitative management tool. This study assessed the Six Sigma score for 26 chemistry analytes, compared scores with different total allowable errors (TEa) and use of scores for internal quality control (IQC) rules in 4 Laboratories in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.

Methods: Utilizing 6 months of IQC SD, CV, and bias data on albumin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, bicarbonate, calcium, total cholesterol, creatine kinase, chloride, creatinine, gamma glutamyl transferase, glucose, HDL-cholesterol, potassium, lactate dehydrogenase, magnesium, sodium, inorganic phosphate, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, triglycerides, total protein, urea nitrogen, uric acid, and C-reactive protein (CRP) Six Sigma scores were calculated using Microsoft Excel 2016 and ideal IQC rules were determined.

Pre-delivery angiogenic factors and their association with peripartum perceived stress and pain in pre-eclampsia with severe features and normotensive pregnancies.

Objective: To determine if any of maternal pre-delivery soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PIGF), or sFlt-1/PIGF ratio correlate with either perceived stress scale (PSS) or verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS) pain scores.

Methods: Among 50 pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia and 90 normotensive pregnant women observed from 48 h or less before delivery until day 3 postpartum, correlations between the following were performed: (1) serum concentrations of each angiogenic factor (sFlt-1, PIGF, and sFlt-1/PIGF ratio) sampled within 48 h before childbirth and a four-item PSS (pre-delivery and one-off 48-72 h postpartum score); (2) the same angiogenic factors above and VNRS ranging from 0 to 10; and (3) PSS and VNRS (both pre-delivery and postpartum).

Results: In the normotensive group, there was a positive correlation between sFlt-1 and postpartum PSS (ρ +0.

Intracapsular tonsillectomy versus extracapsular tonsillectomy: a safety comparison.

Objective: Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage remains a significant complication despite modifications of technique and instrumentation. Intracapsular tonsillectomy spares the capsule as a protective barrier for underlying blood vessels and musculature. Its efficacy in children with sleep-disordered breathing has been established, along with lowered rates of haemorrhage and pain, but research pertaining to adults and for recurrent infections has been limited.

Nanobodies Enhancing Cancer Visualization, Diagnosis and Therapeutics.

Worldwide, cancer is a serious health concern due to the increasing rates of incidence and mortality. Conventional cancer imaging, diagnosis and treatment practices continue to substantially contribute to the fight against cancer. However, these practices do have some risks, adverse effects and limitations, which can affect patient outcomes.

Induction of labour in low-resource settings.

Due to the disparity in resource availability between low- and high-resource settings, practice recommendations relevant to high-income countries are not always relevant and often need to be adapted to low-resource settings. The adaptation applies to induction of labour (IOL) which is an obstetric procedure that deserves special attention because it involves the initiation of a process that requires regular and frequent monitoring of the mother and foetus by experienced healthcare professionals. Lack of problem recognition and/or substandard care during IOL may result in harm with long-term sequelae.

Epidemiology, risk factors, social determinants of health, and current management for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in sub-Saharan Africa.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease globally and is estimated to affect approximately 25% of the world's population. Data about the prevalence and incidence of NAFLD in Africa are scarce, but the prevalence is estimated to be 13·5% for the general population. This is likely to be an underestimate considering the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly the rising prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, driven by the overlapping challenges of food insecurity, nutritional transition, and associated increased consumption of calorie-dense foods.

Implementation of an efficient SARS-CoV-2 specimen pooling strategy for high throughput diagnostic testing.

The rapid identification and isolation of infected individuals remains a key strategy for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Frequent testing of populations to detect infection early in asymptomatic or presymptomatic individuals can be a powerful tool for intercepting transmission, especially when the viral prevalence is low. However, RT-PCR testing-the gold standard of SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis-is expensive, making regular testing of every individual unfeasible.

A case report of ruptured ectopic pregnancy plus massive hemoperitoneum on a heterotrophic pregnancy in a resource-poor setting, Mbengwi, Cameroon.

Heterotopic pregnancy is a rare obstetrics phenomenon and carries significant maternal morbidity and mortality due to the risk of rupture of the ectopic pregnancy. Physicians tend to feel comfortable and relieved when an intrauterine gestation sac is seen. This results in an inadequate inspection of the adnexae and remaining structures during emergency bedside ultrasound despite a strong initial clinical suspicion of ectopic pregnancy.

Factors associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness among pregnant women attending government health facilities in the Bamenda Health District, Cameroon.

Introduction: birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) intervention should greatly have an impact on the reduction of maternal mortality if implemented properly at all levels. Responsibility for BPCR must be shared among all safe motherhood stakeholders-because a coordinated effort is needed to reduce the delays that contribute to maternal and newborn deaths. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness among pregnant women attending government health facilities in the Bamenda Health District.